[DJay23]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Your goal as a swing trader is to have your winners double your losses, so averaging 10% for your winners and 5% for your losses. With this ratio, you only have to be successful on 50% of your trades to make nice profits across the board. You have to be disciplined though. If you don't set a stop loss on a position entry and it moves 25% or more against you, that's too large a draw down on your capital and makes your success rate have to be that much higher (which is hard).

If you have questions please ask. Trading is different than investing. In trading your must have defined rules and follow some form of technical analysis. You should at least mentally define the difference between your trading positions and long term investing.

More great advice.

I was greedy with CCIV and was left holding the bag. Having just jumped in it was a big chunk of my portfolio and now I'm in the red. Obviously I should have sold. When I should have sold is what I didn't understand.

If I'm reading what you're saying right, I should have set my own number (10%?) and sold then? I know 10% is a nice return on long term investments, did you use that number because it is generally considered good for short term too?

Thanks again.