An NYSE Scalper's Tale - A Trader's Diary

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Sleepless Night, Frustrating Day

Gross: -$45.88
Net: -$352.36
Loss From Top: $694.48
Trades: 69
Shares Traded: 308200

Stocks Traded Today (net profit/loss):
Ford Motor Company (F): +$115.02
EMC Corporation (EMC): +$24.84
Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ): -$20.14
Alcatel-Lucent (ALU): -$21.05
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT): -$23.73
General Electric Company (GE): -$62.61
The Home Depot Inc. (HD): -$65.91
Time Warner Inc. (TWX): -$298.77

Well, like a lot of traders today, I made some money in the morning. But the smart ones and the patient ones were able to keep their money, while I gave it all back...and then some.

Even though there seemed to be quite a few companies in the news or reporting, I couldn't seem to make very good trades on them.

Part of the reason is that I felt dead tired and half the time I didn't really feel like being there. I hardly slept last night because the residents living in the next townhouse had music blaring until midnight and once it stopped, I found that I couldn't sleep. I think I fell asleep at around 2AM, but then woke up at 3:30AM and then I couldn't sleep again. I fell back asleep at around 5:30AM and woke up at 6:30AM.

In the morning, I felt a little groggy and it really felt like a lot of effort to get myself into the office. Once I got there, all I felt like doing was sleeping.

I had some profits in the morning and I completely missed lunch as I was in a trade and I didn't want to leave my position to go get it.

But then the afternoon just became one big ball of frustration as nothing seemed to be moving and the Futures just kept shaking and baking all day.

Then I started becoming impatient for something to happen and every time the Futures or a stock made any kind of movement, I'd find myself in a trade (even though I shouldn't have).

Add to it my tiredness and you get the kind of day I had today. I just wasn't into it.

There were lots and lots of break even trades so all the fees just added up.

By the end of the day, I felt as though it was a complete waste of time and for most of the day, I just flat out didn't care. I also found myself cursing the markets for being so boring and that there was absolutely nothing to trade.

All of these feelings probably came out because of the lack of sleep (you know that feeling where every little thing seems to tick you off).

Not gonna bother with tonight's On Tap post. I'm really tired right now and I'm quite surprised I found the energy to type this up.

I've got a letter all typed up for our neighbors should the noise continue again tonight.

Good Trades
None.

Bad Trades
None.

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2 Comments:

  • Sorry about your neighbors, as a landlord, when this situation happens, I always tell my tenants not to confront the noisy neighbors, but to call the police and make a complaint. Usually, the police will keep it anonomous and that way it gets you point across without you and your neighbors getting into it.
    FWIW...

    By Blogger bp, at February 20, 2007 9:15 p.m.  

  • Tiredness definitely impairs effectiveness. If the noise problem only happened on rare occassion, I'd let it go. Otherwise, calling the police may sound harsh but it could be good idea if they are sure to keep the call anonymous.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at February 21, 2007 7:22 a.m.  

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