Beyond Technical Analysis
Why Nailing the Perfect Entry Won't Make You a Winning TraderWhen I first started trading, I spent an absurd amount of time obsessing over the “perfect entry.” I believed if I could just pinpoint the exact right moment to enter, my trades would take off like clockwork. I’d spot my pattern, line up my indicators, and wait for that split-second trigger. But as my journey evolved, I found that success in trading hinges far more on how you exit than on the entry itself.
Aggressive Entries: Simple and Straightforward
Let’s be clear—there is no “perfect entry,” no mythical timing trick that’ll guarantee success. Aggressive entries, for example, are straightforward: you spot the trigger candle, recognize the pattern, and take action at the close. That’s it. No endless analysis or hesitation, just decisive entry. This type of entry is powerful because it’s intentional, capturing the setup in real time rather than waiting for confirmation that could lead to a delayed entry.
While aggressive entries get you in at an ideal price, focusing on entry alone doesn’t cover the full picture of trade management. Without a plan for managing the trade after entry, you’re just hoping the market follows through—and hope is not a strategy.
Exits Matter More Than the Entry
Successful traders don’t just focus on getting in; they put more thought into getting out. If the goal is to grow and protect capital, then exits are the difference between locking in profit or watching it evaporate. After countless hours in the market, I learned that getting the exit right, or at least having a disciplined exit plan, is what shapes your profit curve.
For example, some traders aim for a certain percentage of profit or wait for the price to hit a key level. Others may use stop-loss strategies to protect gains by trailing the stop along the way. The exit strategy you choose is personal, but having one at all is non-negotiable. Think of it this way: without a solid exit plan, even a perfect entry is likely to unravel at some point.
Practical Tips for Developing a Strong Exit Strategy
Define Your Exit Before You Enter: Every trade should begin with a clearly defined exit plan. Before you even click “buy,” know exactly where you’ll exit for both a win and a loss. Setting realistic profit targets and stop losses not only protects you from over-trading but also keeps you focused on executing your plan.
Set Alerts and Automate: Using tools like TradingView’s alert feature is a lifesaver. Alerts allow you to step away from the charts without stressing over every price movement. Let’s be real—the market can be a hypnotic place, and constantly watching it can lead to impulsive decisions. Set your alerts and detach; you don’t need to be glued to your screen for every tick.
Use Incremental Exits: Instead of going all in or all out, consider taking partial profits at different stages of the move. For instance, you might exit half your position at a certain level and let the rest ride to maximize your gains. This approach allows you to capture profit while giving the remaining position room to potentially yield a larger win.
Review and Refine Your Exits: One of the best ways to improve your exit strategy is to backtest it. Use TradingView’s replay feature to “replay” past market conditions and test out various exit strategies. This is invaluable as it gives you a chance to fine-tune your approach based on actual data, not just theoretical setups.
Create Realistic Expectations: The reality of trading is that the market doesn’t always move according to plan. Stay flexible. Some trades might require a quick exit, while others might reward you for holding on. Don’t be afraid to adapt based on the conditions and price action unfolding in front of you.
Why Traders Fail Without an Exit Plan
For many traders, focusing solely on entries becomes a crutch. They mistakenly believe that if they just find the right entry, the trade will manage itself. But the market is unpredictable. Even the best entry can’t secure a win if the trader doesn’t know how to get out.
The hard truth is, obsessing over entries often masks a lack of strategy or confidence in the bigger picture. I’ve seen traders who hit excellent entries repeatedly, but without disciplined exits, they end up handing their profits back to the market. Don’t let your gains evaporate because you didn’t think about your way out.
Trading Success Is Built on Execution, Not Perfection
In the end, what separates successful traders from the rest isn’t a “perfect entry.” It’s a systematic approach to execution. The best traders don’t need flawless timing—they need consistency, discipline, and a clear plan that includes both entries and exits.
So, next time you’re studying a chart, ask yourself not just “Where would I enter?” but also, “Where and how would I exit?” It’s the exit, not the entry, that ultimately decides how much you keep—or give back—to the market.
So, how do you handle exits? Are you still chasing perfect entries, or have you found a balance? Share your strategy below—your insights might be just what another trader needs.
The Art of War for Traders: Sun Tzu's Timeless Lessons on MarketI recently revisited "The Art of War by Sun Tzu", and I was struck by how directly its timeless wisdom applies to the world of trading.
Written over 2,500 years ago, this classic on strategy offers lessons every trader—from beginners to seasoned pros—can apply in the markets to improve discipline, timing, and decision-making.
The Art of War is often seen as a manual for military generals, but its insights go far beyond the battlefield. Sun Tzu’s advice on strategy, patience, and self-discipline is surprisingly relevant for traders.
In many ways, trading is a battle—one fought not only with the market but also with our own emotions and impulses. Here are some key takeaways from The Art of War and how they can help elevate your trading game.
1. Know Your Enemy and Know Yourself
Sun Tzu’s advice, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles,” is invaluable in trading. For traders, the “enemy” is the market itself, filled with unpredictable movements, different participants, and countless psychological traps.
But perhaps the most important part is knowing yourself—your strengths, weaknesses, risk tolerance, and emotional triggers.
Trading Insight: Self-awareness is crucial for consistent success. By understanding your own psychology, you can prevent impulsive decisions, recognize patterns in your behavior, and develop a trading plan that works in harmony with your strengths. The better you know yourself, the better you can handle whatever the market throws at you.
2. Strategize Rigorously, But Act Flexibly
Sun Tzu stresses the need for detailed planning but also emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing conditions. In trading, a plan is essential—it gives you structure and discipline. But markets are fluid and can shift without warning, meaning flexibility is equally important.
Trading Insight: Create a well-defined trading plan that includes entry and exit strategies, position sizing, and risk management. At the same time, be ready to adapt if the market changes direction.
Many successful traders know that the best plan is one that’s firm yet flexible, allowing for adjustments as new data comes in.
3. Timing is Key
Patience and timing are central to Sun Tzu’s teachings. He emphasizes waiting for the perfect moment to strike. In trading, this principle cannot be overstated. Good timing separates profitable trades from losses; a premature entry or exit can wipe out gains or magnify losses.
Trading Insight: Success in trading often comes from waiting for high-probability setups, rather than forcing trades when conditions aren’t ideal.
The best opportunities require patience. Rather than feeling pressured to trade constantly, seasoned traders know that waiting for the right conditions is a form of discipline that pays off over time.
4. Position Yourself Wisely
Positioning is at the core of The Art of War. Sun Tzu advises placing troops in positions of strength, not vulnerability, which translates directly to trading. Positioning wisely means knowing where to enter and exit, as well as how much risk to take on any trade.
Trading Insight: Position sizing and strategic entry/exit points are essential for managing risk. Set stop-losses to guard against heavy losses and choose setups where you have a statistical edge.
Success comes from positioning yourself to gain while limiting potential losses—whether you’re a day trader or a long-term investor.
5. Discipline and Self-Control
Sun Tzu repeatedly emphasizes the importance of discipline and self-restraint. A general who cannot control himself will struggle to control his troops, and the same goes for traders. Without discipline, a trading plan is just words on paper.
Trading Insight: In trading, self-discipline means sticking to your plan, managing your risk, and resisting impulsive decisions driven by emotions. This is a skill that separates successful traders from those who struggle.
Discipline keeps you from chasing trades, overtrading, or taking unnecessary risks. It’s the backbone of consistency.
6. Exploit Market Weaknesses and Protect Your Own
Sun Tzu teaches the value of observing and exploiting the weaknesses in the enemy while concealing your own. In trading, this might mean identifying overbought or oversold conditions, weak trends, or moments of market irrationality.
Trading Insight: Recognize when the market is at extremes and leverage these moments for high-probability setups. At the same time, protect your portfolio by diversifying and using stop-losses, ensuring that if a trade doesn’t work out, it doesn’t do significant damage.
Trade with your strengths and protect against your weaknesses.
7. Beware of Deception and False Signals
One of Sun Tzu’s core principles is the use of deception, creating the illusion of weakness or strength. Markets can often create similar illusions through false breakouts, price manipulations, and fakeouts, which can easily lead to poor decisions.
Trading Insight: Avoid falling for obvious “traps” in the market. False breakouts and fake signals are common, especially in highly volatile markets.
Experienced traders look beyond surface movements and analyze underlying trends to verify signals. Being cautious and vigilant can prevent costly mistakes.
8. Use Resources Efficiently
Sun Tzu cautions against prolonged battles that drain resources and morale. In trading, this equates to overtrading or letting emotions lead to excessive losses.
Trading Insight: Efficiently allocate your capital and avoid trading more than necessary. Protecting your capital allows you to stay in the game for the long run.
If a trade setup doesn’t meet your criteria, move on. Wasting resources on low-quality trades is like fighting unnecessary battles.
9. Calculated Risk and Risk Management
Sun Tzu emphasizes knowing when to engage and when to hold back. For traders, this is the heart of risk management. Taking calculated risks is essential for capturing profits, but knowing when to step away is just as important.
Trading Insight: Risk management is fundamental to long-term success. Use tools like stop-losses, position sizing, and risk-to-reward ratios to control losses.
Accept that not every trade will be a winner and cut your losses when needed. This protects your capital and keeps you from getting overly attached to individual trades.
10. Seize Opportunities with Confidence
Sun Tzu believes in the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise. In trading, this means acting decisively when a setup aligns with your strategy and conditions are favorable.
Trading Insight: Hesitating can lead to missed opportunities, while decisive action—grounded in a solid strategy—can yield significant profits.
When the conditions align with your analysis, trust your instincts and execute your plan. The ability to recognize and seize opportunities is what distinguishes successful traders from the rest.
The Art of War has taught me that trading, much like warfare, is a game of patience, discipline, and strategy. Sun Tzu’s principles remind us that success doesn’t come from battling the market but from managing our responses to it.
Every trade is a test of how well you can plan, adapt, and stay disciplined under pressure.
As you navigate the markets, remember Sun Tzu’s timeless advice. Approach trading as a strategist would approach battle—prepare thoroughly, act wisely, and remain adaptable.
Success in trading is not just about making profits; it’s about managing yourself, seizing opportunities, and protecting your resources for the long run.
Let me know your thoughts below
Buybacks vs. Dark Pool RotationThis lesson is about understanding the dynamics behind corporate buybacks. Sell-Side Institutions, aka the Banks of Record, have their floor traders do the actual buying of shares on behalf of the corporation. However, the Dark Pools, meaning the Buy-Side Institutions, start selling as the buybacks are going on.
This training will help you enter a buyback sooner and exit with higher profits for swing trading. We'll study the NASDAQ:AAPL chart to identify buyback candlestick patterns and how to see when the Dark Pools are selling to lower inventory, which is called "rotation." You will also see how the TTAccum/Dist indicator works, and how I use this excellent, leading Hybrid Indicator to aid in my analysis.
What is Divergence?Divergence in trading occurs when the price of an asset moves in the opposite direction of a technical indicator. This mismatch indicates that the momentum behind the price action may be weakening, often suggesting a potential reversal. By learning to spot divergence, traders can anticipate market changes, either as a reversal in trend (regular divergence) or a trend continuation (hidden divergence).
Types of Divergence
Regular Divergence
Hidden Divergence
1. Regular Divergence
Regular divergence is a classic form that suggests a potential trend reversal. It happens when the price action and an oscillator (like RSI or MACD) display conflicting information, often indicating that the current trend may be losing strength.
Types of Regular Divergence:
Bullish Regular Divergence: Occurs when the price makes lower lows, but the indicator makes higher lows. This suggests a potential reversal to the upside as the selling momentum weakens.
Bearish Regular Divergence: Occurs when the price makes higher highs, but the indicator forms lower highs. This indicates potential downside momentum, often preceding a downtrend.
How to Identify Regular Divergence:
Use an oscillator such as the RSI, MACD, or stochastic indicator.
Look for situations where the price action forms new highs or lows, while the oscillator forms opposite lows or highs.
Confirm the trend by observing the price trendlines to determine the type of regular divergence (bullish or bearish).
Trading Regular Divergence:
Bullish Regular Divergence: When you identify bullish regular divergence, consider entering a long position once the price shows signs of reversal, like a bullish engulfing candle or another bullish reversal pattern.
Bearish Regular Divergence: For bearish regular divergence, a short position may be taken once you confirm a bearish reversal pattern, such as a bearish engulfing candle or shooting star formation.
Example:
If the price of a stock is making higher highs but the RSI is making lower highs, this is a bearish regular divergence. You could consider shorting the asset or closing long positions as a precaution, anticipating a potential trend reversal.
2. Hidden Divergence
Hidden divergence indicates potential trend continuation. It suggests that although there may be a pullback, the primary trend will likely resume.
Types of Hidden Divergence:
Bullish Hidden Divergence: Occurs when the price forms higher lows, but the indicator makes lower lows. This pattern signals that the uptrend is likely to continue.
Bearish Hidden Divergence: Occurs when the price makes lower highs, but the oscillator makes higher highs, indicating a potential continuation of a downtrend.
How to Identify Hidden Divergence:
Observe the trend direction of the price. Hidden divergence typically appears during pullbacks in a strong trend.
Use the oscillator (RSI, MACD, etc.) and compare the highs and lows formed by both the price and indicator.
Confirm the pattern: if the price and indicator form opposing highs or lows, it may indicate hidden divergence.
Trading Hidden Divergence:
Bullish Hidden Divergence: Enter a long position after identifying bullish hidden divergence, especially if the primary trend is upwards and the oscillator is showing a lower low.
Bearish Hidden Divergence: A short position can be considered when bearish hidden divergence is identified, and the primary trend is downwards, with the oscillator showing a higher high.
Example:
Suppose an asset’s price makes higher lows in an uptrend, but the RSI makes lower lows. This indicates bullish hidden divergence, suggesting that the pullback might end, and the uptrend is likely to continue. Enter a long position, placing a stop loss below the recent swing low to manage risk.
Indicators Used for Identifying Divergence
Relative Strength Index (RSI): RSI measures the strength and speed of price movement, making it ideal for identifying overbought and oversold conditions.
Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD): MACD tracks the difference between two moving averages of the price and can be used to detect shifts in momentum.
Stochastic Oscillator: This oscillator helps detect potential turning points by comparing the closing price to the range over a set period.
Each of these indicators helps identify divergence differently. For example:
If RSI or Stochastic is diverging from price action, it may indicate that momentum is waning.
MACD can be useful to spot both regular and hidden divergences, especially on larger timeframes.
How to Trade Divergence
Confirm Divergence: Use divergence to identify a potential reversal or continuation pattern, but confirm it with additional signals such as candlestick patterns or volume analysis.
Set Entry Points: Wait for a price action signal (e.g., a candlestick pattern) in the direction indicated by the divergence. A bullish divergence might signal a buying opportunity after a bullish candlestick, while a bearish divergence could indicate a selling opportunity after a bearish pattern.
Use Stop Loss Orders: Place a stop loss slightly below or above recent highs or lows to manage risk. For example, in bullish divergence, place a stop loss below the swing low to protect against downside risk.
Set Profit Targets: Use support and resistance levels, Fibonacci retracement levels, or moving averages to set profit targets.
Tips for Successful Divergence Trading
Combine with Other Indicators: Use moving averages or trendlines to confirm the overall trend direction.
Choose Longer Timeframes for Stronger Signals: Divergence on longer timeframes (e.g., daily or weekly) tends to produce stronger signals than shorter timeframes (e.g., 15-minute or hourly).
Don’t Trade Divergence in Choppy Markets: Divergence is more effective in trending markets. Avoid using divergence in low-volume or range-bound conditions, as it could result in false signals.
Stay Aware of False Signals: Not all divergences result in profitable trades. Always use risk management tools, such as stop losses and position sizing, to minimize potential losses.
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Understanding Forex CorrelationA Comprehensive Guide to Forex Pair Correlation Strategies
Forex correlation is a powerful tool that can help traders understand how currency pairs move in relation to each other. It’s an essential concept that, when used correctly, can improve risk management, enhance profits, and provide valuable insights into the behavior of different currency pairs.
The image you've provided breaks down key aspects of forex pair correlation, including positive correlation, negative correlation, and hedging strategies. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what forex correlation is, how it works, and how you can use it to your advantage in your trading strategies.
What Is Forex Correlation?
Forex correlation refers to the relationship between the movements of two different currency pairs. When two currency pairs move in tandem or in opposite directions, they are said to be correlated. Correlation can be positive, where both pairs move in the same direction, or negative, where the pairs move in opposite directions.
Traders use correlation data to understand potential risks and opportunities. Understanding the relationships between currency pairs allows you to diversify your trades, hedge positions, or double down on strategies based on the expected movements of correlated pairs.
Types of Forex Correlations
1. Positive Correlation
When two currency pairs move in the same direction, they are said to have a positive correlation. For example, EUR/USD and GBP/USD often have a positive correlation because both pairs share the USD as the base currency, and they tend to respond similarly to events affecting the U.S. dollar.
Example of Positive Correlation: If EUR/USD is rising, GBP/USD is also likely to rise due to the influence of the U.S. dollar.
Strategy for Positive Correlation: Traders can use positive correlation to open the same-direction positions in both pairs to amplify gains. However, keep in mind that a highly correlated pair will also double your risk if the market moves against you.
2. Negative Correlation
When two currency pairs move in opposite directions, they are said to have a negative correlation. For instance, USD/JPY and EUR/USD often have a negative correlation. When the U.S. dollar strengthens against the Japanese yen (USD/JPY), it may weaken against the euro (EUR/USD).
Example of Negative Correlation: If EUR/USD is rising, USD/JPY may be falling due to changes in the strength of the U.S. dollar.
Strategy for Negative Correlation: Traders can open opposite-direction positions in negatively correlated pairs to offset potential losses. For example, if you are long on USD/JPY and the trade turns against you, holding a short position in EUR/USD can help balance the loss.
How to Calculate Correlation
Correlation is typically measured on a scale from -1 to +1:
+1 means that two currency pairs are perfectly positively correlated. This means they will move in exactly the same direction at all times.
-1 means that two currency pairs are perfectly negatively correlated. This means they will always move in opposite directions.
0 means no correlation exists, meaning the pairs move independently of each other.
Many trading platforms provide correlation matrices or tools to help you understand the correlation between different pairs. These can be updated in real time or calculated over different time frames (daily, weekly, or monthly).
Why Forex Correlation Matters for Traders
Understanding forex correlation is crucial for several reasons:
1. Risk Management
By using correlation strategies, you can manage your risk more effectively. For example, if you have two highly correlated positions, you're effectively doubling your exposure to the same market conditions, which can increase risk. On the other hand, trading negatively correlated pairs can help reduce exposure to one-sided market movements.
2. Diversification
Forex correlation helps you diversify your portfolio by balancing positively and negatively correlated pairs. Proper diversification ensures that you aren’t overly exposed to one currency or market, providing better protection against volatile market movements.
3. Hedging Opportunities
As shown in the image, hedging with correlations allows traders to use correlated pairs to balance risk and protect investments. If one pair moves against you, a correlated position in another pair can help minimize the loss. This is a strategy that advanced traders often use during periods of high market uncertainty.
Using Forex Correlation Strategies
1. Hedging with Correlations
A popular strategy involves using negatively correlated pairs to hedge positions. Let’s say you have a long position in EUR/USD. You might take a short position in USD/CHF to reduce exposure to potential USD weakness. If the U.S. dollar weakens, your EUR/USD trade may incur a loss, but the short USD/CHF position can offset that loss.
2. Trading Positively Correlated Pairs
When trading positively correlated pairs, you can open same-direction positions to amplify gains. For instance, if you anticipate the U.S. dollar weakening and are bullish on both the euro and the British pound, you might go long on EUR/USD and GBP/USD. In this case, your profits could multiply if both trades move in your favor. However, this strategy also increases risk since losses would be compounded if the U.S. dollar strengthens instead.
3. Avoiding Over-Exposure
While correlation strategies can help increase profits or hedge risks, they can also lead to overexposure if not carefully managed. For example, trading multiple highly correlated pairs (e.g., EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD) simultaneously can result in taking on too much risk in a single direction, especially if the market turns against you.
To avoid overexposure:
Check correlation matrices regularly to understand current correlations.
Adjust trade sizes based on the degree of correlation between pairs.
Avoid trading multiple pairs that have a perfect or near-perfect correlation unless you are intentionally doubling down on a strategy.
When to Use Forex Correlation Strategies
During High Volatility: Correlation strategies are particularly useful when the market is volatile, and you want to either reduce your risk through hedging or amplify your profits by trading positively correlated pairs.
Economic News Events: Major news events often affect several currency pairs simultaneously. By understanding the correlations between pairs, you can plan for potential reactions and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Portfolio Balancing: Long-term traders can use forex correlations to balance their portfolios, ensuring they are not overly exposed to any single currency or market condition.
Conclusion
Forex correlation is an essential concept for traders seeking to manage risk, diversify portfolios, and maximize profits. By understanding how different currency pairs relate to each other, traders can build more robust strategies that leverage both positive and negative correlations.
Whether you're looking to hedge your positions, amplify your gains, or simply protect your investments, correlation strategies offer valuable tools for navigating the complex forex market. Be sure to incorporate correlation analysis into your overall trading plan to enhance your decision-making process and boost your chances of success in the forex market.
Happy trading!
Halloween Horror: Avoiding Common Trading MistakesAs Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the common “frights” that can scare traders away from success. Just like ghosts and ghouls lurking in the shadows, trading mistakes can be sneaky and unexpected. This post will highlight some of the most common trading mistakes, drawing parallels with Halloween themes, and provide strategies for avoiding these pitfalls.
🎃Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Many traders experience FOMO, which can lead to impulsive decisions, such as chasing after rapidly rising stocks or jumping into trades without proper analysis. This behavior often results in buying at peak prices and facing losses when the stock inevitably corrects.
Set Clear Entry and Exit Points: Establish specific criteria for entering and exiting trades to avoid emotional decisions.
Stick to Your Plan: Have a trading plan that includes risk management strategies. Review your plan regularly, especially in volatile market conditions.
👻 Overtrading
In an attempt to capitalize on every opportunity, some traders overtrade, leading to excessive fees, emotional fatigue, and ultimately poorer performance. Overtrading can resemble a Halloween party gone wild, with too many participants causing chaos.
Limit Your Trades: Set a maximum number of trades per week or month. Focus on quality over quantity.
Take Breaks: Allow yourself time away from the screen to recharge and refocus. This helps in making more rational decisions.
🕷️Ignoring Risk Management
Trading without proper risk management is akin to wandering through a haunted house without a flashlight. You’re likely to encounter unexpected dangers. Failing to set stop-loss orders or to size positions appropriately can lead to catastrophic losses.
Implement Stop-Loss Orders: Set stop-loss orders at a predetermined level to limit potential losses.
Diversify Your Portfolio: Spread your investments across different asset classes and sectors to mitigate risk.
👺 Emotional Trading
Trading decisions driven by emotions such as fear, greed, or panic can lead to disastrous results. Emotional trading is like letting a ghost dictate your path through a dark forest—it's unpredictable and often leads to mistakes.
Keep a Trading Journal: Document your trades, including the reasoning behind them and your emotional state at the time. This will help you identify patterns and triggers in your decision-making process.
Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate techniques like meditation or deep breathing to remain calm and focused during trading hours.
🦇Neglecting Research and Analysis
Many traders skip the crucial step of research and analysis, relying instead on tips or rumors—much like believing in urban legends without questioning their validity. This can lead to uninformed trades and unexpected losses.
Conduct Thorough Analysis: Use both technical and fundamental analysis to make informed trading decisions. Stay updated on market news and trends.
Leverage Trading Tools: Utilize platforms like TradingView to access charts, indicators, and community insights.
[b 🕸️Chasing Losses
After experiencing losses, some traders attempt to "revenge trade," trying to quickly recover their losses by taking high-risk trades. This often results in deeper losses and a vicious cycle of frustration.
Accept Losses as Part of Trading: Understand that losses are inevitable. Learn from them rather than trying to immediately recover.
Take a Step Back: If you find yourself in a negative trading streak, consider taking a break to reassess your strategies and mental state.
👽 Not Adapting to Market Conditions
The market is constantly changing, and clinging to outdated strategies can be dangerous. This is similar to wearing the same costume year after year—eventually, it becomes stale and ineffective.
Stay Flexible: Be willing to adapt your trading strategies based on current market conditions. Regularly review and refine your approach.
Educate Yourself: Continuously seek knowledge through courses, webinars, and market analysis to stay informed about new trends and strategies.
As the Halloween season creeps in, it’s time to face the spooky realities of trading! By identifying and confronting common trading frights, you can transform potential pitfalls into stepping stones for success. Remember, every trader encounters challenges, but preparation, discipline, and continuous learning are your best defenses against the ghouls of the market.
So, this Halloween, don’t let fear haunt your trading journey. Embrace the tricks of the trade, sharpen your skills, and turn those frights into fruitful opportunities! Here’s to a successful and spooktacular trading experience!🎃👻🕸️
Trust is Earned: My Journey Toward Becoming a Responsible VendorIntroduction: Learning from Setbacks (and Sharing for Others on the Same Journey)
Everyone makes mistakes, and I have certainly made my fair share. I want to share my personal journey of learning from my past missteps on TradingView, my efforts to deeply understand the platform's guidelines, and my aspiration to become a responsible vendor, in the hope that others on the same journey can learn from it. This story is about the importance of compliance, transparency, and what it means to genuinely add value to a community of traders.
Disclaimer: I am a provider of technical indicators (all free at this point, but some will be paid in the future), This article is purely for informational & educational purposes for the greater community.
Mistakes and Realizations
I won’t shy away from admitting that I've faced temporary bans on TradingView. At first, I saw these bans as setbacks that were challenging and frustrating. But over time, I realized they were valuable opportunities to understand what it really means to contribute responsibly to this incredible platform. Those experiences prompted me to reflect on my actions and invest time in learning the rules that govern this community— not just to avoid future bans, but to truly align with the values of TradingView.
Areas of Growth and Mastery
To ensure my growth as both a script publisher and a prospective vendor, I focused on mastering three key areas that are critical for contributing meaningfully to TradingView:
Clear Communication and Respect for Moderators: One of the first things I learned was the importance of making my content clear and accessible to all traders. While I have always strived for originality and avoided plagiarism, I realized that clarity is just as crucial. Ensuring that my work is understandable helps others fully appreciate and benefit from the ideas I share. Additionally, I learned to respect and comply with moderator feedback, which has been instrumental in improving my content.
Creating Impactful and Original Contributions: I have always aimed to provide original and valuable content, but through my journey, I further educated myself on how to better meet community needs. Rather than simply reiterating existing ideas, it's essential to focus on creating content that directly helps traders understand or solve a specific issue. Ensuring that descriptions are clear and straightforward, offering immediate insights that traders can act upon, is critical to creating impactful content. Charts should be presented in a clean and informative manner, without making unrealistic claims about performance. Run away if someone promises to turn $500 into 5k overnight.
Building Trust Through Ethical and Transparent Practices: Unfortunately, there are many scammers out there, and many traders fall into traps buying so-called 'holy grail' tools that promise unrealistic returns. It's crucial to be aware of these pitfalls and ensure transparency and ethical practices are at the forefront. Although I’m not yet a vendor, I aspire to be one. This means understanding the expectations for providing quality tools and services. Honesty and ethical business practices are fundamental—it's not about making sales, but about building trust with the community. Being transparent and ensuring the tools are genuinely helpful to traders and investors without overpromising results goes a long way in building trust. Although I’m not yet a vendor, I aspire to be one. This means understanding the expectations for providing quality tools and services. Honesty and ethical business practices are fundamental—it's not about making sales, but about building trust with the community. Being transparent and ensuring the tools are genuinely helpful to traders and investors without overpromising results goes a long way in building trust. It is essential for every indicator and strategy, whether paid or free, to provide real value to traders and investors.
❖ Adding Value: Insights from Community Feedback
Through my journey, I also received feedback from moderators, which helped me understand how to align my contributions better with the expectations of TradingView. One key takeaway was that adding value to traders must be actionable, realistic, and grounded in the community's needs. It’s not enough to simply share insights or predictions; it’s about helping others make informed decisions, understanding the risks involved, and learning together.
It is crucial to emphasize honesty, respect for users, and the importance of providing value before expecting anything in return. This principle must become a core part of how contributions should be approached. Many of my scripts are available for free, and seeing traders use them and benefit from them has been incredibly rewarding.
✹ My Aspiration to Become a Responsible Vendor
Every vendor's goal must be to genuinely support traders by improving their strategies and decision-making through transparency, ethical practices, and adherence to guidelines. Building trust takes time, and I strive to align my offerings with TradingView's core values: respect for traders, adding true value, and fostering collaboration. My current focus is on refining my skills, publishing original content, and ensuring that every tool I create serves an educational purpose, genuinely helping traders navigate market complexities.
Conclusion: Earning Trust, One Step at a Time
The journey to becoming a responsible vendor is about more than just meeting requirements—it's about contributing to a community in a way that is genuine, transparent, and respectful. I am committed to continuing this journey, learning from past mistakes, and striving to add value every step of the way. Trust is earned, not given, and I’m ready to keep earning it.
Watch Me Make $600,642 Backtesting in 20 MinutesMastering Backtesting with TradingView's Replay Feature: Your Target Practice for Trading Success
In the world of trading, practice makes perfect, and one of the best ways to hone your skills is through backtesting. TradingView’s replay feature serves as an invaluable tool for traders looking to test strategies, refine their skills, and improve their overall performance. Think of it as target practice—a way to simulate real market conditions without the pressure of live trading. This article will delve into how to effectively use the replay feature, challenge yourself, and why practice is essential for every trader.
The Power of Backtesting
Backtesting is the process of testing a trading strategy on historical data to determine its viability. It’s like a dress rehearsal for traders, allowing you to assess how a strategy would have performed in different market conditions. With TradingView’s replay feature, you can step back in time and play out the price movements of any market you choose.
Using TradingView's Replay Feature
Setting Up the Replay Feature:
Open TradingView and select the asset you want to backtest.
On the chart, locate the “Replay” button in the toolbar (usually represented by a play icon).
Click the button and select the date from which you want to start your replay. You can drag the slider to move through the historical data at your own pace.
Simulating Live Trading Conditions:
As the replay plays out, you can apply your trading strategy just as you would in real-time. Take note of price action, support and resistance levels, and your entry and exit points.
Use this opportunity to test different indicators and strategies, adjusting parameters as you see fit.
Documenting Your Trades:
Keep a journal of your trades during the replay. Note what worked, what didn’t, and any adjustments you made. This reflection is crucial for developing your trading skills.
Target Practice: Challenging Yourself
To truly benefit from backtesting with the replay feature, consider implementing challenges that simulate the pressure of live trading. Here are some ways to push yourself:
1. Risk Management Challenges:
Decide on a specific risk amount for each trade—say $1,000. After reaching a target profit, like $15,000, challenge yourself to avoid losing a predetermined amount, such as $2,500.
This mimics real-life scenarios where maintaining profits can be just as challenging as making them. It forces you to practice discipline and stick to your risk management rules.
2. Trade Frequency Goals:
Set a target for the number of trades you want to execute during the replay. For example, aim to make 10 trades in a single session. This encourages you to be decisive and consistent with your strategy.
3. Time Constraints:
Limit yourself to a specific time frame when executing trades. For instance, challenge yourself to make all trades within a 30-minute window during the replay. This helps you practice decision-making under pressure, enhancing your ability to react quickly in real-market situations.
The Importance of Practice for Traders
As traders, we must remember that consistent practice is key to mastery. The replay feature allows you to simulate different scenarios without the risk of real money, giving you the freedom to learn from your mistakes. Here’s why practice is crucial:
Building Confidence:
The more you practice your strategy in a controlled environment, the more confident you’ll become in your abilities. This confidence translates into more decisive actions when trading live.
Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses:
Regularly backtesting enables you to pinpoint areas where your strategy excels and where it falters. This awareness allows you to adapt and evolve your approach over time.
Understanding Market Dynamics:
Each market behaves differently. By practicing across various assets and timeframes, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of market dynamics, helping you make better-informed decisions.
TradingView’s replay feature is a powerful tool for backtesting and honing your trading strategies. By treating this process as target practice, you can simulate real trading scenarios, test your strategies, and build the skills necessary for successful trading. Don’t shy away from challenging yourself with risk management goals, trade frequency targets, and time constraints. Remember, consistent practice is the pathway to mastery, and with the right tools and mindset, you can elevate your trading game to new heights. So dive into that replay feature, test your strategies, and watch your trading skills flourish!
Building a Positive Mindset for Trading SuccessIn the world of trading, cultivating a positive mindset is essential for unlocking opportunities and maximizing potential outcomes. Positive thinking in trading involves recognizing prospects in every situation, learning from mistakes and setbacks, and nurturing a steadfast belief in your abilities and goals. Traders with a positive outlook tend to be more risk-averse while remaining open to growth, leading to more consistent profits. However, it’s crucial to approach risk strategically; unchecked optimism can lead to reckless decisions and financial losses. Thankfully, optimistic traders often find it easier to bounce back from errors, allowing them to maintain their focus in this challenging environment.
📍 Setting Yourself Up for Positive Trading
A constructive trading mindset facilitates learning and encourages the exploration of new strategies and techniques, promoting continuous improvement. Here are some effective strategies to set yourself up for success and cultivate a positive trading mindset
1. Articulate Goals and Strategies Positively: Frame your objectives with a positive spin. For instance, instead of saying, “I don’t want to lose money,” rephrase it as, “I aim to grow my wealth.” Rather than expressing fear about taking risks, remind yourself, “I possess the skills to manage risk effectively.” When uncertainty arises, tell yourself, “I will navigate this situation and find a solution.”
2. Practice Reframing: Reframing is the skill of pivoting your perspective to highlight positive outcomes and learning experiences. For example, if you close a trade at a loss, rather than viewing yourself as a bad trader, remind yourself that you’ve gained invaluable experience, equipping you to refine your strategy.
3. Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Avoid comparing yourself with other traders; instead, measure your progress against your past performance. This practice boosts your motivation and self-esteem, reinforcing your commitment to personal growth.
4. Employ Positive Affirmations: Integrate positive affirmations into your routine—short, empowering statements that reinforce your confidence and optimism. Phrases like “I am a successful trader,” “I achieve my goals,” and “I can manage any situation” can cultivate a positive mindset and focus.
5. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Engage with other traders who uplift and inspire you through their experiences and insights. Consume enriching resources—books, podcasts, articles—that not only expand your knowledge but also serve as motivation in your trading journey.
6. Avoid Comparisons: Recognize that each trader has a unique style, pace, and set of results. Instead of envying or attempting to emulate others, focus on your individual development. Embrace the understanding that success in trading is a gradual process that demands patience and persistence.
7. Enhance Your Skills and Knowledge: Continuous learning is integral to trading success. Dedicate time to studying theory, analyzing market trends, and keeping abreast of news that affects the markets. Experiment with diverse strategies and develop various analytical techniques. The more you master the nuances of trading, the greater your confidence will become—a key driver of a positive outlook.
8. Prioritize Rest and Relaxation: Trading can be intense and stressful . Ensure you allocate time to unwind and recharge. A rested mind is better equipped to make rational decisions and maintain a balanced perspective.
9. Implement Risk Management Strategies: Develop and adhere to robust risk management techniques to minimize anxiety and mitigate large losses. Solid risk management fosters a positive trading experience and helps maintain composure in turbulent market conditions.
10. Embrace Flexibility: Adaptability is vital in the ever-changing landscape of trading. Acknowledge that market conditions can shift unexpectedly and be prepared to adjust your strategies accordingly. View challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth that will enhance your resilience and expertise.
11. Cultivate Optimism: Focus on appreciating your current accomplishments rather than lamenting what you lack. Actively seek the positive side of people and situations. Maintain faith in your abilities and trust that things will unfold favorably.
By nurturing a positive mindset and employing these strategies, you can set yourself up for success in trading. Remember, every step you take toward maintaining an optimistic outlook will not only enhance your trading performance but also contribute to your overall well-being.
Traders, If you liked this educational post🎓, give it a boost 🚀 and drop a comment 📣
The Pip Shift: Why Gold Traders Must Recalibrate SL and TPA few months back, I shared an article highlighting why fluctuations of 30 or 50 pips in Gold (XAU/USD) had minimal impact.
At that time, I also predicted Gold’s potential to climb by 1,000 pips to $2,500. Fast forward to today, and Gold has not only crossed that mark but is nearing $2,750—a substantial increase that requires a fresh look at how we interpret pip values in today’s market.
Why 100 Pips Today Isn’t What It Used to Be
When Gold traded below $2,000, a 100-pip movement carried a specific weight in terms of impact and volatility.
As prices rise, the pip value naturally adjusts in real terms.
This means that what was a 100-pip fluctuation when Gold was at $1,800 is now effectively a 150-pip movement at $2,750.
Proportionally, it’s the same value as before, but this shift has important implications for traders who need to recalibrate their stop-loss and take-profit orders accordingly.
Translating Pip Fluctuations into Percentages
To understand why this adjustment matters, let’s look at pip movements in percentage terms. When Gold traded at $1,800, a 100-pip fluctuation represented about 0.56% of the price. At $2,750, a 100-pip movement is about 0.36%—a significant reduction.
If we want to maintain the same degree of responsiveness in our trades, the stop-loss should be scaled to approximately 150 pips, rather than sticking to a smaller value that might prematurely trigger stops or undershoot our profit potential.
Adjusting Your Trading Strategy
As Gold continues its upward trajectory, traders must recognize that pip values and fluctuations aren’t fixed in impact.
Consider a scenario where Gold moves by 300 pips—when Gold was trading at $1,500, that would’ve been a 2% shift; now, it’s just around 1%.
Being attuned to these changes helps traders avoid overly tight stop-losses, which can lead to premature exit, or take-profits that might cut gains short.
In other words, risk management isn't just about setting numbers; it's about knowing the context of those numbers within market conditions.
By aligning our strategies with current Gold levels, we’re better equipped to maintain consistent risk and reward ratios.
Final Thoughts
The Gold market's growth brings both new opportunities and a need for mindful adjustment in trading strategies. As pips become “cheaper” in percentage terms, setting stop-loss and take-profit orders based on percentage targets rather than fixed pip amounts is a more adaptive approach. With Gold’s ongoing climb, staying flexible and adjusting to the evolving pip value can help you remain resilient, even in volatile markets.
Don’t Follow Nobody, Neither Me.Have you ever found yourself making investment decisions based on what everyone else is doing? It’s a common scenario—investors rush into the latest hot stock or abandon a sector because it’s suddenly out of favor. The urge to follow the crowd can be overwhelming, but is it really the best strategy for your portfolio?
In the world of investing, trend-chasing—where investors follow market trends without careful consideration—can often feel like a safe bet. After all, if everyone else is doing it, it must be right, right? This behavior, known as herd mentality, is deeply rooted in human psychology. However, in the financial markets, blindly following trends can be dangerous. Trend-chasing can lead to poor investment decisions and, ultimately, harm your portfolio. In this article, we’ll explore the risks of trend-chasing and why it’s crucial to develop a solid investment strategy that resists the pull of the crowd.
What Is Trend-Chasing?
Trend-chasing is the practice of making investment decisions based on the prevailing direction of the market rather than through careful analysis or a well-thought-out, long-term strategy. Investors engaging in trend-chasing often find themselves buying assets that have recently surged in value, hoping to capitalize on the upward momentum, or selling assets that are declining, fearing further losses. The key characteristic of trend-chasing is its reactive nature—investors make decisions based on what’s happening now, rather than a clear understanding of what the future may hold.
A Cautionary Tale: The Dot-Com Bubble
A classic example of trend-chasing occurred during the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s. As tech stocks began to soar, countless investors jumped on the bandwagon, pouring money into companies with little to no earnings simply because their stock prices were rising. The euphoria was contagious—no one wanted to miss out on the next big thing. However, when the bubble inevitably burst, those who had chased the trend found themselves with substantial losses as overvalued stocks plummeted back to reality.
The Meme Stock Phenomenon
More recently, the meme stock phenomenon of 2021 showcased another instance of trend-chasing on a massive scale. Stocks like GameStop and AMC experienced wild price surges driven not by fundamental value but by social media-fueled hype. Retail investors, motivated by online forums and the fear of missing out (FOMO), rushed to buy these stocks, driving their prices to unsustainable levels. While a few early adopters profited handsomely, many others who followed the trend ended up holding overpriced shares when the hype died down, resulting in significant losses.
GME Game-Stop 2021
AMC Entertainment 2021
In both cases, the underlying force at play was herd mentality—a psychological phenomenon where individuals mimic the actions of a larger group, often at the expense of their own rational judgment. This herd behavior drives market bubbles, where prices inflate beyond reasonable levels, and eventually, painful corrections occur. By understanding the dangers of trend-chasing and recognizing the role of herd mentality, investors can better guard against making impulsive decisions that may jeopardize their financial well-being.
The Psychology Behind Herd Mentality
Herd mentality is deeply ingrained in human behavior and significantly impacts how investors make decisions. One of the primary psychological drivers behind herd mentality is the fear of missing out. When investors see others profiting from a particular trend or asset, they often feel an intense urge to join in, fearing they’ll miss out on potential gains if they don’t act quickly. This fear can override logical thinking, leading to impulsive decisions based on emotion rather than careful analysis.
Overconfidence is another psychological factor that fuels herd mentality. When a market trend appears to gain momentum, many investors become overly confident in their ability to predict the future. They believe that if the majority is doing something, it must be the right move, and they overestimate their ability to time the market. This overconfidence often blinds investors to the risks associated with their decisions.
The Impact on Investment Decisions
Herd mentality pushes investors to follow the crowd rather than stick to their well-planned strategies. When everyone else seems to be buying a particular stock or entering a specific market, it can be challenging to resist the pull. As a result, investors may abandon their original investment strategy in favor of what appears to be a winning trend. This can lead to inflated asset prices and bubbles as more investors pile in, often without fully understanding the underlying fundamentals.
The problem arises when the trend reverses, leaving those who followed the crowd vulnerable to significant losses. In essence, herd mentality encourages reactive rather than proactive decision-making, often to the detriment of a sound investment strategy. By succumbing to the pressure of the crowd, investors risk making short-sighted choices that could harm their portfolio in the long run.
The Risks of Trend-Chasing
While the allure of following market trends can be strong, the risks associated with trend-chasing often outweigh the potential rewards. Investors who chase trends are frequently driven by emotion rather than rational analysis, leading to impulsive decisions that compromise long-term financial goals. Although trend-chasing may yield short-term gains, it exposes investors to heightened market volatility and the danger of being caught in a market downturn. Understanding these risks is crucial for developing a disciplined investment strategy that prioritizes long-term success over the fleeting appeal of the latest market trend.
Short-Term Gains vs. Long-Term Losses
One of the biggest dangers of trend-chasing is the temptation to prioritize short-term gains over long-term portfolio health. While it might seem profitable to jump on a trending stock or sector, this strategy often overlooks the bigger picture. Trend-chasing can lead to buying high during a market surge, only to sell low when the trend reverses. This pattern of behavior—repeated over time—can erode portfolio value and make it difficult to achieve long-term financial goals.
Market Volatility
Trend-chasing also exposes investors to heightened market risks. Trends are often fueled by speculation and hype rather than sound financial principles. As a result, markets driven by trend-chasing can become extremely volatile. Prices may swing wildly based on news, rumors, or shifts in sentiment, leaving investors who followed the trend vulnerable to sharp downturns. This volatility makes it challenging to predict market movements and increases the likelihood of significant losses.
Case Studies: Cryptocurrency Market
A prime example is the cryptocurrency market. The rapid rise of Bitcoin and other digital assets attracted a wave of trend-chasers eager to capitalize on the perceived opportunity. However, as seen in the dramatic crash of 2018 and subsequent market fluctuations, those who chased the trend often faced steep losses when the speculative bubble deflated.
BTC Bitcoin 2021
SHIBUSD Shiba Inu Token 2021
How to Avoid Trend-Chasing in Your Investment Strategy
In the ever-evolving world of investing, resisting the temptation to follow trends can be challenging. The fear of missing out and the influence of herd mentality can drive even the most seasoned investors to make decisions based on market trends rather than sound financial principles. However, by developing a disciplined approach, diversifying your portfolio, and staying informed without reacting impulsively, you can avoid the pitfalls of trend-chasing and create a more resilient investment strategy.
Developing a Disciplined Approach
The foundation of any successful investment strategy is discipline. This means setting clear financial goals, establishing a plan to achieve them, and sticking to that plan, even when market trends seem enticing. Here are a few tips to help you develop a disciplined approach:
Set Clear Objectives
Before making any investment decisions, defining your financial goals is essential. Are you investing for retirement, saving for a major purchase, or seeking to grow your wealth over time? Your objectives will shape your investment strategy and help you stay focused. When you have a clear understanding of what you're working toward, you're less likely to be swayed by short-term market trends that don't align with your long-term goals.
Create a Well-Defined Investment Plan
Once your objectives are set, develop a detailed investment plan outlining your asset allocation, risk tolerance, and time horizon. This plan should serve as your roadmap, guiding your decisions and helping you stay on course. A well-defined plan can act as a buffer against the emotional impulses that often drive trend-chasing behavior. When the market is booming and everyone seems to be jumping on the latest trend, your plan will remind you of your long-term strategy, preventing you from making hasty decisions.
Stick to Your Plan in Good Times and Bad
Market fluctuations are inevitable, but disciplined investors understand the importance of staying the course. When trends arise, it can be tempting to abandon your plan and chase after quick profits. However, this often leads to buying high and selling low—a recipe for underperformance. By adhering to your plan, you can avoid the emotional rollercoaster of trend-chasing and focus on achieving your long-term objectives.
Regularly Review and Adjust Your Plan
While discipline is crucial, recognizing when adjustments are needed is also important. Markets change, as do your financial goals and personal circumstances. Regularly reviewing your investment plan ensures it remains aligned with your objectives. However, any adjustments should be made thoughtfully and not in response to short-term trends. This approach allows you to stay disciplined while remaining flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions.
Diversification: Mitigating Risks Through a Balanced Portfolio
Diversification is one of the most effective ways to protect your portfolio from the risks associated with trend-chasing. By spreading your investments across a variety of asset classes, industries, and geographic regions, you reduce the impact of any single trend or market event on your overall portfolio. Here's how diversification can help you avoid the pitfalls of trend-chasing:
Reduce Dependence on a Single Asset or Market
Trend-chasing often leads investors to concentrate their investments in a particular asset class or market segment that is currently in vogue. While this can generate short-term gains, it also increases exposure to market volatility. A diversified portfolio, on the other hand, balances risk by spreading investments across different assets, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities. This diversification can help mitigate losses during market downturns when specific trends may collapse.
Balance Risk and Return
By diversifying, investors can achieve a more balanced risk-return profile. Different assets respond differently to market conditions, and by holding a mix of investments, you can smooth out the effects of market volatility. This approach allows you to pursue potential gains without exposing yourself to the full brunt of a market downturn.
Create a Stable Foundation for Long-Term Growth
A well-diversified portfolio can provide a stable foundation for long-term growth. Rather than chasing trends that may lead to short-lived profits, you can focus on building a portfolio designed for sustained performance over time. This stability will help you weather market fluctuations and remain focused on your long-term financial goals.
Stay Informed, but Don’t React Impulsively
Staying informed about market trends and economic developments is crucial for making sound investment decisions. However, it’s equally important to avoid reacting impulsively to the latest news or trends. Here are some tips for staying informed without falling into the trend-chasing trap:
Conduct Thorough Research
Before making any investment decisions, ensure you conduct thorough research and analysis. Understand the fundamentals of the assets you are considering and assess whether they align with your long-term goals. This research will help you make informed decisions based on facts rather than emotions.
Focus on Fundamentals, Not Headlines
While headlines may capture attention, it’s important to focus on the underlying fundamentals that drive asset values. Trends often gain traction based on hype rather than solid financial principles. By prioritizing fundamental analysis, you can better evaluate whether an investment is sound, regardless of its current popularity.
Maintain a Long-Term Perspective
Finally, keeping a long-term perspective is vital in avoiding trend-chasing. Markets are inherently cyclical, and short-term trends can be misleading. By focusing on your long-term investment strategy and goals, you can avoid getting swept up in the latest market fads.
Conclusion
In a world where market trends can shift rapidly, it’s essential for investors to recognize the risks of trend-chasing. The allure of quick profits can lead to impulsive decisions driven by emotion rather than careful analysis. By developing a disciplined approach, diversifying your portfolio, and staying informed without reacting impulsively, you can avoid the pitfalls of trend-chasing and work toward achieving your long-term financial goals.
Remember, the key to successful investing lies not in following the crowd but in maintaining a clear vision of your financial objectives. So, the next time you feel the urge to follow a market trend, take a step back, assess the situation, and ensure your decisions align with your long-term strategy. Don’t follow nobody, neither me—stay true to your investment principles, and you’ll be better positioned for success in the long run.
trailblazing women who took Wall Street by storm these incredible women have paved a way for female investors and traders around the world showing great resilience and fearless mentality despite facing gender discrimination going on to achieve great things in the financial field, motivating the future generation of young women that they too can achieve the unthinkable.
1. HETTY GREEN
the witch of wall street
also referred to as "the woman who loved money" born November 21, 1834 and also believed to have been the richest woman in America before the time of her passing, Hetty Green started her financial/business journey from a young age through the influence of her father who was a successful agent, oil manufacturer, and Quaker, who encouraged her to read and study financial texts when she was a young girl, he believed that even women needed to understand the dealings of money, business and overall how the financial world operates.
She is best known for turning an inheritance of between 3 - 7 million to 100 million U.S dollars approximately $2.5 billion in today's money. She did this by investing in U.S government bonds, stocks, real estate and railroads and providing financial support during crises, most especially the Panic of 1907, making her a reputable investor and financier, using a buy low, sell high strategy and impeccable psychology facing markets militantly and unafraid even in times of panic.
2. VICTORIA WOODHALL
the first woman to run for presidency
born September 23, 1838, Victoria came from a very poor background, with the influence of their father she and her sister sold herbs and potions posing as spiritualists and healers they caused them to live a on the run from one place to another due to unsatisfied customers/patients.
Their nomadic lifestyle led them to Manhattan were they caught the attention of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who it was believed they helped him keep in contact with his dead wife he in return offered them financial advice and through this connection they were able to open the first female owned brokerage in wall street in 1870 called WOODHULL, CLAFLIN and CO with clients of high society women, rich widows and high value prostitutes, this become a success earning them over $700 000 about 2million today. She used this money to further her goals and fund her campaign to run for presidency.
3. ISABEL BENHAM
madam railroad
born 1909, in the 1920s Isabel enrolled at a women only college called Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, with a strong desire to study economics and work in wall street it has a great tragedy to find that the school offered no economics courses but Isabel insisted the college offer economics studies and made history by being 1 of 5 women to graduate from the college with a degree in economics.
after graduation, living in times of the great depression also facing daily gender discrimination this did not stop her from pursuing her dreams to work in wall street, she started a side hustle by selling magazine subscriptions and later landed a job as a bond strategist on wall street bond house R.W Pressprich and Co. and due to her resilience and hard work providing accurate reports of the railroad industry became their first female partner and first woman as a partner of a wall street bond house and first woman to be appointed Board of Directors for a railroad.
4. MURIEL SIEBERT
the first lady of finance
born 1928 without graduating from any college her finance career started by being a finance research trainee and grew her expertise by working in various brokerages.
through hard work and determination by year 1967, despite numerous failed attempts and rejection she became the first woman to have a seat on the BYSE being the only woman among 1,365 men which was a remarkable achievement.
she went on to co-found Siebert and Co a broker- dealer in 1969 and when the the NYSE jettisoned it's 183 year old tradition allowing it's members to negotiate broker commissions her company became America's first discount brokerage also being owned by a woman.
by year 1977 she hit another incredible career milestone by being appointed superintendent of Banks for New York state, overseeing all NEW YORK banks with no banks failing in her 5 year term.
5. GERALDINE WEISS
grand dame of dividents
considered one of the best female investors/ traders of the 20th century, learning about investing by reading investing texts like Security Analysis by BENJAMIN GRAHAM and studying business and finance earning a degree at the University Of California.
with her advanced knowledge about investing she was still unable to get any job position higher than secretary due to gender discrimination in the male dominated industry but this did not put out her fuel and and undying desire to become be involved in the investment community and by age 40 she started her investment newsletter called "Investment Quality Trends" under a pseudonym "G. Weiss" to hide her gender as at the time many believed no woman can make successful investments and did this for a decade with her subscribers thinking she is a male it was only in 1977 when she appeared on TV program "wall street with Louis Rukeyser" that she revealed her gender this now with her newsletter being a success with accurate analysis asserting that dividend yield is a key valuation measure that how she got her nickname.
hope this inspires more women to be more active in the trading world.
Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half their inferior. Luckily, this is not difficult.
– Charlotte Whitton
put together by : Pako Phutietsile as currencynerd
Using Renko Charts to Uncover SECRET Bank LevelsRenko charting has a unique way of displaying price data by filtering out smaller fluctuations and focusing only on substantial price moves. With a setting of Average True Range (ATR) 13, Renko charts become even more powerful for finding key institutional levels—what many traders call "secret bank levels." These are the levels where large institutional traders place their orders, often leading to significant price moves. In this tutorial, we’ll dive into how you can use Renko charts with an ATR setting of 13 to identify these bank levels and improve your trading strategy.
What Are Secret Bank Levels?
Institutional or bank levels are price points where big players—like banks and hedge funds—are likely to buy or sell in large quantities. Retail traders can leverage these levels by understanding where the big money is moving, aligning their trades accordingly. Renko charts, with their clarity in price movement, help identify these areas by smoothing out noise and highlighting essential support and resistance zones.
Why Renko Charts?
Renko charts are designed to filter out minor price movements, providing a cleaner view of market trends by focusing solely on significant price changes. Unlike time-based charts, Renko charts print a new "brick" only when price moves by a specified amount, determined here by the ATR 13 setting. This brick-by-brick approach can reveal clear levels where price repeatedly finds support or resistance, often signaling where major institutions are setting up their positions.
Setting Up Renko with ATR (13)
Choose Your Charting Platform: Most charting software, including TradingView and MetaTrader, offers Renko charting. Make sure your platform supports Renko and ATR-based calculations.
Configure Renko with ATR (13):
Open the Renko chart on your selected asset (e.g., EUR/USD, GBP/USD).
In your settings, set the brick size to use the ATR indicator and specify an ATR length of 13. This setting is designed to adjust the brick size based on the recent average true range, capturing a balanced view of price movement.
This 13-period setting adapts to recent market volatility, allowing Renko bricks to reveal significant price movements that matter to large institutional players.
Adjust Timeframes:
Since Renko charts don’t follow traditional time-based intervals, switch between higher and lower timeframes (like the 1-hour or 4-hour charts) to observe different levels of institutional interest. Higher timeframes generally provide more reliable secret bank levels, but you can switch to lower timeframes for refined entry points.
Identifying Bank Levels with Renko and ATR (13)
Now that your chart is set up, let's move on to the process of identifying institutional levels.
1. Look for Brick Clusters at Key Levels
Renko bricks tend to form clusters at significant institutional levels. When you see several bricks stacked horizontally with little movement, it often indicates a zone where price is struggling to break through, either as strong support or resistance.
Use these clusters as potential entry or exit points, aligning with the institutional flow.
2. Identify Breakouts and Rejections
When price breaks out of a cluster or encounters rejection (where bricks reverse direction after hitting a level), you may be witnessing bank-level reactions.
Watch for bricks that quickly shift direction after hitting a level—these can signal that institutions have stepped in to either push price further or halt its momentum.
3. Note Patterns and Reversals at Round Numbers
Banks and institutions often place orders at round numbers, which are psychologically significant levels (like 1.2000, 1.2500).
As Renko charts with ATR (13) are sensitive to significant price changes, they can help highlight when price respects or bounces off these round numbers, offering clues to potential institutional zones.
Practical Example: Trading Secret Bank Levels with Renko
Let’s say you’re analyzing EUR/USD on a Renko chart with an ATR 13 setting.
Identify Clusters at 1.2000: After setting up your chart, you observe a cluster of Renko bricks at 1.2000, indicating a strong support zone. This level has held multiple times, suggesting institutional buying interest.
Wait for a Brick Breakout: You then see price breaking out with consecutive Renko bricks closing above 1.2000. This breakout suggests that the buying pressure might push prices higher.
Enter and Manage Your Position:
Take a buy position after confirming the breakout. Set your stop loss just below the cluster at 1.1980 to minimize risk.
If you’re looking for a shorter-term position, aim for profit at the next round number, like 1.2100.
For a longer-term trade, follow Renko’s direction, adjusting your stop as the bricks move.
Tips for Trading Bank Levels with Renko and ATR (13)
Trust Your Levels: Renko charts can simplify your analysis, but it’s easy to second-guess your levels. If you’ve identified strong clusters or patterns at certain price points, trust your analysis.
Use Alerts to Avoid Over-Trading: TradingView and other platforms allow you to set alerts at specific price levels. This way, you won’t need to stare at charts all day.
Thank you for watching and feel free to leave a comment to let me know your thoughts on Renko and if you see yourself using this chart type.
-TL Turner
Stop Losses: Protecting Your Trades and Building Consistency
Stop losses are a critical tool for any trader aiming to manage risk and protect capital. A stop loss is a preset level at which a trade will automatically close to prevent further losses if the price moves against you. This approach is one of the most effective ways to protect your account, and understanding how to set and use stop losses correctly can help you trade more confidently.
In this article, I will discuss why stop losses are essential, the types of stop losses available, and how they link to other core strategies like position sizing and maintaining consistency.
Why Every Trader Needs a Stop Loss
The primary role of a stop loss is to limit potential losses on a trade. By setting a stop loss level, you define your risk before entering the trade, which helps ensure that no single trade can damage your account significantly. This practice is fundamental to disciplined trading, where managing risk is just as important as aiming for profits. When you use stop losses, you’re able to protect your account without relying on emotions or making quick decisions based on fear or market volatility .
Using stop losses also promotes consistency, as it allows traders to follow their strategy and avoid unexpected, large losses. Knowing your risk upfront means you can execute your trades with a clear plan, focusing on opportunities rather than worrying about sudden market moves. This consistency is key to achieving long-term success in trading 🚀.
The Types of Stop Losses Every Trader Should Know
There are different types of stop losses, each suited to particular trading strategies and market conditions. Here are some of the most common types and how they work:
Fixed Dollar or Percentage Stop Loss
This is the simplest type, where you set a specific dollar amount or percentage of your capital as the maximum loss.
Example: If you’re willing to lose $100 on a trade, you place a stop loss that will close your position if the loss reaches $100.
Technical Stop Loss
A technical stop loss is set using chart levels, like support or resistance, which reflect natural points where prices may bounce or reverse.
Example: If a stock has support at $48 and you buy it at $50, you might set your stop loss just below $48. This way, if the price breaks the support level, the trade closes to prevent further loss.
Trailing Stop Loss
A trailing stop loss adjusts upward as the price moves in your favor, locking in profits if the stock reverses.
Example: If you buy a stock at $50 with a $1 trailing stop, and the price rises to $55, your stop automatically moves to $54. If the price then drops to $54, the trade closes, protecting your $4 profit.
Volatility-Based Stop Loss
This type of stop loss takes into account the stock’s usual price swings, setting the stop far enough away to avoid being triggered by minor fluctuations.
Example: If the ATR (Average True Range) of a stock is $2, you might set your stop $3 below your entry point to account for normal market movements.
Time-Based Stop Loss
A time-based stop loss closes the position after a set period, which is particularly useful for day traders who avoid holding trades overnight.
Example: A day trader might exit all trades by 4 p.m., regardless of the price movement, to avoid the risks of holding overnight positions.
How Stop Loss and Position Sizing Work Together
Stop losses and position sizing are deeply connected. Position sizing is the amount of capital you commit to each trade, and it’s based on your risk tolerance and the distance to your stop loss level. For instance, if you have a $10,000 account and want to risk only 1% per trade (or $100), you’ll need to calculate how many shares you can buy based on the distance to your stop loss.
Let’s say your stop loss is $5 away from your entry price. To stick to your $100 risk limit, you would only buy 20 shares ($100/$5 stop distance). By setting your position size relative to your stop loss, you control how much of your capital is at risk. This approach keeps your losses small enough that no single trade can impact your overall capital significantly, allowing you to trade consistently and confidently.
How Stop Losses Contribute to Consistent Trading
Stop losses are essential for maintaining consistency in trading. They allow you to avoid big losses that can drain your capital and help keep emotions in check, allowing you to trade with a clear mind. Using stop losses also helps you keep your risk-to-reward ratio in balance, so even if some trades go against you, the overall profits from successful trades will outweigh these losses.
This discipline keeps you aligned with your strategy and limits impulsive actions, which are often harmful to trading success. In this way, stop losses help establish a consistent, repeatable process that strengthens your trading foundation and increases your chances of long-term success.
I know very well the frustration of seeing my stop losses being hit, but believe me, the worst feeling is getting stuck with a large loss for weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes, stocks never recover.
Learn How to Avoid Margin Call in Trading
Hey traders,
In this educational article, I will share with you 5 simple tips that will help you not to blow your trading and avoid margin call.
1️⃣ Always Use Stop Loss.
Let's start with the obvious - with the stop loss order.
Never ever trade without that. Before you open your trade, plan in advance its placement, stick to it once the position becomes active and never remove it.
2️⃣ Manage Your Position Sizes
I know that most of you are trading with a fixed lot. That is a bad habit. You should measure the lot size for each trading position you take. You should define in advance the risk percentage you are willing to lose per trade and calculate the lot sizes for your trades accordingly, then.
3️⃣ Avoid Taking Too Many Positions
Remember that in trading, quantity does not imply quality. The more trades you take, the harder it is to manage each position individually. I would suggest opening maximum 5 trades per day and holding no more than 8 trades simultaneously.
4️⃣ Avoid Trading Too Many Markets
The wider is your watch list, the harder it is to focus on each individual element inside. Do not try to control as many markets as possible, instead, narrow your watch list and concentrate your attention on your favorite trading instruments.
5️⃣ Remember About Volatility
The more volatile is the market that you trade, the harder it is to trade it and the bigger stop losses you need to keep your positions safe. Remember, that the volatility is the double-edged sword. It can bring substantial profits, but it can also blow your entire account in a blink of an eye.
Following these 5 simple rules, you will make your trading much safer. Study them and add them in your trading plan.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Trading Forex Without a Strategy? These Are the ConsequencesForex trading involves buying and selling currencies to profit from fluctuations in their exchange rates. As one of the world’s most liquid and fast-paced markets, it offers vast opportunities but also significant risks. The dynamic nature of forex trading makes it essential for traders to have a well-defined strategy to navigate market complexities effectively.
The importance of having a trading strategy cannot be overstated. It provides a structured plan that outlines how to enter and exit trades, manage risk, and achieve trading goals. Without a clear strategy, traders often find themselves making impulsive or emotional decisions, leading to inconsistent results and increased losses.
In this article, we'll explore the consequences of trading forex without a strategy, highlight the risks associated with this approach, and discuss why a solid strategy is crucial for consistent success.
⭐️ Read the entire article as I'll include tips and strategies to help you get started.
What Is a Forex Trading Strategy?
A forex trading strategy is a structured plan that guides traders in making informed decisions. It defines specific rules and criteria for entering and exiting trades, managing risk, and achieving trading goals. By following a well-defined strategy, traders maintain consistency and discipline, which are essential for long-term success.
An effective strategy typically includes:
1- Entry and Exit Rules: Criteria based on technical indicators, chart patterns, or fundamental factors to determine when to buy or sell.
2- Risk Management: Guidelines for setting Stop Loss orders, position sizing, and risk-reward ratios to protect capital and minimize losses.
3- Goals and Objectives: Specific profit targets and trading frequency to ensure traders have measurable and achievable benchmarks.
Risks of Trading Without a Strategy
Trading forex without a clear strategy can have significant consequences:
⭐️ BONUS 1
Emotional Decision-Making
Without a strategy, traders are more likely to make impulsive decisions driven by emotions rather than rational analysis.
For instance, during a sudden market dip, a trader may panic and sell, only to miss a subsequent rebound that a strategy would have anticipated.
Inconsistent Performance
A lack of structured guidelines results in inconsistent results and unpredictable performance.
Research shows that traders without a strategy often experience higher rates of failure and lower returns compared to those who follow a disciplined approach.
Increased Risk of Losses
Without predefined risk management rules, traders may incur substantial losses if the market moves unfavorably.
The absence of protective measures, such as Stop Loss orders, exposes traders to severe financial setbacks, especially in volatile market conditions.
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Consequences of Not Having a Trading Strategy
1- Lack of Direction
Trading without a plan can result in impulsive or arbitrary decisions, leading to confusion and missed opportunities. This disorganized approach makes it difficult to measure progress or achieve goals.
2- Inability to Adapt to Changing Market Conditions
Traders without a strategy may struggle to respond effectively to sudden shifts in trends or volatility. This can lead to missed trades or significant losses due to a lack of preparation for emerging opportunities or risks.
3- Difficulty in Measuring Performance
Without clear benchmarks, traders cannot accurately track or evaluate their performance.
This lack of metrics makes it challenging to refine strategies or identify areas for improvement.
4- Benefits of Having a Well-Defined Trading Strategy
Consistency and Discipline. A solid strategy enforces rules for entry, exit, and risk management, reducing the likelihood of erratic behavior.
Successful traders often attribute their achievements to adhering to well-developed strategies.
5- Improved Risk Management
Strategies include guidelines for setting Stop Loss orders and managing position sizes, minimizing potential losses.
Traders with effective risk management practices tend to experience fewer large losses and achieve better returns.
⭐️ BONUS 3
6- Clear Goals and Objectives
A well-defined strategy outlines specific trading goals, providing a roadmap for success.
Setting measurable objectives helps traders track progress and make informed adjustments to improve performance.
How to Develop an Effective Forex Trading Strategy
1-Assess Your Trading Goals
Define what you want to achieve—whether it's generating income, growing capital, or improving skills. Set clear, realistic objectives that align with your experience and market conditions.
2- Choose a Trading Style
Select a style that suits your personality and time commitment. Options include:
Day Trading: Involves multiple trades within a day, focusing on short-term price movements.
Swing Trading: Involves holding positions for several days to weeks to capitalize on market swings.
Scalping: Seeks small profits from numerous trades, focusing on quick entries and exits.
Position Trading: Focuses on long-term trends, holding positions for weeks, months, or longer.
3-Backtest and Refine Your Strategy
Test your strategy using historical data to evaluate its performance under different market conditions.
Refine the strategy by adjusting parameters based on results, increasing its effectiveness and adaptability.
4-Utilize Tools and Resources
Leverage trading platforms like TradingView, known for their advanced charting tools and indicators.
Use educational resources like webinars, online courses, and forums to enhance your knowledge and skills.
⭐️ BONUS 4
In Conclusion...
A well-defined trading strategy is crucial for success in the forex market. It provides a clear framework for making informed decisions, setting precise entry and exit points, managing risk, and maintaining consistency. Without a strategy, traders risk falling prey to emotional decision-making, inconsistent results, and significant losses.
Implementing a solid strategy ensures that every trade is driven by analysis and predetermined rules, enhancing your ability to navigate market fluctuations with confidence. By setting clear goals, refining your approach, and leveraging available tools, you can build a reliable and profitable trading practice.
Take the first step today: assess your trading goals, choose a suitable style, backtest your strategy, and utilize resources to create a comprehensive trading plan that aligns with your objectives. With the right strategy, you’ll be better equipped to handle the challenges of the forex market and achieve long-term success.
How to Read a Forex Quote: Bid, Ask, and Spread ExplainedSo, you’ve decided to jump into the forex markets and stumbled upon your first quote. Now you're staring at numbers like EUR/USD 1.0987/1.0990, wondering what these flashing digits mean. Don’t worry—we’ve all been there. Let’s break it down, TradingView style, and get you up to speed on forex quotes, bid-ask spreads, and why these tiny decimal points matter more than you might think.
The Basics: What’s a Forex Quote?
At its core, a forex quote tells you the exchange rate between two currencies. Think of it like a price tag for the money you want to buy or sell. In any quote, you’ve got two currencies: the base currency and the quote currency. For example, in EUR/USD , the euro (EUR) is the base currency, and the US dollar (USD) is the quote currency. This quote tells you how many US dollars it costs to buy one euro.
Now the fun part: You’ll notice two prices next to that quote—the bid and the ask.
Bid vs. Ask: What’s the Difference?
When you see a forex quote like EUR/USD 1.0987/1.0990, you’re actually looking at two prices:
Bid Price (1.0987): This is the price a buyer (broker or trader) is willing to pay for the base currency. In simpler terms, this is the price you sell at.
Ask Price (1.0990): This is the price the seller (broker or trader) is willing to sell you the base currency for. In other words, this is the price you buy at.
So, if you’re buying EUR/USD , you’ll pay the ask price (1.0990), and if you’re selling, you’ll receive the bid price (1.0987). Notice how the ask is always higher than the bid? That’s where brokers make their money. Which brings us to…
The Spread: The Broker’s Cut
The spread is the difference between the bid and the ask. In this case, it’s 1.0990 - 1.0987 = 0.0003 or 3 pips (percentage in points). Think of the spread as the broker’s fee for facilitating the trade, essentially acting as the middleman. The tighter the spread, the less you’re paying to execute a trade.
For major currency pairs like EUR/USD , the spread is often pretty small (like 1-3 pips), but for exotic pairs (think USD/ZAR or USD/TRY ), spreads can get wider than your Uncle Bob’s waistband after Thanksgiving dinner.
Why the Spread Matters for Traders
Here’s the thing: spreads eat into your profits. Whether you’re a day trader or holding a longer-term position, the spread is something you need to bake into your strategy.
Scalpers and day traders need tight spreads. If you’re making a bunch of small, quick trades throughout the day, every pip counts. Wide spreads can kill your profit margins faster than a rogue tweet from Elon Musk.
Swing traders and position traders are less sensitive to spreads. If you’re in it for the long haul, a few pips won’t make or break your trade. But it’s still something to keep an eye on, especially when trading less liquid currency pairs.
Market Conditions and Spreads
Spreads aren’t fixed — ideally, they should be floating around in real-time dealmaking. They widen and tighten based on market conditions. During high volatility (like, say, a major economic announcement or a surprise central bank rate cut), spreads can widen. Conversely, during quiet market hours, spreads tend to tighten.
To avoid getting fleeced by wide spreads, keep an eye on liquidity. Major pairs like EUR/USD , GBP/USD , or USD/JPY have higher liquidity, meaning tighter spreads. Exotic pairs? Not so much. You’ll pay more to play in the less popular markets.
How to Use the Bid-Ask Spread to Your Advantage
Here’s a pro tip: If you’re in a tight spread market, like EUR/USD during peak trading hours, you can place tighter stop-loss and take-profit orders, maximizing your profits with minimal slippage. In volatile markets with wider spreads, give yourself more breathing room, or wait until liquidity returns.
How TradingView Does It
On TradingView, forex pairs are displayed with a single price quote rather than separate bid and ask prices. This single price quote represents the midpoint between the bid and the ask. TradingView uses this midpoint, also called the last trade price , to better display price flow and make it simpler to analyze price trends without the fluctuation that would come from constantly updating bid and ask prices.
For traders using TradingView to monitor forex prices, this single price quote allows them to focus more on price movements and technical analysis rather than factoring in the spread between bid and ask, which as we mentioned, is available with brokers since it's their bread and butter. So factor this in.
The Bottom Line
Going expert-level at bid, ask, and spread isn’t just forex surviving — it’s forex thriving. These tiny details can be the difference between making bank or watching your profits trickle away. Always factor in the spread when setting up trades, especially if you're trading lower-volume currency pairs or during off-hours.
Ready to flex your new bid-ask spread skills? And win some prizes at the same time? Join our paper trading competition "The Leap" , starting November 1, and show everyone what you've got. $25,000 are up for grabs.
The Joy of Sharing: Embracing a Lifestyle of Giving.The Joy of Giving: Why Offering Free Ideas and Indicators to the TradingView Community is a Lifestyle, Not Just an Act
In the ever-evolving world of trading and investments, there is one platform that has successfully connected traders and investors worldwide— TradingView . This platform has become a haven for sharing trading insights, chart ideas, and custom-built indicators, allowing traders of all skill levels to grow, learn, and improve. But why should we offer our ideas and indicators to the TradingView community for free? What kind of impact does it have, not just on others but on ourselves as human beings? And how does this simple act of giving fit into a broader lifestyle of fulfillment? In this article, we'll explore why sharing our insights freely is not just about helping others but about embracing a way of life that brings joy, positivity, and a deeper connection to the world around us.
The Beauty of Giving: More Than Just Data
Offering free indicators and ideas to the TradingView community goes beyond simply sharing lines on a chart or algorithms. It’s about contributing to a pool of collective knowledge that helps others become more informed traders. In a world where financial education is often expensive and accessible only to a select few, providing free, quality content is a way to democratize the playing field. By offering your insights without expecting anything in return, you are helping others make more informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and maybe even achieve financial independence.
The act of sharing brings with it a sense of fulfillment. It creates a positive cycle where the joy of giving becomes its own reward. In many ways, it's like sowing seeds in a field—each seed has the potential to grow into something powerful, bearing fruits that will feed and nurture others. When you share an indicator that helps someone identify a trend or avoid a costly mistake, you're not just offering technical knowledge; you are also empowering people to take charge of their financial lives.
Creating a Ripple Effect in the Community
When one person shares their idea or tool freely, it inspires others to do the same. It sets off a ripple effect, a chain of positive actions that reverberates throughout the entire TradingView community. This is why platforms like TradingView have grown to become such vibrant and helpful environments—because users actively choose to share, support, and uplift one another.
Imagine a newcomer to the world of trading, overwhelmed by complex charts and market jargon. For them, stumbling upon a free, easy-to-understand indicator or a well-explained chart idea can be a turning point. They start to see the bigger picture, develop their own strategies, and, eventually, they might contribute their insights. This sense of community is strengthened by each person’s willingness to give without expecting anything in return.
Moreover, the support that comes from this sharing culture is irreplaceable. You might receive comments thanking you for your work, or you might see others adapting and improving your indicator for their use. These interactions lead to a sense of belonging—something invaluable in an activity as solitary as trading. Knowing that your contribution has helped someone, even if they’re halfway across the world, creates an invisible bond that fosters unity within the community.
Personal Growth and the Joy of Giving
There is an ancient saying, echoed in various cultures and spiritual philosophies: "The more you give, the more you receive." In the context of sharing freely, this does not necessarily mean financial gain but refers to the intangible benefits that enrich your life. Offering your trading insights to others can lead to unexpected opportunities, collaborations, and even friendships. It can also deepen your own understanding of trading concepts. When you share an indicator or an idea, you often receive feedback that challenges your thinking, encourages improvement, or introduces you to new concepts that you hadn't previously considered.
The act of giving without expecting recognition or monetary rewards is liberating. It takes you away from a transactional mindset and places you into a state of abundance. You realize that your worth is not measured by how much you earn from your knowledge, but by how much positive impact you can create. When we adopt this mindset, we become more open, more curious, and more motivated to keep learning. After all, if our goal is to help others, then we must continue improving ourselves so that we can provide even more value.
This sense of fulfillment is also deeply connected to the concept of karma—when you put something good out into the universe, that kindness often returns to you in some form. By choosing to help others succeed, you’re creating a positive energy that can manifest in surprising ways. Whether it's in the form of new connections, improved trading skills, or simply the sense of satisfaction that comes from helping others, the universe has a way of giving back.
A Lifestyle, Not Just a Habit
Sharing free ideas and indicators is not just a practice; it's a lifestyle. It’s a way of being that goes beyond trading and touches every aspect of your life. When you make giving a habit, it changes the way you approach challenges and opportunities. You begin to see every problem as a chance to grow and every bit of knowledge as something that can be shared to make a positive impact.
Living this way means you don’t hold back your skills or knowledge out of fear that others might surpass you. Instead, you embrace the idea that the better others become, the better the community as a whole becomes—which, in turn, pushes you to become better. In TradingView, we believe in quality and free support of the community. This belief motivates us to improve, refine our skills, and continually provide value.
As traders, we often face periods of uncertainty, losses, and frustrations. These are natural parts of the journey. However, when you’re part of a community that shares openly, those challenges become more manageable. You know that others have faced similar struggles, and you can learn from their experiences. You may even find that offering help during someone else’s challenging times helps you gain a new perspective on your own difficulties.
The Impact on Self and Others
The impact of offering free trading indicators and ideas goes beyond the individual and the community—it contributes to a culture of generosity that benefits everyone. For beginners, the value of free, quality indicators cannot be overstated. It saves them from having to invest in costly tools before they even understand the basics. It gives them a fighting chance to learn and grow without the stress of financial strain. It levels the playing field in a domain where information is power.
For experienced traders, sharing their work leads to a deeper understanding of their craft. As the famous physicist Richard Feynman once said, "If you want to master something, teach it." Sharing an indicator or an idea forces you to think about it in different ways, to simplify complex concepts, and to be open to constructive feedback. This process inevitably enhances your own skills and insights, making you a better trader.
Finally, the act of giving can profoundly affect your sense of purpose. Trading can often feel like a self-centered endeavor, focused primarily on profits and personal gains. However, when you share your knowledge freely, you shift from a self-serving mindset to one that seeks to serve others. You’re no longer just trading for profit—you’re trading to make a difference. This shift in purpose can provide you with greater motivation, resilience, and overall happiness in your trading journey.
The Positive Cycle of Karma
In many ways, offering free content to the TradingView community embodies the idea of karma—the notion that the energy you put out into the world will eventually return to you. By giving freely, you create positive energy that has a way of coming back, often in ways that are unexpected. Perhaps your generosity leads someone to share an indicator with you that helps you refine your strategy, or maybe you receive an offer to collaborate on a project that wouldn’t have come your way if you hadn’t first contributed to the community.
This idea of karma is not about giving with the expectation of receiving something in return; rather, it’s about trusting that kindness begets kindness. When you give to the TradingView community, you’re contributing to a collective effort to make trading accessible, understandable, and supportive for everyone. And when the community thrives, everyone involved—including you—benefits.
Conclusion: A Lifestyle Rooted in Abundance
Offering free ideas and indicators to the TradingView community is not just about sharing knowledge—it's about embracing a lifestyle rooted in abundance, kindness, and a desire to make a positive impact. It’s about finding joy in the act of giving, growing personally as you help others grow, and believing that the universe rewards those who give freely with an open heart.
At TradeVizion , we give our free scripts and ideas with love, believing that the true essence of growth lies in uplifting others. Our mission is to empower every trader—whether just starting or experienced—to reach their full potential by providing innovative tools and insights to navigate the markets effectively. We take immense pride in contributing to a thriving community where support and shared knowledge lead to mutual success.
In the end, the true reward of offering your insights without seeking payment or recognition lies in the impact you make, the lives you touch, and the sense of fulfillment you gain. By adopting a lifestyle of giving, you not only help others become better traders but also motivate yourself to grow, adapt, and evolve. As the TradingView community continues to flourish, it’s the spirit of generosity, collaboration, and quality support that will keep pushing us all toward a brighter, more connected future.
So, the next time you develop a new indicator or trading strategy, consider sharing it with the community. Not for recognition or reward, but for the simple joy of giving. You might be surprised at the positive impact it has—not just on others, but on yourself.
Trump 2.0: What to Expect If Donald Trump Returns to the W.HouseWith Donald Trump once again campaigning for president, his economic policies and views on international trade are resurfacing. Known for his aggressive protectionism, deregulation, and tax cuts, his economic approach has been dubbed the “Trump 2.0” by the media.
But what does the Trump Trade really mean for investors? During his first term, Trump’s policies produced mixed results. While sectors like finance and energy thrived, the federal budget deficit widened, healthcare coverage decreased, and income inequality grew. Now, with the prospect of Trump returning to the White House, we could witness "Trump 2.0." What impacts might this have on the economy, and how should investors prepare?
Key Points
-The Trump Trade emphasizes lower taxes, deregulation, increased tariffs, and reduced immigration to stimulate U.S. growth.
-Trump’s policies benefited sectors like finance and energy but also increased the federal deficit and triggered trade wars.
If re-elected, Trump’s economic agenda could boost the stock market and select industries but also bring risks like higher inflation and global retaliatory tariffs.
Understanding the Trump 2.0
The "Trump 2.0" represents Donald Trump’s economic strategy, which centers on stimulating growth through deregulation, tax cuts, higher tariffs, and reduced immigration. While this approach benefited specific sectors, it also led to rising federal deficits and global trade conflicts.
Highlights of Donald Trump (2016-2020)
1. A Strong Economy Under Trump, the U.S. economy remained robust, with low inflation and consistent job growth until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. However, the economic momentum seen during Trump’s presidency was largely a continuation of the post-Great Recession recovery initiated by the Obama administration.
2. Job Creation and Wage Growth Prior to the pandemic, job creation and wage growth continued their upward trend, with unemployment hitting a 50-year low of 3.5% in 2019. Wages increased steadily in 2018 and 2019.
3. Tax Cuts The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Trump’s most significant policy, represented the largest tax overhaul in 30 years, reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The tax cuts spurred consumer spending and increased private sector investment, but also added significantly to the federal deficit.
4. Booming Stock Market The stock market thrived under Trump’s administration, with the S&P 500 setting new records until 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 57% during his tenure, fueled by high employment, wage growth, and tax incentives.
S&P500 During Trumph Election
5. Widening Federal Deficit Trump’s tax cuts and increased defense spending expanded the federal deficit. In 2018, the annual deficit hit $779 billion, escalating to over $1 trillion by 2020.
6. Trade Tariffs Trump imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, solar panels, and Chinese imports, triggering a “trade war” with China and other trading partners like Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. While intended to protect U.S. industries, these tariffs led to global retaliations, impacting American consumers and workers negatively.
What to Expect If Trump Returns to Power
If Trump returns to the White House, his economic policies could have significant implications for various sectors:
1. Impact on the Stock Market
Historically, the stock market performs positively during election periods, regardless of the candidate. If Trump wins, expect market gains due to extended tax cuts, increased oil and gas production, and deregulation. While Trump’s policies could boost corporate investment, stock market performance will ultimately depend on broader economic fundamentals.
2. Impact on Bond Yields
Trump's pro-business agenda, combined with increased spending, could drive inflation upwards. If inflation rises, the Federal Reserve may maintain higher interest rates, which could increase bond yields but reduce bond prices. This would likely result in a more muted bond market under a Trump administration.
3. Impact on Dollar Strength
A strong economy under Trump could bolster the U.S. Dollar. External factors, such as economic weakness in Europe and Asia, may further support dollar strength. However, a stronger dollar could hurt U.S. exporters, making their goods more expensive abroad and reducing their competitiveness.
4. Impact on Specific Sectors
-Financial Services: The sector could benefit from deregulation, enabling banks to expand operations and increase profitability.
-Technology: Tech companies may gain from extended corporate tax cuts, leading to higher investments, stock buybacks, and dividends.
-Energy: Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” policy aims to expand domestic oil and gas production, supporting the energy sector and boosting U.S. exports.
-Manufacturing: While a strong dollar could reduce export competitiveness, Trump’s emphasis on domestic production (e.g., the CHIPS and Science Act) could support U.S. manufacturers.
-Infrastructure: Trump's support for infrastructure projects could benefit construction and civil engineering companies, building on the existing Infrastructure Act passed by Biden.
Global Implications of Trump 2.0
-Universal Tariffs: Trump’s proposed universal tariffs could trigger significant global retaliation, leading to reduced trade, disrupted supply chains, and higher global inflation.
-Renewed Trade War with China: Trump has hinted at increasing tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 60%, which could hinder China’s economic recovery and create broader global economic uncertainty.
Preparing for Trump 2.0
Investors should keep a close eye on sectors likely to benefit from Trump’s policies, such as finance, technology, energy, and infrastructure. At the same time, be prepared for volatility in the bond market and potential retaliatory tariffs impacting global trade dynamics.
Diversifying portfolios, hedging against potential inflation, and maintaining a long-term investment outlook can help manage the uncertainties associated with a potential Trump return to the White House.
Conclusion
Trump 2.0 could have a significant impact on the U.S. economy and global markets. While certain sectors may experience growth under Trump’s policies, the risks of higher inflation, trade conflicts, and federal deficits remain. Investors should approach a potential Trump presidency with cautious optimism, focusing on sectors that align with his agenda while being prepared for increased volatility. By staying informed and adaptable, investors can capitalize on the opportunities and navigate the risks posed by a possible Trump comeback.
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Alternative Risk Management Strategies (Taboo!)Professional and highly experienced traders who choose to trade without traditional stop-loss orders often adopt alternative risk management strategies that offer a ton of advantages. While this approach may not be suitable for all of you, it can be beneficial for those who have developed strong risk management skills and are capable of effectively managing their positions. I have been trading with a non-mainstream approach for over 10 years and would never, ever... ever go back to using traditional stop losses. My net gains generation did not start moving in the right direction until I made the change. Here are my thoughts, but take note that there ARE emergency stops placed at the portfolio level at key thresholds regardless of individual asset management plans.
1️⃣ Flexibility in Position Sizing: Without a fixed stop-loss level, I have the flexibility to adjust my position sizes based on market conditions and their risk tolerance. This allows me to take advantage of favorable opportunities while limiting exposure during uncertain or volatile periods. Trading small positions within a single trade is the secret to scaling in.
2️⃣ Avoiding Stop Runs: I may prefer not to use traditional stop-loss orders to avoid getting stopped out during short-term market fluctuations or stop runs by large institutional players. By relying on your own risk management techniques, you can maintain control over your positions, especially if you have a well crafted plan to work out of the trade in the event that you are wrong.
3️⃣ Reducing Order Book Impact: Placing visible stop-loss orders can sometimes lead to order book impact, causing market movements that trigger these stops. I may choose alternative risk management methods to avoid contributing to such market moves and getting constantly stopped out regardless of a solid trade idea.
4️⃣ Long-Term Trading Perspective: I often adopt alternative risk management to take a more long-term view of my positions. I have a higher tolerance for short-term drawdowns because I believe in the long-term potential of my trades and I trust my ability to exit them. Having said that, I stick to my drawdown thresholds, which are part of my business plan. My entire portfolio rebalancing actions revolve around managing drawdown. So after trading small relative to equity, this is rule number 2.
5️⃣ Dynamic Risk Management: I can use dynamic risk management techniques, such as trailing stops or scaling out of positions, to protect profits and manage risk effectively. I place trailing in the money stops, take gains prior to target if needed when I spot something fishy and I can reload if I get a price improvement. Every trade... every position within a trade is treated individually too, with its own set of circumstances and conditions.
6️⃣ Selective Stop Placement: Rather than relying on fixed stop-loss levels, I may use critical support/resistance levels, technical indicators or simple sentiment bias to determine exit points, allowing for more selective and informed decisions.
7️⃣ Hedging and Damage Control Strategies: Advanced traders might employ hedging or options strategies to protect against adverse market movements, providing an alternative risk management approach. I use a methodology we call Damage Control, which allows for advanced management of positions and the portfolio as a whole using simple hedging, portfolio level hedging and rebalancing, advanced intra/inter asset hedging, net gains washing and much, much more.
Trading without stops requires a deep understanding of risk management and a disciplined trading approach. It is a controversial subject on #fintwit (or is it #finX now) because the mainstream influencers preach stops as if they were the only way to trade. In my case, stop trading at the beginning of my career was the right thing to do as I was learning, but ended up being an impediment rather than an advantage and after having honed my skills over years of experience, I found alternative risk management strategies and a comprehensive business/trading plan the way to success. 10 years of it. 💡
HFTs gaps: Learn how to enter a stock before a huge gap up.High Frequency Trading companies are market makers/takers that provide liquidity for the public exchanges, and they now use AI. HFTs have a huge impact on your profitability. You can make higher profits from trading ahead of the HFT gaps and riding the momentum upward or downward.
In this short video, you'll learn some basics on how to identify the patterns that precede HFT gaps, which I call Pro Trader Nudges . Learn what to look for in Volume patterns and pre-gap price action.
Make sure you are not chasing HFTs but riding the wave of momentum they create, just like professional traders do.
Journey to Becoming a Successful TraderBecoming a successful trader is a journey of growth, adaptation, and learning. The path is not straightforward; it involves phases of excitement, frustration, and eventually mastery. The image you've shared visually represents the stages a trader goes through, from the initial phase of learning to the eventual development of a personal and profitable trading strategy. Let’s explore this journey in detail:
1. Initial Learning Phase
The trading journey begins with the Initial Learning Phase . This is when aspiring traders dive into the world of markets, strategies, and trading techniques. It’s an exciting time, full of optimism and ambition. Many traders invest heavily in reading books, attending seminars, and exploring various online resources to build their knowledge base.
However, despite the influx of information, many traders in this phase are still theoretical in their approach. The knowledge they gain may not yet be grounded in experience, and as a result, they tend to overestimate their abilities.
2. Realization of Inefficacy
After some time in the markets, reality begins to set in. The strategies learned in books or courses often do not yield the expected results. This phase is called the Realization of Inefficacy . Traders start to realize that trading is more complex than it seems. External factors, market volatility, and emotional responses complicate things.
During this stage, many traders experience their first significant losses and confront the fact that their approach may not be effective. This moment of realization is critical—it is a make-or-break point where traders either give up or dig deeper.
3. Disillusionment
Following the realization of inefficacy, traders may enter a period of Disillusionment . Frustration mounts as trades continue to fail, and the simplicity once envisioned begins to disappear. Traders at this stage often feel lost, questioning whether they are cut out for trading at all.
This phase can be emotionally taxing, and many traders quit, believing that trading is not for them. However, those who persist must learn to separate emotion from analysis and continue refining their approach.
4. Emphasis on Practice
Persistence leads to the next phase— Emphasis on Practice. Traders begin to accept that success comes from consistent practice and refinement. They understand that trading is not about quick fixes or shortcuts but about discipline, patience, and developing sound strategies through trial and error.
At this stage, traders start to focus on honing specific techniques, backtesting strategies, and building habits that support their long-term success. They begin to recognize the importance of sticking to a trading plan, managing risk, and continuously learning from both wins and losses.
5. Development of Personal Strategy
As practice continues, traders start to identify what works for them. This is the phase of the Development of Personal Strategy . Here, they begin to fine-tune their approach based on their personal trading style, risk tolerance, and market preferences.
Instead of relying on generic strategies, they develop methods tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. The trader learns to navigate the markets with a clearer sense of direction and a deeper understanding of themselves.
6. Successful Trading Strategy
Finally, through dedication and persistent effort, traders reach the ultimate goal—crafting a Successful Trading Strategy . This is not just about making profitable trades; it’s about consistently following a strategy that works over time. Traders now possess the knowledge, discipline, and emotional control to trade with confidence.
At this stage, trading becomes more of a calculated exercise than an emotional rollercoaster. The trader has mastered the key elements of risk management, technical analysis, and emotional regulation, allowing them to approach each trade with a calm, focused mindset.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a successful trader is not easy, but for those who persevere, the rewards are well worth the effort. Each stage of the journey—from initial learning and disillusionment to the eventual creation of a personal trading strategy—helps build the resilience and skills needed to succeed in the long term.
Remember, trading is as much a psychological challenge as it is a technical one. The key to success lies in constant learning, adaptation, and emotional mastery. If you remain committed to improving your craft, you can emerge from the journey as a consistently successful trader.