Brethren Readers, As humans, we are merely sophisticated animals... all animals are driven by basic instincts... personality-type dictates the personal weighting that we place on these instincts... food, sex, shelter and power... in our modern capitalist society, money allows us to buy all of these things (yes, even sex, for it allows us to attract the female members of our species)... The younger males amongst us have a disproportionate level of testosterone buzzing around within our bodies... this accentuates our basic instincts and creates strong urges... As a young man, Hitman's levels of testosterone are likely to be high, and the inevitable linkage between trading success (money) and the Princess has been solidified over the last year or so that Hitman has been trading... as long as the Princess keeps going out with Hitman, there will be a self-reinforcing positive feedback cycle between her and Hitman's trading success... but should she stop dating him or should market conditions deteriorate to such a level that Hitman is not making profits, both could be lost as a result of the linkage... it is therefore important to consciously create at least a modicum of detachment between the Princess phenomenon and the P&L... this is because one can never foresee with any degree of certainty what the future holds... Love, Candle
Ah so, brethren Robert and Candle.... As one learns to master trading, so one learns Oneself - which is the real key to unlock one's full potential. As one knows and respects oneself, he or she is better able to know and respect another. In this new century, a Samurai and a Princess must stand shoulder to shoulder in sharing respect and admiration. It cannot be one sided; one does not defer to nor conquer the other. Only in this manner can both determine if they are truly meant for each other. If such is not meant to be, then both can be friends for life. Soldier Hitman, make the most of your love life with this princess, but be prepared to "get over it". There are many princesses in the pond. Stay true to yourself, and you with your Ultimate princess will transcend all of life's P&L....
Hey. I read that Jim Cramer book the other day. That was a good book but way to short and summarized. I also can not believe he let Maier write it! About Hitman and Don (my 2 pennies), This is Hitman's March Trading Journal, so maybe we should focus on that here but I think this thing between them was funny as $H!^ and maybe Baron should have some moderated "debates" between some of the eliter members here. Later.
Squeezed out a really tough FOMC win. 15800 shares each way on 10 of 18 shooting, +680 before commissions, +357 after, 1 bullet. Pre-Market: FOMC day and GS beat earnings, I really questioned my broker open shorts, but decided to take the chance . . . 9:30: Filled on MER, ABT, and a partial lot on TYC (had news hence the partial), got 25 cents from ABT, lost 12 cents on MER, lost 15 cents on TYC (out at the low print!). 9:35: Saw the strength in brokers and took WDR/LAB, broke even there but got 35 cents from APD, unfortunately missed the second leg. 9:59: Bulleted TOL and immediately I felt like it was a bad trade. Covered half for flat, covered the other half for a 33 cents loss as it totally ripped in my face. CTX/LEN chopped a little and I took KBH and HOV long, shaken out for broke even's right before they ripped. Fortunately caught a 60 cents move on DHI, and a 20 cents move in SPF. 11:15: Further broker strength and I took LM, for some reason while the broker index trended up, the stocks were extremely choppy. Scored 20 cents off PPG/FMC on chemical rally but left quite a bit on the table. Market went up on pathetic volume and it really felt like it could came back in any second. 2:15: Fed cut and shorted 200 shares TOL and made 50 cents lol. Got SPF for a 15 cents pop. Took some NE/NBL/KMI and churned away as the little energy rip at the end didn't bring up the stocks much. I don't remember the last time market traded in a range after the rate announcement, a very disappointing FOMC game for sure . . . Team Stats: 9 of 10 active traders 70500 shares each way on 30 of 74 shooting +340 before commissions (2 of 9 positive) -1330 after commissions (2 of 9 positive) Top 3 Symbols: DHI, GDW, EP Bottom 3 Symbols: LE, TOL, BJS I would rather give up trading before I give up pursuing her. A samurai is too noble, a soldier too patriotic, I would say I am more like a zealot, and the princess being my religion.
I am enjoying it as well. I do not know how he could have prevented the writting of the book. Personally, I find absolutely nothing wrong with Don and Hitman "going at it." For me, more good than bad has come out of it, as it allows me, through their "debate," to weigh one firms advantages/weaknesses vs the other's. Don't be fooled into believing that this is bad for them, anything that brings attention to themselves, good or bad, or in the spirit of competition, is good for both of them. "Love me or hate me but don't ignore me." nitro
A very light game for me as I walked right into a home builder sell on the news gap and trap. Thankfully Don Bright's open strategy came through and absorbed most of the damage and I didn't have to play with a deficit. 10000 shares each way on 10 of 17 shooting, +359 before commissions, +192 after, no bullets, extended my winning streak to six straight games. Pre-Market: Super positive housing data. 9:30: Filled short on TYC/FNM/VZ, long TXN, got 9 cents from TXN, 35 cents from TYC, 22 cents from FNM, lost 16 cents on VZ. 9:31: Every home builder up and SPF was down 40 cents, took some immediately and lost 30 cents in just a few ticks as the entire sector tanked hard and fast, could not bring myself to short it as I have been hurt way too many times. Took a little bit LM as the brokers had good earnings this morning and out for flat. 10:00: Got 20 cents from FMC on a chemical move, bottompicked home builders for a squeeze but ended up churning TOL/DHI/SPF but made it back on MDC. Missed what was a decent energy rally as I churned VTS and lost 20 cents off HP on a shake out (chased the trade) 11:20: Still thinking there may be a rally, as I had no bullets and did not want to put up any, went long BWA/ETN on auto part squeeze and broke even. 2:00: My only trades of the afternoon came with 2 shorts, MDC & HOV, the problem is despite of the sell-off on home builders those were stagnant for quite some time and I have had way too much negative experience with shorting home builders last a few weeks, so I covered for flat before both fell 50 cents from where was short. In hindsight I was just short 300 shares a piece, should have held on as neither squeezed against me (although MDC did do a shake out for 20 cents before it came right back in) Team Stats: 7 of 10 active traders 49800 shares each way on 25 of 49 shooting +1469 before commissions (5 of 7 positive) +270 after commissions (3 of 7 positive) Top 3 Symbols: APA, MON, EOG Bottom 3 Symbols: TOL, SPF, WGO
You have hit on one of the primary reasons we have all of our traders focus on the opening only strategy. Not only does it make money for them, it gets them "in the game" from the get-go. I have actually heard of "training" that tells traders to wait for an hour or so for the "market to sort itself out" before trading....which is insane. Gotta get those brain waves moving. Glad to see you are doing well with your trading...and be sure I am on the "short list" to your Wedding fit for a Princess!!
If your open strategy continue to bail me out like that, if I am lucky enough in this life time to actually get that far, you can get the best seat at the wedding