Quote from risktaker:
Yes! But it's such a screwey theory that I rarely use it anymore.
It seemed to have worked *perfectly* in the 1984-1988 periods in the Dow. It worked well again in 1990-1992 and 1995-2000.
In other years, the counts can get mangled in many different ways. That's not to say, it's completely useless but many times you're actually better off not even paying attention to it.
Most 'practitioners' always disagree on just about every wave count, so what's the point of arguing about who is 'right' when/if it sometimes takes weeks or months to establish a proper count?
I was a firm believer in the theory several years ago, but subsequently decided that it was useless to *make* money in the markets. Only good in hindsight. Try taking your hindsight or alternate counts to the bank!
People who try to use EW have yet to figure out what trading is all about. It's not about 'predicting' with some theory and all the endless alternating counts. It's more about finding some edge and exploiting it to the 'nth degree.
Hi!
I agree! In the 1980's to 1990's it worked perfectly in the Dow for me as well. You mentioned, by exclusion: 1988 - 1990, and 1993 - 1995 the counts got mangled?
1988 - 1990: as I recall the 1987 crash did not end the correction, it ended in December 1987. I imagine that threw many people off.
1993 - 1995: Definitely was tricky, as the impulse waves looked like threes instead of fives...agree?
Yes, there seems to be a non-consensus as to how waves should be counted. I think there are two reasons: one; most have never done the historical reseach to prove or disprove the theory, and two; most try to bias the count to confirm their fundamental suspicions about the economy...these second ones fail to understand that all the fundamentals current/near future are already embedded in the waves.
LOL, if hindsight could be deposited we'd all be rich. I feel EW is best used in intermediate and long term trends, not day trading. In a bull market, such as this, if one knows where we are in the cycle one knows what to expect ahead. Then, can manage risk accordingly. Do you agree?
Exactly, EW will not make you a good trader, possibly quite the opposite. And thus, the reason for all the negative sentiment. What makes a good trader, is exactly what you stated: finding an edge (of your own) and applying it.
I've never really traded the markets. Always bought near the end of corrective waves and sold near the end of impulse waves, (as best I could). For the past few years, the entire market place has been placed right at ones finger tips of their keyboard. Twenty four hour, international trading, right from your home computer, amazing! So there's plenty of liquidity! And thus, plenty of opportunity.
May I ask for some advice?
If I was to consider trading, where/what would you suggest I look into to first? I'd be most interested in trading the stock indices only.....tony