Quote from sprstpd:
How do you determine the "strongest of the strong" and the "weakest of the weak"? Relative-strength? 1-day relative strength? 1-week relative strength?
I use moving averages. Plus other things for confirmation.
If you look at a chart and the stock goes up, up and up. Then it pulls back and then goes up, up, and up again. I consider that a strong stock. I say to myself, "who am I to get in front of that"?
So, when a buying opportunity comes, I predefine my risk. I Make sure that the maximum expected loss is worth risking for the potential minimum profit possibility.
I'll start my first scale out at the minimum profit potential area.
If the trade stalls and the circumstances change I will get out earlier. I will always play towards the safe side.
I also have a rock hard stop, which is the most that I am will to lose on the trade. (that amount is the same as my maximum expected loss as I described above). If it trades there, I'm out no matter what. I call that my back-up parachute. If for some reason my regular parachute doesn't get me out, the back-up parachute surely will.
I don't mind losing money, that's part of the job. However, I do not want to lose money as a result of me doing something stupid or reckless. I do not want to say to myself, "Come on gotta_trade, you should have known better".
So, I'm going to stick to my discipline and hopefully it will work out.
I hope I answered your question.