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A Trader’s Checklist: 12 Essential Trading Questions to answerWhatever you trade… A successful trader minimises these risks by asking and answering a series of vital questions. This will help you ensure a clear strategy, an understanding of the market, and a control of emotions. Let’s dive into these questions. Q 1. Has a Trade Lined Up? Identifying a potential trade is the first step. Look for trends, chart patterns, or any other signals that indicate a potential opportunity. Yuu can also use Smart Money Concepts or price action techniques to pinpoint a trading setup. Q 2. Do I Have a Strategy in Place? Every successful trader operates with a strategy. This could be based on technical analysis, fundamental analysis, or a combination of both. This will give you the roadmap to tell you when to enter and exit trades. Q 3. Do I Know Where to Place My Trading Levels? Determine your entry, exit, and stop-loss points. These are crucial levels for you to know with your trading strategy. This will remove the emotions or gut feelings or like I like to say ‘gat’ feelings. Q 4. Do I Know How Much I Need to Put into My Trade? Money management is key. Decide beforehand how much of your capital you’re willing per trade. This is obviously based on what your CURRENT portfolio is rather than what it was. A common rule of thumb is not to risk more than 1-2% of your trading capital. Q 5. Am I Ready to Buy or Sell Now? Before you pull the trigger. You need to be sure you’re ready. Have all the signals from your strategy aligned? Do you see the sign to get in? Then JUST TAKE THE TRADE. Q6. Do I Understand the Underlying Asset? Whether it’s a company’s stock, a commodity, or a cryptocurrency. You need to understand what you’re trading. You need to understand the factors that influence price movements, which can also give you that extra edge. Q 7. Have I Conducted Thorough Technical Analysis? Charts, indicators, patterns, volume or Smart Money Concepts. Technical analysis is a trader’s bread and butter. Make sure you’ve analysed the market technically and your analysis supports the trade. Q 8. Am I Letting Emotions Influence My Decisions? Fear, greed and ego are a trader’s worst enemies. Are you trading based on your mechanical and analytical strategy? Or are emotions driving your decisions? Q 9. Have I Set Realistic Profit Targets? It’s important to have profit targets in place. And they need to be realistic, based on the market conditions and your trading strategy. Remember, each market has their own trading personality so work with it. Q 10. Is This Trade Consistent With My Trading Plan? You need to make sure, your trading setup aligns perfectly with your track record and system data. Each trade should align with your overall trading plan. If it doesn’t, it may be best to pass. Q 11. Am I Overexposed in One Sector or Asset? If the quantity you choose to trade matches your risk management, you’re good to go. If you have a smallish portfolio, you might not be able to trade EVERY market. Some commodities and indices are extremely expensive and too risk when it comes to volume. If you’re overexposed in one area, you could face higher losses. Q 12. Am I Prepared for the Trade to Go Against Me? Even with all the analysis in the world, trades can go wrong. Are you prepared for this, both financially and emotionally? By asking these questions, you will at least be prepared for what is to come. Do you have any more questions you ask before taking a trade?
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
How to Adapt to the Ever-Evolving Financial Markets – 4 WaysThe only constant with the financial markets is… Change The market is constantly changing in a way that it’s brining: New demand New supply New volume and fresh changes in the complex algorithms. If you want to thrive you need to learn to learn to adapt, evolve and grow with the markets. I want to cover four elements to today’s topic. The Inevitability of Market Change Change is not only constant but inevitable in financial markets. There will always be new elements streaming into the markets from: ~ Global and political events ~ Micro and macro aspects ~ Economic indicators ~ Regulatory shifts, and ~ Investor sentiment These elements are perpetually at work, shaping and reshaping the market. These catalysts can shift the trajectory of entire sectors, leading to volatile market movements. Influx of New Volume on Market Dynamics Every day, the market sees a deluge of new volume. There are new traders and investors constantly joining the financial markets world. And we are seeing an inflow of capital from retail traders, institutional investors, and high-frequency trading firms. The big institutions like Smart Money (banks, hedge funds, brokers etc…) are causing the big volatile moves in the market. The smaller guys – dumb money and retail traders – are also helping with liquidity in the markets. Every transaction is causing a shift in the market. No matter how small it’s the “Butterfly Effect of the financial market”. The Role of Algorithms in Market Evolution In the era of digital transformation, algorithms have become a pivotal part of the financial markets. Algorithmic trading or ‘algo-trading’ employs complex mathematical models to execute trades at lightning speed and frequency. I’m talking about Copy Trader, Robinhood, AI trading bots, EA Expert Advisors and pre-determined automatic mechanical trading methods. This practice is now an integral part of the trading landscape. And they will continue to have an influence in price action, and market patterns. Haven’t you noticed? In the 50s through to the early 2000’s. The markets trended on a more consistent basis. Any monkey could choose a list of good stocks and hold them until they were up 200% – 1000%. But nowadays with derivatives, algorithms, shorts and automatic execution – markets have never been more volatile and more difficult to ride the trends. Always Adapt to Thrive in Changing Markets It’s our job to learn to be more flexible and to adapt to these market conditions. As markets evolve, so must we evolve with them. We need to always: ~ Apply new markets to our watchlists ~ Look for better trading instruments ~ Change the trading strategy to make it more conducive with the environments ~ Always look for the next best broker, trading and charting platform ~ Look for ways to reduce costs and maximise profits. I’ll end off with this. The market is constantly changing, adapting and evolving. We need to embrace the change and not see it as a threat. Have this mentality and you’ll always have the opportunities to improve, anticipate and grow as a trader.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
5 Stupid Trading Advice PointsA staggering 98% of traders inevitably stumble and tumble into the abyss of financial loss. Why such a high failure rate, you ask? It’s because failed traders try to preach their failures (as they think that’s how it is). They develop these narcissistic methods, where they misguide others and are too blinded by their own failures. Few years later, they’re back in their parents basements playing games or working at Mc Donald’s. I want to share and explore five such stupid advice points that can send even the most promising trading careers down a spiral of regret and loss. Go big or go home – a fool’s motto for financial Russian roulette. In the world of high stakes and adrenaline rush, the mantra ‘Go big or go home’ might sound like a call to glory. It might sound like a quick way to riches. However, when you say this. You’re destined for a financial land mine eventually. Going ‘big’ in trading terms typically means putting a large chunk of your capital into one or a few trades. And yes, it might very well pay off in the short term. It may pay handsomely. But for how long until you blow your entire account? Smart trading advocates a balanced approach, including diversified portfolios and proper risk management techniques. It’s more about ‘Go steady and stay in the game’ than ‘Go big or go home’. The next trade will be better – as reliable as a fortune cookie’s prophecy. This is another common trap. They just took a loss and now they feel, the next trade will be a winner. Nope! This is a dangerous mindset which will lead you to ‘revenge trading.’ Trading is not a series of independent events. Your next trade is not guaranteed to be better simply because you lost the previous one. And we can NEVER predict with certainty which trade will win. You need to approach each trade objectively. Don’t let past performances cloud your judgment. Don’t let a false and fabricated future bring on trading destruction. Learn from past mistakes, certainly, but don’t bank on the next trade as a panacea for all previous losses. Follow your heart – Your heart pumps. Your brain thinks. Stop relying on emotions and gut feelings in a robotic, cold and ruthless market. Emotions can amplify the impact of market volatility. Emotions can make you overreact to market swings. Emotions can make you stick with losing trades for too long. Emotions can cut your profits far too soon. And you can blame evolution. Instinct often plays a role in decision-making. And you need to remember that… Successful trading absolutely needs a systematic, disciplined approach based on logic and solid analysis. Everything happens for a reason – the financial equivalent of seeing faces in clouds. OK this might comfort you in some esoteric aspects of your life. But you need to get rid of this notion with the markets. The financial market is complex and influenced by numerous variables (that have nothing to do with you). Get off your high horse and believe everything revolves around you! Not every price movement has a logical or predictable reason behind it. Instead, you should focus on understanding broader market trends, develop solid trading strategies, and manage your risk effectively. With logic, with discipline, with mathematics, with statistics – NOT WITH ESOTERIC REASONS! Work harder and you’ll win more – because nothing says ‘smart trading’ like turning a strategic marathon into a frenzied sprint. While hard work is essential with business and with most areas of your life. Trading is a game where quality trumps quantity. The ‘work harder and you’ll win more’ advice often leads traders to overtrade, mistakenly believing that a higher frequency of trades equates to higher returns. In trading, it’s more important to work smarter, not harder. In trading it’s more important to think quality, not quantity. In trading it’s more important to think high probability than any probability. It’s about making well-informed trades, not just more trades. So let’s sum up the stupid trading advice points you need to watch out for. Go big or go home – a fool’s motto for financial Russian roulette. The next trade will be better – as reliable as a fortune cookie’s prophecy. Follow your heart – Everything happens for a reason – the financial equivalent of seeing faces in clouds. Work harder and you’ll win more – because nothing says ‘smart trading’ like turning a strategic marathon into a frenzied sprint. If you can think of any more, let me know in the comments.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Become a Trading Machine - 11 ways!If you want to trade well and consistently. You have to be more mechanically orientated. The weekend is about to begin so I'll be literally quick and brief. Saying "literally" was unnecessary and made it longer. Sorry. Here are the pointers: 1. Stay committed 2. Cultivate patience 3. Avoid herd mentality 4. Be long-term oriented 5. Stop crying over losers 6. Review your performance 7. Stop celebrating winners 8. Adapt to market conditions 9. Keep your emotions in check 10. Don't think of quick success 11. Adapt and advance with technology
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Why Penny Cryptos are LETHAL for TradersCryptocurrencies are often likened to the Wild West. They are untamed, unregulated, and packed with potential riches. However, they are also fraught with hidden dangers and potential pitfalls. One such peril lies in the world of penny cryptos. They’re cheap, super volatile, and they attract the minds of those who want a quick fortune. This is similar to a gambling mentality. And You don’t want to go down this rabbit hole. Once you get in, you find every reason to hold. You build so much trust, prospects and hope with them. You might as well marry them and expect the inevitable divorce which will rob you of your money. Anyways, penny cryptos are lethal, and here’s why. #1: Huge Volatility with Major Fluctuations Imagine being on a roller coaster that has extreme highs and drastic lows. One moment, you’re at the peak, enjoying a scenic view. The next you’re plunging into a scary abyss. That’s the world of penny cryptos. Penny Cryptos are definitely like the wild wild west. They swing drastically in value. This is because of the low value of the currency. #2: Issued by Small Companies with Little Experience and Knowledge If the financial world was an ocean, penny cryptos would be the tiny, uncharted islands you might stumble upon. The kind of islands that do not inhabit life and have erratic waves completely wash over it on a sporadic basis. Well, in the deep ocean of crypto currencies, Penny Cryptos are these tiny pebbles. Most times they’re issued by small, relatively unknown companies. Sometimes they are issued by children in their parents basements. Sometimes they are issued by gamers who don’t want to work for a living. Sometimes they are issued by Only Fans sexy girls who flaunt their bits and believe their currency will go up in value (amongst other things). Anyways, Penny Cryptos (unlike Penny Stocks) lack the experience, credibility, intangible asset value and knowledge to navigate the tumultuous shitty penny cryptos. In fact, they call many of these Penny Cryptos Shit Coins – No joke! Such companies often struggle with regulatory hurdles, lack of funding, and poor management, making their cryptocurrencies extremely risky ventures. #3: High Target of Scams and Fraud and Even Ponzi Schemes Penny cryptos can sometimes be the financial equivalent of snake oil salesmen. Their low cost and relative anonymity make them the perfect target for scams, fraud, and even Ponzi schemes. And you know how messed up the world is and what kind of trash people there are. And so, they are Penny Crypto con artists who try to sell their shitty coins only to lead to either a pump-and-dump scheme. Or to fake an ICOs Initial Coin Offering) gather a whole bunch of money from investors, then make a run for it. Please don’t fall for these scams! #4: Illiquid and Low Volume Which Will be Difficult to Get in and Out One of the most lethal attributes of penny cryptos is their lack of liquidity. Liquidity, in the financial sense, is like the exit doors in a movie theater. The more doors there are, the easier it is for people to leave when the movie is over. In the world of penny cryptos, these exit doors are often few and far between. Due to their low volume, buying and selling penny cryptos can be incredibly difficult. If you’ve invested in a penny crypto and its value begins to plummet, you may find yourself trapped, unable to sell and cut your losses. And you’ll just be stuck in your trade for years on end, while it gathers digital dust. #5: More Likely to Hit 0 as They are Less Trusted by the Public Trust is like the foundation of a house. If it’s strong and solid, the house stands tall. If it’s weak or non-existent, the house collapses. Given the factors I mentioned above, should be enough to make you realise. Any one of these weaknesses with a coin, can lead to a crash down to 0. And believe you me, most of the millions of Penny Cryptos that are around today – will be nothing more than a remnant of a memory in the future.
Education
by Timonrosso
Why Penny Stocks is a Trader's NightmareLet me start off and say. Penny Stocks have a lucrative and solid place for investors who buy and sell shares. But not just any investors. Well informed, researched, savvy and highly understand fundamentals. Penny stocks for a trader though – Ah no! Those shiny little nuggets of the stock market that promise vast riches for a small investment, can often turn into a trader’s worst nightmare. Here’s why… Reason #1: The Roller Coaster Ride: High Volatility Penny stocks are notorious for their high volatility. One day they can skyrocket and plummet the next. These stocks are like riding a financial roller coaster without a safety harness. No matter where you put your stop loss, it can trigger within a second. And this extreme price fluctuation, can be dangerous for traders. The unpredictable nature, can lead to rapid and substantial losses. Reason #2: Stuck in Quicksand: Low Liquidity Volume is another caveat. Liquidity refers to the ability to quickly buy or sell (flow in and out) of a stock without significantly impacting its price. Penny stocks often lack this characteristic. Some penny stocks volume is SO low, that it can take months or even years to move in price. This means, once you’re in, you might find yourself unable to exit your position. Instead of flowing in and out of a trade (like a blue chip), you’re stuck in quicksand. Quite the oxymoron! Without a healthy volume of trades, penny stocks can become a trap, a nightmare for any trader. Reason #3: Walking a Tightrope: High Chance of Bankruptcy and Liquidations Investing in penny stocks is akin to walking a financial tightrope. These companies are often at a higher risk of bankruptcy and liquidation. This is because of their lower levels of regulation, credibility and inherent instability. And the issue with a less regulated penny stock company, is that it allows for less transparency. This makes it difficult for investors to drill into the true company’s health. The high risk of bankruptcy further amplifies the nightmare. Reason #4: Battling with Giants: Lacking the Strength of Blue-Chip Companies Penny stock companies are typically not well-established businesses. They lack the strength, stability, and track record of blue-chip companies. And without you doing the right research, it can leave them susceptible to market fluctuations and economic downturns. Investing in these companies can feel like bringing a pebble to a boulder fight. You’ll struggle to hold your ground amidst giants. Reason #5: The Race to Zero: The High Failure Rate of Penny Stocks It’s an unfortunate reality. Most penny stocks are more likely to crash and burn than to soar. Because of their weaker fundamentals and instability, they are more likely to head to zero – than a blue-chip company. So let’s sum up the reasons why penny stocks is a traders nightmare: Reason #1: The Roller Coaster Ride: High Volatility Reason #2: Stuck in Quicksand: Low Liquidity Reason #3: Walking a Tightrope: High Chance of Bankruptcy and Liquidations Reason #4: Battling with Giants: Lacking the Strength of Blue Chip Companies Reason #5: The Race to Zero: The High Failure Rate of Penny Stocks If you’re a savvy investor or you have someone great to follow, go for it. But I’ve warned you about the dangers for a trader.
TVC:RUTEducation
by Timonrosso
GLOSSARY Smart Money Concepts – Complete Terms!It’s taking the world by a storm. Smart Money Concepts is what has become famous lately. Now I’ve been trading for 20 years and even I have learnt to adapt and adjust SMC to my trading strategy. I guess we have to evolve and adapt with what there is. Anyways, today I’ve written a complete Glossary on Smart Money Concepts terms for you. Enjoy! SMART MONEY CONCEPTS GLOSSARY Break Of Structure (BOS) (CONTINUATION) A BOS is when the price breaks above or below, and continues in the direction of the trend. (CONTINUATION). Break Of Structure Down When the price breaks and closes BELOW the wick of the previous LOW in a DOWNTREND. Break Of Structure Up When the price breaks and closes ABOVE the wick of the previous HIGH in an UPTREND. Buy Side Liquidity (Smart Money SELLS) Where an Order Block forms where Smart Money SELLS into retailers (dumb money) BUYING orders – Pushing the price DOWN. Change of Character (CHoCH) (REVERSAL) Refers to a much larger shift in the underlying market trend, dynamic or sentiment. This is where the price moves to the point where there is a change in the overall trend. (REVERSAL) Change of Character Down When the price breaks and closes below the previous uptrend. Change of Character Up When the price breaks and closes above the previous downtrend. Daily bias Tells us which direction, trend and environment the market is in and what we are looking to trade. Daily bias Bearish When the market environment is DOWN and the trend is DOWN – we look for shorts (sells) in the market. Daily bias Bullish When the market environment is UP and the trend is UP – we look for long positions (buys) in the market. Discount market <50% The market is at a discount when the price trades BELOW the equilibrium level. We say the price is at a discount (low price). Equilibrium Equilibrium is a state of the market where the demand and supply are in balance with the price. We say the price of the market is at fair value. Fair Value Gap (FVG) A 3 candle structure with an up or down impulse candle that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market. Fair Value Gap Bearish A 3 candle structure with a DOWN impulse candle that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market. Between candle 1 and 3, do NOT show common prices. The price needs to move back up to rebalance and fill the gap. Fair Value Gap Bullish A 3 candle structure with an UP impulse candle that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market. Between candle 1 and 3, do NOT show common prices. The price needs to come back down to rebalance and fill the gap. Levels of liquidity The area of prices where smart money players, identify and choose to BUY or SELL large quantities. E.g. Supports, resistances, highs, lows, key levels, trend lines, volume, indicators, psychological levels. Liquidity The degree, rate and ability for an asset or security to be easily bought (flow in) or sold (flow out) in the market at a specific price. Liquidity sweep (Liquidity grab) Smart money buys or sells (and sweeps or grabs liquidity) from traders who enter, exit or get stopped. Market down structure When the price makes lower lows and lower highs. Market structure Indicates what a market is doing, which direction it’s in and where it is more likely to go. Market Structure Shift (MSS) MSS shows you when the price is breaking a structure or changing the direction in the market. Market up structure When the price makes higher lows and higher highs. Order block Large market orders (big block of orders) where smart money buys or sells from different levels of liquidity. Order Block Bearish A strong selling or a supply zone for smart money. Order Block Bullish A strong buying or a demand zone for smart money. Order block events Large market orders where smart money buys or sells from certain events i.e. High volume, supports, resistances, highs, lows, key levels, Break Of Structure, Change of Character, News or economic event. Point Of Interest (POI) POI is an area or level in the market where there is expected to be a large amount of buying or selling activity i.e. Order blocks. Premium market >50% The market is at a premium when the price trades ABOVE the equilibrium level. We say the price is at a premium (high price). Sell Side Liquidity (Smart Money BUYS) Where an Order Block forms where the Smart Money BUYS into the retail (dumb money traders orders – Pushing the price UP. Smart Money These are the smart, informed, and savvy financial institutions that invest (buy and sell) their large capital into different financial markets. Smart Money Concepts SMC is a more sophisticated method of price action to spot, identify and locate where smart money is buying and selling their positions Sweep Buy Side Liquidity (Smart Money SELLS) Smart Money SELLS into positions (and sweeps liquidity) from retail traders who are short (get stopped) and for long traders who buy and enter their trades. Sweep Sell Side Liquidity (Smart Money BUYS) Smart Money BUYS into positions (and sweeps liquidity) from traders who are long (get stopped) and for short traders who enter their trades. Feel free to print this out and have it as a guide to your Smart Money Concepts trading journey. All the best!
Editors' picks
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
101
Why Do So Many Successful Traders Gym?Have you noticed? That most successful traders, engage in some type of regular physical exercise. And on their social channels they are either talking on the treadmill or they’re talking about their supplements they’re taking before they hit the gym. And it makes you wonder. Is gymming a prerequisite to trade well and successfully? I mean, do we have to gym to trade well? Unfortunately, I do gym on a regular basis and do cardio many times a week. But no. I don’t think I’ll attribute it to my trading success. However, I think there are many merits to gymming well and trading well. And it all starts with… #1: Discipline – You Put in the Work Training in the gym is about discipline, perseverance, and gradual improvement. It’s about building strength, endurance, and resilience. These are definitely all qualities required in a successful trader. Traders, like athletes, understand that to achieve success, you must put in the work. There are no shortcuts. If you have the discipline to gym (not every day) every week, you will have what it takes to persevere as a trader. If you’re a quitter and a give upper or a I’ll do it next Monday type a guy or gal, then trading probably won’t work for you. The financial market doesn’t grant success to the lucky, but rather to the diligent and well-prepared. #2. Pick up the Portfolio (Weights) as You Make More In the same way that you wouldn’t expect to build muscle or increase your stamina overnight in the gym, you shouldn’t expect immediate trading success. And in the same way you don’t just lift heavier weights after a short period in the gym, so to where you mustn’t trade more (with a small portfolio size). Let’s dig deeper. In the gym, you start lifting weights that match your strength level. As you grow stronger, you gradually increase the weight to keep challenging your muscles. And this leads you to further growth and strength. This same principle applies to trading. Beginners should start with a smaller, manageable portfolio that matches their level of knowledge, understanding and personality with the markets. As their knowledge, skill, and confidence grow, they can start diversifying and increasing their portfolio. They won’t risk more (relative) per trade, but they will deposit more money into their portfolios. They’ll trade larger volumes. But like I said, they won’t risk more in percentage terms. Remember, it’s essential to increase the portfolio wisely, without skipping steps, just like in weight training. Patience and progressive overload are key in both fields. #3: Don’t Overtrain – Don’t Overtrade If you overtrain in the gym – watch out. It can lead to injuries, burnout, demotivation (is that a word?) and diminished returns. Same works with overtrading. It can lead to financial losses, emotional stress and a big punch to your confidence levels. You need to know the importance of balance and recovery – like you do as a trainer. You need to understand how to pace yourself the right way, and to: NOT take trades for the sake of it. NOT try to accelerate your portfolio performance. NOT be impatient with the process Got it? #4: It’s a Forever Process Fitness, strength, physical activity and maintaining your sexy figure is a lifelong endeavour. You can’t just build muscle and then stop working out, expecting to stay fit forever. You can’t just go on the treadmill once and lose those 20kg you packed on 10 years ago. Same with trading. You can’t just make a few successful trades and then rest on your laurels. The markets are always changing, and traders need to keep learning and adapting their strategies to stay ahead. This requires continuity Trading requires perseverance Trading requires repetition Continuous education Ongoing testing, tweaking and monitoring And while we’re at it, gymming can help with your trading I mean, I’m no doctor, but there are also very good mental benefits of regular exercise, such as: Improved concentration Better mood Stress reduction Help maintain the psychological equilibrium needed for long-term trading success Also, it gets you to step away from the computer and screen after you’ve taken a trade. It allows you to realign and escape from the real world and into your mind and creative self. Even though you don’t necessarily need to gym to be a successful trader. The parallels between gym training and trading are substantial. The discipline, resilience, patience, and commitment to continual learning that the gym fosters translate directly into trading habits. Do you gym or do any physical exercises?
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
WHY you don't JUST Take The TradeIn the frenzied world of financial trading. It gets to a stage eventually where we will hesitate to take the trade. Even though you have the plan, strategy and mindset to a T. Something could trigger you to not take the trade. So why does this happen? There are a multitude of reasons, but here are four reasons you might not take the trade. Reason #1: Market Moved Too Much Even I miss the mark sometimes. Either I get distracted by writing something for you. Either I wake up late past 10 am. Either I am flying or at the beach. And then… The market moves too much and I miss the trade. This is life and this can catch us off guard. There is no excuse in the bigger scheme of things because the market will move with or without you. Just like time waits for no man. Neither does the market. We need to be more disciplined, more determined and should be like a sniper when it comes to trading the markets. Reason #2: You’re Scared to Lose This one applies to three types of traders. Either you’re new to the market and don’t want to lose money. Or you’ve been in the market and you just can’t programme your mind to lose money. Or you have already lost money and you have an even bigger fear of losing even more money. Trading, by its very nature, involves risks. But sometimes, the fear of potential losses can overwhelm us, leading to indecision and missed opportunities. Emotional trading is a surefire way to erratic decision-making and inconsistent results. So if you’re scared to lose, risk less. If you’re scared to lose, paper trade until you feel more confident. If you’re scared to lose, work on risk psychology through journals and reading. Or just reading an article like this. It may help you. Reason #3: Too Much Money to Spend Some markets are expensive! If you’re new to trading and you try to trade a world index or a futures contract like Brent Crude – brace yourself. It might spook you away from trading because it’s too much to spend. But then there are markets that aren’t expensive to trade like Forex, local and some international stocks. Stick to those and lower your risk to 1.5% or even 1% risk per trade. Balancing risk and reward is a delicate art in trading. Reason #4: No Trust Yet in the System Confidence is not easy to gain with trading strategies. I never believed in my system for years. Why? Because I thought the past results truly meant nothing for the future performance of the markets. Then as trading became more logical and as I saw that financial markets is nothing more than psychology and demand and supply, the confidence in the system went up. People will be people. Before plunging into trades, it’s beneficial to familiarise yourself with the strategy and make sure you backtest them and study them like a trading engineer and statistician. Your confidence will grow and eventually you’ll get to the point where you will. JUST TAKE THE TRADE.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
What if your trading position is halted? What happens if your trading position is halted? There are a few possible outcomes for this scenario. First, when a stock is halted – this means trading that market will be suspended. You will not be able to open, adjust or close your position during that time. The best-case scenario is when the position will just be removed from your account and you will lose whatever the margin (deposit) you put into the trade. The worst-case scenario is, if the market resumes trading but the share price drops over 99%, the next day. Either, the company will release news that it’s currently undergoing facing financial difficulties or fraud. Or it has failed to meet the regulatory requirements. This can result in the stock heading to zero and being delisted from the main index. That’s why it’s important to only look to trade markets that are quality blue-chips, highly credible stocks with a great track record. This way you’ll have a much higher chance at picking stocks that are NOT susceptible to heading to zero. But to be safe, you’ll need to get more accurate information about the specific procedures and outcomes of your trade. It's crucial to consult your trading platform, CFD provider, or your broker directly. They will give you more details about what happened to the stock, the market regulations, and the specific terms and conditions that apply to your situation. If you have any more questions I'll be happy to help where I can. Comment your question below.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
3
10 Black Swan Events that shook the marketsBlack Swans are highly unpredictable events that go beyond what is usually expected of a situation. One definition I like is this. A Black Swan is where an event can cause the market to move 10 standard deviations away from the norm. When this happens they could potentially have severe and wide-reaching consequences. You’ll see the market will jump erratically and even cause a halt in trading activity completely. So when you spot a Black Swan. Just take it easy from trading the markets that can be affected. Here are 10 Black Swan Events that I can think of that had an impact on the markets. 2008 Global Financial Crisis Triggered by the collapse of the US housing market, it led to a worldwide banking crisis and severe global economic downturn. COVID-19 Pandemic An unprecedented global health crisis that had significant repercussions on global economies and markets in 2020. Dotcom Bubble Burst (2000) The dramatic rise (due to greed and optimism) and fall (due to fear and panic) of internet companies in the late 1990s led to a severe market correction. Brexit (2016) Britain’s unexpected decision to leave the EU had immediate impacts on global markets. Japanese Asset Price Bubble Burst (1992) This led to a lost decade of economic stagnation in Japan. (Have you seen the Nikkei! And can you imagine holding stocks from 1992?) Swiss Franc Unpegging (2015) The Swiss National Bank’s sudden decision to remove the cap on the Franc’s value against the Euro led to extreme currency volatility. (Forex trading was a nightmare seeing some prices drop hundreds of pips). September 11 Attacks (2001) The terrorist attacks had immediate and long-term effects on global economies and markets. (I was too young to worry so I missed this one.) Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (2011) Triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, it had significant impacts on global energy markets. (I remember holding oil stocks while driving. And I came home to R120,000 loss). Flash Crash (2010) The US stock market crash, triggered by a high-frequency trading algorithm, sent a financial shockwave around the world. (Fat fingers caused by unknown factors). Oil Price Negative (2020) For the first time in history, the price of US oil turned negative due to low demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Which Black Swan event affected you the most? Let me know in the comments?
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
2
DID YOU KNOW? Trading has never been more...What was a realm for Wall Street titans and for the affluent investors… In the last couple of years, it has knocked its walls, and has broken the financial chains. Today, it’s at the hand to the everyday individual, regardless of their financial background. Just to put it into perspective. In 2003 until like 2007, trading was very limited. I had a very old-fashioned trading software which updated once a day. I only had shares to trade. And then as the years progressed, I was paying R17,000 a year to have a software that updated every 15 minutes. The struggle was REAL! But today, is a different story. You are in the best times every to trade. It’s the cheapest it’s ever been. It has more markets, instruments, options and features at your fingertips. And you can even start with your charting, preparation and work on your trading track record – essentially for FREE. So, if you’re not in the trading game yet – WHY NOT? And that’s just the start of it. DID YOU KNOW? Trading has never been more… #1: Affordable Trading, as we know it, has undergone significant transformations in the past decade. It is now more affordable than ever before. A combination of technological advancements, regulatory changes, and the evolution of trading platforms has significantly reduced the financial barriers to entry. Just look at TradingView? Many brokerages are in such high competition that they have had no choice but to: Cut brokerages Make minimal spreads for trade Remove the yearly platform fee Some even have a zero-commission trading platform The only expensive thing, with some brokers, is that you might need to have a minimum account size. But the money is yours. It stays in your account. And you might even earn interest just by keeping it there. It’s amazing. #2: Easier to Learn With the proliferation of online learning resources on YouTube, TikTok, websites - you can master the art of trading – FREE. Even most reputable brokers now offer comprehensive trading education, to help you on the way to trading their platforms. And many brokerages offer demo accounts where beginners can practice trading with virtual (paper) money. This way they can gain hands-on experience without the risk of losing any real money. #3: Accessible Trading has never been more accessible. Gone are the days when trading meant being physically present on the exchange floor or having to call your broker to place a trade. In today’s digital age, you can trade on your smart phone tablet or computer. Also, with the high competition – most great brokers offer their own customised trading apps and online platforms. And the variety is crazy. Whether you want to trade CFDs, Spread Betting, Futures, Options, Lots, or other instruments – the world is your trading oyster. Just go to TradingView and you’ll see hundreds of thousands of markets to choose from. (Stocks, indices, commodities, Forex, Crypto, ETFs, Bonds, Economic indicators and Funds). #4: Hospitable With brokers and market makers with their obligatory regulatory frameworks and criteria, around the globe, they are constantly pushing for more transparency and fairness in financial markets. They are also pushing for more educational sources. They are improving with HR and pristine customer services features. The odds are no longer heavily stacked in favour of institutional players. Such features help retail traders make informed decisions, level the playing field and make the trading world a more welcoming place for newcomers. So, we can see trading is becoming more affordable, easier to learn, accessible, and hospitable. And they will continue to do so and improve, which is why you have got to take the leap and harness what is available. As I mentioned earlier. Today the world is your trading oyster – Go fishing!
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
6 Rules of Successful Trading Once you become a trader. Once you think about trading every day. Once you have set your mind, soul, and heart into trading. There is no going back. You’ve reached the point of no return! And it’s thrilling and exhilarating once you’ve mastered this element to your life. So you might as well harness the true nature of what it takes to be successful. Here are 6 key rules every successful trader lives by. Always have a trading plan One hallmark of a successful trader is an effective trading plan. This is a self-journey and only you can endure it through different endeavours. Your trading plan acts as a roadmap and your game-plan, to guide you to your daily trading activities to help you make informed decisions. This plan should detail your system, risk and reward management along with your financial goals, risk tolerance, criteria for entering and exiting trades, and strategies for managing your trades. Every trade you execute should align with the objectives outlined in your plan. Also, evolve and adapt to your plan along with the ever evolving market world. Don’t procrastinate In the world of trading, timing and persistence is everything. Successful traders understand the im portance of making swift, decisive moves when the right opportunities arise. Procrastination, on the other hand, can lead to missed opportunities laziness and potential losses. So, get up, make your coffee and get to it. Also, remember to always keep a close eye on market trends, economic indicators, and relevant news events. This proactive approach will ensure you’re well-prepared to act promptly when your defined trading criteria are met. Remember, the market won’t wait for you, so you must be ready to seize opportunities when they present themselves. Be patient While it’s essential to act decisively. It’s also our goal to just….. WAIT. Be patient and only strike when you see that golden opportunity present itself. Sometimes, the best action is inaction. Sometimes, you have to just wait it out and stay out. Neutral is also a position. And you need to know when it is best to protect and preserve your portfolio. Successful traders don’t let impatience force them into suboptimal trades that fall outside their strategic plan. Just take the trade I’m seriously going to have a mug or a t-shirt saying. Trade well and just take the trade. When your plan indicates it’s time to trade, you need to overcome your hesitations and execute the trade. Traders must realize that not every trade will result in profit. So you might as well take the trade that lines up when it’s a high probability one. Even the best traders face losses. Even the best trades take losing weeks, months and even quarters! What matters most is your overall performance across many trades. As I always say, it’s not about the 1 trade but the hundreds of trades later. So, when the conditions of your trading plan are met, take the trade, and maintain your risk management strategies to limit potential losses. Keep learning and evolving Financial markets are dynamic and ever-evolving. As a trader, it’s crucial to keep learning and adapting to these changes. Stay updated with market trends, new trading strategies, and changes in regulations. Consider continual education a part of your trading plan. See what other successful traders are doing. See what other strategies they’re adapting to. See what new markets are available and what sectors are outperforming. Learn to earn. This ongoing learning process will keep you on top of your trading game and help you adapt your strategies as markets evolve. Don’t give up No matter what you do, remember. You only lose when you quit. Trading is a long-term game filled with ups and downs. The key is to view these setbacks as learning experiences, not reasons to quit. When faced with losses, successful traders analyze their decisions, identify mistakes, and learn from them. They maintain a positive mindset and understand that perseverance is crucial. Stay focused on your trading plan, refine your strategies, and remain resilient on your path to trading success. By incorporating these six rules into your trading routine, you’ll be well on your way to a profitable and sustainable trading career. Always have a trading plan Don’t procrastinate Be patient Just take the trade Keep learning and evolving Don’t give up
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Cut out Useless Trading Data - 6 Points There is a curse of knowledge in the world of trading. And it comes a time where a new trader believes the way they can WIN is through… Knowing and applying as much info and data as possible. I’ve been there. In 2008, you should have seen my charts. They looked like Christmas Trees. Cut out the conflicting indicators. Cut out ANYTHING that does not make logical sense. Less is more with trading. Let’s explore some factors that can help you cut out the unnecessary data. Find One or Two Systems Only Trading systems are a collection of rules and parameters that traders use to determine their entry and exit points. With myriad trading systems available, it’s really tempting to dabble in different ones. And as a beginner trader, I understand it’s crucial for you to find yourself and your trading personality. However, once you find what system works for you. Once you find the ones that match your trading style, risk tolerance, and financial goals – Stick to them. Adapt, evolve, improve and optimise your strategy. When you absolutely master your strategy and your focus, you can gain deep expertise in those systems and utilize them more effectively. Minimize the Number of Markets Each market is unique, with its own set of rules, trends, and volatility. If you diversify into too many markets, it can dilute your focus and make it harder to understand the nuances of each market. Instead, find the markets that most definitely work you’re your strategy. Whether it be stocks, indices, Forex, commodities or crypto. Break them up into watchlists and the ones that don’t work with the system, well don’t include them obviously! Choose Only One or Two Time Frames Just as with trading systems and markets, time frames also require careful consideration. Whether you prefer day trading, swing trading, or position trading, it should tell you the time frames you should be focusing on. Select one or two time frames that align with your trading style and stick with them. I like daily for stocks, commodities and crypto. I like 15 minutes for Intraday trading indices and daily for identifying the Daily Bias. By doing so, you’ll avoid the confusion and contradiction that often comes from analysing multiple time frames simultaneously. Cut Out Unnecessary Indicators The year was 2008. I had 5 Moving Averages, 1 Bollinger Band, 1 MACD, 1 RSI, 1 Stochastics, 1 William %R, Volume, and even the ATR (Average True Range). The problem was. These signals were conflicting each other. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to back and forward test a strategy like this? And yes, all the information is at our fingertips. But it can also be the doom of our portfolios. Why? I realised one thing. Indicators, volume, price action etc… Is all based on ONE constant. Historical data. The data and information you see is all based on the past. There are no predictions, no certainties only probabilities. So you need to cut out the unnecessary information. Don’t fall for “analysis paralysis,” where excessive data hampers your decision-making. Choose a few key indicators that provide the most valuable information for your trading strategy. Focus on One or Two Financial Instruments Diversification is a key principle in finance, but it’s possible to overdo it. When I say instruments I mean CFDs, Lots, Spread Betting, Options, Futures etc… You know what a schlepp it is to have different journals for different instruments, trading the same things? Ye… Choose 1 or maybe two instruments (if your one broker doesn’t offer some markets you wish to trade). But there is no benefit in trading a whole bunch of trading instruments at once. Also when you spread your capital too thinly across multiple financial instruments, you’ll find it can complicate your trading strategy, portfolio and risk management. And it will make it difficult to keep track of your investments. Only Have One or Two or Max Three Trading Accounts Managing multiple trading accounts can be a logistical nightmare. Similar to what I mentioned above. It can lead to unneeded complexity in tracking performance, managing tax liabilities, and maintaining a balanced portfolio. Instead, limit your trading accounts to 1, 2 or max 3. This is so you can monitor your trading performance across different markets. For example. Forex is a completely different ball game to stocks (in my opinion). And so, I like to have two different trading accounts for each. Final words. Let’s focus on less rather than more going forward. Cut out unnecessary and useless data when you trade. And remember these point which is what we have covered today… Find One or Two Systems Only Minimize the Number of Markets Choose Only One or Two Time Frames Cut Out Unnecessary Indicators Focus on One or Two Financial Instruments Only Have One or Two or Max Three Trading Accounts
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Important Trading Terms YOU need to KnowSorry but the truth is… You can’t get away from the trading lingo. There are at least 7 terms you need to deal with a day. But fortunately, they repeat and before you know it – they’re second nature. Let’s start with the most important terms – you’ll face every day as a trader. Symbol – Name of market you want to trade: The symbol represents the unique identifier of a specific financial instrument or market. It is the special name that is given for each market. For example, in the stock market, symbols are typically a combination of letters that represent a particular company’s shares. In the forex market, symbols are currency pairs such as EUR/USD or GBP/JPY. In the commodity market each have their own symbol i.e. Gold = XAU/USD, GCI Go to TradingView head over to Symbol search and start searching and adding to your watch list. Side: Buy (go long) or Sell (go short): The “side” refers to the direction of your trade. Buying (going long) means you believe the price of the instrument will rise, and you aim to profit from the increase. Selling (going short) means you anticipate the price will fall, allowing you to profit from the downward movement. The choice of the side depends on your market analysis and trading strategy. Quantity: No. of CFDs or lots: The quantity represents the number of Contracts for Difference (CFDs) or lots you want to trade. This is all dependent on your risk profile and portfolio size. CFDs allow you to speculate on the price movements of an underlying asset without owning the asset itself. The quantity determines the exposure and potential profit or loss of your trade. It’s important to consider your risk tolerance and account size when determining the appropriate quantity to trade. Order type (Market or limit): The order type specifies how you want your trade to be executed. A market order is executed immediately at the most current market price. This type of order guarantees execution but does not guarantee a specific price. So there might be slippage (where you get in versus where you wanted to get in) which can interfere with your Risk to Reward. A limit order allows you to set a specific price at which you want the trade to be executed. So basically, you LIMIT The price you wish to enter. The order will be executed only if the market reaches or exceeds your specified price. Validity: How long to hold: Validity refers to the duration for which your order remains active. Common options include: GTC: “Good Till Cancelled” where the order remains active until you manually cancel it. FOK: Fill or Kill: This type of order requires immediate execution of the entire order quantity. If the full amount is not executed, it is then cancelled. GTD: “Good Till Date” (GTD), where you can specify a specific date until which the order is valid. MIT: Market if Touched: This order is triggered when the market price reaches a specified level (trigger price). It then becomes a market order and is executed at the best available price. LIT: Limit if Touched: If a Limit if Touched order is triggered when the market price reaches a trigger price. However, it becomes a limit order with a specified limit price and will only be executed at or better than the limit price. Levels: Entry, Stop loss, and Take profit: These levels are essential in managing your risk and potential profits. Entry Level: The price at which you enter the market by opening a trade. Stop Loss Level: A predetermined price level at which your trade will automatically close to limit potential losses if the market moves against you. Take Profit Level: A predetermined price level at which your trade will automatically close if the market moves in your favour. What trading term do you want to know more about and let us know if this was useful!
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Why MOST Traders QuitI have said this many times. You only lose when you quit. Until then you’re either earning or you’re learning. But the issue is majority of people quit trading. And it goes far beyond just money lost. I say that because the essence of trading is playing with money you can afford to lose and you can psychologically handle. Right? So, it goes beyond money. If you’re thinking of quitting trading, first give this piece a read and let’s identify the cause and it might help you to carry on. You’re closer today to achieving your trading goals than yesterday. The Pitfalls of Financial Trading REASON #1: They blew their account by risking too much One of the primary reasons why many traders ultimately quit the financial markets is the common mistake of blowing their trading account. There are three main reasons you blew your account. You risked far too much on certain trades. You did NOT adhere to strict money management principles. Your portfolio was tiny (Under $1,000) to start off with. So the costs, the brokerages, the margins were all too much. It’s like flying a plane at a low altitude hoping you won’t strike a mountain. REASON #2: They keep adapting losing strategies based on non-tested methods Another reason for you to abandon your trading is this. Your methods, strategies and systems are losers. If you back and forward test, it yields negative results. So, technically the system is achieving what its numbers are in a way. I’ve back tested a LOT of strategies in my youth. 100s of thousands of parameters, indicators and criteria. And 89% of them were just plain losers. Don’t think by logic, that the system will work. Don’t think by a few months, will dictate a systems complete and eternal performance. Don’t just follow a trader’s strategy and adapt to your own without any backtested results. Without proper testing and evaluation, you are at risk of adopting strategies that are based on faulty assumptions or rely on limited historical data. REASON #3: They go against their strategy as their ego takes over and they lack confidence Ego is a dangerous trait to have as a trader. And with you feeling like you know better than the market and deviating from your plan, is a recipe for disaster. Do it once, you’ll do it again. Do it a few times, and you’ll get right back on that emotional roller coaster that comes with trading. And it will grow and infect your trading as it will lead to even more impulsive actions and irrational decision-making. Your confidence will get shot. Your vibrations within yourself will be depro and will reflect onto your trading performance. The psychological pressures associated with trading can magnify the impact of losses and amplify self-doubt, ultimately push you out of the game. REASON #4: They can’t weather through drawdowns NOTE: Drawdowns, which refer to the decline in a trader’s account value from its peak, are an inherent part of trading. Here’s something funny. When you go through good times with trading, it almost feels normal. And you can go through 6 months of great upside for your portfolio. But when that one or two months drawdown kicks in (inevitably it will), time feels different. It feels like an eternity of failure and with the feeling of you’re never getting out of this.. Unfortunately, many traders find it challenging to cope with these challenging phases, leading to frustration and ultimately quitting. Am I right? Well as my friend and great colleague Igor said to me: Your biggest winning streak and your biggest drawdown is still to come. So you might as well embrace it with strict money management principles along the way. Successful trading comes with the ability to easily withstand drawdowns and navigate through extended periods of market downturns. Also, psychologically you may find as a new trader that when you endure through longer periods of downside in the market, it can be both mentally and emotionally draining. Extended periods of drawdowns can cause a few problems: It can erode a trader’s confidence It can take away their optimism It can make them feel envious over other traders who are winning It can demotivate them to carry on It can cause them to make irrational decisions It can lead to over trading and revenge trading It can make them quit. They find the next “best” thing, onwards to the next holy grail (which never arrives). REASON #5: To continue the pursuit of the next “best” thing People follow where they think the quick money it. They are constantly on the quest to find their holy grail. Sure, trading isn’t for everyone. And Yes trading is the hardest and most easiest way to make an income. But, you seek will also require a ton of research, psychology, sacrifice and time. Nothing of high reward comes without a degree of risk. Bigger the reward, greater the risk. Or everyone would make a ton of money, right? So don’t fall into that trap of jumping to the next lily like a frog… Traders who constantly search for the next big thing end up chasing elusive dreams instead of focusing on developing their skills and understanding the markets. The reality is that there is no magic strategy that guarantees success in trading. The markets are ever-changing, and what works today may not work tomorrow. It is important for traders to recognize that trading success is not about finding a secret shortcut or relying on external factors beyond their control. It is about continuous learning, discipline, and a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions. Develop your robust trading plan, manage your risk effectively, and stay focused on long-term goals. Those factors alone will keep you on the right quest to trading well.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
1
6 IMPORTANT Trading Orders You need To Know!DO YOU KNOW THE 6 TRADING ORDERS? There are many trading orders that a broker can offer. You’ll just need to confirm on the platform or give them a call, which ones they have. And it’s important to know which one suits your trading needs best. Before you buy or sell a trade, there is usually a setting that you can choose to execute your trade. Common options include: 1: GTC: “Good Till Cancelled” Where the order remains active until you manually cancel it. 2: FOK: “Fill or Kill” (Settle!) This type of order requires immediate execution of the entire order quantity. If the full amount is not executed, it is then cancelled. 3: GTD: “Good Till Date” Where you can specify a specific date until which the order is valid. 4: MIT: “Market if Touched” This order is triggered when the market price reaches a specified level (trigger price). It then becomes a market order and is executed at the best available price. 5: LIT: “Limit if Touched” If a Limit if Touched order is triggered when the market price reaches a chosen or trigger price. 6: GTC (Good Till Cancelled). This way you’ll know that your position (order) will stay in the market until you cancel it manually.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
1
Just Don't Trade When...Just Don’t Do It Trader By now, you know what to do as a trader. I’ve pretty much drilled in your mind. You can hear my voice echo the 4 Ms. But one overlooked thing that’s also important… Are the things not to do. Let’s crack into the 5 things… #1: DON’T fear losing – It’s just the cost of trading Losing trades are an inevitable part of trading. So why fear losses if they are going to come. And it’s not just one or two losses. You’re about to take thousands of losses in your life. But don’t see them as losses. Instead, view them as the cost of doing business in the markets. Every trade carries a level of risk (hence we use stop losses in every trade). And losses are opportunities to learn and refine your strategies (if need be). So make it natural to embrace your losses as a part of the trading process. This way you’ll cut the ego, and take on each trade with a more objective and focussed point. #2: DON’T dwell on past failures – You are only as good as your last trade While it is essential to learn from past mistakes. If you dwell on them, they will excessively hinder your hard worked progress. Trading is an ever-evolving journey, and each trade presents a new opportunity. Instead of fixating on past failures, blown accounts, big drawdowns and times you just F*ed up with your trading system and mentality… Rather focus on the present and future. There is only NOW and what is to COME. So apply the past time lessons and focus on improving your decision-making performance in the next trade. You are only as good as your last trade. #3: DON’T expect fast riches – This is a slow and gradual process Trading is not a get-rich-quick scheme. If you expect to make it big in the first three years, I have news for you. Unless you already have a million rand portfolio to grow and bank from, this is going to take take. Cut out these unrealistic expectations because it’s going to be an emotional ride with excessive risk-taking. Instead, adopt a long-term perspective, set realistic goals and understand that trading success is a gradual process. Let the power of compounding work in your favour over time. #4: DON’T compare yourself to others – Your personality & risk profile shape you Each trader is unique. You are unique. Therefore, you have different risk tolerance levels, trading styles, and market perspectives. If you compare yourself to others, you’re going to feel inadequate and you’re going to enter into temptation on imitating their portfolios. It is essential to embrace your own strengths and weaknesses as a trader. Understand your personality, risk profile, and trading preferences, and align your strategies accordingly. Find what works for you and develop a personalized approach that suits your individual needs and goals. Trading is a self-learning journey that takes time and effort to master. #5: DON’T give up – You only lose when you quit! Persistence is key in trading. It is natural to face challenges and setbacks along the way. But the only time you truly lose is when you give up. Stay committed, maintain a positive mindset, and keep pushing forward. You still being in the game is what will differentiate you between failure and success. So let’s conclude what you must NOT do… #1: DON’T fear losing – It’s just the cost of trading #2: DON’T dwell on past failures – You are only as good as your last trade #3: DON’T expect fast riches – This is a slow and gradual process #4: DON’T compare yourself to others – Your personality & risk profile shape you #5: DON’T give up – You only lose when you quit! Just don’t do it, trader!
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
1
Revenge Trading is Lethal - 5 Reasons Why!Do you feel it in your bones. Where do you want to: Take trades to make up for losses? Take trades for the sake of trading? Take trades out of emotions and gut (gat feel)? Take trades to make a quick buck? If so, you have felt the power and dangers of Revenge Trading. TO put it blunt. Revenge trading is detrimental, dangerous and just plain stupid for any traders to succumb to. I feel like I can finish the article already as I have said what I needed to. Not just yet! You need to understand why Revenge Trading is to your downfall. Let’s start with these: #1: Impulsive decisions are dangerous In the heat of the moment, you just want to take an impulsive trade. This can lead to disastrous outcomes. Revenge trading happens when you want to try recoup losses quickly. And so traders abandon their strategies, systems and rules. And they take on unwarranted risks. This will stop you from making good, calculated, logical and well-informed decisions based on sound reasoning and market research. Don’t do it! #2: Trading on emotions is deadly Emotions such as fear, greed, and frustration have no place in trading. Revenge trading is fueled by these emotions. And this causes traders to deviate and steer way from their plans by instead acting irrationally. What then? Bigger losses, unnecessary risks to the portfolio and skewed results on your trackrecord. Your hard earned and timely worked on journal! Is it worth it? I think not. Cut out your emotions and work at being calm and take on the more logical approach, devoid of emotional interference. #3: Violating trading rules is damaging Every trader should have a set of well-defined trading rules in place. Not just rules but also a list of criteria. Revenge trading typically involves disregarding these rules and just going against everything you should do. Basically, what the average dumb retail trader does which results in 98% of traders losing in this financial endeavour. Violate your rules and there will be severe consequences. Loss of confidence. Bigger losses More losses Erratic wins (which make you want to do it again and again and again) Not worth it. Don’t do it. #4: Too much unnecessary risk You know you’re using your hard earned cash to trade and build a portfolio right? So why are you burning it and cutting it up like it’s nothing? This reckless behavior can lead to bigger drawdowns and can even wipe out trading accounts entirely. Don’t do it! #5: Creates an ongoing cycle of doing it again Great! Once you have violated your rules, gone against your strategy and pretty much gone ape or rogue on trading – it takes a lot to gain ones integrity and discipline back. One of the most dangerous aspects of revenge trading is its cyclical nature. Break the rule, you’ll break it again. Cheat, you’ll cheat again. Enter a gambling mentality and you’re in trouble. Bank a winning rogue trade and you’ll succumb to the trading world of discretionary action. However, if these subsequent trades result in further losses, the cycle repeats, trapping traders in a never-ending loop of revenge trading. Breaking free from this destructive pattern will then need a ton of discipline, self-awareness, and a commitment to sticking to one’s trading plan. So please be careful. Trade well! Don’t trade like gambler. Avoid the perils of revenge trading by all means, starting from today. And when you feel the need to do it (like a junkie), come back and read this article. Had to be said.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Traders Help the Economy in 4 Ways!When you trade and invest, there are many elements that you will continue to help contribute to. I can think of 4 main ways including: Way #1: You help with liquidity (volume) Remember, you are the intermediary in the markets. When you exchange money and buy and sell, you’re helping provide liquidity and volume. This makes it easier for other market participants to trade and manage risk. No matter how small or big the account size is, every trade counts. (Similar to the butterfly effect). Way #2: Helping our fellow brokers and managers Yes I know most people can’t stand the fact of the fat cats making millions of rands off other portfolios. But in South Africa, I find that most brokers are very small and don’t earn a lot of money. (Some small brokers earn under R25,000 per month). So when you buy and sell trades, you will help pay the small brokerage fees, which will aid to the salaries of the brokers you are using. Way #3: When you pay brokerage and fees, it creates more jobs When you pay the brokerage and trading platform fees. You are not only helping the brokers. But also the company they work for. The more money that goes into the firms, the more jobs that are created for other employees (Facilitators, marketers, support staff, risk managers, accountants, analysts, domestic workers, etc…) Way #4: This brings growth to your broker or market maker When your broker is doing well, as they have good clients and investors – this gives them a bigger incentive to help build and grow the company further including: · Better technology. · Better innovation · Better efficiency · Better features in the business This will also improve your experience with their growth developments. And so, I’m sure you can see that even if you want to trade for yourself, you will still be helping many companies, people and the economy as a whole… Nothing to feel bad about.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
5 DANGERS of Trading Penny StocksJust so you know. I believe if you’re following a world renown and successful Penny Share expert, you’re in good hands. They are able to spot low risk investments and guide you through the process of owning great Penny Stocks. But as a trader , who only looks at charts – THIS IS DANGEROUS TERRITORY. Remember, Penny Shares are high risk, high volatile, low credible companies that are LOW prices i.e. Under $1.00. And so, I just want to write as a trader point of view five key reasons why penny stocks can be dangerous to traders. DANGER #1: High Volatility (Jumpiness) Penny stocks are notorious for their high volatility. These stocks tend to experience rapid and drastic price fluctuations, often without apparent reasons. I’m talking about companies that can jump 10%, 30% and even 70% in a day. The lack of stability and price predictability can make it very difficult for traders to make informed decisions. Sudden price jumps or drops can result in significant gains or losses within a short period, amplifying the risk factor. And if you place your stop loss within a tight range, there’s a bigger chance you’ll get stopped out. DANGER #2: Low Liquidity (Less Volume) Think of Liquidity like the flow of water. It tells you the ease of being able to BUY or SELL a market, without impacting too much of the price. Once again, we look for low to medium volatility. Penny stocks typically have low liquidity due to limited trading volume. With fewer buyers and sellers in the market, it can be difficult to execute trades at the prices you want. And this leads to slippage and even higher transaction costs. Also, low liquidity may also prevent you from even entering or exiting your positions quickly. And this can even TRAP you in an unfavourable market environment for an extended period of time. DANGER #3: Not Established Businesses Penny stocks are often associated with small, early-stage companies that are not yet established in their respective industries. These companies may lack a proven track record, have limited financial history, and face various operational and market risks. So if you want to invest in these type of companies as a trader, it’s better you do it with fundamentals, research, business models and future prospects. If you do it purely on speculative purposes, this could be very risky for your portfolio. DANGER #4: More Likely to Head to Zero Yes all trading requires levels and degrees of risk and rewards. But it is not worth it, if some petty company is doing really badly and is showing signs of going to 0.00. Penny stocks are more susceptible to declining in value and potentially heading towards zero. I mean, South Africa has witnessed instances where penny stocks have experienced substantial losses, which took out a ton of investors. For example, companies like African Bank Investments Ltd (ABIL) and Oakbay Resources and Energy Limited serve as cautionary tales, where investors lost huge amounts as these companies approached or reached bankruptcy. Talking about bankruptcy. DANGER #5: High Chance of Bankruptcy and Liquidations Penny stocks are also more likely to go bankrupt or get liquidated compared to a Blue-chip stock. This is because of the nature of the companies, the inexperience, the lack of funds and structure, as well as its credibility. Financial instability, mismanagement, or unfavourable market conditions can lead to the collapse of these businesses. We saw this also in South Africa with the liquidation of Sharemax Investments and the bankruptcy of Pamodzi Gold Limited. This lead investors with little to no value for their investments. So remember this as a traders We want low volatility, high liquidity (volume), credible companies with great reputations, track record and credibility. And we want attractive charts that work with our trading strategies. If you want to be a savvy Penny Share investor that's fine. But as a trader, I have given my precautions.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Optimal Guide to Action Trades BetterThere are only a few decisions you need to make as a trader. When you actually need to press buttons to action trades. To enter, to adjust and to exit. It’s crucial for you to know when is the right time to do so. You need to consider certain factors and criteria to enhance the chance of profitability. And at the same time to mitigate risks. So here are four optimal actions you’ll need to take. When the Trading Signals Line Up – ACTION! This one is a given. When your trading system, strategy and signal all align. This refers to the convergence of multiple indicators or technical analysis tools, such as breakout patterns, Smart Money Concepts, moving averages, trend lines, or oscillators. When these signals confirm each other, it presents a higher probability trade setup. You need to wait for the confirmation though and the go ahead. This way, you’ll gain the competitive edge for when to enter and to avoid premature trades. Adjust the Stop Loss or Take Profit Levels – ACTION! During a trade, it is essential to monitor the market closely and be ready to adjust the stop loss or take profit levels (according to your strategy). This should NOT be guess work. This should be calculated on probabilities and in a way that you can optimise the strategy in a mechanical fashion. The stop loss is a predetermined level that limits the potential loss on a trade. While the take profit is a predefined level at which a trader intends to exit the trade with a profit. As the market evolves, price action and new information may necessitate revising these levels to protect profits or minimize losses. Which we often do as traders to increase the win rate and lock in potential and minimal profits. Traders should remain flexible and make timely adjustments to ensure their trade is aligned with the prevailing market conditions. When the Time Stop Loss Hits – ACTION! In certain trading scenarios, there may be a need to exit a trade before it becomes a long-term investment. This is particularly relevant in markets where overnight positions incur daily interest charges, such as in some derivative or forex markets. Traders must set a predetermined time stop loss i.e. 7 weeks holding a trade. You don’t want to incur too many interest charges. You don’t want to MARRY a trade. You don’t want to have capital tied up in stock during nonperforming trades. This is an opportunity cost where you can choose better trades to line up. If this time stop loss is reached, it is prudent to exit the trade (no matter what time of day it is), even if it is still within the specified stop loss or take profit levels. Either you’ll take a less than desired profit or less than expected loss. By adhering to the time stop loss, traders can avoid accumulating excessive interest charges and maintain your trading strategy’s integrity. When a Freak Anomaly Spooks the Market, like a Black Swan – ACTION! In rare instances, unforeseen events or anomalies, often referred to as Black Swan events, can greatly disrupt financial markets. These events are characterized by their unpredictability and magnitude, causing extreme market volatility. Normally when a market or index moves 10 times the standard deviation of it’s normal move. When such anomalies occur, it is crucial to act swiftly and exit the trade. Trying to ride out these events can lead to substantial losses. By recognizing the abnormality and promptly exiting the trade, traders protect their capital and avoid unnecessary risks associated with highly volatile market conditions. That’s it. A few but powerful times you need to take action to lock in, protect, manage, bank and call it quits. Master this and you’ll make better and well-timed decisions and adapt your positions to changing market conditions.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
4
Why you DID NOT take the trade - 4 REASONSSo you never took a trade again? This could be where the problems are rising. It’s also where you are probably missing out on what could help take your portfolio out of the drawdown. And sometimes, despite favourable market conditions, you may find yourself still hesitating to enter a trade. I want to explore four common reasons why traders fail to take the trade and how to overcome them. #1: The market moved too much One of the most common reasons traders hesitate to take the trade is that… The market has already moved significantly, and they fear they have missed the opportunity. However, it’s important to remember that the market is constantly in motion. The train will move and there is always an opportune moment to get into a trade. A sound trading strategy should take into account different market conditions, including volatile ones, and provide clear entry and exit points. If the market lines up despite how high or low it’s gone. Just take the trade. #2: You’re scared to lose the trade FOLO or Fear Of Losing Out is another common reason traders hesitate to enter a trade. While it’s natural to want to avoid losses. It’s important to remember that trading involves risk, and losses are inevitable. A sound risk management strategy, including setting stop-loss orders and managing position size, can help you to minimize potential losses and build confidence in entering a trade. #3: Too much money to spend Traders may also hesitate to enter a trade if they feel they have too much money to spend. Take oil for example. Most market markets (brokers) offer you to buy Brent crude but you have to buy 100 contracts as a minimum. In this case, it MIGHT be too much money to spend. Not because of how much of your portfolio you’re using up, but also because the risk might outweigh 2% of your portfolio. Then you get other markets like the JSE ALMI 40, where you’ll need to spend around R9,000 to enter a trade. It sounds like a lot (especially if your portfolio is less than 10,000. But, that’s why one should start with a larger minimum account size. I started with R30,000 in 2003 and even then it was too little to grow into a substantial amount. Then when it grew to the first R150,000, I started feeling comfortable with the portfolio size and it opened more opportunities to trade additional markets. So, that’s why if you want to take trading seriously, you got to cough up the cash into your portfolio and trade accordingly to strict money and reward management. #4: No trust in the system yet This one is a given and the most abundant reason to NOT take a trade. You might hesitate to enter a trade if you don’t have faith or confidence in your trading strategy or system. In this case, it’s essential to go back, review and test the strategy, ensuring it aligns with personal trading goals and is backed by sound research and analysis. When you build trust in a trading system, and you take the time and patience to see the good and the bad, then your confidence will grow. And that will be an essential step towards taking more trades to help grow your portfolio. Why don’t you take trades when you should? Is it because: You don’t trust your system You’re scared to lose money You don’t trust certain markets You don’t have enough money to trade different instruments You’re not ready with your strategy You don’t have confidence with yourself, discipline and emotions yet? Find them, harness them, work on them and you might have your answer.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso