Hello, folks.
I've been in the "lab" messing with the formula. I've been paper trading the ER based on a simple method of a trailing stop and the $INDU. Simply put, when $INDU above trail stop, go long. When $INDU below trail stop sellshort. Stop and reverse. This is an always in a position and I tell ya, it looks promising.
Yesterday, I earned a usual 14 ticks. If I traded this strategy, it would've been 182 ticks. Everything looks good in hindsight, right?
Some back tested days, the drawdown was an astounding 150 ticks!!! I'm thinking what if I used a 15 tick stop and reverse. The trend usually picks up by then and you break even plus pick up a few ticks. The rule would be 45 ticks max. If you stop and reverse 3 times, for a total of 45 ticks loss in a row, stop trading for the day. I feel very confident in this method I am considering trading this and forget my 15 daily ticks for a bit.
Thing is, who ever said trading is 99% psychological is 110% right. I never understood that until today. My edge is not the method; my true edge was a second income. Noticed I said was. This income is in danger of being cut off and truth-be-told, I'm afraid. Without the psychological cushion of that extra cash, it is much harder to pull the trigger.
Funny thing is, although not properly tested, I am thinking of going balls-to-the-wall with the always in strategy. 5 to 15 daily trades, break even (less comissions) at worse, 6 to 25 ER point potential. Worse comes to worse, I can always sling burgs at the MacShack. You want fries with that?
Now if I can only find my balls...