#Alsi - Index WeeklyIf you've been wondering why the #ALSI has been trading like a yo-yo in the last few sessions, one needs to zoom out and get a better picture of what's happening.
We currently range bound in a consolidation that dates back to mid-April giving many short-term opportunities for traders. The last few weeks we have printed several 'spinning top' candles indicating the tug-o-war between the bulls & bears.
This is likely to continue until the range indicated is broken with a weekly close above or below in which case one can expect a new leg/rally.
J200 trade ideas
4 EXTRAS to add to your Trading Journal TODAYI’m sure you know by now.
That every successful trader needs a trading journal.
This is an essential tool to track, monitor, evaluate, record, and measure your trading success.
However, I’ve come up with 4 EXTRA Journal Items that you can add to your journal that could help improve your trading, win rate and overall performance.
We can call these the “Trading Journal Extras.”
Let me know if you think any of these will be helpful to add to your journal.
EXTRA Journal Item #1: MY EMOTIONS
Emotional State When Taking Trades
Trading can be an emotional rollercoaster.
When you lose, it feels like everything is out to get you.
When you win, it can feel like you’ve nailed life in a bag and you can do this for the rest of your life.
But what if you actually journaled your emotions?
Every time you take a trade or you bank a loss or gain, document it in a section saying “EMOTIONS.
This element to your Trading Journal can help you identify patterns in your emotional state that may impact your decision-making abilities in the future.
You will also see who you are personally and how you emotionally handle trades. Watch it improve over time.
For instance, if you find that you’re more likely to make impulsive trades when you’re feeling anxious or stressed, you can take steps to manage your emotions before taking trades.
This can help you make better decisions and minimize the risks of impulsive trades.
EXTRA Journal Item #2: MISTAKES LEARNED
Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned
As a trader, you’re bound to make mistakes, and it’s essential to learn from them.
So why not write them down. Incorporate the mistakes you made in your Trading Journal.
This way, it can help you avoid making the same errors in the future.
For example, if you realize that you lost way more than 2% for a trade.
Write down where you went wrong.
Did you over capitalise?
Did you extend your stop loss?
Did you hold on longer than you should (which the costs added up)?
Did you follow your strategy and risk management rules?
Write down the mistake and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding it in the future.
EXTRA Journal Item #3: NEWS REACTION
Market Reaction to News Events
You won’t find this in my journal. But I know many traders who trade using market fundamentals and news analyses.
And if you’re a day trader, Forex trader or a high frequency trader – then this item might be imperative to your trading journal.
The market’s reaction to news events can cause major whipsaws, fakeouts and shakeouts.
You might find it interesting and educational track how the market behaves before and after a news release.
E.g. NFP (Non Farm Payrolls).
Unemployment numbers
Interest and Inflation rates announcements
Quantitative Easing
Earnings Reports and so on…
For instance, if you notice that the market reacts positively to news about a particular sector or asset, you can make an informed decision to invest in that asset or sector.
Similarly, if you notice a trend of negative market reactions to news events, you can use that information to minimize your losses.
EXTRA Journal Item #3: TRADING LESSON
Trading Lessons and Strategies
Finally, as a trader, you must keep learning and growing.
If you learnt something about trading, WRITE it down in a journal entry.
Adding a section in your Trading Journal called LESSON OF THE DAY.
Then record the trading lesson/s and strategies you learnt which can jog back your member and it can help you improve your skills, application and knowledge.
The FOUR extra Trading Journal Entries
A Trading Journal with these EXTRA items can help you excel as a trader.
Thins like emotional state to identify patterns, writing down mistakes to avoid repeating them, tracking market reactions to news events to inform decisions, and recording trading lessons and strategies to continuously learn and improve.
So here’s a sum up of the FOUR EXTRAS that you can apply to your journal.
MY EMOTIONS
Document emotions every time you take a trade or bank a loss/gain
MISTAKES LEARNED
Write down mistakes made and where you went wrong in your Trading Journal
NEWS REACTION
Track the market’s behaviour before and after news releases
TRADING LESSON
Record lessons and strategies learnt that will help with your trading
Let me know if this helps and which out of the FOUR you’ll add to your trading journal?
Maximise your trading success with market analysisWhen it comes to trading, one of the most important skills to develop is market analysis.
When you know how to read the market and make informed decisions, it can be the difference between spotting high, medium and low probability trades.
Here are some ideas to analyse the market and maximise your chance of success.
Start with the Main Indices
The first step in market analysis is to take a look at the main indices.
These indices, such as the JSE ALSI, SP500, Nasdaq, FTSE100, and others, are a good indication of the overall market direction.
Once you have seen the indices, you’ll get a sense of how the market is moving as a whole, and what kinds of opportunities might be available.
Identify the major Trends
Once you’ve looked at the main indices, it’s time to:
Identify any market trends (Market environment)
If the market is showing a strong uptrend (trend, momentum, moving averages analysis)
Then it’s best to ONLY look for longs or buys.
On the other hand, if your indicators suggest that the market has confirmed a downtrend, it’s best to look for sells or shorts.
Look for Breakouts
Sometimes the market doesn’t confirm an up or down trend.
If you see the market is moving in a sideways manner, there’s still an opportunity to profit.
In this case, it’s a good idea to write down the levels of breakouts you’d expect.
If the market breaks up, you’ll expect longs, and if it breaks down, you’ll look for shorts.
This way you’ll prepare for both outcomes And you’ll be able to capitalize on whichever direction the market takes.
Final Thoughts
Market analysis is a critical skill for any trader to master.
When you start with the main indices, to identify trends, and looking for breakouts, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about your trades and get a good idea of where they’re more likely to head.
JSE ALSI setting itself for downside to 67,985 due to the bad RInverse Cup and Handle has formed on the JSE ALSI 40.
We need the price to break below the brim level and all hell will break loose.
MA 21>7
RSI < 50
Target 67,985
FUNDAMENTALS.
The rand is majorly in trouble, R19.80 to the US Dollar and R23.90 to the pound.
Is this because of load shedding. Is this because people are leaving the country due to the inefficiencies of the government. Is this because of the world markets coming down? Or is it a combination of all.
Whatever it is, we are seeing downside to come.
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.
Sell in May and Go Away - Might apply in 2023We are still in the Box range.
This isn't a great trading environment to buy and sell.
So we need to wait for the price break out of this box formation.
Looks like the Sell in May and Go Away might apply this year, if we get the break below the box.
I am kind of leaning towards the Bearish bias that the price will break below as many JSE stocks are lining up strong selling chart patterns setups.
We just need the JSE ALSI to confirm.
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?
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.
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.
SA40 - AnalysisSA40 - Analysis
South African stocks will always follow but not lead.
So I will always be looking at the performance of the US and Europe stocks.
Most companies in South African are funded by foreign investors as the locals can't afford the buying numbers.
Trail the break down analysis.
Daily Bias - JSE ALSI 40 - BULLISHWe ended the week on an awful note with resources dropping over 4%, with gaps down and with sudden breakaway trends.
Looking at the bigger picture of the ALSI 40, we still remain with Bullish Bias.
7>21>200
RSI>50
And we seem to be making a Falling Flag, which needs to break up.
Also with SMC, it's early days but we have the first level of liquidity (Sell Side Liquidity) where hopefully Smart Money has come swept the sellers with Long traders stopped and Shorters (entered).
Them sweeping the Sell Side Liquidity is buying into it pushing the price up. We remain with a buying side bias for the week.
WHY YOU Don't always Receive INTEREST when you are short... Q. I thought that when you go short (sell) that we earn interest (swap fees) per day.
But to my surprise I was actually charged interest on my open trade with AUD/NZD. Was I not meant to earn interest?”
A. Unfortunately, it depends…
With each market you trade, you’ll need to look at the symbol information for each trade you take.
This also depends on the deal the broker has with each market.
For example, when you SELL AUD/NZD you're essentially buying NZD/AUD (as they are currency pairs).
So whether you go long or short, you don't earn interest with short (sell) currencies...
But make sure, you always look at Symbol information and see what swaps are positive when you are short.
With the AUD/NZD you can see you pay -3.35% per year.
That means each day you hold, you’ll have to pay 0.009% per day.
Then with some commodities and indices you’ll either earn interest or you’ll have to pay interest when you short (sell).
For example, with gold you’ll receive an interest of 1.23% per year.
Whereas with cotton you’ll pay 5.4% per year.
With the UK 100 FTSE, you’ll pay an annual interest of -0.24%. And with the Dow Jones you’ll receive 0.74% per year.
Then with local and international stocks, you’ll receive a certain % of interest (swap fees) per year.
So make sure you always check to see what each swap (daily interest fee) entails.
This obviously depends on the Market Maker you're using and if you're using Trading View make sure you see the information from your broker what the interest swaps (fees) are when you go long or short.
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.
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.
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.
4 TYPES OF TRADING GAPS Less is more... And this is just a summary of the most common 4 types of Gaps you may see,...
1. Break-away – Breaks out of a current trend
2. Exhaustion – Ends a current trend
3. Runaway – Runs in the direction of the trend
4. Common – Just an ordinary gap
Can you think of any more gaps?
JSE ALMI Take profit hit at 72,600 next trade is imminentInv Head and Shoulders formed on the 15 minute chart.
We had an evidential Sell Side Liquidity Order block form around the Right Shoulder.
This is where the price broke structure and we entered with our TP1 hitting 72,600.
Next we have another setup preparing.
We need the price to come back down to the most recent Sell Side Liquidity Order Block.
sweep liquidity, turn up and break out of the downtrend .
That's where we'll get our next Buy level around 72240.
But I'll let you know as always!
JSE Top 40 Index Published earlier this morning on the client platform and included in yesterday's research note.
JSE Top 40 Index - Update: Yesterday we saw a moderate rejection off the overhead/downward trending resistance zone. The index is likely to retrace further off this level.
For more research insights, including trade ideas, get in touch today.
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.
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.