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Showing results for tags 'market trends'.
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In the Chart of the Week (COTW) dated Monday 9/17/12, I showed you why a short-term correction was near. This was regardless of the bearish October Phenomenon. As I said then, the time of year alone is not a reliable guide without other factors being in alignment. Those factors are - the right price action and speculative bets being placed on higher prices. In that COTW I showed that this was happening and it virtually insured a short-term correction was close. As we know now, Friday 9/14/12 was the high day of the current move. If you would like a copy of that COTW you can e-mail me at greg@pristine.com or e-mail counselor@pristine.com for it and it will be sent to you. In the chart above, the S&P 500 is displayed by the ETF symbol SPY. The bulls attempted to hold the prior low in the 143 area of SPY last week, but could not. With an area of Major Support (MS) in the 140 area, it's an obvious place to except a bounce from. Ideally, prices would drop straight down into it similar as they did from early last week. This would create a small Pristine Price Void (PPV) for prices to bounce up into. Assuming we see this setup, I would not play this as a swing trading long. Meaning, I will not hold for a few days, since what is needed for a bottom is not yet in place. Rather I'll use the area as a reference point where the intra-day time frame will bottom and start a short-term uptrend. Historically, correction bottoms do not occur without the majority convinced that the market is going lower and they make speculative bets on that. We are not seeing that yet based those option traders that are typically on wrong side near turning points. These are the under-capitalized, overly-emotional traders that bet big at the worst time. I've used their actions at a guide for many years and they rarely fail to signal when the turn is near. When these traders start loading the boat with put options (bearish bets) the odds are that a tradable low will not be far off. Lastly, let's look at the NASDAQ 100 index ETF symbol QQQ In the above chart is a Head & Shoulders pattern that formed in the NASDAQ 100 ETF symbol QQQ. The pattern is simply a new high that has failed (longs are caught) and break of prior support. I typically don't show or talk about the esoteric types of analysis that I studied in the past. However, I thought I would show this and how it aligns with the simple technique taught at Pristine. The Head & Shoulders top theory is that the vertical length of the area between the head of the pattern and the neckline (the base) will give you the point where prices will decline to by projecting the same length below the base. In the chart, you can see that I've drawn a line from the head to the base and then placed a line of equal length from the base going lower. That is where prices should decline to. Well, based on the simple analysis of what was resistance becomes support, we see that the Minor Support (mS) area is the same as the measured low projection. I studied this many times years ago and it was virtually always the same. The projection lined up with an area of price support; it could be a minor or major area. The other lines below are simply other price support reference points to be aware of should the decline continue lower. Complex analysis tends to impress us when starting to learn about trading based on technical analysis. We are conditioned to think that the markets are complex and it's needed. Most online trading courses are based on this type of analysis. If you have to buy software or indicators to trade be wary of such education. If your charts of filled with things like indicators, wave counts, Fibonacci projections, etc. The only thing you can be sure of is that the confusion will continue. All the best, Greg Capra President & CEO Pristine Capital Holdings, Inc.
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Good Morning All: Over the years, I have written many articles; hundreds, maybe even thousands if you include partial repeats and every short lesson. Sometimes the lesson is a partial re-write, or a new take, or a new way to explain or organize the information. While there are many summaries out there on various topics, and while the topics on this lesson may be found somewhere else, I began a three part series two weeks ago answering a very direct question: What causes failure in trading? This has been a no-nonsense, nuts and bolts look at the question, not a philosophical dissertation. Two weeks ago I discussed 'discipline' as the first true reason for failure. Last week I discussed reason number two; the inability to focus. Today I will discuss the third reason, which will end this series. There may be other reasons, but these are the top three. To clarify again, most people actually fail because they do not get an education. However, that is a decision that people consciously make. I want to discuss why the people who really try, can still fail. What Causes Failure? Part Three of Three Reason number three is the inability for traders to plan and follow up. This is a fairly broad topic, I agree. However, it has to be in there as one of the top three. Again, these three are not in any particular order. Yes, all of these topics are somewhat interrelated. Many may argue that this one is the most important. But what good is a plan, if you do not have the discipline to follow it in the first place? What good is a plan, if it is so expansive no one can review it accurately to see if it was followed? When I talk about planning, I am not talking about planning with a small letter 'p'. I am not talking about preparing a watchlist for the day, or checking the earnings schedule. I am talking about planning the a big letter 'P'. I am talking about the Trading Plan. When I talk about a Trading Plan, I mean a very detailed plan or what you are allowed to trade every day, when and how you trade it, how you enter, how you mange, when you can change it, what strategies, and all the money management rules. If you day trade without a trading plan you follow religiously every day, you WILL fail. You 'may' survive as a swing trader, depending on your background. The other half of this third reason for failure is the inability to follow up. No Trading Plan is worth anything if it is not followed. Closing Comments: This is the end of this three part series. To be sure, the number one reason traders fail is they do not receive a quality education. That is what we do at Pristine, provide the best education in the business. What I wanted to address here is, even after the education, why do some still fail. Lack of discipline, lack of focus, and the failure to create a trading plan and to follow up to make sure those first three are in place. That sums it up. Do you have these three eliminated? Eliminate these three reasons to fail, and you will have an outstanding chance for success. Paul Lange Vice President of Services Pristine Capital Holdings, Inc. http://www.pristine.com/images/educator_plange.jpg
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Bear Markets show that investors lack optimism on the strength of the economy and expect asset prices to for the medium to long term. Downtrend are generally defined as when prices continue to make lower highs and lower lows and when this happens in excess relative to the historical averages, markets are said to be in a bearish trend.
