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Preface vii
6 Bond Calculations 17
v
vi SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
VII
George Douglas Taylor's contribution to technical analysis cannot
be underestimated. He believed in measuring both market rallies
and declines, and then averaging the numbers to arrive at some
approximation of what should occur on the next trading day. He
called this the "Book Method." I later incorporated these numbers
into my LSS 3-Day Cycle Method, adding an additional formula
that I called the Trend Reaction Numbers. These same numbers
were later called the LSS Pivot Buy and Sell Numbers. Leaving
aside this additional formula, let's first look at Taylor's original four
key numbers-the rally, the decline, the buying high, and the buy-
ing under.
1
2 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
Answers
1 The rally number measures how far the market rallies from one
day to another. It is the difference between today's high (the
last completed day's high) and the previous day's low. Accord-
ingly, if today's high is 1274.00 and the previous day's low is
1231.00, the difference of 43.00 points is the rally number. If
one is trading U.S. Treasury bonds and today's high (after the
close) is 105-18 and the prior day's low is 104-30, the rally
would be the difference, or 2°h2.This number tells us that on this
particular two-day period, the market rallied 2°h2in price. We
might use this information to determine how far above today's
low price the bond market might rally tomorrow. Hence,
assuming we are going to use the 2%2number, with a low today
of, let's say, 104-19, we can estimate a rally of approximately
2°h2,or a high of 105-07 (10419/32+ 2°h2= 1057h2).
3. The buying high number measures how far above the prior
day's high the market traded today (the day just finished). In a
rising market, you will have positive buying high numbers. In a
declining market (with lower tops), you will have negative
numbers. The formula for buying high is today's high minus
yesterday's high. So if today's high is 1249.00 and yesterday's
high was 1243.00, the difference is 6.00 points, the buying
high number. If we want to assume the same buying high num-
ber will prevail tomorrow, we simply add on the buying high to
today's high. This will give us a target of 1255.00 (1249.00
today's high + 6.00 buying high = 1255.00). Let's say you are
trading the u.s. Treasury bonds. Today's high is 103-11 and
yesterday's high was 102-17. Obviously, the market has been
rising rapidly, as reflected in a buying high of 26h2.If the mar-
ket continues to rise at this rate tomorrow, the buying high
would give us a target top of 104-05 (103-11 today's high +
26h2= 104-05).
4. The buying under number measures how far today's low traded
under yesterday's low. Hence, for a positive number to occur in
the buying under, you must have a lower low today, since the
calculation is yesterday's low minus today's low. A rising mar-
ket will give you a negative number for the buying under. Let's
say yesterday's low was 1260.00 and today's low was 1267.00.
The market has been rising. This will give you a negative num-
ber of -6.00 for the buying under. When you go to subtract
4 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
s
6 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
Answers
Question
What is the formula for the LSS Pivotal Buy and Sell Numbers?
Answer
The formula for the LSS Pivotal Buy and Sell Numbers (Trend
Reaction Numbers) is as follows:
9
10 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK'UTTING !'
Answer
Starting with the simplest observation first, take note of the last high
and low, 1074.30 and 1042.00. These will be entered into the sell
and buy envelopes, respectively. That leaves three additional num-
bers for each envelope. Let's start with the trend reaction numbers: Now
paring ~
negativ~
x= 1059.90
This leaves the calculations for the buying high and rally num-
bers for the sell envelope and the buying under and decline num-
bers for the buy envelope. Let's start with the calculations for the
rally number. We know that on the past three days, the market has
rallied the following amounts:
Day Rally
*Note: Because the next day's high was below the previous day's low, this resulted in
a negative number. This will happen when the market is breaking hard.
Now let's turn to the buying high number. Here we are com-
paring high to high. Since the market was declining, these will be
negative numbers, as follows:
3 -22.90 (1074.30-1097.20=-22.90)
(-15.50) = 1058.80] .We now have all the numbers we need for
the sell i ng envelope.
For the buying envelope, we need two additional numbers, the
average decline number and the buying under number. First, let's
look at the average decline. Since the market has been breaking,
we can look for large positive numbers in this column. The last
three declines would appear as follows:
Decline
1 17 0 2 00- 1103.90 = 17.10)
Buying Under
~
Once the market has traded for approximately 30 minutes to one
hour, it creates an early range. Because the probabilities favor one
side of this range being the actual high or low of the day, the antic-
ipated range can be added to the early low, or subtracted from the
early high, to create a target top or bottom.
15
16 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Assume the day's buy number is 1206.00 and the sell number is
1244.00. If the early high is 1234.30 and the early low is 1217.00,
what will be the target top and bottom?
Answer
The range you expect on the day is 38.00 points, the difference
between the buy and sell number (1244.00- 1206.00 = 38.00).
The early range is 17.30 points (1234.30- 1217.00 = 17.30). By
adding the anticipated range to the early low, you reach an antic-
ipated top (or sell) number. By subtracting the anticipated range
from the early high, you reach an anticipated bottom (or buy)
number. Note that it is extremely unlikely that both numbers will
be hit. The probabilities do favor, however, one of the numbers
being near the high or the low of the day. In this example, the
target top is 1255.00 (1217.00 early low + 36.00 anticipated
range = 1255.00 anticipated top). The target bottom is 1196.30
(1234.30 early high -38.00 anticipated range = 1196.30 antici-
pated bottom).
18 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
High = 101-22
Low = 100-24
Close = 100-30
Answer
21
22 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
(X + Y) x 100
2140
--
68.1
25
26 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
1 77.4%
2 88.6%
3 52.8%
4 67.5% -9.9
s 49.3% -39.3
6 37.5% -15.3
52.4% -15.1
8 77.0% +27.7
Answer
In this example, the bottom day was either Day 6 or 7 when the
3-day difference was still negative, but less negative than Day 5.
By Day 8, the market had clearly turned the corner, given the high
oscillator reading. As the negative numbers become more nega-
tive (see Day 5), the market gains negative momentum. No market
can continue lower, however, without bargain-hunters and profit-
takers entering. This tends to slow the rate of negative momentum,
and the market gains strength. These numbers suggest that there
was a good buying opportunity on Day 6 or 7. By Day 8, there
may have been good opportunities to buy early in the day near
the lows. Later, the market staged a strong rally.
patterns tend to mirror one another. This is the symmetry
, in so many markets. If a market rises in the morning, it
its gains during the afternoon. If a market breaks
morning, it may regain the entire lost ground by day's end.
rising morning patterns are mirrored by afternoon ris-
classic trend day up. Likewise, weak mornings
be reflected by weak afternoons. What's so amazing about
~ ,- is how symmetrical they are.
27
28 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Question
31
32 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Questions
Answers
37
~
38 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
When trailing a stop, what's the one thing you don't want to do~
Answers
Question
Answer
43
44 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
47
48 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
Question
In the following chart, can you spot the divergence between the
price and leading indicator~
-yesterday is vitally important to how it
Typically, a strong close will suggest higher
a weak close will suggest lower prices today.
we want to translate yesterday's close into a
51
52 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Given the following set of prices for the day just completed, cal-
culate the one-day strength percentage for tomorrow.
High = 1268.30
Low = 1240.20
Close = 1257.20
Answer
Questions
Answer
55
56 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
Are you ever deceived by your opinions? Are your opinions truly
your own, or do you rely on the advice of others? Are you an inde-
pendent thinker? What was the last important lesson that you
learned in the market? What did it cost you? If you knowanyone
who has been successful in the market, how do they cope with
market adversity? Do they take losses in stride? Or are they devas-
tated by losses?
Good judgment comes from experience. If life were a series of
effortless exercises, few of us would have the character to with-
stand adversity. Consider the following statements:
grow.
Answers
59
60 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
In most markets, you will see two daily patterns occur, one in the
morning and one in the afternoon. When the morning trend fails
to occur before 12 noon East Coast time, the trend will typically
occur during the noon hour. Because of the symmetry in the mar-
ket, you often have trends which are of similar point value, though
not always in the same direction.
the basics of how orders are exe-
on the floor of a futures exchange. First and foremost, a
needs to understand that there are a buyer and seller
, in every trade. Moreover, every trade is consummated in
61
62 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
Answers
65
66 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Question
1 37.20 23.50
2 40.30 24.00
3 66.70 4 ,80
4 89.80 1166.60
5 215.00 1193.90
Answer
The formula for calculating the five-day range is to take each daily
range (high -low), sum the five ranges, and divide by five.
Accordingly, the calculations are as follows:
Day Range
3.70
2 16.30
24.90
4 23.20
5 21.10
When you add these range numbers together, the sum is 99.20.
Divided by five, the five-day average range is 19.80 points.
On Day 6, let's assume you have an early high of 1230.00 and
an early low of 1219.00, eleven points difference. Assuming that
FIVE-DAY AVERAGE RANGE 67
possible.
Because the LSS pivotal buy and sell numbers are generated on
--range, you must be careful in using these numbers
day's range is very high or very low, relative to the
range. A low-volatility prior day will generate entries
market, and you may get in prematurely on a random
higher or lower. A high-volatility prior day will generate
far away from the market. Hence, you may find your-
-.
70 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Name the most basic seasonal trends in the stock market for the
following periods of the year: January, late March or early April,
July or August, October, and the trend into the end of the year.
Answer
71
72 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
73
74 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Can you identify the point of price rejection on the chart in Figure
24.1 ?
/26/2001 12:10pm (MOT) 04/27/2001 9:408
OT-10nOn0&'08/2001
0-18470 +070 0-17000 H-17000 l-18.270 V-I738700 ,- ,
stop running @ intraday hi9h!
UT
)1~~.
I~I::
J fl ~
~ ~
-;~~--~."' ~
~~g~re 2.4.1 ~hen prices are rejected at a prior
high or low, it almost always signals a price reversal
~
PRICEREJECTION: WHAT IT MEANS 75
Answer
Notice how the market reverses direction once the stops have
been run. When prices go to new lows or new highs, they should
continue in the direction of the breakout. When this does not
occur, it means prices will reverse.
every trading strategy works as one would like. Sometimes,
, , ., ., side of the market; at other times, your
77
78 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Question
What are the market conditions that best lend themselves to uti-
lizing the exit-and-reverse strategy and the averaging strategy~
Answer
losses. Once you are even, you exit the second position
...next trade.
averaging strategy is used in an entirely different market
use this strategy when you may have entered the
prematurely but when the position still looks good. When
you sell more as the market rises against you; when buy-
you buy more as the market declines against you. Most
reluctant to try this because they are following the rule
you never average a loss. Under most circumstances, this
sense. When the market is consolidating, however, it is
to buy or sell more, as long as it doesn't break out
This means you must know where the support and
levels are. The advantage of averaging is that you get a
Moreover, you have taken
additional contracts; hence, any gains will be magnified.
-you average, you must keep a tight rein on your position.
I probably don't want to average more than three times, and
Ifitisnot,
the entire position immediately! In time and price trading,
zone, from the equilibrium down
When selling, sell within the sell zone, from
equilibrium up to the .618 pullback. Beyond the .618, you
---lest you end up with serious losses.
is an important relationship between yesterday's close and
If the market is going higher, does it make much dif-
How about selling in a declining market~
could make the case that bottom-line profits are the only
criteria for a winning strategy. There are patterns that
the best opportunities for buying and selling, and
, ones we will examine here.
81
82 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
How do you want the market to open if you are buying today?
How do you want the market to open if you are selling? What is
the key relationship between yesterday's close and today's open?
Answers
83
84 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
What does contrary opinion measure~ How can you use it to pin-
point turning points in the market~
Answers
87
88 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
Answers
89
90 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
93
94 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
You mapped out your strategy last night. You knew you wanted to
buy the market at a specific price today. When the market reached
that price, however, you said, "Wait a minute. It looks like it might
trade lower. Let's watch it for a while." Needless to say, that was
the bottom. The market surged higher and you weren't aboard.
What held you back from executing your game plan?
Or consider this scenario. You've been making reckless and
uninformed trades lately and your equity is down. You need to
score big today to make up for those reckless losses. So you dou-
ble the number of contracts on a market order. At first, the market
goes your way. You are feeling good. But then adversity hits, and
you decide you won't give up without a fight. At first, you begin to
get some of your profits back. But then disaster hits. You sustain
the biggest loss of your trading career. How do you react?
Answers
In both instances, the answer is the same: Stop trading. At least for
the moment. You are not in a psychological frame of mind that
permits dispassionate self-analysis. After the dust settles, you need
to go back and reevaluate what you are doing. The fearful trader
needs to learn to step up to the plate. The reckless trader needs to
learn discipline. Both can be mastered if you are determined to
succeed.
If you see yourself here, you are not alone. The psychological
aspects of trading are among the hardest to master. It is one thing
to know what to do and qu ite another to do it. U nti I you can wed
your market knowledge with your psychological knowledge, you
are going to be at a disadvantage in the market. Never mind that
most people face the same pitfalls. This is a little like saying that
misery loves company. The challenge is to rise above, and over-
come, your shortcomings.
96 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
the second day, and so on. By doing this, you will be training
yourself to overcome your fear-which, I understand, can be a
formidable obstacle to success in the market. There can be only
two outcomes to your decision to do this. You will sustain losses
because your trading strategies are faulty. This means back to the
trading boards. Or you wi.ll begin to earn profits and have confi-
dence in what you are doing. If you try and fail, you will have
learned a valuable lesson. Perhaps the market isn't for you. You
can move on to something else. There's no failure in trying.
The outcome for the trader who lacks discipline should likewise
prove valuable. By putting down the phone and concentrating on
the best opportunities, you will be allowing yourself to succeed.
Your account will start to grow, and that should compensate you
for any loss of thrills that you used to gain from trading. Having
discipline in your life creates an inner confidence that is hard to
duplicate in practically any other endeavor. Trading is a little bit
like drinking. Having a predinner cocktail can be highly stimulat-
ing and enjoyable, but guzzling a whole bottle will create prob-
lems in your life like you wouldn't believe. Think about where you
want to go and try to find a path that will take you there. The best
traders are disciplined traders.
~
98 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
99
100 SNIPERTRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
We are talking about three separate orders here: a limit entry order,
a stop order (if you are filled), and, assuming the order is filled and
the stop not hit, an exit order. To the person taking your order, an
order is an order, so you want to treat each order separately. Even
before you call the broker, you want to write down the order. Once
you call, the broker will read back the order and ask you if you are
in agreement with him. Here's what you write down:
"Buy two September bond futures 101-00."
Here's what you tell your broker when he picks up the phone:
"This is John Jones. For Account No.23848, I want to buy two
September bond futures at 101 even, or better, day only."
He will repeat what you just said and ask for your confirmation.
Once you agree, he will typically assign this order with a ticket
number so that it can be tracked, saying:
"For account No.23848, you want to buy two September bond
futures at 101 even. Your ticket number is 752."
Assuming the market is still above 101-00, your order will go
into the floor broker's deck. Should prices move down to 101-00
YOUR FIRST TRADE: HOW TO PlACE AN ORDER 101
and he can find a willing seller at that level, he will fill the trade
for you.
Your broker will then call you back. "You bought two septem-
ber bond futures at 101-00."
This is the time to place the stop. Knowing you want to risk just
six ticks, you now give him the stop order. You don't tell him you
want to place a stop-loss order six ticks below the market or the
entry. You give him the specific price. The price of 101-00 repre-
sents 3232 when translated into 32nds. Six ticks below their num-
ber (3232 -6 = 3226) is 100-26. You tell your broker: "For
Account No.23848, I want to sell two September bond contracts
at 100-26 on a stop."
Now you will receive another ticket number. You now have a
resting stop order below the market.
For your sake, hopefully the stop-loss order will not be hit.
Rather, as anticipated, the market begins to rally, and soon it is
trading at, let's say, 101-16, resulting in a half-basis-point profit. At
this point, you may decide to place your exit order to take profits
at your desired limit at 102-00.
You call your broker again. "This is john jones. For Account No.
---~ I want to sell two September Treasury bond futures at 102
or better."
He repeats the order and gives you another ticket number.
Now the market must cooperate. If prices rise above 102-00,
sell order will be executed and you will have a $2,000
minus commission fees. Since it is understood that most
are good for the day only, you may then cancel your stop
if the market is trending higher, or simply allow it to expire
end of the day's trading. If there is even a remote chance
turn around and hit the stop, you must can-
the order. Otherwise, you will find yourself short two con-
profits.
If you want to be out at the end of the day regardless of price,
both the stop order and the profit-taking order
102 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
and exit via a market order. Each time you place an order, you
want to write down the order. Then, if the order is executed, you
want to make a note that the order was filled. Most traders keep a
log of all thei r trades.
Here's a summary of what the broker needs to know:
1 Your name
futures must be the same. Not to confuse matters, but if you antic-
ipate declining prices, you would initially sell short:
'iI want to sellone September bond futures at the market."
When it comes time to get out, win or lose, you must buy:
IiI want to buyone September bond futures at the market."
If you try selling when you are already short, you will simply
add to the position.
If you are trading stocks, of course, you don't have to concern
yourself with contract months. But, if you are trading options, you
must add a number of qualifications to your order.
Do you want to buy or sell a put or a call? What is the name of
the underlying stock or futures? What strike price option do you
wish to buy or sell? Are you entering into an opening (new) or
closing (old) transaction. Options are more complicated than
stocks or futures; use extra caution when placing them. Your bro-
kerage house will provide you with information on placing option
orders.
106 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
What is the best type of market to use a MOC order? When should
you place the order? What's the advantage to using a MOC order,
versus a normal market order, 10 or 15 minutes prior to the close?
Are MOC orders always filled? Why not hold a position overnight
and get out on the open the following morning?
Answers
These are all good questions. They can help you create a winning
exit strategy. MOC orders have the advantage of being filled in a
moment of high liquidity. This means there typically are many buy-
ers and sellers at the close. Whether you want to buy or sell, there-
fore, there will be someone to take the other side. The best time to
enter a MOC order is 5 to 7 minutes prior to the close on a day
when the market is trending. You also want to make sure you are
using this order on a day on which you are on the winning side.
Why wait until just before the close to place the order? First, if
you place the order more than 10 minutes prior to the close, the
market may change direction. Then you will have to exit the mar-
ket and call up your broker and cancel the MOC order. If you
don't cancel in time, the order may be executed anyway, leaving
you with an open position overnight. Second, if you wait too long
(say lor 2 minutes prior to the close), the broker may not be able
to get the order into the pit in time.
To understand why you want to be on the winning side of the
trend, you have to understand the psychology at work in the mar-
ket as you approach the close. The winning side is starting to
squeeze the losing side. That means if prices are rising, the short-
sellers are going to grow more panicked as prices continue to rise.
This panic translates into emotional buying, anything to stem the
growing losses. For the buyers, this means more profits as the
short-sellers become emotional buyers to escape continued losses
ON CLOSE ORDERS: A USEFUL EXIT STRATEGY 107
109
110 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Questions
Answers
heels of this news, the market might soar higher only to crash
.How do you make sense of this~ One suggestion is that you
You simply leave the report days alone until some sanity
market.
The more classic search-and-destroy pattern often occurs not on
., , , ., So, if there is a report
113
114 SNIPER TRADING WORKBOOK
Question
Answer
You have a reversal occurring. The second high on the price chart
was probably the final high. The market is not returning to that
price. The next trend, at least temporarily, is down. Get out imme-
diately. The move is over. This is particularly true if the second
rally in prices occurred over the same time period as the first rally.
In this instance, the pattern was symmetrical in time, suggesting
completion of the upward price pattern. When confirming indica-
tors fail to match price patterns, they create a divergence. This is
usually a sign that t~ve is over.