When Does a Breakdown in Market Correlations Mean Something?
What if something that most traders and investors accept as fact, actually was not true? Read More
Understanding Margins for Futures Trading
Margin is a critical concept for new futures traders to understand. When trading futures, margin is essentially a good-faith deposit required to control a futures contract. In practice, margins are deposits held at clearing to ensure brokers can meet their obligations to their customers and the clearing firm. Margin requirements vary by product, time of day, and market volatility.Read More
Sustainable Investing with E-mini S&P 500 ESG Futures
E-mini S&P 500 ESG futures (ESG) provide futures traders with a more sustainable and environmentally conscious instrument than the traditional E-mini S&P 500. As sustainable investing continues to gain momentum, ESG futures provide traders with an alternative to the E-mini S&P 500 that aligns with their moral values.Read More
Why Should You Keep a Trading Journal?
A trading journal is a document where traders record everything they do during a trading session. This includes strategy, risk management, psychology, and more. Many traders rely on their journal as a “trading roadmap” to help determine the path to reach their trading goals.
Watch this 2-minute video to learn more about keeping a trading journal.
Benefits of Keeping a Trading Journal
– Track Trade Details – Keep a daily trading journal to keep track of the details of your trading experience. It helps to put a focus on post-trade analysis.
– Use Pen & Paper – Use pen and paper when creating your trade journal. Your brain processes information differently when you write things down thus improving understanding and memory retention.
– Track Time – Keep track of the time of day you open and closed your positions. Are you a better trader in the morning or later in the day?
– Review Often – Review your trading journal and see if you can identify your strengths and common mistakes. Reviewing often can also help you avoid repeating mistakes.
– Write Down Observations – Make sure to write down trading observations. For example “was my stop too tight?” or “my pre-open counter trend didn’t work again” can help you refine your strategy.
– Don’t Deviate From Your Plan – Did you deviate from your initial trading plan by moving a stop or profit target mid-stream? If so, why?
There are many great reasons to keep a trading journal and we just covered a few. If you aren’t currently keeping a trading journal, try it out! NinjaTrader even has built-in journal capabilities where traders can simultaneously journal while trading and conducting market analysis.
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This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be viewed as a solicitation or recommendation of any product, service or trading strategy. It includes content from independent persons or companies that are in no manner affiliated with NinjaTrader Group (NTG) or any of its affiliates. The content and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NinjaTrader or any of its affiliates.
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Everyone makes mistakes – it is part of the learning process when it comes to trading or investing. So, let’s talk about four of the most common pitfalls that a lot of new traders tend to make. Thankfully, once a trader is aware of these common mistakes, these pitfalls can be easily avoided and they can move on to a successful trading career. Read More
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What is BTIC?
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