Should I stop day trading?

Discussion in 'Trading' started by magnet, Nov 26, 2013.

  1. magnet

    magnet

    I'm a very experienced trader and have been very successful trading futures. Up until last year I hadn't had a down year. Then last year and now this year I have experienced small relative losses compared to my average year.
    It almost feels like for me the whole industry has changed.
    Obviously trading is still trading. But the volumes now are very small compared to the past and the fed has almost destroyed all volatility in bond and stock markets.
    Does anyone have any advise or should I simply just stop trading altogether.
     
  2. can you post a chart with an example on how you actually trade?
     
  3. magnet

    magnet

    I normally use technicals and fundamentals when I trade.
    I have found that most economic releases now are impossible to trade as they are either leaked before hand or are completely automated.
    With technicals I have found some markets are better than others. For example fx markets and certain commodities work well for short term trades. But bigger markets like equity indexes and bond markets they don't.
     
  4. Bob111

    Bob111

    same here. from six figures on stocks down to +15K for whole year.
    same reasons. this whole thing just dead. i know..adapt or die etc..
     
  5. it seems that you don`t simply have a strict model to trade.fundamentals,technicals,news releases,fed,etc...plus you monitor many different markets.never seen anyone succesful who can trade multiple markets using all the above combined!stick with something single,in terms of a market and information.
     
  6. magnet, I remember (in the late 60's)when a four million share day was OK volume and ten million shares unheard of. Don't be spoiled by recent past years ... everyone was chopping in high cotton. Figure it out; do not let a single bad year drive you out. Learn to trade what it is not what it was.
     
  7. It is past winners losing to past winners, to the brokers' commission and to the investors.
     
  8. That´s not useful information.

    a) Are you an intraday traderScalper/position trader?
    b) Are you an 5min, 1hour, 4 hour, 8 hour technical charts trader?
    c) What margin/equity ratio do you use for your main trade?
    d) Do you Martingale?
    e) Which futures markets do you trade? Financial futures/commodties/metals/precious metals/energy/agricultural?
    f) Do you have max intraday stop? Intra-hour stop?
    g) How many markets do you trade simultanously?
    h) Do you have intraday hard stop/soft stop, maximum intraday stop?
    i) Do you stop trading if hard stop is reached?
    j) What´s your expect monthly return and your expected monthly risk? What´s your year end return target?
    k) Are you aware how many of the futures markets that you trade show some sort of correlation? Do you run correlation matrices?
    l) What´s your typical exit strategy? Scale orders or ONE price target?
    m) Do you adapt exit price order limits?

    That´s just as a starter of questions to really evaluate your strategy.

    Note: someone who has executed Due Diligence on a couple of money managers.
    m)
     
  9. Redneck

    Redneck

    OP

    Gathering you’re mentally drained

    Take some time off…, recharge,… return with new eyes

    =============

    Maybe you can… maybe you can’t…. maybe you can (and need to) adapt

    Either way, at least you’ll be making an objective evaluation

    RN
     
  10. wrbtrader

    wrbtrader

    You trying to trade the same futures trading instrument while knowing the markets have changed ?

    If so, what are you trading and why have you not "switch" (changed) to different futures trading instruments that may be more suitable for this type of market conditions via your trade strategy ?

    Adapt
     
    #10     Nov 26, 2013