A hidden gem on CNBC.com!

Posted on August 29, 2010
It is very rare that I find any useful comments on CNBC.com from a "pro" or "strategist" but it does happen from time to time! The problem is CNBC.com publishes what sells and not necessary what is useful for the reader which is of course not only CNBC's fault but also the readers fault. Many traders look for excitement in trading and are therefore drawn towards, for example, doom and gloom headlines. The thing is, successful traders don't care where the market is heading in the future, they only care that they read the current market correctly. Dow might be heading for 5000 or 15000 in 2013 but what happens right now is more important as traders cannot afford unlimited drawdown. What would happen to the trader if on the way down to 5000 Dow climbs 20% which then gives the trader a margin call? The trader would lose all his/her money and therefore not be able to profit on the prediction of the Dow hitting 5000. This brings me back to the article on CNBC.com which is more useful than initially thought as Charles Carlson says in an interview that the Dow has made a series of lower highs and lower lows and that if we break support we could see further selling. The full article can be found on: http://www.cnbc.com/id/38865332. Many readers might find his "prediction" to be too loose but the truth is that this is how trading works. Let us just analyze what he said; He looks at price action and sees that the Dow has made lower highs and lower lows. This is the definition of a downtrend and when a market/stock in a downtrend takes out previous support it confirms the downtrend and thereby sells off further. Now nothing is 100 % sure but when the market is in a downtrend and takes out previous support the odds favor a sell off. Charles Carlson looks at current market action and supply/demand which are key elements in trading making this article a hidden gem on CNBC.com.