Gutsy Traders Are About to Lose Everything

Today, I have three trading rules to help you on your journey to a successful (and profitable) new year. January 06, 2014     Gutsy Traders Are About to Lose Everything   What your instincts won't tell you about the market Don't jump the gun... Plus: 85% gains to start the year off right   Greg Guenthner coming to you from Baltimore, MD... Greg Guenthner If you trade with your gut, you'll probably go broke. We're just two trading days into 2014 and investors are already fretting over major market shifts that haven't even happened yet... The problem? Everyone is falling prey to prediction season. They're extrapolating what they think might happen in the markets into actionable trades--instead of reacting to clear-cut trading signals. "2008 changed the way we look at the markets," our trading buddy Jonas Elmerraji explains. "The Great Recession took our yardstick for measuring market successes, and hammered it a foot or two into the ground." "So, as we enter a new year of trading, it's important not to rely on your gut. As technical traders, we've got a box full of immensely powerful tools that should continue to keep us on the right side of price action in 2014." Here's the 2014 scoreboard: Gold's up. Stocks are down. But has anything really changed? See for yourself: For the record, stocks could use a pullback. And it wouldn't surprise me if gold finally snagged some momentum this month. But when it comes down to how you view the markets, you have to maintain your big-picture perspective. 2013's trendlines remain intact. If you want to swing these minor moves, knock yourself out. Just don't let your gut take over your trading decisions. The market will deceive you every time...         Is The White House Terrified of the "Secret $200 Retirement Blueprint?" If you've already retired, or want to retire soon, I urge you to watch this video presentation before we have to pull it down. This "Secret $200 Retirement Blueprint" shows you step-by-step how to grow a monster-sized nest egg with a little time and a tiny grubstake. Click here to watch this video presentation now.           Rude Numbers Targets, Predictions and Wild Guesses   2008 was the last time U.S. stocks dropped at the beginning of a new year. The major indices each shed about 1% to kick off 2014. $710 billion in share buybacks-- along with $340 billion in dividends-- made 2013 the year of shareholder-friendly stances for S&P 500 companies. 13.8 million Groupon shares are about to hit the market, courtesy of a sale by LivingSocial. The move represents about 2% of all Groupon stock. $94.38 buys a barrel of crude right now. Oil has tumbled since hitting a high above $99 late last week. Its early December lows are within striking distance... 1,828 is where you'll find S&P futures this morning. The broad market is looking for a positive open after landing in the red during the first two trading days of 2014...     Rude Trends When to Buy... When to Sell   "The S&P 500 Index has shed 0.92% since the calendar flipped over the January, officially making 2014 the worst year for stocks since 2008," Jonas says. "Yes, you read that right--stocks haven't been down a full point in more than five calendar years." But it's not the end of the world just yet. "Since 1975, we've only had 8 years when stocks went negative - compare that to the 11 years when stocks returned more than 20%. Clearly, the Mr. Market has a long-term, upward bias. To a lot of people, new highs don't feel sustainable. That's why so many retail investors have been out of the market for the last few years, waiting for a pullback while they missed the biggest bull market in a generation." No matter what happens the month (and the rest of the year, for that matter) keeping an eye on the trends will keep your brokerage account happy... And if you think a sagging market will slow Jonas down, you might want to reconsider. He just alerted his readers to take 85% gains on quick Goodyear Tire & Rubber (NASDAQ:GT) trade. Join him today as he continues to pile up the gains in 2014... [Ed. Note: Send your feedback here: rude@agorafinancial.com - and follow me on Twitter: @GregGuenthner]     Ignore At Your Own Peril Today's Must Read Links   2 Words Obama Doesn't Want You to Know Could This Completely Destroy The Democratic Party's Platform? Analyst Unveils "Hacked" NSA Method     BE SURE TO ADD dr@dailyreckoning.com to your address book.       Additional Articles & Commentary: Join the conversation! Follow us on social media:         The Rude Awakening is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We do not rent or share your email address. 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