March 14
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Trades Taken: 4
Trade Plan
Yesterday: A steady sell yesterday, but still getting the conditioned reaction at proper levels. Played calls yesterday for multiple winners.
Plan: A decent gap up this morning, peaked at 8:30. Holding a few SPY calls in my swing account that I bought at lower level yesterday, should be up nicely if we stay mid range during pre market. First range for the long on both spy and qqq is interesting, a further dip into previous close would also be a long. Shorts, I’m looking for quick reactions, I can certainly see a short cover today (market squeezes up as shorts take profit).
Result: Gap up this morning continued with a nice push out of the gate. I scatter sold my spy calls that I held over night (in my swing account) as we approached first short level up near 560, a really nice trade. As I was getting out of the calls, I took SPY 560 puts for a nice little trade. I wanted to be out before 10:00 consumer sentiment release. Trade would have been a huge hit if I had left it on, but I play predictable levels, I don’t gamble on numbers. Took the puts again as we were approaching morning highs for a quick scalp as it worked right away (SPY 560 puts final). Switched gears to SPY 554 calls as we approached morning lows (retest after numbers release). Nice little reaction here, all I’m really looking for. Markets pushed into second level shorts. I executed on SPY 563 puts (SPY 563 puts zoomed) for a fantastic first reaction. Both markets lined up at same time, nice patience and execution to snag the base hit to end the week!
March 13
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Trades Taken: 5
Trade Plan
Yesterday: A sell off in the morning yesterday, but the proper long level (previous close) worked on both markets to strategy. A nice recovery in the afternoon. While it was a red daily candle, there was some strength present.
Plan: With 10 minutes to go, markets pumping its head on the previous close. A push into the 5 ema for a first test would be a short opportunity for me. It is wide to the next short level, up near the 9 ema and daily range. A remount of previous close for a long is in the cards. A short under previous close is in play as well. This is what I call the “middle man”. Previous close will be an area to watch. QQQ into 471.60 is my favorite long set up, if it happens.
Result: A dip out of the gate and I got started on SPY 556 calls for a quick scalp here, a one minute trade on the quick dip. Next came QQQ 472 calls, tagging this one multiple times. I made a significant error in selling when I meant to buy. Tried to correct it once I noticed it, but damage was done. I did still manage the trade fine after that, but lost a majority of the profit on this trade with that error. I continued to play calls on SPY on game of peaks and valleys until we hit lower level. I played SPY 555 calls SPY 551 calls and SPY 549 calls on the steady, consistent sell off.
March 12
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Trades Taken: 3
Trade Plan
Yesterday: Overall a pretty clean day yesterday. Levels remain wide as we are still looking for relief in form of a bounce.
Plan: CPI gave a spike this morning, not nearly as much of a move as I thought it would produce. Previous close for a long on both markets, multiple short levels to work with, but hesitant on the short especially if we dip first out of the gate.
Result: Both markets popped at the open, neither getting above the CPI numbers. Opening price broke and we came down pretty hard. I got a starter in on SPY 556 calls for a nice reaction. Took this later in the morning on a proper test of level (SPY 556 calls 2nd time) for another nice base hit right into first target. I also traded AMZN 202 calls on the dip for a nice play as well before it continued to sell off.
March 11
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Trades Taken: 2
Trade Plan
Yesterday: A significant further move down yesterday, a broad move in the markets. Yes, there is fear in the news (tariffs etc), but I would also argue we have been overdue for a pullback. Yesterday’s action STILL respecting proper volume levels. I traded more yesterday in one day than I have in years. Alerts going off left and right on major tests, I’m taking the trade. A nice 7 for 8 yesterday, all on calls at support levels.
Plan: Markets hanging around previous close with 20 minutes to go. A continued move down out of the gate, and I’m absolutely looking to go long. A deep move this morning would really extend us from the 5 ema on the daily chart. Small size idea on that trade, but I think it can run. Yellow line is there for a short trade that is closer, but I would careful being short above the previous close today…
Result: A move up out of the gate to start the day. I did not like the distance on previous close for a short, so stayed away from that. I took a pullback trade on QQQ 472 calls for a quick gainer. Idea was to take the pullback into the previous close to retest it after we blew past it. My starter position worked right away, going back into highs, so I pay out. Second trade was on steady sell into level for SPY 554 calls. Doesn’t look like much, but again that’s just under 10% in a minute, right at level.
NVDA calls that I held over night, I sold on morning push right into 110 level. Fantastic 50% gain on the last piece of that trade from yesterday (swing account).
The goal is not to find the bottom (or top), but to consistently execute on predictable volume zones for a consistent 10-20% return on first reactions. Simple, but not easy.
March 10
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Trades Taken: 8
Trade Plan
Yesterday: Markets continue to be volatile, but within reason. Again, the trade plan working well on Friday, and I went both long and short. Markets, and individual stocks, are getting to (and currently at) very interesting support levels. I am leaning long for reactionary bounce this week. We could absolutely see more red first, but I do believe we get a strong green day soon. AMD, NVDA, TSLA, AMZN are stocks I am watching as well for options entries. With that said, the further down we go, the better. Perspective is everything.
Plan: A gap down after a short cover Friday afternoon. Markets haven’t tested Friday’s lows, so curious to see if we stay in a middle range before market open. Previous close is resistance and a short level until proven otherwise. Getting over previous close, and a remount, and the longs will start pouring in=short cover/short squeeze. QQQ I’m actually looking lower than Friday’s lows, I like 477.50 range for a stab at the long IF/WHEN we test it.
With volatility comes increased risk. I’ve learned that less is more in these times. I size down on my trades and let the distance do the work. Risk boxes look tiny on days/weeks of volatility, so one has to understand how wicks form, and size accordingly.
Result: Markets full of opportunity today. Several trades today, and a few outside SPY and QQQ due to extreme levels testing.
SPY 564 calls- first dip out of the gate for a nice base hit.
AMZN 200 calls- very early, averaged on this one and paid out nicely on the push.
QQQ 477 calls- twice I took this, in and out both times for a couple of nice plays.
SPY 563 calls- came in to proper test of level, nice bounce and pay.
NVDA 110 calls- for an extreme distance play, happy with the move.
TSLA 260 calls gave me a red trade, I missed the additional round of buying, my own fault for being involved in multiple trades at once. I did get out where I should have, avoiding an even bigger red as TSLA really sold off after the reaction here.
I also took AMZN and QQQ later in the afternoon, I do not have screenshots of those (different brokerage account).
A fantastic day. Even during uncertain times, tariffs in the news, you name it, levels work on first test with proper speed and distance.