his is one of the simplest trending strategies I use for day trading, and also one of the most effective. For this, it has been given the catchy name: Day Trade Trending Strategy. Using a one-minute chart the price will often make a larger move, have a very simple pullback, and then begin to move in the trending direction again. The strategy attempts to capitalize on that. Pullbacks aren’t always this simple, therefore, this strategy is best used in conjunction with the consolidation breakout method and the engulfing candle method (which this method is similar to).
The strategy utilizes the trend to make a profit and also keeps me out of the market when the market isn’t trending.
Before I begin, I cannot stress enough the importance of patience when employing the strategy. After you’ve exhibited patience, I am cannot stress enough the importance of restraint in not continuing to use the strategy once the window has closed. Like a fighter honing his striking skills, a strike is only effective if delivered at the exactly the right time. Too early, or too late, and the strike is not as effective. Wait for opportunities, then pounce…that’s how to trade the financial markets.
Day Trade Trending Strategy – When and How
The following day trading strategy provides roughly 4 to 8 trades per day, sometimes a bit more and sometimes a bit less. The main waves (trends) of the day are traded, usually with two trades per major price wave. Even if not taking trades using this method, it provides an overall context for the movements throughout the day, giving feedback and confirmation for many other strategies or signals which may arise.
When day trading stocks or forex I use a 1-minute chart and a Level II (not required for forex). The Level II is only used if the volume in a stock is bit low and I need to watch for when liquidity is available. If the stock has lots of volume (plenty of shares at every price level) then there is no need for a Level II, just use the chart.
Some days will turn out to be ranging days. If this case, no trades will be triggered, or very few, since intraday swing highs/lows will not be broken, thus no trend is present. Use patience and restraint. Only trade what the market actually provides. One of the most common problems new traders have is taking a trade too early and trying to get a better a price, assuming a trade will trigger in the near future. This is a big mistake. Only take a trade once the actual trade trigger (discussed a bit later) actually occurs. As alluded to prior, another mistake is waiting too long after a trade trigger has occurred. This too is detrimental to profits. Trades are taken at the exact moment of the trade trigger or not at all.
Don’t start using this strategy until about 30 minutes into the trading day. I have other strategies I use during the first half hour, such as the Truncated Price Swing Strategy.
We can now draw our downward trendline because we have broken lows and eventually we want to go short.
We then wait for a pullback towards the trendline
Please note, the trendline is only a visual and really has no significance to me. What matters, in this case, is that all the future swing highs in this move stay below the most recent swing high and new lows are created. As long as that happens, it is a downtrend. The opposite applies to an uptrend.
Enter short when the pullback is potentially ending, signaled by the price dropping back below the low of a green bar or cluster of bars near the trendline (doesn’t need to be exactly at trendline).
Day Trading Trending Strategy NOTES:
I am only taking trades in the trending direction. I am waiting for a pullback and then only entering once the price starts moving in the trending direction again. This takes skills, as it is a somewhat subjective form of analysis and trading.
The exact level of the trendline, if used, is not important. It is just a visual aid. Rather, understand that pullbacks in a downtrend can go almost all the way to the recent swing high in that downtrend, but should not exceed it (opposite for uptrend). As a pullback is occurring I am looking for any sort of shift which indicates a move back in the direction of the current primary trend.
If there is any question as to the current trend, I do not trade this strategy.
SPY is used for these trade examples, but the method can be applied to any stock or forex pair. Other stocks to consider for day trading each week are discussed on the Day Trading Stock Picks page.
If the market is pretty close to my profit target and starts to pull away from the target, I exit. I am not going to risk giving up a bunch of profit for a couple cents.
The target, which can be estimated before the trade occurs, needs to be realistically achievable based on the size of the recent price waves. If it the target will require the price have a much bigger move than it has been producing that day, the trade is skipped.