. The only "traders" who make money every single day are the HFT algos, by front running customers one penny at a time via the so called dark pools. Entire books have been written on that rather disturbing subject, Dark Pools: The Rise of the Machine Traders and the Rigging of the U.S. Stock Market, for example
Congrats, very few traders can do that: not trade and simply wait for a really good trading opportunity! “After spending many years in Wall Street and after making and losing millions of dollars I want to tell you this: it never was my thinking that made the big money for me. It was always my sitting. Got that? My sitting tight!" (Legendary trader Jesse Livermore)
When I transitioned from day trading to swing trading that helped quell the obsession somewhat. So for me, switching from immediate gratification to delayed gratification helped. As did locating my workstation with the trading front end behind me in my office layout.
Legit group was stat arb,mean reversion/hft rarely had a down day.. I just googled the other fellow..Looks like he didnt do jail time,just got hit with a 600k penalty and is miraculously managing money in Geneva..
During the week you go to sleep thinking about the market and wake up thinking about the market. On the weekend you rest. Where is the obsession part? In my previous profession my mind was constantly on my work too, but I didn't have weekends off.
Heh, depending on where you are on an equity index future swing trade, it becomes OSISA). (Oh Shit, It's Sunday Already.)
Just as a data point. I day traded for 7 years, ES, YM, NQ, ZN. 1/2 days or 12 hours. 5 days a week with 1/4 days on weekends. All live, broke even after commissions. Took a break and did real estate development. Came back did swing trading for 7 more years, sectors, baskets, breakouts etc. Made money, but not enough to keep my interest. Took a break for 3 years. Back now doing day trading on paper only. Been doing, since 2018 Jan. Had a hand full of false starts during that time. Now, system is looking ready. Trading 2-4 hours a day and doing physical things the rest of the time. I do very little swing trading but might do more. Had one stock for last 12 months. All things being equal, things are better and different now. Markets change, e.g. ES, and technology is much better and reliable. So much less hassle keeping hardware working and connections stable. Paper trading is MUCH better. TS used to "simulate" where you could be BUYING, and get an instant fill on the bid. PS: was actually here as Luto. I shudder to look back on what I had posted!
The market is bores me because I already know everything I need to know about it. It bores me like driving a car bores me. I already know everything I need to know about driving. If you're still obsessed it means you still not there.