Four Steps to Trading Success: Using Everyday Indicators to Achieve Extraordinary Profits [Hardcover]

John F. Clayburg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471414824 | ISBN-13: 978-0471414827 | Publication Date: June 1, 2001 | Edition: 1st

Everything a trader needs to know to develop a successful system
Technical analysis--the reading of price and volume charts to identify trading opportunities--has long been a staple in the trader's toolkit. Well before computers took much of the labor out of technical analysis, traders have examined trends, filters, patterns, and especially indicators to help them identify when to get in and out of trades for maximum profit. Now, a highly experienced analyst divulges his proven techniques for identifying the major trend, determining the "trend within the trend," finding the optimal entry, and then choosing the right time to get out. He shows traders how to most effectively use multiple indicators and know what they are really telling about the markets. While his techniques can be used without the aid of computers, he explains how readers can automate their systems using commercially available software.
John F. Clayburg (Coon Rapids, IL) is a technical analyst with over twenty years in the game. He is the developer of the Cylone S & P Day Trading System and the author and developer of Parallel User Function Technology, a unique self-adaptive trading software platform.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Success in any area of endeavor, whether it be a craft, the arts, or business, is not based on having the right equipment, or raw materials, but rather on knowing how to use them. Likewise, success in the stock market is not dependent on having access to good indicators, but rather, on knowing how to read them against prevailing market conditions.

Technical analysis, the reading of price and volume charts to identify trading opportunities, has long been a staple in the trader's toolkit. And with the advent of online trading, technical analysis has become more readily available to traders than ever before.

However, even with multiple Web sites offering a variety of common indicators along with the guidelines on how to apply them, many traders are still not realizing the kind of profitable results they could be achieving.

In Four Steps to Trading Success, Dr. John Clayburg, a technical analyst with more than twenty years in the game, provides the serious day trader with a wide array of tools that can be used to build an effective day trading system, regardless of the indicators. In clear, easy-to-understand language, Clayburg explains how to use and interpret common indicators that are freely available on the Web to develop a trading strategy that fits each trader's personal goals and ambitions.

Clayburg's goal is not to teach a system that, when blindly adhered to, will bring everyone the same results. Rather, he strives to instill a new mind-set, combining proven techniques with logical processes and some commonsense filters to enable traders to "customize" their own trading strategies using their own personal experiences, observations, and interactions to achieve greater trading success. For example, the author introduces the use of a simple early morning filter that, with 75 percent accuracy, defines each trading day in such a way as to make the interpretation and use of indicators much more reliable. By using this technique to enter the market each day, traders can significantly increase the accuracy of their trading.

Whether the goal is finding out how to get the most mileage out of online trading, learning how to interpret multiple indicators for a more accurate picture of the market, or just gathering some new insights to help improve one's game, Four Steps to Trading Success promises to make any trader a more informed, more successful investor.

From the Back Cover

Develop a successful trading system and achieve extraordinary profits

"This is by far one of the best trading books to come along in a long time. It deals with specifics in market entry, exits, and stop placement in a simple, understandable approach. This is a well-defined trading plan that will benefit both the long-term and short-term stock trader. Buy it. You will not be disappointed."-John Hill, President, Futures Truth Co., coauthor, The Ultimate Trading Guide

In a straightforward, easy-to-follow format, John F. Clayburg divulges his techniques for identifying the major trends, determining the "trend within the trend," finding the optimal entry, and then choosing the right time to get out. More than just a guide to indicators, the book teaches investors how to observe, analyze, and recognize patterns that will help them make smart trading decisions, in any market.

Here are just some of the strategies covered:
* How to use and interpret indicators that are freely available on the Web
* How to develop an effective system
* How to use a simple early morning technique that will significantly increase the accuracy of your daily trading
* How to achieve your own optimal trading frequency
* How to interpret multiple indicators for optimum returns
* How to automate your system using commercially available software

Filled with useful, time-tested techniques that will never become obsolete, regardless of advances in technology, Four Steps to Trading Success is a must for any serious day trader looking to improve his or her track record.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1st edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471414824
• ISBN-13: 978-0471414827
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,224,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful and well worth the price, April 24, 2002

By 

James S. Ehmer (Rosemount, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Four Steps to Trading Success: Using Everyday Indicators to Achieve Extraordinary Profits (Hardcover)

...Well, first of all, this book reveals a method of trading using only market-generated information - price action - no other input, including volume,
is needed. No forecasts, no guesses, no hocus-pocus mystery talk...
Secondly, I like the fact that he concentrates on producing high probability trades. I like to win - that's why I trade. ...BR> Thirdly, after reading his book, I honestly believe that I can use and successfully adapt my $.../Mo ... Basic subscription to building John's indicators into that online charting service so that I can profitably trade those Rydex index funds...I don't need the more expensive charting packages.
Fourthly, I believe him to be a man of integrity - this is of absolute importance to me. I believe this because (1) he is willing to share an eminently successful, crystal-clear, and
easy-to-implement trading strategy with the public, (2) his book not only includes examples of successful trades, but also trades that have not been successful, just like in real life (3) he goes
out of his way to ensure the reader's understanding of the concepts by clear and error-free text reference to charts, clear accurate definitions, appropriate examples, and repetition of past trading technics, and, finally (4) he has arranged his book to have all the necessary textbooklike qualities...including chapter reviews and an index (the "Putting It All Together" chapter is outstanding!) so as to ensure that his readers have every opportunity to learn. Let me say, considering the multitude of overpriced investment books I've bought in which I've found most of that structure lacking, I very much appreciated both the quality and clarity of John's writing throughout the entire book.
I am very happy with the book...I give it my highest recommendation.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rationality and Realism, March 8, 2002

By 

Marongiu Marco (ITALY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Four Steps to Trading Success: Using Everyday Indicators to Achieve Extraordinary Profits (Hardcover)

I am writing from Italy and I bought a lot of books about day trading. I read Clayburg interview on the issue of December of Tasc and I was striken by his words.
In particular way I appreciated the rationality and realism he shows towards the market, and the way he is at the same time easy to understand while being technical, precise and effective in creating this system trading. An interesting tool for everyone who uses normal indicators as stochastic, Rsi and William's %R. With studies about Support and Resistence. Nothing more nothing less. This is a "standalone" book, the first i think: you don't need to buy others seminars, software or to subscribe to newsletters, chat rooms and give other money away.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but system doesn't work well, November 11, 2003

By 

D. Hayman "Affiliate Marketer" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Four Steps to Trading Success: Using Everyday Indicators to Achieve Extraordinary Profits (Hardcover)

Well, I enjoyed the book immensely, and liked the author's concept of the Directional Day Filter. Anyway, he bases his entire system on breakouts against the trend. Using my live market feed, I automated his rules to a letter via a homegrown app, and my losses mounted by the day. I implemented his definition of Support and Resistance, and whenever I broke through these levels, and the appropriate stochastic indicators indicated that I buy or sell, I would buy or sell short appropriately, and the stock would invariably reverse shortly thereafter. His mechanism was not reliable at all. To the contrary, you can get some good info from his book, and trade of support and resistance levels by themselves, reversing position when these respective levels are hit. This makes entirely more sense, and will allow you to profit consistently, contrary to what the author stipulates.