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RSSArchive for December, 2011

2 Levels to Watch for GLD

December 12, 2011 at 5:45 pm

GLD is the 2nd-highest capitalized ETF around, only behind SPY.  It’s nearly triple the capitalization of QQQ, just to give you some perspective.  And with such a fixation on the economy (both domestic & global), it’s no shock that the sometimes safe haven of gold has been in the limelight.

Some suggest GLD has topped, and in the near term, they have technical reasons which back that up (lower highs).  But a closer look at the chart reveals a pair of important levels to keep on watch, so that’s what’s covered in this video.

(Direct video link is here for those interested in sharing).

Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.

Trade Like a Bandit!

Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast

Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!

Video Review of the Indexes 12-11-2011

December 11, 2011 at 9:05 pm

Last week proved constructive in that not only did the market gain a little ground, but after seeing an opportunity to pick up speed on the downside the dip-buyers emerged once again.

With intermediate-term higher lows in place, the technical setup is favorable at this point for the bulls, but they’ll have to maintain their edge and make it happen.  Should they produce even a modest lift, we’ll be looking at new recovery highs with ease.

As we head into a brand new week of trading, let’s examine some important levels to keep an eye on in the days ahead. That will have the greatest influence on how individual stocks are going to move, so it’s where the trading week begins.

(Direct video link is here for those interested in sharing).

Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.

Trade Like a Bandit!

Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast

Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!

A Trader’s 5-Step Recovery

December 7, 2011 at 9:03 am

re-cov-er-y (noun) – the regaining of something lost or taken away;  restoration to a former or better condition;  the extraction of useful substances from waste.

Traders have to go through recovery on almost an ongoing basis.  Sometimes it’s from a paper-cut-sized hit to the account, while other times it involves coming back from an amputation of sorts – whether it be a major drawdown to actual or emotional capital.

Either way, without the ability to recover, you’re done.  (Obvious alert: that’s no place to be).

There are steps to recovery which should be taken, and I want to discuss some of them.  By no means is this an exhaustive list, so please add your own in the comments, but here are a few which I think are necessary on the (sometimes long) road back.

Admit it.  Face up to what it is.  Call it a slump, call it shattered confidence, call it a big scary market monster.  Whatever “it” is, you have to get it on the table so you can deal with it.

Seek help.  Maybe you shouldn’t go it alone.  Without some accountability, it’s easy to relapse.  Find a mentor or some coaching to get you back on track, and add some skills to your repertoire.  The fact of the matter is that left to your own abilities as they currently stand, you may very well be facing a similar situation again.

Take inventory.  Take an inventory of what’s left of your capital, both in terms of cash and confidence.  It may be that you simply don’t have enough left to consider a comeback right away, so perhaps you incubate for awhile and prepare in other ways for your eventual return.  Or perhaps you assess your situation and realize you have more than enough to start the process.

Get uncomfortably familiar with the cause.  What was it that put you in need of recovery to begin with?  Overconfidence?  Lack of respect for the market?  A series of small mistakes which compounded your problems?  Understanding the root cause of your wounds, even if painful, will help you prevent it from happening again in the future.  After all, you’ve already paid the tuition, you might as well get the lesson.

Get back in the saddle.  The last step in the sequence is to return to trading and begin rebuilding.  Start thinking about what that’s going to look like for you and how you’ll avoid the same pitfalls which got you this time around.  Visualize yourself back in the routine again, making plays, staying disciplined, and having success.

** What are some steps you think are necessary to begin the healing process following a big trading loss?

Trade Like a Bandit!

Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast

Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!

Video Review of the Indexes 12-4-2011

December 4, 2011 at 4:29 pm

The indexes ripped higher last week after a 7-session streak of declines, trapping overly aggressive bears with some huge opening gaps to the upside.  And given the size of the advance, an intermediate-term higher low may have been established in the process.

As we head into a brand new week of trading, let’s examine some important levels to keep an eye on in the days ahead. That will have the greatest influence on how individual stocks are going to move, so it’s where the trading week begins.

(Direct video link is here for those interested in sharing).

Be sure to view in HD (720P) and full-screen mode for best quality in the video.

Trade Like a Bandit!

Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast

Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!

DFW & North Texas Traders…

December 2, 2011 at 9:51 am

If you’re a DFW trader or are located around the North Texas area, make plans next Friday to see me present live in conjunction with Worden in Dallas!

On both Friday & Saturday (Dec. 9 & 10) at the Worden TC2000 workshop, I’ll be presenting in the afternoon.  It’s at the Doubletree Hotel Dallas near the Galleria (4099 Valley View Lane
Dallas, TX 75244). The workshop starts at 10am and ends at 4pm, and I’d love to see you there either day.

Specifically, I’ll be discussing Preparing Like a Top Trader in Today’s Market. I have a lot of good stuff planned, plus you’ll see the new version 12 of TC2000.

Make plans to be there by pre-registering or just show up (it’s free)!

Trade Like a Bandit!

Jeff White
Producer of The Bandit Broadcast

Follow TheStockBandit on Twitter or get our free newsletter to keep up!