I think that posting this thread and telling what are my problem, how I see them and hopefully what other experienced and successful guys have to say can be very helpful to attain consistency and final success in my trading career.
I started trading in the end of January with new Title trading branch.
Unfortunately as this branch is a brand new we have no experienced traders whatsoever and everyone is on their own. Admittedly floor manager is doing his best to teach what is in Title Level I Theory book, he is as new as we are and there is no systematic approach to training.
Ok, I have been trading and learning on my own by reading and practicing. Actually , I was able to graduate to more than 100 shares last week. But so far I decided to stay with 100 shares in the light of the last 2 days.
I have not lost much in all this time. About $280.
Actually 10 out 11 days before the last 2 days were winning ones with average 5-7 ticks daily.
Here was the problem as I was trying to have 10 and more net ticks daily. However i noticed, the moment I start pushing myself, I start losing and this is what happened in last 2 days.
Before the day before yesterday i almost traded back this month loss but dropped into it again after 2 losing days. Lost $50 Thursday-Friday.
As I see it my problem is mostly of psychological nature. When I was winning I was so careful, I was letting trades go and was measuring 100 times and cutting once. Also, Once I achieved 5-7 ticks positive, I became scared to take other opportunities that existed and I saw them to avoid losing my measly 5-7 tick profit.
Then on Thursday, I decided f*ck it and started pushing, with bad results. I have been bouncing between being too careful and being reckless.
I also decided to trade 1 or may be 2-3 equities and no more. I concentrate on financial sector stocks. MS, FAZ and WFC.
Last 2 weeks I practically traded only MS.
Yesterday should have been a good day but I ruined it by being reckless.
Here examples of my trades:
I took a couple of long trades and lost but with small losses . was -8 ticks. Then I waited for price to hit support at 29.50 MS and entered aggressively long at 29.52 when print went green with mental stop loss at 29.49. I took profit at 29.65 with limit order. Then , I got too exited, and when price set in the range of 29.79-29.81 with probably big orders at 29.81-29.82 showing great resistance and price broke down 29.79, I entered aggressively but got filled at 29.76. Hence my stop loss became really big and I got stuck. I was thinking that price will break down further and ignored the fact that price consolidated above MA20. Although price action gave me few opportunities to get out at break even or even 1-2 ticks profit, I stayed until the price moved from the bottom to 29.82 and I was trying to close trade at 29.83 but got filled at 29.86 losing 10 ticks.
Ok, I saw it as opportunity to go long and bought at 29.86 but got scared by reaction and sold at another 5 ticks loss while price quickly moved up giving some profit.
I stopped trading at this point.
The day that should have been a good winning one turned a losing one due to my recklessness and lack of patience.
I understand that what I should have done is to place limit oder in first case at 29.80. Before that resistance level and wait. In most cases prices at least does test broken level , hence I would have reduced my risk and I would make 4-5 ticks on the trade. I could have entered aggressively as well but again at same level.
Same should have been done on long side. Waiting for price to move down to 29.82 level which was broken and which the price did and then enter.
I am looking for advice from experienced successful traders. What people think?
I am also planning to write down the plan for my next week trading setting guard lines and what set ups I am going to trade ignoring the rest.
Thank everyone on advance.
I started trading in the end of January with new Title trading branch.
Unfortunately as this branch is a brand new we have no experienced traders whatsoever and everyone is on their own. Admittedly floor manager is doing his best to teach what is in Title Level I Theory book, he is as new as we are and there is no systematic approach to training.
Ok, I have been trading and learning on my own by reading and practicing. Actually , I was able to graduate to more than 100 shares last week. But so far I decided to stay with 100 shares in the light of the last 2 days.
I have not lost much in all this time. About $280.
Actually 10 out 11 days before the last 2 days were winning ones with average 5-7 ticks daily.
Here was the problem as I was trying to have 10 and more net ticks daily. However i noticed, the moment I start pushing myself, I start losing and this is what happened in last 2 days.
Before the day before yesterday i almost traded back this month loss but dropped into it again after 2 losing days. Lost $50 Thursday-Friday.
As I see it my problem is mostly of psychological nature. When I was winning I was so careful, I was letting trades go and was measuring 100 times and cutting once. Also, Once I achieved 5-7 ticks positive, I became scared to take other opportunities that existed and I saw them to avoid losing my measly 5-7 tick profit.
Then on Thursday, I decided f*ck it and started pushing, with bad results. I have been bouncing between being too careful and being reckless.
I also decided to trade 1 or may be 2-3 equities and no more. I concentrate on financial sector stocks. MS, FAZ and WFC.
Last 2 weeks I practically traded only MS.
Yesterday should have been a good day but I ruined it by being reckless.
Here examples of my trades:
I took a couple of long trades and lost but with small losses . was -8 ticks. Then I waited for price to hit support at 29.50 MS and entered aggressively long at 29.52 when print went green with mental stop loss at 29.49. I took profit at 29.65 with limit order. Then , I got too exited, and when price set in the range of 29.79-29.81 with probably big orders at 29.81-29.82 showing great resistance and price broke down 29.79, I entered aggressively but got filled at 29.76. Hence my stop loss became really big and I got stuck. I was thinking that price will break down further and ignored the fact that price consolidated above MA20. Although price action gave me few opportunities to get out at break even or even 1-2 ticks profit, I stayed until the price moved from the bottom to 29.82 and I was trying to close trade at 29.83 but got filled at 29.86 losing 10 ticks.
Ok, I saw it as opportunity to go long and bought at 29.86 but got scared by reaction and sold at another 5 ticks loss while price quickly moved up giving some profit.
I stopped trading at this point.
The day that should have been a good winning one turned a losing one due to my recklessness and lack of patience.
I understand that what I should have done is to place limit oder in first case at 29.80. Before that resistance level and wait. In most cases prices at least does test broken level , hence I would have reduced my risk and I would make 4-5 ticks on the trade. I could have entered aggressively as well but again at same level.
Same should have been done on long side. Waiting for price to move down to 29.82 level which was broken and which the price did and then enter.
I am looking for advice from experienced successful traders. What people think?
I am also planning to write down the plan for my next week trading setting guard lines and what set ups I am going to trade ignoring the rest.
Thank everyone on advance.