Broke My Futures Cherry Today!

[ess1096]

After 3 years of trading stocks and a year and a half of trading options I finally added another tool to the toolbox and made the natural progression to futures trading. Opened a TradeStation account last week and spent the past week exploring the platform while waiting for my funds to settle.
Felt comfortable enough with the platform to pull the trigger today and sold YM at 13,149. Bought it back 34 minutes later at 13,115. Not a huge profit ($170) but as traders you all know how important the first kill is to your confidence.

Funny thing is I tried to sell YM earlier in the day at 13,200 but quickly realized I needed to explore the order bar a little more.

 

[mde2004]

You will give it right back on Monday unless you have a tested strategy.

 

[ess1096]

Quote from mde2004:

You will give it right back on Monday unless you have a tested strategy.

What makes you so sure?
Do you know me? Do I know you? No, you don't know me so don't assume I'm as stupid as you.

 

[giles117]

Quote from ess1096:

What makes you so sure?
Do you know me? Do I know you? No, you don't know me so don't assume I'm as stupid as you.

Nice one... Way to stick it to the Minions of negativity.....

 

[Spectra]

Quote from ess1096:

After 3 years of trading stocks and a year and a half of trading options I finally added another tool to the toolbox and made the natural progression to futures trading. Opened a TradeStation account last week and spent the past week exploring the platform while waiting for my funds to settle.
Felt comfortable enough with the platform to pull the trigger today and sold YM at 13,149. Bought it back 34 minutes later at 13,115. Not a huge profit ($170) but as traders you all know how important the first kill is to your confidence.

Funny thing is I tried to sell YM earlier in the day at 13,200 but quickly realized I needed to explore the order bar a little more.

I'm really sad that trade station doesn't have a simulator. Unless they added one. I'm still on eSignal.

Caj

 

[sileiro22]

Thanks for posting, ess1096. I'm in a similar situation, incl. getting ready to open up with TradeStation (I'm going to start trading the ES) and using that week lag time to play with the system... Any tips/major surprises in using TS?

Good luck!

Quote from ess1096:

After 3 years of trading stocks and a year and a half of trading options I finally added another tool to the toolbox and made the natural progression to futures trading. Opened a TradeStation account last week and spent the past week exploring the platform while waiting for my funds to settle.
Felt comfortable enough with the platform to pull the trigger today and sold YM at 13,149. Bought it back 34 minutes later at 13,115. Not a huge profit ($170) but as traders you all know how important the first kill is to your confidence.

Funny thing is I tried to sell YM earlier in the day at 13,200 but quickly realized I needed to explore the order bar a little more.

 

[brownsfan019]

Quote from sileiro22:
Any tips/major surprises in using TS?

Yep - don't trade through them.

Their matrix is clunky and customer service is a joke. Good luck if you need to contact someone immediately while in a position.

 

[ess1096]

Quote from mde2004:

You will give it right back on Monday

Well, it's Monday and I didn't give it all back. I didn't kill em' either, made a modest gain for the day, but didn't give any back.

each trade = 1 YM contract

 

[ess1096]

Quote from sileiro22:

Thanks for posting, ess1096. I'm in a similar situation, incl. getting ready to open up with TradeStation (I'm going to start trading the ES) and using that week lag time to play with the system... Any tips/major surprises in using TS?

Good luck!

22,

I am not the guy to ask about TS surprises because I am still exploring all the features of it myself. So far I like the platform, but I have only been making discretionary trades with it. I won't automate until I'm very confident that I have a positive edge.

Good luck.

 

[Spectra]

OK OK--In all fairness I did find a simu for TS in their forums. It uses an excel plugin.

Quote from ess1096:

22,

I am not the guy to ask about TS surprises because I am still exploring all the features of it myself. So far I like the platform, but I have only been making discretionary trades with it. I won't automate until I'm very confident that I have a positive edge.

Good luck.