eMini Nasdaq-100 day trading journal

Trades for 10/14 ( P/L = 7.5 )

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 9.32am
Entry: Long 1439
Target: 1445
Stop loss: 1437
Exit: 1437
P/L -2

TRIN was strong & the TICK EMA was heading up, so i thought there might be some additional upside even though the market had gapped up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 9.42am
Entry: Short 1435
Target: 1430
Stop loss: 1437
Exit: 1431.5
P/L +3.5

All signals were saying short ( MACD turning down, TICK EMA turned down, TRIN rising )
Exited when target hit.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 9.56am
Entry: Short 1433
Target: 1425
Stop loss: 1435
Exit: 1425
P/L +8

I was watching the volume at the 10am reversal & it seemed weak so i started considering
another possible short. I waited until the TICK EMA turned down for entry. Target based
on slightly above yesterdays high as i thought it should be a good support point.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 10.30am
Entry: Long 1423
Target: 1430
Stop loss: 1420
Exit: 1420
P/L -3

Looking for a reversal around 10.30. MACD started to turn up, TICK EMA was turning up and
i'd seen a hammer candle on my two minute chart so i thought the odds were in my favor.
Target level was from earlier pivot around 10am

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 10.55am
Entry: Long 1425
Target: 1430
Stop loss: 1423
Exit: 1426
P/L +1

2nd attempt at previous trade. Looked like a mini double bottom pattern had formed on
my two minute chart so i went long. Entry could've been better at around 1424. I stayed in
the trade for about 10 mins and it didn't seem to be going anywhere. Also volume had dried
up so i exited.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Thanks for taking the time and effort to do a journal.


Personally, I would find it very interesting if :

* the trades were posted real time
* charts were posted
* your thoughts and feelings at entry
- including what you see that is getting you into the trade
(like larger timeframes, other indexes, indicators etc.)
* your thoughts and feelings during the trade
(like larger timeframes, other indexes, indicators etc.)
* your thoughts and feelings on exit
- including what you see that is getting you out of the trade
(like larger timeframes, other indexes, indicators etc.)

This may be a lot but I'll bet when you look back, it will be very informative.
 
Quote from tradersaavy:

Thanks for taking the time and effort to do a journal.


Personally, I would find it very interesting if :

* the trades were posted real time
* charts were posted
* your thoughts and feelings at entry
- including what you see that is getting you into the trade
(like larger timeframes, other indexes, indicators etc.)
* your thoughts and feelings during the trade
(like larger timeframes, other indexes, indicators etc.)
* your thoughts and feelings on exit
- including what you see that is getting you out of the trade
(like larger timeframes, other indexes, indicators etc.)

This may be a lot but I'll bet when you look back, it will be very informative.

When i'm trading i need to have full concentration on it so i don't think i can do it real time. I'll try to post some charts, but haven't worked out how to save the chart out of my charting app. yet ( NeoTicker )
 
Quote from dbphoenix:

Pretty slick surfing. But you seem to have a lot of soft rules and quite a few indicators. Perhaps you could explain how it all fits together in a way that enables you to make decisions in real time.

I'm strict with certain rules and not so strict with others. I'll always place a stop loss and target order when i get filled. The target will be planed in advance, but my stops are usually just 2-3 points away from entry.

I'm not so strict on exiting at my target. It depends on how i see the trade going. If i feel the market is going against me i often get out even or +.05 etc ... sometimes the market goes on to hit my original target, but other times it takes out my stop. I'd rather be even or up a little rather than down 2.

I mainly like to play reversals. I like to use a combination of the MACD and the TICK. When they both reverse i start looking for an entry. This method sometimes gets me into trades too early though ( like today ) so i'm trying to work out if there's another indicator i can use in conjuntion with these. I've read about the ADX indicator but i haven't worked out how to use it properly in trading yet.

Also, I'll often look at the MACD from my 30 min chart which includes pre-market to try and get an idea of the trend.
 
Quote from trade_addict:




I mainly like to play reversals. I like to use a combination of the MACD and the TICK. When they both reverse i start looking for an entry. This method sometimes gets me into trades too early though ( like today ) so i'm trying to work out if there's another indicator i can use in conjuntion with these.

When the MACD & TICK give you a signal, are you also looking for the price action for a signal ?

In the past, I found myself looking at my indicators a little too much . Now, I have price action and volume on my screen only. When price action looks good for my method, I then "tab" (on Esignal) and bring up the indicator to see if it is confirming. This way I do not let the indicator be my main guide.
 
Quote from trade_addict:



When i'm trading i need to have full concentration on it so i don't think i can do it real time. I'll try to post some charts, but haven't worked out how to save the chart out of my charting app. yet ( NeoTicker )
Try the freeware Gadwin PrintScreen:

http://www.gadwin.com/
 
Quote from tradersaavy:



When the MACD & TICK give you a signal, are you also looking for the price action for a signal ?

In the past, I found myself looking at my indicators a little too much . Now, I have price action and volume on my screen only. When price action looks good for my method, I then "tab" (on Esignal) and bring up the indicator to see if it is confirming. This way I do not let the indicator be my main guide.

When i'm getting a buy or sell signal from the indicators, i'll take a look at recent S/R levels. I watch volume carefully also. I also setup my time and sales window so that it highlights orders over 50 contracts. So say i get a buy signal ( the MACD and TICK EMA are turning up ) and i'm seeing some decent volume going off at the ask then i'll probably go long.

Hope this answers your questions.


Another factor i look at is the current range. If market is in a tight range, say 2-3 points, i'll stay away until it breaks out either way.
 
Back
Top