Another Double Down...

Late posting--I took two trades Thursday afternoon from decent looking charts. And for once, I even found a morning star candlestick pattern I liked. I was about to stop scanning for them as they usually do not fit my criteria. Here are my notes:

KRC (3):

IBCP:

No watchlist for Friday as it is already late in the session and I don't plan on trading. I did scan the charts and found a few candidates. They will be tallied in my yearly review, just not put online. Wild month March. It really took my money, I just opened my wallet and watched the bills fly away. I'll go over my trades, look and the charts, and see if I notice any problems. I think it was just a hard month.

ONE PROBLEM: I know for sure that March was problematic because I switched to % stop losses and targets. While a good idea, the % moves just do not allow the stock to move to natural resistance and support levels. KRC and IBCP are two stocks that I am letting do their thing. I may watch for % moves, but not strictly depend on them for action.

Oh well, I'll post my monthly update once KRC and IBCP are closed.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-29-2007

No trades yesterday during the down market, maybe today will be different. I'll be watching: HIW s, JNJ s, IBCP s, KRC s, and ALK s. KRC and ALK are a little more risky, but may provide an untapped opportunity I've been missing.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-28-2007...

Looks like a weak open, but things may just turn around. Not too many stocks to watch, all the charts are just ugly, mirroring the major indexes. Oh well.

SWKS s and JBL s; both are not pretty, but may fit the bill.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-26-2007...

Unbelievable, both my stock picks for Monday received pre-market upgrades. If only I could really see the future. Oh well, obviously I did not trade either as they were way too hot to chase. I did have to sell CSL, for a loss of course, after it fell after the miserable new home sales number--bull crap. That's life and that's March. Sold 6.87600 shares @ $43.469 for a net of:

CSL: -$1.11 or -0.37%

Tomorrow is another day and I'll be watching: SEPR s and INTU s. The INTU is a risky trade, but maybe, just maybe, I'll catch that knife by the handle and ride it to a positive March !?!?! I'll post any activity.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-25-2007...

Wild week last week. Bullcrap downgrade on IRF, nice little paper gain in CSL, and my core holdings pulled out of the late February rut. Only two candidates for monday: SPC s and GPI s. I am looking forward to the new week and more opportunity to trade.

For now,
Masterjaz out

F'ing Analysts...

Right when I thought I was back on the winning track with IRF, it gets a downgrade, and poof, my profits and more vanish. I could just go insane. In the end, there is always this risk, and it has happened before. I sold according to my rules and actually got out near the intraday high. Sold 7.32242 shares @ $39.882.

IRF: -$7.96 or -2.653%

Luckily, I did place another trade yesterday, CSL, and things are looking okay. My notes:


No watchlist as I could not find any charts meeting my criteria. So, unless CSL moves, I'm out for the weekend,
Masterjaz out

IRF trade...

As I said, I am not giving up on my method. I am finding candidates, following my rules, and pulling the trigger. I found IRF today and the stock is performing decently. Had I been able to trade at any time, I would've taken some profits today, seeing the post-FOMC pop. Tomorrow may be interesting.

My notes:
As for a watch list, the following stocks have very nice charts: VOL s, CSL s, and TRB s. The only thing I don't like is that all the stocks are up >1%, but given that is the market overall, I'll take it. Just means my risk:reward is slightly diminished. Actually, TRB may be off the list as it reported poor monthly (?) numbers after the bell. I'll re-evaluate in the morning.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Selling, watchlists, where to start?...

I am so far behind, I don't know where to start. I've sold all of my position since my last post. I am just giving money away, but I am sticking by my system as I know it works and my results will turn around. The market is just volitile and not cooperating at the moment, but I want to have a good position established if things take off. Like today, possibly, given the FOMC results. Since my last post I sold ALEX and NPO due to their violation of my 1% stop loss. I've gone back to my old method of defining stop losses and targets, but NPO still fell below my defined, chart-based stop loss, so it was a sell either way...Sold 6.18579 shares of ALEX at $48.267 and 8.15229 shares of NPO at $36.742 for nets of:

ALEX: -$1.43 or -0.477%

NPO: -$0.47 or -0.157% (got lucky as this came around before the sell window)

Lots of nice charts today, so I was able to pick the best of the best: NSM s, FOSL s, SVNT s, HNI s, IRF s, and GPS s. As always, I'll post any trades I make (eventually). Cross our fingers that the FOMC does us good...

For now,
Masterjaz out

Throwing money away...

Wow, March is turning into a killer month and not in a good, making lots of cash way. I am just giving money way like it's nothing. I keep trying, keep trading, using my system and waiting for things to turn around. Ultimately, I believe in my system, I am trading it well, and it is just a period of difficultly. I've noticed many other traders are having difficult March as well. I'll be curious to see NYSE Trader's monthly round-up.

Sold CPRT on Friday as it violated my stop loss: Sold 10.77199 shares @ $27.509 for a net:

CPRT: -$3.67 or -1.223%

I had NPO s and NSIT s on my watch list, although there may have been more. The yahoo quote server sucked butt on Friday and over the weekend. Prevented me from making any CNBC trades, but whatever...

Decided to trade NPO, here are my notes:


For now,
Masterjaz out

Jump in with both feet...

Oh, the trading gods I do beseech. I made two quick trades this morning with only 10 minutes to go over my entire watchlist. Trading under pressure--good decision or bad? Time will tell. Both stocks have beautiful charts, although the slow stochastics on ALEX are a little off the mark and the market was trading okay this morning. Volatility has been the name of the game for two weeks now, so I am hoping I don't fall victim to it again. My notes:

ALEX:

CPRT:

As always, I'll post any trades I make and should have a watchlist for tomorrow.
For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-15-2007...

Caution is the name of the game today, especially with the weak watch list. The intraday volatility is great for day-traders, but for my system, it is a deal breaker, so I am more than happy to sit in cash until a trend is established. Nice watchlist for today, a little more tickers than usual as I felt I was being to picky.

BWS s, ALEX s, CPRT s, BPOP s, BHE s, IMN s, IM s, LYO s, MENT s, and THC s

For now,
Masterjaz out

Another Quick Loser...

Wow, twice this month a stock bought in the morning is stopped out in the PM. Using my windows and trailing stops usually does not incur these kinds of losses, but the market is quite volitile and unpredictable right now. Most importantly, I stuck to my system and got out before the bottom fell out as well.

My notes:

I turned around and sold the 8.70322 shares @ 34.109 for a net of:

ARTC: -$3.14 or -1.047%

I only have two stocks to watch today: KFY s and LNCR s, if they are showing some strength, I will likely buy as I am not letting these two quick loses impare my trading. It is part of the game and, like others, I just consider the loses the price I pay to play.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Sold JNY and a watchlist...

JNY could never get rolling with the rest of the markets so I sold my remaining half position in the afternoon. Sure am glad I decided to be cautious and sell my first half position at 1% instead of 2%. Nonetheless, it is always hard to see a position go against me, although the stock did rally into my sell window = lucky. Oh well, so, I sold 4.75737 shares @ $31.677 for a net of:

JNY: +$2.31 or +0.770%

As for a watchlist, lots of bullish engulfings and the best of the best are: UIL s, ARTC s, DSPG s, ZNT s, MENT s, AEE a, and EMC s. (The 's' following the ticker is the link to Yahoo! sector page, just making the typing easier!) Futures are not looking bright, so I may just sit on my hands today...

For now,
Masterjaz out

Post-open 03-12-2007...

Behind as always, but nothing much going on today. Market is flat, JNY is down slightly. My watchlist: FCF sector, BSG sector, CHP sector, and RCII sector. I'll post trades if taken.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Protecting profits and a watchlist...

I just had to pull the trigger and sell half my JNY position. The stock was lagging the sector and the market for most of the day, I was up 1%, and could not imagine having the stock go against me, so I sold half. If the market rallies (as it appears to be doing based on the jobs data) the second half will appreciate nicely, if not, I've locked in some profits. It is also a good move given my last trade (MCO) really hurt and I need to ease back in to winning trades and making money.

Sold 4.75738 shares of JNY @ $31.868

Short watchlist: ACXM sector and PNR sector.

JNY and a watchlist (Late as usual)...

Better late than never. Took a position in JNY yesterday as it had a nice little morning, although the afternoon was very weak. I am a little concerned, but hopefully the overall market will give it a push. Also, I need to check to see if monthly comps are coming out tomorrow and I think they are. I don't want to be in the stock if that is the case. My notes:

JNY:


As for today's watchlist: NCI sector, ANF sector, WDC sector, ROST sector, STJ sector, and THC sector. Again, ANF and ROST may be with JNY and have monthly comps tomorrow, so make sure to check before trading. It may also be too late to enter today as the markets are popping as I type.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-07-2007...

Decent rally yesterday, although I did not enter a trade. Too busy with work and other tasks. No big deal, this may just be a bull trap before the next leg lower or it may be the start of a new up trend, either way, there will be many opportunities to come.

I'll be watching: AMGN sector, JNY sector, BRC sector, and PHLY sector tomorrow.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Pre-open 03-06-2007...

Wow, such tricky markets, glad I was all in cash yesterday, although having some overnight positions would've paid off early this AM. My long-term holding have taken a little beating, mostly because they have been decent gainers during the last rally and profit taking is inevitable. So, that's the way it goes.

I'll be watching: AMGN sect, XL sect, POP sect, and NEM sect today to see if valid entries are signaled. I am down ~1% in March and would like to get some winning trades in the books, although I will/must not force trades if my criteria are not met. It is as easy as that. Follow the rules, make money; break the rules, pay the price.

By the way, I've added a second link next to my watch lists. It takes me to each stock's sector page on Yahoo!. One of my criteria is a green sector and I just saves me some time, and is also a quick way to get at intraday charts.

For now,
Masterjaz out

Selling PDCO, Buying MCO, and a Watchlist

A lot of activity today, maybe too much. This was probably the busiest transaction week for me in a long time. I was adding to my long-term holdings after target prices were met and reinvesting tons of dividends. And then there were the trades. I sold PDCO in the AM as its volitile day yesterday both triggered a 1% stop loss increases and then it fell back to my original price. No big deal and I actually made some change on the trade. Sold 9.03068 shares at $33.368 for a net of:

PDCO: +$1.34 or +0.447%

Then there was my (mis)trade in MCO. Just not a wise trade and I also suffered from huge slippage. Two primary problems were trading a stock up on an upgrade (news-related) and chasing a large white candle (on a down market day, Thursday). Basically, the timing was all wrong and I will be making a note about news in my trading rules. I think the news got retail investors in the morning (along with a decent market, the sector was up), but the afternoon sell-off in the market coupled with the fading retail support just caused the stock to plummet. That is the way it goes, I learned something and will be better off in the future. My notes (for posterity):

Sold 4.46628 shares at $66.207 for a net of:

MCO: -$4.30 or -1.433%

Not too many charts to view on Friday after the close. Two candidates: AIR and ROG

For now,
Masterjaz out

PDCO and a watchlist...

Took a trade in PDCO this morning, and so far, so good. Kinda ironic given it the leading competitor to one of my parents employer. That's the market for you. Here are my notes:


As for a watchlist, lots of charts to look at today, something like 350, and a few I like. I'll be watching ALOG, CHG, INSU, WDR, BK, CPY, KSWS, NWK, MCO, PHM, and TMO. Let's see what the market brings.

For now,
Masterjaz out