Monday, 14 October 2013

USA Closed and the US Govt is on shutdown - still +4R on 2 X corresponding DTFL Trades

.... just a pity I missed them, I was distracted by the fact that other people were not trading today and with USA closed I suspected low volumes so wasn't keeping a close eye...

I really missed a trick there... Also interesting to note how clear it was when to exit the trade with the high volume showing a lot of selling with the next bar being down...


OK, well I followed Pip today and it cost me my early profit when the volume would of told me otherwise... wont let that happen again.

PERFORMANCE GRADE TODAY : YELLOW BELT
leSSON - DTFL DEMANDS FOCUS. 


Saturday, 12 October 2013

Weekly Updates - VSA Weekly Review

OK, in Monday it will be 3 weeks, and in that time the only thing I have eaten that isnt alkaline is 1 piece of chewing gum.. the first week was really tough, the second didnt do too much excercise but was starting to feel a lot better, and today I just feel great..

I would feel sick if I ate chicken or a steak, the feel of animal fat soaking down my chin is completely abhorent to me.. which I think is GOOOOD !!! :)

OK, this week, I had a single opportunity where I could of made my weekly target of £500.00 but I let the trade run and got stopped out for little more than break even.. so I must remember that VSA will lead the way and an SOS is exactly that... I also took a really dumb 'Use the Force Sean' trade on GU which quite rightly resulted in a £100 loss... LOL.

OK, a few trades I spotted with VSA this week..


The point to this trade with that we had 3 hourly candles showing bearish volume divergence into a resistance zone, in this case the ADR and this point about being at a resistance level is key... its where Smart Money make they move and the place of maximum liquidity so the only place to look for potential reversal setups. 


OK, Akil posted a trade idea on the NZDUSD, and i didnt take the trade blind.. but waited for the right setup shown above.. we didnt get a true reflection of the market today owing to the US debt ceiling, but it was a very valid short term entry. 


Thursday, 3 October 2013

New tool from Damian

OK, D was quite keen on a 10M timeframe indi to get the heatmaps in sink... this was following his predication for a 100pip move..


It was also interesting to see a ADR to ADR UJ trade after a vol volume retest of the level, this LOW VOLUME RETEST is looking like a really POWERFUL INDY. 


OK, feeling good and trying to not get overconfident with D's trades... will ENSURE I use my pre trade hand written checklist before entering. 

Patience and Discipline is the key to Success. 




Wednesday, 2 October 2013

Seeing a trade before it happens

OK, interesting trade on the EU today, another ADR to ADR trade.


What was interesting here was the 1m bounce off the ADR, its also interesting to see whether the closer we are to ADR when approaching news, the EDGE this can potentially give us. 

Vini expounding on the M3 timeframe and posted this chart. 


OK, D is putting together a new MM indicator and is quite keen about a GJ breakout in the morning so we will see.. 

I downloaded my old trading plan that was dated. the 11th of September 2011 - I cant believe this, I have been making the same old mistakes for YEARS.. just for posterity, ive included this here. 

My Trading Goal:
1.       To prove to myself that I can follow a disciplined and structured methodology, both in my trading and correspondingly, in my life.
2.       To experience first-hand how a disciplined approach to Price Action Trading can lead to great rewards both personally and financially.
3.       To be earning £4000 per month via trading by January 2011, and to increase this by £1000 per month from then on.
4.       To become an instinctual Price Action Trader who is instinctually able to identify swing points in the market

My Trading Edge:
1.       My Trading Edge is Price Action Signals on Daily Charts via Pin Bar Entries, Fakeys and Inside Bars with at least 3 points of confluence.
2.       My psychological edge is also that I have this Trading Plan, a trading diary, a set routine and a willingness to work with discipline and commitment to achieve my goal.

My Trading Weaknesses:
1.       I have lost tens of thousands of pounds by rash, undisciplined, impulsive trading and by not following my trading plan. I will remember this pain and this stupidity along with the shame and insecurity it caused to act as my motivation to do this right.
2.       To seek quick rewards, to desire too much profit, too soon and not incorporate sound risk management to all my trades.  I will adhere to this plan religiously and earn my results properly.

My Trading Strengths:
1.       I am extremely passionate and totally committed to learn price action trading and to apply the commitment and the discipline set out in my trading bible.
2.       I totally committed to the fact that these goals I set for myself aren’t  only about the results, there are about what it will make of my as a trader and more importantly as a person by applying discipline, commitment, patience and perseverance to one of the most important aspects of my life.

Points of Confluence:                                                                                                                                   
1.       I must identify a quality price action signal.
2.       I must trade with the trend, except only when price is ranging between levels or a giant buy or sell signal is given against the trend at a key historic level.                                                
3.       I must trade only at key levels close to value.                                                                                     
4.       I may use moving averages as dynamic support or resistance                                                     
5.       I may use trend lines support or resistance                                                                         
6.       I must have a logical place to target to take profit which gives me at least 2:1 risk-reward              

Specific rules for Stops:
1.       I will never move my stop loss away from a trade. EVER!
2.       I will move to BE after I’m up 2X risk on “with trend” trades, if I‘m only looking for 2:1 then I will not move the stop.
3.       I will move stop to BE when I’m up 1X risk on countertrend trades or in a ranging market.
4.       When trading against the trend, if a signal appears in the opposite direction of my trade, I will move to BE at least.
5.       I will move stop to BE after 3 whole days regardless of how far it has moved. If I am taking a loss it can be left.
6.       I will always trail my stop to 2X risk, so if I am at 3X risk my stop becomes 1X and so on.  

My Trading Strategy – Every Night after New York Close I WILL:
1.       I am a Price Action Trader who likes to identify swing points in the market
2.       Every night as NY close I will:
a.       Note the trend, Mark Resistance Lines, EMA’s and Fibs.
b.      Mark Pin Bars, Fakeys, Inside Bars and Combo’s
c.       Mark appropriate target entry points, S/L, T/P and retracements.
d.      Highlight in RED the ones to watch for the forthcoming day.

My Trading Style – On Live Trades, I WILL:
1.       Wait for candle close before I enter a trade
2.       Confirm 3+ areas of confluence
3.       Clearly define entry and exit points
4.       Risk no more than 4% of my capital in trending markets and no more than 2% in ranging or counter trend markets.
5.       Mark SL and TP on the chart
6.       ALWAYS open a trade with the SL set.
7.       Move SL to BE on R2 when trading with the trend, R1 without.
8.       Never enter a trade unless it's at least 2:1 R/R
9.       Be apprised of the economic events calendar.
10.   Only ever have a maximum of 3 open positions that are not in conflict.  
11.   Never enter a trade late, wait for further PAS.
12.   Double check that I’m completely satisfied with points 1-11 and only then Will I Enter the Trade.
13.   Not be afraid to exit a trade if it goes against me using disciplined PA methodology.
14.   Immediately update my trading diary for all my trades.
15.   Print out my trades each week for review.
16.   Keep a journal of all trades I don’t take and note how they turned out. 

__________________________________________________________________________


Well, FUCK THAT, Ive started work on a paper based pre trade checklist that I will basically follow on low equity outlays.- This WILL really, really help


Monday, 30 September 2013

How to take a continuation trade

Continuation Trades should ONLY be taken from the 5- - 61.8 fib retractment level... like so...



Monthly Update

OK, a great trade on EJ today and a good example of how to use Damian's tools..


I did post an earlier entry looking at a EJ Short, it didn't work out probably because the JPY strength had been very prevalent overnight, here is the trade...



And here is why... (stupid again, only seeing what I want to see trying to force a trade.)






Vince didn't like it and here is why..


the professional gap is when SM gaps down AGAINST the trend, the fool's gap is when SM gaps up WITH the trend. In the latter, it is a cheap way to advance and take stops leaving just a few traders in profit because majority of orders are above and SM will come down again in due course to take them out. In the former, SM gap down to stop out and accumulate orders before resuming the trend. Can you see on the bigger time frame what is happening  You may have a downward movement first but be prepared to go long as well when price reaches the gap, it may or may not turn but almost definitely it will turn when price closes and moves past the gap to take stops. The trend channel is a good guide. although we don't trade it, everyone else is looking at it so it is a place of potential stops/orders as well. 

OK, on a personal note, I saw a chiropractor today, and she was without a doubt one of the rudest people I have ever seen, I immediately left and then watched RUSH which was awesome. 

OK, back to DTFL and a PERFECT Trade setup which I missed because I was looking at Damiens Charts - I am absolutely kicking myself on this...  a 3.5 RR :( 


OK, I did take some rash trades today and was even taking trades that had the MM 1HR and MM15 IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER, I GOT GREEDY AGAIN AND DIDN'T WITHDRAW MY £100 WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE, I RUSHED IT THIS MORNING AND WAS BLINDED BY FEAR AND GREED. 







Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Trade 9 - +2.5R

Text Book Setup on the GU and it was 60 pips from the low to the high (200EMA). 2.5R taken due to the low movement on this pair recently.


OK, there were some potential setups on the EU, and the level I marked was slightly high but basically, a level is invalidated when you we have two opens and closes above the level, and at the 2nd M point, taking a trade at this point means we wouldn't reach 2R until we were beyond ADR, for this reason the trade is not valid.



One thing I have learned being focused on the DTFL method is how important it is to wait for confirmation and that a consistant 40pip trade is SO much more profitable over time than a less consistent 50pip trade. This method has a winning probability over a series of trades - its my EDGE and should be executed with precision, every time.. this is what being a professional trader is all about...

I got a copy of V1 MM from Brinks, which I am looking forward to back testing though Damien did say that the live room and the new indi's are coming soon... REALLY looking forward to this...

I am also putting together a more detailed trading plan around EMA's and Levels combining Pips levels, EMA's and VSA though must make sure this doesnt detract from my DTFL priority.

OK, in other news, im day 3 of my 100 day challenge, which takes me nicely up into Xmas. So far so good though I did have a celery stick with almond butter - LOL...