Tag Archive for 'Tools'

Dull

Published on February 27, 2010, 3:28 pm in Daily and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: , .

…and we end the week on a dull day. Dojis all around as the indexes meandered plus and minus the zeroline all day long….on lower volume. All those traders had to stay home in NY to watch the kids since school was closed from the winter storm.

Today, Saturday, all the news media is fixated on Hawaii to see how big the waves are. Remember, those surfers are used to 20-foot waves.

Cleaning junk off my computers and installing Microsoft Office 2010 (beta). Not a whole bunch of changes…except there is now a 64-bit version…and since my machines run 64-bit, well that’s why I’m excited about it. Now to see how well it works.

Here’s a timely story:
After Olympic glory and immortality … financial services

Oh no, I’m a geek!

Published on February 15, 2010, 6:40 pm in Tools. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

I spent the weekend learning some new software tricks rather than flipping through charts. One of the best revelations in a while has been finding AutoHotKey this weekend, a free software that lets you write scripts to automate anything you do with your keyboard and mouse. I’ve been experimenting with AHK changing fonts in OneNote. I keep my trader’s journal using OneNote, and I like to italicize and change the color of all my timestamps so they stand out. But the more entries I make in my journal, the more time I spend italicizing and changing colors. But now, one keystroke and it’s done. And…Now I can use the same keystroke to do the same thing in any software….cool. I’m working on one that will automatically export my watchlist from StockFinder, and move it into Tradestation….even cooler! Then I’ll see if the same hotkeys work with TCnet and FreeStockCharts. I’m just like a nerdy geek in a Best Buy store with an ten dollars off coupon. 8O

I’m also working with Camtasia Studio to create videos. I like the software, but so far I’m trashing every video I make. :oops: Practice makes perfect. Look for a video coming soon at this blog!

And one more tool note: How Twitter is Changing the Way We Invest. I use StockTwits desktop to help me keep an eye on the markets. You can follow me, “WhatTheTrading”, on Stocktwits and/or Twitter.

Oh well….time to get back to scans, building the watchlists and looking at charts…. Oh yeah, and using my new software tools!
 

Good day

Published on February 11, 2010, 11:39 pm in Daily, Opinions and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: .

The improving jobless claims report did not draw any enthusiasm from any traders. In fact, at the time of the report there were questions on what was happening with Greece and markets moved downward. But, the indexes overcame that early weakness, trading higher and closing in the green. Speaking of that Greece thingy….option symbol change. Makes it tough to do any research on options. :cry: If you are using TS and do trade options, make sure you update to version 8.7.

Here’s a note from the Stock Trader’s Almanac: Day before President’s Day weekend S&P down 15 of last 18 years. That makes a case for the bears, but, I’m rooting for the bulls at least through lunch time. Maybe we can change it to 15 of last 19 after tomorrow. 8)

For tomorrow I will probably lighten up for the long holiday weekend, especially positions that are already green. But I will look at a few stocks in the morning….maybe PEIX LAB CRXX FSII.

For me it was a good day overall, even though it was questionable at the open. TLB continues to act well, as did PFSW. I wish I had held on to those TBT calls, but you know what they say: If a trader uses words like Hoping or Wishing or Praying talking about a stock, it means to exit the position immediately! Which also brings to mind…Hope rhymes with dope. And my personal favorite…Don’t be a dick for a tick!

See you tomorrow. 8O

A tepid day

Published on January 5, 2010, 11:38 pm in Daily and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I added to my short positions today via VIX puts and SDS calls. I also daytraded SEED to the long side to make some pocket change. :mrgreen:

Seems to me the market is waiting for Initial Claims on Thursday and the big Employment reports on Friday. We’ll get a clue as ADP posts their version on Wednesday morning.

Been spending a lot of time this evening trying to explore Stockfinder. It’s like a super TCnet charting and scanning program. They even work together. I’ll review it after I learn it. Time for some shut-eye!

Last Year and This Year

Published on January 2, 2010, 11:03 pm in News, Opinions and Psyche. 2 Comments Tags: , .

First of all, thank you all for your best wishes and I hope 2010 becomes your healthiest, happiest and most profitable year ever. :!:

I know this is the time of year when everyone speculates, guesses and fortune-tells what the new year will unveil. I’m not one of those guys. But, here is a list of articles you can read that will get you thinking:

What I do do, is review my last year. I gather my trading journal, trading notes, TradeManager reports and review my trading for the year. And this is what I found: I placed 571 equity trades last year, 68% of those trades were profitable. Those trades allowed me to increase my trading account by 22%.

My winning trades lasted on average 9 days. But get this, my losing trades lasted on average 25 days! That means I hold on to my losers just way too long! So what do I need to do? Cut my losers faster….and probably keep my winners longer!

If you use Tradestation as your trading software and broker, TradeManager gets you all kinds of reports, graphs and charts that can show you how your trading and your performance. I’m sure different software and brokers have similar programs, I’m just familiar with TS. I still have to review my futures trading, but I use a different broker and software for futures trading, Infinity Futures.

Every trading day I create my “Daily Trading Sheet.” On it I keep my active trades and a few stocks that I’m going to keep an eye on during the day. I jot notes about what the market is doing, or what a particular stock is doing, or, as I look them over, I doodle a lot. :D It’s interesting to reminisce about your good days and those bad ones. Hopefully you have more good than bad.

Oh well, this post is getting long in the tooth and it’s getting late, so I’ll just put an end to it and try again tomorrow. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

Life-changing Chair

Published on December 13, 2009, 9:48 pm in Tools and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: .

I don’t want to sound too much like a commercial but, my back and shoulder pain disappeared in about a week after changing chairs! It was about 2 years ago when I first mentioned needing a new chair. I was slow to move on it only because it was expensive. But, now that I have it and used it, I’m kicking myself for not getting it 2 years ago. :oops:

The Swingseat makes it much easier for anyone that spends any amount of time in a chair. And if you move around grabbing your mouse, getting to your keyboard and looking at multiple screens, this is the one.

Since I use multiple screens, 6 to be exact, I turn back and forth scanning them all. So what I did was order the optional mouse pad that mounts on the armrest so I can swing back and forth and the mouse moves with me, not having to take my hand off the mouse and ready to click at all times. I think that was the culprit to my shoulder pain and this solved it.

Check it out if you’re in need of a chair. I recommend it highly. :lol:

Quickie update

Published on December 8, 2009, 11:17 pm in Tools and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

I got engrossed studying EasyLanguage for some indicators I was creating in Tradestation. I started hours ago just to study some charts but got sidetracked quickly. I hate when that happens. Now I’m too tired to complete my nightly routine of setting up for tomorrow’s trading. What the $%@&*!

So anyways….DRAM and SEED just consolidated today so I’m still sitting in those. OPTT on the otherhand took off and I cashed out pretty darn close to the highs of the day. I also daytraded NSLT. It’s probably still got more to go, but I like those fast moneymakers. :mrgreen:

On another note, it’s much easier spending hours at the computer since I got my SwingSeat. I’ll get to writing a more detailed review this weekend….that is of course I figure out my EasyLanguage issues, heehee!

OK, time to catch a few Zzzzz’s!

Another Dull Day

Published on November 11, 2009, 11:15 pm in Daily and Tools. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Another dull day on decreasing volume, but resolving to the up side all around. Near the end of the day I was looking at getting short, but I kept hearing “never short a dull market” in my head over and over. So I didn’t. Not much to do in a market like this, so I worked around the office.

The biggest thing I did today was finally order a new chair. It’s been almost 2 years since I first mentioned I was looking at getting a new chair. My Swingseat is due to arrive in about a week. I’ll definitely post my review as soon as I sit in it. :D

Futures are looking down this evening, but it’s a long way from market open….unless of course you like to trade futures in the wee hours of the morning. In a week devoid of economic news so far, tomorrow brings us the weekly Initial Claims report. How that report shows will most likely define the markets for the next day or two. I guess I’ll go see what sleep feels like. G’night.

A golden day

Published on September 2, 2009, 11:20 pm in Daily, Tools and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The markets didn’t do anything today until the last 5 minutes, when it finally showed us some downward direction. Yes they were all down, but not by much. So I’m really wondering about direction for the remainder of the week. Generally the markets are bullish going into a holiday weekend….traders are a patriotic bunch.

Because of my indecision I didn’t trade equities today….I confined myself to S&P e-mini futures, and even then not much. I scalped for a couple points in each direction, shorting at 997.50 and going long at 995.50….2 points up, 2 points down. It pretty much stayed in that range much of the day.

Volume was down quite a bit today as compared to yesterday. Looked like we had plopped back to the middle of August. Even AIG got goofy again and couldn’t decide which way it wanted to go.

And gold really took off today.Gold was lock-stepped in with the markets, but smashed that thought process today. I’m wondering how fast the trip to $1000 will be?

I was preoccupied with downloading and using StockTwits Desktop today. I like it. I feel it is better than TweetDeck with all the amenities for tracking tweets about stocks. I had got comfortable with Tweetdeck, so it may take me a while before I am completely weaned off of it. But I really like the Watchlist and Groups features. I especially like when you click on a URL it opens within Desktop. The StockTwits TV feature is also very nice. So another tool to play with. 8)

Quickies…

Published on July 29, 2009, 7:24 am in Tidbits, Tools and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

First, apologies for the website being down for a day…DNS issues for the techies out there.

I made money Tuesday on the short side as long as I held the position for minutes only….up and down, up and down.

You would think that how much HFT, high frequency trading, is in the news these days, “they” would hold back a bit to not be so noticeable. But the last 15 minutes was still as wacky as it has been the last couple of weeks.

Still looking like cash is king….remember, cash is a position.

Oh yes, and the quote for the day is from CNBC:

The only successful bottom-picker is a proctologist.

Tell the World

Published on June 9, 2009, 10:20 pm in Opinions and Other Traders. 0 Comments Tags: .

Tell the world every day where you think the S&P500 will be the next day: Up or Down?. It needs more votes to make it meaningful :idea:

Banks still shaking it up!

Published on April 21, 2009, 9:16 pm in Daily, Tools and Trading. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I only made one trade today….bought FAS at $6.01 and sold it at $7.24. When you’re accustomed to watching 6 screens with charts and lists and indicators, it takes some adjusting to just using one laptop screen. Yes, my cable is still out and the prognosis calls for another 2 days of laptop trading :evil:

Tradestation takes up 4 of my screens, TCnet another one and the last is used for communications, ala chat rooms, emails, browsing. And that all is divided between 2 computers. I can’t even get close using 1 laptop. You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone! And I won’t even get into the whole speed issue.

Many nice looking charts forming, but you never know until the market is open and digesting all of its surroundings. Until then, get ready to fight another day :lol: