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5 Essentials of Trading Success Trading is the greatest roller coaster you’ll ever ride. Trading has its thrills, challenges, and endless potential for growth. But, before you hit “Buy” or “Sell,” it’s crucial to lay down a solid foundation. Too many traders jump in without preparation, and without knowing the real life variables. When things go great, they feel normal and you feel in charge. When things go bad, you feel it’s the end of the world. So you need to learn to harness each of the 5 essentials to trading success. Essential #1: Build a Solid Foundation of Knowledge You wouldn’t drive a car without knowing the rules of the road, right? Trading is no different. Before placing your first trade, you’ll need to understand the key concepts and market basics that will serve as your roadmap. Key areas to cover include: Market types: Know the difference between stocks, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Know which is the best stock screener. Also you need to know which markets will work for you and your trading personality. Trading terminology: Terms like “bearish,” “bullish,” “short-selling,” “leverage,” and “margin” might sound like jargon now, but they’ll soon become your everyday vocabulary. Order types: Limit orders, market orders, stop-loss, take-profit. Each of these orders serves a specific purpose. Mastering them is essential for making controlled and effective trades. Essential #2: Select what you want to trade first: The Art of Asset Allocation Trading is thrilling, but let’s face it. No one knows what the market will do tomorrow. That’s why choosing the right mix of assets—and learning the art of asset allocation—is crucial for long-term success. What does asset allocation mean in practice? Diversify your portfolio: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Invest and trade across different asset classes to spread out risk. It’s better to trade different portfolios with stocks, Forex, indices and even commodities. Successful trading isn’t about picking one “winning” asset. It’s about managing risk and creating a balanced portfolio that can weather market storms. Diversification is KEY! Essential #3: Risk Management: Strategies to Protect Your Capital If you only remember one thing from this article, let it be this: Risk management is your best friend in trading. Not only do you learn how to be a trader, but also a risk portfolio manager. A smart trader doesn’t only think about potential gains—they think about how to protect their capital when things don’t go as planned. Simple, powerful ways to manage risk include: Set stop-loss orders: Automatically sell a position when it drops to a certain price to minimize losses. Use position sizing: Avoid putting too much of your capital into a single trade. Limit each trade to a small percentage of your total funds—usually no more than 0.5%-2%. Apply the “2% rule”: Never risk more than 2% of your capital on a single trade. This can help prevent one loss from wiping out your progress. Remember, every trader has losses; it’s part of the game. But with a solid risk management strategy, those losses won’t be catastrophic. Essential #4: Charting the Path: Introduction to Technical Analysis Charts are a trader’s treasure map. Learn to interpret them, and you’ll have insights into market trends, price movements, and potential buy/sell signals. Technical analysis allows traders to make data-driven decisions rather than relying on gut feelings. Key tools for technical analysis: Candlestick patterns: These can show trends, reversals, and market sentiment. Patterns like “doji,” “hammer,” and “engulfing” candles can offer powerful insights. Indicators: Tools like moving averages, RSI (Relative Strength Index), and MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) help you assess price momentum and potential reversal points. As you might know by now. I like to stick to three indicators: Breakout patterns, 2 Moving Averages and Trend lines. We need to learn to simplify our strategy because we will be following it over our entire trading career. Trendlines: Drawn on charts, trendlines reveal price direction and potential breakout or breakdown levels. Essential #5: The Psychology of Success: Developing a Trader’s Mindset Trading isn’t just about strategies and technical skills; it’s also a mental game. Emotions—fear, greed, EGO, frustration — can interfere with sound decision-making. If you can’t manage your mind, you can’t manage your portfolio. And that’s why it’s essential to develop a mechanical, professional and calm mind when trading. Developing a disciplined mindset is what separates successful traders from those who burn out. Conclusion Let’s sum up the 5 ESSENTIALS to trading success. Essential #1: Knowledge First: Understand trading terminology, market types, and order types. Essential #2: Asset Allocation: Diversify your portfolio based on your risk profile. Essential #3: Risk Management: Protect your capital with stop-losses, position sizing, and the 2% rule. Essential #4: Technical Analysis: Learn chart patterns, indicators, and trendlines to guide decisions. Essential #5: Trader’s Mindset: Control emotions, maintain discipline, and focus on long-term success. Trading isn’t just a skill—it’s an adventure that rewards preparation, patience, and resilience. Keep learning, stay focused, and remember: your success is built one trade at a time.
TRADENATIONSB:US500Education
by Timonrosso
1
The Real 3 Thrills of Trading: (Hint: It’s Not When You Think)Trading. It’s a game. A challenge. A journey. It’s a lifestyle. And yes having a passion to trade is half the battle won. But it’s not just about winning. If you feel thrill when you win a trade. Then you’re enjoying the wrong parts of successful trading. If you’re in a winning streak and feel thrill – Same story. Because you know the losses are inevitable. And you know the drawdown is coming too. So that’s why you need to enjoy the FULL journey… And here’s where you should feel the THRILL for trading. THRILL #1: When you survive the drawdown Like I said earlier, your next drawdown is coming. Your BIGGEST drawdown is coming. So you need to embrace and prepare for these times. I have gone through more drawdowns than you can imagine. And yet my portfolio keeps heading to all time highs. HOW? Well you need to endure the drawdown. You need to keep following your rules and strategy. And when the market environment is more favourable, your portfolio will turn from down to up. And it will continue to go up until you not only recover – but your portfolio breaks to all time highs. And when you survive the drawdown – FEEL THRILL! THRILL #2: Knowing your strategy works (through the good and bad) The markets are like an ocean. Waves come and go, the tide shifts, and sometimes there’s a storm. If you go look at the US Economic Calendar you’ll know the market is about to swivel in ways you can’t even imagine! The thrill doesn’t come from riding one good wave (winner). It should come from taking every trade that lines up perfectly with the strategy. If you followed your rule and criteria to a T – Feel THRILL that you are on the right path to success. Regardless of whether the trade is a winner or a loser. See the bigger picture and what it can do for you! THRILL #3: The Love for the Game and the benefits of trading Remember I said trading is more than just money. Trading helps with everything in your life! It teaches you to be a risk manager. It teaches you how to toughen your mind. It teaches you how to be disciplined, consistent. And it teaches you how you can CREATE your own wealth without depending on a BOSS. The Challenge, the Mental Toughness, and the Growth And the thrill? FINAL WORDS – Celebrate the Right Thrills The thrill of trading isn’t about the quick wins, the big gains, or riding the market waves. It’s about resilience. Mastery. Passion. Patience. And growth. Well fall in love with what trading has offered and taught you, other than the money aspect. It’s not just about making money; it’s about becoming better. Sharper. Wiser. Every trade you take is a lesson. Every loss is a learning opportunity. And every time you wake up excited to face the market, that’s the thrill of passion. Because trading isn’t just a job. It’s a craft. A skill. A calling. If you find yourself waking up early, excited to start your day, knowing full well there’s a challenge waiting for you—you’ve found the thrill. If you find weekends are not ending early enough because you want to trade – that’s a thrill! Let’s sum up some reasons to feel THRILL when trading. THRILL #1: When you survive the drawdown THRILL #2: Knowing your strategy works (through the good and bad) THRILL #3: The Love for the Game and the benefits of trading Do you agree and how has trading changed your life?
TRADENATIONSB:US500Education
by Timonrosso
WHY Financial Markets Will Always ChangeChange is the only constant in the financial markets. And that’s why it’s important to stay humble and grounded because everyday is a UNIQUE day to the markets and the pre market movers. No matter how much experience you have, you can’t get too comfortable with the way things are. Because we know they won’t stay that way for long. The markets are like a living, breathing entity—constantly shifting, evolving, and transforming. And now I want to explain why I believe the markets are ALWAYS changing. REASON #1: The Fresh Faces of Trading Continuous flow of new and old traders. Every day, new traders enter the game while seasoned veterans continue to play. This constant influx of fresh perspectives creates a dynamic market environment. New traders bring innovative strategies, emotions, and decision-making processes into the market, while the veterans tweak their systems to keep up with ever-evolving trends. And so the demand and supply is constantly shifting in new ways – which changes the markets style, moves and algorithms. End of the day, the market is one big AUCTION as I have told my members for the last 15 years. They’re influenced by the people who trade in them. REASON #2: The Never-Ending Stream of New Information New information – shining on the market Here’s the thing: the financial markets thrive on information. New data points, news reports, earnings releases, and economic indicators flow in non-stop, impacting prices and trends at every turn. Sometimes there is good days with amazing news coming out. Other days there is catastrophic news. And then you get the mundane boring days with no reaction. If a central bank announces an unexpected interest rate cut, or if a company releases disappointing earnings, the market is going to react swiftly. Even geopolitical events and natural disasters play their part in shaping the direction of markets. So no matter how much analysis you’ve done, be prepared for the fact that new info can change the game in an instant. REASON #3: Micro, Macro, and Inner Fundamentals New micro, macro and inner fundamentals The fundamentals that underpin market movements are far from static. On the micro level, individual companies are constantly evolving. New product launches Mergers and acquisitions News and earning reports Prospects Leadership changes can all affect a stock’s price. Zoom out a little, and you’ve got macro fundamentals. These show the big-picture factors like: Interest rates inflation, and unemployment rates, All of which influence the broader economy. REASON #4: Global Economies and World Events World info from the economies The financial markets are more interconnected than ever. What happens in one part of the world now ripples through the rest of the global economy in minutes, not weeks. A change in China’s trade policy can directly impact European markets. An unexpected election result in America could influence the South African or UK equities. REASON #5: The Endless Actions of Traders Constant actions of traders around the world Then, of course, we have the daily actions of traders around the world. Every time a buy or sell order is placed, the market shifts. I like to think of it as the Stock Market’s Butterfly-Effect. These actions are a direct result of human behavior—our emotions, analysis, strategies, and even fear and greed. When traders believe in a trend, they pile on, creating momentum. But when panic strikes, markets can spiral down in a blink of an eye. Since traders are constantly reacting to new information, the market flows like an ever-shifting river. Conclusion The financial markets are in a constant state of flux. They will forever change and we need to learn how to evolve, adapt or die trying. But there is one thing that is inevitable. The markets will KEEP moving and trending. And for that, we will always be profiting in the medium to long term. Let’s sum up why the markets will always change… REASON #1: The Fresh Faces of Trading Continuous flow of new and old traders. REASON #2: The Never-Ending Stream of New Information New information – shining on the market REASON #3: Micro, Macro, and Inner Fundamentals New micro, macro and inner fundamentals REASON #4: Global Economies and World Events World info from the economies REASON #5: The Endless Actions of Traders Constant actions of traders around the world
TRADENATIONSB:US500Education
by Timonrosso
POWERFUL Quote about TradingHere is a quote I want you to write down and hold close to your heart. Trading is a Game of Focus, Sheer Will, and Unstoppable Determination Trading is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a game of focus, sheer will, and the kind of determination that doesn’t back down when the market throws punches. If you’ve been in the trading world long enough, you know it’s not about making a quick buck. It’s about holding your ground when the waves get rough and staying in the game even when the winds are blowing against you. Let’s break this down… Focus Is Your Superpower To succeed, you need to zero in on your strategy and trust the process, no matter how loud the noise around you gets. Focus is what separates a good trader from a great one. It’s about staying laser-focused on your plan. Do not get rattled when the market throws a curveball. If you’re jumping from one strategy to another or chasing every shiny new stock, you’re spreading your energy too thin. And in trading, scattered focus equals scattered results. How to Strengthen Your Focus: Create a daily routine and stick to it. Consistency fuels discipline. Set specific trading goals for each session. Block out distractions. Social media can wait. Review your trades regularly to keep your mind sharp. Sheer Will Gets You Through the Tough Times Let’s not sugarcoat it: There will be rough patches. Trading will test you. Your willpower will be stretched like a rubber band, and sometimes it might snap. But those who make it are the ones who refuse to quit. There’s a misconception that the best traders are the ones who never lose. Wrong. The best traders are the ones who keep getting back up. You will lose trades. It’s part of the game. But if you have the will to persist, those losses become your greatest teachers. Ways to Build Your Willpower: Start small. Set short-term, achievable goals to build momentum. Learn from each mistake. Losses are part of the learning curve. Celebrate your progress, even if it’s slow. Stay connected with other traders to keep motivated. Determination is Your Guiding Force What makes a trader stick to their plan even when everything seems to be going wrong? Determination. It’s that relentless drive to keep going no matter what. It’s about having a clear vision of where you’re headed and refusing to let setbacks derail you. Determination means playing the long game. It’s easy to get discouraged after a few losses or slow weeks, but successful traders know that big wins take time. You’ve got to be in it for the long haul. Strengthening Your Determination: Write down your trading goals and review them daily. Make sure you have checked the US Economic calendar with your trading strat. Remind yourself of why you started trading in the first place. Don’t let a losing streak shake your confidence—adjust, don’t abandon. Stay flexible but committed to your strategy. Conclusion: Keep Grinding, Keep Growing Trading is a game of focus, sheer will, and relentless determination. It’s not easy, but if you can master these qualities, you’ll find yourself ahead of the pack. Success in trading doesn’t come from luck or overnight gains. It comes from grinding it out, day after day, with a sharp mind and an unbreakable spirit. Remember, the markets will test you. They’ll try to break your focus, test your will, and challenge your determination. But if you stay committed, keep your focus razor-sharp, and push through the tough times, you’ll come out stronger, smarter, and more successful. So, what are you waiting for? Tighten up your focus, flex that willpower, and get ready to tackle the markets with unstoppable determination.
TRADENATIONSB:US500Education
by Timonrosso
Why Trading is NOT like Childhood Growing up is very different to trading. We are brought up to walk and talk quickly – WIN We are brought up to have the best grades – WIN We are brought up to buy the best cars and houses – WIN We are brought up to have the best jobs and make a lot of money – WIN Everything requires WINNING. Losing? That wasn’t even an option! Then we get introduced to trading where we need to LOSE to WIN. We need to take small losses to make medium profits. And then it’s all about consistency and persistence. That’s why adapting to the LOSING mentality with trading is paramount for your trading success. We need to ACCEPT losing with trading Yep, you read that right. The trick isn’t about avoiding losses altogether; it’s about managing them. Imagine you’re playing a board game, and every time you lose a turn, you get closer to winning the game. It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? But that’s the magic of trading. It’s not about avoiding losses; it’s about taking small, calculated hits so you can stay in the game long enough to hit that big, rewarding win. How do you do this? Accept Losses: Understand that not every trade will be a winner. Cut Losses Quickly: Have a strategy in place to limit your losses. Learn from Your Losses: Each loss is a stepping stone towards a better strategy. We Aren’t Brought Up to Take Risks As kids, we were told, “Look before you leap!” We were encouraged to play it safe, avoid risks, and stay in our comfort zones. As traders, we need to embrace risk. But here’s the secret sauce: it’s all about taking calculated risks. How to Embrace Risk Wisely: Know Your Risk Tolerance: Understand how much risk you’re comfortable with. Are you happy to risk 0.5% to 2% per trade? GOOD – You’re on the right path. Diversify: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You need to adapt to different pre-market movers markets when trading. Adapt more markets to build different portfolios during different market environments. Use Stop-Loss Orders: These will limit your potential losses. And adjust your stop losses to breakeven or just above – to lock in small gains along the way. Trading Requires a Whole New Mindset Trading isn’t like your childhood. And that’s okay! It’s not supposed to be. It’s a whole new ball game with different rules. In trading, the focus isn’t on avoiding losses but taking and integrating them. It’s not about avoiding risks but managing them. It’s not about physical effort but intellectual strategy. FINAL WORDS Trading is NOT like your childhood. We are humbled by the markets. We drop our ego a bit. And we keep consistent. We lose battles but win the wars. That is how it has and will always be. That’s how we will strive to thrive and triumph with trading. Love and accept your small losses. They are one step closer to your BIG wins. Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
TRADENATIONSB:XAUUSDEducation
by Timonrosso
EGO NO GO Traders’ Downfall: Six Actions to AvoidThere is NO place for ego and bravado with trading. If it falls under your personality, you have been warned. Do you know why? Because ego and emotion are traders’ kryptonite. In this piece, we’ll dive into the egotistical trader’s playbook and shine a light on six actions that could be crippling your trading game. EGO NO GO #1: Overtrade: More is Not Always More Overtrading is like trying to sprint a marathon; it’s unsustainable and a fast track to burnout. You need to pace yourself or you’re going to get a spasm or a stitch. As a trader, you’re not a machine-gun trader, firing rounds at every shadow. You need to only look and wait for the highest probability trades. Remember, it’s about the right trades, not just more trades. Solution: Quality Over Quantity as I always tell my MATI Traders! EGO NO GO #2: Revenge Trade: The Emotional Spiral After a loss, I know it feels tempting to jump straight back into the markets in order to recover your funds. But let’s face it… Revenge trading is about as effective as using a leaky bucket to bail water out of a sinking ship. Solution: Keep Cool and Carry On Clear your head. Take a walk, grab a beer – The market will always be there for you the next day. And it will probably dish out even better trades. Remember, the market doesn’t know you, and it certainly doesn’t owe you. Stick to your plan, not your pride. EGO NO GO #3: Ignore Risk Management: The Silent Killer If you ignore risk management, it’s like skydiving without checking your parachute. What if you jumped and instead of a parachute you’re wearing a backback? Don’t laugh, these things happen. With trading you need your risk management measures: Stop loss of less than 2% Drawdown management when the portfolio goes down. Risking money you can emotionally handle to lose. Making sure of your trade size. Checking your risk to rewards. Ensuring you’ve protected your positions. Solution: Plan Your Risk Decide on your risk parameters before you enter a trade, and then—this is key—stick to them. Your future self will thank you. EGO NO GO #4: Dismiss Market Analysis: Gut Feelings vs. Hard Data You also need to check the weather. By weather I mean, look at the news events coming out for the day and week. Is it NFP (Non Farm Payrolls)? – The day when you DON’T day trade. Is it CPI (Consumer Price Index)? – The day you DON’T Trade Is it FOMC where the federal committee talks and causes volatility? Solution: Check the news events and be vigilant. EGO NO GO #5: Blame Everything: The Pointless Game When trades go south. They look to blame. They point fingers to their mentors, their strategy, themselves. There is NO blame game with the markets. If you followed your rules, strategies, risk to reward and everything else – You did the best of your ability for that trade. Solution: Own your trade to Hone your trade It Accept responsibility, learn from your mistakes, and grow stronger. It’s the only way. EGO NO GO #6: Fail to Adapt: Evolve or Be Left Behind The market is a beast that’s always changing. I always say adapt or die. Feel the general market’s environment. Know whether it’s in a favourable or unfavourable period. Tweak your system to improve your metrics. Change the markets by adding or removing ones that aren’t working. Take ego out of the analysis. Solution: Stay Sharp, Stay Updated FINAL WORDS: I’m sure you already feel less egotistical when it comes to trading. And that means, this article has done it’s job. Whenever you feel ego creeping in, remember this article save it and store it. In fact go through all the articles that resonate, print them and store them in a file. It will be your guide to trading well! Let’s sum up the ego tendencies and how to avoid them… Avoid Overtrading: Less can be more. No Revenge Trading: Act with strategy, not emotion. Stick to Risk Management: It’s your safety net. Conduct Market Analysis: Never trade uninformed. Stop the Blame: Learn and move forward. Adapt to the Market: Evolve your strategy to stay relevant.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
5 DANGERS of Trading Penny StocksJust so you know. I believe if you’re following a world renown and successful Penny Share expert, you’re in good hands. They are able to spot low risk investments and guide you through the process of owning great Penny Stocks. But as a trader , who only looks at charts – THIS IS DANGEROUS TERRITORY. Remember, Penny Shares are high risk, high volatile, low credible companies that are LOW prices i.e. Under $1.00. And so, I just want to write as a trader point of view five key reasons why penny stocks can be dangerous to traders. DANGER #1: High Volatility (Jumpiness) Penny stocks are notorious for their high volatility. These stocks tend to experience rapid and drastic price fluctuations, often without apparent reasons. I’m talking about companies that can jump 10%, 30% and even 70% in a day. The lack of stability and price predictability can make it very difficult for traders to make informed decisions. Sudden price jumps or drops can result in significant gains or losses within a short period, amplifying the risk factor. And if you place your stop loss within a tight range, there’s a bigger chance you’ll get stopped out. DANGER #2: Low Liquidity (Less Volume) Think of Liquidity like the flow of water. It tells you the ease of being able to BUY or SELL a market, without impacting too much of the price. Once again, we look for low to medium volatility. Penny stocks typically have low liquidity due to limited trading volume. With fewer buyers and sellers in the market, it can be difficult to execute trades at the prices you want. And this leads to slippage and even higher transaction costs. Also, low liquidity may also prevent you from even entering or exiting your positions quickly. And this can even TRAP you in an unfavourable market environment for an extended period of time. DANGER #3: Not Established Businesses Penny stocks are often associated with small, early-stage companies that are not yet established in their respective industries. These companies may lack a proven track record, have limited financial history, and face various operational and market risks. So if you want to invest in these type of companies as a trader, it’s better you do it with fundamentals, research, business models and future prospects. If you do it purely on speculative purposes, this could be very risky for your portfolio. DANGER #4: More Likely to Head to Zero Yes all trading requires levels and degrees of risk and rewards. But it is not worth it, if some petty company is doing really badly and is showing signs of going to 0.00. Penny stocks are more susceptible to declining in value and potentially heading towards zero. I mean, South Africa has witnessed instances where penny stocks have experienced substantial losses, which took out a ton of investors. For example, companies like African Bank Investments Ltd (ABIL) and Oakbay Resources and Energy Limited serve as cautionary tales, where investors lost huge amounts as these companies approached or reached bankruptcy. Talking about bankruptcy. DANGER #5: High Chance of Bankruptcy and Liquidations Penny stocks are also more likely to go bankrupt or get liquidated compared to a Blue-chip stock. This is because of the nature of the companies, the inexperience, the lack of funds and structure, as well as its credibility. Financial instability, mismanagement, or unfavourable market conditions can lead to the collapse of these businesses. We saw this also in South Africa with the liquidation of Sharemax Investments and the bankruptcy of Pamodzi Gold Limited. This lead investors with little to no value for their investments. So remember this as a traders We want low volatility, high liquidity (volume), credible companies with great reputations, track record and credibility. And we want attractive charts that work with our trading strategies. If you want to be a savvy Penny Share investor that's fine. But as a trader, I have given my precautions.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
5 STUPID Trading Advice SayingsIt’s true. When it comes to financial trading, everyone has an opinion, and there is no shortage of advice floating around. However, some advice is just plain ridiculous and some tips can be downright detrimental to your trading success. I want to cover the 5 stupid trading advice points, that many traders still follow and why you should avoid them by all means. #1: Go Big or Go Home This advice suggests that you should take significant risks in trading. You should aim for massive gains. And you should adopt the casino mentality of going full port! It is true that higher risks can lead to higher rewards. But when you adopt a “go big or go home” mentality, it can result in substantial losses that are difficult to recover from. Instead, follow a disciplined approach to risk management, using appropriate position sizing and stop-loss orders to protect your capital. Risk little to make a little more. Risk 2% to make 4%. Or risk 1% to make 3%. Those small gains will eventually outweigh the losses. #2: The Next Trade Will Be Better If you believe that the next trade will magically be more successful than the previous one, you’re in for a bad time. This is nothing but a dangerous mindset to adapt to. This belief can lead to overtrading and a lack of discipline when you stick to your trading strategy. To avoid falling into this trap, focus on maintaining a consistent and well-defined trading plan, rather than trying to chase the elusive “better” trades. #3: Follow Your Heart Emotions are proven to be the trader’s worst enemy. They will often cloud judgment and lead to impulsive decisions. “Follow your heart” in trading and you’ll find you’ll ignore your strategy and you’ll take irrational risks. Instead, rely on your trading plan, technical analysis, and fundamental research to make informed decisions, and always keep your emotions in check. #4: Everything Happens for a Reason When you depend on fate, the stars and the mysterious cosmic plan, it is a surefire way to lose money in trading. The stock market doesn’t work on esoterical means. It works on simple demand, supply and volume. The financial markets are also influenced by countless factors, from economic data releases to geopolitical events, and it’s essential to understand these factors to make well-informed trading decisions. Don’t rely on fate or superstition when trading. Instead, focus on analysis, strategy, and risk management. #5: Work Harder and You’ll Win More While hard work and dedication are essential for success in any field. The belief that you need to work harder in a trading day, will guarantee more wins in trading is misguided. If the environment is not conducive. Or trades have not aligned according to your strategy, it’s pointless taking more trades for gain. Think of sideways markets. Whether you buy (go long) or short (go short), you’re more likely to fail. Trading is not just about putting in the hours; it’s about working smart, refining your strategy, and maintaining discipline. Instead of trading harder, focus and develop a comprehensive trading plan, continually educate yourself on market dynamics, and consistently reviewing and refining your strategy. And of course. JUST TAKE THE TRADE – When it lines up according to your strategy. Can you think of anymore?
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
When you’ve taken a trade – Let It Go!One of the key principles of successful trading is… Once you have taken the trade to just let it go and allow it to run its course. The system lined up – tick. The entry orders are all in place – tick. It matches your risk and reward criteria – tick. You know your trade size – tick. Now let it go. You may get the urge to interfere, change the levels and lock in profits early or limit losses even more. You need to resist the urge. Here are some factors to consider… Don’t Interfere… When you’ve taken a trade, it’s important to have a plan in place for how you will manage it. This means you’ve got your entry, stop loss and take profit in place. These actions may seem like a good idea at the time. But they can often lead to bigger losses, smaller profits and even missed opportunities. But then there are times where you need to adjust the course. You might even have a time stop loss. Or a strategic and mechanical criteria for when to adjust your levels. But other than that, you need to have the discipline to stick to it and resist the temptation to interfere with your trades. Don’t Get Excited When It’s in the Money One of the most common mistakes that traders make is getting too excited when they’re in the money. You might feel overconfident and “know-better” about a trade. Or you might have this irrational decision-making idea to quickly move your stops and take profits, which can quickly erase any gains that you’ve made. It’s essential to remain level-headed and stick to your plan, even when your trades are performing well. To avoid getting too excited when you’re in the money, go back to your journal and look at how your trades have played in the past. It’s important to have a clear idea of your risk tolerance and profit targets before you enter a trade. This will stop you from making any quick and unnecessary decisions along the way. Don’t Fear When It’s Going Against You Another common mistake that traders make is letting fear dictate their decisions when a trade is going against them. It’s natural to feel anxious when you’re losing money. But it’s important to remember that losses are a normal part of trading. We all take them and we are all bound to take them more times than we wish to think. To overcome the fear of losses, it’s important to focus on the long-term goals of your trading strategy. One way to do this is to maintain a positive mindset and view losses as “costs of business” and as learning opportunities rather than failures. Stay calm and level headed. Also stop risking so much that it interferes with your psychology. When you feel emotional take a step back or it could lead to even bigger losses. Don’t Watch Every Tick Finally, it’s important to resist the urge to obsessively watch every tick of the market. This can lead to overtrading and emotional decision-making. And you’ll find it will quickly derail your trading strategy. Instead, it’s important to focus on the big picture and have a long-term perspective on your trades. Close your computer once you’ve taken a trade. Or close your trading platform and move onto something else. You’ve done your job now stop watching every tick the market moves. By doing so, you’ll be less likely to make rash decisions based on short-term fluctuations in the market. I hope this helps and if there is one thing to remember out of them all. When you’ve taken a trade, just let it go and let it run its course.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1
When to FEEL THRILL when Trading - It may surprise you!First let me tell you. NO you should not feel thrill when you take a profit. NO you should not feel thrill when you are on a winning streak. NO you should not feel thrill after a day, week or month of upside. But I’m not going to be a wet blanket. As a trader, including me, there are times to feel thrill. Trading is a process, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a game, it’s your control of your financial future. So let’s explore the times you should feel thrill. #1: Analyse the markets A major part of trading is assessing the current state of the markets and identifying potential opportunities. This involves creating your strategy, finding the indicators that work best and identifying the different systems (chart patterns, trend lines, Smart Money Concepts) etc… This process is super exciting part on the journey to becoming a trader. #2: Optimise your strategies Creating a strategy is one thing. But optimising and maximising your system is an ongoing thing. It’s crucial to continuously fine-tune your strategies and adapt to the ever-changing market conditions. When you identify areas for improvement and make changes that lead to better performance, the thrill of knowing that you’re on the path to success can be awesome. #3: Search for high probability trades One of the keys to success in trading is finding high probability trades. It’s these trades that will offer a favorable risk-reward ratio and a high chance of success (regardless whether they win or lose). The hunt for these opportunities is always fun and it’s almost like going on a daily treasure hunt. And spotting the highest probability trades, require a deep understanding of the markets and the ability to spot subtle patterns that others might miss. When you uncover a high probability trade and execute it successfully, the feeling of accomplishment is also a great feel. #4: Reading Fundamentals Sure your strategy might not comprise of fundamentals or news. But still learning about the markets, companies, indices and other micro and macro aspects, is interesting. A solid grasp of fundamental analysis is essential for any serious trader. This involves assessing the financial health of companies, industries, and economies to identify why markets move the way they do. When you can successfully combine technical and fundamental analysis to make informed decisions, the thrill of knowing you have an edge in the market is undeniable. #5: Monitor your results and stats As a trading boss… You need to track, analyse and assess your trading performance. You don’t get more power and thrill as a trader, when you have control of your financial markets. When you see your strategies paying off and your account balance growing, the thrill of your hard work and dedication materializing into tangible results is incredibly rewarding. Conversely, it’s also thrilling when you analyse your losses where you can gain valuable learning experiences. And this will help provide insights into areas for improvement and will motivate you to refine your approach. #6: Find new markets to trade Do you think I was looking at AI, VR, Metaverse type companies to trade 10 years ago? Nope! These markets weren’t in fruition with trading as they are today. So as a trader, this is always an exciting and thrilling venture with trading. To explore, adapt and add on new markets into your watch list. When you add and enter these new markets to your strategy, this can expose you to a whole new set of opportunities and challenges. And this will help broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding of the financial markets. So now you know when to embrace thrill as a trader. Use them to fuel and propel you toward achieving your goals. When else do you feel thrill?
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Don't listen to your inner NINNY! I can't swear on TV :(Traders have 1 JOB!. To just take the trade. All the other stuff is semantics. But most times you’ll find your inner B I mean Ninny takes over. And it tells you: ~ Don’t take the trade. ~ You’ll lose money. ~ The stars are not aligned! ~ Blah blah fish paste! You need to stop listening to your inner F - inny, or it will destroy your chances of success. So let’s talk about the 4 common excuses traders make and how to overcome them. Excuse #1: I’m not in the mood The markets are awake with or without you. People are making money and doing things in this world. Others are taking ice baths, cold showers, hitting the gym twice a day. They are doing the hard. You need to stop the excuses of not in the mood, get off the couch and take action for your life. You are in control of your life, what you do and what you make. Do what you need to. Create a schedule that includes time for exercise, meditation, and of course trading. Excuse #2: External news event kicked in Financial markets are subject to external events that can impact trading decisions. These events can include political developments, natural disasters, or major economic announcements. The problem is. These events come daily. Every day there are new news announcements, GDP numbers, employment and jobs reports, Interest rates, inflation rates etc…If you’re not taking a trade because of one of these announcements, I’m sorry but. That’s just an excuse! If you must. Write down a few IMPORTANT news announcements that you want to watch for when you trade. Maybe interest rates in America. Maybe NFP reports, Maybe during FOMC meetings. But do the research and find out what news events are worthy to NOT take a trade. I’ve been in the markets for 20 years and I haven’t found one worthy news announcement other than NFP for Forex trading. Excuse #3: Market doesn’t feel right To you it doesn’t feel right. To you, you think the market is some sentimental machine that feels healthy or sick. To me, I see prices, risks and probabilities. I see a robot and mechanical processes with billions of dollars streaming in and out at any one second, the market is opened. You need to develop an objective criteria for assessing market conditions. Have tunnel vision and stop trying to predict the temperature of the market. It’s not human. There is buying. There is selling. There is a repetition of that every day. Market doesn’t feel right, is an excuse. Excuse #4: System lined up but it’s not perfect Ok so you have a system good. You have a strict strategy to follow, great. But the system lined up and it’s not perfect. As I mentioned before. You need to write down the rules and criteria that you can use to identify opportunities and risks. There are only three types of trades in this world. HIGH probability trade – Market lined up perfectly according to the system. MEDIUM probability trade – Market almost lined up perfectly but I will still take the trade and risk a little less. NO trade – Market did NOT line up and therefore I’m not taking a trade. So, are you going to continue to listen to your inner Busy Ninny or are you going to start making money the right way?
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
EXPLAINED: Calculation for CFD Brokerage with Anheuser ExampleHow do I calculate the brokerage I'll pay on a local CFD trade? You’ll need to calculate the brokerage you’ll pay to enter your trade and the brokerage you’ll need to pay to exit your trade. We’ll first need to lay out all the necessary information to calculate what brokerages you’ll pay… For this example, we’re going to use a trade example with Anheuser Busch InBev. And we’ll use the brokerage of 0.30% leg in (entry) and 0.30% leg out (exit) to pay. Here are all the specifics needed for this trade: Portfolio value: R40,000 Trade: JSE:ANH Type: Long (buy) Brokerage rate in: 0.30% Brokerage rate out: 0.30% Entry: R1,184.00 Stop loss: R1,143.00 Take profit: R1,215.00 Calculation #1: Calculating your ENTRY brokerage with CFDs Step #1: Know what your max portfolio risk is per trade Max % risk = (Portfolio value X 2%) = (R40,000 X 2%) = R800 Step #2: Find out the rands risked in trade Rands risked = (Entry – Stop loss) = (R1,184.00 – R1,143) = R41.00 Step #3: Calculate the number of CFD contracts to trade No. CFDs = (Max % risk ÷ Rands risked) = (R800 ÷ R41.00) = 19.51 SIDE NOTE: We always round down the number of CFDs, so that we risk less than what we choose to risk instead of more. Therefore, we will buy 19 CFDs in this specific trade. Step #4: Calculate your ENTRY exposure for the CFD trade Entry exposure = (Entry price X No. CFDs) = (R1,184 X 19 CFDs) = R22,496 Brokerage in = (Entry exposure X Broker rate in) = (R22,496 X 0.30%) = R67.48 This means, you’ll need to pay a brokerage of R67.48 in order to buy (go long) 9 Anheuser CFDs. Now we can move onto the next brokerage leg. Calculation #2: Calculating your EXIT brokerage with CFDs Step #1: Work out your EXIT exposure for the CFD trade Exit exposure = (Exit price X No. CFDs) = (R1,215 X 19 CFDs) = R23,085 Step #2: Calculate your brokerage leg out Brokerage out = (Exit exposure X Broker rate out) = (R23,085 X 0.30%) = R69.25 Step #3: Calculate the total brokerage for the CFD trade Total brokerage = (brokerage leg in + Brokerage leg out) = (R67.48+ R69.25) = R136.73 This means, if the trade hit your take profit level you would have ended up paying a total brokerage of R136.73 for your Anheuser CFD long trade.
JSE:ANHEducation
by Timonrosso
Maximise your trading success with market analysisWhen it comes to trading, one of the most important skills to develop is market analysis. When you know how to read the market and make informed decisions, it can be the difference between spotting high, medium and low probability trades. Here are some ideas to analyse the market and maximise your chance of success. Start with the Main Indices The first step in market analysis is to take a look at the main indices. These indices, such as the JSE ALSI, SP500, Nasdaq, FTSE100, and others, are a good indication of the overall market direction. Once you have seen the indices, you’ll get a sense of how the market is moving as a whole, and what kinds of opportunities might be available. Identify the major Trends Once you’ve looked at the main indices, it’s time to: Identify any market trends (Market environment) If the market is showing a strong uptrend (trend, momentum, moving averages analysis) Then it’s best to ONLY look for longs or buys. On the other hand, if your indicators suggest that the market has confirmed a downtrend, it’s best to look for sells or shorts. Look for Breakouts Sometimes the market doesn’t confirm an up or down trend. If you see the market is moving in a sideways manner, there’s still an opportunity to profit. In this case, it’s a good idea to write down the levels of breakouts you’d expect. If the market breaks up, you’ll expect longs, and if it breaks down, you’ll look for shorts. This way you’ll prepare for both outcomes And you’ll be able to capitalize on whichever direction the market takes. Final Thoughts Market analysis is a critical skill for any trader to master. When you start with the main indices, to identify trends, and looking for breakouts, you’ll be able to make informed decisions about your trades and get a good idea of where they’re more likely to head.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
Why YOU NEED a Slice of Humble PieAs a trader, you must approach the market with humility and an understanding that you are at its mercy. And so you need to remember that the market, doesn’t know you, doesn’t care about you, and doesn’t work to reward you. Let’s break that down. The Market Doesn’t Know You The financial market (Mr. Market) is a complex and dynamic system that is influenced by a multitude of factors. These factors are beyond our control and are pretty much impossible to predict. As a trader, you need to remember that the market doesn’t know you, isn’t out to get you and that your success or failure is not a personal reflection of your worth. The Market Doesn’t Care About You It can be tempting to think that the market is out to get us and that every loss is a direct result of our own mistakes. However, the market doesn’t care about us as individual. They don’t have some personal vendetta against us. Every trade is simply a result of supply and demand dynamics along with risk, reward and probabilities. We must accept that sometimes the market will work against us, no matter how skilled or experienced we are. The Market Doesn’t Work to Reward You There is such high competition with trading. This environment is very high-pressured. It sometimes feels like we are in some race to make as much money as possible. However, it is important to remember that the market doesn’t work to reward us. As a trader, you must be humble and understand that success in the markets takes time, patience, and you must be willing to learn from your mistakes. Also need to approach each and every trade with a level-headed and open-minded perspective. Focus on this, and you you’ll make which will help us to make better decisions and increase our chances of success.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
1
4 Ways to ACTION a trade - WHEN TO FIRE!You know that successful trading is… . . . . Patience. You need to wait for the setup, reason, system, lining etc… But then there is the 2% time where you actually ACTION a trade. We action a trade for three reasons. To enter To adjust To get out But we need to talk about these reasons more… Let’s do it., ACTION #1: Trade lines up – JUST TAKE THE TRADE! When your trading signal lines up with your entry, stop loss, take profit, and system: This is the most obvious time to take action. It tells you “HELLO AN OPPORTUNITY HS ARISEN” It is crucial to act quickly and decisively when this happens, as opportunities in the market can disappear just as quickly as they appear. ACTION #2: Adjust your levels – JUST CHANGE THE TRADE There are two levels you can adjust with your trades. Stop loss and Take profit. When the market is moving in your favour, and you have solid rules to move your stop loss in the favour. This is done to lock in minimum gains. For example. When my trade is 1:1 in the money, I might move my stop loss to just above breakeven. This way I have nothing to lose if it turns against me. Then when the market is shooting in your favour, you might want to adjust the take profit. This is because you can see the market wants to move further or… There is a new setup with a new take profit level in place – which happens often with my analyses. Action #3: Execute the time stop loss – JUST GET OUT When an extended period has taken place i.e. 35 days or 7 weeks. You might want to just get out of the boring trade. You are either : • Chowing (eating away at) unnecessary daily costs holding a non performing trade. • A trade setup seems null and void as a new contrary setup as formed. • Or it’s just a plain old opportunity cost where you can put your money in better places. it may be necessary to exit the trade in order to avoid incurring too much in daily fees or missing out on other better opportunities. Action #4: Exit due to unforeseen circumstances- SERIOUSLY JUST GET OUT! For example when a black swan event occurs: A black swan event is a term used to describe a market collapse (10X the standard deviationof its normal price move) that is unexpected and has a significant impact on the market. In the event of a black swan event, it is essential to exit your trade in order to protect your capital and avoid taking a bigger loss than you expected.
TVC:SA40Education
by Timonrosso
T.G.I.M - Thank God It's Monday Traders! As a trader, Monday is probably the most exciting day of the week to trade... But before I tell you why let me remind you.... We live in a world where… Most people hate Mondays… Not only that… They wait 5 days to finally enjoy and live two measly days. They live for the weekend ONLY. That’s sad… But let’s try to conceptualise how lucky you actually are… Every action that your great, great, great, X 1,000 grandparents did, is the very reason you get to enjoy consciousness and existence in this blip of time. If just one of them got up to get a glass of water instead, you wouldn’t be around… Then let’s talk about that one day… Out of the millions of swimmers in one occasion on one day, you were the winner. YOU WON THE GIFT OF LIFE. That is a reason alone to celebrate every passing minute of your life. You won the cosmic lottery… Then, as life progresses you learn what you like, how to live and who to live with. You adapt to your idiosyncrasies, tastes, habits and interests… That’s what makes life a little easier to get through… And… Technology continues to outperform each year. We now have ways to communicate online, build our own empires and make an income through different career choices. Whether you enjoy investing, horse racing, online gambling or my favourite (financial markets trading), you have a multitude of options to choose and benefit from… And because you’re reading this today, tells me one thing… You have that passion, determination and discipline to try out the trading thing… Am I right? So what does this have to do with T.G.I.M? You need to stop saying “I hate Mondays” and start saying… “Thank God It’s Monday” Each Monday you start a new journey of life experiences to take you on the path of success, financial freedom and happiness… Mondays and the rest of the week days, are the days when you have the opportunity to grow your financial position. NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO: Learn about new markets with trading. Refine your trading risk management skills Take on new high probability trades to build your portfolio Educate yourself on new financial markets terminology, concepts, strategies and systems Go one step closer to achieving your financial goals Each day you learn, adapt and grow your portfolio, is another day closer to achieving your freedom. Also, you can ONLY get better. Find a reason to love Mondays. Next week wake up and say with confidence. T.G.I.M. Write it down somewhere BIG and read it out loud each week before you take a trade.
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
1