Cappy’s Zone trade

Cappy’s Zone trade lesson given on 7/25/2008



A zone trade is a scalping trade. For this type of trade you should go with the trend. The reason Cappy gives for going with the trend is that your success rate is higher. So its not in your best interest to go short in a positive market, and to always try when scalping to go with the trend. If you do decide to take a contra trade, Cappy recommended that you be really cautious, go only on major supports and resistances for example the midline and s1 or r1 depending on the direction of the market, and don’t be in the trade long.

The zone is a range with xxxx.50 being the mid zone with ¾ point above xxxx.25 being the upper zone and ¾ point below xxxx.75 being the lower zone.

For example a zone trade with the trend, Cappy got in long at the lower zone at 1261.00 then again at 1260.75 for a two point scalp. The concept of the zone is that the trade will stay in the zone and travel up to the upper side of the zone filling your target. Should the trade break the zone and go to 1260.50 as it does in the example, you would want to look at getting out of your trade with as little loss as possible.

Mchugh created a 3x5 index card that explains the in my opinion is in the most simplified manner that it could be explained:
ZONE ENTRY / EXITS
####1.50 move short stop to exit
Long Profit Point ####1.25 Still in zone
Long Profit Point ####1.00 Short Entry
Long Profit Point #### .75 Short Entry
####.50
Long Entry ####.25 Short Profit Point
Long entry ####.00 Short Profit Point
Long Still in Zone ####.75 Short Profit Point
Move Long Stop to exit ####.50

Cappy did a zone trade against the trend. He shorted at 1258.75 just one tick above the mid zone for a two tick target. If the market had moved to 1259.50 he would have looked to get out of the trade.

Important points Cappy made, not necessarily tied with the lesson, were,
• Only make trades on the 1 minute chart depending on what the 5 & 10 minute charts are going. Pay attention to the guerilla of the market. Which way is the market moving? Don’t forget the old tired adage that the trend is your friend.
• When reading the tape (the bid/ask on the ladder), large numbers on the bid side push the markets up, large numbers on the ask side push the markets down.
• Cappy recommended the book “Pit Bull” by Marty Schwartz
• 8 & 21 minute moving averages are good to make plays off hits on.
• Its best to have targets within the zone for the best chances of success
• Enter at whole number
• This is a good method for cutting losses
• The range always starts at xxxx.75 and ends at xxxx.25 and are 1 ½ point ranges.


Authors:
Jessica Quick 7/26/2008