Kara Crawford at kara@traderplanet.comadmin@traderplanet.comhttp://www.traderplanet.com/TraderPlanet.com offers its popular content for commercial syndication via RSS. The feeds include backlinks for the full articles and automatically assign author attribution, which is required. To syndicate these RSS feeds on a commercial Web site, TraderPlanet.com, LLC requires the execution of standard linking agreement. Contact Kara Crawford at kara@traderplanet.com for further details.en-ushttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/128899-why_illiquid_markets_can_be_awesomehttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/128899-why_illiquid_markets_can_be_awesome<p>Here is a perfect example of why you should be trading when others are not:</p> <p><br /></p> <p>On the Wednesday of the first week for 2012, we had a massive rally in the first few hours accompanied by a spike in volume. Perhaps it was funds returning from holiday looking for a home .</p> <p>So why you should be trading when others aren't? Opportunity. Silly thinks happen in those times. The markets are lacking liquidity and that means big moves can happen. The same thing happened at the end of 2010...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/128899-why_illiquid_markets_can_be_awesome'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/624/?a=1067><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/dinapoli.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerWed, 04 Jan 2012 22:38:57 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/124042-rate_cut_probabilitieshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/124042-rate_cut_probabilities<p>When discussing upcoming rate cuts, you'll often hear news services talk of the 'probability' of a cut or what the market has factored in. For the Australian market, here is how to calculate the probability.</p> <p>The cash rate futures trades on the SFE settle at the end of the month at a price that equals the average cash rate for the month. As a simple example, if rates are 5% for half of the month and 4% for the other half, the futures will settle at a price of 95.50 .</p> <p>We can use the current tra...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/124042-rate_cut_probabilities'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/624/?a=1067><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/dinapoli.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerTue, 06 Dec 2011 01:38:34 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/120984-a_path_to_profitabilityhttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/120984-a_path_to_profitability<p>This article is from the most excellent SMB blog:<br /> "<br /> "If I increase my stop then I will start making money."</p> <p>This just might be the single silliest thing I have ever heard a trader say. No "trading is in my genes" is.</p> <p>I will offer a path to profitability to consider. Look there is no one right way to achieve your goal but there are definitely wrong paths. Adding risk when you are losing money is such a path.</p> <p>I was talking to a group of trainees recently about the power potential of building fr...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/120984-a_path_to_profitability'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/744/?a=1072><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/firman.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerThu, 17 Nov 2011 12:42:55 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/120605-the_best_books_for_active_day_tradinghttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/120605-the_best_books_for_active_day_trading<p><strong>Trading From Your Gut by Curtis Faith</strong><br /> A really great book on building your instinct and intuition - a skill that is important in active day trading. <br />Amazon link</p> <p><strong>One Good Trade by Mike Bellafiore</strong><br /> Probably the best book written on trading in recent years. It is an insight into the world of non-algorithmic proprietary trading. A very good read. Amazon link</p> <p><strong>No BS Day Trading</strong><br /> An eBook and video on trading the Tnote and Tbond. Even for those not trading these markets, it's a good insight into moder...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/120605-the_best_books_for_active_day_trading'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/832/?a=1073><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/jobman.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerTue, 15 Nov 2011 18:22:35 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108764-how_can_you_fight_another_dayhttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108764-how_can_you_fight_another_day<p>Guy,</p> <p>Is it common to see day traders having consecutive tough weeks and still find a way to keep coming back ready to fight another day? I think the fear of stopping out and not being able to churn out the profits is taking its toll on me. I was doing good last week but then, this week I just got stopped out one session a day, that’s 4 in a day. Last 3 days it felt easy to come back but today, somehow I just felt so worn out being a bad trader. Would be good if you could share what they do or...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108764-how_can_you_fight_another_day'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/815/?a=1071><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/murphy.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerFri, 02 Sep 2011 00:54:50 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108765-one_way_to_fix_randomly_wrong_tradeshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108765-one_way_to_fix_randomly_wrong_trades<p>Guy,</p> <p>I am having a tough week. This weird cycle I have since many weeks ago keeps happening and I need to break it. Somehow, I will be up early in the day, then mistakes start happening. I have noticed that nothing is different about my psychology, and my thinking , but just randomly wrong. What can I do?</p> <p> </p> <p>[Answer]Ah, the trick to this is NOT thinking those wrong trades will magically one day disappear. It’s all about recognising when you are about to do something not right and stopping your...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108765-one_way_to_fix_randomly_wrong_trades'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/834/?a=1070><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/wyckoff.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerFri, 02 Sep 2011 00:33:03 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108766-25_signs_that_the_financial_world_is_about_to_hit_the_big_red_panic_buttonhttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108766-25_signs_that_the_financial_world_is_about_to_hit_the_big_red_panic_button<p><em>From The Economic Collapse:</em></p><p>The following are 25 signs that the financial world is about to hit the big red panic button….</p><p> </p><p><strong>#1</strong> According to a new study just released by Merrill Lynch, the U.S. economy has an 80% chance of going into another recession.</p><p> </p><p><strong>#2</strong> Will Bank of America be the next Lehman Brothers? Shares of Bank of America have fallen more than 40% over the past couple of months. Even though Warren Buffet recently stepped in with 5 billion dollars, the reality is that the problems for Ban...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/108766-25_signs_that_the_financial_world_is_about_to_hit_the_big_red_panic_button'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/834/?a=1070><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/wyckoff.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerThu, 01 Sep 2011 00:55:00 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/107051-trading_the_obvioushttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/107051-trading_the_obvious<p>Today’s SPI and S&amp;P are great examples of ‘buy rumour sell fact’. Bullish in the morning after pretty much all the press was expecting Yen intervention. Then there was the announcement . The Dollar rallied, SPI didn’t , then the Dollar fell back as it was announced there was no intervention. That’s a negative for stocks and the index just fell for the rest of the day.</p> <p>Have a think about why there would be any more than two trades today:</p> <ol><li>Get long on the gap lower and ride until the announcemen...</li></ol><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/107051-trading_the_obvious'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/624/?a=1067><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/dinapoli.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerMon, 22 Aug 2011 06:08:18 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/104796-q_amp_a_reading_the_markethttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/104796-q_amp_a_reading_the_market<p><strong>Question:</strong> This type of market may make you think a bottom is around the corner and you be lured into buying at the first sign of reversal. How can we avoid taking the wrong signals?<br /></p><p><strong>Answer:</strong><br />Well in any trend, there are always signs of reversals. Assuming there is no obvious sign, no one really knows where a move will stop. It’s a matter of making the best judgement at the time and placing orders in a way where if you are wrong, you do not lose too much.</p><p>Remember that NG trade I got into a while ...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/104796-q_amp_a_reading_the_market'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/834/?a=1070><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/wyckoff.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerFri, 05 Aug 2011 09:24:10 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/103534-30_minutes_on_futureshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/103534-30_minutes_on_futures<p>This 30-minute video provides a basic introduction to futures in easy-to-understand language. It is presented by Dan Gramza, a world-renowned futures industry expert known for his teaching and trading expertise.</p><p><br /></p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/103534-30_minutes_on_futures'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/834/?a=1070><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/wyckoff.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerThu, 28 Jul 2011 00:52:22 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/103535-crude_oil_fundamentalshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/103535-crude_oil_fundamentals<p>For those new to or interested in crude oil trading, here is a short vid from the CME explaining the basics.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/103535-crude_oil_fundamentals'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/744/?a=1072><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/firman.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerThu, 28 Jul 2011 00:45:43 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/97569-q_amp_a_do_you_use_a_synthetic_spread_trading_platform_to_execute_tradeshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/97569-q_amp_a_do_you_use_a_synthetic_spread_trading_platform_to_execute_trades<p>Answer: The short answer is no.<br />Day to day I use CQG Trader for spreads while our dealing room uses XTrader mostly. Both of these systems have a spread creation function. CQG call their system CQG Spreader and the ‘Autospreader’ function on XTrader is comes with the Pro version.</p><p>Note with many of the spreads I look at on the ProTrade site, they are actually exchange traded spreads. Most US calendar spreads for example have their own exchange listing, so instead of legging two markets , you are ...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/97569-q_amp_a_do_you_use_a_synthetic_spread_trading_platform_to_execute_trades'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/834/?a=1070><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/wyckoff.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerMon, 13 Jun 2011 03:11:36 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/97154-q_amp_a_trading_currency_spreadshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/97154-q_amp_a_trading_currency_spreads<p>Question: I was just looking at the spread between September 2011 and March 2012 Canadian Dollar. Is this worth trading?<br />Answer: To be honest, I am not a big fan of currency calendar spreads.</p><p>First of all, volume is low for the deferred contracts. That’s enough reason in itself. March12 has just 414 lots open interest. This means what you see in a spread chart if you just take one minus the other are very unrealistic prices. You see one would be trading while the other isn’t but software still ...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/97154-q_amp_a_trading_currency_spreads'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/815/?a=1071><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/murphy.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerThu, 09 Jun 2011 02:23:22 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/95044-a_simple_spread_in_crude_oilhttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/95044-a_simple_spread_in_crude_oil<p>Here is an interesting pattern in Crude Oil calendar spreads. The recent sell off in Crude was sharp and violent and suggested bear spreads would benefit. Interestingly, bear spread took a long time to react, almost as if it was waiting for the market to hold lower levels before playing catch up.</p><p>Firstly, check out the move in July Crude:</p><p><br /></p><p>And we saw pretty much the same move in Dec Crude:</p><p><br /></p><p>Now for the spread between July and Dec. After the individual contracts fell about $15 in three days, you’d ...</p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/95044-a_simple_spread_in_crude_oil'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/832/?a=1073><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/jobman.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerTue, 24 May 2011 00:38:08 +0000http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/87840-aussie_bills_and_bond_futures_statshttp://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/87840-aussie_bills_and_bond_futures_stats<p>Here are a few screenshots from some training drills we ran we trainees at Propex. They pretty much speak for themselves.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><a href='http://www.traderplanet.com/commentaries/view/87840-aussie_bills_and_bond_futures_stats'>Read More at TraderPlanet.com &#187;</a><p align=center><a href=http://www.traderplanet.com/tradertube/index/815/?a=1071><img src=http://www.traderplanet.com/themes/trader_plain/gfx/murphy.gif border=0 /></a></p> Guy BowerGuy BowerTue, 05 Apr 2011 10:13:10 +0000