Is it really possible to feel the markets?

I personally do a large amount of manual testing. I don't manually post charts, but the manual testing has allowed me to recognize potential (quantifiable) refinements within the framework of my method.

I don't do manual testing, but I have a system that uses three indicators to generate positions, and it has been useful to look at a spreadsheet displaying how those indicators varied day by day and how they translated into positions and profits and losses. Only knowing at a global level what the Sharpe ratio and vol have been over the last 5 years is not enough to make me comfortable with a system.
 
I think success may all be quantitative, but people just don't realize it. I propose that those who seem to trade by so-called intuition are relying on their past experience, some indicators, or a combination of such things to make decisions.

Intuitive traders should try to record their thoughts so that the reliability of their perceived patterns can be backtested. Systematic traders should continue to follow the markets they trade to get new ideas to be backested. The distinction between discretionary and systematic may not be clear-cut. Even if you are systematic, as I try to be, you are always making decisions about which systems to trade and in what size.
 
I think success may all be quantitative, but people just don't realize it. I propose that those who seem to trade by so-called intuition are relying on their past experience, some indicators, or a combination of such things to make decisions. I think they simply don't realize what they do. I believe this is why so many books about trading are rubbish or at least noninformative. Many successful traders simply cannot explain what they do. It's second nature to them. I believe some people can arrive at a system by experimentation without the usual backtesting and rigorous skills it requires (I'm definitely not one of them). However, those who "feel" their way into something may be using the same skills unconsciously.

Think about the last time you had a bad feeling about someone--you did not trust them, maybe for no identifiable reason. I submit that you did have a good reason: something in their speech patterns, body language, or choice of words tapped into your experience and notified your unconscious mind that you have seen this before, and it did not end well. If you tried to bring all that experience into conscious thought, you probably would not be able to do it. But there is this lifelong synthesis and judgment buried there, and you use it all the time.

This is a statement I strongly agree with. From what I have noticed, people who are naturally good at something are often terrible at teaching because they have never had to divide it into smaller pieces so other people can understand as they just "get it" and don't understand how someone else might not get it the same way. It's not in their reality to have whatever they are teaching not be comprehended by people.
 
Intuitive traders should try to record their thoughts so that the reliability of their perceived patterns can be backtested. Systematic traders should continue to follow the markets they trade to get new ideas to be backested. The distinction between discretionary and systematic may not be clear-cut. Even if you are systematic, as I try to be, you are always making decisions about which systems to trade and in what size.
Something systems traders are loathe to talk about.
 
I have observed that the best teachers are often people who were not good at something and brought themselves to a 7 or 8. But the best at things are often naturals who are at a 9 or 10 but have no idea why. Rarely you get a natural who gets the concept of explaining things to people who don't already have any knowledge.

This happens regularly with musicians. There are some incredible guitarists who cannot teach you how they do what they do... because it's always been how they do it. One of the most talented guitarists I know is a teacher I had years ago. He could not explain to me in a way that made sense music theory and how to play exceptional metal solos. I finally got it, kind of, years later studying on my own. I need to mention that I took an 8 year break from playing guitar during that period, too.
 
I can't feel the market but did notice every stock I traded had their own idiosyncrasy, personality and behavior. For example, some companies always over delivered earning results, the stock prices went through subtle but different patterns and reactions to systemic market outcome..... Maybe I was just imagining things or just my wishful thinking?o_O:(
 
I think success may all be quantitative, but people just don't realize it. I propose that those who seem to trade by so-called intuition are relying on their past experience, some indicators, or a combination of such things to make decisions. I think they simply don't realize what they do. I believe this is why so many books about trading are rubbish or at least noninformative. Many successful traders simply cannot explain what they do. It's second nature to them. I believe some people can arrive at a system by experimentation without the usual backtesting and rigorous skills it requires (I'm definitely not one of them). However, those who "feel" their way into something may be using the same skills unconsciously.

Think about the last time you had a bad feeling about someone--you did not trust them, maybe for no identifiable reason. I submit that you did have a good reason: something in their speech patterns, body language, or choice of words tapped into your experience and notified your unconscious mind that you have seen this before, and it did not end well. If you tried to bring all that experience into conscious thought, you probably would not be able to do it. But there is this lifelong synthesis and judgment buried there, and you use it all the time.
 
Guess what you are saying is as one of the posts by Simple states knowing what a stock is
going to do. At times I KNOW what a stock will do and most of the time I am right.
Could be from following the company for lots of years, other times but its not that I think what its going to do but I know. Any way has worked out well for me all ways wondered why my SO asked how I knew and how i could not answer and really does not matter.
 
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