Quote from NYSEat21:
Mecro, my previous firm ran them through like cattle not the firm that I am part of now. That is the major difference.
I understand that a trader might be more profitable on small amount of shares relative to a trader that trades any type of size. We have guys and girls that tend to position trade throughout the day which leads them to trader fewer shares. If that works and they can make enough money at it...then I am all for it...green is green. But, I can count on one hand that amount of traders I have seen that have made it as a full time trader trading small shares each day. What tends to happen is that traders become complacent and will get comfortable with a certain total share size...which is not a bad thing in itself. But, this becomes a problem when you are doing the same size lots when you were positive. Now you are doing the same size lots to the upside and downside or worse bigger lots when you are down. You are not adjusting your size you how you are trading...you are adjusting your trading to your size. In my experience those traders that trade some size ( and not even big lots...500-2000sh) on an average day had the experience to lay into the market on a volatile day and clean up. Up to a certain point, I strongly believe the volume will directly effect the profits. Once you are overtrading, then you are shooting yourself in the foot. But, undertrading isn't getting you anywhere either. At best you will be treading water. How many true prop traders do you know that are making a living trading 5-10k shares a day? (There is a HUGE difference between trading 10k retail and 10k prop in order to keep the lights on) On the other hand, a guy running a grey box pumping out 300k a day and 50k in bullets isn't going anywhere either.
More is not better. QUALITY IS BETTER! A good trader will trade what the market will bear. If there is nothing going on...you back off. If things are rolling you lay into stuff and you can make a whole year in a month or less.
Finally, since my thinking that size correlates with profitability is stupid I wouldn't mind putting my sheets side by side with yours.
Well the reason why Vaquero has good points is because he focuses on profitability, not on volume. Almost every major prop firm focuses on volume, which encourages churning and forces traders to focus on their commission rates and so on.
"How many true prop traders do you know that are making a living trading 5-10k shares a day?"
My best days have been with volume of 5-10k.
