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TableofContents
IntroductionTheEssenceofTradingHowtoFindanEdgeLookforMinimumRiskPointsIsThereaTradingFormula?WhyTradingCannotBeReducedtoSimpleRulesHowtoDevelopCompetenceFirstRequirementofSuccessSecondRequirementofSuccessQuestionstoAskYourself
TradingMethodOutlineWyckoff’sTradeManagementTakeaFreePositionSelectiveDayTradingWaitforWideSwingsDistinguishingPullbacksfromaChangeinTrendOneMan’sMeatPitfallsTheSixthSenseinTradingThePowerofCommitmentThePrinceofFloorTradersKeeneHowSuccessHappensFullTimeLearningfrom
MistakesWhatTradingisNotInertiaManipulationNotaProblemAdvantageOverBigTradersTheTradingObjectiveBefore,During,andAftertheTradeTheIdealWorkEnvironmentHowMoneyisMadeTradingDrivenbyPsychologicalNeedsStartwithMinimumSizeStartRightorNotatAllEnteringattheRightTimeGetOn!
SpecializeWhattoTradeInterdependenceOnBreakEvenTradesExpertAlwaysHaveaStopTrailingStopsHowtoManageanOpenTradeTheImportanceofImmediateTrendStayOutofQuietMarketsStrong,HighMomentumMovesNeverMoveYourStopNeverAverageaLoser
GunforAbsoluteProfitsFourReasonstoCloseaTradeVolumeAsaCrucialIndicatorHowtoEvaluateVolumePriceFactorsEverythingStrengthandVolumeDon’tEnterafterProlongedMovesChancesDecreaseasMoveContinuesDayTradingIsFine,But...TheUseofMarketCyclesinWyckoff’sDayGettingtotheBottomof
ThingsNoOneKnowsHowtoAnticipateBigMovesScalpingDevelopingSubconsciousCompetenceDiscretionaryTradingChartingandHindsightBiasProperUseofChartsWideVisionLocalTrendsvs.GeneralTrendsIdentifyingTrend,Range,Accumulation,andDistributionDiscardAllMechanicalHelps
WatchingOneMarketInsufficientMarketAbsorptionRangeDoesNotMeanReversalDocumentAllTradesProfessionalLossesAreTinyBigSwingsandLargeVolumesWhatisthe‘Best’TradingStyle?TradingAsaProfessionDayTradingvs.SwingTradingCan’tTellHowFarWaitforaBreakout
Re-enterOnaPullbackUseVolumeonBreakoutHowtoMoveYourStopPlayingDominoesNoTrend,NoTradeImpairedTradingTired,Hungry,Horny,orUpsetTheFoundationofStrongTradingPsychologyOneIdeaintoaMethodOnTrading“Teachers”FormingaTradingCharacterConclusion-TheFinalLesson
ExpertTrader:93Trading
LessonsofRichardWyckoff
FrankMarshall
Copyright©2014byFrankMarshallAllrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,withoutwrittenpermissionfromtheauthor,exceptfortheuseofbriefquotationsinareview.
Publisher:MarshallPressFirstedition:2014Byreadingthisbook,youacknowledgethattradingisriskyandyoucouldhavesubstantiallossesthatexceedyourcapitalinvestment.Tradingfinancialinstrumentsprofitablyisverydifficultandisnotforeveryone.Thisisaninformationalbook
andnothingassociatedwithitshouldbeconstruedasspecificadvicetobuyorsell(ornotbuyorsell)anyfinancialinstruments,orbeimpliedasawaytoguaranteeprofitabletrading.Nooneassociatedwithitacceptsanyliabilityforanylossesordamagesrelatingtoanycontentinhere.Anymentionoftradesinfinancial
instrumentsshouldbeassumedtobehypothetical.Werecommendthatyouconsultwithalicensed,qualifiedprofessional,beforemakinganyinvestmentdecisions.Itistheindividual’sresponsibilitytoperformduediligenceinregardstoalltradesandentitieswithwhichyouchoosetodobusiness.
Dedication
ToHermannHesse,
forhelpingmefollowmyvision.
Introduction
AfterwritingTheBestTradingLessonsofJesseLivermore,afriendwhoreadthebookandlikeditasked:“Whydon’tyouwriteasimilarbookaboutWyckoff?”Hehadapoint.RichardWyckoff(1873-1934)wasanimmenselysuccessfultrader(‘stock
operator’)speculatingintheearly1900s.Whatmadehimdifferentwasnotjusthisunprecedentedsuccess,buthisabilitytounderstandandexplainthecomplexnatureofthemarketsinawaythatmadesense.Ifhesawfartherthanothers,itwasbecausehe‘standingontheshouldersofgiants’.WyckoffbuiltontheworkofLivermore,Keene,
Morgan,andotherwealthyspeculators.Fortunately,Wyckoffwasnotstingyinsharinghisinsights.Hehadmuchtosayaboutexperttrading,ashedevotedthelatterpartofhislifetowritingandlecturing.Thepresentvolumesummarizeshisbestlessons.AsaretheinsightsofJesseLivermore,Wyckoff’swisdomis
timeless.WhilereadingandthinkingaboutWyckoff’stradingapproach,onegetsthedistinctimpressionthathewastherealdeal,thathe‘gotit’.Hiswealthconfirmedthat.Wyckoffputmuchemphasison‘tapereading’.Bythat,Wyckoffmeantwhatwemeantodaybywatching‘priceaction’,thefluctuationsofpricesupanddown,
combinedwithpayingattentiontotheorderflow(level2).Incaseyoudonotgettoreadthewholebook,Ihaveputthemostcruciallessonsatthebeginning.HowdidWyckoffoperate?Whatapproachworkedforhim?Howdidhetrade?Whatdoesitmeantobeanexpert?IhavefocussedonWyckoff’s
practicaltradingadviceasopposedhismoretheoreticalviewsthatareoutlinedelsewhere(‘compositeoperator’...etc.).Itishardtoimaginenothavingone’stradingenrichedbypracticalinsightsandtipsofoneofthebesttradersofalltime.FrankMarshall
WestPalmBeach,July2014
OtherBooksbyFrank
Marshall
TheBestTradingLessonsofJesseLivermore-75tradinglessonsfromthegreatestspeculatorofalltime.ContainsthemostcrucialtradinglessonsoftheReminiscencesofaStockOperatorinoneplace,
extractedandlabelledforconvenience,withabriefdiscussionfollowingeachlesson.TradingEssentials:HowtoCutYourLearningCurve-Mosttradersblowtheiraccountandquitindisgust.Itdoesn'thavetobethatway.TradingEssentialsreveals20keylessonsfrommytrading
experience,andgiveshelpfulsuggestionsonwhatittakestosucceedintheultracompetitivefieldoftrading.Regardlesswhetheryoutradestock,forex,bonds,futures,oroptions,youwillfindmanyusefulpointersthatcancutyourlearningcurvesignificantly.
TheEssenceofTrading
“Tradingseemstous:Thescienceofdeterminingfromthetapetheimmediatetrendofprices.Itisjudgingfromwhatappearsonthetapenow,whatislikelytobeshowninfiveminutesormore.Itbearsnorelationtoclairvoyanceandwedonotbelievethatspiritsof
departedfriendscouldbeofassistancetostudents.TapeReadingisrapid-firehorsesense.ItsobjectistodeterminewhetherUnionPacific,whichisnow159,willsellat160before158,orviceversa;tomakedeductionsfromeachsucceedingtransaction—everyshiftofthemarketkaleidoscope;tograspanew
situation,forceitlightning-likethroughtheweighingmachineofthebrain,andtoreachadecisionwhichcanbeacteduponwithcoolnessandprecision—allwithinthespaceofafewseconds.Itisgaugingthemomentarysupplyanddemandinparticularstocksandinthewholemarket,comparingtheforcesbehindeachandtheir
relationship,eachtotheotherandtoall.”Discussion:Wyckoffisclearthattradingisaboutdeterminingthepresenttrendthroughaseriesofdeductions.Deductionmeansreasoningfromparticularstoreachasingleconclusion(suchas‘trendisup’,‘trendisdown’,or‘themarketisin
arange’).Wyckoff’sreferencetoadecisionwindowofonly‘afewseconds’suggeststhathewasadaytrader.
HowtoFindanEdge
“Atraderislikethemanagerofadepartmentstore;intohisofficearepouredhundredsofreportsofsalesmadebythevariousdepartments.Henotesthegeneraltrendofbusiness,whetherdemandisheavyorlightthroughoutthestore,butlendsspecialattentiontothe
linesinwhichdemandisabnormallystrongorweak.Whenhefindsdifficultyinkeepinghisshelvesfullinacertaindepartment,heinstructshisbuyers,andtheyincreasetheirbuyingorders;whencertaingoodsdonotmoveheknowsthereislittledemand(market)forthem,therefore,helowershisprices—offersinducements
topossiblepurchasers.”Discussion:Howdoesonefindanedge?Wyckoffhintsthatspecialattentionmustbepaidtosituationswhereoneormoreelementsare‘abnormallystrongorweak’.Alledgesarebasedonimbalances.Whenthemarketforcesareoutofbalanceandnotin
equilibrium,thereareedgespresent.Recognizingthosetimesiswhatprofitabletradingisallabout.
LookforMinimumRisk
Points
“Themarketisatug-o'-war.Successfultapereadingrequiresabilitytojudgewhichsidehasthegreatestpullingpowerandonemusthavethecouragetogowiththatside.Therearecriticalpointswhichoccurineach
swing,justasinthelifeofabusinessorofanindividual.Atthesejuncturesitseemsasthoughafeather'sweightoneithersidewoulddeterminetheimmediatetrend.Anyonewhocanspotthesepointshaseverythingtowinandlittletolose,forhecanalwaysplaywithastopplacedclosebehindtheturningpointorpointof
resistance.”Discussion:Professionaltradersfocusonminimizingrisk.Oneofthebestwaystodothatistoenterat‘turningpoints’,placingthestopjustbeyondthem.Inpractice,thatmeansenteringpullbacksintrends.Apullbackisaspecialtypeofaturningpoint.Whena
pullbackends,thetrendresumes,offeringalowriskopportunityforentry.WewillseehowWyckofftradedpullbackslater.
IsThereaTrading
Formula?
“Iftradingwereanexactscience,onewouldsimplyhavetoassemblethefactors,carryouttheoperationsindicated,andtradeaccordingly.Butthefactorsinfluencingthemarketareinfiniteintheirnumberand
character,aswellasintheireffectuponthemarket,andtoattempttheconstructionofatradingformulawouldseemtobefutile.However,somethingofthekind(intherough)maydevelopasweprogressinthisinvestigation,soletuspreserveopenminds.”Discussion:Wyckoffdidnot
feelthattradingcanbereducedtoanexactformula,duetothefactthattherearesimplytoomanyvariablestoconsider(‘infiniteintheirnumber’isanexaggerationonhispart,butgetsthepointacross).Hedoessay,however,thatsometradingguidelinesshouldbeinplace.Tradingdoesnothavetobewholly
mechanicalordiscretionary.Wyckoffaimedforbalance,butputmoreemphasisonthediscretionaryapproach.
WhyTradingCannotBe
ReducedtoSimpleRules
“Butrealtradingtakeseverythingintoaccount—everylittlecharacterwhichappearsonthetapeplaysitspartinformingoneoftheendlessseriesof‘movingpictures.’Inmanyyears'studyofthetape,Idonot
rememberhavingseentwoofthese‘pictures’whichwereduplicates.Onecanrealizefromthishowimpossibleitwouldbetoformulateasimplesetofrulestofiteverycaseoreventhemajorityofthem,aseachday'ssessionproduceshundredsofsituations,which,sofarasmemoryserves,areneverrepeated.
Thesubjectoftradingisthereforepracticallyinexhaustible,whichmakesitallthemoreinterestingtothemanwhohasacquiredthe‘studyhabit.’"Discussion:Nosituationrepeatsitselfexactly.Sowhenyoucreateasimplesetofrulesbasedonthepast,theyarelikelynottofitfuture
situations.Wyckoffdoesnotrecallamarketsituationeverrepeating100%.Therearealwaysnewsubtletiesandnuances.Themarketevolves.Everydayisnew.Thisisthestrengthofadiscretionaryapproach.Purelymechanicalsystemcannottakethatintoaccountwithalimitedsetofsimplerules.Wyckoffhadgreatrespectfor
thecomplexityofthemarkets,andhistradingapproachreflectedthat.
HowtoDevelop
Competence
“Atraderabsorbsinformationandfollowsadefiniteandthoroughlytestedplan,whichaftermonthsandyearsofpracticebecomessecondnaturetohim.Hismindformshabitswhichoperateautomatically
inguidinghismarketventures.Nointelligenthumanneedbetoldthatwhentheskydarkensandthethunderrollsthere'slikelytobeashower.Heunconsciouslynotesthepreliminarysigns,donsaraincoatandtakesanumbrella.Longpracticewillmakethetraderjustasproficientin
forecastingstockmarketevents,buthisintuitionwillbereinforcedbylogic,reason,andanalysis.”Discussion:Ifthereisnoexactwinningformula,howissuccesspossible?Wyckoffoutlineshisrecipefordevelopingcompetence:
Information+Plan+
Experience+Analysis=Expertise
Withoutinformation,yourtradingisblind.Withoutplan,yourtradingisinconsistent.Withoutexperience,yourtradinghasnoedge.Withoutanalysis,yourtradingislost.
Missanycomponentandyourtradingwillbeineffective.
FirstRequirementof
Success
“First,hemustbeabsolutelyself-reliant.Adependentpersonwhosejudgementhangsuponthatofotherswillfindhimselfswayedbyathousandoutsideinfluences.Atcriticalpointshisjudgementwillbeuseless.He
mustbeabletosay:‘Thefactsare—;theresultingindicationsare—;thereforeIwilldosoandso.’”Discussion:Absoluteself-reliancemeansdoingone’sownthinking,basedonfacts(price/orderflow).Itisgoodtobeamemberofatradingcommunity,butultimatelyonemustthinkforoneself
andmakeone’sowntradingdecisions.Nobodycanholdyourhand.Tradingisanindependentendeavor.
SecondRequirementof
Success
“Nexthemustbefamiliarwiththetechnicalitiesofthemarket,sothateverylittleincidentaffectingpriceswillbegivendueweight.Heshouldknowthehistory,earningsandfinancialconditionofthecompaniesin
whosestockheistrading;thewaysofthemanipulators;thedifferentkindsofmarkets;beabletomeasuretheeffectofnewsandrumors;knowwhenandinwhatstocksitisbesttotrade;measuretheforcesbehindthem;knowwhentocutalossandtakeaprofit.Hemuststudythevariousswingsandknowwherethemarketandhis
stockstand;mustrecognizetheinherentweaknessorstrengthofthemarket;understandthebasisorlogicofmovements.Heshouldstudythefundamentalsandsiftthewheatfromthechaff;recognizetheturningpointsofthemarket;seeinhismind'seyewhatishappeningonthefloor.Hemusthavethenervetostand
aseriesoflosses;persistencetokeephimattheworkduringadverseperiods;self-controltoavoidovertradingandaphlegmaticdispositiontobalancehimatalltimes.”Discussion:Thereissomuchtomasterasatrader.Wyckoffsummarizesmanytechnicalandpsychologicalaspects.Tradingisacomplex
taskthatrequiresadevelopmentofmasteryinnumerousareas.NoticeWyckoffdoesnotsaythat‘tradingissimple’,asispopularnowadayswithmanytradingcoachesandauthors.Thereisnoideaof“findagoodsetup,tradeit,andbecomeamillionaire.”Ifonly.
QuestionstoAskYourself
“Successisonlyforthefew,andtheproblemistoascertain,withtheminimumexpenditureoftimeandmoney,whetheryouarefittedforthework.These,inanutshell,arethevitalquestions:1.Doyouhavetechnicalknowledgeofthemarketand
thefactorswhichmoveit?2.Doyouhavesufficientcapitalwhichyoucanaffordtoloseinanefforttodemonstrateyourtradingability?3.Canyoudevoteyourentiretimeandattentiontothestudyandthepracticeofthisscience?4.Areyousofixedfinanciallythatyouarenotdependent
uponyourpossibleprofits,andsothatyouwillnotsufferifnoneareforthcomingnoworlater?”Discussion:Wyckoffbidsyoutotask:areyourtechnicalskills,capital,commitment,andfinancialstabilityuptopar?Noticethelastquestionimpliesthatatradermustbe
okwithfailure.IsWyckoffbeingnegative?Notatall.Youmustbeokwithlosingmoney,otherwiseyouwon’tbeabletomanageyouropenpositionsproperly.Thequestionalsosuggestsdetachmentfromprofits.Tradingiseasierwhenitisnotmoneyfocussed.Theprofessionalisfocussedondoingtherightthing.Money
takescareofitself.Itisnottheimmediategoal,buttheoutcomeofgoodtrading.
TradingMethodOutline
“Thisisonegreatadvantagethetraderhasoverotheroperatorswhodonotemploymarketscience.Byaprocessofeliminationhedecideswhichsideofthemarketandwhichstockaffordsthebestopportunity.Heeithergetsinattheinceptionofamovementorwaitsforthe
firstreactionafterthemovehasstarted.Heknowsjustaboutwherehisstockwillcomeonthereactionandjudgesbythewayitthenactswhetherhisfirstimpressionisconfirmedornullified.Afterhegetsinitmustcomeuptoexpectationsorheshouldabandonthetrade.Ifitisabullmove,thevolumemustincreaseandtherestof
themarketoffersomesupportoratleastnotopposeit.Thereactionsmustshowasmallervolumethantheadvances,indicatinglightpressure,andeachupwardswingmustbeoflongerdurationandreachanewhighlevel,oritwillmeanthattherisehasspentitsforceeithertemporarilyorfinally.”
Discussion:Wyckoffoutlinestheessentialsofhistradingmethodhere.Thecomponentsare:1.Enteronabreakoutorapullback.2.Keepthetradeonifitismeetingtheexpectations.3.Lookforincreasingvolumewhenit’salongtrade.4.Lookforlightvolumeon
reactions.Allfouraresolidideas,thathavestoodthetestoftime.
Wyckoff’sTrade
Management
“IbuyandsellwhenIgetmyindications.IngoingintoatradeIdonotknowwhetheritwillshowaprofitoraloss,orhowmuch.ItrytotradeatapointwhereIcansecureprotectionwithastop...sothatmyriskis
limited.IfthetradegoesinmyfavorIpushthestopupassoonaspossible,toapointwheretherecanbenoloss.Idonotletprofitsrunblindlybutonlysolongasthereappearsnoindicationonwhichtoclose.Nomatterwheremystoporderstands,Iamalwaysonthewatchfordangersignals.SometimesI
getthemwayinadvanceofthetimeatradeshouldbeclosed;inotherinstancesmy‘getout’willflashontothetapeassuddenlyandasclearlydefinedasastreakoflightningagainstablacksky.Whenthetapesays‘getout’IneverstoptoreckonhowmuchprofitorlossIhaveorwhetherIamaheadorbehindontheday.Istriveforan
increasingaverageprofitbutIdonotkeepmyeyesomuchonthefractionsorpointsmadeorlost,somuchasonmyself.”Discussion:Wyckoffoutlinestheprinciplesofhistrademanagement.Thereadingoforderflowasasignaltogetoutisworthnoting.Mosttraderstodaydonotbother
withorderflow(level2),asitseemstobetoomuchwork.Toaprofessional,thereisnosuchthingas‘toomuchwork’ifithelpshim.Therearegreatrewardsatstake.Whenthestakesarehigh,itiscrucialtogeteveryadvantage.
TakeaFreePosition
“Mystopwasmoveddownsotherecouldn'tbealoss,andsoonaslightrallyandanotherbreakgavemeanewstopwhichinsuredaprofit,comewhatmight...Istronglyadvocatethismethodofprofitinsuring.Thescientificeliminationoflossisoneofthemostimportant
factorsintheart,andtheoperatorwhofailstoproperlyprotecthispaperprofitswillfindthatmanyapointwhichhethoughthehadcinchedhasslippedawayfromhim.Whenyoupushastopclosebehindariseoradecline,youleavethewayopenforafurtherprofit;butwhenyouclosethetradeofyourown
volition,youshutoffallsuchchances.Thiswholeplanofusingstopsisasortofsqueezingoutthelastdropofprofitfromeachtradeandneverlosinganypartthatcanpossiblyberetained.”Discussion:Wyckoffwouldtakeafreepositionusingswinglowsandhighsasthe
tradewentinhisfavor.Heneverusedfixedtargetswithinflexibleprofit/lossratios.Hegunnedforabsolutereturns.
SelectiveDayTrading
“Manyopportunitiesforprofitdevelopfromeachday'smovements;onlytheverychoicestshouldbeactedupon.Thereshouldbenohaste.Themarketwillbetheretomorrowincasetoday'sopportunitiesdonotmeetrequirements.”
Discussion:Wyckoffwasadaytrader,butaselectiveoneatthat.Youdon’thavetotakeeverysignalyousee.Ifyouthinkoftradingasplayingpoker,imaginehavingtheabilitytoplayonlyifyouhavetheaces.Mosttradersdonottakeenoughadvantageofselectivity.
WaitforWideSwings
“Theremustbewideswingsifprofitsaretoexceedlosses,andthethingtodois,waitforgoodopportunities.‘Themarketisalwayswithus’isanoldandatruesaying.Wearenotcompelledtotradeandresultsdonotdependonhowoftenwetrade,butonhowmuchmoneywemake.”
Discussion:Itisagoodreminderthatthemarketisnotgoinganywhere.Itwillstillbeheretomorrow.Thereisnoneedtopushactionwherethereisn’tany.
DistinguishingPullbacks
fromaChangeinTrend
“...oneofthefinestpointsintheartoftradingisthatofdistinguishingapullbackfromachangeintrend.Agoodwaytodothissuccessfullyistofigurewhereastockisduetocomeafteritmakesanupturn,
allowingthatanormalpullbackisfromone-halftotwo-thirdsofthedecline.Thatis,whenastockdeclinestwoandahalfpointswecanlookforatleastapointandaquarterrallyunlessthepressureisstillon.Incasethedeclineisnotover,therallywillfallshort.”Discussion:Wyckoff’srule
fora‘normal’pullbackisaretracementof50%to66%.Thisruleworksquitewelleventoday.Lookatthechartofyourfavoriteinstrument.Howdeeparenormalpullbacks?
OneMan’sMeat
“Theresultswhichareattainabledependsolelyupontheindividual.Eachmustworkouthisownmethodoftrading,basedonsuggestionsderivedfromthesestudiesorfromothersources.Itwilldoubtlessbefoundthatwhatisoneman'smeatisanother'spoison,and
thatnoamountofbooklearningwillavailifthestudentdoesnotputhisknowledgetoanactualtestinthemarket.”Discussion:Findyourownway.Youcannottradesomebodyelse’ssystem.Ithastobeyourown.
Pitfalls
“Anxietytomakearecord,toavoidlosses,tosecureacertainprofitforthedayorperiodwillgreatlywarpthejudgement,andleadtoalowpercentageofprofits.Tradingisagooddeallikelayingeggs.Ifthehenisnotlefttopickupthenecessaryfoodsandretireinpeaceto
hernest,shewillnotproduceproperly.Ifsheisworriedbydogsandsmallboys,ortriestolayseveneggsoutofmaterialforsix,thenetproceedsmaylooklikeanomelet.Thetrader’sprofitsshoulddevelopnaturally.Heshouldbuyorsellbecauseitisthethingtodo—notbecausehewantstomakeaprofitor
fearstomakealoss.”Discussion:Oneofthemostcommonproblemsdaytradersfacepsychologicallyiswantingtobookawinningday,everyday.Ofcourse,thatisalosingproposition,asthemarketsimplydoesnotgiveyouopportunitiestomakemoneyeverysingleday.
TheSixthSenseinTrading
“Bypropermentalequipmentwedonotmeanthemereabilitytotakealoss,definethetrend,ortoexecutesomeothermovecharacteristicoftheprofessionaltrader.Werefertotheactiveordormantqualitiesinhismake-up.Thepowertodrillhimselfintotherightmentalattitude;to
stiflehisemotion,fear,anxiety,elation,recklessness,totrainhismindintoobediencesothatitrecognizesbutonemaster—thetape—these,ifpossessed,wouldbeasvaluableinshapingtheresultasnaturalability,orwhatiscalledthesixthsenseintrading.”
Discussion:Wyckoffequatesthe‘sixth’senseintradingwiththeabilitytomasterone’sinternalworldinsuchawaythatalltradingisdeterminedstrictlybytechnicalconsiderations.Itamountstomasteryofthetechnicalsideaswellascontrolofoneself.
ThePowerofCommitment
“Somepeoplearebornmusicians,othersseeminglyvoidofmusicaltaste,developthemselvesintovirtuosos.ItistheamountofIWILLinamanwhichmakeshimmediocreorpre-eminent—inWallStreetparlance,aduborabigtrader.”
Discussion:Themostpowerfulfactorinachievingsuccessiscommitment.Talentisnotnearlyenough.
ThePrinceofFloorTraders
“Thosewhoknew‘Jakey’whenhebeganhisWallStreetcareer,wereimpressedbyhisabilitytoreadthetape,andfollowthetrend.Histalentforthisworkwasdoubtlessborninhim;timeandexperiencehaveintensifiedituntilnowheisconsideredbythemajorityof
hisfellows,thePrinceofFloorTraders.”Discussion:Wyckoffisdescribingoneofthebesttradersheknew.Thethreequalitiesheadmiresinthismanarereadingpriceaction(‘tape’),followingthetrend,andexperience.
Keene
“WhateverlaurelsMr.Keenehaswonasanoperatororsyndicatemanager,donotdetractfromhisreputationasatrader.Hisscrutinyofthetapeissointensethatheappearstobeinatrancewhilehismentalprocessesarebeingworkedout.Heseemstoanalyzeprices,
volumes,andfluctuationsdowntothefinestimaginablepoint,thentelephonestothefloortoascertainthecharacterofthebuyingorsellingincertainactivestocks.Withthisauxiliaryinformationhecompleteshisjudgementandmakeshiscommitments.Mr.Keenestandsto-dayonthepinnacleoffameasa
trader,andhisdailypresenceatthetickerissufficientevidencethattheworkpaysandpayswell.”Discussion:JamesR.Keene(1838-1913)wasashrewdspeculatorwhomanagedfundsforbothMorganandRockefeller.AdmiredbothbyWyckoffandLivermore,Keenewasindeedasharp
studentofthemarketsandpriceaction.Wyckoffespeciallyadmiredhisclosescrutinyofpriceactionandunderstandingofvolume.
HowSuccessHappens
“Successinthisfieldusuallyresultsfromyearsofpainstakingeffortandabsoluteconcentrationuponthesubject.Itrequiresthatonedevotehiswholetimeandattentiontothetape.Heshouldhavenootherbusinessorprofession.‘Amancannotservetwo
masters,’andthetapeisatyrant.”Discussion:Wyckoffiteratesthatsuccessisamatterofmakingamajorcommitment,tothepointwhereitbecomesone’schiefoccupation.Hedoesnotfeelthattakingpartialinterestwillleadtosuccess.
FullTimeLearningfrom
Mistakes
“Onecannotbecomeatraderbygivingthetickerabsenttreatment;norbyrunningintohisbroker'sofficeafterlunch,orseeing‘howthemarketclosed’fromhiseveningnewspaper.Hecannotstudythisartfromthe
farendofatelegraphortelephonewire.Heshouldspendtwenty-sevenhoursaweekattheticker,andmanymorehoursawayfromitstudyinghismistakesandfindingthe‘why’ofhislosses.”Discussion:One’smistakesprovidethebestlearningopportunities.Everytrade
shouldbefollowedbya‘postmortem’session,adissectionofwhatwentwrongifthetradewasaloser.Curiously,Wyckoffdoesnotmentionstudyingone’swinners.Winningtakescareofitself;itislosingthatmustbelearnedfrom.
WhatTradingisNot
“Tradingisnotmerelylookingatthetapetoascertainhowpricesarerunning.Itisnotreadingthenewsandthenbuyingorselling‘ifthestockactsright.’Itisnottradingontips,opinions,orinformation.Itisnotbuying‘becausetheyaregoingup,’orselling
‘becausetheylookweak.’Itisnottradingonchartindicationsorbyothermechanicalmethods.Itisnot‘buyingondipsandsellingonbulges.’Norisitanyofthehundredotherfoolishthingspractisedbythemillionsofpeoplewithoutmethod,forethought,orcalculation.”
Discussion:Tolearnwhatsomethingis,itisgoodtoknowwhatitisnot.Tradingrequiresatestedmethodandcarefulthought.Itisnotamatterofactingonawhimoranimpulse.
Inertia
“Themarketislikeaslowlyrevolvingwheel.Whetherthewheelwillcontinuetorevolveinthesamedirection,standstillorreversedependsentirelyupontheforceswhichcomeincontactwithitshubandtread.Evenwhenthecontactisbroken,andnothingremainstoaffectits
course,thewheelretainsacertainimpulsefromthemostrecentdominatingforce,andrevolvesuntilitcomestoastandstillorissubjectedtootherinfluences.”Discussion:Themarkethasatendencytokeepdoingwhatithasdoingrecently,unlessotherthingsinterfere.Thisis
anoldandanimportantprincipleofspeculation.
ManipulationNota
Problem
“Theelementofmanipulationneednotdiscourageanyone.Manipulatorsaregianttraders,wearingseven-leaguedboots.Thetrainedearcandetectthesteady‘clump,clump,’astheyprogress,andthefootprints
arerecognizedinenormousquantitiesofstockappearingonthetape.Littlefellowsareatlibertytotiptoewhereverthefootprintslead,buttheymustbewarythatthegiantsdonotturnquicklyandcrushthem.”Discussion:Intoday’sageofHFT(HighFrequencyTrading),co-location,and
flashcrashes,manytradersworryaboutmanipulation.Butmanipulationwasalwayspresent,eveninWyckoff’sday.Anditisvolumethatrevealsit.Nothingcanhidehugevolumes,whichshowsthatbigtradershavesprungtoaction.Payattentiontovolumepatterns.
AdvantageOverBig
Traders
“Thetraderhasmanyadvantagesoverthelongswingoperator.Heneverventuresfarfromshore;thatis,heplayswithaclosestop,neverlayinghimselfopentoalargeloss.Accidentsorcatastrophescannotseriously
injurehimbecausehecanreversehispositioninaninstant,andfollowthenew-formedstreamfromsourcetomouth.Ashispositiononeitherthelongorshortsideisconfirmedandemphasized,heincreaseshisline,thusfollowingupandcumulatingtheadvantagegained.”Discussion:Wyckoffpoints
outtheadvantagesoftradingona‘shoestring’.Itiseasytogetoutofapositionwhentradingsmall.Largetraderssimplydonothavethisoptionastheirtradingmovesthemarket.
TheTradingObjective
“Thisistheobjectivepointofthetrader—tomakeanaverageprofit.Inamonth'soperationshemaymake$3,500andlose$3,000—anetprofitof$500toshowforhiswork.Ifhecankeepthisaverageup,tradingin100-sharelots,throughoutayear,hehasonlytoincreasehis
unitto200,300,and500sharesormore,andtheresultswillbetremendous.”Discussion:Tradesmallandbepatient.Ifyoucanwinwithconsistency,youcanincreaseyourtradingsize.
Before,During,andAfter
theTrade
“Thetraderevolveshimselfintoanautomatonwhichtakesnoteofasituation,weighsit,decidesuponacourseandgivesanorder.Thereisnoquickeningofthepulse,nonerves,nohopesorfears.Theresultproduces
neitherelationnordepression.Thereisequanimitybefore,during,andafterthetrade.”Discussion:Emotionalstateofatradershouldnotfluctuate.Tradingdecisionsaretobemaderationallyandnoemotionalityshouldbepresentatanytime.
TheIdealWork
Environment
“Forperfectconcentrationasaprotectionfromthetips,gossipandotherinfluenceswhichaboundinabroker'soffice,heshould,ifpossible,secludehimself.Atinyroomwithaticker,adeskandprivatetelephoneconnection
withhisbroker'sofficeareallthefacilitiesrequired.Theworkrequiressuchdelicatebalanceofthefacultiesthattheslightestinfluenceeitherwaymaythrowtheresultagainstthetrader.Hemaysay:‘Nothinginfluencesme,’butunconsciouslyitdoesaffecthisjudgementtoknowthatanothermanisbearishatapointwherehethinksstocks
shouldbebought.Themerethought,"Hemayberight,"hasadeterringinfluenceuponhim;hehesitate;theopportunityislost.Nomatterhowthemarketgoesfromthatpoint,hehasmissedacogandhismentalmachineryisthrownoutofgear.Silenceisamuchneededlubricanttothetrader'smind.The
advisabilityofhavingevenanewstickerintheroom,isasubjectfordiscussion.Thetapetellsthepresentandfutureofthemarket.”Discussion:Tradingdecisionsaredelicate,andthusrequiretheproperenvironment.Eliminatedistractions.Wyckoffrecommendedsilenceastheidealwork
environment.Intoday’scontext,thatwouldmeannotjustquietinyourtradingroom,butalsonocontactwiththeothersviaemail,facebook...etc.Whenyoutrade,justtrade.Bepresentandmindfultoeverythingthatistakingplaceinfrontofyou.
HowMoneyisMade
“Moneyismadeintradingbyanticipatingwhatiscoming—notbywaitingtillithappensandgoingwiththecrowd.”Discussion:Goingwiththecrowdoftenmeansenteringtoolate.Agoodtraderseesthemove
asitisstarting,havinganticipateditinhisanalysis.Thatusuallymeansenteringonthebreakout,orthefirstpullback.
TradingDrivenby
PsychologicalNeeds
“Thetraderofslightexperiencesuffersmentalanguishifthestockdoesnotinstantlygohisway;heisafraidofalargeloss,hencehisjudgementbecomeswarped,andheclosesthetradeinordertosecure
mentalrelief.Astheseareallsymptomsofinexperience,theycannotbeovercomebyavoidingtheissue.Thebraveandthebusiness-likethingtodoistowaderightintothegameandlearntoplayitunderconditionswhicharetobemetandconqueredbeforesuccesscanbeattained.”Discussion:Howmany
tradingdecisionsdoyoumakeinordertosecurementalrelief(‘tofeelbetter’)?Wyckoffgivesanexampleofatraderclosinghispositioninordertoexperienceamorecomfortablepsychologicalstate.Ofcourse,itdoesnothavetobeanexit.Sometradersenterinordertorelieveaninnertension.
Needlesslytosay,tradingtomakeoneselfcomfortableisthewrongandtheexpensivethingtodo.Itisgoodideatoseewhichofyourtradingdecisionsarebasedpurelyonunmetpsychologicalneeds.
StartwithMinimumSize
“Afteracompleteabsorptionofeveryavailablepieceofeducationalwritingbearingupontrading,itisbesttocommencetradingintensharelots,soastoacquiregenuinetradingexperience.Thismaynotsuitsomepeoplewithapropensityforgambling,wholookuponthe
ten-sharetraderasapiker.Theaveragelambwith$10,000wantstocommencewith100to500-sharelots—hewishestostartatthetopandworkdown.Itisonlyaquestionoftimewhenhewillhavetotradeinten-sharelots.Tousitseemsbettertostartatthebottomwithtenshares.Thereisplentyoftimein
whichtoincreasetheunitifyouaresuccessful.Ifsuccessisnoteventuallyrealizedyouwillbemanydollarsbetteroffforhavingventuredtheminimumquantity...Thinkofababy,justlearningtowalk,beingenteredinaracewithprofessionalsprinters!“Discussion:Thereisnorushtotradebig,ifyouarejust
startingout.Proveyourselfbytradingsmallfirst.Youcanalwaysscalebiglater,afteryouhavedemonstratedyouredgeandexpertise.
StartRightorNotatAll
“Tradingishardwork,hencethosewhoarementallylazyneednotapply.Norshouldanyonetowhomitwillmeanworryastowherehisbreadandbutteriscomingfrom.Money-worryisnotconducivetoclear-headedness.Over-anxiety
upsetstheequilibriumofatradermorethananythingelse.Soifyoucannotaffordthetimeandmoney,andhavenotthenecessarysupplyofpatience,betterwait.Startrightornotatall.”Discussion:Itisanoldsayingthatscaredmoneyloses.Youcannotbeconcernedabout
moneyandactinanobjective,detachedway.Greedcloudsyourjudgementandmakesyourtradingweakandhesitantwhenitneedstobestronganddecisive.Itishardtodotherightthingwhenyouarethinkingaboutmoney.
EnteringattheRightTime
“Forthetraderthereisapsychologicalmomentwhenhemustopenorclosehistrade.Hisordersmustthereforebe‘atthemarket.’Hagglingoverfractionswillmakehimlosethethreadofthetape,upsethispoiseandinterrupttheworkingsofhismentalmachinery.”
Discussion:Wyckoffbelievedinenteringatthemarket(‘jumpingin’)attherightmoment.Enteryourpositionwhenyourconvictionhasreacheditsapex.
GetOn!
“...asthetradergenerallygoeswiththetrenditisacaseof‘getonorgetleft.’Byallmeans‘geton.’”Discussion:Wyckoffbelievedinenteringtrendswhentheybegin.Thoughsometimeshewaitedforpullbacks,healsotraded
breakoutswhenhefelttheevidencewassufficienttopullthetrigger.
Specialize
“Itisbetterforatradertotradeinonestockthantwoormore.Stockshavehabitsandcharacteristicswhichareasdistinctasthoseofhumanbeingsoranimals.Byaclosestudythetraderbecomesintimatelyacquaintedwiththesehabitsandisabletoanticipatethestock'saction
undergivencircumstances.Astockmaybestubborn,sensitive,irresponsive,complaisant,aggressive;itmaydominatethetapeortrailalongbehindtherest;itiswhimsicalandcoquettish;itmaywhisper,babblelikeabrookorroarlikeacataract.Itsmoodsmustbestudiedifyouwouldknowitandbendittoyourwill.
Studyimpliesconcentration.Apersonwhotradesinadozenstocksatatimecannotconcentrateonone...Bettertoconcentrateononeortwostocksandstudythemexhaustively.Youwillfindthatwhatappliestoonedoesnotalwaysfittheother:eachmustbejudgedonitsownmerits.Thevaryingpricelevels,volumes,percentageof
floatingsupply,investmentvalues,themanipulationandotherfactors,alltendtoproduceadifferentcombinationineachparticularcase.”Discussion:Specializeinwhatyoutrade.Itisbettertobeamasterofoneinstrumentthanajackofall.
WhattoTrade
“Thetradermustendeavortooperateinthatstockwhichcombinesthewidestswingswiththebroadestmarket;hemaythereforefrequentlyfindittohisadvantagetoswitchtemporarilyintootherissueswhichseemtoofferthequickestandsurestprofits.It
isnecessaryforustobecomefamiliarwiththecharacteristicsoftheprincipalspeculativemediumsthatwemayjudgetheiradvantagesinthisrespect,aswellastheirweightandbearinguponagivenmarketsituation.”Discussion:By‘widestswings’,Wyckoffmeant
tradingwhatmoves.Ifitdoesn’tmove,youcannotmakemoney.Thisprincipleisiteratedbyallgreattraders.
Interdependence
“Thevariousstocksinthemarketarelikeagiganticfleetofboats,allhitchedtogetherandbeingtowedbythetugs‘MoneySituation,’and‘BusinessConditions’...Theleadersarefirsttofeeltheimpulse;theothersfollowinturn.Shouldthetugshalt,thefleetwillrunalongfor
awhileunderitsownmomentum,andtherewillbeacertainamountofbumping,backingandfilling.Incasethedirectionofthetugsischangedabruptly,thebumpingisapttobesevere.Obviously,thoseintherearcannotgainandholdtheleadershipwithoutanall-aroundre-adjustment."
Discussion:Instrumentsmoveintandem.Thisistrueforstocks,buttherearealsostrongcorrelationsbetweendifferentmarketsandtheinstrumentswithineachmarket.Thenatureofthebeastisinterdependence.
OnBreakEvenTrades
“...thetrader'sproblemisnotonlytoeliminatelosses,buttocoverhisexpensesasquicklyasmaybe.Ifhehasacoupleofpointsprofitinalongtrade,thereisnoreasonwhyheshouldletthestockrunbackbelowhisnetbuyingprice.Herecircumstancesseemtocallforastoporder,
sothatnomatterwhathappens,hewillnotbecompelledtopayoutmoney.Thisstopshouldnotbethrustinwhennetcostistooclosetothemarketprice.Reactionsmustbeallowedfor.”Discussion:Wyckoffstronglybelievedintakingafreeposition,oncethemarkethas
movedadistancethatallowedforareaction.
Expert
“Atraderisessentiallyonewhofollowstheimmediatetrend.Anexpertcanreadilydistinguishbetweenachangeoftrendandareaction.Whenhismentalbarometerindicatesachangehedoesnotwaitforastopordertobehit,butcleanshouseorreverseshisposition
inatwinkling.Thestoporderatnetcostis,therefore,ofadvantageonlyincaseofareversalwhichissudden,pronounced,andwithnoforewarning.”Discussion:Oneofthehardestthingsintradingistellingthedifferencebetweenareactionandachangeoftrend.Indeed,inWyckoff’s
thinking,thatiswhatdistinguishesanexpertfromtherest.Spottingachangeoftrend,anexpertdoesnotwaitforhisstoptobehit.Heclosestheposition,possiblyreversingit.Thusabreakevenstopisusefultoanexpertonlyincasesofsuddenorunexpectedmarketmoves(‘spikes’).
AlwaysHaveaStop
“Iknowatraderwhooncebought500sharesofSugarandthenwentouttolunch.Hepaid25centsforwhatheate,butonreturningtothetapehefoundthetotalcostofthatlunchwas$5,000.25.Hehadleftnostoporder,Sugarwasdowntenpoints...”
Discussion:Wyckoffbelievedinalwayshavingastop.Withoutastop,youexposeyourselftothepossibilityofmakinganinfiniteloss.Notagoodideaforyouraccount.
TrailingStops
“Acloserstopmaybeobtainedbynotingthe‘pointsofresistance’—thelevelsatwhichthemarketturnsafterareaction.Forexample,ifyouareshortat130andthestockbreaksto128,ralliesto129,andthenturnsdownagain,thepointofresistanceis129.Incaseoftemporaryabsence
orinterruptiontotheservice,agoodstopwouldbeabove129.Iftheoperatorwishestouseanautomaticstop,averygoodmethodisthis:Supposetheinitialtradeismadewithaone-pointstop.Foreveryoneeightthestockmovesinyourfavor,changethestoptocorrespond,sothatthestopisnevermorenorlessthanone
pointawayfromtheextrememarketprice.Thisgraduallyandautomaticallyreducestherisk,andifthetraderbeatallskilful,hisprofitsmustexceedlosses.Assoonasthestopisthusraisedtocovercommissions,itwouldseembestnottomakeitautomaticthereafter,butletthemarketdevelopitsownstoporsignaltogetout.”
Discussion:Wyckoffusedtrailingstops.Heindicatesthatanautomatictrailingstopwasacceptableuntilyoutakeafreeposition.Afterthat,itisagoodideatoallowthemarkettodeterminewheretoplacethetrailingstop,accordingtorecentswinghighsorlows.
HowtoManageanOpen
Trade
“Fear,hesitation,anduncertaintyaredeadlyenemiesofthetrader...Thereforecommitmentsshouldbenogreaterthancanbebornebyone'ssusceptibilityinthisrespect.Hesitationmustbeovercome
byselftraining.Toobserveapositiveindicationandnotactuponitisfatal—moresoinclosingthaninopeningatrade.Theappearanceofadefiniteindicationshouldbeimmediatelyfollowedbyanorder.Secondsareoftenmorevaluablethanminutes.Thetraderisnotthecaptain—heisbuttheengineerwhocontrolsthemachinery.The
tapeisthepilotandtheengineermustobeyorderswithpromptnessandprecision.Uncertaintymaybereducedbytheuseofstops,orbyclosingatradewheneverone'scourseisnotentirelyclear.“Discussion:Theidealmentalstateisoneinwhichanobservationcorresponds
closelytoaction.Havingeliminatedhesitation,anexperttraderactsinstantlyexecutinghisdecisions.
TheImportanceof
ImmediateTrend
“Wehavedefinedatraderasonewhofollowstheimmediatetrend.Thismeansthathepursuesthelineofleastresistance.Hegoeswiththemarket—hedoesnotbuckit.Theoperatorwhoopposestheimmediatetrend
pitshisjudgementandhishundredormoresharesagainsttheworld'ssupplyordemandandtheweightofitsmillionsofshares.Armedwithabroom,heistryingtostaytheincomingtide.Whenhegoeswiththetrend,theforcesofsupply,demandandmanipulationareworkingforandwithhim.”
Discussion:Wyckoffbelievedingoingwiththetrend.Infact,makingprofitpresupposesatrend:pricemustmoveinthedirectionofone’spositioninordertogetoutahead.Goingwiththetrendmeansthatthetemporarysupply/demandimbalanceisonone’sside,addingstrengthtothemove,decreasingthe
probabilityofthestopbeinghit.
StayOutofQuietMarkets
“Amarketwhichswingswithinacoupleofpointscannotbesaidtohaveatrend,andisagoodoneforthetradertoavoid.Thereasonis:unlesshecatchestheextremesofthelittleswings,hecannotpaycommissions,takeoccasionallossesandcomeoutahead.
Noyachtcanwininadeadcalm.Asitcostshimnearlyhalfapointtotrade,eachriskshouldcontainaprobabletwotofivepointsprofit,oritisnotjustified.”Discussion:Ifthemarketdoesnothavelargeenoughswings,itishardtopaythecommissionsandcovertheoccasionallosses.Makesure
thatthereissufficientvolatilitytopotentiatesignificantmovesbeforeyoutrade.
Strong,HighMomentum
Moves
“Amechanicalengineer,giventheweightofanobject,theforceoftheblowwhichstrikesit,andtheelementthroughwhichitmustpass,canfigureapproximatelyhowfartheobjectwillbedriven.Sothetrader,bygaugingthe
impetusortheenergywithwhichastockstartsandsustainsamovement,decideswhetheritislikelytotravelfarenoughtowarranthisgoingwithit—whetheritwillpayitsexpensesandremuneratehimforhisboldness.Theordinarytip-tradingspeculatorgulpsapointortwoprofitanddisdainsaloss,
unlessitisbigenoughtostranglehim.Thetradermustdotheopposite—hemustcutouteverypossibleeighthlossandsearchforchancestomakethree,fiveandtenpoints.Hedoesnothavetograspeverythingthatlookslikeanopportunity.Itisnotnecessaryforhimtobeinthemarketcontinuously.Hechoosesonlythebestofwhat
thetapeoffers.”Discussion:Oneofthegreatestadvantagesthataretailtraderhasistheabilitynottotrade,tostayout,andwaitonlyforthebestopportunities.Unfortunately,fewnewtradersusethisadvantage.
NeverMoveYourStop
“Iftheoperatorisshakenoutofhisholdingsimmediatelyafterenteringthetrade,itdoesnotprovehisjudgementisinerror.Someaccidentmayhavehappened,someuntowarddevelopmentinaparticularissue,ofsufficientweighttoaffecttherestofthelist.Itistheseunknown
quantitiesthatmakethelimitationoflossesmostimportant.Insuchacaseitwouldbefollytochangethestopsothattheriskisincreased.This,whilecustomarywiththepublic,issomethingatraderseldomdoes.Eachtradeismadeonitsownbasis,andforcertaindefinitereasons.Atthe
outsettheamountofriskshouldbedecidedupon,and,exceptinveryrareinstances,shouldnotbechanged,exceptonthesideofprofit.Thetradermusteliminate,notenhance,hisrisk.”Discussion:Onthesideofprofit,Wyckoffusedtrailingstopsplacedjustbeyondarecentmajorswinghighor
low.Onthesideoflosses,heusedstops,whichhenevermoved,andwhichwereintendedtotakehimoutofthemarketwhentheimprobableoccurred.Trademanagementisalwaysaboutminimizing,notincreasingrisk.
NeverAverageaLoser
“Averagingdoesnotcomewithintheprovinceofthetrader.Averagingisgropingforthetoporbottom.Thetradermustnotgrope.Hemustseeandknow,orheshouldnotact.”Discussion:Anotherwayofsayingthatis,neveraddtoa
losingposition.Neverbuyonthewaydown,orsellonthewayup.
GunforAbsoluteProfits
“Itisimpossibletofixarulegoverningtheamountofprofittheoperatorshouldaccept.Inageneralway,thereshouldbenolimitsetastotheprofits.Adeal,whenentered,maylookasthoughitwouldyieldthreeorfourpoints,butifthestrengthincreaseswiththeadvanceit
mayruntenpointsbeforethereisanysignofahalt.”Discussion:Wyckoffdidnotbelieveintakingprofitsatfixedratios.Onemustreadthemarketandthendecidewheretoexit.Ofcourse,suchactivetrademanagementrequireslotofexperienceandstrongmentalmakeup.
FourReasonstoClosea
Trade
“Tradermustcloseatrade:(1)whenthetapetellshimtoclose(2)whenhisstopishit(3)whenhispositionisnotclear(4)whenhehasalargeorsatisfactoryprofit”
Discussion:Theyareallgoodreasonstocloseatrade.Whenpriceactionindicatesareversal,whenyourstopishit(assumingthereisnoautomaticcloseorder),whenthingsareunclear(‘range’),orwhentheprofitisquitelarge,areallimportantconditionstoconsiderwhenactivelymanagingyour
position.
VolumeAsaCrucial
Indicator
“Thehandofthedominantpower,whetheritbeaninsider,anoutsidemanipulatororthepublic,isshownin...volumes.Thereasonissimple.Thesebigfellowscannotputtheirstocksupordownwithout
tradinginenormousamounts.”Discussion:Donotignorevolume.Itshowsthehandoflargetraders.Whenamovehasstrongparticipation,itismorelikelytocarrythrough.
HowtoEvaluateVolume
“Volumesmustbevaluedinproportiontotheactivityofthemarket,aswellastherelativeactivityofthatparticularissue.Nosetrulecanbeestablished.Ihaveseenatradermakemoneyfollowingtheleadofa1000-sharelotofNorthwestwhichsomeonetookatafraction
abovethelastsale.OrdinarilyNorthwestisasluggishinvestmentstock,andthissizelotappearedastheforerunnerofanactivespeculativedemand.”Discussion:Volumemustevaluatedonarelativebasis,withrespecttothebroadmarketanditsusuallevels.Forinstance,ifaninstrument
showsvolumelevelsthataredoubleofnormal,thisisanindicationthatsomethingunusualistakingplace.Moneyismadewhensuchimbalancesarepresent.
PriceFactorsEverything
“Sofarasthetraderisconcerned,hedoesnotcarewhetherthemoveismadebyamanipulator,agroupoffloortraders,thepublicoracombinationofall.Thefiguresonthetaperepresenttheconsensusofopinion,theeffectofmanipulationandthesupply
anddemand,allcombinedintoconcreteunits.Thatiswhytapeindicationsaremorereliablethanwhatanyonehears,knowsorthinks.”Discussion:ItisatenetofDowtheorythatpricediscountseverything.Wyckoffpointsoutthereasonforitsreliability:it
factorsinallinfluences,seenandunseen.
StrengthandVolume
“Thecomparativeactivityofthemarketonbulgesandbreaksisaguidetothetechnicalconditionofthemarket.Forinstance,duringadecline,ifthetickerisveryactiveandthevolumeofsaleslarge,voluntaryorcompulsoryliquidationisindicated.Thisisemphasized
if,onthesubsequentrally,thetapemovessluggishlyandonlysmalllotsappear.Inanactivebullmarketthetickerappearstobechokedwiththevolumeofsalespouredthroughitontheadvances,butonreactionsthequantitiesandthenumberofimpressionsdecreaseuntil,liketheoceanatebbtide,themarketisalmostlifeless.”
Discussion:Ifastrongtrendisunderway,volumeshouldbelargeronthemoveswiththetrend,thanonthereactions.
Don’tEnterafterProlonged
Moves
“Ofcourse,thesethingsaremereguideposts,asthetrader'sactualtradingisdoneonlyonthemostpositiveandpromisingindications;buttheyarevaluableinteachinghimwhat
toavoid.Forinstance,hewouldbewaryaboutmakinganinitialshortsaleofSmeltersaftera15-pointbreak,evenifhisindicationswereclear.Theremightbeseveralpointsmoreontheshortside,buthewouldrealizethateverypointfurtherdeclinewouldbringhimclosertotheturningpoint,andaftersucha
violentbreakthesafestmoneywasonthelongside.”Discussion:Toputitsimply,donotbuyafterlotofbuying,anddonotsellafterlotofselling.Themarketdoesnotmoveinastraightline.Donotenterafterprolongedmoves.
ChancesDecreaseasMove
Continues
“Itisseldomthatthemarketrunsmorethanthreeorfourconsecutivedaysinonedirectionwithoutareaction,hencethetradermustrealizethathischancesdecreaseastheswingisprolonged.”
Discussion:Samepointasabove.Eveninstrongtrends,themarketdoesnotmoveinonedirectionindefinitely.
DayTradingIsFine,But...
“Thedailymovementsofferhisbestopportunities;buthemustkeepinstockswhichswingwideenoughtoenablehimtograbaprofit.”Discussion:Again,youcannotmakeprofitifthemarket’stradingrangeistoonarrow.
TheUseofMarketCycles
inWyckoff’sDay
“Itisanastonishingfact,andonewhichwehaveneverbeforeseeninprint,thatthereisamarketcyclewhichrunsalmostexactlyonehour.Watchitforyourselfwhennextattheticker,andyouwillfindthatifanupward
movementculminatesat10:25,thereactionusuallywilllasttill10:55,andtheapexofthenextupswingwilloccuraboutthirtyminuteslater.Ihaveactuallystoodwatchinhand,havingdecidedwhattodo,waitingforthehighorlowmomentonwhichtosellorbuy,andhaveoftenhitwithinafractionofthebestobtainable
figure.WhythisisIdonotattempttoexplain,butithappensveryoften.Ihavefrequentlyusedthisideaasatestofthemarket'sstrengthorweakness,inthisway:Ifadeclineendedacertainmomentandthesubsequentrallyonlylastedtenminutes,insteadofthenormalhalfhour,Iwouldconsideritanindicationof
weaknessandwouldlookforafurtherdecline.”Discussion:Inhisday,Wyckoffspottedadailypatternofpricebehavior.Whilethisparticularpatternobviouslynolongerworksafter80years,itgivesusaprecedent.Howdoesyourfavoriteinstrumentactonatypicalday?Whendoesit
usuallyturn?Whendothemainmoveshappen?Whattypicallyhappensat10am?At11am?Atnoon?At2pm?
GettingtotheBottomof
Things
“Hestudies,figures,analyzes,anddeduces.Heknowsexactlywherehestands,whatheisdoingandwhy.Fewpeoplearewillingtogototheverybottomofthings.Isitanywonderthatsuccess
isforthefew?”Discussion:Anexpertknowswhatheisdoing.Ofcourse,thisisatruismanditwouldbetrivial,ifitweren’tformanytraderswhosimplygamble,insteadofknowingexactlywhattheiredgeisandhowtomilkit.
NoOneKnows
“Whenamarketisinthemidstofabigmove,noonecantellhowlongorhowfaritwillrun.”Discussion:Strongtrendsrunfartherthananyoneimagines.Findarecentstrongtrendonthechartofyourfavoriteinstrument.Didyouthinkit
wasgoingtogothatfar?Andwhatdoesthatsayaboutprofittakingstrategiesinbigmoves?
HowtoAnticipateBig
Moves
“Whenadullmarketshowsitsinabilitytoholdrallies,orwhenitdoesnotrespondtobullishnews,itistechnicallyweak,andunlesssomethingcomesalongtochangethesituation,thenextswingwillbedownward.
Ontheotherhand,whenthereisagradualhardeninginprices;whenbearraidsfailtodislodgeconsiderablequantitiesofstock;whenstocksdonotdeclineuponunfavorablenews,wemaylookforanadvancingmarketinthenearfuture.Noonecantellwhenadullmarketwillmergeintoaveryactiveone;thereforethe
tradermustbeconstantlyonthewatch.Itisfoolishforhimtosay:‘Themarketisdeaddull.Nousegoingdowntowntoday.Theleadersonlyswunglessthanapointyesterday.Nothinginsuchamarket.’Suchreasoningisapttomakeonemisstheverychoicestopportunities,i.e.thoseofgettinginonthegroundfloorofabigmove.”
Discussion:Bigmovesstartfromdullmarkets,notfromactiveones.Whenthemarketis‘goingnowhere’,paycloseattention,andwaitforastrongmovethatiscertaintoeventuallyhappen.
Scalping
“Thereareotherwaysinwhichatradermayemployhimselfduringdullperiods.Oneistokeeptabonthepointsofresistanceintheleadersandplayonthemforfractionalprofits.This,weadmit,isaratherprecariousoccupation,astheoperatingexpenses
constituteanextremelyheavypercentageagainsttheplayer,especiallywhentheleadingstocksonlyswingapointorsoperday...Wecannotrecommendit.Itwillnotasarulepaythetradertoattemptscalpingfractionsoutoftheleadersinadullmarket.Commissions,taxstampsandtheinvisibleeighth,inadditiontofrequent
losses,formtoogreatahandicap.”Discussion:Wyckoffdidnotrecommendscalping.Themathisagainstit,asthecommissionsconstituteasignificantpercentageofpossibleprofits.Thevigwilleatyoualive.Waitforstrongmoveswithwideswings.
DevelopingSubconscious
Competence
“Thetraderoperatesonwhatthepriceshowsnow.Heisnotweddedtoanyparticularinstrument,and,ifhechooses,canworkwithoutpencil,paperormemorandaofanysort.Healsohashiscodeofrules—lessclearly
definedthanthoseofthechartist.Somanydifferentsituationspresentthemselvesthathisrulesgraduallybecomeintuitive—asortofsecondnatureisevolvedbyself-trainingandexperience.”Discussion:Wyckoffspokeofunconsciouscompetencebeforethetermbecamefashionable.Heexplainsthe
makingofadiscretionary,‘intuitive’trader.Hisguidingruleseventuallyevolveintoaformofintuition,throughlongobservationandexperience.
DiscretionaryTrading
“AfriendtowhomIhavegivensomepointsintradingonceaskedifIhadmyrulesalldownsofinethatIknewjustwhichtouseatcertainmoments.Iansweredhimthus:Whenyoucrossastreetwherethetrafficisheavy,doyoustoptoconsultasetofrulesshowingwhentorun
aheadofatrolleycarorwhennottododgeawagon?No.Youtakealookbothwaysandatthepropermomentyouwalkacross.Yourmindmaybeonsomethingelseoryoumaybereadingyournewspaperwhilecrossing—yourjudgementtellsyouwhentostartandhowfasttowalk.Thatistheattitudeofthe
trainedtrader.”Discussion:Greatelucidation!Asamastertrader,Wyckoffusedhisjudgementanddiscretionhonedthroughthousandsofhoursofobservationandexperience.Itisn’tthathehadnorules;heclearlydid.Buttheyhaveevolvedintoa‘tradingsense’,whichtold
himwhichactionwasthebestatanytime.
ChartingandHindsight
Bias
“Nowifchartswereaninfallibleguidenoonewouldhavetolearnanythingmorethanitscorrectinterpretationinordertomakebigmoney.Ourcorrespondentsays,‘afterathoroughtrialofthechartI
findthatIcouldhavemadeaveryconsiderablesumifIhadfollowedtheindicationsshown.’Buthewouldnothavefollowedtheindicationsshown.Heisfoolinghimself.Itiseasytolookoverthechartafterwardsandseewherehecouldhavemadecorrectplays,butIventuretosayhenevertestedtheplanunderproper
conditions.Letanyonewhothinkshecanmakemoneyfollowingacharthaveafriendprepareit,keepingsecretthenameofthestockandtheperiodcovered.Thenputdownonpaperapositivesetofruleswhicharetobestrictlyadheredto,sothattherecanbenoguesswork.Eachsituationwillthencallfora
certainplayandnodeviationistobeallowed.Coverupwithasheetofpaperallbutthebeginningofthetestchart,graduallyslidingthepapertotherightasyouprogress.Recordeachorderandexecutionjustasifactuallytrading.Putmedownascopperingeverytradeandwhendonesendmeacheckforwhatyouhave
lost.Ihaveyettomeetthemanwhohasmademoneytradingonafigurechartoveranextendedperiod.Anykindofachartwillshowsomeprofitsattimes,butthetestis:Howmuchmoneywillitmakeduringseveralmonths'operations?”Discussion:Soberingwords.
Ifmakingmoneywassimplyaboutrecognizingafewchartpatterns,therewouldbemanymoretradingmillionaires.Heproposesamanualsystemtesting.Willthetradingrulesmakemoneyoveraperiodofmanymonths?Wyckoffpointsoutthehindsightfallacy:itseemseasytotradelookingbackatthechartattheendofthe
day.Butthingsareharderinrealtime.
ProperUseofCharts
“Thechartgivesthedirectionofcomingmoves;thetapesays‘when.’”Discussion:Wyckoffrecommendsusingorderflow(‘Level2’)inordertopinpointentry.
WideVision
“Thetraderseeseverythingthatisgoingon;thechartplayer'svisionislimitedtooneinstrument.Bothaimtogetinrightandgowiththetrend,buttheeyethatcomprehendsthemarketasawholeistheonewhichcanreadtrendsmostaccurately.”
Discussion:Don’tignorethetrendcontext.Whatisthemarketdoingasawhole?Isyourinstrumenttheonlyonetrending?Oristherewideparticipation?
LocalTrendsvs.General
Trends
“Ifonewishesamechanicaltrendindicatorasasupplementandaguidetohistrading,hehadbestkeepachartcomposedoftheaveragedailyhighandlowofeightortenleadingstocks.Suchacompositechartisof
novaluetothetraderwhoscalpsandclosesouteverythingdaily.Butitshouldbenefitthosewhoreadthetapeforthepurposeofcatchingtheimportantfiveortenpointmoves.Suchatraderwillmakenocommitmentsnotinaccordancewiththetrend,asshownbythischart.Hisreasonisthatevenawell
plannedbullcampaigninastockwillnotusuallybepushedtocompletioninthefaceofadowntrendinthegeneralmarket.Thereforehewaitsuntilthetrendconformstohisindication.”Discussion:Whatisthetrendofthegeneralmarket?‘Local’trendshavelesschanceofpersistingthan
‘general’trendsthathavemulti-marketparticipation.
IdentifyingTrend,Range,
Accumulation,and
Distribution
“Itseemshardlynecessarytosaythatanuptrendinanychartisindicatedbyconsecutivehighertopsandbottoms,likestairsgoingup,andthereversebyrepeatedstepstowardalowerlevel.A
seriesoftopsorbottomsatthesamelevelshowsresistance.Aprotractedzig-zagwithinashortradiusaccompaniedbyverysmallvolumemeanslifelessness,butwithnormalorabnormallylargevolume,accumulationordistributionismoreorlessevidenced.”Discussion:Distinguishing
trendsfromrangesisthemostbasicskillthatatradermustacquireinordertobesuccessful.
DiscardAllMechanical
Helps
“Theproficienttraderwilldoubtlessprefertodiscardallmechanicalhelps,becausetheyinterferewithhissensingthetrend...Weadvisestudentstostandfreeofmechanicalhelpssofarasitispossible.”
Discussion:Wyckoffwasnotafanofblindlyfollowingmechanicalrules.Atrainedeyecanspottrendsbetter.
WatchingOneMarket
Insufficient
“Ourcorrespondentinsaying‘achartisbutacopyofthetape’doubtlessreferstothechartofonestock.Thefulltapecannotpossiblybecharted.Thetapedoestellthestory,butchartingoneortwostocksislikerecording
theactionsofoneindividualasexemplifyingtheactionsofaverylargefamily.”Discussion:Tradeincontext.Inotherwords,beawareofhowyourtradefitsintothewholemarketpicture.
MarketAbsorption
“JustnowItookasmalltriangularpieceofblottingpaperthree-eighthsofaninchatitswidest,andstuckitontheendofapin.Ithenthrewablotofinkonapaperandputtheblotterintocontact.Theinkfairlyjumpedupintotheblotter,leavingthepapercomparativelydry.
Thisisexactlyhowthemarketactsonthetapewhenitsabsorptivepowersaregreaterthanthesupply—largequantitiesaretakenattheofferedpricesandatthehigherlevels.Pricesleapforward.Thedemandseemsinsatiable.Aftertwoorthreeblotshadthusbeenabsorbed,theblotterwouldtakenomore.It
wasthoroughlysaturated.Itsdemandsweresatisfied.Justinthiswaythemarketcomestoastandstillatthetopofariseandhangsthere.Supplyanddemandareequalizedatthenewpricelevel.ThenIfilledmypenwithink,andletthefluidrunoffthepointandontotheblotter.(Thisillustratedthedistributionofstocksinthe
market)Beyondacertainpointtheblotterwouldtakenomore.Adropformedandfelltothepaper.(Supplyexceededdemand.)ThemoreIputontheblotterthefasterfellthedrops.(Liquidation—marketseekingalowerlevel.)Thisisasimplewayoffixinginourmindstheprincipalopposingforcesthatareconstantlyoperatinginthe
market—absorptionanddistribution,demandandsupply,supportandpressure.Themoreadeptatraderbecomesinweighingandmeasuringtheseelements,themoresuccessfulhewillbe.”Discussion:Afittinganalogyofhowthemarketabsorbsorders.
RangeDoesNotMean
Reversal
“Whenastockholdssteadywithinahalfpointradiusitdoesnotsignifyareversaloftrend,butratherahaltingplacefromwhichanewmoveineitherdirectionmaybegin.”
Discussion:Itshouldbepointedoutthatwhenpricepausesandformsatemporaryrange,itismorelikelytoresumemovinginthedirectionoftheprevioustrendthanagainstit.
DocumentAllTrades
“Agoodwaytowatchtheprogressofanaccountistokeepabookshowingdates,quantities,prices,profitsandlosses,alsocommission,taxandinterestcharges.Besideeachtradeshouldbeenteredthenumberofpointsnetprofitorloss,togetherwitharunningtotal
showingjusthowmanypointstheaccountisaheadorbehind.Achartoftheselatterfigureswillpreventanyonefoolinghimselfastohisprogress.Peoplearetooapttoremembertheirprofitsandforgettheirlosses.”Discussion:Ofcourse,nowadays,softwarekeepsthe
scoreforyou.Yet,itisagoodexercisetorecordthetradesyourself,examiningthetechnicalandthementalfactorsthatwentintoyourtradingdecisions.
ProfessionalLossesAre
Tiny
“Thelossestakenbyanexperttraderaresosmallthathecantradeinmuchlargerunitsthanonewhoisawayfromthetapeorwhoistradingwithanarbitrarystop.Thetraderwillseldomtakeoverhalfapointtoa
pointlossforthereasonthathewillgenerallybuyorsellat,orcloseto,thepivotalpointorthelineofresistance.”Discussion:Ifthereisonethingthatprofessionalsareverygoodat,itisminimizingrisk.Theyenteratpricepointsthatallowthemtousetightstops.
BigSwingsandLarge
Volumes
“Thebigmoneyintradingismadeduringveryactivemarkets.Bigswingsandlargevolumesproduceunmistakableindicationsandaharvestfortheexperiencedoperator.”
Discussion:Wyckoffgivesarecipeforidealmarketconditions,whichmeansbigswingsandlargevolumes.Suchmovesareapttogofar.
Whatisthe‘Best’Trading
Style?
“Ifhismake-upissuchthathecancloselyfollowthesmallswingswithprofit,graduallybecomingmoreexpertandsteadilyincreasinghiscommitments,hewillshortly‘arrive’bythatroute.Ifhisdispositionissuchthat
hecannottradeinandoutactively,butiscontenttowaitforbigopportunitiesandpatientenoughtoholdonforlargeprofits,hewillalso‘getthere.’Itisimpossibletosaywhichstyleoftradingwouldproducethebestaverageresults,becauseitdependsaltogetheruponindividualqualifications.”
Discussion:Thereisnosuchthingasthe‘best’universalstyleoftrading,because‘thebest’dependsonone’stechnicalskillsandmentalmakeup.Thekeyisfindingatradingstylethatcaterstoyourstrengths.
TradingAsaProfession
“Tradingisessentiallyaprofessionforthemanwhoismentallyactiveandflexible,capableofmakingquickandaccuratedecisionsandkeenlysensitivetothemostminuteindications...Speculationisabusiness.Itmustbelearned.”
Discussion:Wyckoffdidnotbelievetradersareborn.Theyaremade.Tradingisabusiness,justlikeanyother.
DayTradingvs.Swing
Trading
“...atradermightfinditbothdifficultandlessprofitabletooperatesolelyforthelongswings.Inthefirstplace,hewouldbeobligedtolettwentyorthirtyopportunitiespassbytoeveryonethathewouldaccept.Thesmallswingsof
onetothreepointsgreatlyoutnumberthefiveandtenpointmovements,andtherewouldbeaconsiderablepercentageoflosingtradesnomatterhowheoperated.”Discussion:Wyckofffeltthatdaytradingforsmallermoveswasok,astherearemanytradablemoves.Waitingsolelyforverylargemoves
meansmissingoutonmanymediumones.Bepicky,butnottoopicky.Itisagameofselectivity,butnotagameofperfection.
Can’tTellHowFar
“Recenttradingobservationsandexperimentshaveconvincedmethatitisimpracticableandalmostimpossibletogaugetheextentofamovementbyitsinitialfluctuations.Manyimportantswingsbegininthemostmodestway.Thetopofanimportantdeclinemay
presentnothingmorethanalightvolumeandadriftingtendencytowardlowerprices,subsequentlydevelopingintoaheavy,slumpymarket,andendinginaviolentdownwardplunge.”Discussion:Bigmovesbegininsmallways.Andnoonehasanyideahowfartheywillgo.
WaitforaBreakout
“...theoperatorshouldaimtocatcheveryimportantswingintheleadingactivestock.Todothishemustactpromptlywhenastockgoesintoanewfieldorotherwisegivesanindication,andhemustbereadytofollowwhereveritleads.Ifithasbeenmovingwithinathree-pointradius
andsuddenlytakesonnewlifeandactivity,burstingthroughitsformerbounds,hemustgowithit.”Discussion:ThisthemeiscommontoWyckoff,asitwastoLivermore.Waitforabreakout.Takenointerestuntilthen.
Re-enterOnaPullback
“Ifthestockrisesthreepointsandthenreversesoneoroneandahalfpointsonlightvolume,hemustlookuponitasaperfectlynaturalreactionandnotachangeoftrend.Theexpertoperatorwillnotordinarilyletallofthreepointsgetawayfromhim.Hewillkeeppushinghis
stopupbehinduntilthefirstgoodreactionputshimoutatclosetothehighfigure.Thisleaveshiminapositiontorepurchaseonthereaction,providednobetteropportunitypresentsitself.Havingpurchasedatsuchatime,hewillselloutagainasthepriceoncemoreapproachesthehighfigure,unlessindicationspointtoits
forgingthroughtoanewhighlevel.”Discussion:Afterbeingtakenout,re-enteronapullback,andthenexitonstrength.Soforexampleinanuptrendchannel,buyonapullbackinthebottompartofthechannel.Exitintheupperhalfofthechannel.
UseVolumeonBreakout
“Themorewestudyvolumes,thebetterweappreciatetheirvalueintrading.Itfrequentlyoccursthatastockwillworkwithinathree-pointrangefordaysatatimewithoutgivingoneachanceforarespectable-sizedscalp.Withoutgoingoutoftheseboundaries,itsuddenly
beginscomingoutonthetapeinthousandsinsteadofhundreds.Thisisevidencethatanewmovementhasstarted,butnotnecessarilyinthedirectionwhichisfirstindicated.Thetradermustimmediatelygowiththetrend,butuntilitisclearlydefinedandthestockbreaksthroughitsformerlimitswithlargeandincreasing
volumes,hemustexercisegreatcaution.”Discussion:Asuddenincreaseinvolumeisasignthatthetradershouldpaycloseattentionandbereadytotradeinthedirectionofthetrend.
HowtoMoveYourStop
“Supposetheoperatorsellsastockshortat53anditbreaksto51.Heisfoolishnottobringhisstopdownto511/4unlessthemarketisripeforaheavydecline.Withhisstopatthispointhehastwochancesoutofthreethattheresultwillbesatisfactory:(1)Thepricemaygolowerand
yieldafurtherprofit;(2)Thenormalrallyto52willcatchhisstopandenablehimtoputthestockoutagainatthatprice.Thethirdcontingencyisthatitwillrallytoabout511/4,catchhisstopandthengolower.Hecanscarcelymournoverthelossofafurtherprofitinsuchacase.”Discussion:Wyckoff’stight
trailingstopmightgiveusapause.However,ifheistakenout,heisreadytore-enterthemarketonapullback,solosinghisposition(whiletakingsignificantprofitsoffthetable!)isnotaproblem.
PlayingDominoes
“Mentalpoiseisanindispensablefactorintrading.Themindshouldbeabsolutelyfreetoconcentrateuponthework;thereshouldbenofeelingthatcertainthingsaretobeaccomplishedwithinagiventime;nofear,anxiety,orambition.Whenatraderhashis
emotionswellinhand,hewillplayasthoughthegameweredominoes.Whenanythinginterfereswiththisattitudeitshouldbeeliminated.If,forexample,therebeanunusualseriesoflosses,thetraderhadbettersuspendoperationsuntilhediscoversthecause.”Discussion:Thecomfort
levelswhiletradingshouldbethesameaswhenpayingdominoes,inotherwords,itshouldbeacomfortableandarelaxedexperience.
NoTrend,NoTrade
“Themarketmaybeunsuitedtotradingoperations.Whenpricesdriftupanddownwithouttrend,likeashipwithoutarudder,andfewpositiveindicationsdevelop,thepercentageoflosingtradesisapttobehigh.Whenthisconditioncontinuesitiswelltoholdoff
untilthecharacterofthemarketchanges.”Discussion:Whenindoubt,stayout.Directionlessmarketsresultinwhipsaws,notprofits.
ImpairedTrading
“...thetradershouldbecarefultotradeonlyinsuchamountsaswillnotinterferewithhisjudgement.Ifhefindsthataseriesoflossesupsetshimitisaneasymattertoreducethenumberofsharesone-halforaquarteroftheregularamount,oreventotenshares
sothatthedollarsinvolvedarenolongerafactor.Thisgiveshimachanceforalittleself-examination.”Discussion:Tradethesizethatiscomfortable,thatdoesnotimpairyourjudgement.Youcannotstayobjectivewhenyoufeeluncomfortable,asyouwillbepronetobaseyourdecisionsonyour
feelings.
Tired,Hungry,Horny,or
Upset
“Ifapersonisinpoorphysicalconditionorhismentalalertnessbelowparforanyreason,hemaybeunabletostandtheexcitementattendingthework.Lossofsleep,forexample,mayrenderone
unfittocarryallthequotationsinhishead,ortoplanandexecutehismovesquicklyandaccurately.Whenanythingofthiskindoccurswhichpreventsthefreeplayofallthefacultiesitisbesttobringtheday'sworktoaclose.”Discussion:Traderested,nottired.Itisalsonotagood
ideatotradehungry,horny,orupset.
TheFoundationofStrong
TradingPsychology
“Iendeavortoperfectmyselfinclearheadedness,quicknessofthought,accuracyofjudgement,promptnessinplanningandexecutingmyplays,foresight,intuition,courage,andinitiative.Masterfulcontrolofmyself
intheserespectswillproduceawinningaverage—itismerelyaquestionofpractice.”Discussion:Thefoundationofstrongtradingpsychologyisself-mastery.Self-masterymeanstwothings:1.Preferringlong-termconsequencestoshort-term
gratification.and2.Theabilitytodothe‘hard’thing,ifitisrequired.Thinkaboutyourtrading,andyourlife.Wherehaveyoudemonstratedthese?Howcanyouincreaseandimproveyourself-mastery?
OneIdeaintoaMethod
“Tobesureitispossibleforapersontotakeanumberofthe‘tricksofthetrade’hereinmentionedandtradesuccessfullyonthesealone.Evenoneideawhichformspartofthewholesubjectmaybeworkedandelaborateduponuntilitbecomesamethodinitself.Thereare
endlesspossibilitiesinthisdirection.”Discussion:WhileWyckoffrecommendsathoroughstudyofthemarketsandtrading,healsosaysthatyoucantakeasingleideaandevolveitintoyourowntradingmethod.Tobesuccessful,youneedonegoodideaandmakeityourown.
OnTrading“Teachers”
“FrequentrequestsaremadeforthenameofsomeonewhowillteachtheArtofTrading.Idonotknowofanyoneabletoreadthetapewithprofitwhoiswillingtobecomeaninstructor.Thereasonisverysimple.Profitsfromthetapefarexceedanythingthatmightbeearnedintuition
fees.”Discussion:Itisnaivetothinkthataprofessionalwilldiscloseallhistricks.That’snottosaythatthereisn’tlotofgood,tradingwisdomoutthere.Buttoexpectsomebodytogiveyouallhissecretsissilly.Nothingbutyourownmindcanmakeyouasuccess.
FormingaTrading
Character
“...eventhosewhogetprettywellalonginthesubjectwillbescaredtodeathatastringoflossesandquitjustwhentheyshoulddiginharder.Forinadditiontolearningthearttheymustformasortoftradingcharacter,which
noamountofreversescandiscouragenorturnbackandwhichconstantlystrivestoeliminateitsownweakpointssuchasfear,greed,anxiety,nervousnessandthemanyothermentalfactorswhichgotomakeorunmaketheprofitcolumn.”Discussion:Whileworkingonyourtrading,youare
workingonyourself.Thisisoneoftheadvantagesofbeingatrader.Youevolveanddevelopasaperson.Tradingisn’tdisconnectedfromwhoyouareorfromtherestofyourlife.
Conclusion-TheFinal
Lesson
UnlikeJesseLivermore,RichardWyckoffkepthiswealthtiltheendofhislife.Andsoheleftuswiththefinallesson:onceyoubecomesuccessful,payyourselffirst.Protectwhatyouhavemade.Donotrisk
allyourprofitstrading.Wyckoffdidn’t.Hetookthemoneyoffthetableandtooka‘freeposition’inlife,enjoyingthefruitsofhislabors.Marketschange,andthereisnoguaranteeofcontinuedsuccess.Manytraderswhomadetheirfortunesretire.Youcannotstepintothesamerivertwice.Aftermakinghis
millions,Wyckofffocussedontradingeducation.Tradingtakesitstoll.Thereistimeforhardwork,butalsoforhappytimes.Lifehassomuchmoretooffer.Byallmeans,enjoythegame,butbesmartaboutit.HappyTradingandGoodLuck.:)
PSIfyougotsomethingoutofthisbook,pleasepostareviewonAmazon.Youmayalsoenjoymyotherbooks.
“Thegameofspeculationis
themostuniformlyfascinatinggameinthe
world.Butitisnotagamefor
thestupid,thementallylazy,thepersonofinferior
emotionalbalance,ortheget-rich-quickadventurer.They
willdiepoor.”