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Gold/Mining/Energy : Day trading in Canada -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: keith massey who wrote (2654)3/27/1999 6:38:00 PM
From: keith massey  Respond to of 4467
 
Thought I would give the group a stop-loss horror story. Sucks to be this guy.

In The New Market Wizards by Jack Schwager, respected money manager Monroe Trout describes his ordeal: "January 9, 1991 was the day that Secretary of State James Baker met with the Iraqi ambassador in an effort to avert the Gulf War. At the time there was a reasonable degree of optimism going in to the meeting. Addressing the press after the meeting, Baker began his statement with the word 'Regrettably.' A wave of selling hit the stock and bond markets. I lost about $9,500,000, most of it in about ten seconds." Trout was holding 700 S&P futures contracts at the time.

One of the trading systems I was using during that period was a day trading system for the S&P. Although on most days that system didn't trade at all, it was unlucky enough to be in a long position that morning. I remember watching Baker's news conference and the S&P price action at the same time in my office. Even though I had a $500 stop-loss in the market, my system lost $5,500 per contract on that day's trade because the market's liquidity evaporated so rapidly.


KEITH



To: keith massey who wrote (2654)3/27/1999 7:07:00 PM
From: IdiotJed  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 4467
 
Thanks for the link. I'm currently reading the book with the traders interview you talked about. Pretty good so far (and the paperback edition is cheap).

Any book you have that are a must?

IJ