Hi Bella If a stock fails a resistance level and you go short thinking it is a perfect Opening Drive Trade2Hold, but then 20 cents later there’s a buyer holding the bid, bid drops, then comes back, you cover, right? Can you flip from Trade2Hold to range scalping? Although, the play ends up being a perfect Trade2Hold an hour later because … Read More
Improving Trader Performance Links
Patience is a virtue we are told but do we believe it and cultivate it whether in or outside the charts? While it is indeed healthy to separate our trading lives from our daily lives the character traits of a successful trader, such as patience, will find their origin outside the charts. A successful trading strategy can no more develop … Read More
Hurry Find the Band Aides!
As children we all used to enjoy putting our parents’ big shoes on our little feet and trying to walk. It was an awesomefeeling until we tried to go a bit too fast. The problem was we just weren’t big enough to handle those big shoes at high speed! I guess we all have an innate desire to grow up … Read More
Add a Little Nuance
Hi Mike, hoping to borrow just a bit of your time for another trading question. I continue to find that the most difficult part of trading is deciding when to take off a winning trade. I believe the problem is that I am not confident and decisive enough in my plan when I enter trades. When it comes to my … Read More
Traders Ask: Are you concerned when a fellow desk member is on the opposite side of your trade?
Dear Mike, I just recently applied to SMB, and as my interest was piqued, I decided to do more research by reading your book. I was instantly hooked. It cleared up a lot of my misconceptions and, to be honest, made me feel a bit abashed about some of the answers I put down in the application. At the same … Read More
Where is my arc?
Guest Post from SMB Blog Reader Yaniv Hamo One of my favorite thinking exercises is about what it means to be living as opposed to merely exist. The essence of what separates the living from the grey masses. Working 9‐5, family and kids, watching TV and going on trips – does not make the cut. That’s what the masses are doing. … Read More
Improving Trader Performance
It can be successfully argued that stock trading is pure gambling. While there are similarities, the successful trader will note the differences and similarities thus enhancing his or her performance by 1) focusing on the process, and 2) understanding the nature of the markets. In the following, I list several opinions about stock market speculation, provide a problem gambling test, … Read More
Are you a virtual trader in isolation?
Below is an email I received from a Romanian intraday trader involuntarily in isolation. 1) Great anecdote about a foreign trader finding their path. Enjoy the story. 2) Any ideas to help this trader escape isolation? 3) Any Romanian traders (or other virtual traders) wish to start a virtual trading group? Leave a comment below. Dear Mr. Bellafiore, I thank … Read More