11/27/13 ES +1.00 & NQ +4.25

ES was quiet, as expected, since tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Only did 1 trade on the ES and 3 on the NQ. Anyway, another brief recap of my trades. Have a great turkey day!

ES

Trade #1 - Market was in a tight trading range early on. Went long on a 2nd entry with prices making multiple bottoms and a very bullish signal bar. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1803.50 at 9:39
• sell 1 @1804.50 at 9:41

ES chart 11/27/13

NQ

Trade #1 - Again, at the point, it looked like a trading range. Took a 2nd entry long off of the EMA. Prices touched my target, but I didn't get filled, as it didn't tick through. Market reversed and I was within 1 tick of being stopped out. What a price swing! Prices then bounced off of support and rallied a bit. Took the opportunity to exit for +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @3465.00 at 10:36
• sell 1 @3466.00 at 11:16

Trade #2 - Went short after prices bumped against the upper trend line & EMA resistance. Exited when prices became congested at the support levels for +1.00 pt.

• sell 1 @3464.50 at 12:00
• buy 1 @3463.50 at 12:04

Trade #3 - 2nd entry long near support levels. Very bearish candlestick made me nervous, so bailed out for +2.25 pt.

• buy 1 @3463.50 at 12:19
• sell 1 @3465.75 at 12:43

NQ chart 11/27/13

11/26/13 ES +2.75 & NQ +2.00

Took a boatload of trades today. A total of 11...4 on the ES and 7 on the NQ. Think I broke my own record. Gonna be lazy and just do a brief recap of my ES trades only. Besides, the NQ trades were mainly entered via ES signals/setups. Basically broke-even on the NQ side, after accounting for commissions.

Trade #1 -  2nd entry long with what looked like a triple bottom forming. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1802.25 at 9:30
• sell 1 @1803.25 at 9:31

Trade #2 - Same setup as the prior trade. I'd forgotten about the 10 AM econ data coming out. Was anxious to exit this trade. Prices did rose 1 point higher from my entry, but it didn't tick through. This was a 4 tick failure. I bailed for a tick gain, just as the market started tanking. +0.25 pt.

• buy 1 @1802.25 at 9:52
• sell 1 @1802.50 at 10:01

Trade #3 - 2nd entry short. Took this trade thinking it would be a somewhat rangy day anyway. +1.00 pt.

• sell 1 @1802.75 at 10:33
• buy 1 @1801.75 at 10:43

Trade #4 - Support at the 1801.00 - 1801.50 levels and the lower trend line. Should have waited on a 2nd entry setup off of the lows, as prices retraced a bit. This spooked me enough to made me get out early for +0.50 pt. Could have gotten my scalp target had I held on.

• buy 1 @1802.50 at 11:48
• sell 1 @1803.00 at 12:11

ES chart 11/26/13

NQ chart 11/26/13

NQ 11/25/13 +8.00

Changing gears...switching over to the NQ. Not sure if this would be just a temporary move or a permanent one. All depends on how I do this week (though volume would be light due to the upcoming holiday). Seems to me, the NQ offers easier fills and is more forgiving of mistakes. The downside is that the price action is, at least to me, not as clear-cut as the ES. My daily goal with the NQ is +6.00 points. Did 4 trades today...all buys and all were long and agonizing, due to the light volume.

Trade #1 - 2nd entry long off the lows, with EMA and trend line supports. +3.00 pt.

• buy 1 @3427.75 at 11:17
• sell 1 @3430.75 at 11:33

Trade #2 - 2nd entry long, with EMA support. However, prices made another leg down and I was within 1 tick of being stopped out. Fortunately, prices reversed upward, after making a triple bottom with trend line support. When prices rose near the main upper trend line channel, I exited for +1.00 pt in anticipation of some resistance.

• buy 1 @3430.75 at 12:04
• sell 1 @3431.75 at 12:33

Trade #3 - 2nd entry long. The signal bar was not the best. In fact, it was bearish. The trigger bar was worse. After I got filled, prices dropped a bit. However, I was anticipating strong support at the 3428.00 - 3429.00 level. The main trend channel was in play too, so was also expecting some support there. Everything did as expected and I got my +3.00 pt.

• buy 1 @3429.75 at 12:59
• sell 1 @3432.75 at 13:37

Trade #4 - This was the longest held trade of the day. Seemed like it lasted for forever and a day. This was a 2nd entry long, based on what I'd initially thought was decent support. Also, it was a countertrend trade, but this was also a range day, so it was OK. Prices did drop more, as the selling pressure had not been exhausted yet. I was within 2 ticks of being stopped out. When prices reversed to the upside, I took the opportunity to exit early for +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @3427.50 at 15:16
• sell 1 @3428.50 at 15:56

NQ chart 11/25/13

ES 11/22/13 +1.75

Couldn't reach the ES sound barrier. Was a tick short. Took 2 trades, skipped 1 and missed 1. Both of the no trades turned out to be excellent winners. Sucks.

Trade #1 - Took a long at a known support area. Prices had bounced off of it multiple times previously. The trade worked out, as prices did as expected. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1793.25 at 9:45
• sell 1 @1794.25 at 9:48

Trade #2 - This was both a 2nd entry long and a 2-legged pullback to the EMA. Exited early due to overhead resistance/double top. As anticipated, prices did fall back, after meeting resistance. +0.75 pt.

• buy 1 @1796.25 at 10:34
• sell 1 @1797.00 at 10:37

ES chart 11/22/13

ES 11/21/13 +2.00

Had an average day. Missed a couple of good setups, as I was not paying attention - was switching b/w the ES and NQ charts. Yeah, I only use 1 monitor for trading. Seems like 2 ES points is my equivalent of the sound barrier. I don't break through it often enough. My ultimate goal, the ES light barrier, would be 5 points. That would be my dream and it might just be that...a dream. Anyway, a very brief recap of today's trades.

Trade #1 - 2nd entry long with median trend line support. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1784.50 at 9:29
• sell 1 @1785.50 at 9:32

Trade #2 - Another 2nd entry long with trend line support. I got shook out for +0.75 pt. Thought a potential double top was forming, so bailed out early.

• buy 1 @1786.75 at 10:05
• sell 1 @1787.50 at 10:10

Trade #3 - 2nd entry short with prices meeting overhead resistance. After 2 consecutive bars failed to hit my scalp target, prices retraced back and nearly (within 1 tick) stopped me out. When it made another attempt lower, I bailed out for +0.25 pt.

• sell 1 @1793.00 at 13:59
• buy 1 @1792.75 at 14:29

ES chart 11/21/13

ES 11/20/13 +6.75

The market was very volatile today, due mainly to the FOMC Meeting Minutes. Maybe that's why I did more trades today than usual. Also, I've been flipping back and forth between the ES and NQ charts. I'm contemplating whether to switch over to trading the NQ again. Last time was back in mid-August. Anyway, here is a recap of my trades.

Trade #1 - 2nd entry long, with prices making a double bottom. Market was in a trading range for over 2 hours afterwards. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1789.00 at 11:04
• sell 1 @1790.00 at 11:05

Trade #2 - This was an aggressive trade, since it was countertrend. Took it because prices had already made a measured move down and it was a 2nd entry setup. The trade worked out, but had to endure some heat. For 3 consecutive bars, I was within 1 tick of being stopped out for a full 2 points loss. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1782.00 at 14:13
• sell 1 @1783.00 at 14:16

Trade #3 - Saw prices meeting resistance on the upper trend line. Went short hoping to ride another leg down. Should have waited on a 2nd entry setup. Prices retraced a bit, which almost shook me out. But when a 2nd entry did present itself, I went short again. Got 1.00 + 1.75 = +2.75 pt.

• sell 1 @1783.75 at 14:23
• sell 1 @1784.50 at 14:26
• buy 2 @1782.75 at 14:32

Trade #4 - Another aggressive trade. Prices had not come down to the lower trend line yet and it was countertrend. Took it because it was a 2nd entry and the signal bar was very bullish. Got +1.00 pt, as prices rose back up to the upper trend line.

• buy 1 @1780.25 at 14:43
• sell 1 @1781.25 at 14:45

Trade #5 - Shouldn't be trading like this, but this was my third countertrend trade of the day. Even though this and the other two worked out, I should never have taken them. Took this 2nd entry long, after seeing prices bounced off of the lower trend line. It has been doing so for the entire afternoon, so I was betting that it would do so again. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1776.25 at 15:12
• sell 1 @1777.25 at 15:13

ES chart 11/20/13

ES 11/18/13 +1.75

Didn't quite make my goal of 2 points today. My first trade of the day was a 3 points loss total. Not a good way to start the day. Managed to pull myself back to positive territory by late morning. After that, I was basically on the sideline watching the market for the rest of the day.

Trade #1 - A long trade on a 2nd entry that failed. Got stopped out fairly dramatically by one big bearish candlestick. At least I didn't take a full 4 points loss this time. (1.50) + (1.50) = -3.00 pt.

• buy 2 @1796.50 at 9:52
• sell 2 @1795.00 at 9:55

Trade #2 - After my first trade was stopped out, I immediately went short. Exited my runner near the lower trend line, which also coincided with where the measured move was. 1.00 + 1.25 = +2.25 pt.

• sell 2 @1795.25 at 9:55
• buy 1 @1794.25 at 9:56
• buy 1 @1794.00 at 9:59

Trade #3 - I was a tick late in entering this 2nd entry long near the EMA. Again, decided to exit my runner early, this time due to congestion. 1.00 + 1.50 = +2.50 pt.

• buy 2 @1796.50 at 10:53
• sell 1 @1797.50 at 11:01
• sell 1 @1798.00 at 11:07

ES chart 11/18/13

ES 11/15/13 +2.00

Had only one occurrence of Internet outage today, an improvement over the previous two days. Started the day good, as I'd already gotten my 2 points daily target at around 10 AM. However, I decided to take one more trade, as it was just too early to call it a day. Ended up digging a hole and spending the day trying to extricate myself out of it. In the end, I was back to where I started – up 2 points. However, dollar-wise, it was less, due to the commissions on the three additional trades. Should have left well enough alone. I also traded two contracts per trade, not one, again. Maybe going forward, I'll alternate between one and two, depending on the day's market condition.

Trade #1 – Prices touched and bounced off of the support area on multiple occasions. Went long, as the bar was kind of bullish and I was expecting prices to repeat what had occurred previously. Exited my runner near the upper trend line area. 0.75 + 1.25 = +2.00 pt.

• buy 2 @1789.50 at 10:06
• sell 1 @1790.25 at 10:11
• sell 1 @1790.75 at 10:12

Trade #2 – This was a disaster. I didn't have the correct resistance line in place at the time of the entry. Thought it was a good failed 2nd entry short with a very bullish signal bar. Didn't realize my entry was near resistance. The trade had no chance. In hindsight, I should have bailed out early for a small loss when the next immediate bar failed/turned down. Shouldn't have taken a full 2 points loss per contract. This set me back a lot. Dag! (2.00) + (2.00) = -4.00 pt.

• buy 2 @1791.25 at 11:35
• sell 2 @1789.25 at 11:51

Trade #3 – 2nd entry long with prices bouncing off of the same support area again. Got my scalp, but runner was stopped out. 1.00 + 0.25 = +1.25 pt.

• buy 2 @1788.75 at 11:55
• sell 1 @1789.75 at 12:09
• sell 1 @1789.00 at 12:38

Trade #4 – The 1788.00-1788.50 area acted as support all day. Had to go long, after two consecutive very bullish candlesticks formed. Exited my runner near the resistance area. Also, didn't like the behavior of the last bar. Even though it closed green, it seemed like a struggle. Prices did fell back a little, but then rocketed up pass my original runner target later. Got shaken out again. Still working on getting those nerves of steel to help me hold on to my runners. 1.00 + 1.75 = +2.75 pt.

• buy 2 @1789.75 at 13:21
• sell 1 @1790.75 at 13:28
• sell 1 @1791.50 at 13:41

ES chart 11/15/13

ES 11/14/13 +4.25

Internet connection was really bad yesterday and today. Wasn't a bother to me yesterday, as I had to run some errands outside and didn't trade at all. Today, it was an annoyance, as there were 3 outages from the opening to the closing bell. During one of them, I had an open long position. Stressed me out, as this could be potentially dangerous.

I did 2 trades today using 2 contracts each. Both were afternoon trades, as I was just trouble-shooting the multiple outages all morning. Anyway, I keep saying I will be using only 1 contract per trade, since I have no luck with runners. I still don't, but thought I could achieve my 2 point daily target quicker (possible with only 1 good trade) with 2 contracts. Going back to 1 contract tomorrow.

Trade #1 – Market was in a trading range at this point. Notice prices had made higher highs and higher lows. Took a 2nd entry long setup, which came following a failed 2nd entry short. After I had gotten my scalp target, I loss connection again for about 10 minutes. When I was back online, prices had retraced a bit. While I was out, it met some resistance on the upper trend line. A very bearish bar then stopped out my runner. Got only 2 ticks, instead of the potential 6 – 7, because of the down time. 1.00 + 0.50 = +1.50 pt.

• buy 2 @1785.75 at 14:02
• sell 1 @1786.75 at 14:19
• sell 1 @1786.25 at 14:51

Trade #2 – By now, I had another upward sloping trend line in place. Took another 2nd entry long, with trend line support. I set the target on my runner near the upper trend line resistance area, which also coincided with where the measured move was. 1.00 + 1.75 = +2.75 pt.

• buy 2 @1786.50 at 15:00
• sell 1 @1787.50 at 15:07
• sell 1 @1788.25 at 15:13

ES chart 11/14/13

ES 11/12/13 +2.25

Today was a lot better, in terms of movement & trading volume in the ES. As was mentioned yesterday, my daily goal is 2 ES points. Once I hit that target, I stop trading. I was able to achieve that early on today. I was basically done by 11 AM and just casually watched the market on the sideline for the rest of the day. Had to fight the temptation to enter on a few setups, though. There was, however, a short entry around 1:29 PM that I would have definitely taken, had I been paying more attention.

Trade #1 - 2nd entry long with prices gaining support at the 1764.00 area. Prices immediately headed lower, as a bearish candlestick formed. I was a bit apprehensive at this point. Even more so, when on the next bar, prices proceeded to go below the 1764.00 support area by a few ticks. However, when that bar finished bullish, I lowered my scalp target to a couple of ticks. Got out in the middle of a huge price move up. In hindsight, that bar with the 2 ticks below support probably trapped a lot of shorts. They were covering their positions, when they realized the market was going higher. This added fuel to the fire for longs, as prices rocketed up. Wish I had the guts to stay with the trade for the full target. +0.50 pt.

• buy 1 @1764.75 at 10:10
• sell 1 @1765.25 at 10:16

Trade #2 - This trade was a bit aggressive. It was a first entry short, after prices shot up almost 5 points in less than 5 minutes. However, at this point, it seemed like a range day. Prices had finished making a 2nd leg measured move. Also, it was meeting overhead resistance. I exited early at the first sign of a bounce. The trade lasted all of 1 minute. +0.75 pt.

• sell 1 @1767.75 at 10:21
• buy 1 @1767.00 at 10:22

Trade #3 - Went short on a 2nd entry, with prices making a double top. Took awhile for the trade to work out. At one point, I was within 1 tick of being stopped out, when prices moved up to formed a triple top. When it failed to break through resistance a 3rd time, the bottom felled out and prices dropped. +1.00 pt.

• sell 1 @1767.00 at 10:32
• buy 1 @1766.00 at 10:56

ES chart 11/12/13

ES 11/11/13 +0.75

I have decided to set my daily target at 2 points per day. Based on trading 1 contract and scalping out at 1 point, this would mean a minimum of 2 trades. Previously, I had fantasized of getting 4-6 points out of the market each and every day. Well, I was naive, as there is fantasy and then there is reality. To consistently make 4-6 points day in and day out is near impossible. Heck, even a 2 points target is quite difficult. Case in point, today's trading. I missed the morning session and got stuck with the afternoon doldrums. From around 10:20 AM to 4:00 PM, the market was in an overall 2 points range! At certain times, it was trading in a 1 point range! Looking at today's chart could cure the worse cases of insomnia or put you into a coma. Anyway, the goal is 2 points and I'm done for the day.

Trade #1 - A failed 2nd entry long became a failed 2nd entry short. Went long, but it was a bad fill. Could have gotten in at 1 or possible 2 ticks better. Exited near the upper trend line in anticipation of prices meeting resistance. Got only +0.50 pt.

• buy 1 @1767.75 at 12:59
• sell 1 @1768.25 at 13:03

Trade #2 - Prices were meeting resistance at the upper trend line, so took a short entry. Given the super tight range and congestion, I exited early for a tick. The trade lasted over 1.5 hours! Very painful to watch. In that timespan, there were only about 8 bars and all were overlapping! +0.25 pt.

• sell 1 @1767.75 at 13:17
• buy 1 @1767.50 at 14:50

ES chart 11/11/13

ES 11/8/13 +2.00

The market today was the inverse of yesterday's. Just flip over yesterday's chart and you will have today's. As I've mentioned in the past on several occasions, I tend to prefer range days over trending days. It's somewhat odd, but my trending day results are not as good as they should be. Most people have their best trading on trending days. They are just too fast (and scary) for me. Can't read/analyze setups and place entries quick enough, before prices move away. Hence, a lot of my trades in trending days occurred during intraday trading ranges.

Anyway, unlike yesterday, I did get the main trend lines in place early on today. I still managed to miss 2 trades, though. Skipped on 2 others too. The 3 trades that I did entered were all to the long side.

Trade #1 - Saw a 2nd entry long setup, as prices were in another mini trading range. Initially, passed on the trade, as I thought prices were going to break down through both the EMA and median trend line. Also, it was kind of close to the resistance line of this range. However, prices failed 3Xs to break down and immediately reversed to the upside. Thought some traders might have been caught short and were covering. When it shot pass the resistance line, I went long on a market order. Risky using market entry, but it worked out this time for +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1760.25 at 13:27
• sell 1 @1761.25 at 13:29

Trade #2 - Took this 2nd entry long with support on both the EMA and median trend line. Thought it would be a quick scalp trade, as the signal bar was quite bullish. However, prices failed 3Xs to get that extra tick through that I needed to close out the trade. After this, it was fairly obvious that we were in another mini trading range and prices were both meeting resistance and congested. Also, trade was opened for quite long at almost half an hour. Decided to bail out early for +0.50 pt.

• buy 1 @1761.50 at 14:15
• sell 1 @1762.00 at 14:41

Trade #3 - When 3 consecutive bars bounced off of the lower main trend line, I went long. I was hoping for a quick scalp, as the Bernanke speech was due in 15 minutes time. When it seemed like prices weren't moving, I just bailed out for +0.50 pt. Cameraman recorded this and immediately prices shot up. Would've gotten my scalp, had I not bailed early. Of course, had I done that, prices would've tanked, instead. Anyway, the market eventually went up another 8 points from my entry. Dag!

• buy 1 @1760.00 at 15:15
• sell 1 @1760.50 at 15:23

ES chart 11/8/13

Confusing day - no trades

For the better part of the day, I just can't seem to figure out what the market was up to. I had my trend and support/resistance lines all over the place. I was constantly rearranging them, but none seemed to fit properly. Missed out on a few trades, as a result. By the time I had, what I believe were the correct main lines in place, it was already 2 PM. Better to just sit on my hands, as I just wasn't comfortable with today's price action.

ES chart 11/7/13

ES 11/6/13 +3.50

I chickened out on 3 good trades - 2 this morning and 1 in the afternoon. I need to just take all valid trade setups. No more hesitations or second-guessing signals. I've also had no luck with my runners. About 90% of them have been stopped out. Thinking of just sticking to trading 1 contract to save on commissions from now on.

Trade #1 - 2nd entry short with resistance at the upper trend line. When prices bounced off of the lower trend line and ended with a bullish bar, I exited early on my runner. 1.00 + 0.50 = +1.50 pt.

• sell 2 @1764.00 at 11:55
• buy 1 @1763.00 at 11:59
• buy 1 @1763.50 at 12:02

Trade #2 - Went long after the runner from the prior trade got taken out. I was anticipating prices to make a 2nd leg up. Took some time & heat for the trade to work, as prices went down to touch the lower trend line again. No runner. 1.00 + 0.25 = +1.25 pt.

• buy 2 @1763.75 at 12:10
• sell 1 @1764.75 at 12:25
• sell 1 @1764.00 at 12:26

Trade #3 - Stupid trade! I took it because I was mesmerized by the bearish bar that formed. Dumb! Shorted almost at the bottom/support. (1.00) + (1.00) = -2.00 pt.

• sell 2 @1763.75 at 14:22
• buy 2 @1764.75 at 14:29

Trade #4 - After the prior stupid trade got stopped out, I went long immediately on a 2nd entry. Got my scalp, but my runner was taken out, as usual. 1.00 + 0.25 = +1.25 pt.

• buy 2 @1764.25 at 14:29
• sell 1 @1765.25 at 14:33
• sell 1 @1764.50 at 14:36

Trade #5 - Long on a failed 2nd entry short, with support on the lower trend line. Exited early on my runner. 1.00 + 0.50 = +1.50 pt.

• buy 2 @1765.25 at 15:10
• sell 1 @1766.25 at 15:23
• sell 1 @1765.75 at 15:28

ES chart 11/6/13

ES 11/5/13 +1.50

Did 4 trades and missed 1 today. Almost all my missed trades can be attributed to me trying to enter via limit, instead of stop orders. Out of every 10 trades, I think I used limit to enter on 8. Still not comfortable using stop entry orders, yet.

Trade #1 - Had the incorrect trend line in place and went long when prices bounced off of that line. I should have waited and entered on a 2nd entry, as prices dropped a bit. When that setup came, prices also bounced off of the proper/correct median (was the lower channel at that time) channel line. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1753.50 at 10:16
• sell 1 @1754.50 at 10:29

Trade #2 - I broke one of my rules again - never countertrend trade - and got punished for it. Took a -1.25 pt loss. There were 4 reasons why I decided to take this countertrend trade.

1. Prices just finished its 2nd leg move
2. Prices met upper trend line resistance
3. 2nd entry
4. Both signal & trigger bars were bearish.

I really thought it was a good short setup, though. It didn't work, so never countertrend trade!

• sell 1 @1756.50 at 10:45
• buy 1 @1757.75 at 10:50

Trade #3 - 2nd entry long with prices bouncing off of the median trend line. I bailed out early for +0.75 pt, after a Doji bar formed in the midst of some congestion. Cameraman was watching, as the second I exited, prices moved up. My original 1 pt scalp target would've been filled.

• buy 1 @1758.00 at 11:35
• sell 1 @1758.75 at 11:50

Trade #4 - Prices broke through the median channel line, but found support on the lower one. There was also support at around the 1758.75 area. Went long on a 2nd entry. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1759.25 at 14:07
• sell 1 @1760.25 at 14:24

ES chart 11/5/13

ES 11/4/13 +2.75

Did 3 trades today and was basically done before noon. Yeah, it was that slow of a day. I didn't mind, though. Had also skipped and missed 1 trade each.

Trade #1 - Took a short, as prices met resistance at the downward sloping trend line. The two Dojis that just formed before my entry made me hesitated for a bit, though. Then a very bullish bar showed up, right after my entry. Thought I had gotten in too early. Good thing prices reversed and I got my scalp. My runner was stopped out, though. 1.00 + 0.25 = +1.25 pt.

• sell 2 @1759.50 at 9:52
• buy 1 @1758.50 at 9:57
• buy 1 @1759.25 at 10:00

Trade #2 - There were 3 reasons why I liked this trade.

1. 2nd entry
2. Double bottom
3. Signal bar that started bearish, but ended bullish

But, I didn't have the nerves/patience to see this trade through. Got nervous after some congestion and bailed for a tick each. Trade would've worked nicely, as I entered what would be the low of the afternoon. 0.25 + 0.25 = +0.50 pt.

• buy 2 @1757.50 at 11:13
• sell 1 @1757.75 at 11:23
• sell 1 @1757.75 at 11:28

Trade #3 - Went long on a bounce off of the upward sloping trend line. Was looking for prices to reach to the upper channel of the main bearish trend line at the time. My exit was a couple of ticks below it. However, my runner was stopped out again. 0.75 + 0.25 = +1.00 pt.

• buy 2 @1758.50 at 11:54
• sell 1 @1759.25 at 11:58
• sell 1 @1758.75 at 11:58

ES chart 11/4/13

ES 11/1/13 +2.00

Hard to decipher whether today was a range or a trend day. Market went up, then down, back up and finally down again. It looked like it was a trend day within an overall range one. A bit of both, I guess. Anyway, I took 2 trades, missed 3 and skipped out on 4 others. I'm going to just list the 2 trades that I did. I've noted on today's chart the reason(s) for the 7 misses and skips. Out of these 7 no trades, I believe 6 would have been winners.

Trade #1 - Failed 2nd entry short. Didn't want to miss this trade with a limit order, so used a stop one for my entry. Even though prices were getting near the upper trend line, I liked this trade b/c it was with the current trend and there was support on the median line. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1756.75 at 9:35
• sell 1 @1757.75 at 9:42

Trade #2 - Prices overshot the upward-sloping trend line to the downside. It reversed fairly aggressively. Went long on a bullish bar, after it bounced off of the trend line. I was also anticipating a 2nd measured leg up. My scalp target was reached in about a minute. +1.00 pt.

• buy 1 @1751.25 at 13:37
• sell 1 @1752.25 at 13:38

ES chart 11/1/13