Swing trade losses vs day trade losses

June 1st, 2012, 01:44 PM

Hi All,

Just want to find out if any members here had experienced something similar.
When I take losses in my swing trade account, it doesn't affect me emotionally/mentally as much as when I take them in my day trading one. This is strange because the swing trade losses could be 5 to 10 times higher per trade. Yet, I have no problems taking the next trade. I don't dwell on the losses too much. This is true even if I experience consecutive losses. However, this is the complete opposite for my day trading. Even though each loss is only about 1/5 - 1/10 of my swing trades. Doubt, fear, hesitation comes to play. I begin to second guess my entry signals, even though it has a good win rate through previous simulated trading.

Thanks in advance for any/all advice/comments.

June 1st, 2012, 02:52 PM

I know exactly what you are talking about. I think it has something to do with the time expectations and the need to be more accurate daytrading.

Inherently you understand that it will take a fair amount of time before you can come to any statistical conclusions about your swing trading performance. Though with day trading because you are trading more frequently, the statistics add up fast and can compound on you emotionally. It is a fear of failure thing, and in your mind it takes "x number"of bad trades to get there and you get there much faster daytrading. Also, there is much less time to give rational thought to your decisions daytrading. Slower moving swings become obvious and you take the trade off and it really does not matter if you get the best exit (that non-best exit slippage is less of a percentage of the average trade). Atleast that is my opinion on the subject.

June 3rd, 2012, 05:54 AM

Luger,

To quote other successful traders advice and popular trading-coaches-- its more important to know which emotions you feel go with your best trades. Whether your most profitable trades are day trades or if you hold them for days or weeks; whatever work the best, only take those trades and learn what your emotions tell you.

Do you journal? Journal all your trades before, during, and after and write unfiltered thoughts about how you feel. Study those entries and find the trends just like on your trading charts.

Also, a little off topic, but goes tandem---greed and fear are our biggest enemies. Watch out for those thoughts.

June 6th, 2012, 12:14 AM

Certainly good advice. Though I have not been a journaler myself. One reason is because of the topic of this thread. Day trades are more emotionally charged for me than swing trades for some reason. Likely due to the rapid fire emotional cues and too many perfectionist tendencies when I have my full attention on something. Therefore, I mostly swing trade where the pace is slower and my attention is not focused. No sense fighting it, just do what I am better and more comfortable at doing.

Swing trade losses vs day trade losses

Discussion in Psychology and Money Management

Swing trade losses vs day trade losses