"You cannot be successful at trading any more than you can be at mining, manufacturing, doctoring or anything else, unless you are trained for it. And by "training" I do not mean an occasional dab. Incidentally, unless you are peculiarly adapted to the business you had better become an intelligent investor instead of an unintelligent trader."
How I Trade & Invest in Stocks & Bonds - Richard Wyckoff
A synopsis of Wyckoff's principles required for trading success:
1) The main factor is the trend
2) Risk should be limited
3) Anticipated profits should be at least 3 or 4 times the risk
4) One should be able to deal freely on both sides of the market
5) Dealings should be in active stocks
6) Make a business of trading or else try not to be a trader
This guy was diverse in his approach. In addition to all out reading the tape type of speculation he was also an entrepreneur, a swing trader and a long term investor.His was a precursor to and a probably more sophisticated approach than CANSLIM.
He moved away from a pure day trading to a swing trading approach, finding it more profitable while less stressful.
His is a great model. It is vital that I learn day trading fundamentals so that I can then intelligently participate in a swing time horizon.
If the principles of trend and S&R apply in all time horizons then Daytrading is excellent training because of the number of at bats and the immediate feedback.
If the edge is there, then few options can compete with day trading in terms of leverage, cash at close and # of times risk capital can be turned.
The trading computer died this morning. Perhaps it is a sign to pullback and wait for the retracement.