Open interest differs from volume in that volume is the number of contracts actually traded per day, while open interest is the number of contracts entered into, either long or short, that have not been offset by transactions or exercise. They are new or open contracts which may offer clues as to what the traders are anticipating price to do in.
MIAMI, Fla. (MarketWatch) — If you are going to day trade, it’s essential to have a set of rules to manage any possible scenario. Even more important, you must also have the discipline to follow these rules.
Sometimes, in the heat of battle, traders will throw out their own rules and play it by ear — usually with disastrous results.
INVESTING COMMENTARY IN TRADING DECK
Back to 1987
for stocks?
Our Trading Deck has been home to a spirited debate over whether we're in for a crash.
• L.A. Little: Don't worry | Michael Gayed: Worry
• The warning signs of a 1987-style crash
• Hulbert: Stocks as overvalued as at 2007 high
Back to 1987
for stocks?
Our Trading Deck has been home to a spirited debate over whether we're in for a crash.
• L.A. Little: Don't worry | Michael Gayed: Worry
• The warning signs of a 1987-style crash
• Hulbert: Stocks as overvalued as at 2007 high
Although there are many rules, the following are the 10 most important:
1. The three E’s: enter, exit, escape
Rule No. 1 is having an enter price, an exit price, and an escape price in case of a worst-case scenario. This is rule number one for a reason. Before you press the “Enter” key, you must know when to get in, when to get out, and what to do if the trade doesn’t work out as expected.
Escaping a trade, also known as using a stop price, is essential if you want to minimize losses. Knowing when to get in or out will help you to lock in profits, as well as save you from potential disasters. Read more: 4 big risks to your investment portfolio now.
2. Avoid trading during the first 15 minutes of the market open
Those first 15 minutes of market action are often panic trades or market orders placed the night before. Novice day traders should avoid this time period while also looking for reversals. If you’re looking to make quick profits, it’s best to wait a while until you’re able to spot rewarding opportunities. Even many pros avoid the market open.
3. Use limit orders, not market orders
A market order simply tells your broker to buy or sell at the best available price. Unfortunately, best doesn’t necessarily mean profitable. The drawback to market orders was revealed during the May 2010 “flash crash.” When market orders were triggered on that day, many sell orders were filled at 10-, 15-, or 20 points lower than anticipated. A limit order, however, lets you control the maximum price you’ll pay or the minimum price you’ll sell. You set the parameters, which is why limit orders are recommended.
4. Rookie traders should avoid using margin
When you use margin, you are borrowing money from your brokerage to finance all or part of a trade. Full-time day traders (i.e. pattern day traders) are usually allowed 4:1 intraday margin. For example, with a $30,000 trading account, you’ll be given enough buying power to purchase $120,000 worth of securities. Overnight, however, the margin requirement is still 2:1.
When used properly, margin can leverage, or increase, potential returns. The problem is that if a trade goes against you, margin will increase losses. One of the reasons that day trading got a bad name a decade ago was because of margin, when people cashed in their 401k(s) and borrowed bundles of money to finance their trades. When the bull market ended in 2000, so did many traders’ accounts. Bottom line: if you are a novice trader, first learn how to day trade stocks without using margin.
5. Have a selling plan
Many rookies spend most of their time thinking about stocks they want to buy without considering when to sell. Before you enter the market, you need to know in advance when to exit, hopefully with a profit. “Playing it by ear” is not a selling strategy, nor is hope. As a day trader, you’ll set a price target as well as a time target.
6. Keep a journal of all your trades
Many pros swear by their journal, where they keep records of all their winning and losing trades. Writing down what you did right, or wrong, will help you improve as a trader, which is your primary goal. Not surprisingly, you’ll probably learn more from your losers than your winners.
7. Practice day trading in a paper-trading account
Although not everyone agrees that practice trading is important, it can be beneficial to some traders. If you do open a practice account, be sure to trade with a realistic amount of money. It’s not helpful to practice trade with a million dollars if the most you have in your account is $30,000. Also, if you do practice trade, think of it as an educational exercise, not a game.
8. Never act on tips from uninformed sources
Most pros know that buying stocks based on tips from uninformed acquaintances will almost always lead to bad trades. Knowing what stocks to buy is not enough. You also have to know when to sell, and by then the tipster is long gone. Legendary trader Jesse Livermore said it best when he wrote this about tips: “I know from experience that nobody can give me a tip or a series of tips that will make more money for me than my own judgment.”
If you can’t trust your own judgment, you may want to avoid day trading altogether.
9. Cut your losses
Managing losing trades is the key to surviving as a day trader. Although you also want to let your winners run, you can’t afford to let them run for too long. It’s more art than science to get it right, but learning how to control losses is essential if you are going to day trade. Once again, never forget the three E’s: (enter, exit, and escape).
10. Be willing to lose before you can win
Although many traders can handle winners, controlling losing stocks can be difficult. Many rookies panic at the first hint of losses, and end up making a series of impulsive trades that cost them money. If you’re day trading, you must be willing to accept some losses. The key: know in advance what you’ll do if you’re confronted with losses.
Although anyone can learn to day trade, few have the discipline to make consistent profits. What trips up many people are their emotions, which is why it’s so important to create a set of flexible rules. Your goal: follow the rules to help keep you on the right side of any trade.
Michael Sincere (www.michaelsincere.com) is the author of Start Day Trading Now (Adams Media, 2011), Understanding Options (McGraw-Hill, 2006), All About Market Indicators (McGraw-Hill, 2010), and Understanding Stocks (McGraw-Hill, 2003).
We Want to Hear from You
Every good investor knows that in order to make money on any investment, you must first understand all aspects of it, so let's look at why most trading volume is concentrated at the beginning and end of the day.
IN PICTURES: Learn To Invest In 10 Steps
If you have ever came home from work and used your evening hours to research stocks and place trade orders for the next day, you and others like you are the reason for the first hour high volume. As soon as the stock market opens, a rush of programmed trades enters the market and is quickly filled.
Along with the trades executed for retail investors, much of the volume comes from mutual funds, hedge funds and other high volume traders. Another source is day traders who have to set their positions for the day during the first hour. All of these factors added together represent a large amount of volume in a short amount of time.
But what about the afternoon?
A common rule among day traders is to always end their day without any stock positions, so they must sell their positions at the end of the day. Additionally, retail investors, trying to avoid day trading rules may purchase stock at the end of the day so they are free to sell it the next day if they wish. Some institutions often do not wish to hold large positions over long weekends or holidays when they have no means of liquidating should a big news event take place somewhere in the world.
So how can you profit from this phenomenon or at least avoid loss?
Volume Research
When you research a stock, look at the amount of volatility in the first and last hours of trading. If it tends to be very volatile during those hours, you may be able to buy or sell at a price which is much higher or lower than its fundamental value. Set your limit orders unusually high or low to see if you can catch a great bargain in the early minutes of trading.
When you research a stock, look at the amount of volatility in the first and last hours of trading. If it tends to be very volatile during those hours, you may be able to buy or sell at a price which is much higher or lower than its fundamental value. Set your limit orders unusually high or low to see if you can catch a great bargain in the early minutes of trading.
IN PICTURES: 5 'New' Rules For Safe Investing
Use Limit Orders
You can safely trade during the first and last hours of the trading day if you stay disciplined, and the best way to do this is to use limit orders. A limit order allows you to set the maximum buy or sell price instead of buying or selling at the price the market will pay. If you own stock XYZ and don't want to sell for less than $34.00 per share, place a sell order with your broker and set your limit price at $34.00. The same strategy can be used when you buy a certain stock. (For more on limit orders, see Protect Yourself From Market Loss)
You can safely trade during the first and last hours of the trading day if you stay disciplined, and the best way to do this is to use limit orders. A limit order allows you to set the maximum buy or sell price instead of buying or selling at the price the market will pay. If you own stock XYZ and don't want to sell for less than $34.00 per share, place a sell order with your broker and set your limit price at $34.00. The same strategy can be used when you buy a certain stock. (For more on limit orders, see Protect Yourself From Market Loss)
Trade Today for Tomorrow
Retail investors cannot buy and sell a stock on the same day any more than three times in a five business day period. This is known as the pattern day trader rule. Investors can avoid this rule by buying at the end of the day and selling the next day. Using this method, a person could hold a stock for less than 24 hours while avoiding day trading rules. Be aware that trading strategies of a short term nature come with a lot of risk, so careful research and risk management is imperative.
Retail investors cannot buy and sell a stock on the same day any more than three times in a five business day period. This is known as the pattern day trader rule. Investors can avoid this rule by buying at the end of the day and selling the next day. Using this method, a person could hold a stock for less than 24 hours while avoiding day trading rules. Be aware that trading strategies of a short term nature come with a lot of risk, so careful research and risk management is imperative.
Gap Trading
You purchased stock YZX for $30 today but you expect the stock to rise to $35 after they announce quarterly earnings after the close of the market today. This means that when the market opens tomorrow, YZX will open at $35 if you're correct. This creates a $5 gap in the chart which represents a $5 per share profit for you. (If you would like to know more about gap trading, read Playing The Gap.)
You purchased stock YZX for $30 today but you expect the stock to rise to $35 after they announce quarterly earnings after the close of the market today. This means that when the market opens tomorrow, YZX will open at $35 if you're correct. This creates a $5 gap in the chart which represents a $5 per share profit for you. (If you would like to know more about gap trading, read Playing The Gap.)
Bottom Line
Whether or not you avoid these hours altogether or aim to confine your trading to these hours largely depends on your risk appetite and experience with the market. If you're a new or inexperienced investor, it is best to move carefully during these times.
Whether or not you avoid these hours altogether or aim to confine your trading to these hours largely depends on your risk appetite and experience with the market. If you're a new or inexperienced investor, it is best to move carefully during these times.
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