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.

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The Best Trading System - Selecting One

A trading system can be as simple or as complex as you wish, however, simple systems tend to do better since they eliminate information overload. If we take in too much information, the decision process becomes difficult which results in bad execution or hesitation, causing losses.

So it is best to exercise some degree of caution when choosing a trading methodology. Simplicity is ideal when we are searching for the best emini trading system to meet our needs.

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If simplicity is the goal, system design is the criteria we should look to first. Is the design of the system built with user-friendliness in mind? Nothing is more frustrating than watching the market and dealing with a difficult system.

It should flow easily between the different modules that make up a system. Your futures broker should provide fast execution when your system reveals a trade set-up and work well with your charting software or time and sales feeds.

Data feeds should be in real-time which require dependable Internet connections from a reputable Internet Service Provider. A back-up Internet connection is recommended should your ISP fail.

If you've ever been in a trade and lose your connection, frantic can best describe the feeling a trader experiences when his ISP goes down. A back up connection is a must since major losses can be the result.

The best emini trading system, as you can see, is not just a single module or one size fits all. Interaction between various tools is a requirement as outlined above.

Trading methodology is the heart of the system. Choosing a time frame to trade will be part of your system. Traditionally, day trading is the method most often associated with index futures trading, with many traders choosing scalping as their approach to the futures market.

Choosing to take small profits many times throughout the day while the daily cash market is open. Others will open positions and trade the overnight sessions when trading is much slower. Some use a combination of both scalp trading and classic day trading throughout the day.

The use of traditional Japanese candlestick charts are used by most index futures traders, while some experienced traders will use only a time and sales screen. Others use a combination of charts, indicators and oscillators to determine when to enter and exit the futures market.

Pivot points around areas of strong/minor support and resistance is another often used methodology and is very productive. As you can see, the choices are varied and trading is available to just about any methodology favored by the individual trader.

Having the best trading system that fits your personality and trading style is what we are after as futures traders. The market is complex no doubt. It is fickle and ruled entirely by the emotions of greed and fear which creates a paradox.

While we see the evidence of emotion every day in the market, we seek out a trading method which eliminates the emotional aspect of trading. Our ideal is to react only to the conditions presented by the market in technical terms, not through fear or greed.

Your system should be of such design that you automatically submit trades based only on technical analysis, without hesitation. Hesitation is the result of emotion which more often than not translates into bad execution and loss.

A good trading system will assist you in determining when to place trades based on market dynamics and technical conditions, not financial news reports, crowd mentality or geopolitical events.

Is there a perfect index futures trading system? No. Is there a trading system that will help you become a proficient? Absolutely! Odds are if you are reading this, you have some experience in the financial markets, most likely as a stock day trader, swing trader or just a long term investor.

Although if you're a long term investor, it is recommended you first read up on technical analysis since you are more likely coming from a fundamental background rather than a technical analysis background.

Short term traders live and die by technical analysis and some education in this area is important before venturing into index futures trading.

As a trader, you can build your own system or you can choose to adopt one of the better trading systems available. However you choose to proceed, finding the best emini trading system will boil down to personal choice and what best suits your trading needs and goals.

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S&P, Dow, NASDAQ Or Russell Futures: Which One To Trade?

Those new to emini trading often have difficulty determining which index futures contract is the best fit for them. For this reason we are going to outline and profile each contract for those who haven’t quite yet grasped the differences between these four very unique trading instruments.

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The S&P futures contract is the most popular and rightly so since not only is it traded exclusively by many, it is also used by stock traders as a strong indicator for daily market direction. Most stock traders will always have a live chart or ticker open on their trading platform displaying real-time feeds of these futures since they are literally the ring in the bull’s nose. Wherever they go, the cash market will follow making the S&P 500 index futures a very important tool for those utilizing short term trading methods in the stock markets.

S&P 500 Futures Contract

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange or CME, introduced the S&P mini sized contract in the 90’s as an alternative to the larger sized S&P futures contract since the original contract became too large for many smaller traders to utilize. The smaller S&P mini contract is one-fifth the size of the larger, original contract and is traded electronically through the Globex system.

The contract up ticks and down ticks in quarter points and is the minimum price movement with each quarter point tick equal to $12.50 with a whole point value of $50. The S&P futures market is highly liquid and is employed by institutional traders for speculation and hedging. It is not uncommon for the mini SP contract to trade as many as ten-thousand shares in the course of one minute to give an example of market depth and the amount of daily volume as well as to underscore their importance as a vital trading indicator and about market sentiment. Trading without one eye on the S&P futures is akin to trading blindfolded.

ES S&P

The symbol for the S&P futures contract is ES. Of course this only refers to the basic contract in general terms. Futures contracts are derivatives which means their value is derived from an underlying issue, in this case the S&P 500 cash market. As a derivative, they have expiration dates and cease to hold any value after a set expiry date. Expiry is determined by four different months starting with March, followed by June, September, and December, meaning there are four different contracts within a calendar year. Each month has a different letter within the ES symbol to identify which month the contract will expire. The identifying letters are as follows:

March = H
June = M
September = U
December = Z

Not only does the ES contract symbol contain the month in which it expires, it will also contain in which year it expires. For example, if someone were trading an ES contract which will expire in December 2012, the symbol would be ESZ12, which identifies what type of contract (ES) along with what year (09) and month (Z) the contract will expire.

The ES is an excellent futures instrument in which to trade, however it is not the only one by any means. Some traders prefer trading on different exchanges than the S&P 500 as we will discover.

NASDAQ NQ Mini Futures Contract

After the introduction of the ES S&P 500 futures contract the NASDAQ NQwas introduced. Tracking the top 100 stocks on the tech heavy NASDAQ stock exchange, the NASDAQ NQ soon became very popular among index futures traders, although never surpassing the popularity of the ES. Designated with the symbol NQ, the NASDAQ contract also trades in quarter points but is valued differently. Each quarter up tick or down tick is equal to five dollars ($5), with a total up tick or down tick point worth twenty dollars ($20).

The same symbol system applies as the ES as does expiry months. With the NQ, if a trader were to take a position in the December 2012 contract, the symbol would be NQ12Z. The mini NQ also has excellent liquidity and volume each day allowing futures traders several opportunities each day to initiate trades.

DOW YM Mini Futures Contract

Although the DOW YM contract has not been around quite as long as the ES or the NQ, it has however, seen an explosion in popularity among index futures traders. Tracking the Dow Jones Industrials Stock Exchange, the DOW mini futures or YM as it is designated, has seen increased volume and liquidity since it’s introduction and has converted many long term ES traders which now trade the YM exclusively

YM futures contracts follow the same symbol designations as the ES and NQ as outlined above. A December 2012 contract would be YM12Z identifying the contract type (YM-DOW); expiry year (12); and expiry month (Z-Dec.). Another factor unique to the DOW YM contract unlike the ES or NQ is it does not trade in quarter points, rather it trades in whole points with each up tick or down tick equal to five dollars ($5). Growing in volume and popularity, the YM is an excellent choice for all index futures traders including those new to the market seeking an education and to test strategies.

Russell 2000 Mini Contracts

Although less utilized than the other three contracts for trading, the mini Russell contract is still an excellent choice as a trading instrument. The Russell 2000 mini is one-fifth the size of the larger contract with the Russell 2000 tracking 2000 securities on the Russell 3000 stock exchange.

This contract is also uniquely different from the other three in it trades in .10 increments equal to $10 for every .10 up tick or down tick with each whole point equal to one hundred dollars ($100). The symbol for the Russell is ER and fit’s the same criteria as the other 3 for identification purposes and expiry. A December 2012 contract would designated as ERZ12. Some traders favor the Russell  contract over all others, claiming this contract trends better than the others and eliminates noise since it tracks many more stocks than the other three index futures contracts.

Strategy

Index Futures trading is most often utilized as a day trading method or scalping method and all positions are exited when the bells sounds closing the cash market, although the futures market is open 23 hours daily. Traders employ many different approaches when trading futures contracts. Some rely only on support and resistance numbers in conjunction with pivot points. Others will use simple moving averages and crossover methodologies, while some will utilize classic Japanese candlestick formations in combination with indicators and oscillators such as the Stochastic, MACD or RSI. Whatever method chosen, emini trading lends itself very well to different approaches to the index futures market no matter which contract is traded.

As mentioned above, the S&P mini futures should be used as a indicator of market direction even if the trader is utilizing a different index futures contract, since the ES is the ring in the bull’s nose and the market WILL follow their direction. Also, the NYSE TICK is an excellent indicator for determining market internals and sentiment. Newer traders may wish to join a trading room to follow along as experience traders call out trades and explain why they enter and exit the market at certain points. A trading room is an excellent way to build confidence and skill levels for rookie traders.

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Dump The Stock Market And Focus On Emini Futures

If you’re reading this page it is probably for one reason - you are bored to tears with trading stocks! Understandable, but we shouldn’t be too hard on stocks since stock trading is where almost every veteran trader began his career before moving on to other trading instruments such as emini futures contracts.

Usually starting as a fundamental investor, searching for specific stocks in favorable sectors or buying on a “hot tip” given to us by a friend, we all begin somewhere and that starting point is almost always the stock market.

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Once we enter the market we undoubtedly become hooked although not in a reckless and gambling sort of way (there are exceptions and they don‘t last long), but in more of a analytical and rational sense, which turns us into students of the financial markets.

Falling In Love With The Markets

We grow to love the ebb and flow as bulls and bears fight it out each day. The successful veteran trader has learned profits are the result of trading well. He understands that profits are a byproduct of his skill and concentrates on developing a system that fits his personality and tolerance levels. And for most, it began with a simple stock purchase.

Once that first stock is purchased, one of three things is going to happen. 1)The investor is going to sell the stock at a profit or loss then walk away. 2) Continue to invest as a long term fundamental investor -concerned only with companies and the bottom line or they will become number three.

A life long adherent of technical analysis who could give two cents if a company goes bust or what geopolitical event is currently upsetting the world markets. Long or short ,the technical trader doesn’t care about anything except being on the correct side of the market and he does this with technical analysis.

After cutting their teeth on stock trading, many find it boring and labor intensive since stock trading requires hours of chart scanning to find potential stocks to trade. Liquidity and volatility can be an ever present problem for stock traders since stocks may trade sideways, with very little movement for days or weeks, even months. Eventually, some stock traders seek out a different approach to the market by utilizing a different financial instrument.

Lessons

Lesson one - the futures market is liquid enough for a trader to make profitable trades several times daily. Long or short, profitable trades can be executed in every daily session which is why index futures trading has exploded since their introduction in 1997.

Day trading is a popular method used by index future traders, with some executing a trade at the open and riding the day’s trend all the way to the close while others will employ a scalping strategy, entering and exiting the market rapidly, often making several trades daily.

Whether you are a full time stock day trader, swing trader or a hard core fundamental long term investor, mini futures trading offers and excellent opportunity for short term profits. Emini contracts are available to trade for all of the Indexes: S&P 500, NASDAQ, DOW and The Russell, all of which offer enough liquidity to enter and exit the market several times daily.

With lower margin requirements than the full-sized index futures contract, the mini index contract is available to those that don’t have the $25,000 minimum required to open a stock day trading account, which eliminates many people that would otherwise participate in the stock market on a daily basis.

If you’re bored with trading stocks and looking for a new financial instrument to trade, you should consider mini futures trading. With enough liquidity on a daily basis to trade several times each session, more than enough opportunity exist to profit.

Since the trader often focuses on one index contract such as the Dow YM, he eliminates hours of research which otherwise would be required to locate stocks to trade.

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Emini Scalping - Why New Index Future Traders Should Consider Scalping Emini Contracts

Scalping is an effective trading method to capture quick profits from the index futures markets and reduce exposure by using tight stops. Although we use scalp trades frequently in our trading room, we do not limit ourselves exclusively to scalping futures contracts since the market is dynamic and changes from time frame to time frame.

Longer open trade periods may be utilized to capitalize on larger market moves to increase profits but scalp trading is a large part of our trading system. 

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Scalping Index Futures

As index traders, we should always be testing different trading methodologies that can improve the amount of winning trades we execute. Scalping is one method that allows for increased potential for profitable trades since exposure in the market is greatly reduced when scalp trading index futures contracts.

When utilizing this method of trading, traders are capitalizing on extremely short term opportunities. If you already understand the concept of scalp trading and are looking for a scalping system, follow the link below:

Although scalp trading is widely employed by veteran traders, those new to the futures markets can also benefit by using short term trading methods. Building confidence as a new trader is vitally important and by setting our goals at obtainable levels, we can raise our levels of confidence. The emini futures markets are highly liquid and volatile, offering many opportunities for the trader to profit many times throughout the trading session.

By setting goals for only two or three points on each trade, the novice trader can build confidence by reducing exposure and lower risk of broken trades.

The key to scalping, is to approach the market with a trading plan to get in and out of the market quickly, not swinging for the fences hoping for a homerun. Small profits are the goal.

Given the nature of the futures market, there will be many opportunities each day for the trader to execute trades with the potential of profit. Veteran traders that use scalping as their chosen method of trading will, in most cases, execute a large amount of trades each day.

As a trading method, trades are entered and exited rapidly. Once the trader begins to implement the scalp trading method, he will learn to exit the market swiftly on both winning and losing trades. Since the trader knows he will exit quickly no matter if the trade is successful or unsuccessful, large losses are prevented.

New traders so often approach the markets with ideas of huge profits and making a mint rather than focusing on learning to be a successful trader. It is so important for new traders to build confidence and understand profits are the result of disciplined trading.

Although scalp trading is an excellent method for new traders to utilize, it is also a method that is expertly used by market professionals. What makes scalping so profitable is position sizing. Professional market players wouldn’t use this method of trading if it didn’t offer a substantial profit.

Trading one contract will yield small profits on a winning trade. However, by increasing the amount of contracts on each trade, the futures trade can increase the amount of profit through position sizing. On the flip side, risk levels increase substantially with each contract added to each trade.

New traders should start with only one contract and increase the amount of contracts traded on individual trades once confidence and skill levels increase. The futures market is no place for thrill seekers or those who find themselves trading out of desperation. This recklessness will always lead to total failure and empty trading accounts.

Another important factor to consider is your broker. Scalping is a trading method that yield smaller profits and decreases risk exposure. However, because the amount of profit is small, traders will need to execute many trades to show a decent profit. Broker commissions will have and affect on profits which makes having the right broker very important.

Competition is stiff in the futures brokerage industry and locating a broker with inexpensive trading fees is not difficult. Some brokerage firms cater specifically to high volume traders and offer competitive commissions. It should be understood, you will pay a commission on both sides of the trade, both on entry and exit, so this should be considered when choosing a broker.

Scalping requires quick execution of trades since traders seek to be in and out of the market very quickly. Make sure a broker is chosen that offers a reliable trading platform. Nothing frustrates a trader more than to attempt trade execution only to see the market move without their trade being executed because of their broker. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of a reliable broker.

Although scalping is most often employed by veteran traders, a new trader should consider scalp trading mini contracts as a way to obtain the confidence so necessary to trading success. Because this method reduces exposure time within the market, losses can be limited and account draw downs are kept at a minimum allowing the novice opportunities to execute many trades.

Scalp Trading Offers Advantages Over Other Forms Of Trading

If you are experiencing difficulty in your trading, maybe you should consider changing your method to a shorter time frame. Scalping involves a shorter time frame but does require the ability to be laser focused and quick on the draw. Since the holding period for a scalp trade is generally no more than a few minutes if not only for a few seconds.

New traders run into difficulty when they do not approach the markets with a defined plan and look for opportunity with a shotgun method. Day trading, scalp trading, no clearly defined plan for trading and basically entering a trade and hoping for the best outcome.

Their daily plan for trading is as fluid as the market itself, ever changing as the session flows toward the close. Veteran markets players know trading without a clearly defined system, or plan is a recipe for disaster.

By utilizing a scalping method, the trader limits his exposure and has a exit strategy designed to only cost him no more than a couple of points should the trade go against him. By design, scalping is for quick entry and exit.

The very nature of this method of trading reduces exposure and be default, minimizes potential losses. Although the index futures scalp trader generally executes many more trades a day than the atypical day trader, the scalp trader is in a better position to control the amount of losses incurred.

Professional traders have known for years scalping can generate excellent profits each day if the trader practices sound money management skills and follows a trading system with rules designed to protect against devastating losses that so often are a part of the rookie trader’s daily routine. The importance of a trading system can not be emphasized enough.

Unfortunately, new traders blinded by the profit potential offered by index futures trading, seldom have a system in place before jumping into shark infested waters. Once they blow out their trading accounts they finally realize that only when a trading system is in place will they be on the road to profitability.

Index future trading requires discipline and intestinal fortitude not required in many other money making fields. The financial markets are the arenas of the most informed and financially savvy participants, bar none.

In order to compete, the rookie trader must have a system in place that will improve their chances of success against stiff competition. By utilizing a scalping trading system and by exercising sound money management rules, the new trader can quickly be on his way to emini scalping success.

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