Trading on "Instynct" (NQ)

Discussion in 'Journals' started by Instynct, Nov 12, 2010.

  1. I'm back. Just needed to get away from ET for a bit as the pressure of "wanting" to post good numbers was starting to mess with my head. I decided that I was not gonna post again until I have a winning week. Logged off after my last post and have not looked at ET since. I've read from some here that said not reading ET forums helped their trading, and now I can see why. Trading is a very personal journey and only the trader him/herself can understand what is going right or wrong with their trading and how to fix it. It's not that I think ET is bad, but reading it in moderation and not letting other people's trading style and opinions effect your own personal trading is the best way to go. I have met some really great people on here and want to continue those friendships. So going forward I will be on here less and staying away from the more populated journals, but will try to give an update of my full results at least on a weekly basis if not daily. Thanks to those that continue to read and post on here, as it has always been open to anyone to post whatever they want so long as it does not effect the integrity of this place. I can't stand trolls that come here to post fake trades and results. Traders can always smell a troll from a mile away. Enough rambling, on to today's action and results.

    Small day today and for the week as well. Nothing spectacular in terms of profits, especially given all the big swings this week, but I'll take it. The objective was to stay profitable this week and it was met. Next week will be the same. Today's action is precisely why I trade the way I do, small protected trades while seeking momentum moves for those bigger winners. This way I can at least get paid by locking small profits on choppy days and larger profits on more volatile days. The market dictates how much I make and nothing else.

    Thursday (yesterday) took 6 consecutive losses in the morning as the price chopped around prev HOD. Then at 7:33 pst I took a long at 2539.75, watched as shorts scrambled to cover and dip buyers step up, took it out at 2552.75 near the high of morning for 13 handles and just called it a day.
     
    #4611     Feb 10, 2012
  2. Last weeks pl:
     
    #4612     Feb 10, 2012
  3. Cumulative PL graph since the start of this year:
     
    #4613     Feb 10, 2012
  4. plot your cumulative PnL vs. the VXN (nasdaq vol). I'd wager they're pretty correlated.
     
    #4614     Feb 10, 2012
  5. Instynct, good to see you back ! Feared you'd been hit by a truck or something.

    Know what you mean about the ET pnl posting pressure. Even if it's self imposed or subconscious it can throw off the focus.

    And this low volatility makes for tough trading as well.

    Glad to see you and your trading are well !
     
    #4615     Feb 10, 2012
  6. Great thread, thanks for posting - keep it up, I love reading!
     
    #4616     Feb 10, 2012
  7. Instynct,

    Glad to see you are still at it. These last few weeks have been very difficult for daytraders that have not adapted to this slow grind up, including myself.

    Reading the charts and adapting is what is all about. Unfortunately I am still not the reader I want to be and not as adaptive in my progressing years.

    I also will be posting here less. I would like to be able to post great gains and calls daily, but that is not my end game and I know it it not yours. I pm with a few folks, and that is where support and positive sharing really occur, not dealing with the trolls.
     
    #4617     Feb 11, 2012
  8. Another small but decent day, at least the PnL is headed in the right direction. I talked myself out of taking any shorts this morning. Even though the routine lately has been to allow selllers to come in first and take it down to solid support levels, easy money to this trader is on the long side. Looking for shorts just takes away focus from my long setups.

    Thanks to everyone for your posts and readership. Nothing in life that is worth it ever comes easy.
     
    #4618     Feb 13, 2012
  9. Adapting to changes in vol is what kills me. Its like a completely different market rhythm and I think through experience not only do you get better at reading the market, but you get better at adapting more quickly to changes in the market. The critical part is surving the learning curve.
     
    #4619     Feb 13, 2012
  10. my trading has been flat since pretty much early dec. no volatility/low volume is challenging.
     
    #4620     Feb 13, 2012