Diary of a Professional Commodity Trader: Lessons from 21 Weeks of Real Trading

Description

Trading is generally far more difficult in practice than in theory. The reality is that no trade set up or individual trader or system can identify profitable trades in advance with complete certainty. In A Year of Trading, long-time trader Peter Brandt reveals the anxieties and uncertainties of trading in a diary of his 2009 trades. He explains his thought process as he searches for trading opportunities and executes them. Each trade includes charts, an analysis of the trade, and a play-by-play account of how the trade unfolds. Diary of a Professional Commodity Trader - Dustwrapper: Front Flyleaf - Front Flyleaf - Rear Short Title Title Page Printer's Imprint Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Short Title (2) PART I: Foundations Of Successful Trading Introduction The Invention of a Commodity Trader Why I Wrote This Book This Book's Audience The Book's Road Map CHAPTER 1. The History and Theory of Classical Charting Principles My Perspective of the Principles Three Limitations of the Principles Summary PART II: Characteristics Of A Successful Trading Plan CHAPTER 2. Building a Trading Plan Trader Personality and Temperament Adequate Capitalization Overall Risk Management Points to Remember CHAPTER 3. Identifying the Trades and the Trading Vocabulary Trade Identification Vocabulary of the Factor Trading Plan Points to Remember CHAPTER 4. Ideal Chart Patterns Reversal H&S Pattern in Copper Reversal Rising Wedge in AUD/USD Continuation Wedge and Reversal Failure Top in Soybean Oil Reversal Triangle Bottom in Sugar Continuation and Pyramid Patterns in USD/CAD Reversal Top in Silver Continuation H&S Pattern in the Russell 1000 Index Continuation Rectangle in Kansas City Wheat Continuation Rectangle and Pyramid Triangle in Crude Oil Continuation H&S Top in the Dow Utilities Continuation Triangle, Reversal M Top, and Flag in the EUR/USD H&S Reversal Top and Three Continuation Patterns in the GBP/JPY A Reversal Symmetrical Triangle in the AUD/JPY Two Continuation Patterns in GBP/CHF A Triangle and Running Wedge in Sugar An H&S Bottom in Apple Computer A Major Continuation H&S and Symmetrical Triangle in Gold A Series of Bullish Patterns in Copper A Failed Ascending Triangle in the USD/CAD Crossrate A 12-Week Rectangle in the Dow Jones Transport Index A Rare Horn in Brent Sea Oil An H&S Bottom Launches the 2009 Bull Market in the S&Ps Summary Points to Remember CHAPTER 5. How the Factor Trading Plan Works Trade Identification Trade Entry Trade Risk Management Trade Order Management Points to Remember CHAPTER 6. Three Case Studies Using the Factor Trading Plan A Remarkable Technical Event in the Dow Jones A Year Trading Gold A Year Trading Sugar Points to Remember CHAPTER 7. Characteristics of a Successful Trader Intimate Knowledge of Trading Signals Discipline and Patience Analysis of Self and of the Trading Plan It Takes a Leap of Faith Points to Remember PART III: A Five-Month Trading Diary: Let The Journey Begin CHAPTER 8. Month One: December 2009 Trading Record Summary CHAPTER 9. Month Two: January 2010 Identifying Trading Opportunities Amending the Plan Trading Record Summary CHAPTER 10. Month Three: February 2010 Sticking to the Plan in Choppy Markets Trading Record Summary CHAPTER 11. Month Four: March 2010 Trading Record Summary CHAPTER 12. Month Five: April 2010 Relying on Classical Charting Principles Trading Record Outlook for the Future Summary PART IV: The Wrap-Up CHAPTER 13. Analysis of Trading Performance How the Trading Plan Performed How the Plan (and the Trader) Evolved Summary: Best Practices Going Forward CHAPTER 14. The Best Dressed List A Seven-Month Double Bottom in AUD/USD A 14-Month Coil and Nine-Month Descending Triangle in EUR/CHF A Six-Month Wedge in EUR/USD A 16-Week Horn in GBP/USD A Four-Month H&S in Bottom NZD/USD A Six-Month Ascending Triangle Failure in USD/CAD An Eight-Month H&S Bottom in the S&Ps A 14-Month Symmetrical Triangle in Sugar A Seven-Month Triangle in Gold A Series of Continuation Patterns in Copper An H&S Bottom in Crude Oil Summary Postscript APPENDIX A: Factor Trading Plan Signals APPENDIX B: Quick Reference to Charts APPENDIX C: Recommended Resources Author's Note Index Dustwrapper - Rear