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FSM a silver junior miner poised to profit on silver's momentum FSM is on a 30-minute chart. The trade idea is that FMS suffers in drops in spot sliver but thrives when spot silver rises as its fixed expenses in mining allow for increases in margin in a curvilinear fashion when spot silver rises. This is more so than a senior miner such as FCX that moves slower when metal prices rise or fall. I see the quick geopolitical dip in spot silver as an opportunity to pick up junior miners ( including GDXJ the ETF) at a discounted price to be held for spot silver recovery and then averaged out for realization of profits.
NYSE:FSMLong
by AwesomeAvani
2
RISK MANAGEMENT the most important setting?Trading without a structured risk management strategy turns the market into a game of chance—a gamble with unfavorable odds in the long run. Even if you possess the skill to predict more than half of the market's movements accurately, without robust risk management, profitability remains elusive. Why? Because no trading system can guarantee a 100% success rate. Moreover, the human element cannot be disregarded. Over your trading career, maintaining robotic discipline, free from emotional or impulsive decisions, is challenging. Risk is inherently linked to trading—it represents the potential for financial loss. Continually opening positions without considering risk is a perilous path. If you're inclined to take substantial risks, perhaps the casino is a more fitting arena. In trading, excessive risk doesn't correlate with greater profits. This misconception often leads beginners to risk excessively for minimal gains, jeopardizing their entire account. While eliminating all risk is impossible, the goal is to mitigate it. Implementing sound risk management practices doesn't guarantee profits but significantly reduces potential losses. Mastering risk control is pivotal to achieving profitability in trading. A risk management system is a structured framework designed to safeguard trading capital by implementing specific rules. These rules aim to mitigate potential losses resulting from analytical errors or emotional trading decisions. While market predictions can be flawed, the margin for error in risk management should be minimal. Key Principles of Risk Management: 1. **Implement a Stop Loss:** - While this might seem elementary, it's often overlooked. - Many traders, especially when emotions run high, are tempted to remove or adjust their stop loss when the market moves unfavorably. - Common excuses include anticipating a market reversal or avoiding a "wasted" loss. - However, this deviation from the original plan often leads to larger losses. - Remember, adjusting or removing a stop loss is an acknowledgment that your initial trade idea might be flawed. If you remove it once, the likelihood of reinstating it when needed diminishes, clouded by emotional biases. - Stick to your predetermined stop loss and accept losses as part of the trading process, void of emotional influence. 2. **Set Stop Loss Based on Analysis:** - Never initiate a trade without a predetermined stop loss level. - Placing a stop loss arbitrarily increases the risk of activation. - Each trade should be based on a specific setup, and each setup should define its stop loss zone. If there's no clear setup, refrain from trading. 3. **Adopt Moderate Risk Per Trade:** - For novice traders, a recommended risk per trade is around 1% of the trading capital. - This means that if your stop loss is hit, the loss should be limited to 1% of your total account balance. - Note: A 1% risk doesn't translate to opening a trade for 1% of your account balance. Position sizing should be determined individually for each trade based on the stop loss level and total trading capital. By adhering to these risk management principles, traders can build a solid foundation for long-term success in the markets, safeguarding their capital while allowing for growth opportunities. In the scenario of a losing streak—let's say five consecutive losses—with a conservative risk of 1% per trade, the cumulative loss would amount to slightly less than 5% of your trading capital. (The calculation of 1% is based on the remaining balance after each loss.) However, if your risk per trade is set at 10%, enduring five consecutive losses would result in losing nearly half of your trading capital. Recovering from such losses, especially with a high-risk approach, presents a significant challenge. The table below illustrates this challenge: if you lose 5% of your capital (approximately five losing trades), you would need to generate a mere 5.3% profit to break even—equivalent to just one or two successful trades. However, if you overextend your risk and suffer, for instance, a 50% loss, you would need to double your remaining capital to restore your original deposit. 4. Utilize a Fixed Percentage of Risk, Not a Fixed Amount for Position Sizing Position sizing should be dynamic, tailored to both your predetermined risk percentage and the distance to your stop-loss level. This approach ensures that each trade is individually assessed and sized according to its unique risk profile. In the following section, we will delve into the methodology for calculating position size for each trade. 5. Maintain Consistent Risk Across All Positions While different trading styles like scalping, intraday, and swing trading may warrant varying risk levels, it's crucial to cap your risk at a reasonable threshold. A general guideline is to not exceed a 5% risk per trade. For those in the early stages of trading or during periods of uncertainty, a risk of 1% or less is advisable. The table below offers an illustrative example of the outcomes achievable by adhering to risk percentages tailored to individual trades. Regardless of your confidence level in the potential profitability of a trade, maintaining consistent risk per trade is paramount. 6. Avoid Duplicating Trades Based on the Same Setup Opening identical trades based on a single setup doubles your exposure to risk. This principle is especially pertinent when dealing with correlated assets. If you identify a favorable combination of factors across multiple trading pairs, opt to execute the trade on the pair where the setup is perceived to have a higher probability of success. 7. Aim for a Risk-to-Reward Ratio of at Least 1:3 The Risk-to-Reward (RR) ratio measures the potential profit of a trade relative to its inherent risk. A RR ratio of 1:3 signifies that for every 1% risked through a stop-loss activation, a trader stands to gain 3% of their deposit upon a successful trade. With a 1:3 RR ratio, a trader doesn't need to be correct on every trade. Achieving profitability in just one out of every three trades can result in a net positive outcome. While RR ratios of 1:1 or 1:2 can also be profitable, they typically require a higher win rate to maintain profitability. For instance, if you're willing to risk 1% to gain 1%, you'd need at least 6 out of 10 trades to be profitable to yield a positive return. It's worth noting that a high RR ratio doesn't guarantee profitability. It's possible to have trades with a 1:6 or greater RR ratio and still incur losses if the win rate is insufficient.
Education
by truepersonal
1
Options Trading is Not about the GreeksCME: E-Mini S&P 500 Options ( CME_MINI:ES1! ) On March 24th, I published a trade idea, “Buckle Your Seatbelt for a Market Correction”, where I suggested that the US stock market was due for a major correction. Buying a Put contract on CME E-Mini S&P 500 Futures would be a trade to express this market view. How is this trade panning out? • On March 24th, the June S&P futures contract (ESM4) was settled at 5,289.75. The out-of-the-money (OTM) put strike 5,100 was quoted at 63. • To purchase a Put, a trader would pay an upfront premium of $3,150 (= 63 x 50). • On April 18th, the S&P has been down for five straight days, and ESM4 was settled at 5,49, losing about 4.6% since we first placed the trade on. Meanwhile, the 5100 put is now trading at 150.75. • Our put position is valued at $7,537.50 (= 150.75 x 50). If we were to close the trade now, we would realize a hypothetical return of +139.3% (= 150.75/63 -1) in less than a month, excluding transaction cost. While the underlying stock index is lowered for less than 5%, and the put strike is barely in-the-money (5049 is 51 points below 5100), the value of the put contract has been more than doubled. This trade showcases the attractiveness of an options strategy. Firstly, there is time value on the put contract. We have two more months to trade until the options expire on June 21st, the 3rd Friday of the contract month. The probability that the S&P could go significantly lower than 5100 makes the put options very valuable. Secondly, there is a multiplier of 50 built into the options contract. Each index point that the S&P moves in-the-money, the Put position will gain $50 per contract. Thirdly, the volatility of the S&P 500 index has increased 50% in the past month, from 12-12.50 to 18-19.50. Higher volatility makes options contracts more valuable. Options Greeks are Lagging Indicators My trade idea did not price in volatility increase. In fact, it did not even mention any of the options Greeks – Delta, Gamma, Theta, Vega, and Rho. In my opinion, the Greeks are concurrent indicators or lagging indicators. Take the VIX index as an example. It captures historical volatility about the S&P 500. However, options are priced by the implied volatility. It is the market consensus, or collective sentiments from all the buyers and sellers, about what volatility would be in the future. In this case, historical volatility is not very useful in gauging future volatility. All sophisticated options pricing models eventually bog down to a subjective estimate of the implied volatility. The Greeks are precise about what the market has been, but they are not useful in assessing how market sentiment will be a month from now. We could illustrate this with CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, which shows real-time market sentiments in Fed rate cut probability. • On March 24th, it indicated the probability of a 25-bp cut in June at 75.5%. There was a 77% chance that Fed Funds move to 4.50%-4.75% by year end, indicating a total of three rate cuts in 2024. Four total rate cuts, which would be a full percentage point lower, was priced at 43% probability. • On April 18th, the probability of a 25-bp cut in June is now down to just 15.3%. The probability for total rate cuts in 2024 are: 2 cuts (32.4%), 1 cut (36%) and no cut (15%). We may recall that only four months ago the market consensus was 6-7 rate cuts. (Link: www.cmegroup.com) If you measured the market last month based on the Greeks, you would have expected the S&P to go higher. Instead, market sentiment turned upside down as March CPI and Nonfarm payroll data completely destroyed the hope of near-term Fed rate cuts. Trading with E-Mini S&P Options In my opinion, the market correction is not over yet. There is a good likelihood that the S&P to move down 10%-15% from its peak of 5,265, to the range of 4,475-4739. Here are the key drivers: • US stock market had a spectacular run in the past two years on the back on AI revolution. While the seven Big Tech companies gained over 50%, the remaining 493 stocks registered low single-digit returns. We are now at the breaking point where the Magnificent Seven could no longer carry the heavy burden of the mediocre performance of the rest. • The lowered expectation of Fed rate cuts results in higher-than-expected future interest rates. This puts downward pressure on company valuation. I had several writings explaining how the discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation works. • Escalated geopolitical tension triggers a flight to safe-haven securities. Gold would gain in value while the stock market would decline. CME Group E-Mini S&P 500 Options provide leverage and capital efficiency. Options are based on futures contracts. The contract notional is $50 x S&P 500 Index. On April 19th, the June S&P futures contract (ESM4) is now quoted at 5,031.75. The 4,850-strike put is quoted at 64.75. To purchase a Put, a trader would pay an upfront premium for $3,237.50 (= 64.75 x 50). Hypothetically, if the S&P lowered 10% from its peak to 4,739, the put position would be 111 points in-the-money (= 4850-4739). The trader could exercise the options to capture the price difference or sell the put at a higher price. If the S&P ends up with a smaller correction, the trader could lose money, up to the full amount of the upfront premium. Options traders could find CME’s Options Calculator an easy-to-use tool in structuring their options strategies. The best part, it is free. www.cmegroup.com Happy Trading. Disclaimers *Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
CME_MINI:MES1!Short
by JimHuangChicago
5
Too many dangerous dollars on handsFundamentals & Sentiment WTI: In general, there are global drivers for oil demand, amongst them is supply curbs from OPEC. More recently geopolitical risks in Middle east create bias for oil upside. USD: The dollar has been overbought according to CFTC reports. The risk of BoJ intervention is still there, so it's better not buy dollars anyhow as long as USDJPY is near 155. Also, today's US MoM Retail Sales are expected to be worse than last month - a good environment to trade into the event. If the Retail Sales come out stronger than expected, it's better to close the position or tighten stops. Technical & Other - According to seasonals DXY should stay flat for the next 3 weeks - WTI sold off sharply on Friday, so the mean reversion of that move makes sense. Setup: TC(RTF) Setup timeframe: 4h Trigger: 1h Medium-term: UP Long-term: Uptrend Min target: range highs Risk: 0.77% Entry: Market
OANDA:WTICOUSDLong
by Cherry94
USDUSD Oil Prices react to Middle EastOn Thursday January 11th ( earlier today) WTI Crude prices gyrated widely likely in reaction to US /UK intervention on the terrorists who seized a tanker on the behalf of Iraq in the Red Sea / Suez Canal area putting shipping and supply concerns into the oil industry to offset any weak demand. The 15 minute chart shows a megaphone pattern as a demonstration of waves of relative volatility in price action. I have a position shorting oil and will now close that position as I see a long entry developing here. US companies that use rail and pipeline matching domestic production to consumption are less impacted by this oceanic shipping issue. I will focus on them especially. OXY is at the top of the list and then MRO.
EIGHTCAP:USOUSDLong
by AwesomeAvani
6
Trading Psychology and Your Losses Hey traders, In this post, we will discuss a common fallacy among struggling traders: overestimation of a one single trade . 💡The fact is that quite often, watching the performance of an active trading position, traders quite painfully react to the price being closer and closer to a stop loss or, alternatively, coiling close to a take profit but not being managed to reach that. Fear of loss make traders make emotional decisions : extending stop loss or preliminary position closing. The situation becomes even worse, when after the set of the above-mentioned manipulation, the price nevertheless reaches the stop loss . Just one single losing trade is usually perceived too personally and make the traders even doubt the efficiency of their trading system. They start changing rules in their strategy, then stop following the trading plan, leading to even more losses. ❗️However, what matters in trading is your long-term composite performance . A single position is just one brick in a wall. As Peter Lynch nicely mentioned: “In this business, if you’re good, you’re right six times out of ten. You’re never going to be right nine times out of ten.” There are so many factors that are driving the markets that it is impossible to take into consideration them all. And because of that fact, we lose. The attached chart perfectly illustrates the insignificance of a one trading in a long-term composite performance. Please, realize that losing trades are inevitable, and overestimation of their impact on your trading performance is detrimental. Instead, calibrate your strategy so that it would produce long-term, consistent positive results. That is your goal as a trader.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
1
How to Use Stop Loss Orders in Trading?Stop loss order is the order that automatically closes your trade once it reaches a specified price target. Learn all about it here. Table of Contents: 🔹What Is a Stop Loss Order? 🔹Why Stop Loss Orders Matter? 🔹Setting Stop Loss Levels 🔹Types of Stop Loss Orders 🔹Adjusting Your Stop Loss Orders 🔹Summary In trading, reducing risks is oftentimes all that matters to achieving success. One of the essential tools to protect your investments from steep or unexpected losses is the stop loss order. Understanding how to use stop loss orders can unlock your path to profitability by allowing you to balance your risk and reward ratio. In other words, with the right stop loss setup, you can shoot for asymmetrical risk returns by keeping your drawdown small and letting your profits run. Let’s dive into the exciting world of trading and see how stop loss orders can be your greatest ally in trading. 📍 What Is a Stop Loss Order? A stop loss order is an essential risk management tool used by traders to limit potential losses on a trade. By using a stop loss order, you instruct your broker to automatically sell the asset you’re holding when it reaches a predetermined price level that is below your purchase price, or entry. A stop loss order allows you to control your losses and protect your investments so you don’t have to sit glued to the screen all the time. 📍 Why Stop Loss Orders Matter Stop loss orders play a big role in risk management. These easy-to-set trading tools help traders stick to predefined risk tolerance levels by limiting the amount of money they are willing to lose on any given trade. Without a stop loss order in place, traders may give in to emotional decision-making during periods of market volatility, leading to potential losses. If you have a hard time cutting your losses If you have a hard time cutting your losses when —ok, we get it, you're a bigshot— IF positions go against you, setting a stop loss when you enter the market will do the hard work for you. ➡️ Risk Management: One of the primary reasons stop loss orders are essential is because they help traders manage risk effectively. This is crucial in volatile markets where prices can fluctuate rapidly, as it prevents significant losses that could otherwise occur if trades were left unattended. ➡️ Emotional Control: Trading can evoke strong emotions such as fear and greed, which can lead to irrational decision-making. Without a stop loss order in place, traders may be tempted to hold onto losing positions in the hope that the market will reverse in their favor. ➡️ Peace of Mind: Knowing that there is a safety net in place can provide traders with peace of mind. Stop loss orders allow you to do your thing in the market without obsessively watching charts and tickers. Set your stop loss orders and focus on other aspects of your market study like catching up on the latest market-moving news and analysis . ➡️ Preventing Catastrophic Losses: In extreme market conditions, prices can experience sudden and significant declines. Without stop loss orders, traders risk experiencing catastrophic losses that could wipe out a significant portion of their capital. ➡️ Enforcing Discipline: Successful trading requires discipline and adherence to a well-defined trading plan. Stop loss orders help enforce discipline by striving to ensure that traders stick to their predetermined risk management rules. If trading is about discipline and consistency, then stop loss orders are the stepping stone to success. 📍 Setting Stop Loss Levels Choosing the appropriate stop loss level is a critical aspect of using stop loss orders effectively. Traders should consider various factors, including their risk tolerance, investment objectives, market conditions, and the volatility of the asset being traded. A common approach is to set the stop loss below a significant support level or a recent low in an uptrend (if you have a long position) and above a significant resistance level or a recent high in a downtrend (if you have a short position). Example: Suppose you purchase shares of a company called X (not Elon Musk’s privately held X Corp., which he created by rebranding Twitter) at $50 per share. You estimate that a 5% decline in the stock price would indicate a potential trend reversal. Therefore, you set your stop loss order at $47.50 per share to limit your potential loss to 5% of your investment. 📍 Types of Stop Loss Orders There are several types of stop loss orders that traders can utilize, each with its own special characteristics. The most common types include: ➡️ Market Stop Loss: a type of stop loss order that triggers a market order to sell the instrument at the prevailing market price once the stop loss level is reached. ➡️ Stop Limit: with a stop limit order, you have to deal with two types of prices. The first one is the price that will trigger a sell and the limit price. But instead of converting your order into a sell based on current market prices, you set a limit price. ➡️ Trailing Stop Loss: A trailing stop loss order is dynamically adjusted based on the movement of the instrument’s price. It allows traders to lock in profits while giving the trade room to move in their favor. Example: You purchase shares of a big tech company at $100 per share, and the stock price then rises to $120 per share. You set a trailing stop loss order with a 10% trail. If the stock price declines by 10% from its peak, the trailing stop loss order will trigger, selling the shares at prevailing market prices. 📍 Adjusting Stop Loss Orders While setting stop loss orders is essential, monitoring and adjusting them as market conditions evolve is equally important. Traders should regularly reassess their stop loss levels to account for changes in volatility, price action, and overall market sentiment. Additionally, as profits accumulate, trailing stop loss orders should be adjusted to protect gains and minimize potential losses. 📍 Summary In conclusion, stop loss orders are one of the most essential and effective tools for traders seeking to manage risk and preserve and grow capital in the challenging world of trading. By understanding how to use stop loss orders effectively, you can rein in emotional decision-making, protect your investments, and increase your chances of long-term success. Whether you're a novice or an experienced trader, integrating stop loss orders into your trading strategy is a smart approach to navigate the twists and turns of the financial markets. Remember, trading involves inherent risks, but with proper risk management techniques like stop loss orders, you can tilt the odds of success in your favor. ❓Do you use stop loss orders when trading? Which type ? Let us know in the comments ⬇️
COINBASE:BTCUSDEducation
by TradingView
12
🔔COMP Analysis: Consolidation Phase on 4H Chart⚡️🔍COMP is currently in a consolidation phase on the 4-hour timeframe, forming a sideways trading range. Considering the upward trend behind it, if the long trigger is activated, it would be favorable to open long positions with increased confidence. 📉For short positions, our risk trigger is at 85.37. Given the bullish nature of the market, I do not recommend entering short positions right now. Instead, wait for a breakdown below this level and consider entering short positions with a trigger at 76.92. 📈Regarding volume, COMP has encountered significant volume at the resistance of 95.21, followed by a decrease in volume. This indicates strong resistance that may not easily be breached. If you anticipate a bullish move, consider entering positions earlier than the resistance level, as it may break, and the confirmation candle may not provide timely validation.📊 💥As for indicators and oscillators, there is not much to add as the market is range-bound, and additional information may not be beneficial. 🧠💼It's important to acknowledge the inherent risks in futures trading, with the potential for margin calls if risk management is neglected. Always adhere to strict capital management principles and utilize stop-loss orders, ensuring that the initial target offers a risk-to-reward ratio of 2.
by itsparham96
📈GMX Futures: Potential Long Opportunities🚀🔍In the 4-hour timeframe, GMX exhibits a clear ascending trendline providing consistent support, yet to be breached. It once faked out the trendline, followed by higher lows, demonstrating resilience and breaking the resistance at 59.2 with conviction. 📈Following the break, two significant red candles with substantial volume are observed, serving as potential pullbacks. Should the current candle engulf the previous one, it presents a favorable opportunity to enter a long position in futures. Aim for a risk-to-reward ratio of at least 2, ensuring the use of stop-loss orders to mitigate potential losses. 💎For those waiting on the sidelines, patience until the trigger at 64.35 is advisable before considering entry. ✅The target for long positions, apart from the risk-to-reward ratio of 2, could be set at 71.66, although current price levels may pose a challenge for immediate attainment. 📉In the event of a reversal at 59.2, a more aggressive entry could be considered at 57.52 in lower timeframes. However, exercise caution and promptly secure profits to avoid substantial losses. 🐢For a more conservative approach, waiting for confirmation at 54.01 before considering short positions is prudent. 🧠💼It's important to acknowledge the inherent risks in futures trading, with the potential for margin calls if risk management is neglected. Always adhere to strict capital management principles and utilize stop-loss orders, ensuring that the initial target offers a risk-to-reward ratio of 2.
by itsparham96
DOGE: Breakout Potential/ Long-Term Investment Considerations Accumulation Range Breakout: BINANCE:DOGEUSDT has successfully broken out of its previous accumulation range over the past few weeks. 🐃This breakout confirms a bullish trend reversal and indicates potential for further price appreciation.🐃 🍣Key Resistance Level and Consolidation: The price has reached a significant resistance level, leading to price consolidation and RSI reset. A successful breakout above this resistance level could propel the price towards the next weekly resistance at 0.3. 📊Volume and RSI Considerations: Adequate market volume is crucial to facilitate a breakout above the current resistance level. RSI approaching the overbought zone would indicate strong momentum and support the bullish case. 📈MID-Term Investment Potential: Based on higher targets, DOG could be a viable investment option if the overall market trend remains favorable. However, investors should exercise caution due to the inherent risks associated with cryptocurrency investments. 🔍📉Reversal and Ranging Scenarios: Rejection at the current resistance level and a breakdown of the RSI trendline could result in a price correction or extended consolidation. 🚫Investors should monitor these factors and adjust their strategies accordingly. 🚫This analysis is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Always conduct your own research and employ sound risk management practices before investing.🚫
Long
by solinash1
MINA Analysis: Potential Correction, SELL or BUY Setup?!🍣📈Weekly Channel Breakout and Retest: MINA previously broke out of its weekly channel and reached its target successfully. The recent breakdown below the channel indicates a loss of bullish momentum and potential for a retracement. 🔍📉Corrective Phase and Resistance Levels: If MINA undergoes a correction, it is likely to retrace upwards until reaching its weekly resistance level. A rejection at this resistance level, coinciding with the RSI reaching the daily blue resistance line, could present a selling opportunity. 🚫Early Sell Setup and Risk Management: A sell position could be initiated early at the current price level (below the lower channel line) using the red trigger line as confirmation. Trailing the stop-loss to the lower support zone can help mitigate risk and maximize profit potential. ✅Important Considerations✅ The overall market trend should be taken into account before executing any trades. Confirming the reversal with additional technical indicators and market sentiment analysis is essential. 🚫This analysis is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Always conduct your own research and employ sound risk management practices before trading. 🚫
by solinash1
2
Diversification: What It Is, Why It Matters & How to Do ItDiversification is a market strategy that enables you to spread your money across a variety of assets and investments in pursuit of uncorrelated returns, hedging, and risk control. Table of Contents What is portfolio diversification? Brief history of the modern portfolio theory Why is diversification important? An example of diversification at work How to diversify your portfolio Components of a diversified portfolio Build wealth through diversification Diversification vs concentration Summary 📍 What is portfolio diversification? Portfolio diversification is the strategy of spreading your money across diverse investments in order to mitigate risk, hedge and balance your exposure in pursuit of uncorrelated returns. While it may sound complex at first, portfolio diversification could be your greatest strength when you set out to trade and invest in the financial markets. As a matter of fact, once you immerse yourself into the markets, you will be overwhelmed by the wide horizons waiting for you. That’s when you’ll need to know about diversification. There are thousands of stocks available for trading, dozens of indices, and a sea of cryptocurrencies. Choosing your investments will invariably lead to relying on diversification in order to protect and grow your money. Diversifying well will enable you to go into different sectors, markets and asset classes. Together, all of these will build up your diversified portfolio. 📍 Brief history of the modern portfolio theory “ Diversification is both observed and sensible; a rule of behavior which does not imply the superiority of diversification must be rejected both as a hypothesis and as a maxim. ” These are the words of the father of the modern portfolio theory, Harry Markowitz. His paper on diversification called “Portfolio Selection” was published in The Journal of Finance in 1952. The theory, which helped Mr. Markowitz win a Nobel prize in 1990, posits that a rational investor should aim to maximize their returns relative to risk. The most significant feature from the modern portfolio theory was the discovery that you can reduce volatility without sacrificing returns. In other words, Mr. Markowitz argued that a well-diverse portfolio would still hold volatile assets. But relative to each other, their volatility would balance out because they all comprise one portfolio. Therefore, the volatility of a single asset, Mr. Markowitz discovered, is not as significant as the contribution it makes to the volatility of the entire portfolio. Let’s dive in and see how this works. 📍 Why is diversification important? Diversification is important for any trader and investor because it builds out a mix of assets working together to yield returns. In practice, all assets contained in your portfolio will play a role in shaping the total performance of your portfolio. However, these same assets out there in the market may or may not be correlated. The interrelationship of those assets within your portfolio is what will allow you to reduce your overall risk profile. With this in mind, the total return of your investments will depend on the performance of all assets in your portfolio. Let’s give an example. 📍 An example of diversification at work Say you want to own two different stocks, Apple (ticker: AAPL ) and Coca-Cola (ticker: KO ). In order to easily track your performance, you invest an equal amount of funds into each one—$500. While you expect to reap handsome profits from both investments, Coca-Cola happens to deliver a disappointing earnings report and shares go down 5%. Your investment is now worth $475, provided no leverage is used. Apple, on the other hand, posts a blowout report for the last quarter and its stock soars 10%. This move would propel your investment to a valuation of $550 thanks to $50 added as profits. So, how does your portfolio look now? In total, your investment of $1000 is now $1,025, or a gain of 2.5% to your capital. You have taken a loss in Coca-Cola but your profit in Apple has compensated for it. The more assets you add to your portfolio, the more complex the correlation would be between them. In practice, you could be diversifying to infinity. But beyond a certain point, diversification would be more likely to water down your portfolio instead of helping you get more returns. 📍 How to diversify your portfolio The way to diversify your portfolio is to add a variety of different assets from different markets and see how they perform relative to one another. A single asset in your portfolio would mean that you rely on it entirely and how it performs will define your total investment result. If you diversify, however, you will have a broader exposure to financial markets and ultimately enjoy more probabilities for winning trades, increased returns and decreased overall risks. You can optimize your asset choices by going into different asset classes. Let’s check some of the most popular ones. 📍 Components of a diversified portfolio Stocks A great way to add diversification to your portfolio is to include world stocks , also called equities. You can look virtually anywhere—US stocks such as technology giants , the world’s biggest car manufacturers , and even Reddit’s favorite meme darlings . Stock selection is among the most difficult and demanding tasks in trading and investing. But if you do it well, you will reap hefty profits. Every stock sector is fashionable in different times. Your job as an investor (or day trader) is to analyze market sentiment and increase your probabilities of being in the right stock at the right time. Currencies The forex market , short for foreign exchange, is the market for currency pairs floating against each other. Trading currencies and having them sit in your portfolio is another way to add diversification to your market exposure. Forex is the world’s biggest marketplace with more than $7.5 trillion in daily volume traded between participants. Unlike stock markets that have specific trading hours, the forex market operates 24 hours a day, five days a week. Continuous trading allows for more opportunities for price fluctuations as events occurring in different time zones can impact currency values at any given moment. Cryptocurrencies A relatively new (but booming) market, the cryptocurrency space is quickly gaining traction. As digital assets become increasingly more mainstream, newcomers enter the space and the Big Dogs on Wall Street join too , improving the odds of growth and adoption. Adding crypto assets to your portfolio is a great way to diversify and shoot for long-term returns. There’s incentive in there for day traders as well. Crypto coins are notorious for their aggressive swings even on a daily basis. It’s not unusual for a crypto asset to skyrocket 20% or even double in size in a matter of hours. But that inherent volatility holds sharpened risks, so make sure to always do your research before you decide to YOLO in any particular token. Commodities Commodities, the likes of gold ( XAU/USD ) and silver ( XAG/USD ) bring technicolor to any portfolio in need of diversification. Unlike traditional stocks, commodities provide a hedge against inflation as their values tend to rise with increasing prices. Commodities exhibit low correlation with other asset classes, too, thereby enhancing portfolio diversification and reducing overall risk. Incorporating commodities into a diversified portfolio can help mitigate risk, enhance returns, and preserve purchasing power in the face of inflationary pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and other macroeconomic risks. ETFs ETFs , short for exchange-traded funds, are investment vehicles which offer a convenient and cost-effective way to gain exposure to a number of assets all packaged in the same instrument. These funds pull a bunch of similar stocks, commodities and—more recently— crypto assets , into the same bundle and launch it out there in the public markets. Owning an ETF means owning everything inside it, or whatever it’s made of. ETFs typically have lower expense ratios compared to mutual funds, making them affordable investment options. Whether you seek broad market exposure, niche sectors, or thematic investing opportunities, ETFs are a convenient way to build a diversified portfolio tailored to your investment objectives and risk preferences. Bonds Bonds are fixed-income investments available through various issuers with the most common one being the US government. Bonds are a fairly complex financial product but at the same time are considered a no-brainer for investors pursuing the path of least risk. Bonds have different rates of creditworthiness and maturity terms, allowing investors to pick what fits their style best. Bonds with longer maturity—10 to 30 years—generally offer a better yield than short-term bonds. Government bonds offer stability and low risk because they’re backed by the government and the risk of bankruptcy is low. Cash Cash may seem like a strange allocation asset but it’s actually a relatively safe bet when it comes to managing your own money. Sitting in cash is among the best things you can do when stocks are falling and valuations are coming down to earth. And vice versa—when you have cash on-hand, you can be ready to scoop up attractive shares when they’ve bottomed out and are ready to fire up again (if only it was that easy, right?). Finally, cash on its own is a risk-free investment in a high interest-rate environment. If you shove it into a high-yield savings account, you can easily generate passive income (yield) and withdraw if you need cash quickly. 📍 Build wealth through diversification In the current context of market events, elevated interest rates and looming uncertainty, you need to be careful in your market approach. To this end, many experts advise that the best strategy you could go with in order to build wealth is to have a well-diversified portfolio. “ Diversifying well is the most important thing you need to do in order to invest well ,” says Ray Dalio , founder of the world’s biggest hedge fund Bridgewater Associates. “ This is true because 1) in the markets, that which is unknown is much greater than that which can be known (relative to what is already discounted in the markets), and 2) diversification can improve your expected return-to-risk ratio by more than anything else you can do. ” 📍 Diversification vs concentration The opposite of portfolio diversification is portfolio concentration. Think about diversification as “ don’t put your eggs in one basket. ” Concentration, on the flip side, is “ put all your eggs in one basket, and watch it carefully. ” In practice, concentration is focusing your investment into a single financial asset. Or having a few large bets that would assume higher risk but higher, or quicker, return. While diversification is a recommended investment strategy for all seasons, concentration comes with bigger risks and is not always the right approach. Still, at times when you have a high conviction on a trade and have thoroughly analyzed the market, you may decide to bet heavily, thus concentrating your investment. However, you need to be careful with concentrated bets as they can turn against your portfolio and wreck it if you’re overexposed and underprepared. Diversification, however, promises to cushion your overall risk by a carefully balanced approach to various financial assets. 📍 Summary A diversified portfolio is essentially your best bet for coordinated and sustainable returns over the long term. Choosing a mix of various types of investments, such as stocks, ETFs, currencies, and crypto assets, would spread your exposure and provide different avenues for growth potential. Not only that, but it would also protect you from outsized risks, sudden economic shocks, or unforeseen events. While you decrease your risk tolerance, you raise your probability of having winning positions. Regardless of your style and approach to markets, diversifying well will increase your chances of being right. You can be a trader and bet on currencies and gold for the short term. Or you can be an investor and allocate funds to stocks and crypto assets for years ahead. Potential sources of diversification are everywhere in the financial markets. Ultimately, diversifying gives you thousands of opportunities to balance your portfolio and position yourself for risk-adjusted returns. 🙋🏾‍♂️ FAQ ❔ What is portfolio diversification? ► Portfolio diversification is the strategy of spreading your money across diverse investments in order to mitigate risk, hedge and balance your exposure in pursuit of uncorrelated returns. ❔ Why is diversification important? ► Diversification is important for any trader and investor because it creates a mix of assets working together to yield high, uncorrelated returns. ❔ How to diversify your portfolio? ► The way to diversify your portfolio is to add a variety of different assets and see how they perform relative to one another. If you diversify, you will have a broader exposure to financial markets and ultimately enjoy more probabilities for winning trades, increased returns, and decreased overall risks. Do you diversify? What is your strategy? Do you rebalance? Let us know in the comments. 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SP:SPXEducation
by TradingView
4
👀 WATCHLIST: MONDAY 04MAR24WATCHLIST Here is my watchlist from yesterday: NYSE:ALLY NASDAQ:CGEM NASDAQ:KURA NASDAQ:LRMR NASDAQ:MGX NYSE:ML NASDAQ:TPG NASDAQ:WDFC MARKET GAUGE : 🔴RISK HIGH I am noticing a deterioration in the quality and the spread of the breakouts. I would conclude that the environmnet has actively changed to more difficult. In such environment, I trade less, often pick only top quality setups and tighten stops. I have already a good exposure to the market and I would look to have tight management of these stocks. This weeks announcement will be important on the short term sentiment of the market.
NASDAQ:WDFCLong
by TintinTrading
JPM, SOME UPSIDE AND A WHOLE LOTTA DOWNSIDEJPM might have a bad week? Maybe bad Feb? idk yet, however, from technicals, it seems like after 181 or so, and especially after $210, there isn't much upside showing. Likely meaning, the risk far outweighs the reward at those levels. IT could be big, and it could be fairly quick. if you're shorting, yeah, these are great times to consider entering. The downside shows all the way to $69 (nice) Does that mean enter short right now this minute? nah but be ready because things could really drop quickly in the coming month or so. idk maybe this?
NYSE:JPM
by nicktussing77
[ORP] ORPEA French StockEmbarking on a long position in ORPEA (ORP) requires a keen understanding of its inherent risks, notably stemming from a previous scandal that has cast a shadow over the company's reputation. However, amidst these challenges, ORPEA is undergoing a significant transformation, including a consolidation of shares where 1000 shares will be transformed into 1 share at €10. This restructuring could potentially bolster the stock's fundamentals. Despite the risk associated with ORPEA, the current technical rejection presents a compelling opportunity for long-term investors. The recent price action indicates a favorable risk/reward potential, especially considering the forthcoming share consolidation and its potential positive impact on the company's valuation. While caution is warranted, the combination of transformative measures and technical signals suggests that now may be an opportune moment to initiate a long position in ORPEA. Diligent monitoring of both fundamental developments and technical indicators will be essential to navigate the associated risks and capitalize on the potential rewards. Great Trade !
EURONEXT:EMEISLong
by ArnoSG
YANG ( a 3X leveraged inverse China megacap ETF ) LONGYANG on a 240 minute chart had a reverse head and shoulders pattern last summer. Price rose over the neckline in November and hit an increased trend angle at that time. With a set of VWAP bands anchored to the neckline cross, TANG had pulled back twice to the mean VWAP where it found support, the latter of which was this past week. While price is currently at 15.5, I could reasonably forecast another rise to the second upper VWAP bandline at 18.00 or about 16% upside. Price rose more than 4% today and 20% YTD for January. Fundamentally, China is in a recession. Additionally, the terror and tension in the Red Sea has increased shipping costs and diminished shipping volumes through the Suez Canal a a major gateway to the Eurozone markets or even Western Russia. The CCP has pleaded directly to Iran about this as the whole situation is worsening the China economy ( among others) The idea of China launching a gold standard currency seems to be out of the news at least for now. What is still on the table is Chinese interests in Taiwanese reunification. Any military action would basically flush Chinese stocks into nothingness because a trade war would ensue if not WW III. This lingering in at background is a drag on the China stocks. I see YANG as a safe bet now with an entry just above VWAP with a stop loss above it and 18.00 for the target.
AMEX:YANGLong
by AwesomeAvani
3
MRO US Oil LongThe US Energy Department has announced open bids for oil contracts to replenish the national strategic reserve which was depleted during the prior run up on global oil prices. This is a sure sign that the feds think that spot oil has but in a bottom especially in the context of shipping disruptions and higher insurance costs due to terrorism /piracy in the area of the Red Sea and Suez Canal. In the meanwhile two South American countries are having sovereignty disputes over oil fields and the British Navy is offshore to buttress the interests of Guyana. MRO is a domestic oil producer that is independent of Middle East issues. Its oil is consumed mostly in the US with a little shipping to Asia only. On the 50 minute chart, price downtrended from January 3th through and then below the high volume area of the volume profile. Price has reversed back up and reapproached the evolving high volume area. The dual TF MACD ( by Chris Moody) shows moving average divergence. Chris Moody's dual TF RSI indicator shows the faster TF RSI rising over the slower TF RSI as a sign of bullish momentum. I have taken both a stock and call options position in MRO having zoomed into the 15 minute TF for a good entry. Given the level of challenges current geopolitics presents to smooth flowing and inexpensive shipping of crude oil, I am expectant of significant gains in these positions. I have also looked into a position in OXY and CVE, which is a Canadian crude producer.
MLong
by AwesomeAvani
2
[EDU] Lossing How much is too Much? (Risk Management)Hello fellow traders , my regular and new friends! Welcome and thanks for dropping by my post. A picture speaks a 1000 words and that is so true! Recently I came across this picture from moo moo. It actually strike a chord with the message that I always wanted to bring across, which is the importance of risk management! Always keep in mind that having your trade size manageable such that is wont devastate your trading account is very important. So let's say you are trading between 1-2% risk per trade, if you are so unlucky to have 10 straight losses, you will be down with a drawdown of 10-20%, as shown in the picture you will need almost equal % of profit to get back your losses. But, what if you were to trade with 4 or 5% risk per trade? With that,10 straight losses will get you a drawdown of 40-50%! And as you can see the gains you need to recoup these losses will be 67 to 100%. It is not hard to imagine what will happen if you are risky 10 or 20% risk per trade. So anything can happen in trading and it is always wise to protect your downside! Trade Safe! Do check out my stream video for the week to have more explanation in place. Do Like and Boost if you have learnt something and enjoyed the content, thank you! -- Get the right tools and an experienced Guide, you WILL navigate your way out of this "Dangerous Jungle"! -- ********************************************************************* Disclaimers: The analysis shared through this channel are purely for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are by no means professional advice for individual/s to enter trades for investment or trading purposes. *********************************************************************
Education
by Shadowing_The_Big_Boys