Well yesterday was a bit slow. We trended up and then trended down towards the Close. On the Open I traded FCX and HK and recognized light order flow. I was aware not to get caught in the Low Volume P. For SMB that means the low volume programs where the short term longs lose as the stock is dropped … Read More
Formula for Success
This is a tough week for us. We’re narrowing down our invitations for our September class for which, along with June, we essentially recruit all year. We have received thousands of résumés and have sifted through them, searching for those with the background necessary to be a good trader. We interview only some of the applicants—and only some of those get … Read More
The Yo-Yo Almost Always Finishes On the Ground
Did you ever notice that when you are playing with a yo-yo you never catch the little toy in your hand after a good run and walking away? Nah, it is more common for one to play that yo-yo to the end, stretching the string until it no longer rebounds and you have to roll it back up manually and … Read More
Compete
An experienced trader, GM, emailed me late last night as the Yankees were getting pounded again by the Angels. GM had some very kind words for my previous blog post, which I appreciated and made the latest Yankees loss more palatable. In return I would like to spend some of this Saturday AM offering some guidance on his recent struggles. … Read More
Getting Flustered
We had a film review yesterday with one of our better young traders. The young man can trade. But he under-performed on the Open. So we watched the video of his Open. It was like someone else was inhabiting his body. I did not recognize this type of trading from him. In fact I am not sure you can really … Read More
Batman
Just read GMan’s blog about SMB’s Batman night. I have to add a few thoughts. 1) Watch Batman on an IMax screen. It is an incredible movie watching experience. If you live close to NYC or in NYC don’t just go see it on a regular screen. Go and find an IMax theatre. If you have already seen in on … Read More
Be in the Stock When It’s Moving
As we have mentioned previously in my blog some have emailed me with concerns that program trading will rule trading soon. The market will never displace the disciplined independent trader. What is certain is that programs mandate that you adjust your trading and more selectively choose your entry points. Let’s take a look at ELN from yesterday to illustrate this … Read More
Is It Really That Bad?
Yesterday, ELN and WYE were massacred, by Wall Street standards, because of a drug that was being developed for Alzheimer’s disease and failed in phase II trials. The experimental drug was said to “only help half of patients and was linked with a brain-swelling side effect” by Bloomberg.com. (You can read more about it here: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&refer=news&sid=aseKG.hyyRkw) In the aftermath, ELN … Read More