Note that as in the current market, we've got terrific volatility, especially in oil, energy and other stocks... and yet because of high gas prices, and negative consumer sentiment, and uncertainty over the upcoming presidential elections... many traders may not trade this market... which would be a mistake.

Oftentimes, it's the PERFECT time to be trading, when it all seems 'gloom and doom'. You have to FIGHT the temptation to 'feel' like the media and the public would have you feel, because that will often sideline you during what should be superb trading opportunities.

Pay attention to the chart patterns, the technicals, and sector/market indices to help gauge which days and times are best for trading!

Any insights to share on that? "When it feels like an awful time in the markets, it's often one of the BEST times...for active traders to capitalize on volatility."

thanks,

Ken

Any insights to share on that? "When it feels like an awful time in the markets, it's often one of the BEST times...for active traders to capitalize on volatility."

thanks, Ken

Also the opposite is true. this may not have happened to everyone but on Friday the day the shorting rule took effect. I was expecting a big movement to the up side, which happened. But it was so fast and violent it was like trying to board a speeding train on the stocks I was trying to trade. It reversed pretty fast too, then consolidated sideways. At the end of the day I saw some movers, but not the patterns I trade. It was mostly those slow grinders, the ones that might move a buck over the day, but in penny increments.

Hi Cash, I've found that it's often when sentiment is worst, eg "the sky's falling", many traders avoid trading, which isn't the best answer... though things "feel" bad (eg what's on cnbc/cnn, financial market meltdown on wall street), it's often those times during which daily trading ranges are best/widest for trading ... and right re friday, on fast-moving days like that it's often good to only trade w/limit entries and focus on those w/highest volume, to get easier fills w/tighter spreads (which means nas vs nyse stocks often)..

-ken