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4 Ways to STOP Impulse TradingHow do I STOP Impulse Trading? Just a reminder. An impulse trader is one who makes quick, irrational decisions to take a trade (long or short) for some form of immediate satisfaction it may bring in the short run. Impulse trading might occasionally work. But it's risky and can damage your trading confidence and psychology in the long run. That’s because when you win, you’ll take more impulse trades that go against your strategy. But then the winning streak will end and the losing streak will come. And that’s where you’ll blow your portfolio eventually. So, to help you overcome impulse trading, I suggest these three solutions: Solution #1: Take a break When you feel the urge to make an impulsive trade, step away from your computer for an hour. Use the time to go cook a meal, go for a walk, or do something else that helps you relax. Then when you’re feeling more relaxed and in tune, you can come back to trade the markets with a refreshed, rational mindset to see what has or is lining up. Solution #2: Reflect on your trading history Review your trading track record. It is your game plan. It shows you the potential of what is to come. And it allows you to look at your past data and trend of your portfolio. Consider the gains and losses you've experienced and remind yourself of why it is super important to stick to your trading strategy. This alone should help you resist impulsive trades. Solution #3: Set specific conditions for impulse trading If you still struggle to control your impulsive trading instincts, then this might be the best idea. Open a separate trading account with disposable funds. This way, you can indulge and take your impulse trades without jeopardizing your primary trading strategy and account. Maybe it’s a R10,000 or even a R50,000 account. Or if you just want to trade for trading sake it, it might be a R5,000 account. Whatever it is. When you feel impulsive, trade using your impulse trading account. And then when it comes to your main account, you’ll be able to follow your specific trading strategy according to your track record. Remember, trading should be approached and seen like running a business, not like playing a slot machine. Keep this in mind, and this should help save your portfolio.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
1
May the Fourth Be With You - And your Stop losses!Star Wars has been around since 1977 which was written and directed by George Lucas. During that time, there have been phenomenal quotes, lessons and adventures that have been shared. Instead of telling you different lessons Star Wars can teach you about trading. How about I share some quotes and how you can apply them? Here are the ones I find are the most applicable. #1: "I find your lack of faith disturbing." Use this as a reminder to stay confident in your trades, even when the market is unpredictable. Have faith in your strategy. Have faith in your commitment. Have faith in your strong mindset. #2: "Your focus determines your reality." Stay focused on your trading goals and strategy. It’s not about what others see. It’s not about what others feel. It’s about you in your own work station, planning, preparing and executing accordingly. #3: "Do or do not, there is no try." Commit fully to your trades, rather than hesitating or second-guessing. When it’s lined up, ACTION. When you see a trade setups, write them down and prepare for execution. Don’t try… DO! #4: "Fear is the path to the dark side." Stay level-headed and not let fear or panic drive your trading decisions. Fear doesn’t exist. Only danger does. We are fearful most times in our head when there is no apparent danger. Remember this when you feel fear. #5: "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck." Successful trading is based on skill, probabilities and strategy, not luck. #"6: The Force will be with you, always." Here’s a reminder that your skills and strategy will guide you through both good and bad trading times. In this case the force is your proven strategy, your will, your commitment and your strong mind. #7: "You must unlearn what you have learned." Be open-minded and flexible when it comes to adapting your trading strategy. We learn as sheeple to buy low sell high. While I have gone against the idea and instead BUY HIGH, SELL HIGHER. Also, when everyone buys, is normally where the Smart Money offloads theirs. And when retail dumb money sells, that’s where Smart money BUYS. Did you find these useful? Which one resonated the most with you?
Editors' picks
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
13
Q. Why when the FED raises interest rates does the rand weaken?A. Whenever you think about a country raising interest rates, we need to consider what happens to investors and where they are more likely to deposit their money. So, as we are expecting an increase in interest rates this month from the FED, there are a few reasons why we can expect the rand to weaken further: Here are three to consider… Reason #1: Investors flock to the US Dollar When the US Federal Reserve raises interest rates, it becomes more attractive for investors to hold or buy US-dollar denominated assets. That’s because they know they’ll receive a higher rate when they invest in it. This will also lead to a rise in the US dollar and a drop in smaller currencies (like the rand). Reason #2: US Dollar is still the fat cat of reserve currencies A rise in US interest rates may lead to higher borrowing costs globally. This is because the US dollar is still the world's primary reserve currency. When we think of gold, Bitcoin and other precious metals, we think of how it’s priced in US dollars. The problem with this, is that emerging market countries, like South Africa, will face higher debt-servicing costs as the US interest rates continue to move up. And this could continue to put pressure on their economies which will lead to a depreciation in the rand. Reason #3: South Africa is still a big exporter Also, South Africa remains one of the major exporters of commodities. And the value of the rand is linked to fluctuations in commodity prices. So, when US interest rates rise, this leads to a stronger US dollar. And can cause commodity prices to drop (as they are generally priced in US dollars). As South Africa is a major commodity exporter, the lower commodity prices would have a negative impact in SA’s export revenue – which can in turn weaken the rand further.
Education
by Timonrosso
1
RISK less with Drawdowns and more with Winning StreaksA drawdown is a period of decline in the value of a portfolio. This is where you take a number of trades, and the losses drop the portfolio at a marginal level (if you know what you’re doing). During these times, the market is typically more volatile (jumpy) and unpredictable. And so you have a higher chance to risk money in unfavourable times. Risk less with drawdowns When your portfolio drops 6%, 8% or even 11% – This is where you’re not sure when the market will become more favourable. This is the time where you decide to risk less money per trade. You would drop the risk from 3%, 2% to 1.5% or even 1%. Then keep trading until the markets pick up and start to favour your portfolio… Once you’re out of the drawdown then… Risk more money with the winning streak During the winning streaks, the market is typically more stable and predictable, and the chances of making a profit are higher. You can then pump up the risk back to 2% or 3% (if you’re a risky biscuit). When do you do this? When your portfolio is either BACK to an all-time-high. Or when you can see the market has broken out of the sideways consolidation and volatile period. Risk management is an important aspect of successful investing, and adjusting the amount of money being invested based on market conditions is one strategy that can help investors achieve their financial goals. By risking less money during drawdowns and more money during winning streaks, you as the trader can lower your potential losses and maximize your potential gains.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Why YOU NEED a Slice of Humble PieAs a trader, you must approach the market with humility and an understanding that you are at its mercy. And so you need to remember that the market, doesn’t know you, doesn’t care about you, and doesn’t work to reward you. Let’s break that down. The Market Doesn’t Know You The financial market (Mr. Market) is a complex and dynamic system that is influenced by a multitude of factors. These factors are beyond our control and are pretty much impossible to predict. As a trader, you need to remember that the market doesn’t know you, isn’t out to get you and that your success or failure is not a personal reflection of your worth. The Market Doesn’t Care About You It can be tempting to think that the market is out to get us and that every loss is a direct result of our own mistakes. However, the market doesn’t care about us as individual. They don’t have some personal vendetta against us. Every trade is simply a result of supply and demand dynamics along with risk, reward and probabilities. We must accept that sometimes the market will work against us, no matter how skilled or experienced we are. The Market Doesn’t Work to Reward You There is such high competition with trading. This environment is very high-pressured. It sometimes feels like we are in some race to make as much money as possible. However, it is important to remember that the market doesn’t work to reward us. As a trader, you must be humble and understand that success in the markets takes time, patience, and you must be willing to learn from your mistakes. Also need to approach each and every trade with a level-headed and open-minded perspective. Focus on this, and you you’ll make which will help us to make better decisions and increase our chances of success.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
1
4 Ways to ACTION a trade - WHEN TO FIRE!You know that successful trading is… . . . . Patience. You need to wait for the setup, reason, system, lining etc… But then there is the 2% time where you actually ACTION a trade. We action a trade for three reasons. To enter To adjust To get out But we need to talk about these reasons more… Let’s do it., ACTION #1: Trade lines up – JUST TAKE THE TRADE! When your trading signal lines up with your entry, stop loss, take profit, and system: This is the most obvious time to take action. It tells you “HELLO AN OPPORTUNITY HS ARISEN” It is crucial to act quickly and decisively when this happens, as opportunities in the market can disappear just as quickly as they appear. ACTION #2: Adjust your levels – JUST CHANGE THE TRADE There are two levels you can adjust with your trades. Stop loss and Take profit. When the market is moving in your favour, and you have solid rules to move your stop loss in the favour. This is done to lock in minimum gains. For example. When my trade is 1:1 in the money, I might move my stop loss to just above breakeven. This way I have nothing to lose if it turns against me. Then when the market is shooting in your favour, you might want to adjust the take profit. This is because you can see the market wants to move further or… There is a new setup with a new take profit level in place – which happens often with my analyses. Action #3: Execute the time stop loss – JUST GET OUT When an extended period has taken place i.e. 35 days or 7 weeks. You might want to just get out of the boring trade. You are either : • Chowing (eating away at) unnecessary daily costs holding a non performing trade. • A trade setup seems null and void as a new contrary setup as formed. • Or it’s just a plain old opportunity cost where you can put your money in better places. it may be necessary to exit the trade in order to avoid incurring too much in daily fees or missing out on other better opportunities. Action #4: Exit due to unforeseen circumstances- SERIOUSLY JUST GET OUT! For example when a black swan event occurs: A black swan event is a term used to describe a market collapse (10X the standard deviationof its normal price move) that is unexpected and has a significant impact on the market. In the event of a black swan event, it is essential to exit your trade in order to protect your capital and avoid taking a bigger loss than you expected.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
FUNDAMENTALS-Share Consolidation (Reverse Stock Split) RichemontOn 19 April 2023, Richemont went through a Share Consolidation (Reverse Stock Split). That's why we saw the price move from R300 up to R3,027 (909%). But before you get excited with whether you could have profited big time we need to remember what a Reverse Stock Split is... What is a Reverse Split (Share consolidation)? • The opposite of a stock split where • When the company makes a corporate action to • Reduce the number of its outstanding shares to its shareholders • Which simultaneously increases the share price • The shareholder will still have the same value proportional. What happens to the par value of the share price? A decrease in the number of shares means that the share price will go up! Why would a company do a reverse spit? The company might be under the impression that shareholders think the share price is too low. So, they’ll cut the number of shares and increase the shareholder which will give the impression of the share price higher and more valuable. EXAMPLE: With Richemont – 19 April 2023 SPECIFICS: Share consolidation: Reverse Stock Split 10:1. BEFORE: The share price was R300.00 AFTER: The share price is R3,027 No. SHARES OWNED: 100 AFTER CONSOLIDATION: For every 10 shares you owned before, you now own 1 share. So your 100 shares would be consolidated into 10 shares. OVERALL VALUE: BEFORE: 100 shares X R300 = R30,000 AFTER: 10 shares X R3,027 = R30,270 In this case, the value of the investment has indeed increased after the share consolidation but only marginally.
JSE:CFREducation
by Timonrosso
EXPLAINED: A Bearish Fair Value Gap (FVG) - Smart Money ConceptsA Bearish Fair Value Gap is a 3 candle structure with a DOWN impulse candle (2nd) that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market. WHAT DO THE IMBALANCES TELL US? These imbalances tell us that the buying and selling is not equal. Now the market needs to rebalance (move at least to 50% of the fair value gap to fill) to make up for the imbalance and rebalance. For this to happen we need to see orders filled in the prices of the candle with the FVG. HOW A BEARISH FAIR VALUE GAP IS CONSTRUCTED: 1st Candle Draw a horizontal line from the bottom of the wick. 3rd Candle Draw a horizontal line from the top of the wick 2nd Candle Draw a BOX between the bottom and the top and pull it over to see the FVG range. BETWEEN CANDLE 1 and CANDLE 3: Do NOT show common prices. They do NOT touch where the lower & the upper wicks do NOT overlap. With a Bearish FVG we can expect the market price to move UP. HOW MUCH? I believe a Bearish FVG needs to close at least 50%. So you can drag a Gann Box or a Fib retracement (take out all the other levels except 50%). Wait for the price to close and fill the prices and boom - Your Bearish Fair Value Gap has been filled. SO WHAT? When you see a Bearish Fair Value Gap, you can expect the price to move up. So you can place your stop loss below the downtrend. You can place your entry where it shows upside is imminent to close the gap. You can place your take profit above the 50% of the formation, as you expect the price to close. But also, we use other confirmation signals with the Bearish Fair Value Gap. Let me know if you have any other SMC (Smart Money Concepts) Questions.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Why you should NOT view LOSSES as LOSSESI want you to stop thinking of trading losses as losses. It’s having an effect on you emotionally and is stopping your full potential of growth. Financial trading, like any other business or aspect of life, involves costs. That’s just life. In business, there are costs associated with equipment, rent, salaries, taxes, and legal fees. In our personal lives, there are costs associated with household expenses like rent, groceries, insurance, medical fees, taxes, and repairs. Similarly, in trading, there are costs associated with normal losses, daily interest charges, and drawdowns. It’s crucial to remember that losses are an inevitable part of trading and should be viewed as a necessary cost of doing business. Just as a business owner must invest money in equipment, rent, and salaries to run their business, traders must also be prepared to invest money in losses in order to be successful in the long run. If you try to avoid taking a trade, because you are worried about the loses, you will miss out on the greater rewards for when profitable trading opportunities come your way. When you see trading losses as costs… You will be able to take a more objective and strategic approach to the trading decisions that you make going forward. This can help you to minimize losses and maximize profits over time. So there are few things you need to do to mange your costs (losses) emotionally and physically. Action #1: Set realistic stop losses Place your stop loss with every trade and never risk more than 2% of your portfolio per trade. Action #2: Understand the concept of Risk to Reward better. The risk-reward ratio is the ratio of the potential profit of a trade to the potential loss. By understanding the risk-reward ratio, traders can make more informed trading decisions and can better manage their risk. Action #3: Don’t feel your losses If you feel 2% is too much to risk, risk less! Get to the point with your life where a loss isn’t that much as with where the reward isn’t worth celebrating. Overtime, you’ll slowly grow your account and your mind too.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
BIG TIP OF THE DAY - Ride Winners and Cut losers BIG TIP OF THE DAY: If you want to ride up winners, lock in profits and reduce losers here is what to do. 1. Place your Entry Stop loss and Take profit (But have a TP 2 and TP 3 in place). 2. When the price approaches TP 1 (Close half of your position and move your stop loss to Breakeven) 3. When the price hits TP 2 (Close half of your position and move your stop loss half-way) 4. When the price hits TP 3 (Close your entire position). This is how to ride your profits and winners.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Why we MAKE Excuses as tradersIt is an innate habit to make excuses in life. We make excuses because it is the easy way out. And let me tell you. With trading, there is no EASY way. As I like to say trading is the easiest hard way to make money. It starts with NOT making stupid excuses such as: Excuse #1: “I don’t know enough about the markets – so I won’t trade yet” People don’t trade because of one thing. Ignorance. People may make this excuse because they have not put in the time and effort to research and understand the stock or market they are trading in. They make this excuse that they believe the market is a difficult, advanced and complex world to financially grow. If you passed school, or university – you can definitely learn how trading charts work and how the market operates. Besides, it’s just demand, supply and volume and the rest is micro and macro economics (which you don’t even need). I know some 20 year olds who dropped out of school to learn to trade the markets and they are doing fine (for now). Excuse #2: “I’m scared of losing money – so I’m not going to trade”. Sure you’re worried about financial loss and that you can blow your account. Besides 98% of traders fail, because of this. But you do know you can start with a demo (paper) account in the mean time. Once you see consistent paper returns and that you have a solid and adept strategy, you can start depositing little by little. Money is no excuse when you can learn to trade – for free! Excuse #3: “I won’t be able to stick to the strategy” Most people make this excuse because either: They do not have a proven and profitable strategy. They do have a strategy but do not have the confidence to trade it. They do NOT have the faith to actually take the discipline to take a trade when the system lines up according to the strat. They don’t think they’ll be able to focus on trading because, they are distracted by other things in their lives. This is a mind game, so work on yourself before you trade for yourself. Excuse #4: “I can’t stand the fact of losing” Back to ego, pride and integrity. Let me try and help you with this one. When you buy yourself clothes, cars or other material stuff. You do know you’re spending your hard earned money – poof – gone. With business, you have monthly costs fixed and variable. With life you have expenses and unexpected doctor appointments. All of these come with an opportunity cost. I lose this to get that. Trading shouldn’t be any different. You lose a bit of capital off one trade, to bank a higher return the next time. Rinse and repeat and your losses will start to feel like costs of the business. Your winners will feel like the money to pay for some of the costs next month. Cut your ego out because every week and month you spend and waste money – it’s called maturity. Excuse #5: “I’m waiting for better conditions” When the market Is not that favourable, how do you know when it will turn back? You just need one day, one week or one month – and your portfolio could head to all time highs. It’s not our jobs to trade when markets are favourable or not. It’s our job to follow the proven strategy because we know it will yield a consistent return over time. Also… When you do eventually get into trading – then what? Are you going to stop trading again because the market isn’t feeling right for your strategy? I should hope not. You’ll be entering into a discretion and subjective form of trading which eventually ends up to be a losing strategy. I hope this helps and makes you realise that excuses are nothing more than going back into a comfort zone of no change and progress… When later in life you’ll realise. Your comfort zone, was uncomfortable to begin with.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
MC DONALD'S TRADING LESSONSStory time… One of the greatest success stories of all time, is with the company which is based on the glorious golden arches we still see today. Mc Donalds… It all started in 1940 where, two brothers, Maurice and Richard “Dick” Mc Donald’s made a small fortune selling hamburgers in San Bernardino, California… They took a product and an idea and turned it into a fast, convenient and consistently profitable business. Once they mastered their strategy and system then they introduced Ray Croc (a shrewd American businessman) into an agreement to build more Mc Donalds… However, he barely made enough profits to sustain, find more franchisees and even pay off his expenses… That’s when Harry Sonneborn came about where he made Ray Croc realise, he was in the land business rather than the restaurant business… Ray Kroc explained… “Pretty simple, really. Franchisee finds a piece of land he likes, gets a lease, usually 20 years, takes out a construction loan, throws up a building, and off he goes.” Sonneborne then said: “You don’t seem to realize what business you’re in. You’re not in the burger business. You’re in the real estate business.” This conversation lead to the global expansion of McDonald’s, turning it into the most successful fast food corporation in the world. In this article, I’m not going to talk about Ray Kroc, but instead how the brother’s starting concept applies to trading. Here are three lessons I learnt from Mc Donald’s Success #1: Less is more… The brothers were geniuses from the start… When something didn’t work, they threw it out… When something showed to work, they harnessed it, optimised it and improved it… They did this with data. The brothers took sales data to compare which products were making more money. They found that 80% of their sales in the last 3 years came from simple burgers. Each burger was made with precise ingredients. Any deviation and this caused sales to drop. The rest of the 20% were drinks and barbeque. So the brothers made their life easy and got rid of the barbeque pit completely. They also cut their menu down from 25 items to just 11 items. It mainly had Burgers Fries Milkshakes and Soft drinks They said let’s do less of what’s not helping sales and focus on what is making the most revenue. Once they got rid of the barbeque pit the brothers later on systematised the burger making process. So how does this relate to trading… Less is more is one of my most powerful quotes when it comes to trading… You need to cut out a LOT of data to maximise your returns… Find one or two systems that suit you. Minimise the number of markets, time frames and charts to look at. Cut out unnecessary indicators that conflict with the systems signals and frequency. Choose a certain time that works best for your system. Stick to 1 or two financial instruments to trade. Only have 1 or 2 or max 3 trading accounts with reason. It will take time and effort on your side to cut out what needs to be cut, but you won’t regret it in the long run… As Mc Donald’s did… Take a product improve it drastically then sell it to the masses. #2: Find a system to repeat over and over With Mc Donald’s did you know… They took a tennis court and drew out the compartments of making a burger. They then orchestrated it with their employees until the flow and speed was at the most optimised level. Once they found a winning system, reduced the time to make a burger and optimise the process – they were able to even drop the price to appeal more demand… At the time, they could drop the burger to 15 cents… With trading, you know this… You’ll need to find, adopt, follow and repeat your turn-key system. It doesn’t matter whether it takes you 2 months, 2 years or even 7 years to get right. Once you have it, you’ll be able to generate consistent results year in and year out. Just like the cycle of burgers, you’ll have your very own consistent cycle of success through trading… Also, with your one system you’ll be able to optimise it and improve it when conditions change… This brings us to the third lesson… #3: “We love to see you smile” This was one of Mc Donald’s campaign they used from 2000-2003, which has stuck… Not only does Mc Donald’s keep to their winning formula, systems, products and manner – but they also adapt to change… They continue to offer new items on the menu’s as time’s change… From Happy Meals, Toys, Lollipops, Café’s, Ice creams, food cultural adaptions to even Vegan food… They think of everything to adapt to change… BUT! They don’t stop offering their winning products that bring in revenue. With trading you need to also evolve as a trader and adapt to change. Sure, your system will remain consistent. Sure, your risk management won’t change… But there are certain elements that require change such as… New markets: You might want to incorporate your system with new markets i.e. AI, Electric Vehicles, Metaverse, Cannabis, Energy alternatives, Crypto, NFTs. AI (with ChatGPT, DALLEE, BING) and so on… New instruments: Also, we might need to evolve from the current financial instruments we’re trading… Once day, CFDs and Spread Betting might be a thing of the past. I personally have evolved from shares, warrants, futures to ETFs. You never know what will be next… New automations: We might soon have robots and AI to use out system to find trades and execute them. You get the point… If you want to be successful with trading you have to understand the power of systems to repeat… This way the system will do the job for you… Next time you’re at Mc Donald’s, you’ll see what I mean.
NYSE:MCDEducation
by Timonrosso
5 DONT'S TO be a Better TraderWe know what we need to do to be a top trader. On the method side – we need the right markets, to trade the right strategy by following proven rules and criteria. On the mind side – we know we need to adopt a strong will, with discipline, passion and pure integration. But what about the DONT’S? What mustn’t we do during the process of becoming a successful trader? That’s the question we’ll address today. #1: DON’T fear losing Losing is part of the process. The trick is to lose (risk) little and make up for it during the conducive times. All trading strategies are not 100% market proof. This means, every strategy will reach a difficult period where the market environment does not gel well with your system. I lose 37.5% of my trades. I’ve been losing this percentage of trades for the last two decades… And you know what… I love it. I love the fact, how there’s a balance with my system which leads to a level headed and content approach to trading. Don’t fear losing – embrace it and OWN it. You only fail when you quit. #2: DON’T dwell on past failures Whatever trading process you’ve endured i.e. You blew a couple of accounts. You keep losing to bad strategies. You keep going against your strategy which hurts your account. This was and is your journey, time line and experiences that will turn into wisdom which will help you to excel with your trading… Just like we learn in life not to regret and not to carry our heavy weighted past on our shoulders, so to mustn’t you do with trading. Don’t dwell on your failures – because it’s those experiences that will help you flourish #3: DON’T expect fast riches With high reward comes higher risk. We are not in the risky business. And I sure as hope you don’t want to stress, worry and live on a high adrenaline knowing you can lose everything – trying to get rich quick fast… Right? Instead, you must want a get rich slowly BUT surely method. #4: DON’T compare yourself to others Big one… Sure, there are a few (not many) but a couple of traders who are doing extremely well for themselves. They probably don’t have it in their DNA to commit hours a day to helping others achieve the same – which is fine… But they all took the necessary steps, time, blood, sweat and fears to get to where they are. Just like you are going through your trading endeavours. Don’t worry about what others are making. Don’t worry about how many winners he took or how little losers she took. Don’t stress over his 70% win rate system or her “hasn’t taken a single loss in 2 months” system. You should have everything you need right in front of you. A computer An internet connection A broker (with a charting and trading platform) A proven and tested trading system Time Keep to your time line and don’t worry about what others are doing… When you compare, you lose track and focus on what you need to achieve your goals… #5: DON’T give up You are closer today than you were yesterday. And tomorrow you’ll be even closer (despite having a good or bad trading day). Money, you can always make back. Wisdom is something you only learn through experience. It’s nothing you can teach someone, but something you can keep them aware of – for when they go through it… So keep grinding, and keep at it… Perseverance my friend… That’s the key. Enough for today… Let’s sum up with the 5 DON’TS to become a better trader… #1: DON’T fear losing… #2: DON’T dwell on the past failures #3: Don’t expect fast riches #4: DON’T compare yourself to others #5: DON’T give up
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
What would happen if Russia pegged the Chinese yuan to gold?If Putin goes ahead with pegging the Chinese Yuan to gold instead of the US Dollar a number of things can happen. Factor #1: US Dollar will be challenged This will for the first time, challenge the US dollar's status as the world's dominant reserve currency. People may look to invest elsewhere, which could cause instability. Factor #2: Domino effect There could be an effect where other countries may follow suit and start pegging not only YUAN but maybe even their currencies to gold as well. Factor #3: Yuan could be the next reserve currency This move could be the start of Chinese yuan’s step to power and control. It could get to the stage where the value of the yuan would be determined by the price of gold, rather than the value of the US dollar. Factor #4: Demand will pick up and other countries will hold gold This move could result in countries increasing their gold reserves, which could lead to a further increase in the demand for gold. The demand for gold would increase, which could drive up the price of gold in the short term. Factor #5: Bad for the US dollar The US dollar would likely depreciate against other major currencies, such as the euro and yen, as investors shift their focus away from the dollar. The US would face increased competition in international trade, as other countries begin to use the yuan as a reserve currency instead of the dollar. Factor #6: More power for China China's economic power would increase, as it becomes more closely tied to the global gold market. Factor #7: Strong partnership between Russia and China Not only will Putin and Xi be making more crepes together, they will also be making more gold. The move would also strengthen Russia's position in the global financial system, as it becomes a key player in the gold market. Factor #8: The shift of the New World Order The stability of the global financial system would be threatened, as it adjusts to a new world order with a different reserve currency. Also the move could lead to increased geopolitical tensions, as countries jostle for position in a new world order dominated by gold instead of the US dollar. Have I missed anything?
COMEX:GC1!Education
by Timonrosso
2
T.G.I.M - Thank God It's Monday Traders! As a trader, Monday is probably the most exciting day of the week to trade... But before I tell you why let me remind you.... We live in a world where… Most people hate Mondays… Not only that… They wait 5 days to finally enjoy and live two measly days. They live for the weekend ONLY. That’s sad… But let’s try to conceptualise how lucky you actually are… Every action that your great, great, great, X 1,000 grandparents did, is the very reason you get to enjoy consciousness and existence in this blip of time. If just one of them got up to get a glass of water instead, you wouldn’t be around… Then let’s talk about that one day… Out of the millions of swimmers in one occasion on one day, you were the winner. YOU WON THE GIFT OF LIFE. That is a reason alone to celebrate every passing minute of your life. You won the cosmic lottery… Then, as life progresses you learn what you like, how to live and who to live with. You adapt to your idiosyncrasies, tastes, habits and interests… That’s what makes life a little easier to get through… And… Technology continues to outperform each year. We now have ways to communicate online, build our own empires and make an income through different career choices. Whether you enjoy investing, horse racing, online gambling or my favourite (financial markets trading), you have a multitude of options to choose and benefit from… And because you’re reading this today, tells me one thing… You have that passion, determination and discipline to try out the trading thing… Am I right? So what does this have to do with T.G.I.M? You need to stop saying “I hate Mondays” and start saying… “Thank God It’s Monday” Each Monday you start a new journey of life experiences to take you on the path of success, financial freedom and happiness… Mondays and the rest of the week days, are the days when you have the opportunity to grow your financial position. NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO: Learn about new markets with trading. Refine your trading risk management skills Take on new high probability trades to build your portfolio Educate yourself on new financial markets terminology, concepts, strategies and systems Go one step closer to achieving your financial goals Each day you learn, adapt and grow your portfolio, is another day closer to achieving your freedom. Also, you can ONLY get better. Find a reason to love Mondays. Next week wake up and say with confidence. T.G.I.M. Write it down somewhere BIG and read it out loud each week before you take a trade.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
6 Rules of Successful TradersI’ll tell you this. The money you desire, is not going to just fall into your lap. If you want to be a successful trader, you need to write down the ground rules to get your as$$into gear. I can’t profess for every professional trader, but I can share with you my rules I’ve been following for the last 2 decades. Feel free to write them down for your trading. RULE 1: Always have a trading plan This is a must. The financial markets are dangerous. Once you enter them, you are playing with the big boys. If you go in blindly or naked (without risk levels in place), prepare to be caught with your pants down. You need your game plan in front of you at all times. There needs to be criteria you’ll follow from when you switch on your computer to when you close it. RULE 2: Don’t procrastinate Trading is like waiting for the next train. Wait too long and you’ll miss your train. You’ll then have to wait an unnecessary extended period of time for the next one. When your trading plan fires a signal – FIRE. When your trading plan fires an adjustment move – FIRE. You are only fooling yourself, if you don’t act when you need to. RULE 3: Be patient There are two important factors to patience. First, never rush into getting into a trade for the thrill, excitement or revenge! Second, never rush at getting out of a trade if it has not hit one of your trading levels. Patience is where you will grow your portfolio. Say that out loud… Patience is where you will grow your portfolio. RULE 4: Take the trade If I made a T-Shirt I think I would have one just saying. “Just take the trade” Repeat after me! If all is lined up and ready to go. It doesn’t matter what fundamental factor or news event is going on. It doesn’t matter how you’re feeling or that you have a headache. Just take the trade when your plan tells you to. It will take you 30 seconds. Then close your laptop and go rest. RULE 5: Keep learning With technology advancing, financial instruments changing, market dynamics shifting and with the world evolving… You need to keep learning and updating your knowledge base. You never know if the new developments, will lead to a higher win and success rate. You never know if your system and trading will be optimised and maximised to a better performance, The onus is on you to keep up with learning… RULE 6: Don’t give up We all have our own time lines with trading. We are all on our own journeys, challenges and struggles. You only lose when you quit. So please, I beg you, don’t give up and you will thank me later… Let’s sum up the 6 rules quickly for you… 1. Always have a trading plan 2. Don’t procrastinate 3. Be patient 4. Take the trade 5. Keep learning 6. Don’t give up
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Why Trading Should be like Watching Paint DryIt has to be said. If you want excitement, take $10,000 and go to Las Vegas for a day. Trading should not bring about the same level of excitement. I’m not saying, the entire process should be boring. In life and with the careers you choose, you have to love what you do. You have to keep the reward and vison in your mind, to drive you each morning. And you need to have the discipline and integration to follow your plan each day. So, should trading be boring? Um, yes and no. Let’s start with where trading should be exciting and fun. When Trading is a Thrill This is where most people stay. They don’t take the necessary steps to open a trading account, fund it and grow their portfolios. Instead, they stay in a feel safe and in control of their non-growing finances. I still have members who’ve followed me for 10 years, and haven’t taken ONE single trade. You need to jump out and take action. The thrill of trading should be before the execution takes place. This includes: Analysing the markets Optimising your strategies Searching for high probability trades Reading up on new trading developments and fundamentals Monitoring your results and working on your statistics Finding new markets and instruments to trade and add to your strategy This part is an absolute blast. And requires no risk and no waiting. But then, when you do find your trade line up and put in your trading levels and click buy / sell… Then… Trading needs to be like watching paint dry or grass grow Once you have taken your trade, set your entry, stop loss and take profit levels – you’ve done your job. You now need to let it go and let the market to take over. Don’t interfere… Don’t get excited when it’s in the money. Don’t fear when it’s going against you. Don’t watch every tick. It will drive you insane. Just leave it alone. It should be boring to even see what your trade is doing, because it’s out of your control. If it hits your stop loss – cool… You’ve got your risk management in play. If it hits your take profit – cool… You’ve got your reward management in play. If you have rules to adjust your stop loss, when the market is moving in your favour – cool… You’ve got your reward management in play. Rather focus on the next trade idea or the other bullets I mentioned in the beginning. Keep control with what you can control and leave what you can’t control to the “stars”.
Editors' picks
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
6
ROADMAP from COMFORT to GROWTHMost people take the easy road of being in a Comfort Zone. For this reason, they keep getting the same results and remain in their ‘uncomfortable’ position in life. Think about it… Those that don’t understand new things, never adapt to something that could change their life for the better. Those that keep earning the same old salary, never grow their retirement kitty to the level they wish. Those that never throw things away, end up cluttering their life with the old. Trading is no different. It requires you to step out of your comfort zone in the beginning, to create something that can change your life. Besides, great things never came from being in a comfort zone. Let’s talk about the stages required to become a Growth Trader. ZONE 1: COMFORT This is where most people stay. They don’t take the necessary steps to open a trading account, fund it and grow their portfolios. Instead, they stay in a feel safe and in control of their non-growing finances. I still have people who’ve followed me for 15 years, and haven’t taken ONE single trade. You need to jump out and take action. ZONE 2: FEAR When you have finally decided to take a leap of trading faith, a whole bunch of new fear with encompass your mind. Will I lose money? Will trading work for me? Will I be able to follow a strategy each day? Will I be on time to trade the markets? What if the market environment is not conducive when I start? Harness this fear, because it means one thing… CHANGE IS COMING… ZONE 3: LEARNING Every loss, gain, rule is a lesson and adaption to entering a NEW zone. Every challenge you face, is one less challenge you’ll need to deal with in the future. Every difficulty you experience is a skill that you’ll acquire for trading. The more you learn about the technical and fundamentals of the financial markets, the higher the level of experience and wisdom you’ll gain as a trader. The learning phase is imperative to achieving success in any field… ZONE 4: GROWTH The accumulated lessons, experience, wisdom, actions and tribulations of repetitive actions – are the foundations to entering into a new comfort zone of GROWTH. The difference is… You would have taken the necessary steps to succeed and accomplish your trading goals. It will eventually reach the point, where the above zones will help you enter into a conditional and automatic process into your life where trading is nothing more than a continuous habit. Once the fear, thrill and uncertainty are removed – only then you’ll realise that the initial comfort zone of inactivity was the uncomfortable phase that took you nowhere… Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Read that last sentence again.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
5 Choices you Make as a Trader - THIS Or THATFrom the second you turn on your computer, to the time you press buttons commit your funds into your trades and close your computer. You are making your own choices. Do you choose this? Do you follow that? Do you go against this? Do you type that? So technically, your financial future success lies all in your fingers. In this TradingView piece, you need to ask and answer what choices are you prepared to make – to turn your life around as a trader. CHOICE #1: Sleep until noon – Wake up early If you’re a position trader (trade once per week or so) like me, then you’ll know profitable opportunities knock VERY slowly. You can wake up late, open your trading platform and see a missed trading opportunity just like that. Or you can set your alarm, wake up to check the markets to confirm if there is a trade lined up or not. DON’T MISS YOUR TRADING OPPORTUNITIES! CHOICE #2: Only trade your starting portfolio size – Deposit money each month Let me be frank. R5,000 isn’t going to turn you into a millionaire. R20,000 isn’t going to turn you into a millionaire. I’m sorry but it has to be said. You need to find a way to keep depositing a bit of money into your trading account each month. Whether it’s 5% or 10% of savings, the more you deposit each month – the faster your portfolio will grow as you have more to make money from money. CHOICE #3: Go against your strategy – Follow your strategy I know it’s tempting to want to go against your strategy. You want to move your take profit, stop loss, you want to buy more. You want to take some money off the table. The problem is – make this choice and you’ll set a dangerous precedent. It will be the start of going against your strategy the next time and eventually, you’ll only be trading with discretionary (self) which I need to remind you is… A COMPLETE LOSING STRATEGY! The stock market doesn’t work on emotions. It doesn’t think and it doesn’t feel. So why should you? Keep to your proven and profitable trading strategy, and the profits will yield as your system has shown you time and time again. CHOICE #4: Learn and then drop the E – Try to earn and drop the $ Trading is a forever learning business. You need to learn how the markets work. You need to learn how the trading environments operate and when they are favourable or unfavourable to your strategy. You need to learn WHICH are the best instruments to trade. Which are the most reliable and secured brokers. Which trading platforms are up to date with technology. What NEW markets there are to utilise and profit from. The list continues. Please follow your own learning time line as a trader and then you’ll find it will all be worth it. CHOICE #5: LATER – NOW! I still get people who send me messages like… “Timon I’ve been following you for 15 years and haven’t started trading yet, what do you suggest?” Simple! Get out of your comfort zone, stop being lazy and take the necessary steps to start your trading journey. 15 years! You could have had all the experience you needed by now. You could have gained important lessons to build your portfolio. It’s all on you. The best time to start is NOW! There is no past (as it already happened). There is no present (as it automatically becomes the past). There is no future (as it’s still to come). So all you have is an infinitesimal photo shot of time called NOW! Got it? Make your choices and materialize your trading into the reality you’ve desired.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Tips to be a Healthy Trader - Wisdom Yields HealthI came up with a corny slogan in 2013. “Wisdom Yields Wealth”. Well, today I came up with another corny slogan but relevant to today and this year. “Wisdom Yields Health”. As you know, health is the greatest wealth of all when it comes to your: Physical appearance Mental cognitive thoughts Important decision making Longevity In 2023, health is everything as the world continues to linger in a very stressed phase. (Especially, what’s going on in South Africa with Eishkom, water issues and tax month having kicked off). If you want to be a good trader, you need to focus on not only your money and mind but also your health. Health will help you optimise your trading performance. So, this is a short but important article to remind you to try be a little bit healthier. HEALTH TIP #1: Sleep Even Hours It’s an old wife’s tale that you need 7 hours of sleep. It’s proven that the sleep cycle works on EVEN hours, NOT odd. So if you sleep 7 hours, you’ll deprive yourself of the last 1 hour you need to complete your cycle. When you decide to go to sleep, set an alarm for 6 hours or 8 hours to get the right amount you need. Also, if you wake up before the alarm and you feel fresh – stay awake, don’t go back to bed. Listen to your body more and it will reward you better. You need to be clear headed when you wake up in order to take on the markets with a fresh mindset. HEALTH TIP #2: Drink COLD Water Listen… You’re made up of over 73% water. So you might as well fuel yourself up and stay hydrated. First glass in the morning and another glass every two hours. Or just have a 2 litre bottle next to you. When it’s finished, refill it. Ok you’ve heard that a million times. Here’s where it gets interesting. Did you know that if you drink ice cold water, it will help you to keep awake, will fire your neurons and will boost your thinking capabilities. That’s the big tip with drinking water as a trader. Ice, Ice baby! HEALTH TIP #3: Eat less ‘high energy to consume’ foods in the day You know what puts us off work, trading and life? Having a bloated and painful stomach, because of the stuff we ate. I’m talking breads, pastas, sweets, crisps and fried food. When you eat this stuff, you won’t feel in the mood to trade, think or work. It’s also probably affecting in the bedroom too! Eat these in moderation and NOT when you trade or a few hours before you trade. Anyway, I’m not giving advice, just some tips that’s helped me to trade better over the years. HEALTH TIP #4: Keep Walking Gyms might be inaccessible right now. And exercise is just too difficult to keep motivated to follow. So instead, take your trade for the day and go for a walk around your complex, park or anywhere just to burn those calories and keep you fit and healthy. I’m in Greece right now and nothing beats a good walk around the Ancient historical sites in Monastiraki such as the Agora, Acropolis and even the amphitheatres. Or a walk around the Marina – Flisvos harbour to take in the cool breeze and breathtaking view of the sea. Find your piece of heaven (where ever it is) to walk around and burn those calories at least twice or three times a week. I can go on about health tips, but four is more than enough to start with. Please look after yourself, your body and your mind.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
How to Earn Self-Respect as a TraderIntegrity… It’s what gives you certainty, confidence and trust for yourself. It’s what tells you, you can do it. It’s what makes you leap forward in life. And it’s what earns you self respect. With trading, you need to achieve self respect, to help feel more assertive with the trading decisions you make. In this short letter, I’ll give you some actions to help you earn the self respect as a trader. Action #1: Do the hard things Anything that requires risking your hard earned money is tough. I get it. You didn’t make money just to lose it right? Well, you need to understand that in life there are no HIGH rewards without taking some element of risk. So, force yourself to sit down, deposit money into your account, wait for the proven trading setup to line up and TAKE THE TRADE. Next hard thing to do is, wait for the trade to hit your stop loss or take profit and don’t interfere with the process. And the last hard thing, is having tunnel vision and not listening to anyone about your trading decisions. Don’t listen to the news, your friends, strangers or even your family. You have your plan and system, follow it and you’ll feel in control and you’ll gain more self respect. Action #2: Don’t think it – DO IT Coming up with ideas are easy. Writing down goals and gluing your vision board with mansions and cars – are easy. What’s hard is actually taking the action. There is never the right time because it’s always the right time. So buckle up and take action with what you need to do to achieve trading success. Action #3: Take control and learn from your losses Losses are parts of the ying and yang of trading. You need a bit of good and a bit of bad to balance and build. Remember, the markets move in a zig – zag shape and so will your trading account. So when you realise this you’ll be able to acknowledge, own, take control and learn from your trading losses. But most importantly. The losses must only come from your proven plan. Don’t move a stop loss to make you risk more. Don’t remove a stop loss because you believe the market will turn. Take small losses so that the big winners make up and drive your portfolio up. Action #4: Don’t quit when it gets hard You only fail when you quit something. Read that again. When you quit, you lose. When you quit, you give up. When you quit due to premature excuses you lose self respect. Too many traders quit because they think the market is out to get them. This is either because they are taking a few losses or because they are trying to OUTBEAT the market through emotions. Listen if you have a few rules to manage your money like: ~ Risk 2% per trade. ~ Never allow your portfolio to be in -20% drawdown. ~ Never hold more than 7 to 8 trades at a time. You’ll be able to control your risk and boost your portfolio. Let’s sum these 4 actions up to trading self respect. Action #1: Do the hard things Action #2: Don’t think it – DO IT Action #3: Take control and learn from your losses Action #4: Don’t quit when it gets hard
Editors' picks
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
12