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(more…)Slope of Hope Blog Posts
Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.
Chopped Liver
In recent days, I have been thinking deeply about what I can do to improve my trading. I’m a simple soul, so I like rules or mnemonics that are easy to remember and understand. Thus, I present to you what I hope to be my watchword when it comes to trading: PATE
It is pronounced as two syllables (as in the spreadable comestible) and it stands for Patience, Always Trade Extremes.
The “patience” is obvious. That is, be patient enough to wait for true opportunities. And what opportunities, pray tell, do I mean? Well, EXTREME opportunities. When something is stretched so high (as in my “sure-fire” XLE trade last week) or so low (as with XRT and TSLA this morning) that the risk/reward ratio is terribly appealing. And it’s not just price extremes. It also applies to slam-dunk, killer price patterns (like EFA and EMB).
I’m going to try to burn this into my head and actually live it. Let’s see if it helps! Maybe it’ll help you, too.
The Sad Tale of M.L.O.T.T.
In trading, few things hurt worse than money left on the table. (In the unlikely event any of you are unacquainted with this term, it refers to profits forsaken because you were too impatient, scared, or what-have-you and missed out on extra money).
It’s virtually a truism in trading that you’ll score 8% on a given trade and it goes on to throw off 90% in gains. It happens all the time, but it happens CONSTANTLY in highly opportunistic and volatile markets like this one.
I am no stranger to this situation, particularly since my own emotional and psychological makeup doesn’t lend itself to – – how shall we put this? – – stalwart, steadfast, fearless determination. I prefer to slip on a pink taffeta dress, maybe some matching pantyhose, and scurry around closing anything that has a profit.
I’m exaggerating a bit (except for the clothes part), but just in recent weeks, the spreadsheet below shows the positions I have CLOSED, with the “entry price” reflecting whatever price I got when I closed them. Shield your eyes, Frank.
(more…)The Old Man’s Still Got It
