One of the questions I receive most often is regarding trades based strictly on the tape. These occur far less frequently than in years past because of the masking of buyers/sellers by the HFTs but they still do occur from time to time. This morning I was trading AMLN on the Open as it was In Play due to an … Read More
The Lens Matters (2)
Last week I wrote a column talking about how I had moved towards using 15 minute charts more often intraday to keep me focused on a stock’s most relevant trend. I still use lower time frames and the tape to identify the best entries but the higher time frame view will inform whether I am short or long. I thought … Read More
Measuring Opportunity Intraday
After having trading professionally for 16 years I still find the lack of understanding among friends and family as to how myself and other short term traders make a living humorous. Here are some of the comments I still hear on a regular basis from my parents and close friends “Market was flat today so I guess you didn’t make … Read More
The Lense Matters
One of the questions I am asked most frequently by aspiring traders is what time frame do I use on my charts for intraday trades. My stock answer (no pun intended) is that from 9:30-10:00 I am looking at 1min or tick charts and then I zoom out to 5min. But recently I have found that a 15 minute view … Read More
SMB Radar Play ACOM
we received the following email from a Radar subscriber today (post originally written january 9th): Subject: SMB Radar play in ACOM today Question: Dear Bella, I am trying to develop certain plays based on the SMB Radar that I call SMB Radar Strong and SMB Radar Weak. My thoughts are that I’ll check the names on the strong and weak … Read More
SMB Fundamental #1: Proper Preparation
Last month I wrote a post about SMB Fundamental #7–Reviewing Your Important Trades. Today I would like to discuss #1–Proper Preparation. All trading success begins with proper preparation and that is why it is #1 on our list of trading principles that must be followed for each trade. Part of my morning pre-market preparation is to review the price action … Read More
What Do You See?
As traders it is our job to trade what we see. But as humans we may have difficulty being objective evaluating the amount of opportunity the market is offering intra-day. Perhaps you read headlines talking about how “quiet” the market is or that the level of volatility is so low it is too difficult to make money. That information may … Read More
Goldman Sachs Showing Influence Again?
Identifying short term trading patterns is the lifeblood of professional traders. By patterns I don’t simply mean a simple pattern one might draw on a chart. I am referring more broadly to catalysts that will in turn lead to price action that I can use my trading skills to take advantage. Yesterday Goldman Sachs (GS) downgraded SNDK. This downgrade occurred … Read More