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Practical tips, tactics and rules for beginning
day traders
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Here are some trading rules the most important. These are by no means exhaustive
but are typical of those rules that novice day traders often fail to heed.
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Do not expect to become an expert day trader right away. It takes considerable time,
practice and effort to learn the ropes.
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Paper trade or use a simulated trading Web site to practice your trading techniques
before you use your own "real" money.
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Eliminate the fear of losing because "scared" money rarely profits.
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Always limit your losses - use stop orders.
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Learn from your losses - take advantage of each loss to improve your knowledge of
the market.
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Never allow large profits to turn into losses. Consider selling if the market moves
against you by about 25% or so from your peak profit point.
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If the markets on a given day are not performing or reacting the way you expected,
it is best to simply get out.
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INever add to a losing position. It is a prescription for disaster.
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Try to predict the general direction of a stock price but do not try to pick tops
and bottoms. You will rarely succeed in accomplishing this.
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Remember that standing aside is a position and often the best one to take if you
cannot form an opinion as to where the market is heading on a given day.
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The key difference between winning and losing day traders is the ability to exercise
discipline to avoid mistakes or bad trading tactics.
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You must subordinate your will to the will of the market. The market is always right.
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Always keep records of your trading results and analyse the results.
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A Good day traders generally sell into good news and buy on bad news.
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Patience, perseverance, determination and a rational trading plan are the key attributes
of a successful day trader.
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Never get emotionally involved with your trades as emotions often work against you.
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Do not try to profit on every trade. It is the total profit you make that matters
not the number of individual wins.
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Learn when you can rely on instinct as opposed to analysis.
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Don't chase momentum if you are unsure as to the exit point. Assume the market will
reverse itself as soon as you open a position.
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Be flexible. Remember that different strategies suit different days and different
stocks.
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Decide each day how much risk you are willing to take and stick to your decision.
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Access to timely information and fast execution of trades is essential to day trade
successfully. Subscribe to a good financial information service and open an account
with a Direct Access Trading firm or an online broker that caters to day traders.
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Do not try to focus on too many stocks at once. Limit your focus to a manageable
number.
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Always think positive no matter how much you lose. Accept your losses gracefully,
try to learn from them and move on.
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If you do not find day trading fun or find it too stressful you will not likely
be successful. Try some other activity.
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