scalping the e-mini

Kicking · Oct 8, 2005

trying to scalp index futures from home is a completely idiotic way to trade, there is nothing more ephemeral than the intraday behaviour of stock indexes, for a trader to be succesful would require him to constantly adapt his trading, sometimes from one week to the next . That is just not possible over the long term. The slightest deterioration of your performance dramatically impacts your P%L because of commish. I think these markets have been tapped out for scalping. Look at YM, how good it was a year or two ago, what POS it is today. I daytraded indexes for about year when they were a lot easier to trade 4 years ago and it turned out to be a waste of time, I learned a few things about intraday market behaviour but that's it.
Can you make money? Some do but why would you try when the odds are so much against you and when one day whatever edge you found will be gone . Let me give you a good advice: if you are trying to make 1 point a day, stop right now, cause you ain't going anywhere .

El OchoCinco · Oct 8, 2005

Every person has a different perspective or experience. I have not found the deck stacked against me, but it is harder than trading options which I still do in large volume. We shall see.

wilburbear · Oct 8, 2005

Quote from Pabst:

Sometimes.....

Not often enough to have predictive value as an "indicator" though.

Does anything at all lead the e-mini when you're trying to trade it?

eagerbeaver · Oct 8, 2005

Quote from wilburbear:

Does anything at all lead the e-mini when you're trying to trade it?

no -- especially when you're trying to trade it...

tick, trin, bonds, rusell 2000, the orbital path of jupiter, you-name-it, may have their moments of syncronicity with es but the question is, how do you know you're in the middle of one of those "moments" when it's time to pull the trigger?

when it comes time to fire, price action rules. the alternative, i've found, is info-overload, and analysis-paralysis.

MacroEvent · Oct 8, 2005

Quote from Kicking:

trying to scalp index futures from home is a completely idiotic way to trade, there is nothing more ephemeral than the intraday behavior of stock indexes, for a trader to be successful would require him to constantly adapt his trading, sometimes from one week to the next . That is just not possible over the long term. The slightest deterioration of your performance dramatically impacts your P%L because of commish. I think these markets have been tapped out for scalping. Look at YM, how good it was a year or two ago, what POS it is today. I daytraded indexes for about year when they were a lot easier to trade 4 years ago and it turned out to be a waste of time, I learned a few things about intraday market behavior but that's it.
Can you make money? Some do but why would you try when the odds are so much against you and when one day whatever edge you found will be gone . Let me give you a good advice: if you are trying to make 1 point a day, stop right now, cause you ain't going anywhere .

kicking and screaming --- i could not disagree more if talking about the er2 or the es {i do not trade the ym}. i trade a system with the er2 that goes for 5 tick quick profits and it has worked since i started doing this two years ago. the es can be scalped with several different techniques {one method all you need is a DOM and the nyse tick chart}. there are very solid methods for scalping the es from what i have found over the past few years of trading this contract.

i can tell you about one newer method that i have just discovered over the past few months for the es. you will have to be willing to take the time to learn and be patient in the beginning, but once you understand the method you will be profitable --- isn't that worth it?

http://www.instituteofauctionmarkettheory.com/index.cfm

14 day free trial --- can't beat that!

what i have learned in life is that if you believe something can't be done --- you are right!
our thoughts in life can be our only enemy at times.

wilburbear · Oct 9, 2005

Quote from eagerbeaver:

no -- especially when you're trying to trade it...

tick, trin, bonds, rusell 2000, the orbital path of jupiter, you-name-it, may have their moments of syncronicity with es but the question is, how do you know you're in the middle of one of those "moments" when it's time to pull the trigger?

when it comes time to fire, price action rules. the alternative, i've found, is info-overload, and analysis-paralysis.

Only other thing I can think of to lead the e-mini is occaisionally bonds or oil as they begin to be hot media topics. But these fade in and out of the news.

The best e-mini traders don't look at anything to lead to lead the e-mini on a consistent basis?

MacroEvent · Oct 9, 2005

Quote from wilburbear:

Only other thing I can think of to lead the e-mini is occaisionally bonds or oil as they begin to be hot media topics. But these fade in and out of the news.

The best e-mini traders don't look at anything to lead to lead the e-mini on a consistent basis?

i watch the NYSE TICK all the time and other buy/sell program indications that i use --- this has always worked for me. other then this there is no other consistent leader to the es from what i have determined. the market will keep getting more and more synchronized in reaction as everyones trading technology equals out.

easyrider · Oct 9, 2005

I have hesitated posting this as I know whats going to happen but what the hell. Jack Hershey has stated for a long time now thats YM leads ES. You might do a search and research the claim to find out for yourself if there is anything to it, or you can dismiss it as poppycock as Im sure most will. No skin off my a$$ either way.

nitro · Oct 9, 2005

Quote from easyrider:

I have hesitated posting this as I know whats going to happen but what the hell. Jack Hershey has stated for a long time now thats YM leads ES. You might do a search and research the claim to find out for yourself if there is anything to it, or you can dismiss it as poppycock as Im sure most will. No skin off my a$$ either way.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA
BWAGHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hold on, I am going to break a rib laughing.

BWUUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Oh man, tooooo funny.

nitro

easyrider · Oct 9, 2005

LOL. That didnt take long. I have to throw Jacks name out there occasionally to stir up the masses.