During a daily review an SMB Trader wrote this about his trading in CNC: CNC pulled back to 2 day VWAP and break out area from yesterday. Waited for break in intraday downtrend to get into this stock. When it began to hold above .70 I was up to 1,200 shares from .72. Was waiting for the push through .80 … Read More
Learn to Process the “Noise” to Improve as a Trader
I received this email from a prop trader: I’m very disappointed with the way I traded today. I had two more paragraphs written here explaining some potential causes for my under performance. When I started to write the third I realized how simple it all is. To summarize those thoughts, I get worked up and anxious when trading on the … Read More
A sad anecdote of a failed trader
I received this email from a trader this week: Hey Mike, We talked awhile ago, about how your book “One Good Trade” has helped me and my 5 friends on the trading desk at our prop trading firm($$$$ Capital). I have been trading for about 12 months total and about 6 months live. I have found that your website blogs … Read More
Are You in the Right Culture as a Trader?
Do you think you should be doing better as a new or developing trader? The concerns of one SMB Trader and my discussion with him can provide some insight into the best start to your trading career and the importance of culture. Bella, I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday about being properly prepared. I’ve been getting better … Read More
When do I move on from a stock?
It’s time to move on, time to get going What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing But under my feet, baby, grass is growing It’s time to move on, it’s time to get going Tom Petty Bella, Yesterday I got absolutely chopped up in JPM. I could not believe how much I lost in such a short amount … Read More
This is What a Significant Day of Trading Looks Like
Sent to me from an SMB Trader after the close. Hi Bella, A truly significant day for me, in terms of personal achievements. 1) I was never as big as I played today Last night I was very pissed off about myself. I saw so many occasions where I should have been much bigger but I didn’t. I was being a wuss. … Read More
Chill!
Here are two comments made from two SMB traders in their daily review sent to me after the close. Both harm their results by trying too hard. Do you do this? I am slowly becoming less and less content with just making $$$$ (note: SMB cannot talk our PnL because of compliance reasons) and calling it a decent day. I … Read More
Buy, sell, move on
Below is an argument from a trader on our desk not to hold stocks during this earnings season. The trader suggests to get in and out and not expect much follow through with stocks to the upside. Kind of a frustrating market day because the market is slowly grinding higher throughout the day but individual stocks don’t really make hods. … Read More