ironchef said: 1. Trading breakouts is easier said than done. When do you enter? 2. Traders/investors that put a hard stop at $140 got picked off? Entered at the breakaway gap and covered at my final profit target $142. Not sure what you are you are talking about being picked off at $140, that sure had nothing to do with my position. Trading breakouts can be just as hard or as easy you make it. .
From your chart, looked like there were quite a few hard stop set at ~$140, the professional traders drove the price down to $139.xx and took out all the stops knowing the stocks would rally beyond $140. So those mom and pop traders like me that subscribed to putting a hard stop would be out of their positions. How do I know? Been there done that too many times. As for your second point you are absolutely correct. But for me it is hard. I am studying charts, what I thought were breakouts mostly turned out to be fakes. I am learning though and hope to get better. Regards,