I remember the discussion like it was yesterday. It was in our former 8×10 makeshift training room/office/conference room/lounge with the first trader who ever failed at SMB Capital. JJ announced he was leaving to take a six-figure job at a financial services company in NYC. But let’s be honest. JJ was leaving because he was not making money as a … Read More
How Do You Spend Your Time?
GMan, Joe P and I traded QCOM After Hours (chop!) and then I hopped on the subway much earlier than usual to head uptown. It was a road trip for SMB to experience Avatar on the IMax with 3D glasses. On my ride uptown I overheard some new day traders from another firm talking. I found their conversation unproductive. Three … Read More
A Great Exercise to Improve Your Trading
I can hardly see. My wrists are killing me. My brain is so tired I can barely remember the stock I was trading in the After Hours (AH). Oh yeah AAPL, that tech company run by one of the best CEO’s in the country that everyone has been blogging, talking, and opining about. Cramer is chirping something about something in … Read More
Banging In and Out of Stocks
As a desk we have transitioned into focusing on Trades2Hold due to different market conditions. Scalping has diminished. C trades deemphasized. We wait for our best set ups and execute. But then Obama entered the arena looking for a fight with the Banks. Things got ugly. And as traders we need to adjust again. Back in the Fall of 08 … Read More
Was I Correct Not to Make this Trade?
I just spent thirty minutes writing in my trading journal about a trade I did not make. I am pretty sure the young trader recently moved next to me thought this was a little odd. And then I got up and walked around our trading floor (btw very nice digs) and talked to anyone who would talk back about the … Read More
Sell Before the Number
GMan and the desk was VERY long HAL going into the oil number at 10:30 AM. I would tell you how long but it was probably more long than we should have been. We were in a Trade2Hold and HAL was working. But then most on the desk did something very smart for the intraday trader. They lightened up before … Read More
Some Ideas on Light Holiday Trading
Ok so the volume is light. GMan barked on the Open, “Volume is down 1/2.” Dovey said about the same just with some streets of Brooklyn color. On a day like today we must observe this different trading. But there were still some opportunities. AJames made a great call in STEC as it made a new important technical high and … Read More
Learning How Not to Lose Money
With my post nasal drip cough I tucked myself into my trading station ready to perform. AST who sits to my left was interested in RHT. I didn’t have a stock(s) I needed to trade, so I traded his. RHT on the Open was a lesson in how not to lose money. 1) RHT first moved higher after its gap … Read More