I mentioned before that my futures contract of choice to trade is the US dollar. Every night I go over my dollar related charts and begin to form a bias for the next trading session be it an afterhours or an intraday trade. I thought I would post a couple charts that are speaking to me this fine Saturday evening.

We are at an important level with the us dollar. If you look at my US dollar chart I mention that we will either break down or our current price is at support and we move higher*. However, before I make a trade I will need to see the price action as it hits this lower trend-line here at $80.00. Does it bounce, or break through?

Below is a play by play rundown of a typical dollar futures trade. You should be able to click on each screenshot to see the progression of the trade along with any notes written on the chart as the trade was taking place.

1.) Before I place a trade (no matter the trading vehicle) I already know where the support and resistance levels are. This is a short term trade (scalp) but you can essentially do the same thing for a longer term swing trade or investment.

This first chart shows that I bought the dollar on a huge pull back.  I placed the trade on a support line I had mapped out days in advanced. I did not know if the price would ever reach this level, but I map these channels and levels anyway. Then I wait patiently and if  the price hits a support line I buy or sell it looking for a bounce.

I made this chart a few days ago and I forgot to post. It was an update of ATVI's price action. At some point it looks to move to 13.00ish. (Unless the market goes south) It needs to hold these current  levels and break above the 200 day moving average still. Overall I think ATVI looks good here in the short (2 week ) - mid-term (2 month). I am holding a swing from 10.00. If it hits 12.50 I will reevaluate.

- S

No charts?!?! I wish I did, but I currently have no new stock picks to post. I suppose I could update some of my older charts with a new blurb or two as to what I see moving forward.  But I didn't want to do that. I put the charts out there, and unless something huge has changed in said stock I will let them be for now.

So why do I not have any new stocks to post? This is partly to do with my trading style along with the current state of the market.  I am a "buy into weakness" type of swing trader and investor. I have learned the hard way that I can get eaten up if I buy into momentum. The market definately has momentum right now and so I sit back and manage my current swing trades and I hold back on buying new positions in anything outside what I already own.

This blog: This blog is a Journal of my stock trades and ideas as I move forward through the turbulence of these markets. I am still forming my thoughts and charting to the best of my ability. Please use these posts and charts along with any of your own biases, knowledge and research as one piece of a greater puzzle as you invest or trade any money.

These charts: However, I do want to say that I am serious. I am not full time daytrader or a professionally paid broker or analyst. BUT I do take the things I post here seriously. I will not post charts, commentary or personal trade results that are not my own. (If I post an article you will know it's not mine)

I still watch TM on a daily basis. Like I mentioned in my post on the 23rd I would have bought the stock if it were not in the news so much right now. I missed a great 3.00 move to the high 74.00's. TM is now at 74.83.

This would have been a nice trade based just on the charts, but there are other things that I consider when calculating risk. One such thing is sentiment and the uncertainty with the news media's spin. The controversy and daily spin regarding TM appears to be a witch hunt and one has to keep in mind that the news can effect the stock on a dime. I will keep you posted if I see another interesting level for a TM trade.

-S