rss

4 Stages ..

Stan Weinstein’s concept of stage analysis as outlined in his excellent book entitled Secrets For Profiting In Bull and Bear Markets.  I decided to read Mr Weinstein’s book and find out what these stages are.  Here is what I discovered:

STAGE 1:  This is the basing area where a stock is losing downside momentum.  Buyers and sellers are starting to move in equilibrium and although the stock is not taking off it is not selling off either.  The buyers are not asking for a discount of the price but are buying what the holders no longer want.  This stage could last weeks to months so there is no need to jump in just yet. 

STAGE 2:  The advancing stage begins when the stock in question starts to break higher from the basing area.  This stage usually has a retest to the break-out area before the real move starts.  There begins here a pattern of higher lows best described as two steps forward and one step back.  These pullbacks provide a good risk/reward opportunity for the astute trader.

STAGE 3:  The top area is stage 3 where the good trending stock finds its eventual end.  The upward advance loses momentum and consolidation sets in.  The mirror image of stage 1 starts to take shape once again.  There are sharp moves and high volume in this stage and it is best to refrain from trading here as the reward/risk ratio is stacked against you.

STAGE 4:  The declining phase is the fourth and final phase as the factor’s that maintained the stock’s previous momentum are no longer present and the sellers step in.  The trader is advised to never go long in this stage or hold on to any winning positions.  It is time to exit. If a downtend begins then you can start to look at shorting the stock for the same reasons you went long: trend and momentum.

The market is really very simple in its design and structure; it is the trader who makes it difficult.  Although not all markets and stocks are text book examples of the four stages, the disciplined trader would be wise to consider whether or not the stages may be playing out in a current position or one being considered.  There may just be a very good reason why both Shannon and Weinstein have best selling books on the same subject.

My 10 Favorite Nicolas Darvas Quotes


My favorite Nicolas Darvas quotes from the book on the subject of:
Discipline:
“I knew now that I had to keep rigidly to the system I had carved out for myself.”
Risk/Reward:
“I was successful in taking larger profits than losses in proportion to the amounts invested.”
Exiting profitable trades:
“I decided to let my stop-loss decide.”(Speaking on when to exit an up trending stock)
Bear Markets
“I also learned to stay out of bear markets unless my individual stocks remain in their boxes or advance.”
Technical Analysis versus Predictions
“I believe in analysis and not forecasting.”
Trading Psychology
“I became over-confident, and that is the most dangerous state of mind anyone can develop in the stock market.”
Risk Management

“I decided never again to risk more money than I could afford to lose without ruining myself.”
Fundamental Analysis

“All a company report and balance sheet can tell you is the past and the present. They cannot tell future.”
Trend Following
“I made up my mind to buy high and sell higher.”
The Market tells its own story best

I accepted everything for what it was-not what I wanted it to be.”

Method-Pyschology-Risk Management for Traders

METHOD:

  1. I am a trend hunter I want a stock that has the potential to move 10-20  points in my favor.
  2. My top pivot points for trades is the 5 day EMA  (3 & 7DEMA for NF )
  3. I play the long side in bull markets primarily and the short side in bear markets primarily.
  4. I go long the top monster stocks in up trending markets.
  5. I never short a monster stock above the 50 day moving average.
  6. I short the biggest  junk stocks in down trends, the ones that are unprofitable and made major missteps with customers and investors.
  7. I like to trade with all time highs or all time lows in stocks with in striking distance.
  8. Moving averages are my best indicators.
  9. I never have targets, I let a trend run until it reverses.
  10. My watch list for longs is the Investor’s Business Daily IBD50.
  11. I use Darvas Boxes at times to trade stocks.

PSYCHOLOGY:

  1. I am not trying to prove anything about myself I am only trying to make money.
  2. I will quickly admit when I am wrong when a stock moves against me enough to show me I am wrong.
  3. I trade my own method, I do not trade others advice.
  4. If I am losing and very unconformable with a trade I get out of it.
  5. I trade position sizes I am mentally comfortable with.
  6. I do not try to predict the future I look for what the chart is telling me.
  7. I trade the chart not my personal opinions.
  8. I am not afraid to chase a trending stock.
  9. I understand that I chose my entries, exits, risk, and position size and the market chooses when I am profitable.
  10. I do not worry about losing money I worry about losing my trading discipline.
  11. I have faith in myself and my method.
  12. I do not blame myself for losses.
  13. I do not blame myself for losses where I followed my rules.

RISK MANAGEMENT:

  1. I attempt to never lose more than X % of my total capital on any one trade.
  2. I NEVER add to a losing trade.
  3. I use trailing stops to get out of winning trades.
  4. I use mental stop losses to get out of losing trades.
  5. I use position size to limit my risk.
  6. I use stock options to limit my risk.
  7. I know my biggest advantage in trading is small losses and big profits.
  8. I never expose more than X % of my capital to risk at any one time.
  9. I understand the market environment I am trading in.
  10. I understand the volatility of the stock I am trading.

Ed Seykota’s Magic Trading System

1: Do not stress about whipsaws – one good trend pays for them all.

A whipsaw is when you enter a stock, but get stopped out quickly.  In a period of whipsaws, this may happen many times.  This can be frustrating to a trader or investor, and it may cause them to change their system.  But the fact is that one good trend will pay for all of these whipsaws, and if you change your system you lose the benefit of that!

2: When you Catch a Trend, ride it to the end.

Your system must be able to jump on a trending stock (for instance, up if you are going long), but then also be able to ride that trend to the end.  Many novice traders will jump out of stocks before they are finished trending because they are scared the market has gone too far.  Let your system tell you when the trend is ending, and only exit once it does.

3: When you show a loss, give the loss a toss.

Every single successful money manager ever interviewed has said something along the lines of: “Cut your losses short”.  Get rid of your losses.  Keep your winners.  And once you have your system don’t second guess it!  Being stopped out is part of the process.

4: We know if our risk is right when we make a lot of money, but can still sleep at night.

Risk is the amount of risk per trade (the price between your entry and your stop loss), and how much your total risk is (regarding how many positions you have open at one time). (more…)

Nicolas Darvas Quotes

Discipline:
“I knew now that I had to keep rigidly to the system I had carved out for myself.”
Risk/Reward:
“I was successful in taking larger profits than losses in proportion to the amounts invested.”
Exiting profitable trades:
“I decided to let my stop-loss decide.”(Speaking on when to exit an up trending stock)
Bear Markets
“I also learned to stay out of bear markets unless my individual stocks remain in their boxes or advance.” (more…)

Go to top