Missed Opportunity: Long entry off the 8:30 data reaction was identified but not taken due to the position size calculator suggesting the stop loss was too far.
Wake-Up Time: Waking up at 8:30 on the dot caused you to miss the potential long opportunity and affected your preparation for the 9:30 trading session.
Market Context:
The H12 trend was still down, suggesting a continuation lower.
Weekly DOL far below indicated a potential downside target.
The bottom band of the VWAP was tested, suggesting a possible top to bottom band move.
BLUE ZONE: The data reaction held the BLUE ZONE, indicating a possible shift in directional bias.
VWAP Bands: Confluence of data release with the VWAP bands could strengthen the given signal.
Things Done Right:
Immediate Stop Losses: Took immediate stop losses on the M1 chart and used trail stops.
Things Done Wrong:
Overtrading: Took 5 trades total; should have walked away after 2 consecutive losses.
Going Against Data Reaction: Ignored the data release reaction, which held significant support levels.
Late Wake-Up: Did not wake up at least 1 hour before the major market data release.
Recommendations and Checklist
Recommendations:
Preparation:
Wake-Up Time: Wake up at least 1 hour before any major market data release to analyze premarket conditions and prepare for potential setups.
Data Impact: Always consider the impact of significant data releases on market direction.
Trade Management:
Stop Losses: Continue using immediate stop losses and trail stops but review the placement to ensure they are not too tight.
Limit Trades: Limit the number of trades to avoid overtrading. Consider stopping after 2 consecutive losses to reassess the strategy.
Market Context:
Trend Alignment: Ensure trades align with the dominant trend (H12 trend in this case).
BLUE ZONE Analysis: Pay attention to BLUE ZONES and their confluence with major levels like VWAP bands.
Review and Adapt:
Trade of the Day: Identify and review the best trade setup of the day to create a playbook strategy.
Emotional Discipline: Maintain emotional discipline and avoid revenge trading after consecutive losses.
Structured Checklist
Before Market Open:
Wake up at least 1 hour before any major data release.
Review and analyze the premarket session for potential setups.
Identify significant data releases and their potential impact.
Pre-Trade:
Confirm the dominant trend (H12, daily).
Check for confluence of BLUE ZONES with major support/resistance levels.
Evaluate the VWAP bands and their relationship with current price action.
Use the position size calculator to determine appropriate position size and stop loss levels.
During Trading:
Limit to a maximum of 2 trades if initial trades result in losses.
Use immediate stop losses and trail stops as needed.
Avoid overtrading and stick to the planned setups.
Post-Trade:
Review the day's trades and identify the "Trade of the Day."
Update the playbook with new setups and observations.
Reflect on emotional discipline and areas for improvement.
Setup: Look for long entries off the data reaction if the BLUE ZONE and VWAP upper band confluence holds.
Entry Criteria: Enter long on M1 bullish variation signals if confluence levels are respected.
Stop Loss: Place stop loss below the BLUE ZONE or significant support levels identified in the premarket analysis.
Take Profit: Target VWAP upper band or significant resistance levels based on trend and market context.
Today was a losing day, I lost 5 trades in a row on tight M1 stoplosses. When I was evaluating the premarket session, I analyzed a scenario where I could have went long off the the 8:30 data reaction, but when I put it into my position size calculator, it was suggesting that the data reaction stoploss was too far from Premarket Open print, and the M1 LONG signal off of the Bearish to Bullish Variation.
I also woke up at 8:30 ONTHEDOT, so I decided to pass up on the potential long oppt. and just wait for the 9:30 trading session.
Anaylzing the move in hindsight, that long entry was the A+ setup for the day, and in the future I will have to incorporate the first big data drop for that trading session as the deciding factor for direction OTD.
There was a weekly DOL far below after the prior day Daily downtrend shift, suggestion that the WEEK DOL could be the next target, and around 8:30, the H12 trend was still down, as well as the H12 structure, indicating that the market should continue lower.
I also figured that around 8:49, since the bottom band of the VWAP was tested on the data release, that we could potentially see a TOP to BOTTOM band move since the technical upside target was reached within the range. And I thought that upon 9:30 open, we could see a flush down/hold at the bottom band/Long oppt scenario if we were unable to sweep the data lows, providing for a higher R/R and lower risk long from the bottom band if presented.
Another thing to note, is the Blue ZONE that held from the data reaction. have seen consistency thus far with BLUE ZONES, which are DOL(BSL&SSL) areas, that are in sequence with major highs and lows across all timeframes/timelines
This type of DOL BLUE ZONE, happened prior, and I have noticed, act as a sufficient 'Line In The Sand' area. And when breached, they should usually break hard and provide a momentum increase of stop hunting. But when these areas are held, it usually means that the 'Line In The Sand' was held, and that the directional bias has been decided
Also, if the data release has a confluence with a TOP or BOTTOM VWAP band, it could likely have more strength in the givin signal
Overall, the deciding factor of todays trend was the DATA release, and it completely reversed the market trend which provided me with a bearish signal to go off of. Very tricky day.
Although my position size calculator suggested that the stoploss was too far, I think I could have still just taken the strength of the HOLD signal, and taken my chances. My size was still low, and I could have recuperated if it went against me. But that could definitely just be hindsight bias, because had the trade went against me, I would be writing that the PMH to premarket open print provided higher R/R, and would be typing the exact opposite here. It really feels like one of those days of inneviatble loss, where my only thing I could have done right today, is just take the 2 losses and walk.
(Things I Did Right)
- Taking my immediate stoplosses on the M1 chart, trailstopping from the time on entry
(Things I Did Wrong)
- Overtrading (I took 5 trades total, when I should have walked away from the computer after 2 losses in a row)
- Going against the Data Release Reaction HOLD of the Bottom VWAP Band, The Prior Day Low & 5 Day Low Draw On Liquidity HOLD, and the M1 Bearish to Bullish Variation indicating demand
- Not waking up at least 1 hour before major market data release
Discipline: Waking up late due to staying up late affected your ability to trade with discipline.
Missed Opportunity: Acknowledged that there were significant trading opportunities throughout the day.
Trade of the Day Setup: Noted straightforward short opportunities both premarket and during the trading session.
Observation on Patterns: Recognized that variations and trend shifts have shown a high hit rate and confirmation in trades.
Recommendations and Learnings
Discipline and Routine:
Maintain a disciplined sleep schedule to ensure you wake up well before trading hours.
Avoid activities that could disrupt your trading focus and schedule the night before.
Missed Opportunities:
While missed, use this as a motivation to stay disciplined and capitalize on future opportunities.
Review missed setups to identify patterns and refine your playbook strategy.
Trade of the Day Analysis:
Continue to identify and document Trade of the Day setups for playbook development.
Focus on variations and trend shifts as they have shown higher success rates.
Risk Management:
Emphasize the importance of risk management strategies, including position sizing and stop-loss placement.
Consider the potential impact of volatility on trade decisions and adjust strategies accordingly.
Integrating Learnings into Playbook Strategy
Playbook Development
Setup Identification:
Clearly define entry criteria for variations and trend shifts identified premarket and during trading hours.
Incorporate VWAP and other technical indicators to confirm setups.
Execution Guidelines:
Ensure timely execution based on identified Trade of the Day setups.
Validate setups against broader market conditions and economic data releases.
Review and Adapt:
Regularly review trade outcomes and adjust playbook strategies based on performance data.
Continuously refine entries, exits, and risk management protocols to improve consistency.
Checklist for Future Trades
Preparation:
Commit to a disciplined routine, including adequate rest and premarket analysis.
Document and analyze potential setups based on identified patterns and indicators.
Execution:
Execute trades based on predefined criteria and playbook strategies.
Monitor market conditions and adapt strategies as necessary during trading hours.
Reflection:
Reflect on each trading day to assess performance against predefined goals and strategies.
Capture insights and lessons learned to inform future trading decisions and adjustments.
By integrating these recommendations into your trading approach, you can enhance consistency and profitability while reducing the impact of emotional or impulsive decisions. If you have more trades or specific details to discuss, please share them so we can continue refining your playbook strategy and checklist.
No Trade Day for me, I was talking way too late with a baddie from Monkey, and I woke up around 11:45, It was bad discipline on my part, and for that reason, I didnt want to pull the trigger.
I did miss a pretty volatile day with plenty of opportunity, actually, probably the most opportunity of the week. But, I got myself out of drawdown this week so far, and I still have tomorrows trading day left, so I will try to make the win for the week in tomorrows trading session.
Other than that, here is the 'Trade Of The Day' setup, both premarket DATA & in session trading opportunities, fairly straghtforward shorts.
One thing I am definitely noticing is that a Variation & and Trend Shift, seems to have very high hit rate and win percentage statistics and higher confirmation overall.
Fibonacci Level Utilization: Utilized the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level from premarket low to ATH failure as a key entry point.
Intraday Analysis: Anticipated and monitored a retest of the premarket open for potential long opportunities.
Playbook Addition: Integrated this setup into your playbook for future reference and monitoring.
M1 Chart Confirmation: Identified buyers at the Fibonacci level on the M1 chart, indicating strong support.
H12 Chart Trend: Noted a bullish trend on the H12 chart, with trendline confirmation supporting the trade entry.
Trade Execution: Noted minimal drawdown if the trade was executed on the M1 chart, followed by significant upside for the rest of the day.
Trailing Stop Strategy: Recognized the potential for a substantial profit (12R) if trailed on the H2 chart, highlighting effective risk management.
Recommendations and Learnings
Utilization of Fibonacci Levels:
Continue to leverage Fibonacci retracement levels for precise entry points and potential support/resistance areas.
Monitor reactions at these levels across multiple timeframes (like M1 for short-term signals and H12 for broader trends).
Playbook Development:
Expand playbook to include setups based on Fibonacci levels and trendline confirmations across various timeframes.
Regularly update and refine playbook entries based on market conditions and historical performance.
Risk Management:
Implement trailing stop strategies effectively, considering both short-term (M1) and longer-term (H2) chart dynamics.
Evaluate potential trade scenarios for maximum risk-reward ratios, aiming for high profitability trades like the observed 12R opportunity.
Market Context Awareness:
Maintain awareness of broader market trends and intraday fluctuations to validate trade setups.
Adapt strategies based on real-time market conditions and adjust entries/exits accordingly.
Integration into Playbook Strategy
Key Elements for Playbook Development
Entry Criteria:
Define clear entry criteria based on Fibonacci retracement levels and trendline confirmations, validated across multiple timeframes.
Stop Loss and Take Profit:
Establish precise levels using strategic points such as Fibonacci retracement levels and trendline breaks, while considering trailing stop strategies.
Execution and Management:
Execute trades promptly based on defined criteria and playbook strategies, ensuring adherence to risk management protocols.
Monitor trade progress and adjust stops or take profits based on real-time market movements.
Conclusion
By integrating these insights into your trading approach, you can enhance consistency and profitability while reducing the impact of emotional or impulsive decisions. Regularly review trade outcomes and adjust playbook strategies based on performance data and market conditions. If you have more trades or specific details to discuss, please share them so we can continue refining your playbook strategy effectively.
Todays trade of the day setup came from the 78.6% fibonacci level from the premarket low to the ATH failure.
During the day, I was anticipating a retest of the pre market open for longs, but now I will add this trade setup to my playbook and monitor reactions at the 78.6% fibonacci on the M1 chart for buyers.
Had this trade been taken off of the M1 chart, the drawdown would have been virtually nothing before it took of to reach new highs for the rest of the day.
Also, on this trading day, the H12 chart was trending higher, and I set a trendline from each bars low, I noticed that it also provided a trade signal for this exact entry today
once it broke below the trendline, it was in the demand area, and as soon at the M1 chart flipped, the trade took off.
Trailing this trade on the H2 chart would have provided a 12R trade, MASSIVE!
Trade Execution: Attempted a short position following the 2nd attempt at ATH (All-Time High), leveraging various technical patterns for entry.
Patterns Identified:
2nd ATH short attempt: Capitalized on a potential reversal pattern after failing to break ATH.
Immediate stopout: Likely triggered by volatility or quick reversal against the anticipated direction.
M1 Bullish to Bearish Variation: Signal of shift from bullish to bearish sentiment on M1 timeframe.
M1 red bar trail stop: Used a trailing stop strategy based on M1 bar movements.
Missed Target: Potential failure to reach anticipated target due to market dynamics or premature exit.
VWAP Upperband short: Positioned entry based on VWAP Upperband indicating potential resistance.
VWAP Upperband To Lowerband: Expected move from VWAP Upperband to Lowerband as confirmation of downtrend continuation.
Analysis and Insights:
Execution Timing: Attempted to capitalize on reversal patterns near ATH, using technical signals for entry.
Outcome: Immediate stopout suggests volatility or reversal against the anticipated direction, leading to a small gain.
Pattern Utilization: Integrated multiple patterns to identify short opportunities aligned with market conditions.
Integration into Playbook Strategy
Key Elements for Playbook Development
Learning from Immediate Stopout:
Evaluate reasons for immediate stopouts to refine entry criteria and avoid false signals.
Consider adjusting timing or confirmation signals to reduce premature exits.
Pattern Validation:
Continuously validate patterns across different timeframes to confirm trade setups.
Refine playbook with setups that consistently align with market behavior and trend confirmations.
Risk Management:
Enhance risk management strategies to mitigate losses during volatile market conditions.
Implement trailing stops or adjust position sizing based on pattern reliability and market volatility.
Conclusion
This trade analysis underscores the importance of integrating multiple patterns and technical indicators into a cohesive trading strategy while emphasizing disciplined risk management. Continue to evaluate trade outcomes to refine your playbook and adapt to evolving market dynamics.
The first short attempt I tried was on prior data suggesting that the 2nd ATH break should provide the HOD from where we could drop. After this first short trade, I could have avoided it by waiting for a test of the VWAP Upperband.
I now know that the VWAP upperband, is a more important factor than the amount of times that the ATH breaks.
And Upperband VWAP test, with an M1 Bullish to Bearish Variation provided a high probability, consistent trade setup thus far. And from the setups I have witnessed, once an extreme on the bands has been hit, it appears that a full move to the other exremity is likely from the point of entry
(Things I Did Right)
- Getting a solid entry on the second short opportunity at the M1 Bullish to Bearish Variation setup off of the VWAP Upperband
- Trailstopping half position on the first initial pump back up, allowing me to capture a bit more downside
(Things I did wrong)
- Taking profit on the trade too early, without reaching the bottom band as a profit target on the highest R/R short entry opportunity of the day
Just as my prior trade today, I need to develop a trail stopping strategy to help me capture the dominant move in the future, and for now my theory is to test different timeframes based on entries to find which one captures the most amount of profit on average
Based on your detailed notes, here are some insights and recommendations for refining your trading approach:
Insights from Your Trade
Early Preparation:
Waking up early and being on the charts well before market open (7:30 AM) is crucial. This allows you to analyze pre-market conditions thoroughly and plan your trades effectively.
Utilizing Premarket Analysis:
Your use of the premarket open print theory and mean reversion (50% Fibonacci) to identify potential entry areas shows a structured approach to capturing trades aligned with the prevailing upward trend.
Trade Execution on M1 Chart:
Executing based on the M1 chart for a bearish to bullish variation at the change in trend reflects your ability to adapt quickly to market dynamics.
Targeting Draw on Liquidity (DOL):
Targeting the ATH or VWAP upper band for profit-taking aligns with your strategy of capitalizing on liquidity zones and market inefficiencies.
Stop Loss Management:
Trailing your stop loss at each prior green bar shows risk management discipline. However, tightening it too much resulted in missing out on potential profits during the final squeeze.
Recommendations for Refinement
Optimize Trailing Stop Strategies:
Track data on various timeframes (as you mentioned, reviewing M1 entries and considering M15 for trailing) to determine optimal trailing stop strategies. This analysis can help you avoid being stopped out prematurely while maximizing profits.
Partial Profit Taking:
Consider taking partial profits rather than closing the entire position at once. This strategy allows you to lock in some gains while leaving room for further upside potential, thereby optimizing your risk-reward ratio.
Journal and Analyze:
Continue journaling your trades, including detailed observations and decisions. Use this journal to systematically review what worked well and areas for improvement after each session.
Review and Adjust Post-Session:
Conduct a thorough review of each trading session in hindsight, as you did, to identify patterns or setups that consistently lead to profitable trades. Use this analysis to refine your trading rules and approach over time.
Today was a good trading session. I woke up early, and was on the charts around 7:30 AM. And yet again, we were going for another ATH draw on liquidity.
During this time, I started out by utilizing my premarket open print theory for where buyers were located in the premarket session, and around 8 am, I noticed that we were likely at the near end of the move as the draw target at the ATH was almost reached, and the superior trend was also obviously bullish, so I decided to input my 'mean reversion' 50% fibonacci, from the premarket low to premarket high so that I can calculate a potential area to get involved for the continuation to the upside.
Well, thats the exact opportunity that was presented shortly after the 9:30 opening bell.I noticed that there was pretty close confluence between the 50% mean reversion and the VWAP.
So to get a good R/R entry, I executed the trade on the M1 chart, and decided to simply target the DOL (Draw On Liquidity) at the ATH OR the top of the VWAP upperband.Due to past data, I figured that the ATH would fail yet again at the first and second break ( as shown in prior data ), so my plan was to take 100% profit off of my trade as soon as the break occured.
I decided to trail my stoploss at each prior green bar, so I would stopout of the trade if any reversal variation took place.That happened right before the final squeeze to my exact target, and I did miss out on a good deal of remaining profit.
Overall it was a great trade, and I did everything correct according to the setup, but maybe I will start tracking more data on the best timeframes to trailstop once involved in a trade.What I can do, is go back to all of my prior M1 entries up until this point, and take the data from each dominant trend from the point of entry, per timeframe.
Analyzing todays trading session with hundsight (2.42PM) the M15 chart provided the best trail stop timeframe to capture the entirety on a big big move of around 200 points.
(What I Did Right)
- Waking up early, and being on the charts 2 hours before market open
- Analyzing the area of 'mean reversion' for the prevailing upward trend in the premarket
- Executing on the M1 Bearish to Bullish Variation at the change in trend
(What I Did Wrong)
- I trailstopped the trade slightly tight (Im going to be tracking data to try to find the best way to mitigate being taken out of a winner too early)
Another thing I could have done was only trail half the position, to let the other half either hit the target or stop me out at breakeven
Early Preparation: Waking up early allowed you to prepare well in advance and plan your trades.
Technical Analysis: Utilizing VWAP upper and lower bands for entry signals aligned with your trading strategy.
Adaptability: Taking a re-entry after the first attempt failed shows resilience and the ability to capitalize on subsequent setups.
Risk Management: Sizing your positions based on the Open Print Theory and reducing size after a win are sound risk management practices.
Playbook Execution: Trading based on established playbook concepts and following hard stop losses indicates discipline and consistency.
Trail Stopping: Correctly trail stopping at prior bar lows and invalidation points demonstrates good trade management.
What You Can Improve:
Event Risk Management: Waiting for significant events like Jerome Powell's announcements at 10 AM could potentially help in avoiding losses. Consider incorporating a rule to wait for such events to pass before entering trades.
VWAP Adjustment: Testing the +2.7 UpperBand and -3.2 LowerBand adjustment could provide more optimal trading signals. Monitor its effectiveness over more trades to decide whether to adopt it permanently.
Emotional Control: While you traded without emotion during re-entry, ensure this discipline continues in all trades, especially after initial setbacks.
Data Analysis: Continue tracking and analyzing data on the best timeframes for trail stopping to optimize your exits and potentially capture bigger moves.
Next Steps:
Data Collection: Continue recording and analyzing data on multi-timeframe candlestick trends and structures at specific times, such as around 9:30 AM, to refine your setups.
Strategy Refinement: Implement adjustments such as waiting for event risks like Jerome Powell's announcements and testing the VWAP adjustments to enhance your strategy's effectiveness.
Journaling: Keep detailed records of each trade, including rationale, setups, outcomes, and areas for improvement. This will help in identifying patterns and refining your approach over time.
Playbook Review: Regularly review successful "Trade of the Day" setups and previous price actions to train your mind for future entries.
Goof trading day today, I took a couple more trading setups than normal, becuase I decided to incorporate a VWAP with upper and lower bands today, and it worked out well, as I used to upperband for a short signal, when I got a bullish to bearish variation on the M1 candles on both attempts. Something I noticed today, was that while candle trend formation is important, I should still incorporate some of my previous strategy of candle structure, which is when a bullish to bearish variation, or bearish to bullish variation occurs. And this only happens when a contrary candle closes above or below a prior candle. Today I decided to take the A side of the M1 bullish to bearish variation when the trend shifted from the prior contrary candle.
Interestly, my theory on todays trading session was a long setup. As I was expecting the ATH playbook trade to play out, where we see an ATH failure, followed by a premarket open print dip buy. Since the ATH failure was the first setup presented to me, I decided to take that trade 1st. And by the time the long trade came around, I had a good deal of profit to stab at it with lower risk. My first short failed, and I actually almost walked away from the computer, but decided to stab one more time after I seen the buyside liquidity swept on my stop, followed by an M1 sell signal to clear the VWAP range. According to my Tradovate stats, todays win rate was 83% on 6 total trades taken. For now, I am going to keep the VWAP incorporated on my M1 chart, as the upper and lower bands give me a good visual on the expected range and target when any of the extremes are hit, and it also keeps my risk fairly low. With that being said, I think it will help me when the market is stuck in ranges and not trending, and will give me a good signal when to cover my trade. I am contemplating shifting the upperband to +2.7 since that was the mathematical sequence that triggered today, but I will give it one more trading day at +2.0 to see for sure, I think I just need more data.
Todays sizing was chosen by my idealistic long entry limit order from the premarket open dip buy to the premarket low range as a stoploss. And because I thought it was likely that we could see the premarket open print in todays session, due to prior ATH setups/failures etc, and because it was the obvious long area OTD, I decided to take the 3 contracts short, as if when it cleared the range down, theoretically I would be covered on my entire position if the long entry was triggered.
I figured the long theory could also fail, after I saw a bullish to bearish trend shift on the H6 chart. And that happened around 8:30AM. At that point, there was also no breach of the PMH, which signaled that the H6 candle was infact in a downtrend. When H6 shifts, its a likely scenario that the H12 can shift, and the low of the H12 candle/draw on liquidity was all the way to 20609 at the bottom of the range. Which would place the premarket open dip buy opportunity in the center of the range. With hindsight, the LOD sits at 20616, which is very close to the H12 draw on liquidity for the day.
Also, on the time of stopout, the TTM squeeze on M5 had an 'Okay To Trade' signal with no initiated squeeze.
I NOTICED SOMETHING. Yesterdays price action and playbook setup ALSO HAD and ATH break, and failure on the 2nd break as well as today. This is something we have to keep in mind for the future.
ALSO, THIS WAS *** TRADE OF THE DAY *** AND YOU RECORDED IT. Congrats, play it back in the future to train your mind for entrys again.
(Things I did right)
- Waking up on time, I was on the charts around 7 AM & had alot of time to gameplan
- Waiting for the UpperBand VWAP test to attempt a short at the ATH
- Giving a re entry trade an attempt after seeing another high probability setup without emotion
- Waiting for a bullish to bearish + trend shift on the M1 chart, Trading the correct side of the V with the upper band as my level
- Taking majority of profit off at the bottom band of the VWAP, and accepting a good trade
- Sizing with Open Print Theory
- Trading with a playbook concept
- Following my hard stoplosses
- Trailstoping correctly at prior bar lows & invalidation points.
- Reducing size after a win, so in the case of a loss I dont give back too many profits.
- Evaluating H6 trend shift in the premarket
(Things I did wrong)
- Not waiting for 10AM data to clear (Jerome Powell) I potentially could have avoided the loss if I waited until the 10AM move. At the moment this is unclear and I will need more data to support it.
Did not wait for the H12 candle to shift bearish, which led to a misaligned trade bias.
Did not size the position correctly, resulting in excessive exposure compared to previous successful trades.
Things I did right:
Maintained a structured stop loss strategy based on the H6 candle high.
Recognized the choppiness of the trading session and identified the need for better trade selection criteria.
Changes to trading strategy:
Incorporate H12 trend analysis to determine daily bias before executing trades.
Integrate TTM Squeeze indicator on the M5 chart to avoid trading during choppy sessions. A red TTM Squeeze signal will prompt a no-trade decision.
These adjustments should help in refining your trading approach by ensuring alignment with longer-term trends and improving trade selection during varying market conditions. If you have further trades or aspects of your strategy to discuss or refine, feel free to share.
Im a bottom tick fucking master. Only thing is, it was the complete opposite directional trade. I shorted at the low of the day. Makes sense.
I took this trade because of a bullish to bearish shift on the H4 chart. Because, apparently, according to my prior data, I should only have been executing on the default timeframes. But it doesnt really seem like it matters at this point, because the break of the H4 uptrend didnt shift the daily to bearish. It just kept going higher.
I have 3 or 4 other trades to journal. And somehow, I chose to complete top and bottom tick of each opposite side on every single fucking trade.
So the only thing that I can come up with at this point, is that if the 12H bar doesnt shift, then I cannot change my bias.
(Things I did wrong)
- Not waiting for the H12 candle to shift bearish.
- Did not size correctly, I went in 4 times heavier on the loss, than I did on my last biggest win, this is unacceptable
(Things I did right)
- Basically nothing, didnt even follow my first inital stoploss at the premarket open daily print. But my stoploss was set at the high of the H6 candle, which at that time, was still offering sell side liquidity in between the H4 and H12 candles.
Today was also a very choppy trading session, and I need to know when to sit out, for this reason, I am going to incorporate the TTM squeeze to give me a clear indication on when I should be involved in a trade
(Changes to trading strategy)
- Use H12 trend to decipher daily bias
- Use TTM squeeze to avoid choppy sessions ( had I used TTM on M5 chart today, I could have avoided the chop on all losing trades ) IF ITS RED, NO TRADE
Difficulty of the Session: Acknowledge that the trading day was tough, with challenges like being stopped out of a prior long.
Entry Signal: Identified a long entry opportunity around the premarket open (PMO), which coincided with a stop run that turned out to be the low of the day.
Additional Signals: Utilized an M1 TTM squeeze long signal and a test of the lower VWAP band for entry confirmation.
Learnings and Adjustments:
Referring Back to Setups: Recognize the value of documenting and referring back to "Trade of the Day" setups for future trading sessions. This approach helps in anticipating similar setups and improving execution.
Predominant Trend: Reflect on the importance of identifying and following the predominant long bias trend, which was supported by bullish signals from weekly, daily, and H12 charts.
Strategy Adjustment: Plan to adhere closely to the bullish trend premise in upcoming sessions to potentially capitalize on similar setups.
Moving Forward:
Learning from Challenges: Take lessons from the tough trading session to refine strategies and improve decision-making.
Consistency in Approach: Maintain discipline in analyzing and executing trades based on identified setups and trend biases.
Preparation: Continue using historical setups and market analysis to prepare for future trading opportunities effectively.
Trade Of The Day Setup 7/08/2024
Todays trading session was very difficult. I was stopped out of a prior long and that stop run was actually the low around the PMO(premarketopen) where the long of the day entry was provided. I also had other signals like a M1 TTM squeeze long signal, and a test of the lower VWAP band for an entry. So next time this type of trading day/setup is in play, I will use this trade of the day concept to refer back to a likely setup that can play out again in the future.
I could have figured that the predominant trend would still remain long biased due to the fact that the superior trend remained bullish from the weekly, daily and h12 charts. I have to follow this premise tomorrow so that I can bounce back.
Despite sitting out today, consider trading the next session if conditions are favorable.
Acknowledged a good confirmation and hit rate for trend continuation.
Noted that the stop loss was quite distant to make the trade feasible, suggesting potential adjustments in risk management.
Learnings:
Stay vigilant regarding market conditions, especially during holiday weeks.
Continue to refine entry and stop-loss strategies to optimize trade setups.
No Trade Day.
Due to the 4th of July week, market closing early, and noticing a correlation between a multiple day daily open print, I decided it would be best not to take a trade today. Past experiences have shown me that when the Daily Open print carries over the next trading day, I have usually taken a loss.
But after seeing todays trading day, perhaps I will trade the next one, as todays trading setup seemed rather unmanipulated and very straight forward. Actually, presenting a pretty great trend day opportunity.
It was a very simple, Data/PMH/Multiple trend candle shifts for confirmation. The only thing about this trade was that the stoploss was pretty far away to actually make the trade work. But still, great confirmation and hit rate provided for the continuation of the trend.
Line in the Sand Identification: Successfully identified the critical price level, which was the 'Potential Support Turned Resistance.'
Adapting to Market Conditions: After being stopped out, you were able to pivot and take a trade in the opposite direction, showing flexibility.
Stop Loss Management: Properly placed and adhered to stop losses, maintaining discipline in risk management.
Recognizing Trade Signals: Understanding the importance of the initial trend shift (A side setup) and how subsequent retests (B, C, etc.) weaken the setup.
Areas for Improvement
Morning Routine: Waking up past your alarm again is a recurring issue. This needs to be addressed to ensure you're prepared for the trading day.
Entry Quality: Took low probability trades away from desired entry points, which led to unnecessary losses.
Position Sizing: Took on too heavy of a contract size, going against your position size calculator recommendations.
Trade Execution: Placing a limit order short against session open volume instead of using a buy stop to flip the trade thesis was a mistake.
Trade Management: Covered the trade too early, missing out on potential profits. Could have managed the trade better by taking off partial positions and leaving runners.
Data Awareness: Not marking data drops on candles led to misinterpretations of market movements.
Key Takeaways
Default Timeframe Execution: The distinction between H4, H6, and H12 trends shows the need for a clear execution model. Default timeframes seem to offer better clarity for entries.
Trend Confirmation: The initial trend break (A setup) is stronger, and retests (B, C, etc.) become progressively weaker. This insight should guide your trade selections.
Data Marking: Marking data drops on candles is crucial to understand market reactions and avoid misinterpreting moves.
Action Plan
Alarm and Wake-Up Strategy:
Improve your alarm setup, possibly using multiple alarms or a more disruptive alarm system to ensure you wake up on time.
Ensure you're getting adequate rest to avoid oversleeping.
Refine Entry Strategy:
Stick to high probability entries near desired levels.
Use buy/sell stops to enter trades rather than limit orders against session volume.
Position Sizing Discipline:
Strictly adhere to the position size calculator to avoid taking on excessive risk.
If a trade requires a heavier size, ensure it's justified by a higher probability setup.
Data Awareness:
Mark data release times on your charts to anticipate potential market reactions.
Adjust your strategy based on these data points to avoid getting caught in unexpected moves.
Example Day Plan
Morning Routine:
Wake up at least 1 hour before any data release, preferably 2 hours before market open.
Perform your premarket analysis, marking key data release times on your charts.
Market Analysis:
Identify the prevailing trend using H4 and H6 for precise entries, while using H12 for overall market context.
Focus on A side setups for higher probability trades.
Trading Session:
Execute trades based on high probability entries near desired levels, using buy/sell stops.
Adhere to position size limits and manage trades by taking partial profits and leaving runners.
By addressing these areas for improvement and refining your strategy based on these insights, you'll enhance your trading performance and maintain discipline. Keep up the diligent journaling and continuous refinement of your approach.
I ended up breakeven on the day with 3 loser and 1 winner. I did many things wrong today.
(THINGS DONE WRONG)
1. Waking up past my alarm again. Unnaceptable
2. Taking 2 low probability first trades that were away from my desired entry.
3. Taking too heavy of contract size according to my position size calculator
4. Putting a limit order short at the potential support turned resistance against session open volume, when could have placed a buy stop and flipped my trade thesis
5. Covering the trade far too early, just to break even on the day. I could have taken off 2 contracts of the 3 I had, and left 1 runner.
6. Taking 2 irrelevant trades.
7. Not marking the DATA drops on candles.
TELLS that trade would flip
- According to Lance B, the A side of each trade setup is upon the inital trend shift, with each retest become less and less strong of a setup. SO, the initial trend break would be considered the 'A' setup, the break and retest would be considered the 'B' setup, and any retests after that would become C/D etc.
- Upon this initial bearish trend shift on the H4 and H6 charts, The H12, Daily, Weekly ETC still had bullish trending higher lows and higher higher on their candles, my thought process was that, because the H4 and H6 candles shifted bearish, there would be a chance that we can trade into the prior 12 hour low as that would be the bearish draw on liquidity from the H6 bearish trend shift.
- ALSO, I had made the destinction that it would likely have been smarter to implement a 'Default Timeframe' execution model, which means that the H4 trend shift should have provided a daily low draw on liquidity for bears, but because the prior H12 low was never retested for a bearish draw on liquidity, that means that it was a significant contributing factor for todays bullish continuation to the upside. The best thing to do will be to track data on this, and adjust as we go along, because although yesterday the H12 trend happened later in the session, with lower R/R return from the point of entry, it still ended up higher than where the initial entry trigger suggest, closing higher than the point of entry on the day. SO, while it may not provide the best R/R potential from the point of confirmation, it still may insist on a higher probability in terms of directional bias.
This H4 low break and trap also took place yesterday (July 2nd 2024) and had the exact same setup, which is most regarded as the 'Turtle Soup' Setup or a 'Potential Support Turned Resistance', The only difference was that yesterday was an H12 potential bearish trend shift, and that meant it could have swept the prior daily low as a liquidity draw.
Its also very clear that upon the 9:30 session open, the DATA released at 8:15 & 8:30 had been immediately reversed and bought up, so I think it will be beneficial to mark out these data drops on the candle OPEN in the future
(THINGS I DID RIGHT)
- Properly identifying where the 'line in the sand' was OTD, which was the 'Potential Support Turned Resistance'
- Cutting the limit order I had short at the 'Potential Support Turned Resistance' at the correct stoploss of the H6 candle high at that time.
- Taking a trade in the other direction from which I was initially stopped out of
- Placing the correct stoploss on the trade at the 'Line in the sand' OTD on the 2nd trade and sticking to it.
BOTTOM LINE, that line in the sand was the most likely price to be tested upon session open BECAUSE, it would have been the best area for shorts to stab at the trade for a continuation through the lows, and confirmation if broken and held above the the longs.
SO IN THE FUTURE, 'Define the A SIDE SETUP, for the LINE IN THE SAND, on each days trading session
If we took the correct play on todays trading session, we could have profited almost $300 and avoided 2 pointless losses.
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*Results are not typical and will vary from person to person.
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Past performance in the market is not indicative of future results. Any investment is at your own risk.
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