Archive for January, 2012
Competition
January 30, 2012 at 9:32 pm
One of the many harsh realities of trading is that it takes a lot of intentional effort.
That means you intentionally prepare (both mentally and with an actual game plan), you intentionally execute (have the discipline to stick with your method), and you intentionally improve (by reviewing results, keeping an open mind, working with other traders to expand your abilities, etc.).
The fact of the matter is that if your competition is outgunning you, the way to start having more success is by outworking them.
When I was in 8th grade, I decided to take up golf. Being in a town with a huge presence of great players (including 8 PGA Tour pro’s), I had an uphill battle given that so many of my peers had already been pursuing the game for a few years. They were better than me, and I knew I had to outwork them in order to catch up to them or surpass them.
The same mindset applies to your trading. If your competition is getting the best of you, then you’ve gotta step up your game and work harder. Don’t be afraid of it, nothing worth doing is ever easy.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!
Video Review of the Indexes 1-29-2012
January 29, 2012 at 9:15 am
Last week the senior indexes put in some much-needed rest with the news flow prompting a bit of a pause in the action. Big-name earnings reports, the State of the Union address, and an FOMC meeting all left traders unwilling to press the upside for the most part, allowing the market the opportunity for some healthy basing.
In preparation for the trading week ahead, let’s examine some important levels to keep an eye on for the indexes. That will have the greatest influence on how individual stocks are going to move, so it’s part of our Sunday process.
(Direct video link is here for those interested in embedding it elsewhere to share).
Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Get our free newsletter to keep up!
Follow @TheStockBandit
Week 4 Trades Review (Video)
January 28, 2012 at 10:05 pm
The market saw mixed results last week as it primarily based, which really isolated the stocks on the move while many spent time putting in rest. For the week, I took a number of entries as both day trades and swing trades, and it was a really nice week, thanks primarily to the swing trades.
I wanted to give you a show-and-tell look at the trades I took this week. It should give you a feel for not only how I managed my trades, but also the kinds of setups which have been working well of late. And for those curious about our trading style in the member area, this should give you a good indication of what a typical week looks like.
Be sure to watch for the weekend index review video as well.
(Direct video link is here for those interested in embedding it elsewhere to share).
Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Get our free newsletter to keep up!
Follow @TheStockBandit
The Zurich Axioms
January 25, 2012 at 12:08 pm
I first learned about The Zurich Axioms by Max Gunther in the daily Worden Report when Don mentioned it among his favorite trading books a few years ago. Soon after, I picked up a copy and found it was indeed packed with some great insights – enough to be a must-have trading book.
There are 12 major axioms highlighted in the book, with a chapter devoted to each, as well as 16 minor axioms. It’s a relatively short book at only about 123 pages, but the “Rules of Risk and Reward Used by Generations of Swiss Bankers” offers no shortage of wisdom and insights for any trader or speculator.
Without disclosing all of the Axioms, I’ll summarize two of my favorites.
Always Play for Meaningful Stakes.
This minor axiom highlights the importance of trading with enough size for it to matter. This goes beyond the learning stages in which a developing trader needs to hone his skills and not fixate on the money. Rather, playing for meaningful stakes is about getting over the fear of getting hurt in such a way that when a play works, it’s well worth the risk taken.
A story is told in the book about the oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, who grew up rich, but once he became an adult he was sent out on his own. Wanting to enter the oil business, he shunned various opportunities to invest $50 in the early 1900’s in favor of betting nearly his entire savings of $500 on an oil lease he felt was more promising. After paydirt was hit, he sold his holdings for $12,000 just a short time later.
Getty mentioned that if he had not struck oil, the $500 would have hurt, but that he could have found a way to save that amount back up again. He was quoted as saying “it seemed to me I had a lot more to win than to lose.” That’s playing for meaningful stakes.
As a trader, it’s not about walking a tightrope where bankruptcy is the result if you slip. It means you don’t nickel-and-dime your way throughout the entire year if you want to get somewhere interesting.
Optimism means expecting the best, but confidence means knowing how you will handle the worst. Never make a move if you are merely optimistic.
What an excellent reminder for traders! Gunther makes the point that without some level of optimism, one cannot trade to begin with. However, there is general optimism and there is specific optimism. According to Gunther, it’s the venture-specific optimism which can become dangerous if you allow it.
The latter mention of what true confidence is just cannot be ignored here. Do you know how you will handle the worst? If you do, then you’ve got arguably the most difficult element of a trading plan already in place – the adverse exit. The ability to fail gracefully in trading – over and over – is what will ultimately define how long you can stay in the game. Your success may eventually be tremendous, but if you’re unable to handle losing the right way, you’ll be taken out long before the big wins can ever come along.
My advice? Pick up a copy of The Zurich Axioms and get a pen ready to mark up the margins and underline key points. It’s a quick read and one you’ll return to often.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!
Video Review of the Indexes 1-22-2012
January 22, 2012 at 9:20 am
Last week the indexes added a couple percent to continue their ascent from the December lows. New recovery highs were established as prior resistance zones were cleared, keeping the bulls in the driver’s seat for another week.
In preparation for the trading week ahead, let’s examine some important levels to keep an eye on for the indexes. That will have the greatest influence on how individual stocks are going to move, so it’s part of our Sunday process.
(Direct video link is here for those interested in embedding it elsewhere to share).
Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Get our free newsletter to keep up!
Follow @TheStockBandit
Week 3 Trades Review (Video)
January 20, 2012 at 9:52 pm
The market gapped higher for its third consecutive Tuesday of 2012, which again helped to make the difference on the week for the indexes. The remainder of the time was marked by a considerable amount of choppy, trendless action, serving as another reminder of the importance of trade selection in this low-volatility environment.
For the week, I took a number of entries as both day trades and swing trades, and it was a really nice week. Both timeframes provided profits, which is a big advantage of having capital at work across multiple timeframes.
As I did last week, I wanted to give you a show-and-tell look at the trades I took this week. It should give you a feel for not only how I managed my trades, but also the kinds of setups which have been working well of late. And for those curious about our trading style in the member area, this should give you a good indication of what a typical week looks like. (Note: I do have 2 open swing positions which are not outlined in the video since I’m still discussing my management of them with members).
Be sure to watch for the weekend index review video as well.
(Direct video link is here for those interested in embedding it elsewhere to share).
Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Get our free newsletter to keep up!
Follow @TheStockBandit
The Definition of Momentum Has Changed
January 18, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Temporarily, at least. It used to be that the word momentum inspired fear of being left behind, but that was sooo October of last year. Today’s momentum is quite different, and it requires a different approach for good trading.
Check out my post at MarketWatch from today on this, along with some unique characteristics of the current environment.
Trade Like a Bandit!
Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast
Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!
