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Martha Stokes: Position Trading Bottoming Stocks

Martha Stokes

Martha Stokes


List of What to Recognize in a Stock Chart for Position Trading

Many traders do not have the time or resources to trade the most well-known styles which are Intraday, Day, or Swing Trading. All of these styles require more time, a higher capital base, and the ability to be trading early morning or afternoon while the market is open.

Position Trading provides an alternative that is actually more lucrative with less time, after hours analysis, and entering the order when it is convenient for you.
Typically Position Traders are trading with the most reliable Market Participant Groups, which are the Dark Pool Buy Side Institutions with large to giant lots. The hold time is anywhere from a couple of weeks to couple of months depending upon the Target Gain Potential, which is the resistance that will stall or reverse the trend.


The goal of Position Trading is to find where the Dark Pools are quietly accumulating, still unnoticed by High Frequency Traders HFTs, the retail crowd, and the Smaller Funds participant group. Dark Pools are experts at hiding their large to giant lot accumulation while they are acquiring the millions of shares of stock they intend to buy. Once the word gets out they have been accumulating, price can move with momentum often completing a bottom suddenly.

 Position Traders need to recognize:

1.    Dark Pool Quiet Accumulation 

This is a tighter sideways action within a Dark Pool Buy Zone™ range which is a narrow, precise price action contained within a set price range. Accumulation triggers their Time Weighted Average Price TWAP orders as the stock drops in to the Buy Zone. The buying triggers automatically cease if the stock rises or falls out of the Buy Zone.

2.    Bottom Completions

Most bottoms take time to complete due to the methods Dark Pools use to acquire stock over many weeks to several months. Being able to identify a completed bottom is crucial to a Position Trader entering before price moves out of the Buy Zone, but not too soon when the stock will continue moving up and down within that range.

3.    Indicators 

Using Indicators which confirm that accumulation is present, and also that accumulation is increasing even while price does not reflect the increase in buying are mandatory for a Position Trading proper entry.

4.    Resistance Analysis

Resistance level analysis is also important to be able to accurately determine. Resistance can be very weak, weak, moderate, or strong. Bottoms due to accumulation often 

conclude with a sudden breakout run, overcoming moderate resistance with ease. Position Traders must already be in the stock before that occurs for optimal profitability and lower risk.
5.    Risk Assessment 

Risk assessment is also crucial and often overlooked by retail traders. Assessing the risk factors include Target Gain Potential versus proper stop loss placement. A Position Trader must use a stop loss that is not based on percentages but on the Buy Zone dimensions. If a stop loss is placed improperly it increases risk factors.

Position Trading can be an enjoyable part-time trading style that is ideal for anyone who has less time to spend on trading, cannot trade stocks every day, and need more flexibility in how and when they study stock charts, set orders, and monitor held positions.

Trading Position Style takes the stress out of trading, is significantly lower risk than Day or Swing Trading, and makes higher profits with more consistent results.

The chart example below shows a stock in the early stages of a Bottoming Formation.


Dark Pools have established a Buy Zone and Professional Traders are also actively buying in anticipation of HFT sudden breakout patterns. Money Flow Index MFI and Accum/Dist Indicators show consistent Time Weighted Average Price TWAP orders triggering with pre-established quantity buy orders. 
The first tier resistance is at 9.00 approximately, which is a weaker resistance level due to the bottoming action. This is not a good candidate for Day or Swing Trading as the runs are confined to the Buy Zone which is very narrow. 

Summary

Red lines drawn on the chart are approximate levels of resistance which is likely to move the stock sideways for a period of time, but is not an exit point for a Position Trade. Strong resistance forms at around 34.00 approximately, and this level is stronger resistance. Therefore the Target Gain Potential for this stock once it completes the bottom is 34, for a potential gain of 24 points. Hold duration time must be determined as well as risk analysis and assessment factors. This is just one example of the type of chart Position Traders would consider for a watchlist, as a possible potential future entry upon its Bottom Completion.

Trade Wisely,
Martha Stokes CMT
www.TechniTrader.com
info@technitrader.com