AnvilRob 

I know someone in one of those prop programs, funded, yada yada yada. Hes taking 1 tick profits on UB bonds doing 15 contracts at a time DOM trading. So, yeah, there are those profitable doing less.

But then again the question arises - What should be the stop loss for that kind of profit target?

lightsun47 

But then again the question arises - What should be the stop loss for that kind of profit target?

Well, DOM traders tend to focus on order imbalances. Maybe sell orders pulling out and the 10 year notes breaking or pressing a high. This opens the door for the 30 year to move up at least a tick. So you can do a 1,2,3 tick stop. Goal is to hit many times in a row.

My auto posted stop loss is catastrophic in nature with no intention of letting it be hit. I must get out when I sense it's not working. It does not matter if in hindsight it worked or not. I am always correct in taking the appropriate action at that point in time. I always learn from my trades. I constantly remind myself this is a scalp and likely won't work, very focused on reasons to get out. This is not a swing trade, a percentage pattern trade, it's definitely not a wait-for-it-hope trade. I find that mentally entertaining any of those concepts, even for a fraction of a second, negatively affects me (my psyche) and is a reason to get out. This is very personal and mental. I need to deeply focus on get in and get out, getting out with what the market offers at that instant of time. Some may call it noise but I belive the DOM provides indication of that noise occurring. Sometimes it's more than just a few tics remembering to take advantage of what the market is offering. This is something I have leaned after hours and hours of watching the market. If you ask how many hours does it take then you have not spent enough time. I am always learning and adapting. It's not solely mathematical based, it's not solely chart patterns based, it's not solely context, it's not solely news, its's not solely correlated markets, it's definitely not solely indicator, it's not solely numbers; it's a summary of everything. It's a derived idea based on taking everything into account something my brain has learned to do after hours of screen time. It definitely needs volume - market trades drive the market. At it's essence it's traders reactions that spawns an idea based on price action at the current bid or ask price level. What was the reaction of big bids or offers, did it tick up or down? Remember there is always an equal number of buyers and sellers. Read what is the intention of those trades. Someone's always left holding the bag if you will. Market trades, not limit booked orders, drive the market. Big trades can be all at once, highly unlikely, or more likely a bunch of fast occurring trades (accumulated trades ) at a range or specific price level. The market has a history so read the reaction at previous heavily traded areas (congestion), sort of a map if you will. It's always manipulated and no one wants to show their intentions or do they? Where will it go? Read the map. Big guys lean on the market to push it in their way, similar to how big fish hang out at certain areas waiting to devour unsuspecting bait fish as they swim by a ledge. <insert Primus song lyrics here Dog Will Hunt > The little voice inside will offer you ideas. You need to belive in yourself and take appropriate actions. It comes after hours and hours of observation with self-talk. It's very personal. Yea I may be crazy, but it's seemingly working and that's all that matters to me. I was just curious if others were profitable taking a few ticks, which is why I asked the question that started this thread.