Mech systems

    Posted by lees on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:27 pm

    I haven't noticed much discussion on the poor performance on the mech systems today. I've lost  2.5-3% on the skf srs and faz. Can anyone confirm similar results

    Lee

    It seems to me that

    Posted by algyros on 24th of Jul 2009 at 04:27 pm

    It seems to me that discussing the performance of the mechanical systems over a one-day period is like discussing a baseball player's batting prowess based on one game.  Even Ted Williams went 0 for 4 every once in a while  These systems are statistical.  They win and lose.  It's just that they win more than they lose, hence the spectacular results  

     

    My point is that their performance in a given day or week is meaningless  You need longer time spans to glean any useful information about them

    Mech systems

    Posted by lees on 24th of Jul 2009 at 04:47 pm

    My point is whether I'm incorrect in my use of the system since(as I said) there has been little discussion on this subject especially since the losing % was unusually large. Your presumption that I'm taking a one day performance as some kind of norm is of course wrong.

    lees -- what's your question

    Posted by Michael on 25th of Jul 2009 at 08:09 am

    lees -- what's your question about your use of the systems?

    I can confirm that --

    Posted by Michael on 24th of Jul 2009 at 03:22 pm

    I can confirm that -- what is there to discuss?  35 - 50% of the trades are losers.

    Mechanicals are not doing well

    Posted by rgoodwin on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:53 pm

    Mechanicals are not doing well today. I even have a couple I trade other than what Matt has, and they too are struggling. What amazed me this AM with the SRS 3 min, the MA's crossed and price immediately reversed and TANKED but the fast MA just kept going up before it finally started reacting to the price. Looking at the chart - this is not the norm. This likely won't be a great day for the systems - it happens - gotta hang in there.

    Yep, systems not doing well

    Posted by matt on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:47 pm

    Yep, systems not doing well today, that's how it goes.

     

    however the 15 min systems are doing better, no crosses on the 15 min SRS or FAZ systems.  Also, SKF 6 min did not trigger.  Only FAZ 1, and SRS 3 min and SSO 5/6 min

    MATT

    Posted by RM686 on 24th of Jul 2009 at 03:14 pm

    ARE YOU SURE THE SSO 5/6 MIN SYSTEMS TRIGEREDE TODAY. i HAVE TRADE STATION AND THE SHORT HAS BEE ABOVE THE LONG ALL DAY?  CHECKED MY SETTINGS AND SEEM TO BE OK??? 

    Dun think SSO 5/6 mins

    Posted by gan_ on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:57 pm

    Dun think SSO 5/6 mins triggered;  but SRS 3min and FAZ 1min are triggered twice each now; and look like both will be losers for now.

    BPT Forum

    Posted by simon_says on 24th of Jul 2009 at 03:16 pm

    I do not believe that all these gloomy posts re. mech system losses etc., becomes the BPT forum. I think we are an exceptional collection of disparate talents here and the collective mind of this group is a terrible thing to waste.

    The good majority here are swing traders, not purely day-trading mechanoids! Could I ask those who life requires them to swing trade, not daytrade, to refocus their trading horizons and work at our next plan of attack for the month of August? Many missed this rally (myself included), simply by being too bearish for too long. I would welcome having the key pivot points posted as a sticky for easy reference because I think the market is most likely now to move at those pivots.

    Sorry for my rant, and back to trading. Foot in mouth

    Agreed...

    Posted by pebs on 24th of Jul 2009 at 03:19 pm

    couldn't have said it better.

    I agree, I have been

    Posted by straws on 24th of Jul 2009 at 03:53 pm

    I agree, I have been completley paralyzed by the words "PULLBACK" and "OVERBOUGHT" since about March 15, 300 S&P points ago.

    then you have not been

    Posted by matt on 18th of Aug 2009 at 01:15 pm

    then you have not been playing watch list longs etc.  You guys need to make a trading plan every day.  When things go up, you naturally look for a pullback, when things sell off, you naturally look for a bounce; it doesn't mean that you don't trade the trend.  Trade the trend.  trade individual stocks more than market indexes, etc

    Right, 100% right. But remember... is

    Posted by as2029 on 24th of Jul 2009 at 08:17 pm

    Right, 100% right.

    But remember... is very easy to say after and explain the past. when you see the history, is easy to say " was so easy and I so stupid".

     August is next door. I think we need to be more mechanical and shot faster with the order. Don't think to much and shot.

    Matt and Steve are excellent but we need to get the order and don't have time to think to much.

    I have days asking for the order when the target is in place.....

     

    I agree, I have been completley paralyzed by the words "PULLBACK" and "OVERBOUGHT" since about March 15, 300 S&P points ago.

    "pullback" paralysis

    Posted by billr on 24th of Jul 2009 at 04:59 pm

    I too, have been slowly coming out of the paralyzed state of mind myself.  Since March I have been focusing on the 'pullback' and 'overbought' as my touchstones.  I had allowed my bearish view of the market (which I still hold) to affect my perspective when trading.  I developed an irrational bias toward trading downtrends that would prevent me from entering into perfectly logical trading positions because I repeatedly considered it 'chasing the market for a quick trade'.  Rather, I held out in favor of a more 'solid' entry point for a swing trade during and after those seemingly eminent pullbacks.  The problem is of course, the quick trade time frame turns out to be multi-days/weeks of missed rally. Looking back, it is my fault for allowing myself a bear bias in my decision making.  You can still consider the market as a bear market overall (I still do) but not let it sabotage your daily trading decisions.  I allowed my bear bias to keep me from entering trades despite the fact that perfectly sound advice to the contrary was provided daily on this site.  fwiw.

    Since we're all making confessionals

    Posted by sethbru on 24th of Jul 2009 at 05:19 pm

    Since we're all making confessionals now, I am a swing trader (i.e. I look to hold for weeks to months) who has been bearish all year. Consequently, I have lost 20% of my life's savings this year, and finally gave up and closed out my remaining shorts yesterday. It is very clear to me now there is an orchestrated effort to pound bears into submission - this is far more successful than the prior failed attempt at banning short selling. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - I am now long. The trend will now be my friend.

    Capitulation

    Posted by paige386 on 24th of Jul 2009 at 08:45 pm

    I guess now that all of the shorts are capitulating it will be time to short again.

    We short when we get

    Posted by kamineni321 on 24th of Jul 2009 at 09:27 pm

    We short when we get a definite sell signal.  Everybody whoever shorts in uptrend will be forced to cover and that is how a vicious circle.  We have to wait till you see a definite downtrend.  Do not short in uptrend until you get a definite downtrend signal.  The individual investors loose their money by going long in downtrend and going short in uptrend.  The trend goes in weeks and sometime monthes.  Follow the trend.

    Just because some of us

    Posted by cal1 on 24th of Jul 2009 at 09:47 pm

    Just because some of us think it maybe the time to short FOR WHAT EVER REASON... doesn't mean it's time. Send out your probes. Test the market. Doubt the trend. Keep your stops tight. But, don't look away. Cause that's when it will turn.

    Every now and then -

    Posted by rgoodwin on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:59 pm

    Every now and then - third trade is the charm but the day is getting short - doesn't look like either could achieve a third cross today inless a move is very fast from here.

    Mech systems

    Posted by jtverr on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:38 pm

    Ya, lost on the 1-MIN FAZ, but that's a more aggressive system, the 15-MIN SRS came close, but did not give a signal.  Think I'll stick to that for a while.

    confirmed

    Posted by cdjd on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:52 pm

    statistically there has got to be times when a loss is expected. I assume that it is more likely during bull and bear wars for dominance of the market. Just an unsubstantiated opinion. In any case persistence is the key. As the old saying goes : If at first you don't make money try and try again. (and keep on smiling)

    I can confirm it. Craptastic

    Posted by user32 on 24th of Jul 2009 at 02:34 pm

    I can confirm it. Craptastic day so far. That's the drill though. You'll sometimes have days like this, or sets of days like this.

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