TIC Report and my CAD position

TIC data was released at 9 this morning and it was less than
forecasted.  Net foreign purchases of long-term securities were
$69.8 billion.  The forecast was for 80.2B.  I thought that
this would have been bearish for the dollar but the dollar took off
after the release.  I scratch my head sometimes and wonder why
what I thought would happen didn't.  Either way, I don't care
which direction the price goes because I was waiting for a channel
break either up or down.

The dollar did well overnight and my
long USD/CAD position was up about 70 pips during European session
trading.   Ahead of the NY session and the TIC report release,
some of the dollar gains were given back this morning.  I had
moved up my stop this morning to 1.1143.  I entered at
1.098.  The USD/CAD actually hit the .250 fibonacci at 1.1175 and
then bounced off.  This is where having multiple lots would have
helped.  I was watching  3 fibonacci levels:

.250 = 1.1175           .382=1.1280             .500=1.1374

If
I had entered with 3 lots, I would have placed a stop order at the .250
for the 1st lot and held on to the other 2.  This is all in
hindsight but something I thought about when entering this
position.  Either way, when the prices started consolidating a bit
this morning, I was stopped out at 1.1143 for a profit of 45
pips.  Should I have held on to the position longer? I don't
know.  I didn't want to give back all the gains if the dollar
started to get pounded again.  I figure I can go long again on a
break above the
.250 fib.

Popularity: 3%

Asian Session May 8th

Journal Entry

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I decided to trade the Asian session and shorted the USD/JPY.  I was just stopped out at 0 profit/loss. 

I shorted the pair on a break of the support trendline and a break of RSI trendline.  It was good entry execution.  I waited for the price to break the trendline and then waited for the 15 minute candle to close.  After I was up 20 pips, I moved my stop to break even at 111.52.  My limit was still 111.05, right above a lower support line.  The trade was up as much as 28 pips where I typically would have closed the position.  Tonight, I wanted to show a little restraint and patience so I waited.  The pair never made it back down before stopping me out for a scratch.  

Should I have taken the 28 pip profit? Would you have?  

Popularity: 3%

First Trade 1 PIP Profit!

OK.  I closed out the GBP/USD position with a 1 pip profit for 2 reasons:

1. European session is over
2. All major currency pairs are consolidating in expectation of US economic reports this morning.

I couldn't set the limit to close out the pair at break-even so I performed it manually.  That is why I profited 1 pip.

Good thing I did.  The pair moved upwards 20 pips right after I closed it.   

I'll regroup and see if any setups emerge during the next couple of hours.

Popularity: 4%

First Post Booker Trade

I opened my first "post booker" trade this morning at 4:15 a.m. in the GBP/USD following a break of the lower channel at 1.7849.  Since then is has worked itself against me a bit barely stopping my position out.  As of 4:42 a.m., my position is still open.  Of course it would be nice to come out on top in my first trade since starting 1 on 1 training but we'll have to wait and see.

There are some economic reports coming out of Eurozone and Germany during the current session along with U.S. Consumer Confidence and Existing home sales at 10:00 a.m. EST.  I'm off to the gym at 5 a.m. and will try to pick up the US session at 7 a.m. this morning (My routine sounds like Raghee Horner's.)  She has stated that she sometimes looks at European session action before going to the gym and then concentrates on the US session.  I was going to the gym before all of this so I don't want everyone to think I'm trying to fanatically emulate her behavior though if this is what it took to consistently be profitable, I would do it.

Popularity: 2%

Momentum Divergence in the EUR/JPY

An observation from Learn::Forex that may pique your interest.

Euro/JPY has our attention…

Why? 

Notice
on a Daily chart we are attempting to push up into the zone of 145.00
although the momentum is clearly beginning to fall off. This is again
confirmed with the 120 minute chart as well. This combine with the
resistance area we are looking for a short opportunity anywhere from
current price up to a retest of the 144.80/145.00 zone. Targets on the
short side are 143.00 and if we get a clear break of 143.00 we could
have a second target of 142.00. We would look to place a stop up above
the 145.00 level.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popularity: 2%

Booker Analysis for Upcoming Week

Rob Booker for AUD/USD (4-hour chart):

I am considering two trades on this pair:

1. On a break below the redline, I think we can get all the way to the 38% retracement at .7219.  A break of that level should take us as far as .7180.
2. I would really like to see a resumption of the uptrend that we were in before – and this would happen above .7350.  On a break above that level, even to .7365, I like a long trade, stop .7300, target at least .7500.  More on that if the trade opens.

 

 

 

 

 

Popularity: 2%

Eliminating Five Basic Mistakes

There was a webinar titled, "Eliminating Five Basic Mistakes from your Analysis" this week presented by Ian Copsey.  I found this webinar and the corresponding Powerpoint presentation very useful because I have been guilty of these mistakes.  Before I summarize and attach the powerpoint presentation (I also converted it to PDF), who is Ian Copsey??

According to the moderator, Ian Copsey is one of the foremost FX technical analysts in the world,
with over 20 years experience in financial markets. He began his career
in Barclays Bank’s FX trading room in 1982 then moved to head their FX
sales desk in Hong Kong in 1988 where he spent almost 5 years.

Either way the guy has got experience and that's what counts.  

So what are the 5 basic mistakes and also the verdict of whether I'm guilty or not of making such a mistake? 

1. Trend Line Drawing Mistakes  Verdict: GUILTY
• Use 3 touch guideline.  By waiting for 3 touches, the trendline becomes stronger and more reliable 
2. Double Tops and Double Bottoms  Verdict: GUILTY
• WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION which comes on break of peak or trough
3. Head and Shoulders  Verdict: GUILTY
• Wait for Completion of pattern
4. Momentum Indicators  Verdict: mistrial
   
• Momentum studies are not meant to be used in trending markets
• Use ADX/DMI to determine trend then use 2 other methods to determine better trading opportunities
1. More sensitive version of RSI
2. Breaks of momentum trend lines
• After a trend, when should momentum indicators be used?
• When there is a divergence
• a divergence is not a reversal signal and trades should not be based on the fact the divergence has occurred.  Look for other signals such as:
1. A break of trend line
2. break of a pattern
3. break of sequence of high and lows
5. Confirm your analysis  Verdict: GUILTY
• What kind of complementary techniques are available?
1. momentum - used in consolidation and divergence after trends
2. trend line breaks
3. fibonacci projections from elliott wave
4. pattern breaks
5. time cycles

The PDF or powerpoint presentation is really worth the quick 15 minute read.

 eliminating 5 common trading mistakes 08/04/2006,11:23 952.99 Kb

 Eliminating Five Basic Mistakes 08/04/2006,11:31 1.17 Mb

Popularity: 3%

Week 17 Performance

I have nothing to report this week because I didn’t make a trade.  As I said in my previous post, in between everyday responsibilities and being sick, I didn’t have any motivation to sit in front of a computer screen.

If you don’t trade, you can’t lose but you can’t win either.  I want to mention an excellent NEW article I read this week regarding money management.  Before I give the link, there was some pretty powerful substance to this article that I want to post:

Put two rookie traders in front of the screen, provide them with your best high-probability set-up, and for good measure, have each one take the opposite side of the trade. More than likely, both will wind up losing money. However, if you take two pros and have them trade in the opposite direction of each other, quite frequently both traders will wind up making money - despite the seeming contradiction of the premise.

Note that a trader would have to earn 100% on his or her capital - a feat accomplished by less than 1% of traders worldwide - just to break even on an account with a 50% loss. At 75% drawdown, the trader must quadruple his or her account just to bring it back to its original equity - truly a Herculean task! 

I would recommend you check out this article.  It really does drill home the money management principle.

Money Management Matters 

Popularity: 2%

Designing a Profitable System

Thanks to Greg for a great post.  Read this.

I believe anyone can design a profitable system, as long as one understands market principles, what goes up, must come down faster. Twice as long to go up and half as much time to come down. I believe that if I am short the market, I need to trail my stops tighter to lock in profit than when I am in a long position. As for as my original stop, all my systems risk the same amount — small. I use to believe that the 3% rule was nonsense with a $10k account. But in the S&P and currencies, I daytrade with less than 2%. I simply cannot get wiped out that way and my profits are at least twice as much the risk in the S&P when trading one contract.

How much am I going to make? I am asked that repeatedly. I can always tell how much experience a trader has by that question. It is not what you make that is important, but what one does not lose. After I have a profit of so many pips in a daytrade, the most important ingredient to my trading takes place, the break-even stop. I have not read any books giving much attention to this concept. What a stressless (for the most part) feeling it is after I am at break-even.

The best way to trade is to find something simple, that works most everywhere and then become very consistent in your approach. Develop your own system, test it, then stick with it. Other people’s systems may work well for them, but probably will not be compatible with your psychological make-up."

* * *
From Successful Anonymous Trader:

You simply cannot have any confidence if you do not have a method or way of identifying trades along with money management guidelines. You’re lost in the woods, so so speak. I was there for many years. What did I do? This may help a lot of you:

I threw out 99% of all the crap I learned about oscillators, divergences, Elliott Wave, cycles, timing, seasonals, Gann, pitchforks, volume, Fractals, RSI, stochastics, overbought/oversold (this is a good one–the stock indexes, currencies and cotton for example everyone said were overbought and topping in February and March this year). Look at what they did. Needless to say, I don’t pay any attention to this anymore either, etc., etc. The list goes on to infinity almost. I went back to the basics. I went back to simple chart patterns, (a simple moving average and trendline now and then for a visual aid.)

I came up with a low risk money management plan and put it together with trading with the trend and, presto, an effective and time tested trading plan. The plan is simple and has worked since trading began and will last me a lifetime. What a relief not to have to spend countless hours every night trying to find a ndw way to trade. I am sick and tired of that after 7-years.

I believe at becoming an expert at one market nd its behavior and then putting all your skills and energy to work in a concern(traded) manner. Get good at that market and trade the heck out of it. Increase your size over time and you’ll make more money with less effort. There are lots of professionals that do this. Look at some floor traders or locals that stay in the pit for many years trading one market exclusively.

One thing that I have learned this year, is that I am trying to cut back on the number of trades I take and be more selective and not trade in congestion as much as I did before. I miss some good trades out of congestion, but I save myself a lot of mental energy, buy myself some more free time during the day, and get better and more profitable trades.

My attitude is changing now to one or two good trades, and that is all I need to make my week ( a triple or a home run, so to speak). There are plenty of them during any given week.

Trading is fun. Once you have a method and money management in place, it allows you to concentrate on trading and not on searching and researching. That gets old and frustrating. Make it your goal to find a simple method for next year. One thing that you can hang your hat on will last you a lifetime. Trading is simple. Remember that it’s the Execution or Implementation of your trading plan that is the bigger challenge.

Most people make finding the method a big challenge. That is because there is so much junk thrown at traders. They feel like a child in a candy store and have to try every doodad in the place. When they are done, they are sick and never want to see another candy store (trading gizmo) again. They could have had the palin piece of milk chocolate at the front of the store (simple method price patterns) which would have done everything they desired and fulfilled all their needs.

I wish to all a great new year. I hope some will be able to end their journey in search of the holy grail or indicator that will turn their life around. Search for simplicity. You will be surprised what has been right under your nose all the time, right there in front of you on the chart or price bars. Pay attention to what they say they will will tell you everything. You need to listen and get to know them. It can be that simple.

Commodity Traders Club News (1997)

Popularity: 2%

Rob Booker Analysis Today

This information is already stale but good for those of you who want exposure to Rob Booker’s style. 

GBP/USD 1 Hour Chart 

Friday, the pair broke below the redline, and created a really nice short trade.  Here’s what I would consider now: a short trade on a break below the low of Friday, with a target of EITHER of the blue lines shown below.  The lowest blue line is the more aggressive target.  One way to handle this is to initiate the position immediately on a break below Friday’s low, then move the stop loss to break even when the pair hits the FIRST blue line below.  Then use the lowest blue line as the profit target.

 

 

 

Popularity: 2%

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