Education in the Markets

 After mistakes the last few days, today's goal was to make only valid trades. Plan was to wait for the 0830 numbers, check all the charts, go in the direction of the hourly and trade the 2/5 if possible. After the numbers, waited for some dust to settle and then looked at the charts. All timeframes were bullish, but ZN looked best. Tried 8-tick reversals for 15 minutes, but price just wouldn't come back. So changed to a 4-tick reversal. At 0903hrs, Bot 1 x ZN @ 116'000. As price goes up, it will also come down. So at 1025hrs, stopped out at 115'270 I then bided my time and waited for another setup. Looked at all the futures, but ZF looked to have the best setup. Price looked like it was bouncing off the cloud on the 10M, and Std line on the hourly. I put in a 12-tick reversal, but price wasn't coming close (it was bouncing off some support). Switched to an 8-tick reversal, and was filled at 1157 at 110'047. Here is how the other time frames looked. Stop is set ...

 After CPI numbers, prices jumped for the day. Tried to get in with a normal pullback, but finally entered with 4-tick reversal, as prices were moving so fast. At 0838hrs, Bot 1 x ZN @ 116'060. Quickly stopped out as prices retraced. Sad 1 x ZN @ 116'010 Next plan was for the price to tag the Turning line, so put in a limit order and waited. At 0943hrs, Bot 1 x ZN @ 115'240 Then I noticed that I had not completed a good look at all timeframes, and the hourly is back below the cloud. I thought that with such a big move, it has to be bullish, right? Decided to stick with the trade. At 1029hrs, sld 1 x ZN @ 115'190.  I am disappointed that I didn't properly confirm that the setup was good. Lesson learned, but I wish I had not done it.

 So, after a long Easter weekend, I was back at trading for the day. I felt good, and looked at the charts. With the daily and 10M above the cloud, decided to go long. The hourly was below the cloud, but price was above the standard line, so it may still climb.  I put in an 8-tick reversal and then noticed the double top on the 10M chart. It would be best if I could be on the same side as the hourly, so I cancelled the order and waited.  Prices declined sharply and had one 10M close below the cloud, with the price below the Std line on the hourly chart. As it was just breaking the cloud, I did a 4-tick reversal and at 0744hrs Sad 1 x ZN @ 115'185. And then, there was a strong close above the 10M chart. So, I exited for only a $110 loss (not full R). At 0831 bot 1 x ZN @ 115'220. Thought I was pretty smart getting out early and saving some cash! Last update: Price did come up, but didn't hit my stop and then melted. Missed the entire move. Gotta stick with the plan and bel...

 Wednesday 05 April - Interesting day! Sun in shining, looks beautiful and they are calling for freezing rain later? What? So, I waited until after the 0830 numbers, looked at all of the charts and decided to go long. Put in an 8-tick reversal. Plan was that if I was stopped out with the 8-tick, I would do a Fib retrace. Was filled at 0839hrs for 1 x ZN at 116'135 from the 8-tick reversal. Stop of 10 ticks and no target. I would like to let this one run if it can, so I will hold through the 1000hrs numbers and beyond. After 1000hrs numbers, prices surged. Moved my stop to BE+1 and I was now in a riskless trade.  After lunch, I was looking at the other products, and decided that the two-year was retracing to the hourly Turning Line, so decided to get into a long position there. At 1327hrs, Bot 1 x ZT @ 103'260. Stop 20 ticks and open target.  So now, we see why we do the little thing we do.  All bids to buy or sell get a stop (and target if applicable) with GTC order....

 Well, another quick day of trading's but with a different result from yesterday. Woke up early, and had a look at the markets. They had bottomed at 115'080, which was a Fib level from yesterday's move. I put in a buy at that level, but price continued higher. When it hit '120, I put in a 4-tick reversal from that location. At0603hrs, Bot 1 x ZN at 115'100. Stop of 10 ticks, tgt of 50 ticks. After I bought, price hovered and then dropped. Stopped out at 0702hrs at 115'050. Good trade, but could have waited longer to enter. Night is different due to lower volume, so move movement. If I had waited for '080, would have still been stopped out. Better trade would have been to wait for a touch of the Hourly Std line at '035. On to the next trade. Opening Range breakout trade looked OK, so at 0825hrs, bot 1 x ZN at 115'080. T1 at '130, T2 at '180, stop '030. As the range isn't great, looking for T2. At 0907hrs, Sld 1 x ZN @ 115'030. Stop...

 Got back from the south yesterday late, so getting going today was a little slow. But, had a look at the charts after 0800hrs, and the price was bullish in all timeframes and at a 12-tick reversal for ZN, so put in a bid at 114'250 and was filled at 0822hrs. Stop of 10 ticks (below the cloud) and target of 40 ticks. There are numbers at 0945 and 1000hrs, but if I wait too long, I will never get in. As the time dragged on, I really made a point of not looking at the trade. It will either work or not. But, I saw that price came down and touched the cloud, which it will do frequently when there is a cloud break. Could have waited for that for a better entry's but that's OK. Well, that was fast. Ten o'clock numbers came out and price shot up hitting my target. At 1002hrs, sld 1 x ZN @ 115'130.  Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes good. But as I noted before, you have to be in it to win. There was a valid setup, and because I was in a rush, I didn't hesitate. Happy w...