Rob C

Thursday 03/12/2020 I had a well-being score of 6/10 this morning. I took 1 live trades with BAC. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, BAC, TSLA, CCL, and AAL. I was a little reckless today with the market halt. I traded before and got locked in a trade and even traded it right after. It was my biggest win of the month but not feeling good about it. BAC was down like the rest of the market, but has been trading well lately. BAC opened with big volume, even for this stock. Created a nice bullish candle and I went long above VWAP. I got a terrible fill, but I was only half shares so I waited to see if I could get a better entry. The price dropped and I took the rest of my shares just above VWAP. Target was 21.59 with VWAP as the stop. Yep, I should have exited the trade when it looked like a halt was very likely. Or at least take a partial. But I was halted. During the wait, I decided if the price still above VWAP after the halt, continue with the trade. If the price is below the 50MA, then stop out. If the price is below the VWAP and heads below the PM level of 20.44 then flip position. If the price resumes between the 50MA and PM level and is heading higher then add. So after the halt the price ended up in the last scenerio, where I added to my position. I got an amazing fill. But looking back this was a bit reckless for a day when the stock market is acting crazy. The next 3 minutes the 1min chart was squeezing into a pendant so I was waiting to see which way it would move. It went to the long side. I was actually reasonably patient before the first partial, then took a few more catching the high. Then exited on a 1min low. Luckily exited just before the spike down. What did I do good today? I was patient with my first partial. What I am grateful from today? Great fill on my second add.

Wednesday 03/11/2020 I had a well-being score of 6/10 this morning. I took 3 live trades with AAPL. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, BAC, TSLA, CCL, and DXC. I took a small PM position on AAPL since it looked like it was breaking and holding 200MA-1min and holding VWAP. My stop was 50MA-1min with a traget at the 278.90 level. After the open the price bounced from the 277 level and I added to my position. I was able to take two partials before the price retraced and I was stopped out at B/E. The price recovered and broke the 200MA-1min again and I went long again. I was also able to take 2 partials before being S/O at B/E. Then a nice hammer was made an a break of the 278.90 level. I went long again, I took one partial then was stopped out at B/E. Then I was at my 3 trade limit and called it a day. What did I do good today? Not much hesitation today. What I am grateful from today? Good fills on my S/O, not much slippage.

Right click your L2 to get your config Make sure the bottom left box is unchecked and make sure you have some numbers in all of the Tier boxes.

Tuesday 03/10/2020 I had a well-being score of 5/10 this morning. Didn’t feel myself today. SIM today I took 1 SIM with BAC. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, BAC, TSLA, CCL, and DKS. I took a small PM long trade on BAC on a L2 signal and a break of VWAP. It didn’t go anywhere, but the good news it turned off my long bias on BAC. Opened on OK volume and weak the first 2min. Then a pullback to VWAP. When it broke the body of the 2min candle I shorted. My stop was VWAP, but the only target I saw was 200MA-5min, but that was a R/R of 12 which is too big to be reasonable. I took too many partials then finally got a little stingy to hold to target. Price actually reached my target, then I exited when it look like it was reversing. What did I do good today? At least I held on to some shares for the target. What I am grateful from today? Shorted a stock. Even in SIM it has been unusual in the passed few weeks.

Monday 03/9/2020 I had a well-being score of 7/10 this morning. I took 1 live trade this morning with NIO and 1 SIM trade with BAC. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, INO, TSLA, BAC, and TWTR. Well before the open NIO was actually getting strong volume. Price made a nice hammer then a 100K ask hit L2 at 16.90 and I went long. I did take a partial, then at $16.80 the big ask disappeared without being filled. By rule I need to exit the trade, which I did. Almost instantly the price moved higher. I don’t know if I would have caught most of the move, but this messed up my psychology. 10 min before the open, still not feeling sharp, I switch to SIM. Today I needed to be 100%. So made a small profit on NIO. My one SIM trade was with BAC. The price was holding to LOPM. Good volume at the open and I was waiting for the break of LOPM to go short. The price did break this level and I went short. My stop was not tight with 20MA-1min and VWAP. I had no decent target. The price dropped steadily after the open and I took partials and got spooked out quickly on the trade. What did I do good today? Didn’t trade live after the open. What I am grateful from today? I wasn’t trading when the market halted. Was green for the day.

Friday 03/06/2020 I had a well-being score of 7/10 this morning. I took 1 live trade this morning with AMD. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, MRVL, TSLA, CCL, and VIPS. AMD was one of the very few stocks that was green in PM. The price was holding between $50MA-1min and $49.15 for a few minutes in PM. Every candle was bullish looking. I was waiting for the break of 49.15 to go long. Then a really strong hammer was formed with good volume. Then a L2 signal appeared. Not big but enough to enter the trade since it would get me past VWAP. My target was 49.73 with a stop below the 50MA-1min. When I went long: The price broke the 49.15 and kept moving up and reached my target. I held onto a few shares just before the open to see if it would move higher. Then hangman formation was forming, so I did not want to hold into the open and exited a few seconds before. What did I do good today? Good use of L2. What I am grateful from today? Green every day this week!!! I can’t remember the last time that happen.

Nice Mike, what a beautiful double top on AMD.

Thursday 03/05/2020 I had a well-being score of 7/10 this morning. I took 1 live trade this morning with MRVL. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, MRVL, TSLA, CCL, and VIPS. MRVL was one of the very few stocks that gapped higher this morning. There was a level at 24.23 that was causing some resistance. I was waiting for the break of this level but L2 looked too good and there was a nice hammer on the 5min. So I took half my shares at 24.20. When I went long: When the price broke through resistance I went long with the rest of my shares. Horrible fill, but expected for premarket. My target was $25 with 24.16 as my stop. As usual I took way too many partials. Price reached my target so I can’t ask for more. Out when it broke VWAP. What did I do good today? Good use of L2. What I am grateful from today? We had something gapping up today.

Hey Mark!! Welcome back. It's great to see you post again. Great trade on INO.

Wednesday 03/04/2020 I had a well-being score of 7/10 this morning. Feeling better. I took 1 live trade this morning with AAPL. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, NVDA, TSLA, UNH, and JD. AAPL was really respecting a 296.79 level as it traveled alomg VWAP for awhile in PM. The plan was to go long on the break of the level which occurred 2 minutes before the open. I got a terrible fill but I used a small share size waiting if I could get a better entry and I did for the rest of my shares. My target was the HOPM with the 50MA-1min as my stop. Soon after the open volume hit and a mild pop where I took a partial. Then a large ask sat at $298. Instead of waiting for the price to reach it and punch through I took another partial when the large ask became the current ask. I don’t think I have done that before at the open. Some times on my swing trades I will do that so I am not sure what I was thinking. Then the price broke through and reached my target where I did get a partial. Then luckily I got a good fill at B/E when I exited. What did I do good today? Good use of levels. What I am grateful from today? Good L2 signal.

I traded about a year with the rule, that if I was stopped out on my first trade I turn off my platform and walk away. I was not able to trade well after a stop. Now I am somewhat better. But I still have the rule two stop outs and I walk away and three trades max per day.

Awesome keeping to your stops. I had trouble with in SIM. I treated SIM too lightly. I can tell you are treating SIM like it is live. Though it creates more stress now it REALLY helps the transition to live. And don't worry about hotkey mistakes. That reduces, especially when you finalize your DAS layout.

Tuesday 03/03/2020 I had a well-being score of 6/10 this morning. Still a bit under the weather. I took 3 live trades this morning with AAPL and AMD. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, TGT, TSLA, AAL, and DIS. I felt like I traded the same as yesterday. I took a PM trarde where I exited just before it popped. Then took two trades at the open where I got one partial then S/O at B/E. AAPL was consilidating in PM after a nice white candle. I was waiting for the break of 301.50, but a L2 signal triggered the entrance before then. My target was 304 with a stop of 301. I took two partials and the price was consolidating. And just like yesterday I was spooked out before the pop to my target. After the open AAPL dropped 1% on strong volume but found good support. When the price rose and broke all of the 5 tech levels I went long. My target was 305 and stop of 301. I got one partial in and then out at B/E. AMD seemed to be respcted VWAP right from the open creating a support level. It looked like the price was stepping higher. I went long at the break of HOPM. My target was $50 with VWAP as my stop. But the daily level at 49.44 was in the way so I knew I better take a quick partial. My first partial was filled at B/E. My seconds try and a partial was filled fine. Then I set an auto stop at B/E. The fill had a enough slide that this trade was slightly in the red. What did I do good today? Good risk management. Which is important since I am taking risky trades. What I am grateful from today? Even with two failing trades and one that worked but I bailed too early I am still green for the day.

Monday 03/02/2020 I had a well-being score of 5/10 this morning. A bit under the weather. I took 3 live trades this morning with CCL, AAPL and AMD. My watchlist: AMD, AAPL, JD, TSLA, TWTR, and CCL. CCL was forming a nice ABCD in PM with resistance level at 32.33. The price broke with a L2 signal and I went long with $33 as my target and a tight stop at 32.20. After 5 minutes I took a partial then 2 minutes later the volume completely stopped and I was spooked out of the trade. I should have just reduced my share size instead. I did miss the pop to almost my target, but Ok with the trade. I need to be cautious in the PM. AAPL was being squeezed right before the open near a daily level. I went long, with a small share size, when it bounce from the support. The plan was to buy more at the break of the resistance level around 282. It broke that level and I instinctively took a partial. Then I gathered my senses and added in. Target was the HOPM (orange dash line) with a stop at 281.50. Right before the open I took a partial just incase the price dropped at the open. The price popped up and I took a large partial what I though was near the $284 and thought I was done for the day. Then saw my fill was over a dollar lower. Then I exited, luckily at B/E, due to wild price variations. AMD made a nice hammer on large volume at the open. I went long at the break of the 47.34 daily level. I took a partial at the 47.50 PM level and then another partial at the candle high. Then set my stop at B/E where I exited with a little slippage. Very soon after it looked like a good short, but I was already at my 3 trade max. What did I do good today? Good risk management. I took risky trades but was very cautious with them. What I am grateful from today? Though my three winners were all small they added up to an OK day. Updated my DAS platform. I like how they showed their order like Etrade Pro does with a line at the price. Before I would get an open triangle not remotely near the order price.

Hi Justin, I am a strong believer that your max loss should equal your psychological limit of how much you can lose and still hold your cool and trade smart. I lose it after two consecutive stop outs. So my max limit is -2.5R. Yes 50% of your account used on a trade is not uncommon. Since you probably have 4 to 1 margin, you will be only using 11% of your BP. Which doesn't sound as bad.

Wednesday 02/26/2020 I had a well-being score of 6/10 this morning. I took 3 live trades this morning with MRNA and GILD. My watchlist: AMD, GILD, MRNA, BABA, ZM, and DIS. I liked DIS and MRNA in the PM. Because of that I happen to have DIS on my montage when MRNA passed my long trigger point of 27.35. I quickly switched MRNA to my montage and went long, only to be filled a dollar above my trigger. But the price did move higher still, so I stayed in the trade. The price did actually reach my target (HOPM) I did get some partials in but kept 25% for the open, but had an autostop at B/E. I was stopped out very quickly after the open for a small win. GILD made a nice opening hammer with good volume and had a L2 signal. I went long with a tight stop of VWAP with HOPM as the target. What GILD looked like when I took the trade (note the ask at 71.50): I took a quick partial than set an autostop for B/E which it was touched and filled and bounced and went higher. L2 looked even better so I went long again and the price instantly dropped and I was stopped out to the penny before the price spent the next 4 minutes going higher and reaching my target. What did I do good today? Good risk management. I kept to a small red day. What I am grateful from today? Three lousy trades and only being down -1/3R for the day. I will be unable to trade tomorrow, and possibly unable on Friday as well. So today could be the last day of the month for me. I haven't looked at my total P/L for the month yet. First time I will have looked in 3 months. I did give myself permission to look at the end of this month and at the end of each session. (That was off limits the previous 2 months). It definitely feels like a record month for me and I will be able to analyze my trades again so I will post a monthly recap. If I don't trade again this month I wish everyone a good finish to February!!

Tuesday 02/25/2020 I had a well-being score of 6.5/10 this morning. I took 1 live trade this morning with MRNA My watchlist: AMD, GILD, MRNA, LL, MU, and SHAK. I liked GILD and MRNA in the PM. GILD made a big reverse hammer in PM, but was at PDC so didn’t show up in the gappers list. It looked like a good short and MRNA had a really strong PM level at 21.75 where I would go long. MRNA broke this level 2min before the open on high volume and I went long. Yeeks my fill was bad almost 2% above my entry point. I was looking to bail at B/E and then a L2 signal with a reasonably sized ask hit. Plus my R/R wasn’t too terrible at at 1.5 (target was 22.78) and since I took half shares my stop was now at 1R. My entry turned out to be a support level in PM and then we got a pop at the open and in just over a minute reached my target. Then all out at B/E. It then looked like a short, but I did not have shares to short. What did I do good today? Good use of PM levels and keeping share size small. What I am grateful from today? Pretty lucky getting that pop at the open.

I haven't tried Chartlog and I probably should. I tried Traderview and Edgewonk with terrible results. Both were confused by my cancelled orders on the trade. I am continuously setting orders and cancelling them during a trade. So I gave up on those apps. But Chartlog could be better, I will try it soon.

For that table please use the total profit on the trade divided by your standard risk per that particular setup (i.e. $30 or 1% of BP, etc).

Great entry on TEVA!

Monday 02/24/2020 I had a well-being score of 7/10 this morning. I took 2 live trades this morning with MSFT and SPCE. My watchlist: AMD, GILD, MSFT, AAPL, ROKU, and SPCE. I was keeping my eye on MSFT in the PM. There was an interesting PM level at 168.62. When it broke down I went short with half shares since it was PM. There was a nice spike down to 166.90 that I missed. It was way too fast. I glanced at L2 and glanced back and the move was over. I exited before the open for a small win. SPCE opened with no volume but I really like when the 200MA-1min can be used as a target. It seems to have this price pull in the first minute after the open. I went long with a stop at 29.50 (a price respected in PM). Shortly after theopen price popped very quickly to my target. I like that I was fast enough to catch a partial there, but since it was my target I should have taken off more shares. I just felt it was going to go a lot higher. The price quickly fell and I was out at B/E. What did I do good today? Good use of PM levels and keeping share size small. What I am grateful from today? Pretty lucky getting that fill on SPCE. Happy with my day.

I tried both Traderview and Edgewonk. Both gave me erroneous data. I create and cancel multiple orders during a trade. Seems like neither can handle that well. So I currently calculate stats in Excel as well. Have you tried Chartlog yet? Since you can contact the developers directly through BBT we should probably try it.

All that is important is your setups give you consistent results, good or bad. So you can determine what works and make adjustments. Trading in Rs helps with that. Consistent risk should help provide consistent results. So using a different size R for different setups is fine as long as it is consistent within the setup to analyse later. I like the average profit divide by the sigma as a good indicator on the quality of the setup. Then use this table (from Van Tharpe Institute):

Kyle will host a Success Webinar on Wednesday, March 4th at 8:00 pm explaining his hotkeys and taking questions. Also here is the link in the BBT forums. https://forums.bearbulltraders.com/topic/716-das-dynamically-calculate-shares-on-risk-or-risk-hot-key-configuration-updated-91019-v21/ You can use an Excel sheet, I have heard of others use one. I personally didn't. Now for the past ~1,5 years I have used my own version of hot keys to auto determine share size. It is much less eloquent than Kyle's. But saves me a couple of clicks which I can't afford at the open.

Excellent journalling!! Way better than mine.