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Showing posts with label emini indicators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emini indicators. Show all posts

Scalping Futures Using Emini Contracts

Although as traders we use various methods to make our money from the markets, scalping futures using emini contracts is one method experienced traders use frequently.

If you're new to the index futures market, in this article we will explain how using this method can reduce your exposure while allowing you to reach your trading goals and increase your confidence and grow as a futures trader.


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By nature, trades executed using the scalping method are designed to get the trader in and out of the market quickly.

Usually with no more than a few minutes elapsing between entry and exit with the trader pocketing a small profit. Since the time frame is small, exposure to the market is significantly reduced thereby protecting precious capital.

Shorter Time Frames - Less Exposure

With traditional emini day trading, the trader is focused on a larger time frame, ideally entering a trade and riding the current days trend, banking larger profits than the trader utilizing a scalping method.

However, the day trader risk more exposure to market forces by holding a position for longer periods.

Scalping mini-sized contracts is a much more rapid type of trading with traders focused more on smaller movements in market action.

Accumulating profits with each trade, the trader will execute several times more trades throughout the daily session than those using a futures day trading methodology.

Since this type of trading is faster than traditional day trading, the scalp trader must be more focused on his trading rules and sticking to his money management system.

Although experienced traders utilize scalping methods, this form of trading lends itself very well to the new index futures trader.

Day trading methods normally allow for more liberal stop losses before exiting a losing trade.

However, scalp trading by design, requires the position be exited quickly should the trade turn south minimizing trading losses.

Stealth and Favorable Odds

Scalping futures is not unlike a submarine using stealth to stalk and attack an opposing target.

The scalper will only execute trades when the odds are in his favor by employing tactics and strategies which exploit favorable market conditions.

In most cases, other traders will never know he's there, quickly entering and exiting the market, waiting on the next profitable set-up.

Although many believe scalp trading to be difficult, in most cases a simple strategy or one tactic can be used over and over.

The futures market offers many opportunities throughout the daily sessions for a skilled scalper to enter many trades everyday, making it possible for him to make as much profit as a traditional day trader.

Scalpers or day traders never hold positions over night, going home with a flat account with no exposure to the news and geopolitical events which can affect the overnight futures markets.

Hence the scalper sleeps worry free each night. In fact, the scalper seldom if ever concerns himself with daily financial reports or anything that can affect the markets, relying only on the technical attributes of the futures markets.

Ideal Conditions For the Scalp Trade

Certain conditions need to be present within the index futures market for successful scalp trading tactics.

Fortunately, these conditions are almost always present in the daily futures trading sessions.

Liquidity is one characteristic of the futures market which is always present. Thousands of contracts are bought and sold each day without wild price swings making them extremely attractive to short term traders.

Volatility is another condition which is needed for scalpers to trade successfully. The index futures market can be highly volatile in some instances like when an FOMC announcement is released other financial news hits the news wires.

At times such as these, the wise trader stands aside and lets the market sort out the news before considering a new trade.

However, the futures markets has enough volatility on normal trading days which allow the scalp trader to enter and exit the market multiple times everyday.

The scalp trader learns to exploit these characteristics of the futures market and profit.

By exercising discipline and obeying the rules of their trading system such as exiting the market when stop losses are hit and not swinging for the fences and focusing on small profits, scalping futures with emini contracts is an excellent way to profit from the financial markets.

Moving Averages, Pivot Points, Oscillators And Emini Trading


Trade execution is a much talked about subject within index future trading circles and  proper execution is covered extensively in our trading room.

In this article we will profile some of the most utilized and popular signals traders add to their trading system and charting software to interpret market direction with the understanding traders are unique individuals and each one will have different preferences.

You may find by adding just one of these trading tools to your arsenal could have have a impact on your trading profitability. However, when you choose to implement a new indicator it is best to test it out in simulation before trading live.

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Pivot Points

As a trader you have undoubtedly heard of support and resistance. Pivot points are used to determine areas of support and resistance and are very popular with futures traders. Pivot points can be calculated different ways, however the most utilized method is by averaging the day’s open, high, low, and close divided by 4. Pivot point support and resistance levels are an excellent choice for trading mini-sized index futures contracts and employed by many veteran traders.

Moving Averages

Moving averages are another tool used by futures traders to profit, mostly with the day trading method rather than a scalp trading methodology. Many market players only use the 9 and 18 day moving averages however time frames are entirely up to the individual trader.

Although moving averages are lagging indicators they are excellent for determining the market environment and making sure you are on the right side of the trade. Some traders will use the 9 and 18 day moving average to enter the market in the morning when market direction is determined in some cases, and ride the trade all day until close, profiting handsomely.

Overbought/Oversold Indicators

Price extremes very often send short term traders into a frenzy when indicators reveal futures contracts are reaching overbought/oversold territory. The New York Tick is one such indicator. When showing plus or minus 1000, the market is said to be in severely overbought or oversold territory and a reversal is likely.

The TRIN is also another indicator used by traders to determine the mood of the market. When the TRIN has a reading of 1.0 or above, the market is generally moving down. With a reading below 1.0, the bulls are usually in control of the market.

RSI (Relative Strength Indicator)

The Relative Strength Indicator is another indicator very popular method for determining emini signals. With a range of 0 to 100, oversold conditions are present when the indicator is nearing zero on the RSI and overbought conditions exist when the indicator is nearing the 100 mark. Many traders use the RSI in conjunction with Japanese candlestick charts and moving averages.

Stochastic

The Stochastic is also used by traders to determine oversold and overbought conditions and like the RSI, is has a range of zero to one hundred. Oversold conditions are implied to exist when the Stochastic is nearing or goes below 30. Overbought conditions exist when the Stochastic is nearing or reaches 70. Just like the RSI, the Stochastic is used by index futures traders along with charting software, usually found at the bottom of the chart screen.

Overbought and oversold indicators can help determine market direction and possible reversals, but are better when used with other indicators rather than being used alone to determine signals on entry and exit.

Japanese Candlestick Charts

Candlestick charts have long been the choice of many traders as well as traders across all financial markets. Developed by a rice trader in the 17th century to predict rice prices, modern traders have incorporated them into many popular trading systems.

Easy to read with clearly define opening, high, low and closing levels, candlestick charts can be used across all time frames. Very popular with scalping traders, candlestick charts can be set to a one minute setting to follow even the smallest time frame. Although all traders do not employ candlestick charts, most traders would equate not using candlestick charts to driving a car blindfolded.

These are just a few of the tools utilized by successful index future traders to interpret market conditions and alert them to possible trade setups or when to exit the market. However, an trading system is a must to be successful, not only in the futures market but in any financial market.

Index futures traders live in a fluid and volatile environment where market noise is a constant. Learning to read signals for order entry and exit is part art and part science and is something that is learned only by experience and by implementing a proven trading system.

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