Wed. 10/10

2:40pm CDT -
Net breakdown (contracts traded):
NQ $197(7), CL $305(1)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	8
Net $P/L:	502
Wins:	4
Losses:	2
Win%:	67
Avg$Win:	154
Avg$Loss:	-58

Tues. 10/09

1:35pm CDT - More patient today.  One ZS trade came within 3 ticks of target.  I stayed in for another 1.5 hrs. before it finally worked lower to fill my order.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $1038(12), NQ -$68(7), CL $6(1)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	20
Net $P/L:	975
Wins:	4
Losses:	4
Win%:	50
Avg$Win:	484
Avg$Loss:	-240

Mon. 10/08

2:35pm CDT - Didn't fully execute properly today and my target on ZS of 15.52 eventually hit but it was inside the final minute of trading so who can fault me for getting out earlier??   Had a long NQ trade that I bailed on late in day when P/L went over a grand.  Missed $280 in profits on that one and $300 on ZS.  It's hard to follow your rules sometimes but I like to think I'm making progress.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $1367(16), NQ -$363(7)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	23
Net $P/L:	1004
Wins:	3
Losses:	5
Win%:	38
Avg$Win:	810
Avg$Loss:	-285

Fri. 10/05

12:25pm CDT - Good end to the week. Missed an $80 trade in NQ.  CL reminded me how fast you can lose in that symbol.  Results for a volatile week, net gain $1707.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $1459(8), NQ -$3(1), CL -$423(3)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	12
Net $P/L:	1033
Wins:	2
Losses:	3
Win%:	40
Avg$Win:	729
Avg$Loss:	-142

Thurs. 10/04

12:15pm CDT - Short day.  Got to get out and enjoy this nice weather before it ends!

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $829(4), NQ $170(4), CL $156(1)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	9
Net $P/L:	1154
Wins:	4
Losses:	1
Win%:	80
Avg$Win:	309
Avg$Loss:	-83

Wed. 10/03

1:35pm CDT - Technically, today I should have been down $3400 before ending the day down $2000. But instead, I moved my target and got out for a gain on one big loser (trade 5). My plan does not call for moving stops or targets but after the past 2 days of live trading, I’m going to revisit this. This may introduce a degree of “optimization” to my system but that's okay, as long as I don’t overly optimize as I have done in my past.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $1076(24), NQ $170(4)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	28
Net $P/L:	1246
Wins:	5
Losses:	3
Win%:	63
Avg$Win:	503
Avg$Loss:	-423

Tues. 10/02

2:00pm CDT - Easy come, easy go.  The good news is that I did follow my plan.  The bad news is that today's result slightly exceeded the worst day in my backtest period.  That's never a good sign.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS -$3612(12), NQ -$173(5)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	17
Net $P/L:	-3785
Wins:	2
Losses:	4
Win%:	33
Avg$Win:	77
Avg$Loss:	-985

Mon. 10/01

2:05pm CDT - Best day of the last year.  Expect to have more like this but since I increased size on ZS, my losers will be larger too.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $1968(16), NQ $92(3)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	19
Net $P/L:	2060
Wins:	3
Losses:	2
Win%:	60
Avg$Win:	848
Avg$Loss:	-242

Quarter 3 2012 Trading Results

 

September Trading Summary

Note: Only traded last half of month

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
6J $316(2), CL -$442(14), NQ $126(30), ZS $2225(29)

RESULTS FOR SEPTEMBER
Contracts:	75
Net $P/L:	2225
Wins:	17
Losses:	25
Win%:	40
$Commissions:	300
Avg$Win:	427
Avg$Loss:	-201

Fri. 9/28

2:40pm CDT - Crazy day in the grains after the morning crop report.  Corn was limit up most of the day.  I mistakenly tried to trade my system during the insane volatility but came out okay.  Still testing things out but I am pretty happy with my ZS system but need to rethink a few things on NQ.  I have high hopes for a good remainder of the year.

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $863(12), NQ $125(4)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	16
Net $P/L:	988
Wins:	5
Losses:	3
Win%:	63
Avg$Win:	478
Avg$Loss:	-468

Thurs. 9/27

1:30pm CDT -

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $544(6), NQ $203(18)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	24
Net $P/L:	747
Wins:	2
Losses:	4
Win%:	33
Avg$Win:	1002
Avg$Loss:	-314

Wed. 9/26

2:50pm CDT -

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	4
Net $P/L:	200
Wins:	2
Losses:	1
Win%:	67
Avg$Win:	169
Avg$Loss:	-138

Tues. 9/25

2:20pm CDT - Didn't take a short NQ trade around lunch that would have gotten back the losses there but otherwise a good day. 

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ZS $544(6), NQ -$358(3)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	9
Net $P/L:	186
Wins:	1
Losses:	3
Win%:	25
Avg$Win:	929
Avg$Loss:	-248

Mon. 9/24

2:20pm CDT -

RESULTS FOR DAY
ZS Contracts:	2
Net $P/L:	390
Wins:	1
Losses:	0
Win%:	100
Avg$Win:	390
Avg$Loss:	0

Fri. 9/21

1:35pm CDT - Nothing like a bunch of losers to make you glad you're testing with 1 lots.  And to add a dose of humility!

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
CL -$548(4), ZS -$105(1), NQ -$43(1)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	6
Net $P/L:	-696
Wins:	0
Losses:	6
Win%:	0
Avg$Win:	0
Avg$Loss:	-116

Thurs. 9/20

3:45pm CDT - Found no trades on my longer timeframe charts the past couple days so decided to do some live testing today on another method that uses fast charts.  I'm not sure I can really be satisfied trading just slow charts!  We'll see...

Net breakdown (contracts traded): CL $105(10), ZS -$10(2)

RESULTS FOR DAY
Contracts:	12
Net $P/L:	95
Wins:	5
Losses:	7
Win%:	42
Avg$Win:	164
Avg$Loss:	-104

Tues. 9/18

2:30pm CDT - The trading saabatical is over.  My head is clear after a nice vacation and I've been working on a variety of new methods.  For now, I'm pushing myself to switch to longer term charts trading mostly off daily, 4 hour, 1 hour, and 30 minute charts. 

RESULTS FOR DAY
6J Contracts:	2
Net $P/L:	316
Wins:	1
Losses:	1
Win%:	50
Avg$Win:	383
Avg$Loss:	-67

It's official, Gain owns OEC

I am not planning to move accounts (for now) and am waiting to see what new regulations come out to prevent future MFGlobal and PFG thefts.  As of 7/31, OEC now has over $100 million in customer funds, a new record for them.

------------------------
Sept. 12, 2012 email:
GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. Completes Acquisition of Open E Cry, LLC 

Customer Announcement

GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCAP; “the Company”), a global provider of online trading services, has completed its previously announced purchase of Open E Cry, LLC (“OEC”), an online futures broker, from optionsXpress Holdings, Inc. a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation.

The acquisition of OEC adds futures and exchange traded options to GAIN’s core forex trading offering, in keeping with the Company’s strategy to diversify its product offerings and grow its commission-based revenue sources.

“We are pleased to have completed this transaction in a timely manner and look forward to offering our retail and institutional customers OEC’s broad range of futures and related exchange-traded market products,” said Glenn Stevens, CEO of GAIN Capital. “OEC has a successful track record of growth and we believe there are significant opportunities to further develop and grow its business, as well as potential synergies to achieve greater operating efficiency.”

August Trading Summary

Note: Only traded 7 days first half of month

RESULTS FOR AUGUST
NQ Contracts:	92
Net $P/L:	-2181
Wins:	10
Losses:	19
Win%:	34
$Commissions:	241
Avg$Win:	94
Avg$Loss:	-164

DIY Investor

Came across this 4-page article which most of us can relate very well to.

MF Global - No Fraud

"Chaos and poor risk control?"  Really?  Sounds like the typical reason for loss in any retail day trader's account!  Sad if our brokers can really get away with that as an excuse...

Tues. 8/14 - Timeout

10:00am CDT - OK, I'm in a funk and can't shake it.  No surprise to most of you reading this.  Today's trading is a perfect textable example of how not to trade during chop. And how not to follow your trading plan. Perhaps I'll try something totally different, and something I've never advocated, and trade a demo account for a bit?  See if that will help me work out my "issues."  No live trades for me until the week after Labor Day at the earliest. Let's see if I can stick to a self imposed break.  The markets suck right now anyways.  Comments off because I've heard everything I need to hear already.

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	30
Net $P/L:	-1559
Wins:	0
Losses:	6
Win%:	0
Avg$Win:	0
Avg$Loss:	-260

Mon. 8/13

3:00pm CDT - Stopped by a tick on that last one...

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	6
Net $P/L:	-96
Wins:	1
Losses:	2
Win%:	33
Avg$Win:	75
Avg$Loss:	-85

Fri. 8/10

12:35pm CDT - Another mostly dead day.  For the week, net +$261.

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	8
Net $P/L:	169
Wins:	2
Losses:	1
Win%:	67
Avg$Win:	127
Avg$Loss:	-85

Thurs. 8/09

3:15pm CDT -

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	4
Net $P/L:	0
Wins:	1
Losses:	1
Win%:	50
Avg$Win:	85
Avg$Loss:	-85

Wed. 8/08

2:40pm CDT - Super dead most of the day!  Is it August?

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	12
Net $P/L:	9
Wins:	3
Losses:	3
Win%:	50
Avg$Win:	81
Avg$Loss:	-78

Tues. 8/07

2:20pm CDT - Testing yet another system with 2-lots today...

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	6
Net $P/L:	84
Wins:	2
Losses:	1
Win%:	67
Avg$Win:	85
Avg$Loss:	-85

Fri. 8/03

11:50am CDT - One winning traded just after payrolls report followed by a breakeven one that would have been the trade of the day but it was stopped out just as market took off.  Then 4 losers...  After not trading for a couple days my focus was great but again I am questioning my systems. Look for sporadic trading and blog posts in the near future as I sort out my game plan.

RESULTS FOR DAY
NQ Contracts:	26
Net $P/L:	-788
Wins:	1
Losses:	5
Win%:	17
Avg$Win:	115
Avg$Loss:	-181

July Trading Summary

Net breakdown (contracts traded):
ES $15(4), NQ -$3881(531)

RESULTS FOR JULY
Contracts:	535
Net $P/L:	-3867
Wins:	43
Losses:	87
Win%:	33
$Commissions:	1402
Avg$Win:	304
Avg$Loss:	-195