Jump to content

Welcome to the new Traders Laboratory! Please bear with us as we finish the migration over the next few days. If you find any issues, want to leave feedback, get in touch with us, or offer suggestions please post to the Support forum here.

  • Welcome Guests

    Welcome. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest which does not give you access to all the great features at Traders Laboratory such as interacting with members, access to all forums, downloading attachments, and eligibility to win free giveaways. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. Create a FREE Traders Laboratory account here.

thetradingdoctor

The Role of Intuition In Trading

Recommended Posts

I am interested in learning how you feel about the importance of intuition in your trading? I am aware that certain studies have been done in FOREX traders that indicate that emotions or feelings played a very large role in determining what positions traders would take. If you ask these traders why they took this position in the dollar or the euro or some currency, they will tell you that they "had a gut feeling" about it, or "had a dream" about it, or it just "felt right."

 

I realize that the subject of intuition does not get a lot of respect. One reason is that is difficult to quantify. It is highly personal. Many traders keep it a secret because it is almost a kind of taboo.

 

What do you think about your own trading, particuarly in the FX markets?

 

What role, if any, does intuition play in your decisions?

 

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Nice one Janice...

 

On my experience this intuition DID work in terms of being inspired to a certain idea of research... did happen ALWAYS, 90 minutes before really waking up from night sleep... in a sense of semi-sleep... then showering, I always start my day with a very long shower... 40 mins sometimes, my ideas from semi-sleep start to get drawed on my shower wall... from there on Janice all my aproach in my ofice its pure technical... no instincts... thats my input on my experience... cheers The Chimp.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a facinating subject doctor Janice. To me intuition is a factor in my trading decisions. I don't know the science behind it, and I don't solely rely on it. But I respect it. I heard there are cases of people whose photographic memories are so accurate that they have trouble recognizing the same people because of the minor changes in their appearance. Perhaps a task of the subconscious mind is to processes various quantitative signals, but in order to protect us from being overwhelmed by them like the example above, it gives us the results in a qualitative intuitive feeling. Perhaps another need for intution is the high amount of energy which is consumbed by quantitative task as opposed to qualitative tasks, energy which was not always so abundant in our species' evolution. Or perhaps humans are linked to other humans, animals, or to the universe in a collective subconscious and our intuition is a result of information gathered from this connection.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I will reply to Walter first and then to Abe sometime tomorrow. The reason for my quick reply to Walter is this: From a physiological standpoint, humans go into what is called Rapid Eye Movement ( REM) sleep. This occurs approximately every ninety minutes and is characterized by specific bodily activity, including but not limited to: rapid respiration, elevated heart rate, relaxation of the antigravity muscles, back and forth ( sacaddic) movements of the eyes , characteristic changes in the EEG brain waves and---dreaming. If you wake a person from this state of sleep, the person will tell you a dream. Also, most deaths from cardiac collapse occur in the early hours of the morning during a period of REM sleep ( this is because of the intense demands on the heart during this time). Walter, it is most likely that you were in REM sleep, i.e. dreaming, at the time you experienced these intuitions. Another, less possible explanation is that you were in a state of what is known as hypnopompic hallucination ( a semi-sleep that occurs shortly before awakening). I think the more likely situation is that you actually were dreaming, thus your intuitions ( that were then transferred onto the shower wall) came to you in a dream.

 

What do you think about this, Walter?

 

PLease let me hear from others about the source of your intuitions and how they have impacted your trading?

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I think the more likely situation is that you actually were dreaming, thus your intuitions ( that were then transferred onto the shower wall) came to you in a dream.

 

What do you think about this, Walter?

 

PLease let me hear from others about the source of your intuitions and how they have impacted your trading?

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

 

 

I will have to agree Janice I was sleeping, I actually wasnt awake... after that I did awake...

 

Could all the great info loaded on my mind lately (during work time) could be organized into some good ideas during sleep ?... I believe this is just amazing... I am each time more impressed with human body and mind ¡¡...

 

My question now is, why would our mind choose that state of sleep to organize ideas ? whats the edge for the brain there ?... thanks Janice for this interaction, I just Love it ¡¡¡ cheers Walter.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What role, if any, does intuition play in your decisions?

Thanks!

Doctor Janice

 

Doc - I personally never found much use of following your intuition since the majority of the time the crowd mentality is wrong. Unless you are able to discern the difference between when the crowd is wrong and right, it's a losing proposition in my opinion.

 

Here's what I mean - give a trader access to a dom and that's it. Tell them to trade their gut and I think more often than not you'll find the account down substantially at some point. I"m sure there are some that can trade from their gut and do well, but I would think that more often than not it's a losing proposition.

 

For anyone interested in testing this out, open up your simulation dom and have at it. Of course once you are learned in different tech analysis, you will always 'see' certain things even if you try not to. Once your eyes and brain have been trained to find certain patterns or formations, you will search them out even if you try to fight it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I will have to agree Janice I was sleeping, I actually wasnt awake... after that I did awake...

 

Could all the great info loaded on my mind lately (during work time) could be organized into some good ideas during sleep ?... I believe this is just amazing... I am each time more impressed with human body and mind ¡¡...

 

My question now is, why would our mind choose that state of sleep to organize ideas ? whats the edge for the brain there ?... thanks Janice for this interaction, I just Love it ¡¡¡ cheers Walter.

 

 

One idea about this is that the brain is freed from all sensory input during sleep. This allows time for the brain to process all the information that has come in during the day and the brain did not have the time or the ability to process. Freud was a pioneer in the study of sleep, but he did not know about the various stages and the EEG and REM sleep. Here is a short history of theories about dreams:

 

I: Sigmund Freud theorized that dreams were vital keys to unlocking the mysteries of an individual's personality, motivations, and the overall psyche.

He first used the term "interpretation" to refer to the unscrambling of dream content.

 

II: In 1977, Alan Hobson and Robert McCarley published research which argued that dreams were random, meaningless activities carried out by the nerve cells in the sleeping brain. They called this theory Activation Synthesis Theory. However, a few years later Alan Hobson changed his mind and reported that it seems that dreams have important personal significance to the dreamer.

 

Today, some psychologists believe that dreams are an Extension of Waking Life and that in our dreams we express our emotional concerns and most private thoughts.

 

III: Dr. Stephen La Berge conducted extensive research on Lucid Dreaming and wrote popular books on the topic. Lucid Dreaming occurs only 1 to 2 percent of time during REM sleep. It is the type of dreaming in which an individual is aware that he or she is dreaming. Dr. LaBerge concluded that the purpose of this type of a dream is to make the dreamer aware of something important. With practice we can direct our lucid dreams and improve our ability to navigate through them.

 

 

 

I do not know where you are in your spiritual practice, Walter, but have a look at this and let me know if it gives any insight. If it does not, I will take you in another direction. http://pune.sancharnet.in/nariphaltan/dreams.pdf

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
This is a facinating subject doctor Janice. To me intuition is a factor in my trading decisions. I don't know the science behind it, and I don't solely rely on it. But I respect it. I heard there are cases of people whose photographic memories are so accurate that they have trouble recognizing the same people because of the minor changes in their appearance. Perhaps a task of the subconscious mind is to processes various quantitative signals, but in order to protect us from being overwhelmed by them like the example above, it gives us the results in a qualitative intuitive feeling. Perhaps another need for intution is the high amount of energy which is consumbed by quantitative task as opposed to qualitative tasks, energy which was not always so abundant in our species' evolution. Or perhaps humans are linked to other humans, animals, or to the universe in a collective subconscious and our intuition is a result of information gathered from this connection.

 

 

This is a very powerful and thoughtful post, Abe. The way the brain is constructed, there are two main pathways for processing decisions. One is rapid and emotional and is the limbic or rat brain. It is largely subsconscious and intuitive or instinctive. The other is the new brain--the cerebral cortex.

This is analytic, non-emotional, logical and linear. The rat brain is a very fast processor and can completely take over the new brain-- especially in situations where one is bombarded with large amounts of conflicting information ( eg, during the trading day). Under these circumstances, the new brain "defaults" into the rat brain and the decision is made based on emotion. It is only later, perhaps in quiet, down time or in sleep when the new brain is has time to think about what the old brain has done without thinking.

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Doc - I personally never found much use of following your intuition since the majority of the time the crowd mentality is wrong. Unless you are able to discern the difference between when the crowd is wrong and right, it's a losing proposition in my opinion.

 

Here's what I mean - give a trader access to a dom and that's it. Tell them to trade their gut and I think more often than not you'll find the account down substantially at some point. I"m sure there are some that can trade from their gut and do well, but I would think that more often than not it's a losing proposition.

 

For anyone interested in testing this out, open up your simulation dom and have at it. Of course once you are learned in different tech analysis, you will always 'see' certain things even if you try not to. Once your eyes and brain have been trained to find certain patterns or formations, you will search them out even if you try to fight it.

 

This is a good point, brownsfan and it gets back to what we know about the stages of trading competence. If a trader is unconsciously competent, the trader "knows" what to look for and what to do. I heard a story once about a guy that used to come down to the exchange in the 1940's. He looked like a bum--unshaven, dirty, smelly. He walked into the exchange, put an empty coke bottle against his ear and placed a trade. He said he got the message from the coke bottle. His trades were amazing-- very profitable and the others sitting around the exchange tried to figure out how he did it. They never could.

 

You are right about the masses, but it is important to understand that you are unique and your intuition might not be the same as that of someone else.

 

Then...there is that famous dart board. What about that? Statistically speaking, stocks are not serially correlated. That means there is an equal chance for the stock to go down as there is for it to go up. Where is the real skill in trading? What is the real skill in trading? Is it the implicit knowledge that comes from seeing patterns over and over again and acting on them? Are there trading savants? Why do some people just seem to "get it?" while others struggle for years and years?

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

III: Dr. Stephen La Berge conducted extensive research on Lucid Dreaming and wrote popular books on the topic. Lucid Dreaming occurs only 1 to 2 percent of time during REM sleep. It is the type of dreaming in which an individual is aware that he or she is dreaming. Dr. LaBerge concluded that the purpose of this type of a dream is to make the dreamer aware of something important. With practice we can direct our lucid dreams and improve our ability to navigate through them.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

 

Well thats interesting Janice... you see most of my dreams, and I dream a lot, Beautifull Dreams ¡¡¡ great places ¡¡ great circumstances.. I just have a really delightfull dreaming life... in ALL of them I am somehow aware that I am dreaming...

 

About my spiritual life I am in a more conservative non-esoteric relation with God... and thats the God from the Holy Bible... and Jesus his Son... knowing him has made my life completly diferent... thats where all the true Joy and blessings come to me... if this Spiritual condition in my relationship with God interferes with the quality of my dreams, I believe it does, as I live on a permanent state of peace... not that I dont have problems as any other person, just that I am in a great inner peace...

 

Thanks Janice for this great thread... love to interact ¡¡ cheers Walter.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
This is a very powerful and thoughtful post, Abe. The way the brain is constructed, there are two main pathways for processing decisions. One is rapid and emotional and is the limbic or rat brain. It is largely subsconscious and intuitive or instinctive. The other is the new brain--the cerebral cortex.

This is analytic, non-emotional, logical and linear. The rat brain is a very fast processor and can completely take over the new brain-- especially in situations where one is bombarded with large amounts of conflicting information ( eg, during the trading day). Under these circumstances, the new brain "defaults" into the rat brain and the decision is made based on emotion. It is only later, perhaps in quiet, down time or in sleep when the new brain is has time to think about what the old brain has done without thinking.

 

What do you think?

 

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

 

It's very interesting Dr. Janice. Thanks for your expertise.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Then...there is that famous dart board. What about that? Statistically speaking, stocks are not serially correlated. That means there is an equal chance for the stock to go down as there is for it to go up. Where is the real skill in trading? What is the real skill in trading? Is it the implicit knowledge that comes from seeing patterns over and over again and acting on them? Are there trading savants? Why do some people just seem to "get it?" while others struggle for years and years?

 

Thanks!

Doctor Janice

 

Doc - in a theoretical sense, I agree that there really isn't anything to trading as the position has a 50/50 chance of working when you take the trade. The problem arises when that human emotion kicks in and/or if you let intuition take over in my opinion.

 

I'm sure there are some trading savants out there that we will never know of, but since this is such a rarity is why the rest of us look for those reliable, repeatable patterns that you mentioned. I think most traders do this simply b/c we know our intuition in and of itself is just not enough. From there, it's simply a matter of finding that 'edge' and exploiting it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Doc - in a theoretical sense, I agree that there really isn't anything to trading as the position has a 50/50 chance of working when you take the trade. The problem arises when that human emotion kicks in and/or if you let intuition take over in my opinion.

 

I'm sure there are some trading savants out there that we will never know of, but since this is such a rarity is why the rest of us look for those reliable, repeatable patterns that you mentioned. I think most traders do this simply b/c we know our intuition in and of itself is just not enough. From there, it's simply a matter of finding that 'edge' and exploiting it.

 

 

Good points, here brownsfan. What do we do when we trade? We look for patterns that repeat. Our edge is in pattern recognition and the disciplined execution of the trade. I am coming to believe that a large part of what is called "trading intuition" is built into the brain syanptic strategy that underlies the fourth of five stages of mastery. That stage is called "unconscious competence." I will send an article to James that describes the stages of competence ( in case anyone needs a refresher or reminder). Thanks for this post brownsfan and please let me hear from others?

Thanks!

 

Doctor Janice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am interested on that article... "unconcious competence"... certainly Janice if we did not had that, trading would be devastatingly stressfull... I like the autopilot concept and for shure it does not mean that we previously didnt need an "entrainment" founded on good solid technical arguments... thats why that instinct does not necesarily denies technical preparation, all of the contrary, I believe that instinct comes from your technical background... hope you understand me :crap: cheers The chimp...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Ask and ye shall receive, Walter! Article: So You Think You Can Trade?

has been posted, thanks to James.

 

Doctor Janice

 

Once again, you are spoiling me Doc ¡¡

 

for your amusement some chimp stuff , enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cheers The chimp.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Topics

  • Posts

    • GFL Environmental stock, watch for a top of range breakout at https://stockconsultant.com/?GFL
    • PLBY Group stock watch, nice trend with a pullback to 1.83 gap support area, bullish indicators at https://stockconsultant.com/?PLBY
    • Date: 24th February 2025.   German Markets Surge as Friedrich Merz Set To Be Chancellor, Euro Gains on Fiscal Shift   Germany’s stock index futures and the euro rallied after opposition leader Friedrich Merz secured victory. Investors expect a shift toward increased government spending. US-China trade tensions rise as Trump tightens restrictions on Chinese investments. AI optimism fuels Chinese tech stocks despite regulatory concerns. Nvidia’s earnings report on Wednesday is expected to impact market volatility. German Markets React to Election Results Germany’s stock market and currency experienced a sharp rally in Asian trading after conservative leader Friedrich Merz won the country’s federal election. This victory aligns with pre-election polls and signals a potential departure from Germany’s traditionally strict fiscal policies. Futures tied to the DAX Index surged as much as 1.5% on Monday, recovering from early losses in a session marked by thin trading volume. Meanwhile, the euro strengthened against most major currencies, climbing 0.7% against the U.S. dollar. Market analysts believe Merz’s leadership could mark the end of Germany’s tight fiscal stance, with expectations that his administration will prioritize economic stimulus. This shift comes at a critical time, as Europe’s largest economy grapples with sluggish growth, geopolitical uncertainties, and the threat of a global trade war under U.S. President Donald Trump. The euro’s strength also reflects optimism that Merz will form a government quickly, which wasn’t a widely held expectation before the election.     US-China Trade Tensions Intensify While European markets gained, US-China trade tensions escalated as Trump ordered stricter regulations on Chinese investments in key sectors, including technology, energy, and infrastructure. The move is part of a broader strategy to limit China’s influence in strategic industries. Although not legally binding, the directive strengthens oversight by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a panel responsible for reviewing foreign acquisitions. JPMorgan strategists warned that this decision could reverse gains in Chinese tech stocks, which had rallied earlier in the year. Despite geopolitical headwinds, Chinese technology stocks have posted strong gains this year, largely driven by optimism in artificial intelligence (AI) and key policy shifts. The market remains under-owned by global investors, suggesting potential for further capital inflows. The growing AI industry has helped offset risks from US tariffs, with investor sentiment remaining bullish on leading Chinese firms like Alibaba and Tencent. Chinese officials reacted strongly, with Vice Premier He Lifeng raising concerns about Trump’s recent 10% tariff hike on Chinese goods in a call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Additionally, sources revealed that Trump’s administration urged Mexico to impose tariffs on Chinese imports as part of broader trade negotiations.   Despite these challenges, investor focus remains on Nvidia’s earnings report on Wednesday, a key event that could drive market volatility.   Gold Nears Record Highs on Inflation and Central Bank Demand Gold prices held near $2,940 an ounce, just shy of last week’s record, as ETF inflows surged and the US dollar weakened. The precious metal is on its longest winning streak since 2020, fueled by rising inflation expectations and mounting geopolitical uncertainties under Trump’s administration. Lower US Treasury yields have also boosted bullion’s appeal, with traders now expecting the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut in July rather than September. Markets will closely watch Friday’s inflation data, a key indicator for Fed policy direction. Final Thoughts Markets are reacting to a mix of political and economic shifts, with Germany’s election outcome boosting European equities while US-China trade tensions create uncertainty for Asian markets. Investors will be closely monitoring fiscal policy changes in Germany, Nvidia’s earnings, and further trade developments for insights into market direction. For more financial market insights and updates, stay tuned. Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report. Click HERE to access the full HFM Economic calendar. Want to learn to trade and analyse the markets? Join our webinars and get analysis and trading ideas combined with better understanding of how markets work. Click HERE to register for FREE! Click HERE to READ more Market news.   Andria Pichidi HFMarkets Disclaimer: This material is provided as a general marketing communication for information purposes only and does not constitute an independent investment research. Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of buying or selling of any financial instrument. All information provided is gathered from reputable sources and any information containing an indication of past performance is not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future performance. Users acknowledge that any investment in Leveraged Products is characterized by a certain degree of uncertainty and that any investment of this nature involves a high level of risk for which the users are solely responsible and liable. We assume no liability for any loss arising from any investment made based on the information provided in this communication. This communication must not be reproduced or further distributed without our prior written permission.
    • INO Inovio Pharmaceuticals stock, holding strong, watch for a bottom breakout above 2.36 at https://stockconsultant.com/?INO
    • Date: 21st February 2025.   European PMI Disappoint, Weighing on Euro Before German Elections   The Euro is the first currency to witness the volatility on this month’s PMI reports. The French, German and British PMI data have resulted in the Euro being the worst-performing currency of the European Session so far. However, will the Euro continue to decline throughout the day? European Purchasing Managers’ Indexes The French Purchasing Managers Index was the first European index to be made public. The release resulted in the Euro instantly declining 0.24%. The main concern from the French data was the Services PMI which fell from 48.2 to 44.5. Previously the market was expecting the data to remain more or less unchanged. The weak data triggered the decline which came to a halt after Germany’s PMI was released.     The German Manufacturing PMI read 0.5 points higher than previous expectations and the Services PMI was 0.2 points lower. The data from Germany was a relief for Euro investors and the price rose 0.12% higher. However, traders should note that the price of the EURUSD continues to remain 0.20% lower than yesterday’s close. The price of the EURUSD will now depend on the PMI data from the US. The value of the US Dollar will depend on its PMI release this afternoon and the Consumer Sentiment Index. Analysts expect both the US Services and Manufacturing PMI data to remain above the 50.00 level in the expansion zone. German Elections 2 Days Away Germany is set to hold a general election this Sunday, February 23rd, following the collapse of the coalition of social democrats, liberals, and greens. Given the country's highly proportional electoral system, German polls provide a strong indication of potential government formations post-election. The main concern for Germany is the AFD party who are Far-Right Nationalists. Currently, ahead in the polls are CDU (centre-right), and AFD (far right), followed by the SPD (centre-left). Traders should note that the results of the elections are likely to trigger strong volatility on Monday, but also influence volatility today. Economists may become further concerned if the far-right gains power for the first time due to uncertainty. If the government, similar to France, is unable to form a coalition, this would also be a concern for the Eurozone. Furthermore, the Euro this week is also under pressure from comments from members of the European Central Bank. ECB Governing Council member Fabio Panetta said to journalists that officials need not slow interest rate cuts, as January's 2.5% inflation is still expected to reach the 2.0% target this year. He also advised the European economy is weaker than previously expected. EURUSD - Technical Analysis and Indicators The EURUSD is trading above the 75-bar Exponential Moving Average and 100-bar Simple Moving Average on the 2-hour chart. However, the price is moving away from the key resistance level at 1.05058 indicating the price is losing momentum. The short-term volatility is indicating the price is retracing downwards. On the 5-minute timeframe, the price is trading below the 200-bar SMA and is also forming clear lower lows and highs. Simultaneously, the US Dollar Index is trading above the 200-bar SMA on the 5-minute chart confirming no current conflicts. Currently, the US Dollar is the best-performing currency of the day attempting to regain losses from the past 2 weeks. Watch today’s Live Analysis Session for more signals as they develop!   Key Takeaway Points: Weak French Services PMI triggered an initial Euro decline, but German PMI provide a slight relief. However, EURUSD remains lower than yesterday’s close. The Euro’s direction now depends on the US PMI reports, with analysts expecting US data to stay in expansion territory. Sunday's German election could drive volatility, especially if the far-right AFD gains power or if coalition formation proves difficult. ECB official Fabio Panetta suggested no need to slow rate cuts, citing weaker-than-expected economic performance and expected inflation decline. Always trade with strict risk management. Your capital is the single most important aspect of your trading business.   Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report.   Click HERE to access the full HFM Economic calendar.   Want to learn to trade and analyse the markets? Join our webinars and get analysis and trading ideas combined with better understanding of how markets work. Click HERE to register for FREE!   Click HERE to READ more Market news.   Michalis Efthymiou HFMarkets   Disclaimer: This material is provided as a general marketing communication for information purposes only and does not constitute an independent investment research. Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of buying or selling of any financial instrument. All information provided is gathered from reputable sources and any information containing an indication of past performance is not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future performance. Users acknowledge that any investment in Leveraged Products is characterized by a certain degree of uncertainty and that any investment of this nature involves a high level of risk for which the users are solely responsible and liable. We assume no liability for any loss arising from any investment made based on the information provided in this communication. This communication must not be reproduced or further distributed without our prior written permission.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.