mtwokay, While the NQ did look great today....personally....I would not switch from the ER2 to the NQ. Below you will see my comparison....I think I got the Highs and Lows correctly. When comparing Dollar movement....the ER2 far surpasses the other major e-mini's....just about everyday. The overall patterns are similar....most of the time....but the potential Profit or Loss....is greater on the ER2. Anyway....that is how I look at it. Include the Volatility....the many up_down movements....this keeps me trading the ER2. -------------------------------- NQ_high = 1826 NQ_low = 1805 total = 21 points = $420 Range top to bottom -------------------------------- ER2_high = 797.50 ER2_low = 791.70 total = 5.8 points = $580 top to bottom -------------------------------- ES_high = 1411.25 ES_low = 1404.50 total = 6.75 points = $337.50 top to bottom -------------------------------- YM_high = 12384 YM_low = 12325 total = 59 points = $295.00 top to bottom I have put up 4 Domes....one for each market....and traded all 4 at the same time. I can usually get in and out of the ER2....on a 2 tick trade....at least 2 to 3 times....before I can get out once on the ES. Of course....you cannot trade the large lots....on the ER2....like you can on the ES....but....I never trade more than 4 contracts anyway. The tech stocks seem to be picking up....so the NQ is also....but it is not for me. The following is a 610 tick chart....my Trending chart. I also use a 20 tick chart for Scalping. VSTscalper
MT - I think it all comes down to your trading style. For example, right now with the lack of volatility on the ES, I have not been trading the ES much recently. About 6-9 months ago the ER2 was too erratic for me. Now, I am trading the ER2 again and just monitoring the ES. Market conditions change, we all know that. Sometimes it's a matter of either being patient with one market or having a few options available to you so you are not reliant on one market. I personally watch the indexes, EC and QM. There's a good chance that between the indexes, the Euro, and Crude Oil there are trade opportunities just about each day depending on how you trade. I would just recommend that you consider trading the NQ while keeping your ER2 chart up as well. Remember, we are not 'married' to a particular market, you are allowed to 'cheat' and see what else is on the menu. Who knows, you may just find something that is even more appetizing than what you are used to. You won't know unless you try.
Excellent analysis VSTscalper. It's really good at showing the overall performance of the different indices relative to each other. The reason it's sooo good, is that it gives the individual trader a good reference of what indice to trade relative to their risk tolerance. I trade the YM and ES, and keep the NQ up to get an overall reference to market strength (everything up is obviously bullish, everything down, bearish, mixed is weak bull or bear). I won't trade the ER with someone's else's account, much less my own (outside of my risk tolerance, problems with scalability). However, whatever indice a trader chooses, they should trade it consistently, because the problem with jumping around from one indice to another, is that you're just going to be chasing performance. IMHO it's not a good idea to just switch-up the indice that you trade just because of one day's out-performance, because yesterday's leader is going to be tomorrow's laggard. Best Regards, Jimmy J
Now today's end of uptrend, beginning of downtrend movement with volume qualifies as a "vicious thrust." Although this sell-off was very orderly without significant "skips" on the way down.