Search results

You're saying that a strangle or straddle eliminates the variable of stock direction? In fact, they are both heavily dependent on stock direction, or lack thereof, and on the timing of both. If you have actually ever traded a straddle, then you know that a stock must make a major move to...

You are correct in both these points, but if followed as they should be, someone with only a 25K account will not possibly be able to generate a living income from position trading. I consider myself to be a very successful position trader, and I would not expect to live off my trading with...

If you are going to enter on pullbacks - which you should - it will improve your trading results if you are always aware of the overall position of the market relative to it's moving average. Simply chart the S&P and run a 10 day EMA. Enter pullback trades only on those days when the S&P is...

Excellent post, Durango. New traders who are attempting to quickly earn a living are up against the strongest barrier of all, and that's their emotions. When you are attempting to support yourself - not to mention a wife and children - it is impossible to ignore the emotional impact on...

Realistic, what? You mean earning a living by trading 20K? If you are prepared to eat beans and cat food for the next two years, and live out of a cardboard box, you may increase your odds beyond the 1 in 5,000 you are facing.

AMT, thanks for posting. I am curious if you use similar parameters for your long ES trades, but in reversal?

Instead of looking for new ways to short, you should be thankful that it's been made more difficult. In this market environment, your opportunities for long profits are far greater.

That's actually a very good point. Thanks for posting.

JERUSALEM (Dow Jones)--The TA-25 Index of blue-chip stocks closed at a three-year high Sunday, shooting up following confirmation that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had been captured. The index, which had been trading up 1.7% before the news, gained 3.4% at the close to 494.90 in heavy...

It will help you in your trading to think in broader terms about what a stochastic is, how it functions, and how it relates to price action. Same holds true with any indicator. Once you have the big picture, you can more easily draw your own conclusions. The problem with taking anyone's...

The last time I took a week's vacation without trading access, I missed more than 15K in trades that made clear signals. So I now always travel with my laptop, and plan my downtime around the market hours. Any lifestyle comes with compromises, and if the independence that trading provides...

Where did you learn your history? From the back of a Cherios box? If Hitler had succeeded in his plans, the Japanese would have opened a Soviet front, and he would have taken Moscow. Then he would have been free to turn his attention to the British, and they would NOT have survived without...

I don't think there is any doubt that China is less repressive, more progressive, and more aligned with our interests now than they were 30 years ago. And this is largely a result of trade, which helps to develop common interests. Trade has always been a good "Trojan Horse" to put us in the...

I've been swing trading a few SSFs to get the feel for them, as some extra punch in an IRA account. Not a good experience. They don't always track the underlying perfectly, the spreads are wide, and the volume is nothing to get excited about. I've even had a few experiences of no bid/ask...

Joe Kernan made what I think is a good point yesterday. The big money - funds, institutions, etc. - have made their money this year and are going to sit on it. Few are into taking new positions. Some tax loss selling and a little repositioning, but that's it. And that's what I'm seeing...

Totally agree. Any trader who wants to play the game of jumping on big gappers or stocks moving hard on news, has to take the consequences. And that OFTEN includes market inefficiences. COCO is on my daily tracking list, and I saw the move as it happened. But despite my itch to get in...

Let's see...4 pts a day for the past 5 months. That was one trade, right? Enter, July 1, 2003. Exit, December 1, 2003.

The best thing you can do to start is spend time sitting right where you are and read through threads on this site. Use the search function. You will find just about every basic trading style covered and discussed. Understand, however, that nobody will lead you to a strategy that is...

Not a good swing candidate. No strong story either long or short. The stock is very overvalued, but then again there are still greater fools buying. So could go up, could go down. Save your money, IMO.

Son, you are free to feel that the responses to your request for information are marked by cynicism, pessimism and sarcasim, but you are way off the mark. They are realistic, and you should be DAMN GLAD that experienced people here have taken time to give you a straight picture of the real...