Intermediate Beginner - on Right Track?

[pastthepost 10]

Am I on the right track?

 

Years ago, I spent several months reading and trying to get into trading but eventually gave up out of frustration and distraction. Nonetheless, I learnt a bit and got an idea of the general overview of trading. I'm a bit longer in the tooth now and need to think a bit more conservatively about the future.

 

Anyway, I'll give an overview of how far I managed to progress.

 

I started off learning esignal, which I'm sure is familiar to some on here. They had a feature on their software called the 'Rally Scan', which basically compiled a list of the day's biggest stock movers in the morning on the main indices with a view to riding the trend for the day ('Trend is Your Friend').

 

There was another website, which I think was run by some English speaking Chinese, which focused specifically on analysing volume data with regard to trades. Obviously, understanding volume is crucial to successful trading.

 

I eventually came across this site http://www.programtrading.com/index.html which gave advice on the Emini (ES) and the PREM (program trading) though I never really figured out how to use this information aside from the fact it's just a historical analysis of stock movements day by day depending on the time of year.

 

I have a basic understanding of the indicators but have not really practised with them.

 

I also understand the long/short positions on futures are supposed to be used as an indicator of bullish feeling on a stock.

 

I mean, if the trend is your friend, let's suppose I pick a stock in the morning that's moved up a few % at the start of the day. I look at the stock and decide either to place a stop a bit below the start of the day but then I let the position run and move the stop to a trailing stop. I look at the indicators to gauge bullishness. Eventually I let the position run for the day where I either get stopped out (at a profit) or close the position at the end of the day for a profit. Obviously, I can apply the same logic to short positions, and other instruments like the Emini or Forex.

 

This all sounds good in theory but I've not yet done it.

 

I want to develop a day trading style which is mechanical so that I know where I stand inasmuch as the market will allow it. I don't want to have positions lingering overnight.

 

I'm starting off using NinjaTrader because it's free. Obviously, I want to practice what I'm preaching before I commit any real money.

 

Anyway, maybe my head is way in the clouds and I'm trying to run before I can walk but then someone can bring me back down to earth...

[pastthepost 10]

what can I write down on paper that are indisputable facts about the market?

 

Well, I know the markets are artificially manipulated. One example is the UK FTSE index going up post-Brexit in spite of the GBP £ going down since the Brexit.

 

I try to take the view though that the 'trend is your friend'. I mean what other measure for a stock can there be than its price, its range of movement (technical indicators), and the possible future movement (futures?).

 

I remember years ago, I was at an introductory trading course and I met a guy who was throwing money at trading. He was desperate and seemed to have lost all perspective and common sense. It occurred to me then that if he's in that frame of mind he must be doing something seriously wrong and that if I'm uncertain about what the market will do, then I'm doing something wrong. Obviously controlling risk through stops is the solution. Getting good at it obviously requires experience of the market, which I've already stated I don't have.

[zdo 20]

Dang Mits you are being too honest.

You musta not got the memo - Truth in these times is not cool. :rofl:

 

Fwiw, I would temper your volume position a little bit...

ie - one man’s volume is not another man’s volume.

It’s a big ‘voice of trading’ myth that volume is VERY objective data... particularly since most proponents and teachers cannot even acknowledge, let alone build workable frameworks for, multiple simultaneous auctions.

 

These teachers also assume their own vantage of volume (or whatever method) is ubiquitously transferable to everyone and anyone... when in reality only a tiny few students could ever benefit from / apply their perspective...

 

Each trader must align himself to the methods most compatible to his (or her) own nature....

Some methods ... like those closer to the tape... absolutely require working with volume. Other methods, as you so succinctly described, are not helped at all by inclusion of volume data.

 

fwiw, Long ago DBP used to advise traders to learn to identify precise situations (patterns ) when to use volume and to ignore it the rest of the time.

 

A 'one man’s volume is not another man’s volume' example: I get big edges in automated index trading segging out 'market order' volume data... but I got better sense now than to try to teach / sell that to anyone else...

[zdo 20]

Past,

 

(I’ll leave out the discouragement and jump directly into encouragement :rofl: )

 

... Long ago I transitioned to working with those on the 2nd cusp but I still give about 5 minutes a day to 1st cusp traders (mostly via TL). Anyways, way back when I probably worked with about a dozen traders with near equivalent vignettes - basically =

gave up,

now coming back,

using methods ___, ___, and ___...

 

Guess what? The issues initially reported never turned out to be the real issues. The small percentage who dug for the real issues were the only ones who stood a chance. The rest did same things over... got back into the same old internal oscillation patterns ... in just at a new and different time... so

 

What are your real issues?

 

Sincerely wishing you all the best.

 

zdo

[jpennybags 11]

"Am I on the right track?"...

 

In some regards, if you have to ask, then probably not. The first thing that comes to mind is in your language and the use of axioms and platitudes. This leaves the impression that you are not mature in your thinking. At this stage, no one would expect it to be any different... you are what you are at this point in time.

 

I like "Mitsu" (the prior person to address your post) are discretionary traders who don't use indicators in our trading. I won't make the argument either way as to what I do over someone else (just not my thing) and my thoughts on the matter should be taken in that context.

 

Whatever tools you choose to use need to be applied in context with market conditions, and what has just occurred. This kind of mastery over tools can only come with experience. It seems to me that you are not anywhere near that stage. The other item that comes to mind, is that there are two sides to successful trading: "method and madness". Method is actually the easy part of the equation, as any tool properly understood and applied will bring satisfactory results. Madness (your own bullshit and attitudes) is the tough nut to crack, and that solution(s) won't be found in simulation (for most people).

 

So, in short: are you on the right track? You tell me.

[Patuca 13]

For Mit...

 

1) Do you think the amount of money put into an equation has any connection to supply and demand at all?

 

2) Define supply and demand. What creates it?

 

3) Does supply and demand have anything to do with price? If so how?

 

Thanks! Good to see you back. I been have been gone a long time.

[barako 10]

the topic is a year old but from the looks of it and i would say this in relief, you are still trading, yeah lots of things can affect ones trading from manipulation on a large scale etc, which honestly it does happen, nothing is impossible anymore especially in the hands of those who can actually do it, but anyway, we move to where we are at, small scale traders, r retials traders, and try to contain the facts/situation where it is to our advantage, make the best of what info we hae and try to squeeze in a couple of pips profit along the way, and one way or another it should work just fine. we adjust, we move on

[JoelDarr 10]

the topic is a year old but from the looks of it and i would say this in relief, you are still trading, yeah lots of things can affect ones trading from manipulation on a large scale etc, which honestly it does happen, nothing is impossible anymore especially in the hands of those who can actually do it, but anyway, we move to where we are at, small scale traders, r retials traders, and try to contain the facts/situation where it is to our advantage, make the best of what info we hae and try to squeeze in a couple of pips profit along the way, and one way or another it should work just fine. we adjust, we move on

 

I'd say that he is still trading DESPITE reading this thread

[aimhi 10]

I'd say that he is still trading DESPITE reading this thread

 

Yes, or maybe he might be among those who usually fail in the start and left trading.. !