Larry, I've been flipping mutual funds in two IRA accounts the past few months near pivot highs and lows for nearly 200% profit so far. That's not great, but considering some whipsaws and the fact that it is only mutual funds (getting EOD prices) it's pretty decent.
The money I use to buy puts is an account I assign more risk to. I have basically 5-accounts with a varied degree of risk in each - USPIX (two), BEARX, Cash (my major position now), and options (currently puts). Surprisingly, I'm fairly diversified.
Since my options account is more active, I tend to post my moves there. The cash account was long from 2-days before the WTC (I didn't get out in time) until Monday. That was in an S&P fund.
Anyway, I use all the input I can get, but I tend to look at
candlesticks, trendlines, fib retraces, stochastics, RSI, MACD, volume, A/D, put/call ratio, TRIN, TRINQ, TICK, TICKQ, moving averages, bollinger bands, wedges and other chart formations, historical trends, as well as other indicators when making a move or a trade. Double tops, double bottoms, triple tops, and other things work also. Indexes and industries are also looked at, the economic calendar and economic situation, and finally earnings or other significant events.
I do not base a trade or move on any one indicator or anyone's opinion. I look at the entire picture using this ever expanding basket of information to try to formulate an opinion of where the market may be headed. I use what I've learned and apply it in my trades. Since I'm always learning, my trades always have room to improve.
I hope that gives you a better idea of what's going on with me. |
