Daily reflection
Monday 9/15/08
I think I am starting to see a pattern develop with my trading, but itâs not the one I want. My reflections and journals keep getting more depressing. Anyway, there was a lot that didnât go that well today. In 14 trades over three hours (at least I cut down on my trades), I lost 15%. This number is a tad skewed however, as TOS raised their spreads on me to 4 pips rather than three, and also to three rather than two on the EUR/USD as well. It really wasnât that sweet.
Then, I decided to employ one of the more uncreative and rather pitiful strategies â I donât want to say it, but itâs really not any more impressive than the MA crossover. Anyway, I entered 11 trades in an hour and lost 2% on these.
Not quite sure how, but these added up to a whopping 10% account loss (I may have forgotten to write down a couple big losers, I really donât know. Remember I am only trading 1/7 of my account, but donât worry itâs almost down to 1/6).
Anyway, Iâm starting to notice with forex, or at least my pair, that reversals and big moves do not occur so much on breakouts rather than reversals. In fact, it seems that breakouts happen, then there is a string of short-covering or selling, and then the move dies. Some of them have meat on them still, but it really doesnât seem like any more than a breakeven strategy, except maybe for the most perfect pennants, wedges, and longer term trendlines.
Good notes: I have cut down looking at the 5 second chart almost entirely, except for sharpshooting acceleration moves â this cuts a lot of noise and emotion out of trading that Iâm not sure Iâm ready for. The 30 second isnât as precise but it is easier and helps me manage my trades better in many cases. Thatâs about it on good notes. I should just watch for a session: I learn a lot when I do that, although it takes more patience than I think I have sometimes.