ES trades for 9/30/13

Last trading day of the month. The market opened down about 12 pt, due to the likelihood of a government shutdown. At the end of the day, it pared back about half those losses. It was a range day overall. I did 3 trades...all to the long side. Could've done more, but didn't want to risk giving back some of the early gains.

Trade #1 - Market continued trending down, after the initial gap down. Prices eventually broke the trend line to the upside, before heading down to make a new low. Basic 2nd entry long here, as the market looked to be reversing to the upside. In typical fashion lately, I got within 1 tick of making my 1 pt scalp. Got stopped out for 0.25 instead. Got my scalp on the 2nd contract, though. 0.25 + 1.00 = +1.25 pt.

• buy 2 @1672.00 at 10:01
• sell 1 @1672.25 at 10:02
• sell 1 @1673.00 at 10:06

Trade #2 - Prices broke the previous up trend line. This time to the downside. It then formed a double bottom, as it gained support. I went long when a 2nd entry came. Hit 1st target, but manually exited early on the 2nd contract. Had an incorrect trend line in place at the time. Had it not been there, I would've gotten my 3 pt target on the 2nd contract. As it were, I booked 1.00 + 1.00 = +2.00 pt.

• buy 2 @1675.00 at 11:20
• sell 1 @1676.00 at 11:27
• sell 1 @1676.00 at 11:29

Trade #3 - It was obvious that we were in an intraday trading range at this time (typical of the lunch time period). Prices bounced off the same area as in the prior trade. A triple bottom was formed. Entered long via a 2nd entry. Scalped out of the 1st contract. Manually exited the 2nd, as I was spoofed by the formation of a Gravestone Doji. Also, prices were near resistance levels. It went down about 1 pt more afterwards, before rallying for 5. Oh well. 1.00 + 1.25 = +2.25 pt.

• buy 2 @1675.50 at 12:32
• sell 1 @1676.50 at 12:43
• sell 1 @1676.75 at 12:51

A good trading day. I think I could've gotten double the points, but I didn't want to over-trade, after the 3 straight winners.

ES chart 9/30/13