February 10th

Three paper-trades, three winners. And, no adding to losers to average a better price so they were "clean" winners. Modest gains, as usual because I tend to run quickly with gains, often at the risk of leaving $ on the table, as I did with the first trade. I had pegged the top of the big move up at the 3:00pm candle and faded it short at the start of the next candle. The short stalled with a small gain... so I covered. Then, the price continued its drop. Feeling cheated by not holding until stop-out, I caught the bottom of the same candle and went long for my second winner. I sold that one near the eventual close price of the candle. A bit later on at 3:30pm, I felt like a long trade was in order so I took it... I was about ten minutes early so it was a small loser for much of the next ten mintues or so. However, it stayed within my hold range so I did not stop it out. I sold near the high of the move and ended for the day.
The market is closed as I write this and I notice that my last exit was a good one, considering how the last couple candles finished on MOS.

February 9th

Most of my day was spent working a large bid for a day-job project but I did take an hour or so at lunch to watch the markets.
I took four practice-trades, three in FAZ and one in ENER. all four were winners for small gains. I haven't much to add to this for analysis. Mostly, I was fading strong moves at opportune times.

February 8th

I had only a few mintues to watch before day-job and other duties called me away from the computer. I happened to catch FAZ in a consolidation area when I signed in... approximately 10:20 am to 10:35 am. I had a sense that it was going to drop so I took a paper-trade short at $21.14 and held nearly all the way through the next candle. Momentum had stalled so I bailed for small gainer. The stock did reverse and go up, reaching as high as $21.19 a few minutes later. At only 5 cents over my entry, this would have been within my stop zone. Had I trusted my instinct and held without the short-term bailout or not prematurely stopped myself out, I was one candle away the front edge of a nice six consecutive red-candle drop. Potential gain of 61 cents on one trade.

Ok, my trading needs work. But, I like the feel I am getting for movement. And, I like that my familiar indicators of direction reversal continue to show themselves.

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I continue to study and learn. Good trading to all.