Why am I doing better in the afternoon?

Heya Peeps,

I'm hoping that you can help me to understand myself a bit.

Lately I've been really struggling in the morning. Getting into the red; just reading things the wrong way. In the afternoon, however, I seem to be able to claw my way back in.

Is there such a thing as a morning vs afternoon trader? Is it crazy to sit through the morning and observe, and start trading after noon?

Sincerely,
Keith

 

Hangover wears off by then?

 

A little hair of the dog at lunch helps.

 

I have seen advice on folks recommending waiting the first few hours to see the mood of the day before jumping in.

But I've also seen people say that the morning volatility is the best time to trade.

Different strokes, different folks.

Perhaps you are more overeager in the morning, and then the pain of the morning puts proper caution into your technique.

Try just trading in the afternoon and see if your results improve. Personally I have found a lot of discipline in being able to just watch the market without entering.

 

Start with a demo or in simulation mode. Sounds like you need a few trades to get warmed up.

Plus the market can be brutal at the open of both Euro and US sessions. Thats when the big players try to do the most damage.

 

This is an excellent opinion. Thank you.

 

Is the price action markedly different in the morning vs. the afternoon for the markets you follow? And, if so, could the time of day have a bearing on when the market is more amenable to the trading method you use?

 

Yes, the price action is very different in the morning. It's much choppier. In the afternoon, the curves are smoother. Additionally, I tend to short in the afternoon, to piggyback on the algo profit-takers that rode a horse up in the morning.

 

Then I think you've just answered your own question.

 

Well, you helped me to answer my own question.