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Popular Posts

Patience Tested: Lessons from a Forced SPY Options Trading Session

Growing a small options trading account demands patience and adaptability, and today’s trading session tested both, resulting in multiple losses but valuable lessons.  Every trading session, even a challenging one, provides insights for improvement, and this post offers transparency on my experience to help you scale your account, using today’s struggles as a practical example.  My goal is to share actionable strategies to refine your trading system and foster growth through disciplined reflection. Economic News: U.S. Initial Jobless Claims and Market Influences Today, U.S. initial jobless claims for the week ending June 14, 2025, dropped to 245,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week’s revised 250,000, aligning with economists’ expectations and indicating a stable labor market despite recent volatility.  However, ongoing geopolitical tensions, including Israel’s missile strikes on Iran and President Trump’s tariff threats, are contributing to market uncertainty a...

Lessons from a Tough & Choppy SPY Trading Day: Growing a Small Options Trading Account with Discipline

Growing a small trading account is a test of discipline, and today’s SPY trading session was a challenging one, marked by losses but rich with lessons.  Every trading session, even a tough one, provides valuable insights, and this post offers transparency on my experience to help you scale your account, using today’s struggles as a real-world example.  My goal is to share actionable strategies for navigating challenging market conditions and fostering growth through disciplined trading. Economic News: U.S. Retail Sales and Market Influences Today, U.S. retail sales for May 2025 fell by 0.9%, a steeper decline than the expected 0.5% drop, reflecting consumer caution amid trade uncertainties.  Additionally, escalating geopolitical tensions, including Israel’s missile strikes on Iran and ongoing tariff threats from President Trump, are driving market volatility and influencing SPY’s choppy behavior. Today’s SPY Trading Session: A Lesson in Restraint SPY gapped down below the...

A 42% Gain with a One-and-Done Mindset: Lessons for Growing a Small Trading Account

Growing a small trading account requires discipline and a strategic mindset, and today’s SPY trading session yielded a remarkable 42% gain by adopting a “one-and-done” approach.  Every trading session, even a profitable one, provides valuable lessons, and this post offers transparency on my journey to help you scale your account, using today’s trade as a real-world example.  My goal is to share actionable insights on sticking to a system and prioritizing high-probability setups to foster growth. Economic News: U.S. Empire State Manufacturing Survey and Market Influences Today, the U.S. Empire State Manufacturing Index for June 2025 dropped to -16.0, significantly below the expected -5.5 and down from May’s -9.2, signaling a sharp contraction in New York manufacturing activity that may pressure the broader market.  Additionally, heightened geopolitical tensions, including Israel’s missile strikes on Iran and ongoing trade uncertainties from President Trump’s tariff threat...