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E-mini Rookie Trading Journal
- Thread starter bronks
- Start date
Originally posted by easyrider
His trade list is kind of confusing. I believe the actual gain/loss is the difference between consecutive totals. Thus the first trade is 400-430 for a net of -$30 not a gain of $400 followed by a loss of $430. Why they do it that way I have no idea.
Oh -- THAT's where you guys were getting these "40 point loss" and $700 loss and such... I guess I'm so used to looking at those IB statements that it didn't occur to me.
They do it that way because that's how futures are settled each day -- marked to market for each traded.
Just got back from the other side of the island since friday, so sorry if I didn't respond sooner.
As far as my style of trading goes, I would much rather open up my stops and go for a few more points, but I'm hesitant to do this because of my acct. size at this time. My number one priority is to preserve my capital while I learn the game. Scalping is letting me develop a feel without risking too much of a draw down. However, I will try it on a few occasions this week and see what happens. Someone posted on another thread the importance of entries on NQ trading as opposed to stocks and I couldn't agree more.
I'm not trading the ES (yet) because I have my hands full with the NQ at the moment.
As far as my style of trading goes, I would much rather open up my stops and go for a few more points, but I'm hesitant to do this because of my acct. size at this time. My number one priority is to preserve my capital while I learn the game. Scalping is letting me develop a feel without risking too much of a draw down. However, I will try it on a few occasions this week and see what happens. Someone posted on another thread the importance of entries on NQ trading as opposed to stocks and I couldn't agree more.
I'm not trading the ES (yet) because I have my hands full with the NQ at the moment.
A plethora of technical problems forced me to trade in the afternoon only. I hate it when that happens. Been trading without charts for 3 days now, which is OK for me 'cause I mainly look at price anyway. What I do use charts for is mostly reference and obvious technical patterns (double tops-bottoms and wedgies with extreme compression). You (subject to personal preference) really don't need charts for scalping IMHO.
On a side note, I tried to up my default to 2 contracts on the settings page of TWS but after I changed it and tried to trade again, it wouldn't let me. A pop-up came up (I don't remember what it said) so I went back to 1 contract. Anyone know what's up with that? I thought I had enough capital to trade at least 3 contracts if I wanted to.
+ 11.5 points / 4 RT's
On a side note, I tried to up my default to 2 contracts on the settings page of TWS but after I changed it and tried to trade again, it wouldn't let me. A pop-up came up (I don't remember what it said) so I went back to 1 contract. Anyone know what's up with that? I thought I had enough capital to trade at least 3 contracts if I wanted to.
+ 11.5 points / 4 RT's
Originally posted by bronks
[On a side note, I tried to up my default to 2 contracts on the settings page of TWS but after I changed it and tried to trade again, it wouldn't let me. A pop-up came up (I don't remember what it said) so I went back to 1 contract. Anyone know what's up with that? I thought I had enough capital to trade at least 3 contracts if I wanted to.
[/B]
Bronks-
You need to log onto your account on the IB website and change the number of contracts to trade there. It might take a day to take affect.
-JPB
FUTURES TRADES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade Time Exchange Description Qty Trade Price Set
Price Gain/Loss *
----------------- --------- ----------- ----- -----------
----------- ----------- -
02-06-03 14:11:18 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1180.0000
1165.0000 300.00
02-06-03 14:13:26 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1178.5000
1165.0000 -270.00
02-06-03 14:53:15 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1180.5000
1165.0000 310.00
02-06-03 15:01:18 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1178.0000
1165.0000 -260.00
02-06-03 15:12:32 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1178.0000
1165.0000 260.00
02-06-03 15:21:22 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1176.0000
1165.0000 -220.00
02-06-03 15:22:25 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1175.0000
1165.0000 200.00
02-06-03 15:39:39 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1169.5000
1165.0000 -90.00
=====
===========
0
230.00
===========
USD
Total: 230.00
FUTURES GAIN/LOSS SUMMARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gain/Loss From Futures Trades
230.00
============
USD Total:
230.00
==========================================================================================
ACCOUNT STATUS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
USD
Starting cash balance 5522.80
Settled: 5522.80
Cash deposits/withdrawals 0.00
Total Futures Gain/Loss 230.00
Total Commissions -19.20
==============
==============
==> Ending cash balance 5733.60
Settled: 5733.60
Open options value 0.00
==============
==> Total Equity 5733.60
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade Time Exchange Description Qty Trade Price Set
Price Gain/Loss *
----------------- --------- ----------- ----- -----------
----------- ----------- -
02-06-03 14:11:18 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1180.0000
1165.0000 300.00
02-06-03 14:13:26 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1178.5000
1165.0000 -270.00
02-06-03 14:53:15 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1180.5000
1165.0000 310.00
02-06-03 15:01:18 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1178.0000
1165.0000 -260.00
02-06-03 15:12:32 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1178.0000
1165.0000 260.00
02-06-03 15:21:22 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1176.0000
1165.0000 -220.00
02-06-03 15:22:25 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 -1 1175.0000
1165.0000 200.00
02-06-03 15:39:39 GLOBEX NQ JUN02 1 1169.5000
1165.0000 -90.00
=====
===========
0
230.00
===========
USD
Total: 230.00
FUTURES GAIN/LOSS SUMMARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gain/Loss From Futures Trades
230.00
============
USD Total:
230.00
==========================================================================================
ACCOUNT STATUS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
USD
Starting cash balance 5522.80
Settled: 5522.80
Cash deposits/withdrawals 0.00
Total Futures Gain/Loss 230.00
Total Commissions -19.20
==============
==============
==> Ending cash balance 5733.60
Settled: 5733.60
Open options value 0.00
==============
==> Total Equity 5733.60