Michael's (zlabis) Journal [The Magician]

[zlabis]

Fri. May 22, 2015

Screen time FO+LO-session 8:00 - 10:00 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

It was a choppy FO- and LO-session which offered some tradeable setups but I was not able to catch some reasonable winners. It simply didn't find a direction and stralled around in a rather small range. Solution would have been either trading exlusively from fruit to fruit or not trading at all, although I always need some trades to be can tell weather if we are in a range or not - so that's my investment into finding out if market is tradeable for me or not. Trading was ok overall, only that down-fruit at swing between Trade 6 and 7 should have been taken.

Trade 2/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 14.4 + 13.0; Result = + 4.6 + 1.9 = + 6.5 Pips
Trade 3/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 7.2; Result = - 7.2 Pips
Trade 4/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 8.6 + 11.3 + 15.6; Result = + 4.5 + 1.9 - 0.9 = + 5.5 Pips
Trade 5/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 8.2; Result = - 5.3 Pips
Trade 6/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 13.3 + 16.2; Result = + 4.0 - 1.6 = + 2.4 Pips
Trade 8/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 8.0; Result = - 8.0 Pips
Trade 7/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 15.7 + 10.5; Result = - 5.0 - 10.9 = - 15.9 Pips
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Today's result: - 22.0 Pips , DS = 7 / 7 , 2.00 hrs

This was cool trading in a way that I followed the rules and my plan. It kept me from gaining more rents because I quitted when I felt that I was not in the zone or in sync with the market anymore due to the choppy market conditions. And with DS = 100% (7 of 7) at choppy market, I'm rather happy with.


Result of week 21 - 18.5.-22.5.2015 - M1 live:
Mon. 18.5. + 52.9 Pips, DS 4/4, 1.50 hrs
Tue. 19.5. + 277.1 Pips, DS 3/4, 2.00 hrs
Wed. 20.5. - 37.2 Pips, DS 6/6, 1.50 hrs
Thu. 21.5. - 71.5 Pips, DS 9/9, 1.50 hrs
Fri. 22.5. - 22.0 Pips, DS 7/7, 2.00 hrs
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Result ..... + 199,3 Pips, DS 29/30 (97%), 8.50 hrs

[zlabis]

Tue. May 26, 2015 (journal entry above from 22.5.2015 is new as well)

Screen time FO+LO-session 8:00 - 9:30 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

Was first day after long Whitsun-weekend and after 3 choppy days in a row (at least at FO+LO) at the end of last week. Market moved alot like it wanted to leave the undecided choppy period behind. But I have to admit that I've lost a bit of easiness and confidence due to last week's series of rents. Therefore I was not decisive and confident enough to take all good signals. In hindsight I can say that I was too protective and careing and wanted to take only super-duper-special setups. Result of that hasitating behavior was that I missed the setups which turned out to be good winners. I've already learned in the last months that I should take every GOOD setup until
- I'm happy with result
or
- I catch breakout in direction of following trend which usually brings big winners
or
- my session time is over (max. 2 hrs)
or
- my daily SL is hit (70 Pips)
or
- my mental barrier is hit (out of the zone)

Today I was not able to catch the big winners which were indicated by good setups but, at least I stayed disciplined and quitted immediately as I realized that my mental barrier got hit (anger and frustration about myself was crawling in).

Trade 9/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 13.2; Result = + 6.4 Pips
Trade 10/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 19.3; Result = + 0.3 Pips
Trade 11/20-11: DS = 1; SL = 13.4 + 24.1; Result = - 17.4 - 28.1 = - 45.3 Pips
Trade 12/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 27.7; Result = - 4.2 Pips
Trade 13/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 17.4; Result = - 17.8 Pips
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's result: - 60.6 Pips , DS = 5 / 5, 1.50 hrs

[zlabis]

Wed. May 27, 2015 (journal entries above from 22. and 26.5.2015 are new as well)

Screen time NEO-session 15:30-16:30 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

Because of a very important business appointment in the morning I decided to trade exceptionally at New York Equity open and as Immy pointed out in Skype-room, I was very lucky to do so.

DAX had moved in an only 20 Pips wide AIMS-box before NEO so there was a good probability for a breakout in one or other direction after NEO. There were indications for both directions. Immy and other AIMSters called the trades in the Skype-room and offered decent analysis of the situation.

I had placed first PO-long (Trade 13/20-11) after first signal which was a super tiny up-fruit (only 5.6p tall) which got filled 2 bars later. Then AIMS-box were tightening even more so I bracked the market by placing POs in both directions. With next up-move, the long PO got filled (addon of Trade 13/20-11), which was actually an S1 M1/M5 double AIMS-break . It retested AIMS-level before it took off like a rocket. After the second huge up-candle I decided to trail candles and got stopped out nearly at the top of w3 of that big move. Although it costed me about 8 Pips by having problems fine-adjusting SL of addon I'm super-happy with outcome of that campaign.

During early stage of the previous up-move I took a small down fruit (Trade 13/20-11) which was a very good signal with potentionally low risk of only 7.8 Pips. Unfortunately I was not able to place SL interactively on the chart because it moved up so quickly so I had to close it manually which costed me 19 Pips instead of only 7.8 Pips. I better use Easy Order script with which SL is set by placing POs.

The first screenshot shows situation when dynamic was still very low (distance between ask- and bid-line is rather big) and movement was small and clearly shows candle patterns of the tight range. At the second screenshot with big dynamic and movement which shows complete campaign there is hardly any pattern or signal of the entries visible because it is compressed too much.

It feels good being able to catch a good move after a series of rents or rent days. Lession for tomorrow is to be confident without becoming reckless or enthusiastic and to be focused and objective without being too sticky or over-analyzing.

Trade 13/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 8.6 + 14.9; Result = + 115.5 + 98.3 = + 213.8 Pips
Trade 14/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 7.8; Result = - 19.0 Pips
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's result: + 194.8 Pips , DS = 2 / 2 , 1.00 hrs

[Tomi]

Whooa, what a nice saddle point and bang! Excellent!

[zlabis]

Thu. May 28, 2015

Screen time FO+LO-session 8:00 - 10:00 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

FO and LO were very undecided and choppy today. During FO-session I made a few positive Pips but collected some during first hour of LO session.
Except of one trade (Trade 17/20-11) I took only good, high quality trades which simply didn't work out very well due to little movement in tight rangebound market. I think I don't need to explain every single trade in detail, because they seem to be rather self-explaining on the screenshots - nothing fancy.

Conclusion of the day:
As I can not tell if and when market is going to break out strongly, I need to take good setups until it really breaks out or moves strongly or until my daily stop-criteria (time-, mental- or Pip-wise) are taking place. Rather simple and easy.

Trade 14/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 13.7; Result = - 13.7 Pips
Trade 15/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 10.4 + 18.0; Result = + 13.7 + 19.9 = + 33.6 Pips
Trade 16/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 7.9; Result = - 7.9 Pips
Trade 17/20-11: DS = 0, SL = 21.0; Result = - 21.0 Pips
Trade 18/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 11.4 + 18.6; Result = -24.4 Pips
Trade 19/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 20.6 + 11.1; Result = - 27.1 Pips
Trade 20/20-11: DS = 1, SL = 12.5 + 14.6; Result = + 10.1 Pips
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's result: - 50.4 Pips, DS = 6 / 7 , 2.00 hrs
Another choppy session but next ;-)

[zlabis]

Fri. May 29, 2015

Screen time FO+LO-session 8:00 - 9:30 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

Last day of the week and the month. DAX offered a smooth but slow move during FO session where we got offered some good setups.
London open breakout was a bit tricky due to a very big AIMS box but following the rules and fully accepting risks did the trick and payed off with a home-run.

Trade 1/20-12:
"Our" FO setup with counter-fruit at the first few candles. I simply didn't work out and got closed at initial SL when fruit failed.

Trade 2/20-12:
2nd attempt for counter fruit setup with still good angulation. This time it went in my favour and I added on at a beautiful S1 with tiny SL. Because it seemed to be some sort of impulsive-corrective-impulsive cycle, I had an eye on fib exp levels and placed stop-level above 61.8% FE (TZ1) after it brokethrough that level with good result.

Trade 3/20-12:
Very good counter fruit signal with small SL a few minutes before LO. I really like setups like that because sometimes they turn into large winners with tiny risk if the breakout proceeds in direction of those initial entries.
Unfortunately it simply turned around after the 2nd candle and it got stopped out at init SL.

Trade 4/20-12:
Another counter fruit attempt, this time only 1 minute before LO. Although 1st breakout attempt was in my favour and addon above AIMS box got filled, it reversed immediately after addon kicked in. A dynamic down-move took place and threw out my long campaign (=> SAR into Trade 5/20-12).

Trade 5/20-12:
It was planned as SAR of Trade 4/20-12 but due to lags of MT4 with placing and handling orders interactively on the chart, I was unable to place PO. As Price retraces, I entered campain with a market order into the open, still valid breakout setup. I added on at next AIMS level. Both entries had their SLs above gator because SL above whole box would have been to big for me.
Unfortunately I missed to add on a 2nd time at that lovely S1 but I was probably too protective because DAX often reverses after its first strong move after LO. After that it dropped like a brick and offered a valid up fruit for my exit. Was the second home-run of the week with its + 180 points and I was done for the day ;-)

Trade 1/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 9.9, Result = - 9.9 Pips
Trade 2/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 9.6 + 6.6, Result = + 20.8 + 9.0 = + 29.8 Pips
Trade 3/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 7.7, Result = - 7.7 Pips
Trade 4/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 17.3 + 25.4, Result = -17.3 - 25.4 = - 42.7 Pips
Trdae 5/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 19.0 + 28.3, Result = + 97.1 + 83.3 = + 180.4 Pips
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's result: + 149.9 Pips, DS = 5 / 5, 1.50 hrs

Result of week 22 - 25.5.-29.5.2015 - M1 live:
Mon. 25.5. bank holiday
Tue. 26.5. - 60.6 Pips, DS 5/5, 1.50 hrs, M1
Wed. 27.5. + 194.8 Pips, DS 2/2, 1.00 hrs, M1
Thu. 28.5. - 50.4 Pips, DS 6/7, 2.00 hrs, M1
Fri . 29.5. + 233.7 Pips, DS 5/5, 1.50 hrs, M1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Result ...... + 295.7 Pips, DS 18/20, 6.25 hrs


RESULT OF MAY 2015
Week 19: - 16.0 Pips, DS = 29/31, 6.25 hrs
Week 20: + 70.5 Pips, DS = 13/15, 4.50 hrs
Week 21: + 199.3 Pips, DS = 29/30, 8.50 hrs
Week 22: + 233.7 Pips, DS = 18/19, 6.00 hrs
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Result: + 487.5 Pips, DS = 89/95 (93.7%), 25.25 hrs
I'm very happy with the result of May but DS below 95% should not happen. I definitely need to have an eye on my discipline during choppy, range-bound periods.

[Tomi]

Excellent Michael. I was thinking the same exit on FO short but didn't do it. You showed how to trade it! Fantastic month and trading fellow.

[zlabis]

Excellent Michael. I was thinking the same exit on FO short but didn't do it. You showed how to trade it! Fantastic month and trading fellow.

Looking at your journal, that day (and today as well), we had very similar trades. Connection from Finland to Austria is online

[zlabis]

Mon. Jun 01, 2015

Screen time LO-session 9:00 - 10:00 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

Had an early appointment so jumped in at LO. Therefore, I missed the lovely short fruit a few minutes to Londen Open but managed to take the breakout (Trade 5/20-12). Today I was very focused and was able to catch that typical reversal as well (Trade 6/20-12). After that good S1 long (Trade 7/20-12) failed, I quitted because my session time was nearly over anyway.

Very happy with discipline, concentration and being in tune with market.

Trade 5/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 18.7, Result = + 21.6 Pips
Trade 6/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 12.8, Result = +47.9 Pips
Trade 7/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 16.5, Resukt = - 16.5 PIps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's result: + 53.0 Pips, DS = 3 / 3, 1.00hrs

[zlabis]

Tue. Jun 02, 2015

Screen time half FO + LO-session 8:30 - 09:30 (GMT+2) M1 DAX only - LIVE

Today was great, easy and effortless trading experience. Right after I opened my chart, that tiny up-fruit popped up which was the origin of a good up-move.

I took the mentioned fruit (Trade 8/20-12) and added on at next AIMS level only a few pips above. Should have added on once more but didn't due to unclear direction so far. I exited add on as price retraced at M5 AIMS level and init entry below strong down fruit (=> SAR into Trade 9/20-12).

That fruit trade (Trade 9/20-12) survived the whiplash at LO after which DAX found its direction to the down side. I added on at an old AIMS level. I survived next retracement as well and exited both positions above good up fruit.

I was happy with the result after 40 minutes trading and spent the rest of that session with chatting with fellow AIMSters in Skype room.

Trade 8/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 6.4 + 10.6, Result = + 27.5 + 20.2 = + 47.7 Pips
Trade 9/20-12: DS = 1, SL = 13.4 + 24.9, Result = + 36.8 + 8.9 = + 45.7 Pips
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's result: + 93.4 Pips, DS = 2 / 2, 1.00 hrs