Michael, try using pivots on top of MAs and then adding in an RSI filter on a 3 min bar.  I've got a couple of pretty decent AIG and FAS strategies going.  2 on each symbol.  One thing though, after you optimize the MAs, sometimes it works best to do RSI before pivots and sometimes its better to do pivots then RSI. 

You can use the TS RSI, it works just fine.  Optimize the length 7 to 21, increment 1 and overbought 30 to 80, increment 2 and oversold 20 to 60, increment 2.

All of my systems have both stops and trail stops.

One other thing, sometimes it helps to end buying at 1545 (AIG)  I still close EOD at 1558, but buying ends at 1545. 

Finally, I know the person who taught me to do systems will have a cow when he reads this :^), but I optimize 4 months back .........and re-optimize once a week to keep the systems current to the market. 

It seems to be working. PM me if you want to discuss more.

Good luck,D

Just got a gig to write a futures trading book for beginners.  It will be everything from the history of futures, what they are, to opening your first account, etc.  If anyone has something that they "wish they would have known ~ but didn't" as they were beginning trading....I'd love to have your PMs.  Thanks! D

Is this recorded for those of us who can't get in.  I've tried 8 times and giving up.

Thanks Jambo and Puma.  D

Any ideas why TBT is dropping so much today?

Michael - honestly I didn't get enough info to make an informed decision. I had to leave about 1/2 way though and get my daughter at school.  So I got the beginning and the end.  D

I had a crappy trading day and reading those comments on the side......especially the first half hour OMG......I was laughing so hard I couldn't concentrate on anything being said.   Great stress reliever! 

I'm running 2 AIG systems. Caught the short for a profit and now the long.   My FAS systems have been long all morning.......

what just happened?

I acutally think it's a glitch in TS.  Sometimes my daily profit is different than what TS says.  I've compared the buy/sell prices of individual transactions and they're usually within 1 or 2 cents.  But there can be a difference of $30 to $50 (per symbol, not per trade)  between what TS says is the daily total and what IB says.  Then sometimes if you go back and look the next day the TS total changes from what it showed after the close the day before......and what actually ended up in my account.  To be honest, since it seems to be in my favor 90% of the time, I haven't gotten distressed. But I have noticed it.  FYI, I"m runing TS 8.7 (3085) 

One other thing I've noticed when I optimize new strategies, the otimization report results are sometimes different than the performance report results.  I compare them side-by-side and they're different. The net profit is different or the gross loss is.......and/or the profit factor.  Odd.

Have considered switching to mulitcharts........but the hassle factor has stopped me.  That and the fact that all of my custom indicators and strategies are TS EL. 

thought I'd share this fact of life! 

Matt, any thoughts on TBT?  Thanks! D

Interesting last name.  Wonder what nationality that is

how about encrypting the code?

I don't have it crossing yet.  Mine's at 18.62.  I got burned last time when it touched the 20 and turned down.  Personally, I'm waiting for a real cross.  Of course Matt, would love to hear your 2 cents. 

Thanks Peridot!

I have it crossing on Friday. Right now it's at 38.50

At the close on Friday we were talking about how the 144 Sto crossed above the 20 on SRS for the first time since 3/1.  It's still up there.  Matt, are you thinking it's a buy?

The 144 stochastics has just crossed above the 20 for the first time since 2/12.  Can we trust it?  (15 min chart)

I will confess upfront that since my daughter's second grade math is more than I can handle :^)  I probably have no business venturing into this topic. But it's still the weekend...and I'm posting OT, I'm interested if any long-time traders have any comments about this.

I've been doing a lot of reading about fractals (yes, way beyond 2nd grade)  One theory is that if you do the math using 1929 as a starting point, March 2010 is the the next mathematical, cyclical repeat date (possibility - not guaranteed) for the 1929 economic collapse. 

Allegedly this is the 4th cycle since 1929. The first being in October, 1979, the second - July 1999, and the third March 2007.  I don't have enough trading history to know if there's any validity to this......anyone have any comment?