what is your result so far for 2018?

What factor determines what you trade?

 

I was up about 12%, then I was greedy, didn't take money and run. I held on to a position and got burnt. I'm now at about +7% (versus SPX at ~+9%).

 

Impressive. I can only assume you're taking overnight risk. If you're doing this intraday from a retail account, you're a gifted savant

 

Actually, what lindq does is not uncommon. When you trade US markets intraday, the open is THE reference point. Yesterday means nothing. Many savvy players have devised proprietary formulas around it, without the need for charts.

 

You are right, I know of one trader who teaches in John Carter's trading room who uses the open, high, and low of the first 60 minutes as his "reference points" and has a ton of historical data on what happens when those are penetrated, etc. It is kinda of foreign to my thinking but that may be why you guys are a lot better traders than I am.

 

birdman: I don't set profit targets, only stops. My exits are all end-of-day.

 

Volatility. I don't want to make a bet on something that isn't likely to move. Better to be in cash.

 

Are you trailing those stops? There might come a day where you're on the right side of a black swan, and make a small fortune riding the wave

And liquidity I hope

 

Not trailing, but if I reach a certain % of profit on a trade, I will often raise a stop to even. Beyond that, I don't let myself touch it.