The Yin and the Yang of Markets

I am reading a fantastic book on trading, first published in 1924, by Richard D. Wyckoff, titled "How I Trade and Invest in Stocks & Bonds". Although most of the examples in the book pertain to stocks, the insights into the nature of trading are relevant no matter what instrument you choose to trade.

I am particularly drawn to the authors' appreciation of the ebb and flow nature of markets and how this perspective can be used to great effect.

"It is difficult to over-emphasize the importance of studying the technical position, particularly when making a speculative commitment. Many people may say, "What is a weak or a strong technical position?" My reply is, in brief, that a stock is in a weak technical position on the bull side when it has been purchased and is held by a large number of outside speculators; when most of these are looking for a profit; when the price of the stock has advanced to a point where no further buying can be stimulated for the time being. It stands to reason that when buying power is exhausted a stock must decline, no matter how strong its finances, management or earning power."

"On the other hand, a stock is in a weak technical position on the short side when the bears have exhausted their ammunition by selling all they can afford and when the buying power of investment and speculative purchasers is such that it resists the pressure of the bears; in other words, when demand overcomes supply. The weakness in such a position is found in the fact that all those who are short are potential bulls; they must, sooner or later, cover their commitments in order to close their trades. They do not wish to remain short indefinitely."?. "Bears, after they have sold short are an element of strength, not of weakness."

Perhaps the nature of all markets is best described by the Chinese Yin Yang symbol.

In every bull move, and in every bear decline, are the seeds of their own destruction.

Malcolm Robinson
LIFFE Pit Trader & Electronic Trader
InstinctiveTrader.com

Latest News


Currency Trading Market Conditions Remain Challenging: Breakout ...
Daily FX, NY - 15 hours ago
Sharp US Dollar gains have produced profits in several of our currency trading strategies on the week, and a continuation of US Dollar strength would make ...
US Dollar Forecast to Rally Against Euro, British Pound, Fall ... Daily FX
all 4 news articles

Voice of America

Treasury’s Lead Role in China in Flux
New York Times, United States - 2 hours ago
Besides, some noted, China’s currency, by maintaining its peg to the dollar, has risen in relation to the currencies of other trading partners because the ...
Yuan's Fall Watched Ahead of US-China Summit Wall Street Journal
China hopes talks with US boost coordination The Associated Press
Paulson Seeks to Broaden Access to China Wall Street Journal
all 236 news articles

Stocks drubbed at open
CNNMoney.com - 15 hours ago
US crude for January delivery tumbled $3.46 to $50.99 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In currency trading, the dollar fell against the yen and ...

AFP

Yen Strengthens as Manufacturing Slump Weakens Yuan, Ruble
Bloomberg - 16 hours ago
Bank Rossii, which manages the currency against a basket of dollars and euros to mitigate the effect of currency swings, widened the ruble’s trading band to ...
Dollar Rises as Global Manufacturing and Stock Markets Plunge International Business Times
Down Is Dollar's December Direction Wall Street Journal
Yen Extends Gains as Signs of Global Recession Sap Carry Trade Bloomberg
Bloomberg - Bloomberg
all 251 news articles

Yuan Falls to One-Month Low as China Seeks to Shore Up Economy
Bloomberg - Nov 30, 2008
“The central bank may want to test the market’s response to the possibility of a weaker yuan, but most likely it will keep the currency stable till the end ...
Yuan tumbles to end at bottom of band vs dollar Forex Pros
Yuan posts record low against dollar Commodity Online
Rate cut sees yuan decline Shanghai Daily
Bloomberg
all 13 news articles

New York Times

Some Nations That Spurned the Euro Reconsider
New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
After turmoil in the currency markets nearly destroyed the currencies of Iceland and Poland, the two countries are rethinking their opposition to the euro. ...

AU Preview: Q3 GDP Should be Bo...
ForexTV.com, NY - 1 hour ago
Forex (or FX or off-exchange foreign currency futures and options) trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. ...

GLOBAL MARKETS-Grim economic outlook pummels stocks, oil slides
guardian.co.uk, UK - 9 hours ago
... also lifting the dollar, so it's possible the dollar will get a bit of a bid out of this, but currency trading is going to be choppy," Reid added. ...

Ruble Plunge Prompts Doubling of Reserve Spending, Survey Shows
Bloomberg - 6 hours ago
Bank Rossii buys and sells foreign currency to keep the ruble within a trading band against a basket comprised 55 percent of dollars and rest in euros. ...
Russian Stocks, Ruble Drop as Production Falls More Than in ’98 Bloomberg
all 8 news articles

Currency Trading Market Conditions Difficult to Forecast: Look for ...
Daily FX, NY - Nov 24, 2008
Currency trading market conditions have been especially difficult to predict as of late, and strategy preferences for our forex trading signals are far from ...

Resources