Please join Mike Bellafiore, author of the “trading classic” One Good Trade, on Thursday, February 2nd at 4:15PM EST in the free webinar: The patterns that are working on this earnings season – a focus on social media stocks. Bella as always will take questions and encourage participation from members on his desk and viewers. Please sign up here. We hope you can … Read More
The Blowup
As someone who has been in the trading industry for over 15 years I am familiar with many traders and firms that have “blown up” over the years. The most recent public example of this was MF Global. Billions wagered on Sovereign European debt brought MF to bankruptcy. Probably the most famous blowup of all time was LTCM, which was … Read More
From the prop desk- A woman’s perspective
Hi Bella, I finished your book and it was so wonderful and inspiring. As a female trader (back in the game after a year and a half away, used to trade on a prop desk), I loved that you addressed the issue of women in trading, you sound like a great guy to work for. I would like to share … Read More
Markets Change And So Must I
I received the following thoughtful email from a reader and former SMB student the other day: Steve, From your recent email: /* Simple chart set ups are just opportunities for you to consider a trade. They are not a signal to just make a trade. Skill is needed to determine when an excellent risk/reward is present. Skill is needed to … Read More
Free Options Webinar: SMB’s Options Tribe: Today, January 31, 2012 at 5pm EST: Broken Wing Butterflies
Today, January 31, 2012 at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time SMB’s Options Tribe is an online community of options traders dedicated to sharing successful options trading ideas with all of our members worldwide. Each week the community will meet online for the primary purpose of watching live presentations made by veteran options traders and experts in the world of options … Read More
A Tape Trade
One of the questions I receive most often is regarding trades based strictly on the tape. These occur far less frequently than in years past because of the masking of buyers/sellers by the HFTs but they still do occur from time to time. This morning I was trading AMLN on the Open as it was In Play due to an … Read More
The Lens Matters (2)
Last week I wrote a column talking about how I had moved towards using 15 minute charts more often intraday to keep me focused on a stock’s most relevant trend. I still use lower time frames and the tape to identify the best entries but the higher time frame view will inform whether I am short or long. I thought … Read More
The Language of the Successful Trader
Trader A has overperformed since his start at SMB relative to his experience and peers. Trader B has underperformed relative to his experience with us. Trader A went to a middle of the road school. Trader B has a very impressive educational background. Both love trading. Both are guys you build a firm around. So what separates the two? Their … Read More