Thursday, May 27, 2004

Lessons so far....

Interesting isn't it ? That as a financial markets trader you can post pretty good percentages based on trades where gains are made versus where a loss was realised and still come out a loser !

Well my education as a trader is continuing at a rapid pace. Today I re-learnt yesterday's lessons which was not to get emotionally involved with Brent Crude Oil (laugh).

After making a loss going long on the brent crude futures overnight ( for once my stop stopped me out making an even more terrible loss but I now wish I had set it higher so that I wouldn't have lost as much as I did).

For some peculiar reason in my psychology, I seem to not mind taking very small profits but will gladly allow my losses to grow while waiting for the tide to turn ( based on what analysis?).

Naturally, I have set aside a bit of money to try to gain some insights into why I trade the way I do without much reference to rigorous technical analysis other than very rudimentary TA.

Naturally I know this is dangerous trading without a system as such but I still have to learn about what makes me tick.

I have found it interesting reading the Market Wizard books - I doubt that any two of the interviewees are exactly the same. Or actually agree exactly on the techniques of making money.

Ed Seykota I like very much at the moment. For some reason I'm in tune with his philosophy of life. I also like his TT - Trading Tribe Community idea.

Trying to finish off reading George Soros' book of Financial Alchemy where he espouses his ideas on reflexivity in the markets. It is such a hard book to get around but I'll persevere because I know that somewhere in there is a nugget or two that will resonate with something in my psyche and will put me over to gain an advantage.

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Looking for a City Trader Mentor

So, I'm putting my thoughts to the future as I read the first installment of Jack Schwager's Market Wizard books. I wonder if I could gain a headstart in my trading career by getting mentored by a guru in the City of London or one of the NY exchanges.

More than likely not I think. Am I afraid of rejection? Do I know anyone who isn't?
I guess there are other ways to gaining the knowledge that I need to acquire to become the most successful African Financial Market Trader of all time. Bar none. I thinks I've made my point.

There are other questions like:

How can I leverage my current area of expertise and excellence and apply it to the new endeavour that I'm getting into?

Can I trade profitably from a standing start ?

Should I take a short term view of the markets and day-trade or should I aim to develop systems where the trading periods are of a greater period ?

How much can I seriously hope to make on these markets ?


I have a very constricted time within which to decide to pursue fulltime. I'm 60% committed at this time.

Only time will actually tell if I will go through with it.

Watch this space.

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Today na today...

..anyway. So I'm starting to get the hang of trading on finspreads.com. I've been trading for 3 days and guess what ? I still have money in the kitty ! But only just. It appears I have been behaving like a day-trader - only without any formal training whatsoever.

Out of 13 trades, I've made a profit in only 5. the other eight have been losses.

Anyway, you know the old trading maxim or rule ? Cut your losses, and run your wins ? Well, I either learnt backwards or my psychology just allows me to apply it in that way.

So far I've managed to cut my wins and run my losses. This is leaving me with about 80% of my capital I started trading with.
Still I have a position on Brent Crude Oil which, if the volatile conditions that have occured over the last week continue, should give me some of my money back.

However, now I'm starting to sound as if I'm getting emotionally involved with my position. Perhaps I am. But then again , I never did get to finish that book by Alexander Elder. Now, what was it again ?

Oh yes. Trading for a living.

I think I have yet a lot to learn before becoming the greatest financial market trader ever to come from Africa.