Sam's Day Trading Log (With Charts)

Quote from KingDong130:

Hi Sam, just a quick note on this trade, maybe giving you something to research more. Something I might suggest is to focus on 1 setup for awhile, then move onto another setup and keep building more and more plays, so maybe start with flag patterns, then add support/resistance ect...

I like how you got long on the opening range breakout, if you look at that chart it put in a really nice bullflag after you got in, so you could have added to your position and kept your first buy as a core. You could have bought on the flag break more, set your stop for just below the flag for those lots and used a measured move calculation for the target, just rounding number it would have been about $26.50, then could have used your other lot to hold as long as it was up trending the rest of the day. Just something to think about in the future, good luck on your trading.

If I was day trading I could sit there all day and trade nothing but flags and using S/R for my exits. It is a blast for sure but bigger money with less commissions in the swing trade game.
 
Quote from Sam Morgan:




Re4, I am looking to day trade within this profession. i understand what you are saying in regards to swing trading and in complete agreement. However, what I am not comfortable with is the gapping up/down from one day to the next. However, I will look into the link that you have sent as this may help.



SM

Yes stocks do gap against you from time to time. The key to managing this is to keep an updated watch list. With mine I usually filter out stocks that tend to jump around a lot. It is rare that I have one gap outside of my comfort zone because of the filters I use for my watch list. I also don't enter a trade on a stock that is about to announce earnings for the same reason.

Have a great trading day...
 
Quote from 4re:

If I was day trading I could sit there all day and trade nothing but flags and using S/R for my exits. It is a blast for sure but bigger money with less commissions in the swing trade game.

Wow I didn't realize how much his commissions are. I trade prop so those types of plays are easy for me to make since I don't really look at my commissions. My intent for the post was to get his mind thinking about how he could have traded it differently, something that I always do after the clos and has helped me immensely. Also to try to slow you down a bit, learn one setup really really well, add it to your plays, then move onto another setup ect...

Sam, to be honest, if I were you and you are serious above day trading, then you need to find cheaper commissions. Unless you are trading serious size, then your commissions will just eat you up, but at this point I don't think you should be trading anything larger then a few hundred shares until you learn more and more about the price action. Or you can try swing trading like 4re said.
 
Quote from 4re:

If I was day trading I could sit there all day and trade nothing but flags and using S/R for my exits. It is a blast for sure but bigger money with less commissions in the swing trade game.

4re, I see where you are coming from, and I totally agree with you. You will see that once again today I traded "noise" (not as bad though), so when you say this, I see complete sense.

However, you are talking to Mr. A.D.D. here :p; one of the things I'm trying to work on is to feel okay about not taking every trade out there.
 
Quote from KingDong130:
Wow I didn't realize how much his commissions are.
Good thing I'm not trading with real money yet, but I am very awar of it and it truely is a concern.

Sam, to be honest, if I were you and you are serious above day trading, then you need to find cheaper commissions.

Any suggesions?

Btw, my broker just called and said he wants to piss on your car for encouraging me to find cheaper commission :D

KingDong/4re (and everyone else), thanks for your support and genuine enthusiasm to add on to my knowledge. Much appreciated.
 
Pic. 1:

Trade 1:
LONG:
Entry: $27.29
Exit: $27.30
$0.01

Trade 2:
LONG:
Entry: $27.37
Exit: $27.58
$0.21

Trade 3:
LONG:
Entry: $27.66
Exit: $27.60
-$0.06

Trade 4:
LONG:
Entry: $27.73
Exit: $27.63
-$0.10

Trade 5:
LONG:
Entry: $27.73
Exit: $27.79
$0.06

<img src="http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=3043089/spy.png">
 

Attachments

If you have enough funds to day trade stocks then you most likely can afford to swing trade about 5-10 positions at a time with between 100 and 300 shares. Most swing trades will last between 3 to 7 days and that will keep any ADD under control :)

The key is to place your entries and exits before the market opens and just monitor periodically during the day maybe once or twice. Try a hobby. I love to do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and boxing. I am running a business so my time is spent with it but I do go work out when I can. Watching pixels all day can be bad for new traders.
 
Pic. 2

Trade 6:
LONG:
Entry: $28.61
Exit: $27.61
$0.00

<img src="http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=3043098/spy.png">



Total (+/-): $344.12; [$440-$95.88(commission)]
All Time (+/-): $392.26
 

Attachments

Quote from 4re:
Watching pixels all day can be bad for new traders.......

............and good for my broker. I spent $100 (approx.) only on commission today. I see your point. However, 4re, I have spent and put in a lot of time studying day trading and seem to be getting better at it. All I know about swing trades is that you place your trades and let them run until they decide to turn on you. I'm sure there's more to it than that.

I surely will keep your advice in mind as I may actually decide to take it up in due course. Thanks man.
 
Quote from Sam Morgan:

Good thing I'm not trading with real money yet, but I am very awar of it and it truely is a concern.
Btw, my broker just called and said he wants to piss on your car for encouraging me to find cheaper commission :D

Ha, hilarious... I didn't realize you were paper trading eventhough I read your posts, talk about ADD..

I think a lot of people on here trade through IB. If you are going to be daytrading it might be worth it to look into Lightspeed or just find a good prop firm. Just remember the first year is all about learning and trying to get better each day, so stay small and make all your mistakes on small size so you don't dig yourself an early grave.
 
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