What's the point of tape reading?

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Just focus on the chart / price action.

Tape reading was useful before the computers were invented.
 
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just because someone can't extrapolate profitable info from the tape doesn't mean someone else can't. :cool:

I'm not saying the information isn't useful but it's already on the chart ..while you are watching L2 wondering whether the bulls or bears are going to win the tugowar on price, I have simply drawn a triangle and gone on with my day. All the money I make in stocks comes from me basically not even knowing I made money...like when I got my Lotus...I had no idea Dogecoin had rallied from .05 to .55. Real money in trading is made by accident ..not by staring at numbers.
 
I like your general content but this post of yours here is utter nonsense. You see shit on level 2, 2023, period. A huge percentage of orders are either hidden or routed to alternative venues and reported late. Level2 is complete and utter garbage today. It's like you driving a car and everything you see has already happened 5 seconds ago. Good luck.

Edit: I am not saying that the remaining information is useless. I ma claiming level 2 is useless, all that is needed is trades with volume and price dynamics (as limited as it already is thanks to market fragmentation) that can all be gleaned from level 1.

Level 2 for stocks and DOM for futures are invaluable for a scalper. It's like reading a foot print. Once the momentum builds, you quickly jump in for 1 point scalp.
 
I just watched a video of two traders watching the tape when they could have just drawn a triangle and gone to make a sandwich.

Like seriously what did they learn from sitting there with their eyes glued it? People had to read the tape to visualize price action before there were charts...or they would chart the tape. You don't go from charts to tape reading...its backwards. What's next...ticker tape?

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Useful to scalpers assuming it's someone who also uses a broker that offers a trade execution platform that's suitable for scalpers.

Simply, if you're not a scalper...I wouldn't worry about tape reading especially in today's markets with algorithms, high-frequency traders, and such that are trading in mili-seconds...exploiting short-term price and liquidity changes.

Further, we're in the dawn of AI (artificial intelligence)...manual scalpers will not be able to compete although one can argue a retail scalper that's not using an automated trading system can not compete in today's markets.

wrbtrader
 
I use Tape on the ES if a big order comes through that can help break or hold a S/R level. I only watch for big big junks thou, I have an alert so tape reading is not becessary.
 
I've done thousands of daytrades using the tape. I found it most useful for Exiting as pivots form, to lock in a gain, vs entries w blocks & price action momentum.

Eg I'm long 11.2 it runs to 11.88 drops back to 11.75 I'm out
 
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