I was watching UA on the open and I wanted to write up this drive because I feel like I’m a bit more comfortable with the slower setups in a trending environment. On the open the timing windows are shorter, the price movements are more whippy, and at the moment it’s generally more difficult for me to control my risk … Read More
Overcoming Your Psychological Issues as a Trader (a Case Study)
Here is a case study on one SMB Trader struggling with his psychology. I’m sure many readers have experienced the same struggles. We end with a plan to solve this psychological issue for this trader. SMB TRADER: I’m really disappointed. This was bad. Probably the most disappointed I have been in myself in a long time. There’s no reason, no excuse, … Read More
Focus on Building Your Trading Position: Embracing Long-Term Strategies (VVUS)
Hey Bella, I was reviewing my trade from VVUS today, and there were two things I forgot to run by you that I was thinking about during the trade. First, I used our discussion on the steepness of moves to help me stay in the trade. I have had problems with past trades where I would get into a position, … Read More
You are losing money by not being big enough (EDU)
Bella, I thought EDU offered some great opportunities to use the tape and levels from yesterday to catch most of the downtrend we saw today. EDU was heavily in play yesterday on SEC investigation news (roughly 20x average daily volume), and today it was even more active (roughly 35x average daily volume). My one concern in this trade is how … Read More
How to tell a stock is breaking down (EDU)
Bella, A couple quick questions on EDU based on what you were discussing in the meeting after the close: I was watching EDU and felt that the 15.70 level was more important intraday support than 15.50. The push down to 15.50 happened simultaneously with the market exhausting its downtrend before pulling back, and at the time it looked like EDU … Read More
Trading Bigger (GMCR)
GMCR from 7/16 Where to add size on this play? I thought about it all day and discussed it with a number of other traders. One camp was “be big at 19.20, the 2nd time, at 11:20am with an out in the mid 30s”. I can’t totally agree with this. I don’t think you can get that big there, responsibly. … Read More
One day on the street with a professional trader
In the article Book Takes a Look Inside Professional Day Traders, national columnist Joel Stein is spotted $100,000 to try his hand at professional intraday trading for one day. Matt Nadell, @tradecrushers, a guest blogger at SMBU Blog, in Chicago gives Joel a taste of the nerve-wrecking excitement that trading can offer while teaching him basics along the way. Highlights: … Read More
A sad anecdote of a failed trader
I received this email from a trader this week: Hey Mike, We talked awhile ago, about how your book “One Good Trade” has helped me and my 5 friends on the trading desk at our prop trading firm($$$$ Capital). I have been trading for about 12 months total and about 6 months live. I have found that your website blogs … Read More