There are always opportunities but most of the time, nothing is easy (Naz 2000 and GFC crashes excepted). The trick is to utilize the strategy that does best in the environment you're in - something that's easy to say but hard to do consistently.Quote from iceman1:
Anyone who says these are easy markets to trade (particularly options) is dillusional or inexperienced and will likely fail at a later date. Sure, if you are a total gambler in the strictest sense of that concept and just hit the button for buy or sell etc. on whim or emotionally with little to no idea or plan, then in the ST you might make some $$.
These markets are hard to trade IMHO, other than for plungers who might do well for a month or three, and then lose it all later by reason of becoming complacent with the easy money "earned." I expect some long term traders and veterans feel that way.
I am not saying you cannot make money with this volatility; but trading options to do so in this environment is 2xs or 3xs, as hard. ST swings make no sense. I can't even hold a position for a week without risking getting shaken out or perhaps being tempted to take a profit that I had no intention to do so when I employed the option strategy 5 days earlier.
I just wonder if anyone else (i.e. discretionary position traders or swing trader) is somewhat frustrated, or see these markets as great opportunities.
In terms of volatility, it depends on what strategy you're trading. I love volatility. A collapsing market is the best (eg. '08-'09). Zig zag volatility is also good (the past 2 months). But trading in a box is brutally boring (first 6 months of this year) - slow days where it's like watching wallpaper dry (yawn).
