Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Finding An Effective ETF Trading System

By Patrick Deaton

When choosing an ETF trading system that will be effective a person will want to factor in their own eccentricities. Some people enjoy doing analytical work and following trends. Other people want to have a software program or web service that will do the leg work for them and give them the best bet on an ETF trade. The systems that are available run a wide gamut. ETF trading systems have hundreds of systems that work for some people and don't work for others.

The effectiveness of any trading system that one uses will depend a lot on the type of trading they are doing and the baskets they are trading in. A system that is geared for long positions will not do as well in a short position sector. So, a trader who is diversified in Leveraged or other types of risky ETFs will want to be able to adapt their system to meet the needs of the sector they are in.

When selecting a system, it is important to remember that there is no magic trading system out there that will be effective all the time. When people start using a system that they have been told is the magic bullet they are disappointed and frustrated very quickly. The ETF is made up of millions of small moving parts that each affect the trades taking place. A system that may work for one person might not be as effective for another. Finding the system that works for you will be developed over a period of time as strategies and systems are tried and discarded or altered.

The easiest system to start with that provides minimal risk and will get a traders feet wet is the EMA system. EMA stands for Exponential Moving Average. It involves following trends, and has a pretty decent risk rating. The ETFs most traded using this system are TLT, XLF, SMH, RTH, and a few others.

The system involves going long when the fast EMA crosses above the slow EMA and short when the reverse happens. The trader must always leave or reverse positions the day after the fast EMA and slow EMA cross. And, when the rules have been set up, the new trader needs to stick to them.

The more historical and analytical data a person can collect when developing a trend tracking system, the more accurate they will be. Setting buy and sell limits will help to create a safety net for trading that a person will want to have when they first start trading.

Setting a risk allotment that is a percentage of the total capital you are willing to risk on a position will also make the trading in this system more effective. When an account reaches the minimum, move on. Setting the number of losing trades in a row acceptable, then the percent that the account will be reduced will also help to assure an effective trade.

When deciding on the system or method that will be most effective it is important to get as much information about the system as possible before implementing it. When a system is offered that has no history of consistent success it may not be the best system to start with. Talking to a person who has expertise in each ETF trading system will help a person to find the system that will be most effective for their needs and requirements. - 23309

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