Bronks, How do you find IB's quotes compare to your other vendor? Does one lag the other?? Do you have any back-up plan in case something happens to the IB platform and you have a position on? I'm about to open an IB futures account and wasn't sure if i was going to get an add'l vendor for data (i don't need charts for my approach). Also was concerned about getting caught in a position and having IB go down. Thanks, and keep up the thread, i'm sure there's many lurkers out there like me that enjoy them but don't post here.
Thereuare-- I've found it to be rock-solid. Quotes seem to be tight also as I base my entries on them. Haven't found any lag yet between e-signal and IB. As far as a back-up... I forgot to mention I still have a dormant Datek acct. in which I can off-set any position with the QQQ's. Hopefully.
Thanks for the reply as i didn't think of using the QQQs as a back up plan. I was thinking about trying to deposit money in another futures account (to just sit and collect interest) in order to make sure i could exit a position in the event of a problem with IB, but instead i'll just use the QQQ with my regular brokerage account! Thanks for the idea.
Where do I begin. Keeping a bias and not recognizing a trend cost me severely (relative) today as I recorded my worst loss so far. Crap. Started off in the hole again which affected every part of my game plan thereafter. Usually I have some kind of bias going into the day before the open and adjust it from there... but not today. After the futures reached 1135.00 I was convinced it had no legs and would sell off into the close, all the while watching it move up, up and away. I never bought in 'cause I was sure- no, positive it would roll over. What a dumb ass, I deserve what I got. There is one trade in particular I would like to discuss: At around 10:45 I bought one contract for 1117.50 which was at a level that interested me and sold it a few minutes later for 1121.00 for a profit of 3.5 points. But since I was underwater a bit at that point, I decided to take the sure thing. You can probably guess what happened next. She ran up all the way to around 1135 with a couple very minor pull backs. Sure, woulda-coulda-shoulda BUT had I not been down early, I MAY have let that one run. Which brings me to my point of being down early affecting my game. Very few winners today as my dumb-ass bias kept me on the short side. Please keep your mind open when trading. -14 points / 10 RT's
Bronks- I could just cut and paste this entry into my own journal for today. I would just have to add overtraded, which I tend to do when I am down for the day. 15/21 of my trades were short today. I shot 24% ( I was at 63% ave. the rest of the week). I got personal and I got beat silly. Time to regroup over the weekend. I started the mini's about the same time as you, but I'm not ready put it out there for all to see. Thanks for doing it, and keep up the good trading. -JPB
Bronks and others I am really enjoying this E-mini Rookie Trading Journal, but I've been away for awhile and was wondering what ever happened to Hitman and his trading journal at a proprietary firm? Did he finally Blow UP or what happened to him?
your brutal honesty. You are putting it all on the line, trade reports and all. That alone speaks volumes! This is the best journal thread I've read. It's nice to see other people's trades. Winners or Losers. As for losing some today, all I can say is that I've been there before too. What helps me, is that I realize it only takes 1 or 2 trades to make it all back up.
Thanks Fitz. Just tryin' to show aspiring traders (and myself) how tough this game really is, with no fluff. FUTURES TRADES --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trade Time Exchange Description Qty Trade Price Set Price Gain/Loss * ----------------- --------- ----------- ----- ----------- ----------- ----------- - 02-06-07 09:32:02 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1114.0000 1137.5000 470.00 02-06-07 09:32:34 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1112.5000 1137.5000 -500.00 02-06-07 09:36:06 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1116.0000 1137.5000 430.00 02-06-07 09:37:02 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1116.0000 1137.5000 -430.00 02-06-07 09:39:41 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1117.5000 1137.5000 400.00 02-06-07 09:40:09 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1115.5000 1137.5000 -440.00 02-06-07 09:57:47 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1111.0000 1137.5000 -530.00 02-06-07 09:59:21 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1110.0000 1137.5000 550.00 02-06-07 10:04:33 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1108.5000 1137.5000 -580.00 02-06-07 10:10:41 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1115.5000 1137.5000 440.00 02-06-07 10:23:24 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1117.5000 1137.5000 400.00 02-06-07 10:27:09 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1121.0000 1137.5000 -330.00 02-06-07 11:22:42 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1132.0000 1137.5000 110.00 02-06-07 11:24:01 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1132.0000 1137.5000 -110.00 02-06-07 11:26:16 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1133.5000 1137.5000 80.00 02-06-07 11:32:21 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1135.0000 1137.5000 -50.00 02-06-07 12:08:37 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1136.5000 1137.5000 20.00 02-06-07 12:12:17 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1133.5000 1137.5000 -80.00 02-06-07 13:53:33 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1143.0000 1137.5000 110.00 02-06-07 14:08:54 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1149.5000 1137.5000 -240.00 ===== =========== 0 -280.00 =========== USD Total: -280.00 FUTURES GAIN/LOSS SUMMARY ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gain/Loss From Futures Trades -280.00 ============ USD Total: -280.00 ========================================================================================== ACCOUNT STATUS --------------------------------------------------------------------------- USD Starting cash balance 5640.40 Settled: 5640.40 Cash deposits/withdrawals 0.00 Total Futures Gain/Loss -280.00 Total Commissions -48.00 ============== ============== ==> Ending cash balance 5312.40 Settled: 5312.40 Open options value 0.00 ============== ==> Total Equity 5312.40