The Weekly Call provides perspective on high quality setups and trading strategies for the coming week. The purpose of this blog is to demonstrate how to swing trade futures using our methodology to select high quality setups and manage the trade with our risk management approach. This week we manage our trades in Soy, Wheat, Live Cattle and Natural Gas and look to initiate new trades in Corn, Copper and Coffee.
Our goal in this blog is to generate a 200% return in less than a year by swing trading futures. We have achieved this goal as of October 2nd of this year with a return of 209%.
All trades posted here are discussed in detail on our Daily Update subscription service and posted on our private twitter feed. Our track record is now posted below under Completed Trades. See some of our completed trade videos below.
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Soy – Managing the Trade
Soy is another commodity where end of quarter money was put to work. I have been waiting patiently for the back test to enter the trade. I plan to enter on the next lower low. Soy has been in a multi-year triangle and our original target was $900 on the weekly chart. We came very close to that low before the turn occurred. At this point, the back test is almost complete and we are waiting on the 50% retracement at 979 with positive divergence on RSI. Watch for our entry on twitter.
7-30 – I am waiting patently on the setup in Soy. When entering a breakout trade it is often difficult to wait for the consolidation period to end. See Wheat below as a good illustration of what happens when you don’t wait for a strong setup! At this point, cycles say lower prices are expected so I will wait for $979 and a reversal pattern.
8-6 – Currently appears that Soy is finishing a flag for a smallish wave 4. Looking for the last legg lower into 950. Nice positive d is expected to hold on the next decline. Cycles say a turn this week.
8-13 – I entered Soy last week at the end of the trend day lower and we have hit target at 950 and then some. As mentioned on our private twitter feed, this may be a wave 3 so we entered 1/2 size to reduce risk. We are now seeing wave 5 play out with divergence on RSI. Waiting on the reversal pattern to add the other 1/2 size. Bigger picture we have a large multi-year triangle and and expecting a big rally into next year.
8-20 – Soy appears to have turned and I am waiting on the larger reversal pattern to add the remaining 1/2 size to my position. Expecting to find resistance at $956 and looking to add the remaining 1/2 size to the back test from there.
8-27 – Soy is in a back test and I am looking for support at $930. If seen this is the area I would like to add my other 1/2 size. Again, this type of entry I am using 1/2 size to manage risk and then adding to the position only when there is a clear reversal. Expecting a turn this week. Break the current low and this trade is invalidated.
9-3 – Soy found support at $930 and has bounced nicely. We are past the 50% back area and I will be taking 1/3 off on Tuesday and setting my stop to even. Will be posting my entry on the Art of Chart private twitter feed and discussing the exit on the Daily Update.
9-10 – I have taken 1/3 off in soy at 944.50 and have placed my stop at even. The back test that I discussed on the Daily Update is in progress and I am expecting to find support this week and higher prices. If I get stopped out, I will look for the next reversal pattern and consider this trade a base hit.
9-17 – The trade was stopped out on a lower than expected back test and a V bottom last week. Sometimes market makers run stops and do a radical turn to create a retail chase. Well, I’m not a chaser. I will be back in the trade later this week when the setup presents itself. Watching weekly pivot at 961s.
9-24 – Expecting a rally this week, I entered Soy at 971 with a tight stop and got stopped out. I then re-entered again at 965.25 and managed to catch the rally. I exited 1/3 of the trade at 983 and set my stop to even as we are now at an inflection point. I am looking for a retest and higher prices into January. My plan is to hold the remaining position and let the trade work. If stopped out I will find another entry. I like Soy long into January.
10-1 – As per plan I found another setup and got long Soy at 959.25. Per my risk management rules, I took off 1/3 and set my stop to even and got stopped out a second time. These small 1/3 profits are essential to minimize risk and sometimes it can be difficult to get into a position without getting stopped out. But risk management comes first, so we will try again this week on a back test of the 52-54 area and see what we can harvest.
10-8 – I found yet another setup to put on a 1/2 size position long last week at 964.25. So far this entry has worked out. My plan at this point is to exit 1/3 of the position on Monday and hold the rest into 1018ish or so. I will make updates here on trade management along the way. All entries are posted on our private twitter feed and discussed on The Daily Update Video each evening.
10-15 – As mentioned on our private twitter feed and the Daily Update, I took profits at 974.50 as the first 1/3 off after seeing more than a 50% retracement of the previous swing. Later in the week on Thursday I took off a second 1/3 after we achieved a three up to 992.50. At this point I am holding the last 1/3 long into target at 1018.
10-22 – The retracement is still in progress after we completed the three up last week. I am looking for a turn mid week around the 973 area and may add back the two leggs I took off for a run up into 1018. I am still expecting the next cycle high sometime in the January time frame
Wheat – Managing the Trade
Wheat has seen quarter end money flow into it like corn. This is the time of year for grains to be at their lowest prices as farmers begin a new agricultural year. There is a lot of volatility with sales, new hedges, etc coming into the market. I am expecting Wheat to find it’s footing here and I am expecting a rally into October. I entered long last week per the private twitter post at 501 and am holding the trade until either divergence breaks or the support trend line breaks. On a break of the trend line, I will be watching the Monthly S1 pivot for support.
7-30 – My entire position has been stopped out last week at 482 and I am now waiting for a lower low and a reversal pattern to re-enter. As mentioned, the consolidation pattern after a breakout is often difficult to find the right entry without adding risk to your portfolio. I am managing this portfolio with the idea of limiting my maximum draw down to not more than $3200. In this case, I was looking for both the monthly pivot and the .618 retracement for support and both failed. I will wait patently for the next setup depicted below and I will likely be long again later this week or next.
8-6 – At this point, I am waiting on a reversal pattern. Nice positive D here on Wheat, the formation needs a lower low just to 52s or 46s before we see a turn. There is risk to 439’2 and the monthly S1 pivot. Being patient here and waiting on the setup, I expect an entry this week.
8-13 – As per Corn and Soy, I entered another 1/2 size last week in Wheat. Nice trend day and likely end of wave 3, if 4 and 5 are seen then I will add remaining size after the reversal pattern is formed. I normally do not trade both Corn and Wheat as it is basically the same trade. So technically I already have a full position at risk. With this being the case, any adds will be done after reversal patterns are well defined.
8-20 – As mentioned last week, our initial 1/2 size entry was at the wave 3 low. We have completed the wave 4 and now finishing wave 5. I am expecting to add the other 1/2 size this week when we see a reversal pattern.
8-27 – A potential reversal pattern is forming, looks like a possible IHS. Once it completes, I am expecting weekly pivot to convert and I will then add the remaining 1/2 size to the trade. So far so good, waiting for price confirmation of a turn.
9-3 – Wheat has rallied from the potential reversal pattern and I am expecting a retest. Any break of $426’2 and likely we see new lows and I plan to exit this trade if seen. We are in a small flag here to we need to be aware of the retest, support found above $426’2 will cause price to challenge the monthly pivot next at $454.
9-10 – Wheat has finished a three up and is now in a back test. I am expecting $431 to be support. Any break if that level and we possible open a low retest. Convert the weekly pivot this week at $440’4 and we open the next legg up into September 20th and $475s. I am waiting on the larger reversal pattern to add more size.
9-17 – Wheat is almost done with the initial structure off the bottom. Appears to be in the last legg up into 457 this week and I am expecting a larger back test no lower that the trendline at 438s. The structure is flaggy, so a break of the lower channel is fair warning of a possible lower low. At this point, I am expecting the lower channel to hold.
9-24 – The back test held and higher we have gone to form a possible bear flag. I am out 1/3 of the trade at 448 and am waiting a possible back test. Break the lower channel trend line and we open new lows. I am expecting the trend line to hold. I still prefer Wheat long into the end of October.
10-1 – As mentioned last week, we are now testing the lower trend line of a possible bear flag. Wheat is making a very important decision on Monday/Tuesday. Bulls need to hold support above 437 or we risk a retest of the low.
10-8 – Bulls are on life support here as we tested the .618 retracement last week. I am expecting this area to hold and would like to see $444 converted into support on Monday. This would signal a larger rally. Failure to do so and a break of 437’s invites lower prices to $420.
10-15 – Last week we broke the 437 level which is the .618 and I am expecting lower prices to $420. At this point, I am holding two leggs long and plan to exit as we are now in a retracement. I am looking for resistance at $443 and, if seen, I plan to exit the trade and salvage what I can. I will look to enter lower in the $420 area.
10-22 – As mentioned last week, I was planning to exit at $443 which was not seen. We did not make the back test target and fell two handles short. I am still carrying two leggs long and we are now printing $425s. I am long from $437s so I am not near my max drawdown yet so am planning to add size lower at $420 once a reversal pattern is seen. We may see a turn this week, my plan is to exit then trade on the next bounce.
Live Cattle – Managing the Trade
Live Cattle is an old friend and it’s time to consider a long. A nice three wave move into the low window and also 50% back of the whole formation. I am 1/2 size long here per my post on our private twitter feed and looking for a reversal pattern. Expecting a turn this week as we are well into the timing window.
8-20 – First 1/2 size long was a little early, likely the low in RSI is a sign of wave 3 completion. We are now in wave 5 and expecting a turn between here and 102.625. I will add the remaining 1/2 size to this position when a reversal pattern is seen.
8-27 – Still waiting in the next 1/2 size add and looking at the next low cycle around Sept 11 or so. Trade has risk to 102.625. Once we have a reversal pattern I will add the remaining 1/2 size to the position. This style of entry is different than the others that we have done with other trades. It depends on the instrument and your personal trading style. Waiting for price confirmation is often best and with certain commodities, having your small toe in the water as a starter works too, as long as you do not add on the way down, which is how many traders create trouble for themselves. I am happy to wait on the next low window and see.
9-3 – Still waiting on the reversal pattern and also waiting on 102.625 which is the risk on this trade. I will wait patiently as we are now in the low window and looking for a turn. I will add 1/2 size when the reversal pattern forms.
9-10 – A nice impulse on Live Cattle this week and a possible flag formation. Bulls need to put in support at 50 back at 105.90 which will open a break of monthly pivot. Any break of this level and we can open lower lows. I am waiting on the larger reversal pattern to add more size.
9-17 – No break of monthly pivot yet, but looking for it this week. A larger reversal pattern is now present and the lower trendline needs to hold on a back test or we may see lower lows. Timing Cycles are pointing higher into November.
9-24 – A break of the monthly pivot and convert and we see higher prices. I have taken 1/3 off at 109.50 as we are 50% back the previous swing. I am expecting the lower channel trend line to hold and I like higher prices into November.
10-1 – The back test appears complete and we are now above the monthly pivot/weekly pivot combo at $114.65 with the trendline just below. I am expecting to see support in that area and higher prices into November.
10-8 – So far so good on Cattle. I have two leggs on and holding into the next cycle date of 11-1. I am expecting a backtest this week with support at weekly pivot or monthly pivot then higher prices into the cycle date on November 1st.
10-15 – I exited another 1/3 in profit last week as we began a backtest. The indicator I used is the RSI price cycle, a break of that trend line and the backtest was on and I exited at 118.025. I am looking for the $115 area then higher again into the $120s. I plan to hold the last 1/3 into that target area.
10-22 – We hit the $115 target area on the retracement as discussed and am now looking for $120 for the last legg up for W. I may exit the last 1/3 of the trade at 120s but I do plan to re-enter the trade with additional size after the X wave on or around November 9th.
Natural Gas – Re-entering the Trade
Natural Gas has been in a basing pattern for over a year and I am looking for a turn in the next week or so. Cycles say this is an 18 month cycle low, we have a reversal pattern, an IHS with support at $2.92. If this breaks down I am looking for $2.80. Center date for the turn is 7-10. Watch the twitter feed for our entry.
8-6 – I added anther 1/2 size position last week as mentioned on our private twitter feed and discussed in the Daily Update video. Currently I see NG in a small 5th legg lower with positive divergence and I am expecting a turn this week. There is risk to the Monthly S1 pivot at 2.683. A break of weekly pivot at 2.809 is a positive sign, break the upper channel trend line and we confirm a turn.
8-13 – As mentioned above, we broke and converted the weekly and monthly pivots and the declining resistance trend line. We have taken 1/3 in profit and stop is at even. Looking this week for a back test of weekly/monthly pivots to convert to support and the next impulse higher. Still expecting $3.40 in Sept.
8-20 – Still holding 2/3s of a position long and waiting for a three up to 3.12 to exit another 1/3. Still expecting $3.40 by Sept 14th or so.
8-27 – Last week I exited the Natural Gas trade as I was expecting a hurricane and flooding in my area. I am still expecting a high in mid Sept but for now I am exiting and taking profits. I will consider re-entering the trade next week once the triangle completes.
9-10 – Last week I re-entered the Natural Gas trade on a pullback as I am still expecting higher prices into September. The triangle has completed and we have a possible flat with risk down to $2.826. I expect to see support early next week and a break of $3.00.
9-17 – As expected, NG broke $3.00 and hit the upper bollinger band. I took off another 1/3 of the trade in profit at $3.10. I prefer to take the second legg of a trade three up and in this case, a touch of the upper bollie. The pullback then started and I am waiting on a turn and higher prices. I will hold the last 1/3 into the cycle date.
9-24 – NG broke lower this week forming a flat on news after hitting the upper trendline. I added at legg on the way down and took off the last 1/3 October contract legg at even. I currently have one legg long in Novi at 3.033 and plan to add lower on the wave 5 at the lower trendline. Cycle are pointing higher and I like NG long into February next year.
10-1 – I added another 1/3 on a lower low last week and now have two leggs on long. NG is testing the lower trend line and has support at 2.956. I am looking for a reversal pattern to add my last 1/3. There is support also at 2.892. Key decision on NG early this week. My lean is still long into the end of the year.
10-8 – I have two leggs on and I still like Natural long into year end. I am watching with interest the natural support area at $2.843. If I see a reversal pattern, I will add another 1/3 to my current position.
10-15 – A nice move in natural – expecting a backtest into weekly pivot in the 2.95 area then higher into the $3.20 target area. I plan to exit the second 1/3 on Monday if I can get a decent fill and then hold the balance into target.
10-22 – On a news driven move on Thursday, NG went lower quickly and I took the opportunity to double my size at 2.783. The reason I doubled size is that this type of move lower is often followed by a squeeze, which did occur. By the end of the day we were printing 2.892 and I decided to exit the whole position at a small $300 loss. Given the news, the next day would go one of two directions, a new low or a 50 back and higher prices. Having “reset” my position, I looked for an entry on Friday and saw support at 50% back and am now long 2.875 a 1/2 size position.
I call this sequence in trading lowering my basis. When a trade goes against you, your options are to capitulate or look for a creative exit and possibly re-enter lower. News driven days often demonstrate a V type pattern so I was fortunate to catch the low and punch out at good levels.
The story on this long is incomplete as the market needs to convert the monthly pivot to show bullish signs. I am long and will be rolling this position into the December contract next week.
Corn – Planning the Entry
Corn Is getting close to a reversal pattern and I am planing to enter sometime this week. Either corn is going to double bottom or just break out to the upside. I plan to enter on the pullback if the breakout is seen. Members of our private twitter feed see the actual post for the entry and all trades are reviewed on The Daily Update Video.
9-24 – No clear reversal pattern yet, I am waiting patiently for a quality setup. If we have turned, I will enter on the first back test. I am standing aside until price shows me something worth buying.
10-1 – No clear reversal pattern yet, nothing has changed from last week. I am standing aside and waiting for the setup.
10-8 – Some progress last week on Corn, we are now moving lower and need to break the triangle support trend line. If seen, Corn can have a positive divergence on RSI and a setup lower around $343. I will be watching for a reversal pattern this week.
10-15 – Corn made a nice move after hitting our $343 target. I am looking for an entry and a reversal pattern this week. Convert the monthly pivot at $354 and the turn is confirmed. I am expecting higher prices into January.
10-22 – The reversal pattern is now present on Corn as we have a nice IHS and little risk on a long trade. I plan to enter the trade on Monday on a decent setup.
Coffee – Planning the Entry
Coffee is a familiar trade and it appears we may have reversed and I am expecting a longer term move into the $174s by March of 2018 for a Y wave then even higher into Q4 of 2018. It appears the major degree X wave is in and we have crossed above the 20 day Donchian average. A back test that holds 50% back the previous swing and I am in long for a trade into November.
10-15 – Last week I entered coffee 1/2 size at $126.50 and have a stop below the current low. We have a bit of a compression pattern short term and coffee may still see $122. If this is the case, I will get stopped out and will re-enter the trade lower.
10-22 – Last week I was stopped out on the initial 1/2 size long for a small loss. I re-entered the trade on Friday on the lower high at 124.80 with a stop below the current low. We can still see $122s. I am looking for a rally in coffee into 2018.
Copper – Planning the Entry
Copper has a nice C wave coming down into the $173 area and I tend to look for C waves as well as wave Y or wave 3s as these tend to be impulsive moves which are nice money makers. This is a counter trend swing trade and carries greater than average risk. I will be monitoring size and trading accordingly. My entry will be on the reversal pattern once seen. My timing cycle work says to expect a low window roughly in the first week of November.
10-15 – No reversal pattern yet, but we have negative D on RSI and I am expecting an entry this week. A conversion of weekly pivot at 310.50 and I will confirm the turn and the move into the $273 area.
10-22 – We now have a reversal pattern with the back test of the megaphone trend line as Copper went higher than anticipated. This is one reason why I always for reversal patterns near major turns. Looking for a entry next week and a trip to $300 which should be complete by the first week of November.
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Have a GREAT trading week!!!
COMPLETED TRADES
Track Record of Completed Trades
The purpose of this blog is to demonstrate how to swing trade futures using our methodology to select high quality setups and manage the trade with our risk management approach. This track record is based on entries and exits as posted in this blog using a $50,000 account limited to a three contract position size. We will increase position size after we generate a 200% return. See the videos below for more information.
There is substantial risk of loss of capital when trading and/or investing. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. See our disclaimer Here.
Completed trade in Cattle as of November 28th
We expect subscribers to have captured 60% of the swing in Live Cattle which is over $14,500 in profit using a margin of only $5,115. A great example of using leverage in futures.
Completed Trade in Coffee as of December 12th
The total swing was $37.00 and we expect subscribers to have captured 60% of a wing or $22 in Coffee for a profit of over $25,500 using a margin of $8,850. A great example of using leverage in futures. See the video below for the review of the trade.
Completed Trade in Natural Gas as of January 2nd
We were stopped out of out last 1/3 position as weather related news created a gap down on January 2nd and a possible flat with support at 3.196. This concludes our trade with Natural Gas, we exit with 550 ticks on 2/3s of a position with $8,500 in profit.
Completed Trade in Coffee as of January 19th
We exited the Coffee trade on January 19th with $17 or over $15,000 in profit using a margin of $8,850. A great example of using leverage in futures.
Completed Trade in Gold as of February 8th
We exited the Gold trade on February 8th with over $14,000 in profit. We entered on January 3rd and held the trade into the high window. We will re-enter Gold in a few weeks after a back test.