Hey everyone, Ross here! Friday was a wild ride. I started in the red, worked my way back to green, slipped back into red, and then finally landed in the green with a $6,400 win on my last trade, all within 15 minutes. Let’s break down how the day unfolded.

Trades Overview

CMND: First Two Trades

My day kicked off with trades on CMND. I bought 5,000 shares at $2.17, expecting a short squeeze. The stock hit $2.21 before falling back, and I stopped out at $2.08, taking a $500 loss. Annoying, but manageable.

The second trade was similar. Hopped back in at $2.21, aiming for a dip buy. This one also tanked, costing me another $200. That put me down $700 just on CMND.

GRDI: Working My Way Back

Next, I tried my luck with GRDI. I bought 15,000 shares at $1.20 and sold them in the $1.25-$1.30 range, netting $628 in profit. This helped me cut my overall loss to just $128 for the day. The bigger share size here was because it’s a cheaper stock, so I felt comfortable taking more shares.

MGOL: Choppy but Profitable

MGOL was up next on my radar. I entered at $1.22 with 15,000 shares. The stock moved nicely initially, hitting $1.30 and $1.40, but I got whipsawed out on a drop at $1.50. Still managed a $734 profit. Between commissions and choppy price action, though, it consumed a lot of my mental energy.

PIXY: A Small Mistake

On PIXY, I meant to buy 5,000 shares but accidentally bought 10,000. The stock dropped, and I stopped out with a $1,200 loss. This was a wake-up call to stay alert and double-check my orders.

ZAPP: The Big Winner

As ZAPP started to show strong momentum, I took a big risk. I bought 20,000 shares, seeing the stock halt on high volume. The resumption was smooth, and we climbed from $3 to a high of $3.80. This netted me $6,400 in just a few quick trades, turning my day profitable above my daily goal.

Risk Management

I set daily profit goals and max loss limits to manage my risk. My daily goal is $5,000, and I cap my daily loss at the same amount. Today, despite the roller coaster ride, I stayed within these boundaries. Adjusting share size based on the stock price helps me manage the financial exposure.

Order Routing and Trading Windows

I often get asked about using commission-free brokers versus direct-routing brokers. Commission-free trading might look attractive, but it introduces latency. Direct routing, although costlier, offers speed. This matters a lot in day trading, where seconds can mean dollars.

My most active trading window is between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. This is when I can spot the best setups and make the most profits. Outside this window, things get trickier.

Performance Metrics and Strategy

Let’s talk numbers. Year-to-date, my account has grown from $110,000 to $366,000. (As always, my results are NOT typical.) This gives me a solid percentage return, but the key is consistency. Most of my trades average around 10,000 shares, which suits my strategy of capitalizing on short, high-volatility periods.

While some think about turning small amounts into millions, liquidity often becomes the bottleneck. Moving 100,000 shares quickly isn’t feasible for most stocks. Thus, my strategy focuses on smaller, more manageable trades.

Conclusion

Today was a reminder of why risk management and discipline are so crucial in day trading. Despite the ups and downs, I stuck to my plan and managed to end the day in the green. Remember, trading is risky, so always manage your risk and practice in a simulator before using real money. Happy trading!

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