Many new traders begin their trading experience on the mini Indices, with a primary
focus on the mini S&P 500, as either a scalping trader or an intra-day trader. Their daily
profit target is normally between three to five points. For an experience scalping trader, this could possibly be done but not for a new trader. It is hard to take any points out of S&P 500 on current market conditions. If you plot a range indicator you will understand why it is hard to make any money in S&P.
If you are trading for living, do a study on currency futures. You will understand what I'm talking about. The Euro currency future is traded under the symbols EC or 6E and has the same tick value as the E-mini S&P 500, twelve dollars and fifty cents per tick. A point in the Euro is equal to a movement of one tick.
There is few studies you can review on this link
http://www.tradershelpdesk.com/pdf/market-research.pdf
Good trading guys!