Saturday, December 15, 2012

Update - Discretionary System

If you've been following this blog since the beginning, you know that is has changed a bit over time:

The blog started out as a journal of performance for a mechanical system that I was trading in the World Cup Trading competition.

And then my corrupt broker PFG folded in July, taking most of my account with them.  And the idea for my blog!

A few months ago, I decided to document my development of a discretionary system - my historical weak point in trading.

Along the way, I tried to provide useful information, such as my 15 part "Trading Process" series. Or my free webinars (here is upcoming one on Monday Dec 17th:  "Trading Plan For 2013" on Dec 17, 2012 8:30 PM EST at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2901032090057478144)


So, as of mid-December, here is where I stand:

I don't have a discretionary system for 6E (Euro currency) ready to go yet, but I have a couple of pretty good, but separate, ideas in development.  With some dedication in early January, I may have something ready to go in late Jan or Feb 2013.

I have a little chunk of money allocated for this new system.  I may or may not enter it in the World Cup competition.  I may or may not post it on Collective2.com, where a third party tracks some of my other strategies (here is just one: http://www.collective2.com/cgi-perl/system71417784).

My question for you, dear reader, is where do you want this blog to go.  Some options:

A.  I can continue discussing my discretionary system development, and then actually trade it.

B.  I can talk about trading in general.

C.  I can talk about any system I enter in a contest, which may also be point A above.

D.  I can talk about other systems I currently trade (full disclosure: some of these I also offer for sale, some I do not).

E.  None of the above.


I want to keep this blog informative and relevant.  I know so far it has been, since it was nominated for Best Trading Blog of 2012 (please vote below).


So, if you get a chance, please leave a comment, and tell me what you'd like to see in this blog.  I'm listening!




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I am honored that my blog, "A Robot Trader Becomes Human," has been nominated as "Best Trading Blog of 2012" by the good folks at TraderPlanet.com.

If you like my blog at http://2012tradingcontest.blogspot.com, please vote!

A Robot Trader Becomes Human






Thursday, December 13, 2012

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

We have a winner in our Trading Platform Survey.  E-mail address ny11***@yahoo.com was the winner of a copy of my Congress ES Trading System.  Congratulations to him or her, and thanks to everyone who contributed.

Here are the results, of approximately 150 surveys:

What trading platform do you use?

I was surprised that 7% use no software at all! Pencil and paper folk?


About 55% of platform users described themselves as being at a beginner or intermediate proficiency level, and 45% were advanced or expert.

51% of respondents have not bought any type of indicator or trading system in the past year.  A Do-It-Yourself crowd!!

For the 49% who had bought a system/indicator, vendor reputation was far and away the most important criteria.

Not surprisingly, most (>70%) system/indicator buyers thought it was "extremely important" that the package they buy be in their platform language.

Finally, 85% of people were neutral to very satisfied with what they purchased.  Only 15% of people were dissatisfied.


THANKS again for participating!


************************************************************************

I am honored that my blog, "A Robot Trader Becomes Human," has been nominated as "Best Trading Blog of 2012" by the good folks at TraderPlanet.com.

If you like my blog at http://2012tradingcontest.blogspot.com, please vote!

A Robot Trader Becomes Human

Sunday, December 9, 2012

New Survey


I am giving away a free copy of my Congress ES Trading System, valued at $149, to one lucky winner who answers a short 6 question survey.

You can read about my Congress ES Trading System here: http://www.kjtradingsystems.com/congress.html

Of course, I will share results with everyone on this blog.


Please click here to take the survey:


Thanks in advance!


Kevin

Only one entry per e-mail address allowed.


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I am honored that my blog, "A Robot Trader Becomes Human," has been nominated as "Best Trading Blog of 2012" by the good folks at TraderPlanet.com.

If you like my blog at http://2012tradingcontest.blogspot.com, please vote!

A Robot Trader Becomes Human

Friday, December 7, 2012

Survey - Final Results

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I am honored that this blog, "A Robot Trader Becomes Human," has been nominated as "Best Trading Blog of 2012" by the good folks at TraderPlanet.com.

If you like my blog, please vote!

A Robot Trader Becomes Human



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So, what "takeaways" can we glean from this survey?  Here are a few:

Pure mechanical traders are more profitable than hybrid traders, who are more profitable than pure discretionary traders.

Traders who backtest their idea for more than 1 year tend to be more profitable than those who do not.

Trading is TOUGH.  You are more likely to lose than you are to win.


Thanks to everyone who participated!


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Survey Results - Mechanical Traders

Taken as a group, people who identify themselves as 100% mechanical traders are more profitable than either pure discretionary or hybrid traders.

Only 27% of pure discretionary traders reported that they were profitable the last 3 years.  The number jumps to 43% for hybrid traders, and then jumps again to 55% for mechanical traders.

So, according to this survey, you are twice as likely to be profitable if you are 100% mechanical, as opposed to 100% discretionary.

The other interesting point here is that mechanical traders who backtest for more than 1 year tend to be more profitable.  Not surprising to me, but hopefully it is enlightening to those traders out there who feel long backtests are pointless.



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Survey Results - Hybrid Traders

For people who identified themselves as "hybrid" traders - that is, they use a mix of discretionary and mechanical methods, the survey shows the following:

Most hybrid traders lose

Hybrid traders who backtest for longer periods of time have a higher chance of success



Monday, December 3, 2012

Survey Results - Discretionary Traders

Of the people who identified themselves as discretionary traders, most perform backtests less than 1 year duration.  Could this be why most are losing money?










*********************************************************************


I am honored that this blog, "A Robot Trader Becomes Human," has been nominated as "Best Trading Blog of 2012" by the good folks at TraderPlanet.com.

If you like my blog, please vote!

A Robot Trader Becomes Human