[method]

Caught a nice short near the opening in the DAX.

32 ticks

[edabreu]

A little bit of Dax, little bit of Crude, and some TF

[jack411]

Originally Posted by Dinerotrader »

SIM
+179

Started trying the YM and NQ today.

Dinero,

What was it you think that gave you trouble on the YM and NQ? How did they compare to bonds, grains, and other markets you usually trade?

[brownsfan019]

I'm a little behind here but that's no reason for this thread to die off. I've been very busy lately so I may not be posting daily but will try to keep it going.

1-14-10: -$190.00
Took a nice hit on the RLM that day. Not fun.

1-15-10: +$210.00
Thanks oil!

1-20-10: +580.00
Much better all around today.

[Dinerotrader]

Originally Posted by jack411 »

Dinero,

What was it you think that gave you trouble on the YM and NQ? How did they compare to bonds, grains, and other markets you usually trade?

Several things:
1. I still suck at trading
2. I have never traded the YM or NQ so I am unfamiliar with how they move bar by bar
3. YM/NQ/ES all move in similar ways so switching between them when they are all setting up or beginning to move from news is tricky. I'm not used to watching multiple futures that move often in tandom.

I almost never trade bonds right now.

What got me interested in oil and grains was that they can move quickly and often without a whole lot of choppiness. Of course, that changes over time. I trade far too many markets right now and I am currently figuring out how to scale back.

My plan right now is trade 2 futures on smaller time frames and keep an eye out on the others with larger time frame charts. I hate to look at some future in retrospect and see that there was an obvious reversal opportunity if I had only noted the S/R level that was obvious and then kept an eye out for its approach to that price.

I'd also like to get so I can hold some positions for many days if I got primo position on a large time frame chart without having to use a 50 tick stop.

I've heard this many times and am realizing it more now, that many trading methods are good in a trending or a choppy market but not both. This leads me to think you have to do one of the following:
1. find a way to determine what each day is going to be before trading and then use the matching method (not sure anyone has a good way to predict if the days action will be trending or nontrending)
2. find a method of trading that works in both
3. trade your method on both types of days but try to set rules to limit losses on a day that is not ideal for your method
4. give up and play the lotto

That is more than you asked but I had a few more things on my mind.

[enochbenjamin]

Been in Florida for the past 5 days so little internet. I did some trading at whole foods. Friday +200 and Tuesday +320.

[jack411]

Originally Posted by Dinerotrader »

Several things:
1. I still suck at trading
2. I have never traded the YM or NQ so I am unfamiliar with how they move bar by bar
3. YM/NQ/ES all move in similar ways so switching between them when they are all setting up or beginning to move from news is tricky. I'm not used to watching multiple futures that move often in tandom.

I almost never trade bonds right now.

What got me interested in oil and grains was that they can move quickly and often without a whole lot of choppiness. Of course, that changes over time. I trade far too many markets right now and I am currently figuring out how to scale back.

My plan right now is trade 2 futures on smaller time frames and keep an eye out on the others with larger time frame charts. I hate to look at some future in retrospect and see that there was an obvious reversal opportunity if I had only noted the S/R level that was obvious and then kept an eye out for its approach to that price.

I'd also like to get so I can hold some positions for many days if I got primo position on a large time frame chart without having to use a 50 tick stop.

I've heard this many times and am realizing it more now, that many trading methods are good in a trending or a choppy market but not both. This leads me to think you have to do one of the following:
1. find a way to determine what each day is going to be before trading and then use the matching method (not sure anyone has a good way to predict if the days action will be trending or nontrending)
2. find a method of trading that works in both
3. trade your method on both types of days but try to set rules to limit losses on a day that is not ideal for your method
4. give up and play the lotto

That is more than you asked but I had a few more things on my mind.

Thanks for the response! I was mostly asking because I've always just looked at the YM, NQ, and ES. I've just started looking into oil and gold for the same reasons that you stated. Just wanted to see what the difference was in your eyes as far as some of the more common markets like YM and NQ versus the others. Meaning was it more choppy, or just different overall.
As for as the options you listed as the end of your post - figuring out whether it will be a choppy or trending day is almost impossible. It's always obvious after the fact. I suggest setting loss limits and either changing strategies or calling it a day if one just isn't working. You know all the cliches by now - "live to trade another day", "capital preservation on tougher days is just as important if not more important as winning days", etc. If the market isn't behaving the way you like to trade, then just don't trade.

[subterfuge]

been a little busy myself recently. Im involved with too many trading forums etc at the moment and trying top spread my time out a little.
I'll just give you the tick count for the last few days, as you know i always only trade 1 contract, and i cant be bothered to work out and post all of the dollar amounts/trade blotters.

thur- (-20 pips)
Fri - +5 pips
Mon- (- 4pips)
tue - +20 pips

today:
+$527 - very good day.