Results season is in full swings and stocks whose results will be coming are going to be volatile. Most of traders will be lured by the idea if one trade goes right i can make big money but one wrong trade can wipe off also.
In trading activity alone does not make money, the right activity at the right time is what makes money. Many times the right thing, is to do nothing.
In your actual trading you have to do four things very well to make money.
You have to know when to get in.
Only enter trades that have the highest probability of success and the best risk/reward ratio. Traders needs to develop/learn a methodology and stick to it. Sticking and Consistency make the major difference.
You have to know when to get out.
When your trade reverses through a key support get out. When the market trend changes get out of your long positions. When your stop loss is hit, get out. When the stock reverses and hits your trailing stop, get out.
You have to know when to stay in.
If you enter a stock with the potential to trend let it run as far as it will go. Do not set a target, just trail your winner with a stop. Let the stock tell you when it is done running. Do not cut your winners short.
And most importantly you have to know when to stay out.
If you do not know what to do, do nothing. If the charts confuse you, stay out. If the volatility is escalating and you are losing in every trade, stay out. If you are a trend trader and you see no potential trends, stay out. If you want to go long but all the stocks you want are going down, stay out.
Rightly said sir.