The Importance of Simplicity

[Snosur4]

Db..

I had the free 30 day trial to TS once....for me, the "easy language' might just as well have been Sumerian cuneiform!!

Needless to say, I did not continue my subscription.

My backtesting is based on visual observation over many years and actual trading. I learned to trade the old fashioned way....by losing probably 50k before it finally "clicked."

I don't necessarily suggest that method!!!

You folks that are more computer literate than I, have a big advantage.

sorry I can't help more.

Mike

 

[Snosur4]

Quote from Sophomore Jinx:

Fun to be watching this as it's going on. Maybe I can pick your brains live.

Right now, I've got a line drawn at the high of 890.00 and at the low of 883.75. The bars are hanging in the middle of this range.

What's going through your minds at this point? Just waiting for a breakout above or below? Does the day "feel" right for trading?

At what point will you enter the trade?

Where will initial stop loss be?

What will maximum point loss allowed be?

Thanks again, it's cool to be able to think along with you.

Sorry......

I am brain dead today....up all night with a screaming baby.

Mike

 

[dbphoenix]

Quote from Snosur4:
My backtesting is based on visual observation over many years and actual trading. I learned to trade the old fashioned way....by losing probably 50k before it finally "clicked."

I don't necessarily suggest that method!!!

You folks that are more computer literate than I, have a big advantage.

I didn't mean to imply that I was using a program to backtest. I don't know how this sort of thing could be backtested that way unless it was made so mechanical that it would have little value.

When I say "backtesting", I mean going back over old charts and scrolling through them bar by bar. That's the only sort of backtesting that does me any good anyway. For one thing, I can't see what's going to happen next. For another, it somewhat simulates what I will see in real-time, though the bars have to be moved manually. The advantage, of course, is that, if there's nothing going on, you can scroll through an entire day quickly, so the boredom factor of trading something like this in real time is not accounted for. But if one has the sense not to trade just because he wants something to do, this is not a problem.

FWIW, I think Natalie backtests the same way.

--Db

 

[Girlpower]

Quote from dbphoenix:




FWIW, I think Natalie backtests the same way.

--Db

Indeed I do. I don't even have mechanical backtest systems and even if I did I'd only ever use them for the donkey work...

Natalie

 

[Snosur4]

Quote from dbphoenix:



I didn't mean to imply that I was using a program to backtest. I don't know how this sort of thing could be backtested that way unless it was made so mechanical that it would have little value.

When I say "backtesting", I mean going back over old charts and scrolling through them bar by bar. That's the only sort of backtesting that does me any good anyway. For one thing, I can't see what's going to happen next. For another, it somewhat simulates what I will see in real-time, though the bars have to be moved manually. The advantage, of course, is that, if there's nothing going on, you can scroll through an entire day quickly, so the boredom factor of trading something like this in real time is not accounted for. But if one has the sense not to trade just because he wants something to do, this is not a problem.


FWIW, I think Natalie backtests the same way.

--Db

Ok, I get it....yes when I decided to trade this method I simply pulled up the charts and scrolled through it day by day as you suggested to verify what I had suspected.

I think I only reviewed about 2 months worth of data.

Sorry for misunderstanding your original question....again overly tired.

Mike

 

[Sophomore Jinx]

My 10 month-old daughter got me up at 4 AM. Been up ever since - 4 cups of coffee later, I'm more dopey than I was at 4! Hang in there pops!

 

[Snosur4]

Quote from Sophomore Jinx:

My 10 month-old daughter got me up at 4 AM. Been up ever since - 4 cups of coffee later, I'm more dopey than I was at 4! Hang in there pops!

Thanks for the sympathy......but it's Grand Pops...

and he's to old for this sort of abuse.

Mike

 

[Uncle Festus]

Looking at the 3 minute charts, it looks like your system would've gotten pretty churned today. Do you find that happens on many days?

-Festus

 

[Girlpower]

Quote from Uncle Festus:

Looking at the 3 minute charts, it looks like your system would've gotten pretty churned today. Do you find that happens on many days?

-Festus

I stayed out. Didn't like the total lack of anything much for so long....

Natalie

 

[Sophomore Jinx]

That's interesting - because today looks like it would've been a pretty good day for a downside breakout of the opening 30-minute range, provided one could just sit there, hold the position, and watch the market putter all day.