Sam's Day Trading Log (With Charts)

The main thing to remember is this. A chart is a chart is a chart. Day trading charts react the same as swing trading and long term trend trading charts only in a different time period. I treat them all the same only I get to react at a slower pace with swing trading and trend trading. I would rather make dollars than cents on my trades. Just my honest opinion.
 
Quote from mdl060374:

Also. For entires I would suggest going long when the stock retraces back (weakly) to a pivot level/support level. This is very safe, and stocks often test this level b/4 going on to test new highs.. (vice versa for shorts)
See how I got stopped out of trade 2. That long shadow!!!. 2 questions:

1) Why does this happen?. The reason I'm asking is because I heard it was the input of HFT (excuse my naivety)
2) Any strategies to handle this?

but b/w 10:00 11:10, you see the sideways chop? try to avoid this.
I am working on my A.D.D., as we speak. Generally, I am calm natured. My abruptness does not arise from the excitement of trading, but from the "i HAVE TO succeed!" factor.

Look at it this way. You might miss a few big moves that never bother to retrace with this metohd, but you will also not get chopped up as much, which is psychologically easier long term.
Amen to that!
 
Quote from konviction:

Targets would be an equal distance from the high and low swings.. for example:
I can't seem to see the images, so makes it a little difficult to make sense out of. However, I really want to understand how you set your targets. Can you PM me the pics? Thanks.
 
Quote from 4re:

Since you really like the idea of day trading it would probably help to start out looking at a daily chart to help determine which way the stock is heading for an entire day then start dialing it in to an hourly chart then 30 minute and trade using a 10 minute chart.
This is pure, sound, words of wisdom! Such a simple concept, that I should have been doing, but wasn't!!! Thanks for pointing this out.

Those 1 minute charts are very noisy. A .25 move looks like a big trend but commissions will eat up most of the profits.
YES, YES and YES!!! I am really starting to hate my $7.99 broker. Decent trading yesterday, but paid $100 in commission.......and I went home a pauper :mad:

I know you are getting a lot of info but some of us have been doing this for years and are trying to help you get a good start.
No need for justification; I really feel indebted to the lot of you. Thank you again.
 
Quote from Sam Morgan:

See how I got stopped out of trade 2. That long shadow!!!. 2 questions:

1) Why does this happen?. The reason I'm asking is because I heard it was the input of HFT (excuse my naivety)
2) Any strategies to handle this?


This has happened long b/4 HFT. I dont know if HFt has made it worse
It has to do more with "shaking out weak hands" I think. Once a stock makes a move, it sometimes bounces around (creates fakes).. Unfortunately, I dont think there is a way to safely avoid this.. One method is to let the bar CLOSE, then act on it.. However, I am not sure if this will do any good, b/c I am sure plenty of times, it would close down further, and continue to move down farther eating more of your profits..

So to answer your question, I dont know.. But even then it was still a good trade, even with the fake out.. That is b/c the entry was good!

Now, I will advise, when you enter look to see the next level of resistance (for longs).. Often it will test this.. Make sure it is far enough away from entry that it justifies taking the trade vs a logical place you are putting your stop..

In other words look at it as risk:reward... Your stop should have been placed beneath the channel for trade #2.. That means if you are playing a 2:1 gain/loss ratio, the next logical level of resistance needs to be 2x the distance your stop is from entry, to justify taking the trade.....



I am working on my A.D.D., as we speak. Generally, I am calm natured. My abruptness does not arise from the excitement of trading, but from the "i HAVE TO succeed!" factor.

you and me both. :D

Also. I am, not sure if you have seen this old thread, but its a great reaad for price-action trading it really explains the principles well. (Probably one of the best on ET)
http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=99283

It is very long, but worth it. At lot of it is reptitious, but it just shows how he consistantly makes money over time with the same basic principles... IF you want to skim through it just for his posts, it will save time, but I dont sugest skipping much of it..
 
Quote from 4re:

Thanks...I just don't want to hijack Sam's journal but feel free to look through my old journal. I saw that it is listed in one of the hall of fame journals here on ET. It was called the S/R emini journal or something like that. I closed it about 4 years ago but it had some good info and I posted all my trades the night before with charts showing where to enter.

Good trading to all...


:) Only a handful of good journals on here
 
As you can see, I can now post charts. Thanks to Joe (administrator).

I was on the phone with him and discovered that we are from the same city!. We both have the same phone and have it for the same reason. The thought process was the same ("i was just thinking that", "me too"). Bizarre in a good way, but definitely bizarre!!!. What a small world, when he could have been anywhere over N.America!!!.


Anway, thanks again Joe and hope to hook up for lunch sometime.
 
I like Dave Landry too :)
I have more (free) videos, webinars, and articles on my site.
I don't know if I'm allowed to mention the actual site name but it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.
I also answer all emails.
Cheers,
Dave

Quote from 4re:

Hello Mr Morgan

Just looking at your entries and exits and then comparing them to your charts I can see some mistakes in your trading and psychology. The good thing is that your are starting with stocks so your losses will be minimal as long as your position is not too large. Now I have never been one to criticize without offering a solution.

1. One solution is to slow down. Slow your trading down with maybe some swing trading which in turn will slow down your mind. This will also minimize your commissions as well. With 12.95 each way you will need to make 26.00 on each trade before you start winning whether you are right about the trade or not. That is hard to do trading small lots in a day trading setting but not so much with a 2-5 day swing trade.

2. Study some more: I am attaching a link that has some free videos with good sound strategies that are easy to set up. Using his main strategy (the bow tie) and looking at your chart you will notice very quickly where your mistakes have been in your entry / exit. The videos are made from Dave Landry and he offers a free newsletter service with his morning Market in a Minute video. Every day for free. I would also suggest reading any of his books. Here is the link: http://www.tigersharktrading.com/ar...-Trends-with-the-Bow-Ties-Strategy/Page1.html

I wish you all the best and hope that you will continue studying. And in case it comes up I am not involved with Dave Landry in any way. I just think his simple strategies might help. I also like Larry Connors, Kevin Haggerty and Charles Kirk, to name a few other great swing traders.

Take care and good trading,
Gary
 
Quote from Davelandry99:

I like Dave Landry too :)
I have more (free) videos, webinars, and articles on my site.
I don't know if I'm allowed to mention the actual site name but it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.
I also answer all emails.
Cheers,
Dave

Well if it aint Mr Mountain Dew himself.
If it was my journal I would be happy that you not only mentioned your site but that you visited this journal. Yoo are one of the people that I have learned so much about swing trading from.

Sam, this is a man that will help you get a great start to your trading career.
 
Quote from athlonmank8:

:) Only a handful of good journals on here

I get a sense that Sam here is good people and I like that. If you look at my posting history you will see that I have not posted very much in the past few years but I will keep monitoring Sam's journal and I hope to see him succeed in his journey. Good trading to all in 2011. I got a feeling that we can make some money in this market.
 
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