Trading Systems for index futures from the DaCharts.com trading community
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Not just a disclaimer: These systems are posted for their educational value, and no claims are made regarding profitability or tradeability. Study them and use the ideas to find a method that suits your own personality, abilities, and risk tolerance. It takes more than a system to be able to trade profitably, you have to learn to trade too, which takes time, persistence, good advice and sufficient resources.

NOTE: New trading systems and trading methods are under development and are being discussed and traded live in the chatroom during the day and in market playback in the evening, so be sure and visit there for the latest. This is just the material we've had time to post:

2X (updated September, 2002)
Ever wish you could catch every nip an tuck? Check out Jimmer's 2X trading discipline. That's 2X as in "two times the daily range."

NQoos divergence trades (updated September, 2002)
These high reliability trades have "clicked" for a lotta folks in the chatroom, especially with the great coaching and charts that NQoos has been providing
.

B-Line (updated November, 2002)
Buffy's original system for day trading the Nasdaq and S&P index futures. Signals can be as simple or as complicated as you wish to make it.
Strengths:
Uses multi-timeframe analysis. Frequent trading opportunities. Leaves very little on the table. Very suitable for part time trading. Can scalp (tick charts) or trend (minute charts) trade intraday. (May also be used for stocks with 60M - D - M charts.)
Weaknesses: If scalping, requires close attention to the charts and speedy trade entry and execution.
Intensity: Scalping (20+ day), Trend trading depends on time frame used.
Resources: Real time charts posted throughout the day, real-time voice chat peer support, after-hours simulated trading with Buffy, voice chat Q&A.

2X B-Line (updated January, 2003)   
Combines Buffy's B-Line system with Jimmer's 2x system. Encompasses both the MOF (money on floor) and slingshot which differ mainly in the position of the long-term stochastic in the 2X window and the bline. The MOF catches the first sign of a trend reversal, and the slingshot catches the continuation. You can learn both very easily at the same time.

Goinglite's K (not available)    
A system similar to Jimmer's 2X, except that it uses Keltner bands instead of Bollinger bands. The black Keltner band and the blue and pink inner Keltner show four layers of support and resistance, so there are more options on entries. Currently working on filters to make the retest setups stronger. Goinglite has decided not to make the details available on daCharts.

Enthios Univeral System (February 2005)
This is a new trading system, which I call the "Enthios Universal" because it presents so many different opportunities and can be adjusted to your own investing or trading style - position, multi-day, day, swing, even scalp.  It is the 'next evolution' of the old Enthios Handy chart, which my good friend Citizen came up with in 1999.

The Universal Chart template is free to Ensign and eSignal users. It has been free since April 2004.   The annualized return on trades since then is in the neighborhood of 150%.  The usual qualifiers and small print are applicable. Updated website (Feb 2008)

Retro-Trader (updated October, 2001)
15m breakout system for day trading the Nasdaq and S&P index futures
Strengths: Good at maximizing results on intraday trends, survives well while jockeying for position for the next big move. Uses 2 time frames (5 minute and 15 minute) to filter out bad trades and get early warning of trend changes.
Weaknesses: Mediocre results on narrow range days, unprofitable during chop. Stop-loss placement is too wide for many traders. Frequency of trade opportunities is too slow for efficient learning in realtime. A system that provides freqent small gains is more satisfying for most people.
Intensity: average of 10 trades per day. Requires looking at the chart only every 5 minutes.
Resources: Charts and trade logs from Fall, 2001, are maintained for historical interest and independent study.

SMAX (updated April, 2002)
MACD crossover system for day trading the Nasdaq and S&P index futures
Strengths: Uses multi-timeframe analysis to achieve timely entries/exits. Excellent profitability.
Weaknesses: limited historical data, requires a sharp eye and close attention to the charts during the day.
Intensity: average 12 trades per day
Resources: SMAX is no longer supported since it has been superceeded by 2X.
The SMAX charts and files are maintained for historical interest and independent study.

Warning: These trading sytems and methods are posted for their educational value only. Historical results have not been fully backtested or evaluated. Trading rules may be subject to interpretation, and may need to be changed or even discarded. Planned risk levels may be exceeded drastically in extreme market conditions that are not uncommon. The same system may be profitable for an accomplished trader and generate losses in the hands of an unprepared trader. There is no substitute for learning to trade, which takes time in actual trading. Use and/or modify the information contained in these resources only at your own risk.

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