Once you've done the considerable work to understand price behavior, it's not that difficult to see what the institutions are doing. They of course do not all do the same thing but you can read bull and bear pressure to understand who is in charge. The only arena the independent retail trader needs to stay away from is HFT.
Good Afternoon Tradess0610, Is manual day trading doomed? There is ONLY one person on the planet that can and will ever answer and prove that question for you in your lifetime. Just one person, ONLY. No-one on this planet will answer it or prove it to you. That person is You. It is best you just start starring at the chart and watch bars go up and down every day of your life, and click and buy and sell button and see what works. Full Disclosure: Year 5 trading manually and still not consistently profitable. This is part time work, I have not been manual trading 8 hours a day, and I do not study in my spare time. no journaling, reading books, trading video course, non of that stuff.
Hi, thanks for your comment Personally, I am convinced it is not doomed, but I always want to hear other opinions! I believe the biggest advantage manual non-institutional traders have, is that we do not NEED to trade. Meaning, we take a look at the markets, if it looks choppy, we stay out. An algo might not be disturbed and might still be placing trades. If I may ask, why do you think you are not consistently profitable? Do you trade just to have some adrenaline fun?
if you're trading something niche, illiquid, or on the longer time horizon (still under 24 hrs) then maybe manual trading is profitable. If you are day trading ES keep doing it
Hello Tradess0610, Nothing wrong with trading choppy markets. Price is price, we care about price movement regardless of "choppy". Choppy is marketing term. Trade everything. You exist to make money. I love your question "why do you think you are not consistently profitable" This is a long answer, but it is a good question. I been at trading for 5 years I think. Here are a few reasons: 1. Not my full time job. I can only stare for about 2 hours a day 2. Trying to many things. Let's face it, there is ALOT of resources on trading and EVERYONE has an idea to try. 3. Not knowing how I want to trade. Do I want to scalp or swing trade? 4. Not knowing my goals. What is the REAL reason I am trading for? 5. Algo development and programming back testing. I spent about 1.5 years on this and counting. 6. Too much studying other trading teachers work. Hmmmm, just hard for me to listen or trust people who not making money themselves. Just me. 7. Not practicing on the weekend. goofing off. Overall man, just takes time man. Good question, I can not answer. I am more on a better path now, then before. I would tell you this, and take it how you want to. Hurry up and get rich. Just hurry up. Just give it your all. Do not play with this trading for long time.