Getting out - Am I Doing the Right Thing

Discussion in 'Trading' started by Flashboy, Jul 16, 2003.

  1. I got short the Emini this morning at 1002.00.. after the close of the first 5 minute bar..

    But I got out at 1001.25.. after the market looked like it wanted to rebound. I am always quick to get out of positions that aren't going my way like this one to keep from losing capital.

    My motto of trading is to make sure you protect what you have and the profits will come..

    As you can see the emini dropped another 12 points.. and looking back in hindsight its easy to see that if I kept my original stop and moved it down right above every swing high on the 1 minute chart I would still be in the trade..

    How do you guys handle this?? Do you find it best to always trail a stop.. or is it better to get out when the market isn't going your way right away??

    Any help appreciated.

    Jeff
     
  2. ROFL!!!!!

    ROCK
     
  3. prox

    prox

    If you followed your rules, then the trade is fine.

    This, of course, presumes you've actually put the time and effort into developing a system that has a positive expectancy.

    As for trailing stops, I prefer to base it off market structure or a loose X bars back low/high.
     
  4. Very good traders take a lot of small losses and a few big winners on days like today.

    Can you accept to let slip 5 times a profit of 1 point, even if the 6th trade is a 10 points winner?
     
  5. 0.75pt on the ES is noise, unless of course your strategy is defined as scalping for 0.75pt...

    You need to remove your emotions as much as possible from your entries and exits, or you will not make it past the learning curve...

    There are many sensible ways to run profits, and any of those ways is superior to relying solely on your emotions...
     
  6. .... all you need to know.
     
  7. dbphoenix

    dbphoenix

    For now, whether you use a trailing stop or not isn't as important as your fear of losing capital. As long as your exit strategy is determined by fear, you're going to have problems with self-control.

    Apparently you don't trust your strategy enough. Why is that?
     
  8. You guys that either scalp or make all of your trading decsions off of one and three minute charts are nuts. This may not be the case with you. Don't worry, I got out early too....at 993.25.


     
  9. Well.... let's just say "trade very aggressively" or something like that.

    :)
     
  10. acrary

    acrary

    I guess it all depends on what you're playing for. I play for the daily range. I use loose stops until I think the daily range is in and then I tighten. The range so far is 16.5 and I think a little more range is likely. My stops are now set above the pivot of 992. When I think the range is in then I'll tighten with a trailing stop and exit no more than 3 pts. from the low.
     
    #10     Jul 16, 2003