Interesting Article - Entry and Exit
Many experienced traders would tell you that in trading of stocks, exit is more important than entry. They think so because they know the way of low risk entry and are adopting a low risk high probability entry setup. But to other investors and traders, entry would be more important than exit, because the entry point likely the time when mistakes are made resulting in losses. It would be better to avoid entry decision mistakes than making a mistake in exit.
Exit is important to realise the gains or to preserve capital and to avoid too heavy losses, but entry will be important in reducing risks and avoid losses or holding the capital idling in the stocks for a long time with the sentiment of hope, and sometimes more losses in the process of waiting and hoping. Probably the most important investment decisions made by active traders are to determine the optimal points of entry and exit, as the price of entry and exit will depend the ultimate gains or losses. It is of vital importance to active traders to plan their traders and trade on their plan. The plan for entry and exit is call a trade setup. A smart trader would evaluate and select their setup strategy to gain more confidence in winning a trade with a lower entryI would bring out the various possible setups that we may use, and entry and exit signals that we may see from the charts that may help traders find their own plan of entering and exiting a trade based on reading and interpreting charts. It is for the individual trader to select the best setups that may suit their individual trading style. What are the basic tools to execute an entry and exit setup? It depends on each trader and the knowledge and skill the trader has. But it will be all about charting, and a bit about fundamental analysis. The below are my basic tools, and probably I do not need to learn more, and it is better for me to master all of these rather than learning more. 1. The price and volume daily chart with your trend lines to determine the support and resistance level - just trend lines and refined by Fibonacci Retracement Lines and longer term weekly chart.2. Looking at the candlestick pattern to determine bullish, bearish reversal or trend continuation pattern3. The above 2 can be supported or confirmed by other technical indicators like MA crossovers, Bollinger Band, Stochastic and MACD4. Looking into the volume bars to assess the reliability of the above 3. If the volume is very low, the signals shown are likely not reliable signals. When should be the most desirable entry and exit points?There are basically two key setups for entering and exiting a trade - enter at support of at a breakout from a resistance, and exit on reaching resistance pr breaking down from a support. But there are variations under each setup that a trader may adopt based on their trading style, risk appetite and available capital for trading.
A. Entry SetupsEnter at support1. Enter on support on an downtrend when the volume has been exhausted - an indication of no supply. But this may mean a long sideway price movement, though the downtrend may stop.
2. Enter when the price bounces up from support after a pull back new to support from a higher high. This is the correct interpretation of buying high and sell higher. But the more entry signals one can see, the more reliable and high probability of a successful entry. 3. Enter when the price completes its downtrend to a point (ideally a support) that could be a strong base for a rebound. This is good for fundamentally sound stock but trading at a discount to a fair value, but facing temporary setbacks like lower profits etc. Since this stock is fundamentally sound, even a wrong decision may not impact in a loss, as this stock would likely be a position stock or for long term investment. Enter at breakout1. Enter upon a breakout from the major or minor resistance to a new level, like break out from a chart pattern, MA cross over, or stochastic cross over etc. But beware of large price bars that may mean distribution, especially when the stock is continuing the uptrend. 2. Enter when the price breakout with increased volume after a long time of sideway low volume activity (shown by narrow price bars and a breakout from a narrow Bollinger Band). This setup will give the highest reward, if a good fundamentally sound stock is selected, as entry in a narrow trading band with low volume will be like following the professionals in quiet accumulation. Of course the investor is expected to hold the stock.
1. Exit on reaching resistance if entry is at support on a uptrend. This is a setup of buy on support and sell on resistance that will make your capital turning around faster than riding on the profits that may not turn out to increased profits.
2. Exit when you see a sign of distribution with huge volume big spread price bar, unless there is a new tight trailing stop set. It is better to let go of the greedy sentiment and take profits, if the trader is not sure.
3. Exit when there are confirmed signals of exit from candlestick pattern, bearish reversal patterns or any other reversal signals. Note that it is better to have other exit signals like MA cross over or stochastic as confirmation.
Exit on breakdown from a support
Exit at stop loss set upon entry or at a trailing stop on a continuous rising trend. Stop loss is to preserve capital if the entry decision does not turn out to be right. A trailing stop will be useful to ride on the profits especially when there is no resistance in sight when the price is at all time high.
Exit Based on Fundamental Valuation
Exit when valuation is reached, unless the chart shows a continuation of uptrend - applicable when the stock price is at a highest record with no resistance level.
Exit on a pre-set price target
This is what most investors without technical analysis knowledge, or traders without technical analysis knowledge may do.
Final Note:
Entry and Exit plan is essential for active traders, and the setups should be used for those stocks that are not for long term investment. These stocks are often listed stocks under theme play and with heavy coverage by analysts and brokers to stimulate the stock market. As the professionals involved in these stocks are fund managers, watch closely at the valuation like fund managers do, and better looking forward to have a better valuation to be ahead of other traders to have a better entry and exit decision.
The entry setups may also be applicable for long term investment stocks for continuous accumulation because of the low public float, but the exit setup may not be suitable for these illiquid fundamentally sound stocks, which normally are stocks seldom covered by analysts and brokers.
Sun Tzu say:One who knows when he can fight, and when he cannot fight, will be victorious