BLT

Analysis of Trading Results

Broken down by hour of entry.

Summary Week Ended Friday 9th November 2012

20 stock trades:

5 BLT + 44.88 BPS

1 BP + 23.53 BPS

2 STAN + 27.25 BPS

1 XTA + 25.47 BPS

Stocks net + 121.14

10 index trades:

12 Dax – 124.90 BPS

6 FTSE – 49.15 BPS

Indices net – 174.05 BPS

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

US election result was followed by a big sell off on Thursday.

A decent week on stocks, but a poor one on the indices.

I have therefore dicided to concentrate 100% on stocks, since that is what I do best, and actually I prefer.

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Dax 09th November 2012

Daily Data:

THE DAY THE MARKETS BROKE

THE DAY THE MARKETS BROKE

Tuesday morning at the trading desk – it is twelve minutes to eight, and twelve minutes to the open.

“This is not looking good mate, not looking good at all …”

That's Mike, one of my team on the UK equities desk.

I have my eyes fixed on the Dax futures quotes, since the Dax opens for trade at seven am London time, and the market is selling off, hard.

71 04… 7100.. 7096..7092… the numbers are all red, and they keep on getting lower, on heavy volume.

The selling seems to be getting more intense as we approach the London market open.

I turn to look at Mike, who has his ‘phone to his ear, and is staring at one of his screens.

“OK, here’s the plan – we wait for an early bounce before we sell the position.”

Mike nods, and speaks quietly into the ‘phone.

I turn to Jim, sitting at his desk to my right.

“Jim, you hear that ? We wait before closing our position.”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

We have a bit of a problem. We are holding a rather large long position on a basket of bank stocks. And late last night, the news from the US markets wasn’t good – both Moodys and S&P had downgraded the financial sector, and of course, financial stocks in the US have sold off sharply. 

This all happened after the London market closed at four thirty, so it looks like the slide will start as soon as the market opens at eight, in a little over ten minutes from now.

I pull up the position spreadsheet on one of my monitors. What a day to be long banks ! But then everything had looked OK at four thirty yesterday, in fact the position was already starting to show a small profit. Oh well, my job is to manage this as best as I can, and preserve capital.

Don’t try to be a hero !

“Two minutes chaps.”

It’s Jim.

All three of us sit at our desks now, watching the screens and waiting for the prices to start moving.

First to speak is Mike.

“Bloody hell, HSBC is getting clobbered…”

I glance at the quote, it says 572.50, having closed last night at 622. All the banks are already between six and ten percent down. On the position we are holding, that’s quite a chunk of cash.

“Yeah Mike, watching for some buying here, and on BARC too.”

I am looking at the level II screen, which shows the electronic order book on BARC. Now it was two minutes past eight, and there are a few buyers appearing on the stock. 

I click on the ask price and am immediately filled at 1.72. Now we have an even bigger position on BARC. My plan is to sell the lot on the first bounce. I scribble the entry price, time and size on my desk blotter in front of me..

“Jim, if you see any buying on HSBC, then you know what to do.”

“Sure Chief.”

“OK chaps, lets focus.”

I contine to watch the BARC orders hit the book, it is now trading just above the lows, at 1.74, and I think it looks ready to break above 1.75. I buy some at 1.76, get filled instantly and write the numbers down on the blotter.

Thirty seconds later and BARC is trading at 1.825, I close out the entire position.

“BARC all gone chaps.”

There is no time to calculate the total damage, we still have a lot of stock on the book and I think prices will break the lows, given how far the US futures have fallen overnight.

Summary Week Ended Friday 2nd November 2012

20 Trades:

1 ANTO + 2.32 BPS

1 BARC + 17.50 BPS

13 BG – 16.17 BPS

3 BLT + 25.33 BPS

1 BP + 302.40 BPS

1 FTSE + 1.19 BPS

NET + 332.21 BPS

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

US markets were closed on Monday & Tuesday due to hurricane Sandy, NYSE reopened on Wednesday

Huge volatility on BG after results.

A decent week, although I gave some profit back trading BG too much. Best profit was a long on BP which I held overnight as it hadn't hit my stop and closed at 0822 after results came out strong.

I need to concentrate on the stocks which pay best and I have deleted LLOY from the stock list as the spread is too wide for intraday trading.

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

STAN 30th Oct 2012

Summary Week Ended Friday 26th October 2012

Trades

 

1 AAL + 15.93 BPS

8 BLT + 26.08 BPS

3 BP -76.12 BPS

4 XTA -30.95 BPS

5 FTSE + 9.99 BPS

NET – 55.07 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded three five days this week.

I am trading stocks again, using Cap Spreads (since CMC reintroduced min commissions).

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 19th October 2012

Summary Week Ended Friday 19th October 2012

Trades

2 AAL + 25.86 BPS

2 BARC – 45.58 BPS

2 BLT + 27.06 BPS

1 BP + 2.24 BPS

1 HSBA – 27.77 BPS

1 XTA + 3 BPB

NET – 15.20 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded three five days this week. Tight rangebound market for most of the week. A difficult week all in all.

Change on the week:

FTSE + 102.83

Dax +148.15

I am trading stocks again, using Cap Spreads (since CMC reintroduced min commissions).

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Charlie on FT Markets Live

Daily Stocks Spreadsheet CoB 17th Oct 2012

MT4 SPREADSHEET

Summary Week Ended Friday 12th October 2012

Trades

1 BLT + 18.43 BPS

1 BP + 4.55 BPS

2 BT.A - 75.65 BPS

1 STAN + 28.91 BPS

NET – 23.77 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded three days this week, had a visitor.

I am trading stocks again, using Cap Spreads (since CMC reintroduced min commissions).

Markets were generally weak:

FTSE – 77.7

DAX – 165.4

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 5th October 2012

Trades

2 BP + 11.49 BPS

3 BLT + 15.59 BPS

2 XTA + 16.83 BPS 

Net  + 43.91 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am trading stocks again, using Cap Spreads (since CMC reintroduced min commissions).

Markets were quiet this week.

 

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 28th September 2012

Trades

2 DAX - 26.59 BPS

2 FTSE + 5.52 BPS

2 BLT + 25.95 BPS

1 STAN + 13.49 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

I am trading stocks again, using Cap Spreads (since CMC reintroduced min commissions).

Markets fell at the end of the week to close down on the week overall:

FTSE - 111

DAX - 235.5

 SPX -19.48

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 21st September 2012

Trades

12 DAX - 36.57 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

Not a good week.

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 14th September 2012

Trades

11 DAX + 28.2 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE. Dax made a 52 week high this week after the Fed announced QE3.

A difficult week, no great trades.

I have decided to:

1 - Not trade the F type trades (after 1500 London time), since this is my weakest period.


2 - Not to trade shorts, since the long side is where I have historically made the bulk of my profits.


By concentrating on longs, I can focus better on selecting the best trades.

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 7th September 2012

Trades

 DAX - 12.36 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

Thursday was very volatile during the ECB press conference. I closed my long trade FAR too early, only to watch the market climb higher all afternoon.

A difficult week, no great trades.

I have decided to:

1 - Not trade the F type trades (after 1500 London time), since this is my weakest period.


2 - Not to trade shorts, since the long side is where I have historically made the bulk of my profits.


By concentrating on longs, I can focus better on selecting the best trades.


Textbook example of 30 min resistance becoming support:

Stay disciplined.

Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 31st August 2012

Trades

17 DAX - 21.69 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts


I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE. Dax volatility was subdued this week, but it made a big move to the downside on Thursday afternoon (which I missed as I had to go out).

A difficult week, no great trades, but I followed my trading rules.


Lovely example of how first 30 min resistance becomes support in the afternoon on the Dax:

Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 24th August 2012

Trades

10 DAX + 22.25 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

Dax volatility continues to be  low this week.


I have decided not to trade the FCR type trades (countertrend after 1500 London time), since this category has a very poor return rate. In fact I shall not trade at all after the 1500 hrs cut off point.

Dax trades broken down by category:

Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 17th August 2012

Trades

14 DAX + 17.3 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE. Dax volatility was very low this week, range on Friday was under 35 points... The index is near the highs it made in March.

A difficult week, no great trades.

I have decided not to trade the FCR type trades (countertrend after 1500 London time), since this category has a very poor return rate.

Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 10th August 2012

Trades

11 DAX + 12.66 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE. Dax volatility was subdued this week last week's big moves.

A quiet week, no great trades.


Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 3rd August 2012

Trades

9 DAX + 44.29 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Traded five days this week.

I am continuing to concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE. Dax volatility was huge this week after Mario Draghi disappointed the markets on Thursday.

A better week, although I missed the HUGE crash on the Dax.

I have to concentrate more on the LONG side, that's what I do best.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 27th July 2012

Trades

9 DAX + 29.56 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

I was busy on the boat for 3 days this week.

I am concentrating on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

A better week, although I missed the HUGE rally on the Dax.

I have to concentrate more on the LONG side, that's what I do best.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 20th July 2012

Trades

14 DAX - 72.62 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

I am concentrating on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

I broke my rule regarding quitting if I take a full 20 point loss on the Dax.

A very difficult week.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 13th July 2012

Trades

6 DAX + 20.86 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Trading indices since CMC reintroduced minimum commissions.
I am concentrating on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

Trading the 30 min breakouts more.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 6th July 2012

Trades

5 DAX + 32.60 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Trading indices since CMC reintroduced minimum commissions.
I should concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

And trade the 30 min breakouts more.

A quiet week, but decent P:L ratio.


Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 29th June 2012

Trades

9 DAX + 43.7 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Trading indices since CMC reintroduced minimum commissions.
I should concentrate on the Dax, as it trades much heavier volume than the FTSE.

And trade the 30 min breakouts more.

I traded more actively this week, small size but decent P:L ratio.


Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 22nd June 2012

Trades

1 FTSE + 5 BPS
2 DAX + 7.5 BPS

All intraday trades.


Thoughts

Trading indices since CMC reintroduced minimum commissions.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Friday Week Ended 25th May 2012

Trades

1 FTSE + 6 BPS


All intraday trades.


Thoughts

I was busy most of the week again, so little trading.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 18th May 2012

Trades

1 FTSE + 18 BPS


All intraday trades.


Thoughts

I was busy most of the week again, so little trading.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 11th May 2012

3 Trades

1 BP + 71 BPS
1 AAL - 73
1 BLT + 13


All intraday trades.


Thoughts

I was busy most of the week so little trading.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 4th May 2012

1 Trade

1 BP + 2 BPS



All intraday trades.


Thoughts

I was busy Wed to Friday so no trading.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 27th April 2012

7 Trades

1 BARC + 25 BPS
4 BLT - 17 BPS
1 BP + 64 BPS
1 BT.A + 19 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

I really should concentrate on the long side, since that's what I have proven to do best.
Took my single loss on a short trade on BLT, a very poor entry.
 
Reached my BPS profit target just one day this week, Monday, after buying an early sell off.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 20th April 2012

5 Trades

5 BLT - 185 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

A short week, due to other commitments.




Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 13th April 2012

7 Trades

2 BARC + 72 BPS
3 BP + 86 BPS
2 RDSA + 11 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

A short week (Easter) choppy trading conditions.




Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 6th April 2012

8 Trades

4 BARC - 513 BPS
1 BG - 297 BPS
2 BP - 181 BPS
1 BLT + 21 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

A very poor week, missed a very strong rally on Monday afternoon, then lost fighting the sell off on Thurs and Friday.




Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ended Friday 30th March 2012

6 Trades

1 BARC - 292 BPS
1 BG + 75 BPS
1 BP - 118 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

A very difficult week.

I will be more selective in the future.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ending Friday 23rd March 2012

5 Trades

1 ANTO + 49 BPS
1 XTA + 22 BPS
1 BP - 29 BPS
2 BLT - 144 BPS

All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Miners weak for the last 5 days.

I made a couple of poor entries this week, one just before some negative market news.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ending Friday 16th March 2012

Trades: 2

1 BARC + 29 BPS
1 BLT +15 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Lowish volumes and my watchlist stocks traded in narror ranges for most of the week, I struggled to find trades,



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ending Friday 9th Mar 2012

Trades: 4

2 XTA + 75 BPS
4 BLT -25 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Thursday was the deadline for the Greek bond deal, so markets very cautious. I decided to sit on the sidelines during Thursday and had to leave early on Friday, so all in all, a quiet week. I will be back on Monday for more trading though.



Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ending Friday 2nd Mar 2012

Trades: 5

2 BARC + 53 BPS
3 BLT -72 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Not a great week, took an early short on BARC today but my entry was poor, closed almost flat as the buyers kept coming back all day.

No real damage done, just frustrating closing too early on a couple of trades on BLT.


Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ending Friday 24th Feb 2012

Trades: 2

1 BARC + 26 BPS
1 LLOY + 103 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

A difficult week, stocks in my watchlist trading in tight ranges, LLOY sold off today on its results, and I missed a repeat of yesterday's short about 37p.

Still, a proftible week is better than a losing week that's for sure.

Next week I'll be looking for more volatility, I'm wondering if the FTSE has made a short term high @ 5962.92.

Stay disciplined.
Stay focussed.

Summary Week Ending Friday 17th Feb 2012

Trades: 4

1 BT.A + 14 BPS
1 BLT + 34 BPS
1 BARC + 23 BPS
1 LLOY + 28 BPS


All intraday trades.

Thoughts

Be wary of countertrend shorts.

Summary Week Ending Friday 10th Feb 2012

Trades: 5

3 BP + 51 BPS
2 BLT + 72 BPS


All intraday trades.

Trading was quiet, but I did miss a few nice moves, especially BARC on Friday am (down to 225, reversed to 244 on huge volume).

BLT also peaked @ 2205 then sold off over the next couple of days to 2033.

Thoughts

The first 15 mins of the session is often really crucial, and I must ensure that I'm 100% focussed at this time.


It's too easy to sit and watch and take no action, thereby missing some of the best trades.

    

Summary Week Ending Friday 3rd Feb 2012

Summary for Week Ending Friday 3rd Feb 2012

Trades: 6

3 BP + 45 BPS
2 BLT + 109 BPS
1 BARC + 28 BPS

All intraday trades.