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jlabtrades apex prop firm and personal trading journal
Starting a journal here on my day trading. I normally trade SPY and SPX options (usually 0dte), along side ES, MES, NQ, and MNQ.
I'll keep this journal to just my futures adventures.
I have a few sim prop accounts with Apex trading solely in Tradovate, and some few personal accounts spread across different brokerages (IronBeam, Tradovate, etc.)
I like Tradovate for my apex accounts since the builtin trade copier works great for my style, and it works while on the go on my ipad (just request desktop mode in the browser to get the copier back)
I like Tradovate so far for my personal accounts, since I am familiar with it, and it has lower cost commissions.
My current setup
- 5 min chart
- 1 min chart (Sometimes switched to 30 sec during high volatility)
- DOM
Indicators (both charts)
- 9ema, 20ema, 50ema, 200ema
- ATF Keltner Channels
- VWAP with +/- 2 standard deviation bands
Usual plays
- 5min ema play: enter when extended beyond the 9/20ema on the 5 min, entering into a position to touch the 9ema. Generally I treat the 5min 9ema and the trend and breaking the 20 and closing after the break is the trend break signal.
- After hours play: Wait for the chart to extend beyond the vwap 2 std dev band, and enter for a reversal. Scale out 50% at the 9ema, but generally hold for other vwap band. Sell on candle setup on the 1 min not looking great or the 1 min keltner channel break
There are more and I will try to document as I come across them
Bought heavily at the bottom of a volume rush for a long scalp entry. Scaled out 99% at a 4 point avg gain. Left 2 runners on trailing stop to see if the play continues.
Entered 50 MES, avg 4329.85. Total profit with open amount $648 in two accounts
Overall happy with the trade. It could be better if I held a bit more for the continuation, but in the moment it felt like we were reversing off the 20 to the downside. Happy I left at least a few cons for the continuation.
10/20 Euro PPI overnight caused an interesting drop. Caught the wave on a scalp for a few points on MES. Went to bed and didnt get to trading until mid day.
Caught the vol rush midday, but didnt hold for continuation, even though target was reached. Target was looking for arounda a 50% retracement from prev highs before open.
daily spread, i played almost all the zones, but looks like i avoided the 60s for sells
Overall it was a decent day. Played in the apex 150k sim evals only and didnt touch my PAs today.
