GOLD : Benefits of Investing in GoldOANDA:XAUUSD
Gold has been an inconsistent inflation hedge, but there may still be benefits to holding a small amount of the yellow metal in your portfolio. Gold has historically had a low or even negative correlation to both stocks and bonds, suggesting it offers value as a tool of diversification.
Gold prices held up pretty well during the Covid-19 pandemic market sell-off in early 2020, for example. From Feb. 1 to April 1 in 2020, the S&P 500 declined 23% while the price of gold dropped less than 0.1%.
Demand for gold from investors, central banks, jewelers and tech companies is also growing. According to the World Gold Council, global gold demand increased 12% year over year to 2.189 tons in the first half of 2022.
Depending on your individual goals, there are several easy ways to invest in gold. Investors can buy gold bullion, physical bars or coins that can be kept in a safe or bank.
You can also buy physical gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold gold bullion on investors’ behalf. The most popular gold ETF is SPDR Gold Shares (GLD).
Investors looking to speculate in the gold market can trade gold futures contracts. These contracts provide significant leverage, allowing investors to control large quantities of gold with a relatively small amount of money.
Finally, investors can buy shares of individual gold stocks or a gold mining ETF. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) holds a diversified basket of 54 gold-related stocks, including Newmont Corp. (NEM), Barrick Gold Corp. (GOLD) and Franco-Nevada Corp. (FNV).
Conclusion : GOLD IS SAFE HEAVEN TO INVEST IN IT .
Gann
STOP LOSS AS LIFE SAVIOROANDA:XAUUSD
Stop-losses prevent large and uncontrollable losses in volatile trades. If you’re not using stop-losses, it’s only a matter of time when a large losing position will get out of control and wipe out most of your trading profits, eventually even your entire account!
If you’re serious about staying in the game in the long run and growing your trading account, it’s necessary to use stop-loss orders in every single trade you’re taking. That’s the first rule of this article – Always use stop-losses!
Stop-losses also play a major role in risk management. Depending on their stop-loss, traders are calculating what position size to take, how much money to risk on a single trade, how much they’re risking on any single dollar they’re making, and much more .
Time Stop
As their name suggests, time stops refer to closing a trade after a pre-specified period of time. For example, a trader who is day trading the market could close all of his open trades after the end of the trading day, while swing traders who don’t want to hold their trades over the weekend could simply close all trades by the end of the Friday trading session.
Time stops are best combined with other types of stop-loss levels. If your trade is still active by the end of the trading day or ahead of the weekend, you could look to close it manually in that case.
Percentage Stop
Finally, percentage stops are based on a percentage of your trading account to limit the total risk of a trade. For example, a trader with a $10,000 account who wants to risk 3% of his trading account on a single trade could place a stop-loss at a level that ensures his total potential loss is $300.
Some traders might think that percentage stops are a good way to manage and limit losses in the market. However, bear in mind that percentage stops imply placing a stop-loss at an arbitrary level, as long as the total potential loss doesn’t exceed a percentage of the trading account.
Much better results can be achieved by combining chart stops with percentage stops, i.e. a trader would place a stop-loss based on an important technical level and manage his total risk by adjusting the position size of the trade. We’ll show you how to do exactly that later in this article .
Trailing Stops
Trailing stops automatically move the underlying stop-loss level with each tick of the price that goes in your favour. However, if the price reverses and starts to go against you, a trailing stop will stay at its most recent level, limiting your losses or locking in unrealised profits.
CONCULUSION :
WETHER YOU DO FOREX , STOCKS OR CRYPTO TRADING , STOPLOSS IS IIMPORTANT , AND IT ALWAYS GIVE YOU ANOTHER OPPURTUNITY TO TRADE AGAIN
Trading Divergence Divergence is one of the well-known and widely used methods for determining price reversal areas, whether positive or negative and thus helps to determine entry or exit areas 📉📈
Divergence is when the price of an asset is moving in the opposite direction of a technical indicator, such as an oscillator, or is moving contrary to other data. Divergence warns that the current price trend may be weakening, and in some cases may lead to the price changing direction.
There is positive and negative divergence. Positive divergence indicates a move higher in the price of the asset is possible. Negative divergence signals that a move lower in the asset is possible.
Divergence is one of the many trading methods that we use to build an integrated strategy, and of course, we can use it in any time frame we want ✍️
Price angle Degrees next lesson on using Gann angles
it consists series of angles that ranged from 1 to 360 degrees.
in the up-chart, we have a full cycle which is 360 degrees,
i highlighted the main angles with small circles and the sub-angle between every 2 main angles.
So, the price starts moving from angle 0 to the main anile according to his character
and for characters, we have the most familiar characters
From 0 to 360 = circle
From 0 to 270 = straight line
From 0 to 120= triangle
From 0 to 90= Quarter
From 0 to 72= pentagon
how we can benefit from these angles?
First of all, we need to know a little bit about the cycle each time we use it. Actually, it depends on the time frame e.g 1H, 4H, 1D, 1 W, it is up to the trader's preference.
Gann Analysis - price anglestoday is my first publication on trading view as I will write about Gann Analysis (price angles)
William Delbert Gann, a stock and commodity trader active in the early 20th century, was known for using various methods and tools, including angles, in his trading approach. He believed that angles could be used to identify key levels of support and resistance, predict trend reversals, and forecast price movements. Gann used a combination of technical analysis, astrology, geometry, and numerology to create a unique system of market analysis. He drew angles on price charts to track the movement of prices and used them to make trading decisions. It's important to note that Gann's methods and ideas remain controversial and are not widely accepted by the mainstream financial community. He was also known for his ability to make highly accurate market predictions, which earned him a reputation as a successful trader.
Angles were a key component of William Delbert Gann's trading method. He believed that prices move in a series of waves and that these waves could be represented by angles on a price chart. According to Gann, these angles could be used to identify key levels of support and resistance, predict trend reversals, and forecast price movements.
Gann used a variety of techniques to draw angles on his charts, including the use of a ruler and a protractor. He believed that these angles could provide insight into the underlying trend of the market and help traders make informed decisions. For example, a downward-sloping angle was seen as a sign of a bearish trend, while an upward-sloping angle was seen as a sign of a bullish trend.
Gann's use of angles in his trading approach is considered to be one of his most innovative and unique contributions to the field of market analysis. However, his methods are not universally accepted and remain controversial to this day. Some view his use of angles as a highly effective tool for market analysis, while others see it as unscientific and based on subjective interpretation. Regardless, Gann's use of angles remains an important part of his legacy and continues to be studied by traders and investors.
William Delbert Gann used a variety of angles in his market analysis, including 1 x 1, 1 x 2, 1 x 3, and 2 x 1 angles. He believed that each angle had its own unique properties and could provide insight into different aspects of market behavior. For example, the 1 x 1 angle was considered to be the most important angle, as it represented a 45-degree slope and was seen as a key level of support or resistance. The 1 x 2 angle was believed to represent a trend that was twice as strong as the 1 x 1 angle, while the 1 x 3 angle was seen as representing an even stronger trend. The 2 x 1 angle was used to represent a trend that was half as strong as the 1 x 1 angle.
Quarter of 9:
The "Quarter of 9" is a concept in William Delbert Gann's trading method that refers to a specific angle on a price chart. According to Gann, the Quarter of 9 angle represented a price trend that was one-quarter of the slope of a 1 x 1 angle. He believed that this angle could be used to identify important levels of support and resistance and to make predictions about future price movements.
Gann considered the Quarter of 9 angles to be a key component of his market analysis and used it in combination with other angles and technical indicators to make trading decisions. However, the specific properties and interpretations of the Quarter of 9 angles, as well as Gann's methods more broadly, remain a matter of debate and interpretation among traders and analysts. Some view his use of angles as a highly effective tool for market analysis, while others see it as unscientific and based on subjective interpretation. Regardless, the Quarter of 9 angle remains an important part of Gann's legacy and continues to be studied by traders and investors.
Finally, I know is too boring to read the history of something, but it is just the starting of price agile analysis and afterward, it will be more interes ting
7 Things to Consider Before Trading Full-TimeFor many traders, the dream of full-time trading represents the ultimate freedom. Full-time traders have the ability to choose their own hours, trade from anywhere, and select which opportunities to pursue. However, not all traders are ready to make the leap to full-time trading. Just as too much freedom can harm some economies, not everyone is prepared for the challenges of full-time trading. So, how do you know if you're ready to trade full-time? Here are some signs to consider:
1. You have sufficient capital:
Trading full-time means quitting your current job and relying on your trading income as your primary source of income. Be realistic about the fact that you may not make significant profits in your first few months.
2. You have tried and tested various methods and strategies:
It's important to have a strategy that has proven profitable for you, as well as other strategies that are suitable for different market conditions. You never know when and for how long market trends may shift.
3. You have spent a significant amount of time trading live accounts:
Trading live accounts bring about psychological challenges that you may not encounter when trading demo accounts. It's important to have a good understanding of your trading strengths and weaknesses and to be able to stick to a trading plan before committing to full-time trading.
4. Trading is your passion:
If trading is what motivates you to get up and start each day, it may be a sign that you're ready to trade full-time.
5. You have a solid risk management plan:
Full-time trading requires a steady stream of income, so it's crucial to have a risk management plan in place to protect your capital and ensure that you can continue trading in the long term. This includes setting stop-loss orders, properly sizing your trades, and having a plan for handling losing trades.
6. You have a support system:
Trading full-time can be isolating, so it's important to have a network of friends, family, or other traders to talk to and share ideas with. It can also be helpful to have someone who can hold you accountable for your trading plan and help you stay disciplined.
7. You have a plan for your non-trading time:
Full-time traders often spend a lot of time in front of their computers, so it's important to have a plan for how you'll spend your time outside of trading. This could include exercise, hobbies, and social activities to help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Making the decision to become a full-time trader shouldn't be taken lightly. It requires a significant commitment of time and capital, and it may not be right for everyone. By considering these factors and being honest with yourself about your readiness, you can make an informed decision about whether full-time trading is the right path for you.
We hope you found this post valuable and informative.
🛠️ Trading Tools Cheat SheetFibonacci Levels, Pitchfork, Fibonacci Arcs, Gann Square, Gann Fan, and Elliot Wave are technical analysis tools used in trading to identify potential levels of support and resistance, anticipate future price movements, and make informed investment decisions. These tools are based on mathematical calculations and relationships between price, volume, and time. They are widely used by traders to gain insights into market trends and make investment decisions based on past market data. However, it's important to note that these tools are not a guarantee of future performance and can produce false signals, so they should be used in conjunction with other forms of analysis and with a solid understanding of market dynamics.
🔹 Fibonacci Levels
A technical analysis tool that uses horizontal lines to indicate areas of potential support or resistance based on the Fibonacci sequence.
🔹 Pitchfork
A technical analysis tool that uses three parallel lines to identify potential levels of support and resistance and to anticipate future price movements.
🔹 Fibonacci Arcs
A technical analysis tool that consists of several curved lines that originate from two extreme points (high and low) and converge at the fibonacci levels.
🔹 Gann Square
A technical analysis tool that uses a grid to identify potential support and resistance levels and to predict future price movements based on the relationship between time and price.
🔹 Gann Fan
A technical analysis tool that uses diagonal lines to identify potential levels of support and resistance and to anticipate future price movements.
🔹 Elliot Wave
A technical analysis tool that tries to identify patterns in financial market data, particularly in stock market prices, which in turn can be used to make investment decisions. It's based on the idea that market prices move in predictable waves.
👤 @AlgoBuddy
📅 Daily Ideas about market update, psychology & indicators
❤️ If you appreciate our work, please like, comment and follow ❤️
Can I Learn Forex On My Own?A question that is frequently asked is "Can I Learn Forex On My Own?". Like any other ability, learning how to trade currencies can be self-taught through books, the internet, and practise. The learning process can be substantially accelerated and your chances of success increased, though, by having a mentor.
You can discover when learning to trade independently that you are lacking crucial knowledge or have inaccurate beliefs about specific trading tactics. A mentor can offer direction and explanation, clearing up any misunderstandings and bridging any knowledge gaps. A mentor can also offer insightful criticism on your choices and assist you in recognising and breaking any negative habits you may have formed.
A mentor might also introduce you to fresh techniques and equipment that you might not have found on your own. Expert traders can assist you avoid the common blunders that inexperienced traders frequently make because they have a lot of information and experience to draw from.
Additionally, a mentor can act as a sounding board—someone you can talk to about your analysis and breakdowns, and receive a second view from. They can help you discover areas that need improvement and provide a strategy for doing so. Instead of having to learn everything on your own, it is far faster to learn from someone who has previously gone through the process and has the necessary information and expertise.
The accountability element is another advantage of having a mentor. Having a mentor can improve your motivation to succeed and hold you responsible for your actions since you have someone to answer to.
Having a mentor can significantly shorten the learning curve and improve your chances of success, even though it is possible to study FX trading on your own. A mentor can offer insightful advice, criticism, and encouragement that will speed up your progress and help you avoid frequent pitfalls. The two main ingredients for success in any endeavour are accountability and motivation, both of which mentorship may assist with.
Supply and Demand Confirmation Entries ☑️The thing that catches most traders out is they don’t know what zone will hold, that’s why it’s always best to wait for the higher time frame zone to be mitigated, wait for the break of structure to confirm the trend is changing, then execute. Wait for confirmation ☑️
BULLISH ENTRY EXAMPLE 🔥🔥🔥Usually, liquidity is calculated by taking the volume of trades or the volume of pending trades currently on the market. Liquidity is considered “high” when there is a significant level of trading activity and when there is both high supply and demand for an asset, as it is easier to find a buyer or seller.
Hope this example can help some people understand when trading.
BTCUSDT - read to people with IQ over 100🧠
To begin with, you don’t see all this, because you rested on your indicators, on the thoughts of opinion leaders who themselves don’t really understand anything about trading and earn only on you.
On this platform, I have a lot of ideas related to numbers, check them out. It is very important for me that you guess what these or those values mean.
Try to simply see how many references to 33 leave Elon Musk and NASA, even every launch and spacewalk of an astronaut is accompanied by an impulse in one direction or another on the chart not only of BTC but also of the stock market. All this can be analyzed because it is all done for the sake of profit and the direction of the process in the right direction.
Let's start with what does 33/13 mean? This number means a new beginning, the start of something new - numerology is not a stereotyped understanding that was imposed on you so that you are not specifically interested in it, namely, from the mathematical side of Gann, Fibonacci is all numerology, all great mathematicians were numerologists, but some then the dudes who sell their courses talk about how it's all nonsense. All numbers have certain meanings that were created by ancient civilizations such as Maya.
You are wrong, the author, maybe you can add the Sumerians here?
I will attribute all astronomy, calendars, star maps, how many days in a year and hours in a day were studied thousands and thousands of years ago.
I also pointed out many examples of practicing the number 14 - directing energy towards resistance or support, balance. Which brought a large% profit, just trading from the levels that were formed by large players in the order book or there were marks on the chart. How 888 means the price goes in the opposite direction by a step more than 2%, which you can easily pick up with a stop of 0.4%, but you don’t see it. Open your eyes, wake up and for God's sake stop reading and listening to the opinions of those who direct the crowd, because that's how they cut you like hamsters.
in plotting I used arc system and degree system, you can find all the information on this great platform. The bottom line is to take trend lines and draw lines along them using cycles in parallel. In general, you can see this on the chart.
a similar system can be applied to any liquid instrument such as the stock market, raw materials, gold, metals, indices, currency pairs, etc. Even on low-liquid shieldcoins. Depends on your imagination and understanding of the process.
Notice how cycle 333 indicates the next BTC low or high. Subscribe here a lot of interesting things, like the idea
ORDERFLOW & LIQUIDITYPlease like, share & comment on my educational post.
--------------
After a BOS we expect price to pullback and
mitigate a significant zone in the previous
range before continuing
to break structure again.
If we do not get this mitigation it is likely that the
high/low that failed to mitigate will become liquidity.
AMC gann Fann and square By two trendlines I saw what looked to be a gann fan. I fitted it, and it was exact match. So I made the resistance along that long and to the $2 mark. Side it was going in the down direction I took that same scale and and point and time then made it forward. From there I fitted a gann square to that scale. And then a small gann square to scale and angle but smaller. The gold bars match perfect with the pocket that we are/ just were in.
The 12 Tasks Of Trading12 tasks of trading which include:
1. Self-analysis to determine if you are in a state of mind to trade
Prior to starting your trading day, it is very important to make sure you are in the correct state of mind to trade. You need to analyse yourself and make sure you are at the best state of mind to avoid mistakes in the markets. You cannot finish fighting with a friend, spouse, or colleague and expect to make great analytical decisions. Therefore, the first and most important step, is always making sure your mind is clear and at its best.
2. Mental rehearsal to avoid mistakes
The second step includes you rehearsing your set of rules and making sure you are going to strictly stick by them. This will allow you to avoid many mistakes in the markets and in your day.
3. Daily focus to lead you towards your goal
It is very important to have goals, but specifically daily goals. You need to determine what your goals are for the day including the pairs you are looking at, the times you will be trading, your risk management, and what you aim at gaining from the markets that day. Once goals are met, it is important to step back and wait until the next day to trade.
4. Developing your own style of a low risk idea.
For students of Opes Trading Group, low risk ideas and strategies are all taught to them during the course. It is important for every trader to develop their own ideas and strategies that are low risk in order to always protect their capital. Capital preservation is the most important rule of forex trading.
5. Stalking the charts starting from high to low time frames
Looking at the charts from the higher to the lower time frames allows you to be able to see the bigger picture before looking right in. if you started looking from the lower time frames, you could have a wrong picture painted for you as to where the price could be heading. You cannot see the bigger picture if you are standing too close to something, it is the same concept on the charts.
6. Action requiring commitment and not thought
Once a trade and an idea has been analized, it is important not to second guess yourself and take the trade. Do not second guess yourself if you believe in yourself and your trades.
7. Monitoring the trade to keep the risk low
Always keep your eyes on your trades. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be glued to your charts, but check them every once in a while, and at important candle closure to make sure they are still playing out the way you expect them to.
8. Aborting is the trade is not going well
If a trade does not go as planned (and the reality is some won’t), it is important to cut your losses if the trade is clearly not going to recover. There is no reason to hold on to a losing trade if there is no reason for it to recover.
9. Taking profits when the reason for the trade has ended
A take profit is placed for a reason, however sometimes the reasons end before the take profit has been reached, meaning it is very important to close the trade even if it means closing it early. Never become attached to a trade that you chase the take profit only to find yourself back at 0 or even in negative.
10. A daily review to monitor and prevent future mistakes
At the end of every day, all the trades taken should be reviewed. This will allow you to see what you are doing right, and what you are doing wrong. This will give you a good indication for what is needed for future trades.
11. Being grateful for what went well
Something so many people pay no attention to and ignore is gratefulness. Any positive day in the markets, is a great day! Be grateful for all that goes right, no matter how small the profits might be, because 90% of traders lost that day.
12. A periodic review to make sure everything is still working well
Every quarter it is recommended that you review your whole trading system. As the markets change, we need to be able to change and adapt with them, therefore a periodic review will allow you to know if things that are working still are or aren’t.
What To Focus On As A BeginnerFocusing on winning trades is your setback as a beginner
Every individual begins their trading journey with the idea that trading is all about winning trades and making money. Soon after their dreams are shattered when they realise it was not as easy as they had thought it would be. Now as we all know, the road to success to many is long and difficult, and that’s exactly what makes them successful. So why should the road to success in trading be any different? Look at top performing athletes, they trained for years before reaching any kind of success that definitely did not occur overnight. This bring me to my main point where many traders could be failing due to focusing on winning trades rather than the process it takes to become a good trader.
Every trader beginning their journey needs to understand that trading the financial markets is no different than a top performing athlete. In order to achieve success, one needs to develop their skills over years. Instead of focusing on winning every single trade, one should be focusing on the process and the experience they are gaining over this time. Studying your mistakes, your losses, your psychological weaknesses, your analysis, and your understanding of the charts, are far more important at this stage than focusing on winning trades. Look at your trading journey like a student attending university, a student will learn over years different topics, where some will seem worthless at the time, but will however develop their skills in the necessary fields to succeed in the future.
Every beginner should deeply focus on the process. Winning trades are a by-product of a developed successful strategy which also requires a developed individual. The trader needs to be developed in their psychology above all in order to trust their strategy and apply it correctly without deviating from the plan. Take the time to focus on all aspects of your trading, and let the winning trades come as a result of that in the future. Trading is a marathon, not a sprint, always remember that.
Geometry: 1x8-8x1 EllipsesHey! Hope you are well!
In this chart is shown the various 1x8-8x1 ellipses.
The overlay on the four minute chart is shown here!
Here is the beginning.
There are successive boxes made on the chart. The boxes are the basis of the 1x1, 1x2, and all.
This next picture is the initial 1x1 ellipse - or circle if you will.
If that is overly populated, here is the same without the successive rings.
The ellipse is not inside of the rectangle because the ellipse is circling the rectangle versus squaring the circle; however, do note that whether squaring the circle or circling the square, the eccentricity is the same; only the proportion - the size - of the ellipse changes.
Next is the 1x2 and 2x1.
Now, all of the successive angles will be shown simultaneously.
Enjoy! Be well!
As an added bonus, here is what the chart looks like when the successive rings are added.
Suggested Reading:
Law of Vibration - Tony Plummer
Michael Jenkins - Geometry of Stock Market Profits, Chart Reading for Professional Traders, Complete Stock Market Forecasting Course
Scott M. Carney - The Harmonic Trader, Harmonic Trading Volume I, Harmonic Trading Volume II, Harmonic Trading Volume III
H.M. Gartley - Profits in the Stock Market
Bill Williams - Trading Chaos, New Trading Dimensions, Trading Chaos 2nd Edition
J.M. Hurst - The Profit Magic of Stock Transaction Timing, Cyclic Analysis: A Dynamic Approach
Fabio Oreste - Quantum Trading
Michael Jardine - New Frontiers in Fibonacci Trading
The Wave Principle, Nature's Law
Ralph Nelson Elliot
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets
John J. Murphy
A Complete Guide to Volume Price Analysis
Anna Coulling
Mastering The Elliot Wave
Glenn Neely
Market Structure: Speed and Slope on Multiple TimeframesHey! Hope you are well!
In this selection, there is a showing of the use of angles to measure the passage of time and price.
In the first chart, the 30 minute chart, there is 40 units of time, and 40 units of price. The angle that is correspondent with this ratio spans to the end of the enclosed trend.
In the next chart, the four minute chart, there is 40 units of time and 40 units of price. The angle that corresponds to this ratio spans only to the end of the first trend.
However, the 8x1 angle stretches to the end of the full segment.
By these examples, the concept of speed is meant to be shown. In each corresponding timeframe, there is a speed. For the daily chart, the speed is one day. On the five minute chart, the speed is five minutes, so in making forecasts, predictions, trendlines, and others, consider the speed.
Suggested Reading:
Law of Vibration - Tony Plummer
Michael Jenkins - Geometry of Stock Market Profits, Chart Reading for Professional Traders, Complete Stock Market Forecasting Course
Scott M. Carney - The Harmonic Trader, Harmonic Trading Volume I, Harmonic Trading Volume II, Harmonic Trading Volume III
H.M. Gartley - Profits in the Stock Market
Bill Williams - Trading Chaos, New Trading Dimensions, Trading Chaos 2nd Edition
J.M. Hurst - The Profit Magic of Stock Transaction Timing, Cyclic Analysis: A Dynamic Approach
Fabio Oreste - Quantum Trading
Michael Jardine - New Frontiers in Fibonacci Trading
The Wave Principle, Nature's Law
Ralph Nelson Elliot
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets
John J. Murphy
A Complete Guide to Volume Price Analysis
Anna Coulling
Mastering The Elliot Wave
Glenn Neely
How To Succeed In Your TradingFocus on one single trading strategy
One thing that many people try and do is switch between strategies constantly. This is setting you up for failure, and if the concept of probabilities is truly understood, you will comprehend the reasons why a single strategy will work.
Any strategy is not going to have a 100% win rate, so first you should attempt at getting 50% of your trades right. After that mastering a 2:1 Reward to risk ratio is what will make you profitable. Trying to juggle many strategies will have you working tirelessly, but not moving forward in any particular one.
Less trading, more education
Many people have the conception that spending countless hours in front of the screen looking for potential set ups is how it should be, however that is completely wrong in my eyes. I spend minimal time now looking at charts and set ups, I highlight key levels I want to look at, along with alerts, and simply wait for the market to head there. Time spent looking at charts should be simply for education and mastering your strategy through back testing or simply understanding previous data.
Approach the market from a neutral position
Anyone that knows me knows how big I am on trading psychology and how I believe it is the most important aspect of trading.
Emotions in trading can be one of your greatest enemies as it can lead you to failure even after your success. There are scenarios where you can take trades and be in positive which will lead you to feel over confident, happy, and those will ultimately will lead to irrational decisions if you let them. Those emotions will make you believe you are better than the markets, or that you can outsmart them, ultimately leading your successful trade to turn into a failure. The same can happen when you feel the opposite and lack confidence to enter another trade due to a loss, or think have feelings of doubt.
This is why the market needs to be approached by a completely neutral position. Once you understand that for every person on one side of a trade, there is someone on the opposite side, you will begin to understand that the market itself is just a whole bunch of neutral information moving in nobody’s favour.
Write your goals
Affirmations are great and something that has helped me in every aspect of my life and not just trading. It is very important to write down your goals in order to manifest them into reality. All ideas first begin in the mind, and then come into the physical. Your goals need to be solidified, definite, and written down in order for your mind and yourself to know exactly what you are going after.
Every single day, you need to read your goals aloud, envision them in your mind with every bit of detail possible in order to bring them into the physical. In order to achieve a goal you need to arrive at the destination first in your mind.
Relax
There is no need to rush a single thing in your trading journey, and believe me take it from my experience, every time I tried to, I failed. People attend university for years before going out into a career which then takes many years before mastering it, yet people want to master trading in a year.
Patience is required in all aspects of trading, whether it’s on the charts themselves, or with your strategy, or with your learning curve. It all requires patience. If you are going after trading as a serious life career which you aim to remain in, then relaxing and taking your time is the first step. Nothing great comes from rushing it, especially the markets.
Know how to handle your trades
Based on your strategy and the concept of probability there are a number of things needed in order to appropriately handle your trades.
Firstly, don’t touch your stop loss. I cant say this enough, but stop losses are determined as the final barrier before the trade is invalid, and they are determine before entering the trade. If you find yourself moving your stop, ask yourself why. You will find out mostly its out of fear of losing your money, which is one of the 4 fears of trading. Accept your loss and let the trade stop out, you had it there for a reason.
Also, don’t leave trades behind out of fear. If you have a strategy that you have confidently developed, you should understand that the overall should be a greater number of winners than losers, and you should not leave trades behind out of fear, because they can be the ones that perform the best and make up for the losers.
Another thing to have in place is an appropriate strategy for exiting your trades. Many people have trades that are in profit, however due to the lack of knowledge on how to exit their trades, they still end up not profitable. You need to have a system on how to exit your trades appropriately and at what levels. Always remember, the profit running on a trade is not yours until its closed.
Risk management
Yes, I know you have heard it and read it a thousand times already, but you have no idea how important risk management is until the day you master it and recognise it was the single greatest thing holding you back from success.
People can have amazing strategies, the best reward to risk ratios, but with the inappropriate risk management trust me it means absolutely nothing. I have seen people overleverage on a trade simply because it “looked too good” compared to other trades, only for it to be the worst of the bunch.
I have seen people lose tremendous amounts of money and one thing I can promise you is not a single one of these people lost 100 trades in a row at 1% a trade. Every single one of them lost their entire accounts due to ONE trade that they married.
Risk management should be one of your main areas of focus, because believe me if you have mastered it, even with an average strategy you are doing much better than someone with an exceptional strategy with no adequate risk management.
Keep track of your performance
The only way to improve in any aspect of life is to first recognise what needs change and then work on it. It is very important to actually understand your positives and negatives and have them all tracked. A journal is one of the first steps in order to look in the mirror. Being completely honest is the only way a journal will work, and lying is only lying to yourself. If you are after serious improvement you need to appropriately identify all your flaws in order to better them.
You should never feel down or behind, remember trading the markets is one of the biggest psychological challenges one can face, and that is exactly why not everyone is suited for them. Instead see it as a challenge to better yourself and achieve the perfection and discipline you have always desired on and off the charts. Trading the markets will teach you lessons that you will carry with you throughout your entire life and not just on the trading floor.