How do you handle big draw-downs the next day?

Quote from Bolimomo:

Thank you all kindly for your comments.

I know I have lots to improve on my trading methodology, risk management, and psychology. As do many traders. I know my approach to trading is far from perfect. And everyday, every trade is an opportunity to improve myself.

But to immediately say outright that I don't freak'ing know what I am doing IS NOT USEFUL. Rightly or wrongly, I have been consistently profitable for the past 4 years and I have been making a comfortable living off it, far better than any professional engineer (which is why I quit my "day job" a while ago). Trading is my sole source of income.

We traders all have drawdowns. It could be a one big red day or even if I use a day-down-limit a series of drawdowns to accumulate to $4000 (by the way this figure is just a made up for the purpose of this discussion). I am interested to know the psychological burden on the trader in getting back up and how it affects his/her next move.

Those pit traders in the S&P pit: aren't they discretionary traders? They stand in the pit all day, waving their hands in the air while thinking on their feet how to do the next move, watchingout for any hint of a market direction change. Do they have time to nicely draw a line on a chart (what chart?), pinpoint their entry/exit/stop and their "R" before jamming in front of the next guy trying to catch the next order? Are you saying these traders are all failed traders (or doomed to fail?)?

Nope, this is not what they do. They cross other people's trades, and quote prices favorably for them but not to their clients to make instant profits. You'll find the speculators are quickly weeded out. All arbitrage in that pit.
 
Quote from traderNik:

I suppose it's the case that someone so misguided might actually think statements like this would carry any weight.

Well, I had assumed by now I'd have recognition.

But oh well, I'm only better than 97.3% of all traders.

<a href="http://www.collective2.com/cgi-perl/systems.mpl?want=p&systemid=25716110">
<img src="http://www.collective2.com/cgi-perl/badge.mpl?systemid=25716110"/>
</a>

I see no succesful discretionary traders on that site. None, and I welcome anyone who would like to prove otherwise to come on the site.

There's a lot of systematic traders making a killing there. The problem is they're so good they start institutions unto themselves.
 
bwolinsky,

Congrats on your achievement. I hope that your pairs system is making you lots of money. But dude, there are lots of discretionary traders making a shit load of money. It might not be your bag, but that has nothing to do with other people's results.

As a side note, I would still put S&P locals in the category of discretionary. It doesn't matter what their exact strategy is or what edge they have (Arbing the cash market, scalping paper orders, etc.) they're still subject to tilt and emotions. The very fact that operate in a competitive physical environment makes them even more susceptible to the human elements that take down some traders.
 
Quote from Fib Gridsman:

bwolinsky,

Congrats on your achievement. I hope that your pairs system is making you lots of money. But dude, there are lots of discretionary traders making a shit load of money. It might not be your bag, but that has nothing to do with other people's results.

As a side note, I would still put S&P locals in the category of discretionary. It doesn't matter what their exact strategy is or what edge they have (Arbing the cash market, scalping paper orders, etc.) they're still subject to tilt and emotions. The very fact that operate in a competitive physical environment makes them even more susceptible to the human elements that take down some traders.

agreed... lots of discretionary traders make alot of money. their is not a perfect way to trade only a way to trade perfectly. many people get so wrapped up as to how to trade that when they figure out one it must be the only way.. some people are not built like others some cant trade discretionally.. but some can ..some cant trade TA but some can.. some can trade statistically and some cant....and some can not trade at all

its not the style that makes the trader ... its the practice the trader puts himself through and the skill in his system of choice.. trade one thing and trade it well.

the one single most important factor that will make or break any type of trading no matter of style is trade management and money management. dont get so tied up in style.. it doesnt matter there are competent traders doing different things... congrats i guess on the c2 9.75% thing ... realize tho ur only hurting yourself ranking yourself against others...as a successful trader you should feel a disconnection with the capital you trade... and as for the original post i think that you should scale down your risk... i believe you do not know that u risk more than your pain threshold.. thats why this question even exhists right now... if it wasnt hard to part with 4k ... then why post about it.. if you post how do i deal with dd of 4k then obviously 4k is to much..
IMHO

but what do i know most think im a crack pot for statistically trading.

One of my major complaints, more about C2 than this system, results should be based on a more realistic starting number, like $10K. From Aug 1st onward, results with a starting capital of 10 K return is about 20% w/o margin. The drawdown in the last several trades is a higher risk than the returns for these trades has justified. I'll stay for a couple more months, but my present feelings are lukewarm at best. FWIW the pissing contest developing between this developer and the TMG guys…it detracts from what this sight is for. Bashing other systems does not reflect w
plus this came off your reviews

oh yeah... and c2 is hypothetical trading so dont get it twisted ur more than likely far below 97.3% .. u could get better depends if u change ur attitude and 95% of real traders dont screw with c2...
 
Trading systems are built by people and a set of rules created by people is completely arbitrary, that is- they are discretionary.

Applying the exact same set of rules over and over again is called consistency, but the rules themselves are discretionary. It is by no means the holy grail to profitability since markets change over time.
 
Quote from nukethewhales31:



oh yeah... and c2 is hypothetical trading so dont get it twisted ur more than likely far below 97.3% .. u could get better depends if u change ur attitude and 95% of real traders dont screw with c2...

All prices are based on bid and ask prices at the time orders are placed. They are nearly identical to what you'd get in real life, and I've found I get some positive slippage in most cases.
 
Quote from Mav88:

Trading systems are built by people and a set of rules created by people is completely arbitrary, that is- they are discretionary.

Applying the exact same set of rules over and over again is called consistency, but the rules themselves are discretionary. It is by no means the holy grail to profitability since markets change over time.

This statement needs to be stickied.

It's the best tl;dr of any thread I've ever seen on ET.

You got to the point. However, it's too bad that when people are in the business of feeling superior, they'll skip over a common sense like this.
 
Quote from bwolinsky:

All prices are based on bid and ask prices at the time orders are placed. They are nearly identical to what you'd get in real life, and I've found I get some positive slippage in most cases.
no simulated trading is ever identical to live trading
 
Quote from stefan_777:

This statement needs to be stickied.

It's the best tl;dr of any thread I've ever seen on ET.

You got to the point. However, it's too bad that when people are in the business of feeling superior, they'll skip over a common sense like this.

doesnt apply to all styles statistical traders will use stops that are proven to work well for the currency historically and also take profits... entrances as well.. not really any discretion but i do agree that it does apply to almost every other.
 
Quote from nukethewhales31:

no simulated trading is ever identical to live trading

It's as close to an audit as you're going to see on the net. Think about my system specifically.

What is different between real life and my trades? I place all the orders the night before, and while there might be slippage, do you really think a few cents is going to matter on it? If you wanted to do it that way, then the results are identical if not better than what you'll get, b/c I guarantee I'm not paying 0.015 through IB to do my trades, and that's cost me over $10,000 of commission. I can tell you I've paid nowhere close to that, so it is extremely accurate and even a pessimistic estimate having exorbitant commissions plugged in.
 
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