Factor Member Webinar and Q&A with Peter L. Brandt - Recorded live November 7 &10*, 2018  Opening discussion/presentation by Peter 

• Market review 

Live questions from Members  

1. I struggle to include trading activities into my daily schedule and I would like to know how Peter does it or suggests how to do it. I am not a full-time professional trader.That means I have full time job, however, at work I can usually manage to have access to my trading account within two hours. But, I also have business dinners, a small child which I take care of, play sports, and do activities with friends. What is the right thing to do from a trading perspective when a breakout happens or an alert pop ups when I am doing these activities? Should I finish them and then go to a computer? Should I always have my computer with me sneak out and do trading activities? Should I arrange my day that I have full time access to my trading computer? As far as I understand it Peter does not sit in front of the computer all the time. How does he manage his trading activities when he is at dinner or away for a few hours? 20:34 
2. Peter often refers to his change to an Aggressive Risk Management - what are the parameters and details around this? 32:23
3. Please show CCJ Comeco Uranium again. Where did you place your entry and where was your stop? After today - would you exit the trade, move your stop or wait? 37:09
4. INDA 12wk H&S top, why 100BP? ITA 7 month rectangle, why 38BP? GE EURO DOLLAR 12wk rectangle and 4 mo descending triangle - why 44 BP? 38:41  
5. Are there markets where it is fine to use GTC orders with execution possible outside of regular trading hours or does Peter re-enter orders for each market, each day.  It must get complicated when trading Asian, European and US contracts if entering orders daily for each market. 40:59
6. Why do you advise traders to avoid day trading? 42:55
7. USDZAR - Setting up a descending triangle, would you take it? Why or why not? 45:18
8. This is a bit operational, but is there a service that you know of which constantly provides the next 2-3 futures contracts automatically rather than having to manually change watchlists to reflect current contracts? Or does Peter have to manually go through and update watchlists for new/expired contract. 46:39
9. Describe your use of Bollinger Bands ... and compare the BB's with Keltner Channels, if you use them. I noticed your use of the BB's on a chart you pulled up when answering a question from your July webinar. 47:57
10. Recently I was in a EURUSD trade with about 25 pip risk and got stopped with 10 point slippage (35 pips 10 extra = 40% extra risk).  I was using Interactive Brokers.  I am wondering if I could have avoided this had I traded the Euro futures contract. In your experience do brokers penalize with more slippage than the futures exchange would have? 50:31
11. You mentioned in another webinar - you prefer to trade futures vs currency pairs when you have a choice and one reason was because “you know your counter party risk in futures market”.  What does that mean? 52:07   
12. I would like to understand to what extent you follow fundamental factors and use them in your trading decisions. From the content online it seems that sometimes you do think about them in terms of finding a bias to a chart but at other times you say you ignore them completely. 54:20  
13. Van Tharp stresses the importance of trying to achieve large R multiples on the winning side to compensate for all the small losses. And Van Tharp stresses letting your profits run. In contrast, Peter has price targets and takes his profit when the target is met. I would be interested in hearing Peter talk about this for a moment. 56:30  
14. When do you consider a pattern backtest is no longer worthy of an entry. Let's say for example a pattern completed and broke through resistance. Let's say the price went 50% of the way to your target after you break through resistance but then comes back to test the previous resistance (which is now support). At what point do you consider the pattern complete? If it does come to backtest support after going 50% of the way to your target, do you consider this still a possible entry? How would your view change if it wasn't 50% but maybe 60%, 70% or 100% of the way to the target? Is there a time criteria that you might also use to consider a pattern a dud or complete? 58:46
15. How do you determine if you should take profit at the measured move for that pattern, or if you should just build a position (with trailing stops)  because you think it has much more to run? 1:01:35 
16. The biggest challenge I have seems to be managing stops, I get stopped out often and lose the opportunity to the gains. I have been trying to learn the way Factor is managing stops, but it is not yet clear to me about how to use the rules. When is the 3 Day Stop Rule applied and how to manage it? 1:02:10
17. Why do you sometimes trade differed contracts further out vs current contract? Do you do this because the chart setup is cleaner or looks better? 1:04:19
18. In his book, Schabacker talks about "The Complex Pattern" - head and multiple shoulders OR multiple head and shoulders. This is a more reliable reversal than normal H&S. I never see Peter mention this pattern, does he consider it valid? If so, does he see this pattern developing in Silver or Litecoin at the present moment? 1:05:57
19. As most Futures Exchanges are imposing higher data fees, what is your advice for startup CTAs to manage costs effectively? 1:08:08 
20. Completed patterns in years past, you stated could be “taken to the bank.” I do not find that the case today. Do you agree and what fundamental shift must a Classical Chartist make today? 1:10:53 
21. As we are aware, Peter trades across markets (from Futures, Spot FX to Cash Equities); how does he manage his trading? Specifically, his signals and Order Management book 1) Aside from classical chart patterns, how does Trade Navigator augment his process to confirm buy/sell signals? 2) From past articles, he mentioned that most orders are manually entered and for certain markets he does not place stops (overnight). With recent volatility (mid-term elections), has there been exceptions to his rules? 3) Previously, my past understanding was CQG Trader (API Bridge) into ADM (for Futures); Interactive Brokers (for cash equities) and possibly Saxo/IB (Spot FX). Is this still the case? 4) Is Trade Navigator still the main tool to manage all orders? 1:12:43
22. What are your current stop-raising protocols?  3DTSR on the 4-Hour chart? 1:16:57
23. If one traded solely on the weekly close or Real Range for determining pattern boundary lines vs spindles is that a viable way or should spindles be more/= important? 1:17:31
24. Beginning with equity of only $100,000, which often limits multiple contract etc., is it still worth the effort to trade due to the limi ted options of that amount? So what is the optimal initial equity amount to make significant trading progress…$200k? 1:17:55
25. You said you don't trade volatility, long or short. Why is that? Does classical charting principle work in the vol space? 1:18:49
26. What qualities of a chart have real predictive value? 1:19:37
27. In years past you made many more trades in a week than now. That provided greater opportunities to increase your equity (with risks also, I know) but with fewer trades done today, it would appear a full time career in trading patterns is highly limited, do you agree? 1:19:53 
28. There are QO and YG in mini gold contracts. Why do you prefer YG over QO? How about copper's mini contract? 1:21:45
29. Can you explain the difference between continuous and near-by chart? How do you use them? 1:22:41 LINK to document Peter mentioned 
30. Can you comment on HQY stock breakout, is that a trade you'd take?  Why or why not? 1:23:34
31. Do you usually use the 55 or 57 charts for futures when using Trade Navigator? What do you prefer to use when getting an overview on a market? 1:23:52
32. How did you quit trading big after your initial win that greatly helped you establish a portfolio in the proper size? 1:25:16
33. Current thoughts on BTC?  1:27:04

Reminder to access all archived Q&A webinars and past interviews go to Factor Members / Reports / Factor Multi-Media Room on the website.  *Due to the length and detail Peter wanted to give on our first question followed by technical difficulties our webinar was recorded on two different days. Read More

Factor Member Q&A with Peter L. Brandt - Recorded live July 17, 2018 Opening discussion/presentation by Peter 

• Factor Tracking Account Update

Live questions from Members  

1. What are your thoughts on the current movement in gold? 11:06
2. Does Peter think to have a macro perspective (for example, follow things like RealVision) is an advantage when trading Factor principles or a disadvantage? 13:39
3. Wedges: preceding action - Sometimes wedges form after a strong move in the opposite direction. 15:32
4. Would you have made more money if you had traded Stocks only? 16:29
5. Do you trade the commission or non-commission forex pairs usually? 17:23
6. This is a two part question. In one of your recent newsletters, you mentioned that you have changed to trade management approach during the last few years, namely selling half when reach 100bp in profit and raising stop to even as soon as possible. But that selling half into strength part is not always included in your Factor analysis. So my question is 1. Do you do this differently in your prop account, but not in the Factor account? 2. How do you reconcile that by selling half earlier, it will be much more difficult to get the "bottom liners"? 18:22 
7. How much emphasis do you place on volume these days? Can you please speak a bit more how you view/use volume when trading futures/forex? 22:45
8. Do you or have you ever looked at Fibonacci analysis? If so, which levels have you found to be most consistent (even though you might choose not to use them at this stage)? 25:00
9. How you decide to move stops, did not understand the real tight move in the IWM based on volatility. 25:29
10. I understand that Peter has been cutting down trade size dramatically since about the book "Diary" time. The main reason behind that is because Peter is approaching the retirement age or he simply believes the time has changed and trader shouldn't take 3% loss anymore. 27:54
11. I’m curious to your average risk sizing YTD. Seems like LDR has been difficult to apply on $100k account size. Are you applying different initial risk tactics recently? 29:05
12. You've mentioned that you don't trade single name equities and from what I recall that decision is driven by the leverage that can be applied. Am I correct in my recollection? If you could lever single name equities like futures would you trade them? 32:16 (Link to document referenced https://www.peterlbrandt.com/trading-futures-forex-related-etfs-foolish-use-capital/) 
13. The death cross of the 30 week MA and the 50 week MA will happen in around 3 weeks. In case that the $5750 was the market bottom what are the possibles outcomes which the market could react when the death cross happens? Usually the market makes lower lows when this happens. 33:35
14. How do balance aggressive risk management with "letting winners run”? 33:53
15. Double tops / bottoms - I don't see many of these on your reports. Is there any particular reason for t his? 36:22
16. Both E&M and Schabacker were written with single stocks in mind and with the Daily charts as primary tool of analysis. Your Q&A says (And this is clear from your reports) you don't generally follow single stocks. E&M and Schabacker were very confident that these methods work for single stocks. Do you think they work less well nowadays? Or do you think someone who applies your trading methods to liquid single stock should achieve similar returns to what you achieve on currencies, stock indices and commodities? E&M required a 3% margin of safety to accept a trading signal. Do you think that is still optimal for single stocks? 37:26 
17. You've mentioned your experience of loneliness while trading - How do you address this? Outside of the Factor Community, how have you built and managed relationships as a lonely trader? 41:09
18. When do you consider fundamentals or look at fundamentals? If you don't how do you manage the media/news/information around fundamentals? 42:58
19. What makes you think your strategy needs adjustment and how often do you review your strategies for adjustment? 44:33
20. If BTC has an INTRADAY WBB Candle breaking out above $6829 (completing the 5 Week H&S Bottom) combined with Volume Breakout and Diverging Bollinger Band s, how sure can we be that it does not come back under 6829 by 00:00 UTC (end of day)? What is the strategy for that? Stop-Loss at ~$6750? 46:38
21. The H&S failure is the only failure that you actually trade. Since so many of the formations fail - by your own admission you expect a trade to fail at inception, as the winning percentage is below 50% - do those failures themselves present trading opportunities with manageable risk? 51:14
22. Would you have traded Feeder Cattle Head and Shoulders. I did today and got stopped out. 52:26
23. You mentioned the other week that over time you’ve added chart patterns to your library, and gave one example of “ottoman with chair”. Would you be able to share th e other with us over time/in a special piece. 53:18
24. How do you determine how many bps of risk you will apply to each trade? For an account size of $250,000, trading only equities, how much do you recommend each position size be around? 53:53 
25. Can you please speak to moving stops once position has gone your way? 55:05
26. Do you trade BTC futures through an exchange and if so which one do you use? 56:40

Mentioned in webinar hikkake pattern 8:48 Read More

Factor Member Q&A with Peter L. Brandt - Recorded live May 11, 2017 Opening discussion/presentation by Peter 

• Factor Tracking Account Update
• Current Market Conditions

Live questions from Members  

1. You used to report your prop account trading but no longer do so. Do you plan to provide this information again? 15:09
2. In your vast experience is it best to: 1. Buy a partial position in anticipation of a break out? 2. Enter a buy stop just above the break out point? 3. Wait for the 3% close above the ice line and enter at the end of the day this occurs? 17:01
3. Referring to the Portugal PSI-20 Index analysis published by FACTOR: Why is the 17 year bear market close to an end if the trendline hasn't been broken yet? What characteristics is Factor seeing on the triangle pattern to validate a break on the respective down-trendline? 21:01
4. FACTOR published a chart regarding EUR/GBP in February. Head and shoulders weekly structure seems to be completed, whats your opinion about this trade? Is this head and shoulder formation still valid? 23:17
5. About the Ripple (XRP) Cryptocoin: Major banks and financial institutions are really interested in this cryptocoin and they are even testing it on big transactions. Do you see a huge buy opportunity in here? Or do you think it will be a pump and dump situation? 25:33
6. Your thoughts on the gap in NZD/USD? 26:53
7. Which vendor would you recommend to trade Forex? No, of course to IB. 28:43
8. How do you manage a runaway profitable position (e.g., bitcoin)? Take all profits at a target price or sell in increments (e.g., 10% @ x, 10% @ y)? 30:49
9. How do you deal with a situation where two charts are telling you two different stories about something specific? If we can use a recent experience as an example. The dollar index looked bullish to me (descending wedge), whilst the EUR/USD chart also looked bullish to me (recent break higher). Do you: A) Trade both? B) Trade neither? C) Make a decision as to the more compelling trade and trade that one only? 33:11
10. I trade across multiple asset classes. The one that I am least familiar with is the commodity market. Are there any specific nuances to the way this market trades that stand out to you as important to understand as contrasted with other markets to help guide my trading here? 35:41
11. In recent Factor updates, you review the UBS AG@NYSE chart. I had to play around with the “unsplitting” of the prices….this is not something I recall being mentioned in determining the appropriate view of any charts. What is the significance of split versus unspilt prices? How would a trader know when this might be factor in the version the chart being viewed? 39:18
12. Do you know what percent of your members trade full time? 43:25
13. You wrote that grain markets are in a long bottoming process. What patterns, signals or clues do you look at during the coming weeks to confirm that bottom is completed? 44:46

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