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Manual trading or EA??

Jul 01, 2012 at 06:27
3,594 Views
41 Replies
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 11, 2012 at 12:57

   BenNathan posted:
   I think manual is better having done both - with manual, if you can shut off the emotion, you can discern the market in ways an EA cant therefore not taking unsuitable trades just because they are part of a strategy regardless of the trend as EAs do.

Yeah, but you can't sit 24 hours a day glaring at your screen, while the EA can. An EA will catch all trade opportunities, while manually you're limited to your session's span (8-10 hours?)
Member Since Jul 12, 2011   12 posts
Jul 11, 2012 at 23:42
Why just because you manuel trade do you have to stair at your computer screen for 8-10 hours straight? I find when I do that I don't do as good as to set sl , tp along with if so desired pending orders.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 12, 2012 at 08:45

   paddleplus posted:
   Why just because you manuel trade do you have to stair at your computer screen for 8-10 hours straight? I find when I do that I don't do as good as to set sl , tp along with if so desired pending orders.

Well, trading manually requires you to be in front of your trading platform as much time as you can, otherwise you can miss set ups - isn't that correct? Unless you have a trading system that works on specific hours of the day only.

How much time do you spend in front of your PC then?
Member Since Jul 03, 2012   186 posts
Jul 12, 2012 at 09:06
Well, not really. You can analyze the pairs you like and then enter your trade, set-up S/L and T/P and then walk away. You determine how many trades you want at any give time so there is no reason to stare at your screen for that long. I take my two hours in the morning and then see what is going on. I check the market in the evening if necessary, but what good does it do if you don't have time to enjoy your trading profits?
Pax puts the X in Forex.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 12, 2012 at 12:12

   TheLastBear posted:
   Well, not really. You can analyze the pairs you like and then enter your trade, set-up S/L and T/P and then walk away. You determine how many trades you want at any give time so there is no reason to stare at your screen for that long. I take my two hours in the morning and then see what is going on. I check the market in the evening if necessary, but what good does it do if you don't have time to enjoy your trading profits?

Well, you do have a point, but I think it depends much on your trading system. You can't preset entry/exit levels with any manual systems as in some you might need to see confirmation before opening the trade, which requires you to be there when it happens.

I assume your trading system is more long term? In such case, the entry/exit point don't have to be accurate as with a short term system.
lkwong
forex_trader_77056
Member Since May 10, 2012   71 posts
Jul 12, 2012 at 16:39
I trade manually, and I spend maybe half an hour each day executing my trading plan. Guess its alot easier when I trade daily and weekly charts. Even though I could write my system into an EA, I do feel a lot more comfortable doing everything myself.
Member Since Jul 12, 2011   12 posts
Jul 12, 2012 at 20:06
I spend more time then I should maybe a hour or two a day total looking for possiable set ups and reading the blogs with all the great EA's that will make you rich over night. I always thought that I could not manuel trade because I have a fultime job also raising a family. Well I am finding out that I enjoy manuel trading more all the time and by not watching the market hour after hour I do better. It takes me about 5 minutes or less to scan over nine or so pairs to see if there might be a set up coming that that I like. I will glance at the market when I can. Hey and if I miss some no big deal I did not lose money, ther will always be more trades and it gives me a chance to see how the market is reacting. I have tried and am still trying many EA's yet there is nothing more fun then fishing for pips manuely. But hey different strokes for different folks. What counts is that you are having fun and enjoying it or why bother.
Pip On
Paddleplus
Member Since Jun 23, 2012   55 posts
Jul 13, 2012 at 02:31

   James_Bond posted:
   

   paddleplus posted:
   Why just because you manuel trade do you have to stair at your computer screen for 8-10 hours straight? I find when I do that I don't do as good as to set sl , tp along with if so desired pending orders.

Well, trading manually requires you to be in front of your trading platform as much time as you can, otherwise you can miss set ups - isn't that correct? Unless you have a trading system that works on specific hours of the day only.

How much time do you spend in front of your PC then?
I hope not, I set up three trades at 6 am and left for work. I`ll see how I went when I get home. Bruce
Member Since Jul 03, 2012   186 posts
Jul 13, 2012 at 10:10

   James_Bond posted:
   

   TheLastBear posted:
   Well, not really. You can analyze the pairs you like and then enter your trade, set-up S/L and T/P and then walk away. You determine how many trades you want at any give time so there is no reason to stare at your screen for that long. I take my two hours in the morning and then see what is going on. I check the market in the evening if necessary, but what good does it do if you don't have time to enjoy your trading profits?

Well, you do have a point, but I think it depends much on your trading system. You can't preset entry/exit levels with any manual systems as in some you might need to see confirmation before opening the trade, which requires you to be there when it happens.

I assume your trading system is more long term? In such case, the entry/exit point don't have to be accurate as with a short term system.

No, my system is short term. I do check in during the day from my mobile device, but I ignore all the noise that is short-term. I enter the trade when I am sure of all the confirmation I need so after I decide on a trade there is no need to sit and wait. I hate long-term trades. I live today and not weeks from now so I want to enjoy the benefits of my work every day.
Pax puts the X in Forex.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 13, 2012 at 12:47

   lkwong posted:
   I trade manually, and I spend maybe half an hour each day executing my trading plan. Guess its alot easier when I trade daily and weekly charts. Even though I could write my system into an EA, I do feel a lot more comfortable doing everything myself.

That's very interesting. I haven't encountered anyone yet who knowingly preferred trading a system manually rather automatically. Have you tried automating it before? This would take some time in the short term, but longer term, it would free your time to explore and develop other trading systems.

In any case, having an automated system doesn't mean you lose control over it, but on the contrary, it gives you a complete control over it as you remove the human factor. You can still turn it off an on as you wish and keep fine tunning it.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 13, 2012 at 12:50

   paddleplus posted:
   I spend more time then I should maybe a hour or two a day total looking for possiable set ups and reading the blogs with all the great EA's that will make you rich over night. I always thought that I could not manuel trade because I have a fultime job also raising a family. Well I am finding out that I enjoy manuel trading more all the time and by not watching the market hour after hour I do better. It takes me about 5 minutes or less to scan over nine or so pairs to see if there might be a set up coming that that I like. I will glance at the market when I can. Hey and if I miss some no big deal I did not lose money, ther will always be more trades and it gives me a chance to see how the market is reacting. I have tried and am still trying many EA's yet there is nothing more fun then fishing for pips manuely. But hey different strokes for different folks. What counts is that you are having fun and enjoying it or why bother.
Pip On
Paddleplus

I see. It sounds like it's also your hobby during which you have fun and relax and I feel the same. It is definitely much less stressful when it is not your main income.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 13, 2012 at 12:53

   TheLastBear posted:
   

   James_Bond posted:
   

   TheLastBear posted:
   Well, not really. You can analyze the pairs you like and then enter your trade, set-up S/L and T/P and then walk away. You determine how many trades you want at any give time so there is no reason to stare at your screen for that long. I take my two hours in the morning and then see what is going on. I check the market in the evening if necessary, but what good does it do if you don't have time to enjoy your trading profits?

Well, you do have a point, but I think it depends much on your trading system. You can't preset entry/exit levels with any manual systems as in some you might need to see confirmation before opening the trade, which requires you to be there when it happens.

I assume your trading system is more long term? In such case, the entry/exit point don't have to be accurate as with a short term system.

No, my system is short term. I do check in during the day from my mobile device, but I ignore all the noise that is short-term. I enter the trade when I am sure of all the confirmation I need so after I decide on a trade there is no need to sit and wait. I hate long-term trades. I live today and not weeks from now so I want to enjoy the benefits of my work every day.

Very well. I hate it when I have a trade going and away from the pc. You can get almost obsessed with the market and look for any time when you can check up with your trades (mobile device, internet cafe, etc'). Do you experience the same sometimes?
Member Since Jun 20, 2012   6 posts
Jul 13, 2012 at 14:59
EA sir 😄
make it SIMPLE
Member Since Jul 03, 2012   186 posts
Jul 16, 2012 at 10:36

Very well. I hate it when I have a trade going and away from the pc. You can get almost obsessed with the market and look for any time when you can check up with your trades (mobile device, internet cafe, etc'). Do you experience the same sometimes?

No, I don't really anymore. When I started out yes I would keep checking but now after I enter my trade and place the S/L and T/P I simply don't worry about it anymore.
Pax puts the X in Forex.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 16, 2012 at 13:00

TheLastBear posted:

Very well. I hate it when I have a trade going and away from the pc. You can get almost obsessed with the market and look for any time when you can check up with your trades (mobile device, internet cafe, etc'). Do you experience the same sometimes?

No, I don't really anymore. When I started out yes I would keep checking but now after I enter my trade and place the S/L and T/P I simply don't worry about it anymore.

Is that because you're system is working? Or because you stopped being nervous with open trades? I seem to always worry about trades, especially if they're in the red.
stevewalker
forex_trader_79941
Member Since Jun 06, 2012   1439 posts
Jul 16, 2012 at 16:01
this Q is like bcycle or car?

IMO both
lkwong
forex_trader_77056
Member Since May 10, 2012   71 posts
Jul 16, 2012 at 17:50

James_Bond posted:
[
Is that because you're system is working? Or because you stopped being nervous with open trades? I seem to always worry about trades, especially if they're in the red.

There is a lot of talk about trading mentality and I'm inclined to believe its true, but very few are able to practice it. If you've back tested, forward tested, done the statistics and covered all your bases, you'd know that its normal to take a loss.

Theres nothing wrong with worrying, and feeling the impulses, but sticking to your guns, and following through your trading plan is essential to getting the results you've seen in the tests (which should be positive, if you're already trading live). You may deviate from the plan, and get luck once, twice and maybe even three times, but in the long run ... results may vary.
Member Since Jul 03, 2012   186 posts
Jul 17, 2012 at 09:56

Is that because you're system is working? Or because you stopped being nervous with open trades? I seem to always worry about trades, especially if they're in the red.

It is a combination of moth. I trust my system 100% as I have booked several thousand trades with it and the results were always stable despite what is going on in the markets. This allows me not to worry after I place a trade, which you should not do anyways. Trading is emotionless and the sooner you master that the faster you will enjoy less stressful trading.
Pax puts the X in Forex.
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 17, 2012 at 10:29

lkwong posted:

James_Bond posted:
[
Is that because you're system is working? Or because you stopped being nervous with open trades? I seem to always worry about trades, especially if they're in the red.

There is a lot of talk about trading mentality and I'm inclined to believe its true, but very few are able to practice it. If you've back tested, forward tested, done the statistics and covered all your bases, you'd know that its normal to take a loss.

Theres nothing wrong with worrying, and feeling the impulses, but sticking to your guns, and following through your trading plan is essential to getting the results you've seen in the tests (which should be positive, if you're already trading live). You may deviate from the plan, and get luck once, twice and maybe even three times, but in the long run ... results may vary.

I agree, but it's not like I control it, do I? If my brain decides to worry, than I have no choice but agree 😄
Member Since Jan 14, 2010   556 posts
Jul 17, 2012 at 10:29

TheLastBear posted:

Is that because you're system is working? Or because you stopped being nervous with open trades? I seem to always worry about trades, especially if they're in the red.

It is a combination of moth. I trust my system 100% as I have booked several thousand trades with it and the results were always stable despite what is going on in the markets. This allows me not to worry after I place a trade, which you should not do anyways. Trading is emotionless and the sooner you master that the faster you will enjoy less stressful trading.

I guess you've found your 'holy grail'. I'm afraid to say I'm not there yet.
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