Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 21, 2009
All, this is the end of the blog. I’m moving on! I will actively keep in touch with you all through your blogs, Skype and email.
I really need to focus my energies on my trading and on my new direction. I know you all understand — hell some of you might even be happy that I’m leaving the blogosphere.
Whatever the case, good luck to all of you. My work here is done!
Cheers,
TLT
PS: Parting shot — the yen will make a comeback yet!
Posted in admin notes, trading journal, trading life | Comments Off
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 20, 2009
Sydney, October 21.
China”s Sep industrial production number has been leaked to the market 25 hours ahead of its scheduled release. Market expectations were for +13.3% Vs 12.3% previously, with the number coming in better than expected at 14.1%. The data has not yet been confirmed by an official source and may still change upon release at 02:00 GMT on Thursday. (ThomsonReuters)
0343 GMT [Dow Jones] USD/CNY up midday at 6.8272 in OTC trade vs 6.8265 yesterday close; trading between 6.8269-6.8275. Shanghai-based dealer with foreign bank tips pair to trade as high as 6.8288 in afternoon. “The fixing was set high by recent standards, and given the dollar’s overnight strength there’s some room to move.” (DEM)
Does this mean the yen will finally appreciate against the USD? Dunno. Have to wait and see. Are the numbers even accurate? No idea. Chinese data reflects whatever the central government wants. Much more so than the US or Europe or Japan. This will surely add fuel to China’s fire. It’s having a good year.
Posted in trading ideas | Tagged: China, CNY, currency, dollar, industrial, Japanese, JPY, leak, production, relative, US, USD, value, yen, yuan | Comments Off
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 20, 2009
Timeframe for this trade was one to three days. Seems the bids just kept coming at the handle. Rumor has it the French started the buying spree but I don’t know who has bought the second test of 14900. In any case, I’m out and will begin nursing a 6E long put on yesterday – I am counting on a retest of 15000 before the week is out. Maybe the market will grant me my wish of 15080!
I’ve been eyeing GBP pairs — a bit late in the game, but whatever. Lots of talk that GBPJPY has a lot more room to the upside. I am of the opinion that while there may be another leg higher left in the pair, GBP has to correct across the board before such a move can be sustained. Also, yen has to allow this to happen as well, but it looks like Fujii and others in the monetary-fiscal establishment have the speculative community just as confused as they are, so my guess is no direction in USDJPY for the rest of the week. For direction to happen, there has to be a catalyst and I just don’t see it. Any opinions out there?
Posted in trading journal | Tagged: 6E, currency, EURUSD, foreign exchange, Forex, futures, FX, GBPJPY, market, range, spot, technical, trade, trading, USDJPY | 1 Comment »
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 19, 2009
Flipped from long to short. Targeting 14840. Will reverse to long if lower prices seen and shoot for a longer term 154xx. The danger of entering late in the N.A. session is that attacks on levels often succeed in thinner markets. I expect there will be one tonight and I may puke up this trade before I’ve given it time to settle.
I’ve been struggling a bit with timing issues lately, so I anticipate this will be a scary trade. But I can’t deny the logic of playing the consolidation ranges with everything that is going on. It is only a matter of time before 1.5 is tested and broken — but the market (and my trading) is telling me to wait.
Flows and fundies point to a temporary top at or near this area. China rumored to be offering this morning at 14960. For that matter, other central banks are rumored to have been buying down around 14900 and 14850. Stories about central banks buying the USD to prop up their local currencies, and then selling USD for euros. I suspect US-based banks are doing the same. Geithner is telling the “American people” — which would include Canada and all of LATAM, if it were up to me; why is it that US citizens think they are the only Americans? – that they need to tighten their belts. Funny, but consumers in the US have already done so. What are you doing with all that treasure, Mr. Geithner? (Okay, I’ll stop picking on the messenger….)
Barriers above at 14970/75, 15000/10 and perhaps a bit higher from there. Lots of stops above 15010 will push this pair easily to 15025/35 if that level is breached. Support below at 14900, 14850/25 and 14675/50. Big support at 14450 and 14175. The proverbial line is drawn at 14045 or so. Below there, and I suspect it’s heading for 1.35.
Posted in trading journal | Tagged: analysis, barriers, currency, EURUSD, exchange, foreign, Forex, FX, market, option, range, resistance, sentiment, spot, support, swing, technical, trade, trading | 3 Comments »
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 18, 2009
Monday 19th Tuesday 20th Wednesday 21st Thursday 22nd Friday 23rd
$/Y & E/Y USD/JPY USD/JPY $/Y & E/Y USD/JPY
90.00 - 150M 88.50 - 150M 88.00 - 150M 90.10 - 150M 87.10 - 200M
90.20 - 200M 89.75 - 150M 88.75 - 150M 90.80 - 200M 88.50 - 150M
EUR/USD 90.00 - 500M 90.00 - 150M 90.05 - 100M 88.00 - 200M
1.4980 - 200M 90.60 - 300M 90.10 - 100M 89.50 - 200M 90.00 - 250M
1.4900 - 180M EUR/USD 90.50 - 200M 132.00 - 150M CABLE
GBP/USD 1.4810 - 150M EUR/USD EUR/USD 1.6000 - 100M
1.6000 - 200M 1.5300 - 300M 1.5025 - 200M 1.4680 - 200M EUR/USD
AUD/USD 1.5000 - 200M 1.50 OT 1.4750 - 500M 1.5100 - 200M
0.9100 - 100M 150 OT GBP & E/ AUD/USD 1.4920 - 150M
A/NZD 1.2050 AUD/USD 1.6000 - 100M 0.9055 - 100M USD/CAD
GBP/JPY 0.8940 - 100M 0.9150 - 100M 0.9000 - 300M 1.0430 - 100M
140.50 - 100M CAD & AUD 0.9300 - 100M AUD/JPY
145.60 - 100M NZD/USD 1.0910 - 100M AUD/JPY 79.10 76.00 - 100M
Monday 26th Tuesday 27th Wednesday 28th Thursday 29th Friday 30th
USD/JPY USD/JPY EUR/USD USD/JPY USD/JPY
88.50 - 150M 88.00 - 200M 1.4680 - 1BLN 87.00 - 150M 87.55 - 100M
89.60 - 300M 92.50 - 150M 1.4500 - 250M 87.20 - 150M
90.00 - 150M 93.00 - 200M 1.50 OT 88.10 - 150M
91.00 - 100M EUR/USD USD/JPY 90.50 - 150M EUR/USD
88.00 - 200M 1.4000 - 1BLN 88.00 - 200M EUR/USD 1.50 - 500M
1.5000 - 500M 88.60 - 150M 1.4450 - 150M AUD/JPY
EUR/USD CABLE 90.60 - 100M 1.4550 - 200M 76.00 - 100M
1.3500 - 400M 1.5900 - 100M 91.00 - 150M CABLE
USD/CAD 92.75 - 150M 1.6550 - 100M
USD/CAD 1.0100 - 100M 90.00 - 300M
1.1350 - 100M AUD/USD CABLE CAD
0.9400 - 100M 1.6200 - 100M 1.0400 - 100M
0.9250 - 100M AUD/USD
0.9150 - 100M 0.8900 - 150M
0.8725 - 150M GBP/NZD
0.8580 - 100M 2.3000 - 100M
Source: IFR Markets
Posted in trading ideas | Tagged: 10AM, analysis, barriers, calendar, currency, cut, fix, foreign, Forex, FX, IFR, maturity, New York, options, Reuters, spot, Thomson, ThomsonReuters, trade, trading | Comments Off
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 15, 2009
I had posted an update and a chart on the last post, but somehow WordPress reverted my update to the original version and the chart disappeared — so here it is again.
At 2328 PST on 14 October or thereabouts I was filled EURUSD long at 14946′5. I then attached a chart to that effect:

So there you go. I’m still long and will add below if 146xx is seen. Targeting another retest of 1. 5 and higher, depending on the price action.
There. Now wordpress can’t erase my stuff and you can all see why I’m getting hammered. (Also long yen futs — HAMMERED.)
Posted in trading journal | Tagged: currency, earnings, effect, euro, EURUSD, exchange, foreign, Forex, futures, FX, getting, Goldman, GS, hammered, market, S&P, Sachs, spot, trading, USDJPY, yen | 2 Comments »
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 15, 2009
Definitely on the wrong side of the trade today. I knew the dip was coming, just didn’t know when. Wondering if perhaps this won’t end up being a correction — but the odds aren’t very good because we still have to get through earnings season. If anything, we’re in a wait and see but increasingly anxious mood due to the levels we’re trading at. (Am I wrong here?)
I think the tailwinds will eventually carry the day however, and we will close near the levels of the European open in most currency pairs and in the S&P and currency futs. Maybe a bit off — as in less than 0.2%-0.3% off of yesterday’s close in most of the instruments I watch. Still, for someone trading 100 contracts in the S&P or 6J, that’s quite a bit of moolah — but that’s not me so no worries. Or, at any rate, no panic. Yet. I’m only trading one contract.
Not sure if this dip was big enough to bring in the players needed to take EURUSD beyond 1.5, however. The market is just too long euros, still, and too long yen, for that matter. Or that’s my opinion. It doesn’t help that I’m also long euros and yen! Lots of interesting things happening in the crosses right now, so looking for opportunities there.
I’m getting hammered today, so I might just step back and not force things, if you know what I mean. GS earnings due out soon. Estimate at Rightline is 4.24 EPS, but I think it will be higher (Alan says as high as 6!) and that the market will have pretty much priced this in — I have no idea why I think that. Could be that I read it somewhere but I have absolutely no way of quantifying that statement.
Posted in trading journal | Tagged: currency, earnings, effect, euro, EURUSD, exchange, foreign, Forex, futures, FX, getting, Goldman, GS, hammered, market, S&P, Sachs, spot, trading, USDJPY, yen | Comments Off
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 14, 2009
Price is currently hovering at 14955/65. Would really like to see stops below 50 cleared out before the next run higher but I doubt it will happen before I fall asleep. I suspect I won’t see that level before the first test of 85/95, but I’ve put a limit buy order in at 51 with a sell order at 82 if executed. (I won’t be reversing, however.) Everyone is talking about very large barriers at 15000/10. If they are large enough to precipitate a cascade of profit taking then all the better. I’ll add again! Goldman is predicting 1.55 in the next six months, but they also said the pair would trough at 1.35 in the next twelve. Or was it three and six? I can’t recall.
I wonder if the market has priced in earnings from GS tomorrow — and the other major players as well. I have to wonder if the reaction won’t be muted. Will traders push the S&P up to 1100 this week? Your guess is as good as mine. If I were feeling froggy, I would go long here at 1088 (I’m watching ES dec 09) but the potential carnage of a correction would be very bad for my smallish account.
At the moment, I’m playing both sides of the yen in the Frankfurt noise — a few ticks here, a few there. Hopefully I won’t get hammered from the wrong side.
You all know where the rest of the currencies, indices and commodities are trading, so I won’t bother you with a bunch of quotes.
Posted in trading ideas | Tagged: 6J, currency, earnings, ES, EURUSD, exchange, forecast, foreign, Forex, futures, FX, Goldman, GS, market, S&P, Sachs, spot, trading, USDJPY | Comments Off
Posted by The Lonely Trader on October 12, 2009
Doubtful that my EURUSD target will be hit today, given the number of failures below 14840. But there is an option level of decent size and interest at 14850 that could serve as a magnet. It isn’t a barrier, to my knowlege, so the level won’t necessarily be defended as stronly as if it were. (I assume a lot, I know.) But hey, if I can get out of this trade by the end of the week, I’ll consider it a success.
[Options Maturity Calendar] [>>]
Tuesday 13th Wednesday 14th Thursday 15th Friday 16th Monday 19th
USD/JPY USD/JPY USD/JPY USD/JPY $/Y & E/Y
90.00 - 350M 88.25 - 100M 88.00 - 150M 87.00 - 150M
90.50 - 200M 88.40 - 100M 88.40 - 150M 86.80 - 150M 88.45 - 100M
EUR/USD 91.00 - 200M 89.75 - 250M 87.00 - 150M 90.00 - 150M
1.4850 Exotic EUR/USD 90.00 - 150M 90.70 - 150M 90.20 - 200M
1.4850 - 350M 1.4600 - 200M EUR/USD EUR/USD 131.20 - 150M
EUR/CHF 1.4985 - 150M 1.4600 - 150M 1.4400 - 150M 131.30 - 100M
1.5135 - 200M GBP/USD 1.4630 - 100M 1.4815 - 150M 131.45 - 100M
1.5170 - 200M 1.6250 - 100M 1.4680 - 250M 1.5175 - 100M GBP/USD
AUD/USD USD/CAD 1.4780 - 100M GBP/USD 1.5950 - 100M
90.50 - 150M 1.0515 - 100M 1.4800 - 150M 1.6000 - 100M 1.6000 - 100M
90.45 - 200M 1.0800 - 100M 1.4850 - 150M USD/CAD AUD/USD
90.65 - 100M AUD/USD 1.5000 - 150M 1.0400 - 100M 0.9100 - 100M
90.60 - 100M 0.8725 - 100M GBP/USD 1.0750 - 100M 0.8900 - 100M
90.00 - 100M AUD/JPY 1.5605 - 100M 1.0850 - 100M 0.8800 - 100M
USD/CAD 78.00 - 100M AUD/USD 1.0955 - 100M 0.8430 - 100M
Posted in research, trading ideas | Tagged: barrier, calendar, currency, exchange, exotic, foreign, Forex, FX, knock-in, knock-out, market, maturity, options, spot, trade, trading, up-and-in, vanilla | Comments Off