Recently one of the trainees in the chatroom asked me if the slow currency markets are normal as we conclude the summer months of this year. My answer? Yes, we are still in holiday mode. I then explained my theory as to why we experience slow markets in general which is what I am going to explain to you in … Read More
Lessons Learned From A Million Dollar Loser
Imagine that you’re on top of the world…You have achieved brilliant career success on the trading floor of Chicago; you sit on the important governing body of your industry; you’ve got a wonderful family; and plenty of toys to enjoy in your spare time. And then, in what seems like a blink of an eye, you lose it all. You … Read More
How Our Traders Deal With Random Price Action
Prices are random, especially on smaller time frames. So what to do? — Marc Principato, CMT, Risk Disclaimer *No Relevant Positions
Assessing Risk: Trading Index Options vs. Stock Options
How do we choose the perfect security for trading options? The evolution of options trading strategies will continue to expand but the one thing that will never change is the relationship between volatility and risk when assessing your next options trade. One of the considerations when trading options is what underlying vehicle you should trade. Should you trade options derived … Read More
Options Trading as a Career: How to Find it
What does it take to become a successful options trader? This is a very complex question, but we will try to give a few brief thoughts on the subject. Most people believe that to be a successful options trader, it simply requires learning one of the many options trading strategies that provide the trader an edge over the market over … Read More
Using ATR With Your Trading
Hi Mike, I just spent the entire weekend finishing reading The Playbook and I just wanted to grovel at your feet a little bit. I loved it. OGT was my favorite trading book ever, and this book is an absolutely perfect companion. As a lonely trader doing it on my own, every time I read one of your books I … Read More
Maximizing Profits: Unlocking the Benefits of Understanding Options Trade Probabilities
Many who are new to options trading get excited when they hear about options trades that are “high probability”! What they think is that these option trades usually win and earn money. Thus a “low probability” trade must mean the chances of winning are lower. But is it really that simple? And why would anyone enter a low-probability trade if … Read More
An Aspiring Trader’s Email
At SMB we get a lot of emails from traders of all levels. Much of the time they are from aspiring traders who are very passionate about the markets and their work. And all of us here make every effort to respond and provide some insight into the world of professional trading. So in this article, I am going to … Read More