The daily ranges are also smaller than they have been lately, so that's to be expected. You can't take more than the market offers. I think you're doing great!
Earnings season is in full bloom. The volatility today was amazing. One of the interesting things today was the disparity between the NQ (MNQ) and the YM (MYM). The NQ was way up while the YM was going nowhere to down hard. When I see this, I know something is off, because I don't have confirmation to go long or short. I know that the best thing for me to do on a day like this is just to "SCALP IT BABY! (Or do nothing at all.) But even that was not enough to keep me in the black. I ended down about $10 today. We get back up and keep going. I think the micros are perfect for this market actually. Think about the sleepless nights you would have if you were responsible for $1M or more of client money... "Where will Mr Market be tomorrow???"
It was a tough day today and I took way too many NQ trades. I trade 2 lots on NQ, but I managed to be up a little over $200.
sstheo, Hang in there buddy....you are working for less than minimum wage...but the upward mobility is great! How was the wedding? ES
OUCH. I kept trying to short yesterday. The internals were not matching up with the price action, and I should have just stayed away. I had a bad day. 2 contracts at max loss of approx $50 each. Total loss of $109. Next week is a new week. I will recover.
Thanks for the encouragement. The wedding was absolutely fabulous. The reception was in my back yard and it never looked better. My daughter and her hubby are doing well.
sstheo, I have returned to trading live at just about the same time as this journal came along. I have restarted several times in my life. Your discussion has been insightful and full of what "they" say. You have all of the right things to say. For me personally it is a battle to learn how to live my life while treating trading as a job. I have always had another job alongside my trading and I have resolved that my goal is to not quit my job and to trade full-time...but to always do both. I feel my time working at my "non-trading" job gives me the perspective that I need to look fresh at the trading session each day. I have constantly had to stop trading to get more funds from working to add to my trading account. I have now turned this around and have found a few edges that work. The challenge is to differentiate "trending days" from "non-trending days". I think that what "they" say is a necessary part of growth but I have eventually morphed into putting it all together and finding the right "fit". He He I guess I have been picky as it has taken me a lifetime. It comes down to the actual screentime trading live and surviving long enough to build up those hours. This is where I am at now. I am a trader for life and will always come back if I lose again. I want to know how you feel? I mean really feel? You had a tough week. How is your big picture? Where are you heading? Will you make it this time? You have posted much about this in this journal but what if you lose? Have you resolved that you are really a trader? I think you are and that's the only reason I have spent so long on this post. I believe there are many lurkers here and posters here in this thread rooting for you. There are so many points in this journal that I identify with. Carry on Trader. ES