Saturday, January 21, 2012

Week No. 3


This week I added something new to my trading.  I have begun using 2 lots.  My dilemma is whether to enter both lots at the same price, or to spread the lots out to potentially have a better overall price.  I tried both, but I haven't decided which way to go.  I think spreading them is better overall from a risk perspective, because it puts the stop further away from the initial price, which allows more time to get back into profit to move the stop to break even.  However, both at the same price guarantees that the trade will include 2 lots, which is better if there is profit to be taken. 

Below are the charts for the week January 16, 2012 through January 20, 2012.

EUR/USD
 I took a gamble at a short with one lot on Wednesday (1/18) at 1.2850.  It was near the previous year low and the 50% retracement from this years high to low.  It was a total punt and I was stopped out for a small loss.

GBP/USD
I had two short trades this week, I was a seller at the Cam Y s11.54 with one lot and 1.5435 with the second.  The first lot was hit on Tuesday (1/17) and I watched as the position was in profit for most of the day.  The position was stopped out at 1.535 on Wednesday (1/18) for a small gain.  The second unit was hit later on Wednesday.  I didn't like the looks of the 90 pip upbar, so I moved the stop to break even, which was hit a few hours later.  If I had both units at the same price I would have done better profit wise on this trade.

Also, I should have gone long off of the the Cam Y S1, but didn't think of it.

USD/JPY
I've almost stopped watching this one.  I have two orders set up to buy and sell at the next Cam Y pivot lines, if it ever gets there.

USD/CHF
It would have been nice to short off the Cam Y R1.  I may start trading this one again.

USD/CAD
I was long 2 units off the Cam Y S1, both at the same price.  I took a small profit at the Cam M S2 before the end of the week.  Had I staggered the entry price of the lots I don't think both would have been entered.

I have to think about whether I will go long at this pivot again.  I probably will, but further off the line.

AUD/USD
I started off the week with a trade that was still open from the previous week, I was short from the Cam Y R1.  I was stopped out for a profit early Monday morning.  I went short again off the Cam Y R1 with one uni, this time a little further off the line at 1.038; however, the position was never in profit and I was quickly stopped out for a loss.

After it bounced off the Cam Y R1 I should have been looking to go long.

NZD/USD
No trades this week, although I had an order to go short at the CAM Y R2.  This came close but never hit, maybe next week.

The NZD spent a lot of time around the Cam Y R1 last week.  There isn't anything that told me it would be a good idea to go long off this line, other than 2+ months of solid gains by the pair.

E/J
I ended last week with a quick long off the Cam Y S1 for a small profit.  The pair gapped below to line on Sunday and spent all of Monday hovering around it.  There was some divergence between price and stochastics that would indicate a move up.  Live and learn.

G/J
I had my order set all week to go long a little below the Cam Y S1.  In fact, the order was the same from last week that never entered the previous Friday due to the spread.

A/J
I went short off the Cam Y R1 with 2 lots, the first at 80.15, and the second at 80.35.  The first position was hit on Wednesday, and the line held.  However, I was stopped out at break even on Thursday, and the second position was hit.  I was able to move the stop to break even, which was it Friday morning.

Overall it was a good week.  I added 4% to the trading account and only made one stupid gamble on the euro trade.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Week No. 2


Below are the charts for the week January 9, 2012 through January 13, 2012.

EUR/USD
Cam Y S1 didn't do too much this week, neither as resistance or support.  For some reason I went long on Monday (1/9) at the Cam Y S1 and was stopped out a few hours later. 

GBP/USD
I went long on Friday (1/13) off the Cam Y S2, which I closed later in the day for a small profit.  I should have gone long off the Cam Y S1 at the start of the week and then on Wednesday; and short off the same line on Friday, but I didn't have my orders in.

USD/JPY
This pair doesn't seem to move anymore, until Fridays.  No trades here this week.

USD/CHF
Not trusting the peg I don't have any orders.  However, the Cam Y R1 hels nicely as support on Wednesday.

USD/CAD
It just kissed the Cam Y R1 and then dropped.  I missed this one and regretted it all week.

AUD/USD
I went short on Thursday (1/12) off the Cam Y R1 and rode the trade through the weekend.  I was going to sell two lots, one at 1.036 and the other at 1.038.  Price never got to my second order.  I'm not sure how I feel about splitting the lots, I was able to get a better average price on the NZD/USD short, but this one I only had one order filled.  This is another thing I am watching with time.  Also on this pair my original take profit (TP) was 1.027; however I saw the nasty price action on Friday and cleared out my order.  I modified my stop loss (SL) on Sunday to 1.027 and was stopped out.

NZD/USD
I went short on Tuesday at the Cam Y R1 with two orders, one at 0.7925 and the other at 0.7945.  My SL was set at 0.7975 and was hit on Wednesday (1/11) for a loss.  I didn't feel good about this trade once it started.  I even thought about getting out at break even mid-day on Wednesday.  My thought was to get out and re-enter at a better price.  I didn't and was stopped out. 

EUR/JPY
I went long on Sunday (1/8) off the Cam Y S1 and hit the TP later on Monday.  For some reason I picked 97.10 as the place where I would buy in again, this didn't get hit on Friday.

GBP/USD
I had a buy order slightly off the Cam Y S1, this didn't get triggered on Friday due to the spread.  Had I had the order at the actual line, it would have triggered and I would have been able to close it for a small profit later on Friday.  I was trying to keep it off the line in hopes of getting a better price.

AUD/USD
No trades on this one this week, but look at that solid range Tuesday through Friday.

Overall it was a disappointing week.  The missed USD/CAD trade was upsetting.  Also, my inaction on the NZD/USD trade lead to a loss.  I lost 2% of my trading account this week due to the NZD/USD trade and that wacky EUR/USD trade.  The euro trade was pure gambling, no solid judgement behind it at all.  I do have a AUD/USD trade open that is in the money, if that were to be booked as is I would be flat on the week.

Week No. 1

Below are the charts for the week January 2, 2012 through January 6, 2012.

EUR/USD
That was a nice bounce off the Cam M R2.  There was also a little bounce off the Cam Y S1, which held for a few hours before breaking.  I would have thought the Cam Y S1 would have provided more support.  I should have had a long trade setup at the Cam Y S1, but I didn't because it took me a while to update the charts and get my act together for the new year.  Glad I missed it.


GBP/USD

The Cam Y R1 held nicely as resistance.  I wasn't in that trade but wish I had been.  I did take a long on Thursday (1/5) off the Cam M R1, but I was stopped out.  I also took a long on Friday (1/6) off the Cam Y S1 and closed it out before the end of the day with some profit.


USD/JPY
Cam M S2 held nicely as support.  There were no big pivots in the area so I didn't have any trades.

USD/CHF
Cam M S2 held as support, and Cam Y R1 held for a bit at the end of the week.  I've been reluctant to trade the USD/CHF since the peg, I'll keep watching as time goes on though.


USD/CAD
Cam Y R1 and the Standard Yearly Pivot held great support.  I didn't trade this because I was slow in updating my charts, but I wish I had.


AUD/USD
CAM Y R1 held nicely as support.  Another trade I missed that I wished I had been in on.  I did take a long on Friday (1/6) off the Standard Yearly Pivot for a small profit.



NZD/USD
The Standard Yearly Pivot held as resistance, I had no trade on this pair this week.


EUR/JPY
A nice bounce off the Cam Y S1 to end the week, I had no trade on this pair this week.

GBP/JPY
Some nice bounces off monthly Cam lines, I had no trade on this pair this week.


AUD/JPY
Some nice bounces off monthly Cam lines, I had no trade on this pair this week.

Too many missed opportunities this week.  My account grew by 4%, but still I feel like I left a lot on the table.