Quote from m4a1:
this doesn't explain anything. if you;re implying that volatility dropped, then it's not unique to 2005 and 2006. volatility dropped plenty from 2001-2004, yet the results are great during those periods.
Hi m4a1,
I think giggollo posted that weekly chart of VXN to connect the dots for you to my detailed comments.
Unfortunately that particular bigcharts link only goes all the way back to late 2001 and because of such its a little more difficult for some to imagine the years before 2001 to get a good picture of volatility that trends.
Further, the implication is not that volatility dropped or risen.
The implication is that volatility
trended (up or down) in those trend years for NQ and that volatility has not been trending in many recent months to explain the poor performance in your method.
That`s the reason why I posted some questions to you (questions you didn`t reply to) about specific months so that I can see exactly what your method is doing in relationship to NQ.
Once again, with more proof from VXN...your strategy is very dependent upon trends or volatility (I in error stated rising volatility when I meant to say it must not be volatility that`s choppy or going sideways).
Another implication (connecting the dots a little more for you) here is that when VXN is choppy or going sideways...
It's not the time to be using a trend following method and during such times you should either be out of the market or using a method that exploits choppy, sideways or range bound markets.
Unfortunately, some traders (not implying you are one of them) need to always be in the market and they will attempt to apply their trend following method in sideways markets.
Further, the experience traders that do such will sometimes panic and began tweaking (changing) thre trend following method because they think there`s something wrong with it.
Far from the truth.
The truth is when the market is not trending...don't change the trend following method because it ain`t broke.
Instead...stop using it and switch to a method suitable for choppy or range bound markets.
Simply, the VXN is showing you that your method is not suitable for trading conditions in recent months.
This strengthens my suspicion that your method is dependent upon volatility to be trending (up or down) regardless if it was not designed for such.
Therefore, one particular good use of Market Volatility Index like VIX or VXN is that they tell you when to use particular types of methods.
This thread is a good example why its good to have one good trend following method and one good range bound method along with having knowledge to know when its time to switch from one method to a different method to avoid drawdown periods.
I just think the markets its too difficult to trade via the same method for longterm longevity...a market that's always changing.
Mark