Focusing on Just One Market

[Jayford]

I like to focus on 3 or 4 simply cause if one is going nowhere, I won't be tempted to force trades in it.

ES and ER2 are my bread and butter. Almost counts as one market due to correlation.

I will often trade gold or mini crude as well, but most days I do not.

I used to be a forex trader (well before the retail crowd jumped in with large numbers). It (although really several markets in itself) has become so choppy that I can't day trade it anymore. FX has joined interest rates on my position list.

I use 4 monitors BTW. Absolutely no back and forth crap.

Jay

 

[trendtech]

Quote from Malinois:

Was curious as to other traders experiences focusing on trading only ONE market. I am referring to daytraders in this instance. There is definitely pros and cons to it.

Personally, I follow 2 markets intraday, but I continually find myself drawn to a desire to trade just one. Often I find that by flipping back and forth and I tend to miss things as they develop. The reasoning behind trading 2 markets is that you have more available opportunities, or when one market is stale or is trading poorly(choppy) you move over to the other. Still, I'm starting to think that maybe LESS is MORE.

Anybody's else thoughts on the matter?

If you follow two correlated markets try to take note which of two is stronger and take long trades in the stronger market, short weaker one. At times one market will be leading and you can use it to your advantage. For different markets you will need more charts opened at the same time or just get charting software which can alert you about a setup.

 

[Bitstream]

another great full of bs comment from the guy makin' 20es points a day. 1instrument is good if u are of the caliber of the bund flipper rotten otherwise it is just limiting your possibilities; tradin' es is for those that have mastered it and trade substantial size not for retail pickers, your suggestion to trade emini as it is the best shit around is misguided and utterly idiotic. nevermind u are reccomendin' to start tradin' this shit in the first place that is leveraged and can kill u in matter of days. and what u do if things dont go well, do u keep on goin' 'till your acct implodes? and ya focus has got nothin' to do with sortin' many different tickers, if u cant handle that u cant handle shit.

Quote from Batterup:

Focus on one, the ES, that is the "BIG KAHUNA". Now if you are old fashioned and are still trading stocks then natch you will have a screen process.

In daytrading as you suggested, it requires your utmost focus on one instrument, you need to focus on where it has been and then determine from what it is doing in the present so you can determine what it will do next. (Many will say i am blowing smoke in your shorts by saying that) ,...........BUT, it is what you must do to become a winner. it will come with proper focus and concentration and a solid WILL tied up with a deep desire called motivation.

With all that required and a lot more...ask yourself this question....Should i focus on one instrument to learn the game or should i be a wizard in many different instruments first then narrow the field down? The correct answer should be a given.

Think of learning how to TRADE (investing is a different game) as when you were a teenager chasing the sharpest chicks in high school, as a young stud. Man, there were so many hotties running around you were in a quandary constantly deciding which would be another notch on your algebra bookedge.

Well, you soon discovered you were not such a prised date afterall, some laughed at you, some were duds on a date, others were not as interested in your sexual prowess as they were in your mind (gals need security after all in life as well as men do). The point being>>>>>>>>>>>>>>throughout history a good man has NEVER been able to properly handle more than ONE great gal.

So why is it that a daytrader would think he/she can play the field and become the home run hitter he/she thinks they are?

ONE at a time dude, get to know it better than anything else you know in life, then spread your wings if desired. I bet the farm you will find as a daytrader ONE is better.

Be the best you can be.... it takes a lot of work and NOT playing the field.

End of summer coming, jobs report Friday. Get the kiddies back in school and vacations over. LETS get back to making some bread

 

[Malinois]

Quote from Jayford:

I like to focus on 3 or 4 simply cause if one is going nowhere, I won't be tempted to force trades in it.

ES and ER2 are my bread and butter. Almost counts as one market due to correlation.

I will often trade gold or mini crude as well, but most days I do not.

I used to be a forex trader (well before the retail crowd jumped in with large numbers). It (although really several markets in itself) has become so choppy that I can't day trade it anymore. FX has joined interest rates on my position list.

I use 4 monitors BTW. Absolutely no back and forth crap.

Jay

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you there. It's a difficult choice, that's why I started the thread. Pros and Cons to both.

For me as I mentioned, I'm not a really good multi'tasker, and because I trade volatile mkts, it demands a huge amount of focus. On the other hand, with my style, as in yours, when the mkt turns choppy, I'm not interested. So the choice becomes wait it out or go somewhere else.

 

[Batterup]

Bitstream

Bit, i take it you like my advice. Thanks for the recommendation. ...........

Bottom line, some got it, some do not, some never will when they critique rather than try to learn.

 

[Malinois]

Quote from Batterup:

Bitstream

Bit, i take it you like my advice. Thanks for the recommendation. ...........

Bottom line, some got it, some do not, some never will when they critique rather than try to learn.

Yes, this is true Batterup. But one must be careful not to be condescending in tone, for one never knows how much or little experience another has on this forum.

I appreciate your comments because after all, I solicited them. But you have assumed I am new to trading which is false. I clerked in the Spoos Pit in the late nineties and have been trading(position and day) for 15 years. Just because someone asks a question does not subordinate them to a teacher/student role.

Rather, I think it is healthy for all of us to think of ourselves as students, and the moment one stops trying to improve or evolve, the end may be near. To use an analogy, I once saw a extremely high level Asian martial artist walk up to a student in another art and ask him about how to perform a technique. Classic humility!!!

 

[Bitstream]

Quote from Batterup:

Bitstream

Bit, i take it you like my advice. Thanks for the recommendation. ...........

Bottom line, some got it, some do not, some never will when they critique rather than try to learn.

u got shit and nothin' other than delusions; u give out atrocious utterly biased advice..all bs talk, no prove u bank those 20es handles a day, nothin' just hot air. and the only few 'suppposed live trade' u called in chat went against u in a flash, nevermind u always bot the top and sold the bottom. man it's all in the logs..u want me to dig 'em out and shame u for good? [like if it was necessary ror].

 

[Bitstream]

Quote from Malinois:

Yes, this is true Batterup. But one must be careful not to be condescending in tone, for one never knows how much or little experience another has on this forum.

I appreciate your comments because after all, I solicited them. But you have assumed I am new to trading which is false. I clerked in the Spoos Pit in the late nineties and have been trading(position and day) for 15 years. Just because someone asks a question does not subordinate them to a teacher/student role.

Rather, I think it is healthy for all of us to think of ourselves as students, and the moment one stops trying to improve or evolve, the end may be near. To use an analogy, I once saw a extremely high level Asian martial artist walk up to a student in another art and ask him about how to perform a technique. Classic humility!!!

of course man, we are always learnin'..this is anever-endin' process; fact is that this freak thinks he's a master of some sort, bankin' huge gains tradin' only es. and frankly if u hear more from him u realize he's just an arrogant prick full of himself and with limited knowledge. man, 'till last month he was convinced that was impossible to buy the bid and sell the ask, he might still be...go figure.

 

[porgie]

mallinois,

let's break this down.........your opening post was saying i am poor little innocent guy who can't decide to watch 1 market or 2...please help with ideas........then the chop i stand aside.......both indicative of inexperienced emini daytrader.......then the bopsey twins ripley and bitstream come in and you join their jumping on batterup, who made sense.....all one gathers from the 2 goombahs posts is how to curse and slander better.....then here u come with all my vast experiences...don't underestimate me..how dare you talk down to the clowns.............HUGE EGO......2 and 2 don't make 4 here..........here is the answer correctly put.........if u r good trader, # of markets WATCHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IS not relevant....but one market ONLY is best for most traders, as most are not good.......now tell the truth, this time to yourself....are u a good trader ...are u not a good trader.....u r the only one u can hurt by not being honest with yourself as i ain't trading your account.... ......and my answer is correct......if u hang in long enough u will see it come to pass....

 

[Bitstream]

porgie, u might give out some good tips from time to time but on almost all of your posts u talk out of your big fat arse. go join your friend hog in fantasy land...u both have 100% win ratio system, u should get along fine in toyworld.

Quote from porgie:

mallinois,

let's break this down.........your opening post was saying i am poor little innocent guy who can't decide to watch 1 market or 2...please help with ideas........then the chop i stand aside.......both indicative of inexperienced emini daytrader.......then the bopsey twins ripley and bitstream come in and you join their jumping on batterup, who made sense.....all one gathers from the 2 goombahs posts is how to curse and slander better.....then here u come with all my vast experiences...don't underestimate me..how dare you talk down to the clowns.............HUGE EGO......2 and 2 don't make 4 here..........here is the answer correctly put.........if u r good trader, # of markets WATCHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IS not relevant....but one market ONLY is best for most traders, as most are not good.......now tell the truth, this time to yourself....are u a good trader ...are u not a good trader.....u r the only one u can hurt by not being honest with yourself as i ain't trading your account.... ......and my answer is correct......if u hang in long enough u will see it come to pass....