trading frustration

WDGann, I completely agree. I mentioned that now is not the time to be complacent. I'm digging deep, trying to figure out why things are not working the way they once were, and how I can change that.
 
My read on the market has also been off these past few weeks. I had thought we would get a nice rally but thats not shaping up.

I feel that in the next couple of years we are going to have a really slow market that just drifts which will make intraday trading very difficult. I believe market volatility, and thus opportunity, are largely created by hedge fund flows. If there ever is a large contraction in hedge fund money that would not bode well for traders.
 
Quote from Dustin:



I have to agree with Lescor...this past month has been extremly tough. I have automated alerts for all my trades. In Aug-Sept I got about 100 alerts every day. I was disappointed if I didn't make a grand. These past weeks I get about 20 alerts, and I'm lucky if I capitalize on two of them. This leaves me $200-400...and I'm thrilled with that.

The point is that it all depends on your style. WDGann consider yourself lucky if you have large consistent profits still. I hate to switch systems but I've been shopping...

Lucky? It's been a while since I heard myself as being lucky.

So it's not that the market is harder but the system is starting to lag. For a system trader, it's something to be expected, as you all know.

I was just thinking about it but I'm thinking that most of you have only traded stocks or stock indexes. I'm thinking most of you haven't traded corns, gold, lumber and other commodities.

It's obvious I have a strong Gann Trader part in me. Gann's studies were mostly on Grain markets and DJIA I went through 40+ years of charts. I started my system programming career as a Turtle trader trying to trade 30+ different markets. I followed all of them for diversification reasons.

Maybe that might be a reason I'm more vulnerable to changing market condition. I'm very passive about changing market and I don't mind changing my trading system if it doesn't work. Just like I didn't mind not trading a specific market if it's not working...
 
Quote from daytr8r:

Does anyone else feel like trading is getting progressively more difficult on a daily basis?

You used to be able to trade the entire day and you would be nervous about getting up to go to the restroom for fear that you might miss a trade. Then about a couple years ago you could count on trading at least the first two hours and the last two hours. Now, I'm busy for the first hour and basically sit on my hands the rest of the day.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am pretty damn nervous about my future as a trader. I've been at this for about 8 years and have done well for myself, but I'm very dubious about long-term prospects scalping stocks. I feel like I've put my blood, sweat, and tears into this and I have no idea where it will take me.

I guess this is the time when you cannot afford to be complacent. What worked in the past is no longer working. I'm having such a hard time abandoning what's worked for me for so long in search of an unknown.

Guess I'm just another extremely frustrated trader, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
I went thru this a couple of months ago...I had to "reinvent" myself...

nitro
 
I feel system trading is the way to keep the long term perspective and the emotions in check. It is nearly impossible though, if the trader had no hand in the development of the system.
 
I am really thinking...

Did you guys make your own system?

Do you guys continue making systems, on the daily basis?

... or did you just stop once you made one system that worked at the time...

It seems like most system traders in here who are whining only revisit system creation when bad times come....

Guys in Chuck Le Beau's Traders Club and OmegaList are constantly making systems...

Are majority of ET system traders, plain old amateur system trader wannabes?

Hrmm... just wondering...
 
Quote from daytr8r:

Does anyone else feel like trading is getting progressively more difficult on a daily basis?

You used to be able to trade the entire day and you would be nervous about getting up to go to the restroom for fear that you might miss a trade. Then about a couple years ago you could count on trading at least the first two hours and the last two hours. Now, I'm busy for the first hour and basically sit on my hands the rest of the day.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am pretty damn nervous about my future as a trader. I've been at this for about 8 years and have done well for myself, but I'm very dubious about long-term prospects scalping stocks. I feel like I've put my blood, sweat, and tears into this and I have no idea where it will take me.

I guess this is the time when you cannot afford to be complacent. What worked in the past is no longer working. I'm having such a hard time abandoning what's worked for me for so long in search of an unknown.

Guess I'm just another extremely frustrated trader, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Just part of the trading cycle... look to be consistently profitable, take smaller profits to put food on your table through more difficult trading conditions, and you will be ok in the long run...
 
Quote from candletrader:



Just part of the trading cycle... look to be consistently profitable, take smaller profits to put food on your table through more difficult trading conditions, and you will be ok in the long run...

It's not so much part of the trading cycle as it is the economic cycle. What industry is not hurting right now? Look at all the layoffs on Wall st.
Traders are affected by the boom and bust cycle just like many other industries. In order to survive, you have to adapt just like
larger companies.

Cut your costs to the bone
Find other methods that might work better in this environment
Get a part time job on the weekend (if it gets that tough)

At least as a trader, I don't have to worry about getting a pink slip in my pay envelope. Is it tougher trading lately? Sure, but
what we are going through is no different than what many other Americans are going through......

And we will all get through it O.K.
 
Quote from WDGann:

Do you guys continue making systems, on the daily basis?

... or did you just stop once you made one system that worked at the time...

For the past 3 years I made about 80% of my profits in only 3 months. Once my system starts to deteriorate I get back to the grind of looking for something new.
 
I agree, the best thing to do is change your approach.
This is my 6th method in less than 3 years.
I find combining a longer term and short term method is a good balance.
Today I missed the boat completely. That is why I am posting because I have the time:D
 
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