DAX

Last week never really settled down, and it closed with all three indices lower for a second week running even after a strong Friday. This week starts quietly by comparison, nothing major is due out of the US today, but that quiet is only the calm before Friday, when new Fed chair Kevin Warsh delivers his first keynote address at Jackson Hole. Wednesday’s GDP and PCE double-header is the last real data point standing between here and there, and how markets read it will shape how much room Warsh has to move the needle on Friday. ...

This one’s going out two days later than planned, picking up mid-week instead of at the start of it. Last week ended with records: the S&P 500 broke 7,800 on Thursday, the DAX brushed its own all-time high on Friday, and the Nasdaq Composite put in its best single session in weeks. The two sessions since have undone a good part of that. Long-dated Treasury yields have spiked to levels not seen since 2007, oil has jumped as US-Iran talks over the Strait of Hormuz broke down, and all three indices have now fallen for two straight days. Today’s FOMC minutes and a wave of retail earnings, several of them out this morning, are what decide whether that continues. ...

Last week gave the desks something to talk about. The DAX, Dow, and Nasdaq all closed near records on Friday, each riding its own version of the same story: an earnings season stronger than expected, and a labour market soft enough to put rate cuts back on the table. This week hands the wheel to a different driver. With earnings thinning out, US inflation data takes over as the thing that moves price. ...

The DAX open never behaves the same way twice, and that’s the first thing you have to make peace with. Some mornings it gaps, spikes, reverses, or chops sideways for an hour before it commits to a direction, other mornings it barely moves at all, as though it hasn’t had its coffee yet, and every so often it’s clean from the first bar. There’s no way to know in advance which version you’re getting, and that uncertainty is usually my cue to stay out. There are always exceptions, but the safer approach is almost always to sit on your hands and let the move come to you. ...

Part of an ongoing trader interview series — the same set of questions put to different traders, covering background, psychology, strategy, and lessons learned. Originally published on Traders Questions. I’ve been trading for around 4 years now. Mostly DAX from Frankfurt/London Open, occasionally NASD, EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY. About me Brit, living in South Africa since 2009. Past work in electronics and IT. What was your journey that led you into trading? ...

Part of an ongoing trader interview series — the same set of questions put to different traders, covering background, psychology, strategy, and lessons learned. Originally published on Traders Questions. Nearly full time trader — but have a farm and a deli business to run too. About yourself Started trading approximately 12 years ago but scaled back due to other commitments. Re-entered the field 3-4 years ago, experienced difficulty in the first year, then achieved steady progress. Now generates income through trading activities. ...

Part of an ongoing trader interview series — the same set of questions put to different traders, covering background, psychology, strategy, and lessons learned. Originally published on Traders Questions. Pete is a trader from Snorm’s chat group with over 5 years of experience. He actively trades DAX in mornings and DOW/NASD in afternoons. A bit about yourself What was your journey that led you into trading? Pete sought an independent business venture after running a company with employees proved stressful. He wanted work he could manage alone with “possible unlimited rewards.” ...

Part of an ongoing trader interview series — the same set of questions put to different traders, covering background, psychology, strategy, and lessons learned. Originally published on Traders Questions. Grant is featured as part of the trader interview series from Snorm’s trading chat group. He’s noted for a structured approach to trading that facilitates backtesting and comfortable trade execution. A bit about yourself What was your journey that led you into trading? ...

Part of an ongoing trader interview series — the same set of questions put to different traders, covering background, psychology, strategy, and lessons learned. Originally published on Traders Questions. Steve describes himself as a full-time trader with extensive experience coding trading tools. His primary objective involves developing automated systems so he can dedicate more time to leisure: “My number one goal, with trading, is to create a robot to do all the trading for me.” ...