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Home / Futures Blog / Don’t Stand on the Tracks While Waiting for a Train

Don’t Stand on the Tracks While Waiting for a Train

July 18, 2011 by Scott Hoffman

This originally appeared as a blog post in Scott Hoffman’s Futures Insight Blog on Thursday, July 7th.

This morning, I got a call from a self-directed client. I generally do not offer unsolicited advice for do-it-yourself traders unless they are doing something blatantly dangerous, or if I am sure they are wrong. Otherwise, I let them make their own decisions; you learn the most about trading when you do things for yourself.

The client called around 9 AM CT, around the time the pit session opens for the live cattle futures. He sold August live cattle futures at 113.45, placing a stop loss at 113.95. This was a bit over the last high of 113.825 from 24 June, for a risk of $200 per contract.

Please click to view the Hypothetical or Simulated Results risk disclosure below.

Although the risk on the trade was small, I would not have sold it at that price. I understand the appeal of trying to pick a top and sell near the highs, but at that price level I thought his trade had no better than a 50% chance of being right, and I like to think I have a better edge than that before I trade.

The main issue with this broker’s trade decision at this price was the pattern from the past two days. Tuesday had the narrowest range of the previous seven sessions and closed with a doji. Yesterday continued the consolidation, showing another balanced, tight range day.

August Live Cattle Futures Daily

August Live Cattle Futures Daily

This is evidence of a market reaching a short term equilibrium point. We often see a new trending move start out of an equilibrium like this, but it is difficult to know whether the new trend would be higher or lower.

Fortunately, we do not need to predict which way the market will go. We can let it tell us its direction so that we can then get in and go along for the ride. If it moves higher, we get long after it starts higher. We sell only when the market starts trading lower. With a setup like this, selling into a market that is rallying is like standing on the train tracks looking in one direction for a train while there is another train barreling down at you from behind.

If I were the client who wanted to short the live cattle, I would have waited to sell until the market started breaking down; in this case, I would have sold when the market broke under yesterday’s low at 112.375. A selloff below yesterday’s low would be evidence that the market was heading lower when I shorted.

Trading is all about having an edge. Sometimes giving up some of your edge on price is outweighed by the gain of trading in the direction of the trend. I use these kinds of setups to initiate shorter term trades. Even if you are a longer term trader, you are still a day trader on the day you enter and exit your trades. Identifying these kinds of patterns can help you better the execution for your entries and exits. Being cognizant of these setups keeps you off the train tracks while waiting for your train.

© Scott Hoffman

Risk Disclosure

HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM.

ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADE PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.

This material is conveyed as a solicitation for entering into a derivatives transaction.

This material has been prepared by a Daniels Trading broker who provides research market commentary and trade recommendations as part of his or her solicitation for accounts and solicitation for trades; however, Daniels Trading does not maintain a research department as defined in CFTC Rule 1.71. Daniels Trading, its principals, brokers and employees may trade in derivatives for their own accounts or for the accounts of others. Due to various factors (such as risk tolerance, margin requirements, trading objectives, short term vs. long term strategies, technical vs. fundamental market analysis, and other factors) such trading may result in the initiation or liquidation of positions that are different from or contrary to the opinions and recommendations contained therein.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or commodity options can be substantial, and therefore investors should understand the risks involved in taking leveraged positions and must assume responsibility for the risks associated with such investments and for their results.

Trade recommendations and profit/loss calculations may not include commissions and fees. Please consult your broker for details based on your trading arrangement and commission setup.

You should carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances and financial resources. You should read the "risk disclosure" webpage accessed at www.DanielsTrading.com at the bottom of the homepage. Daniels Trading is not affiliated with nor does it endorse any third-party trading system, newsletter or other similar service. Daniels Trading does not guarantee or verify any performance claims made by such systems or service.

Filed Under: Swing Trader's Insight

About Scott Hoffman

Scott graduated from the University of Chicago in 1986 with a degree in Economics. After graduation, Scott worked on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange then moved upstairs, serving as the personal broker to a former chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade. There, he worked as a broker and margin manager, starting up the firm’s full service brokerage division.

Today, Scott serves as an educator and mentor for new traders, and as a trading partner and ally for experienced traders. The breadth and depth of Scott’s knowledge make him the “go to guy” for both retail and institutional traders.

Scott also publishes two futures advisories, Swing Trader’s Insight and Trade or Fade. He also writes the futures trading blog at www.futuresinsightblog.com. Scott has written articles for a number of futures publications and has done numerous futures trading seminars, including seminars for both the CBOT and CME.

Scott offers his customers the knowledge he has gained from his more than 25 years of experience in the futures business. Scott is accepting new clients at this time.

Scott lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and three children. In his free time he enjoys coaching his children’s sports and various other athletic activities.

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Risk Disclosure

This material is conveyed as a solicitation for entering into a derivatives transaction.

This material has been prepared by a Daniels Trading broker who provides research market commentary and trade recommendations as part of his or her solicitation for accounts and solicitation for trades; however, Daniels Trading does not maintain a research department as defined in CFTC Rule 1.71. Daniels Trading, its principals, brokers and employees may trade in derivatives for their own accounts or for the accounts of others. Due to various factors (such as risk tolerance, margin requirements, trading objectives, short term vs. long term strategies, technical vs. fundamental market analysis, and other factors) such trading may result in the initiation or liquidation of positions that are different from or contrary to the opinions and recommendations contained therein.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or commodity options can be substantial, and therefore investors should understand the risks involved in taking leveraged positions and must assume responsibility for the risks associated with such investments and for their results.

Trade recommendations and profit/loss calculations may not include commissions and fees. Please consult your broker for details based on your trading arrangement and commission setup.

You should carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances and financial resources. You should read the "risk disclosure" webpage accessed at www.DanielsTrading.com at the bottom of the homepage. Daniels Trading is not affiliated with nor does it endorse any third-party trading system, newsletter or other similar service. Daniels Trading does not guarantee or verify any performance claims made by such systems or service.

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