From poker player to Level 2/tape reading prop trader
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Quote from sumfuka:
Why do people always compare financial trading to poker?
Oh let me guess....you think "financial trading" is more like a 9-to-5 where you're guaranteed a paycheck at the end of every month
Have you even traded one single day in your life?
Quote from HurricaneUS:
Oh let me guess....you think "financial trading" is more like a 9-to-5 where you're guaranteed a paycheck at the end of every month
Have you even traded one single day in your life?
No. I think financial trading is more like a 9:30 am to 4 pm eastern time profession.
You can talk shit all you want, its a free country. I just fail to see why everyone likes to compare the 2 categories together. The closest I see where there is gambling category that is remotely similar to financial trading is sports trading/gambling.
Gmat,
I think there is an overlapping quality for some traders and poker players/professional gamblers who are able to combine their analytical skills and an uncanny ability to sense danger. Common examples are David Einhorn/Phil Laak
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07...d-in-poker-tournament-with-4-35-million/?_r=0
Also the statistic I provided to you, I read that in Vault's Career Guide to Sales and Trading back in college. I can't seem to find the source. Maybe it was higher than that.
If you can be so generous as to offer some more food for thought, it would be much appreciated. Your questionnaire definitely helped me get in the right mind frame.
tags: relative strength/weakness, divergence reversal (convergence), exit strategies
I am a prop equities trader, 3 months. I enter/exit based off of level2. Give me now knowledge.
9/25 News/Summary/Stats
[News] Dollar bid up. Maybe tapering decision in December=I look for shorts in gold stocks.I consider GLD, GDX, UUP (dollar etf) as leading indicators.
[Trading] Gross +15, Net -10
Stocks traded: HMY/IAG
(1) Short HMY position on relative weakness
Underlying conditions: GLD breakdown at noon. GDX sells off harder compared to underlying commodity. That is relative weakness. Entered short on weakest stock HMY. Entry @ 3.44/3.43. Lunch time recently starting to become tradable times.
Exit: Consider only short term GDX pivots and HMY level2 as exit criteria. Continue to keep short even if GLD fails to produce lower lows, 1 min chart.
When HMY behaves relatively weaker to GDX (HMY < GDX < GLD), ample time will be given to cover at optimal price/ECN. That is my interpretation, do give me your knowledge.
(2) Short cover IAG for loss, failure to notice "divergence reversal"
Start of divergence, what I saw: relative weakness conditions become magnified until mean reversion takes place (GDX and relative weaker stocks rapidly catches up with GLD)
09/26 example: GLD proceeds to retest 127.73-75 to the upside. This was the level of breakdown at noon. When it does break out at 13:30, GLD now works off support levels.
However, GDX fails to follow suit. Study GLD 127.65-126.75
Market recognition of divergence: GDX forms two base floors separated by small range from time of divergence. Study 13:30 14:06 15:13.
Divergence reversal: Study GLD 15:15 GDX 15:20 HMY 15:22. Lagging times and relative % gains on each. GDX pierces two base ceilings and converges with GLD. Actually a very low risk and high reward trade. Very short time frame to enter. Make note of tight range, albeit being separated by two floors. Consider tradeable ideas.
IAG Short quickly became a cover and flip long.
I will make a note to myself to get my head around "day trading strategies for mean reversion/divergence reversal". What if any am I failing to consider?
I respect all who have passion and thus make effort to be better. I urge you to offer advice.
"Find peace in the chaos!" quoted from a Zen Buddhism book
I am a prop equities trader, 3 months. I enter/exit based off of level2. Give me now knowledge.
9/25 News/Summary/Stats
[News] Dollar bid up. Maybe tapering decision in December=I look for shorts in gold stocks.I consider GLD, GDX, UUP (dollar etf) as leading indicators.
[Trading] Gross +15, Net -10
Stocks traded: HMY/IAG
(1) Short HMY position on relative weakness
Underlying conditions: GLD breakdown at noon. GDX sells off harder compared to underlying commodity. That is relative weakness. Entered short on weakest stock HMY. Entry @ 3.44/3.43. Lunch time recently starting to become tradable times.
Exit: Consider only short term GDX pivots and HMY level2 as exit criteria. Continue to keep short even if GLD fails to produce lower lows, 1 min chart.
When HMY behaves relatively weaker to GDX (HMY < GDX < GLD), ample time will be given to cover at optimal price/ECN. That is my interpretation, do give me your knowledge.
(2) Short cover IAG for loss, failure to notice "divergence reversal"
Start of divergence, what I saw: relative weakness conditions become magnified until mean reversion takes place (GDX and relative weaker stocks rapidly catches up with GLD)
09/26 example: GLD proceeds to retest 127.73-75 to the upside. This was the level of breakdown at noon. When it does break out at 13:30, GLD now works off support levels.
However, GDX fails to follow suit. Study GLD 127.65-126.75
Market recognition of divergence: GDX forms two base floors separated by small range from time of divergence. Study 13:30 14:06 15:13.
Divergence reversal: Study GLD 15:15 GDX 15:20 HMY 15:22. Lagging times and relative % gains on each. GDX pierces two base ceilings and converges with GLD. Actually a very low risk and high reward trade. Very short time frame to enter. Make note of tight range, albeit being separated by two floors. Consider tradeable ideas.
IAG Short quickly became a cover and flip long.
I will make a note to myself to get my head around "day trading strategies for mean reversion/divergence reversal". What if any am I failing to consider?
I respect all who have passion and thus make effort to be better. I urge you to offer advice.
"Find peace in the chaos!" quoted from a Zen Buddhism book
9/27 PnL. performance summary to follow
09/27 Friday the big picture
$GLD
fomc retrace then trying to find support
$GDX
tight range market. if tight range continues, consider moving out from 1 min to 3m/5m time frame to prevent entering unsustainable moves and inefficient executions
trades
$hmy
buyer activity stronger than seller
at AM being on seller side, at PM being on buyer side proved lower risk to reward
Large buyer and seller 3.47/3.48 narrow range until gdx breakdown at 12 - expect seller to continue leaning on gdx trend. exit during sideways action and/or higher low on $GDX
consider view point of institutional buying/selling (likely to be looking at higher time frames)
$kgc
caught top of daily range when long.
opening bell trading will be limited to 300 shares, if determined to be sideways market.look for divergences in $GLD and $GLD. if divergence does exist, read market direction first and limit trading volume.
$iag
see attached chart
Strategies to consider 9/30-10/4
Entries, maintain entry execution strategy
Exits, *limited profit potential by exiting on $GDX 1 min higher low when shorting, consider both duration of tight/sideways range prior to breakout/breakdown and 3 min bars to judge its power i.e. the possibility of forming 2nd leg/3rd legs, consider who is on the other side of the trade
attached file
$hmy, kgc, iag trades, refer to $gld/$gdx chart attached
$GLD
fomc retrace then trying to find support
$GDX
tight range market. if tight range continues, consider moving out from 1 min to 3m/5m time frame to prevent entering unsustainable moves and inefficient executions
trades
$hmy
buyer activity stronger than seller
at AM being on seller side, at PM being on buyer side proved lower risk to reward
Large buyer and seller 3.47/3.48 narrow range until gdx breakdown at 12 - expect seller to continue leaning on gdx trend. exit during sideways action and/or higher low on $GDX
consider view point of institutional buying/selling (likely to be looking at higher time frames)
$kgc
caught top of daily range when long.
opening bell trading will be limited to 300 shares, if determined to be sideways market.look for divergences in $GLD and $GLD. if divergence does exist, read market direction first and limit trading volume.
$iag
see attached chart
Strategies to consider 9/30-10/4
Entries, maintain entry execution strategy
Exits, *limited profit potential by exiting on $GDX 1 min higher low when shorting, consider both duration of tight/sideways range prior to breakout/breakdown and 3 min bars to judge its power i.e. the possibility of forming 2nd leg/3rd legs, consider who is on the other side of the trade
attached file
$hmy, kgc, iag trades, refer to $gld/$gdx chart attached