Written 11/13/09 It is recruiting season for SMB again. That means some long trips, like the one I am on now, stuck on a train Friday night between Providence and New Haven. I actually got on the early train mistakenly and am in danger of getting booted off the train at New Haven. Seriously, the Amtrak ticket collector (that is … Read More
Buy the Tanking Futures Program
When trading we watch a stock’s corresponding futures or index. For MON the stock I was trading on the Open, SPY is my corresponding index. Generally when SPY trades higher MON should and when SPY trades lower then MON should follow. I say generally and this was not the case at one very important moment today. Again MON was very … Read More
Important Market and Stock Level Pattern
We have been waiting for GS to hold above 173.50. I quick check of the 5 day in GS will so confirm. 108.10 SPY is an important technical level. A hold above and our next important level is SPY 110. Before the open you should have had these thoughts as an intraday trader: Imagine if GS can hold above 173.50 … Read More
Being Prepared for the Easy Money
GMan did a great job of preparing our desk for today’s open. Here were his top three intraday ideas: 1) Buy PG at 60 2) Buy WFMI if it holds above 27 3) Buy CVS if it holds above 29.11 1, 3 were important intraday levels learned yesterday. 2 was a longer term technical play. None of these plays … Read More
Sharing Information
When we started SMB Capital not even four years ago we set out to do four things: 1) provide the best intraday training on the Street. 2) offer a payout that was fairer than I had received to our traders. 3) create a culture of perpetual learning, where we all learned from each other. 4) share valuable trading information. Many … Read More
HFT and the Effects on the Markets
I am writing an article for SFO magazine on HFT (High Frequency Trading) and its effects on the markets. For me the most glaring change are the plays that no longer work. Specifically paying for a new high in a stock and playing for upside momentum. Too often the result of paying for the new high is a seller sticking … Read More
Opening Drive (HGSI)
Opening Drive? Mike is that some football term describing a team’s first possession? No. The Opening Drive is a play that momentum traders crush, leaving a huge grin on their face. These traders in the first 15 minutes can make enough to ensure an awesome trading day. We saw one today in HGSI on the Open. I walked onto … Read More
When Not to Dump Your Stock
“Stop the tape,” barked the engaging if not brilliant firm partner (wait till you find out who this describes) during a Video Review Session. He continued,”What are your thoughts of NVTL presently?” A few brave (ill-advised?) noobs blurted,”Move on!” And I could swear there was some booing to emphasize their opinion of the NVLT they had just witnessed on the … Read More