Monday 10-24-11

I'm hoping to expand on this as the weekend progresses and I have more time. My disclaimer here is that these comments and charts are only focusing on the bell curve ideas. These are not the only numbers I use or trade from. These comments are also made because we don't have volume to work from at the current prices from the current active contract.

One of the nice things about the emini is that even if you don't like this approach or using the cash market or the continuous contract for data then you can just wait until volume comes into the current contract. The emini does so much back and fill that you would rarely have to wait more than half a day to get better volume numbers.

My good buddy Lorn was kind enough to send some charts to me that I requested which in turn inspired me to fire up my old Investor R/t to have a look at some charts that I can post.

Nick asked about further numbers on the upside and I was unable to get to a response to him on Friday. This will cover some of that and some additional questions that were sent to me. Hopefully this won't seem too complex.

Below is a mini bell curve from part of 8-03-11 (day session only )and part of 8-04-11. Time can be used as an approximation to volume when volume is spotty and you are not comfortable with your "read" on a contracts volume. Normally I would be against using the time factor on it's own but when you have a good visual on the regular bar chart to confirm your time reading then it is a fair proximity. See bar chart down below.

So I have lines snapped at this mini bell curve from 8-03. I put lines at the low time tpo extremes but also at 1236 as that begins to define the high volume/time area of that particular bell curve. The BEST bell curves will also have a nice peak volum eline too. Look what happens on the following day - 8-04. We trade into the mini bell curve and reject it and sell off. This tells us that the 8-03 bell curve is still valid! You could then combine the 8-03 and 8-04 trading days into one if you cannot see this. Over time you will probably lose your need to combine the profiles.




I mentioned above to confirm your time based bell curves ( tpo charts) with your standard bar chart patterns too. Here is what the bar chart looked like from that day. The reality is that 41.25 actually captures the upper limit of the bell curve much better. The TPO chart does not capture the bulk of the volume/trading effectively. See how resistance becomes support at a price of 41.25 ? This happened at 2:30 in the afternoon for reference. This to me encapsules the bulk of trading better.



So the upper limit I feel should really be up at 41.25 and not the 38 area. This is a great example because it is something we should look at anyway everyday and not just pretend that the volume bell curves are the holy grail. They fundamentally are really just consolidation points seperated by low volume. This upper bell curve will be the key to continuation or a decline on Monday. Can they keep trade above it to ensure a further rally or will they get back below the lower edge and sell off?

So now on this next chart I have taken those lines and put them on Fridays trade bar chart as this was/is the nearest bell curve as we went higher. Now some can see why the hour breakout with an air pocket below was a very good trade on Friday. Everything in context!

Della, no. This blue prints were on the down move, so looks promissing on the upside, but I see all markets are in Resistance on daily and I do not want to take chances, especially in slow market of lunch time. My trading plan Rule 2 says "do not trade in slow market".

I see no good targets higher up and think any pop will be a trap. SO I stand down on this - having lunch.

Della, there we go

that is how they like to do it - nice and quiet

I did some diff this morning I bought the SPY for a move up just in case we bust higher this afternoon

Well Della, trading with the trend works...lol

yes
next leg up now

Volume update

a shot of the two zones I am selling against....52 - 54 and then up at 58.75...

not sure why everyone is expecting a trend...how often do we trend on the open and then DON'T trend in the afternoon? then throw in the bell curve from 8-2 and it becomes a bit more challenging...I'm just saying !!

this 46.50 area is a potential stumbling block for our runners..low volume that developed today

bruce im check my numbers for tomoroow
50.75 ,46.75, 42.50,36.75 ,28.25 how do they look to you LV