For what it's worth - Discussions on Str-Squ pops up now and then and I thought I'd share an observation. When Str-Squ was introduced I really tried to wrap my mind round it (finally an indicator ... of sorts). I soon realized that I couldn't make any sense of the histogram though (I used qcharts for this). Sometimes it seemed to work but equally often - not. After some frustration I thought that I would need a way to go back at least a few minutes and debrief. Finally I started to plot the value second by second instead of using the histogram. <img src=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=1715654> Well... no improvement there. Str-squ still seemed to exhibit a rather erratic behavior. Even strong 'signals' as some shown in the image above would sometimes be true and sometimes not. So thinking I was going further down the rabbit hole than I should I dropped Str-Squ for some time. Then it dawned on me... the indicator works but the feed is the problem. Str-Squ depends on data from different sources, and the feed from those sources have to be in sync with each other. If they get out of sync (one lags more or less than the other) you'll see a false signal. Note that this is independent of the lag of the feed to your computer. Retail feeds like qcharts even throttle ticks at times when market volumes pick up, which is sure to add to the erratic behavior of Str-Squ. There's more to this but I'll not delve into it here (off topic already). So it's important not only to see the strength of the signal in terms of value, it is equally important to see strength in terms of time. The longer a stretch or squeeze lasts, the greater the probability that the signal is really a signal (well, almost anyway). Like the one at 10:53 above (which incidentally was not a signal if I remember correctly . As Spydertrader keeps saying, you must know when to look). cheers, tobbe
For FTT trading, if the problem with Forex is the absence of volume, then my guess is that adding price indicator such as Stoc or MACD won't help. Bundlemaker once posted an indicator mimics the volume from Forex pit data ( if memory serves). PM him and I'm sure he'll be glad to help.
December Syllabus Update - Final Exam The year has passed by ever so quickly, and as we approach the end of this phase of the journey, the time has come to take stock of where we all stand with respect to the development of our individual skill sets. However, unlike our time at University, this Journey does not end with the Final Exam. Rather, this Journey begins with Finals Week. Wherever point in time, wherever location on the path, whichever resolution level you follow, one needs to evaluate progress using an objective criterion for success. More importantly, one needs to develop the critical thinking skills required for honest and accurate self-analysis. Only through a rigorous debriefing process - to include both triumph and tribulation - can a trader ever hope to improve beyond the initial stages of the learning curve. As a result, its time to sharpen those number two pencils, and (for some) take those initial first steps into the arena to battle those demons - fear and greed. Over the next few weeks, our Final Exam offers everyone an opportunity to present their trades (real, sim) for review. In addition, everyone also has the opportunity to 'debrief' all trades posted. In such a fashion, everyone gains experiences 'pushing the button,' but more importantly, everyone gains experience using their critical thinking skills during a 'debriefing' process. Requirements for participation in this 'collaborative iterative refinement process' include the following: 1. Anyone choosing to post must accompany their trades with a chart used. 2. A brief synopsis of the 'decision logic' (M.A.D.A) used must accompany each post. By example, Why did you enter? Why did you hold? Why did you exit? etc. 3. When posting 'blotters' or trade logs, please indicate the timestamps if not included already by the trading software. 4. No need to wait until the end of the day to post your trades. Post them anytime you prefer. 5. While you may post as often as desired, each post should discuss a single trade, and not, and entire day's worth of trades. 'Full Day's Worth' of trades should be made under a separate post indicating same. 6. When posting with respect to others' trades, continue to maintain the high level of professional courtesy which has permeated this thread for nearly a year. That's it. Those are the rules. Feel free to post as often or as infrequent as you would prefer. However, I encourage everyone to participate - both in the posting of trades and in the debriefing of others posts. Even if you feel you "aren't quite ready," I encourage participation. Unlike my previous admonishments for attempting to trade too soon in the development process, this exercise contains long lasting benefits. One can never start 'too soon' to develop the skills required for critical thinking. As a result, I invite everyone to push themselves and offer a contribution - even if only once. Also, should anyone wish to continue the current discussions, or if anyone requires clarification of past discussions (previously covered during the year), anyone should feel free to continue to post along these lines as well. As always, if anyone requires any additional clarification, please let me know. - Spydertrader P.S. For those concerned about seeing a 'Trading Video' posted, worry not. I still have plans to provide such examples. I simply haven't had the time to work my way through the 'To Do' list just yet. If I run out of time this year, I'll add a supplemental post sometime in the future.
Here is ES daily chart as of Friday's close December 14 2007. Added Spyder's lateral channel. Thanks for the reply ericta.
For anyone wishing to post an accompanying video clip with their trade, I can provide practically infinite web space and bandwidth (so we don't have to resort to those ad-based xxx pop up storage sites). To upload, use an FTP program to connect to: ftp.pr0crast.com username: "et@pr0crast.com" (w/out quotes) password: "ftt123" (w/out quotes) The link to your file will be: http://et.pr0crast.com/filename.ext PM me with any problems, and happy posting. PS- FlashFXP is the best FTP program to use for uploading. 30 day trial available here.
Here's an Index to the Journal: The Beginning â¦â¦. http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1309688#post1309688 January -- Volume http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1311144#post1311144 January -- FTT (Jackâs old post) http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1311932#post1311932 January -- BO and FBO http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1310580#post1310580 January -- Recap http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1344554#post1344554 February -- The YM leads the ES http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1346565#post1346565 February -- Housekeeping http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1376813#post1376813 February -- Gaussian Drills: 1, 2 & 3 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1374668#post1374668 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1378104#post1378104 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1378299#post1378299 March -- Gaussians and PV http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1379383#post1379383 March -- Forest and Trees http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1379701#post1379701 March -- Quiz http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1419509#post1419509 April -- Stretch / Squeeze http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1420617#post1420617 April -- Check Up http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1452213#post1452213 May -- Fundamentals Review http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1452816#post1452816 May -- Volumne Review http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1453031#post1453031 May -- PRV / STR / SQU http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1465746#post1465746 June -- DOM Depth of Market http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1486683#post1486683 June -- Harmonics http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1488615#post1488615 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1496177#post1496177 July -- Tic Chart intro http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1551602#post1551602 August -- The Tic Chart http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1554291#post1554291 September -- Flaws http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1589321#post1589321 September -- Flaws and Internal Formations http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1589874#post1589874 http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1590869#post1590869 October -- Additional Signals for Change http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1626218#post1626218 November -- Putting it all Together http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1676936#post1676936 November Follow-Up (If1-If2) http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1700986#post1700986 December Syllabus Update - Final Exam http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1715718#post1715718 Additional notes: 01-04-07 02:29 AM -- Hitch http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1314050#post1314050 01-11-07 08:46 PM -- Mistaken FTT http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1323389#post1323389 04-28-07 11:50 PM -- HVS http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1451061#post1451061 06-14-07 12:53 AM -- Gaussian Review http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1500589#post1500589 07-08-07 08:10 PM -- From another thread .... http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1524692#post1524692 07-11-07 08:17 PM -- Hitch http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1528592#post1528592
Playback of Friday. ES price and volume alongside Spyder's chart for comparison. http://www.screencast.com/t/wnePPakuUci Total time 4 min.