Oh well!
I guess the streak has to end some day, isn't it?
2013 - Doubled my trading account (Rampage!)
2014 - Tripled it! (Godlike!)
2015 - Up 88% (Double happiness!)
2016 - Up 13%... (Shy, Shy, Shy - Yes, its from K-Pop Twice's Cheer Up MV)
Tale of 2 halves
2016 started fantastic. Got played out as the trend reversed?
Then came mid-year where I thought surely this must be the one...
Nope. Got played out one more time... The market is such a tease!
Luckily, both times I got profit-stopped.
I'm not smart, but even I can take a hint from the price action the market is giving me!
Rather than be stuck in the middle of the ocean with my little sail boat with no winds, I decided to anchor myself back at the harbour. Safety first.
No wind at least I can still do my wine, woman, and song at the taverns that lined the harbour. Was pretty much on the sidelines for the 2nd half of 2016.
Then came mid-November for the US elections. Was positioned for a Clinton win but hey!
Lucky as lucky does!
Wrong but made money!?
Not one to look at the gift horse in the mouth so I cashed out.
A few days later, realised this Trump rally got legs! Jumped right back in.
And here we are. Up 13% for the year.
I guess can't complain. Was only up 5% before the US elections.
The extra 8% came within the last 6 weeks of 2016 - now that's trading for you!
I count in actual dollars
Accounting for my trading account is easy.
I funded it 4 years ago with $1, never took money out nor added new money in.
After 4 years, it has now grown to $12. (For the CNC precision machinists out there, its $12.43. Happy?)
From 11 baggers in 3 years to 12 baggers in 4 years.
Want to know something interesting?
In dollar terms, I made slightly more during 2016 than in 2013 - $1.40 versus $1.00.
Due to the low base effect for 2013, if we count in percentages, its an easy 200% smoke and mirrors spin!
Now you know why most who use fundamental analysis prefer to overlay the Cash Flow statements on top of the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet statements. Wink.
Cash flow is much harder to fake. (But still possible. Just ask Toshiba shareholders)
That's it!
Closing my trading book for the year.
A flat pancake trading year. Move along now... Nothing much to see.
P.S. For new readers who are interested in the backstory:
My Virgin 10 Bagger
A Good Year, A Great Trading Year
Singapore Man of Leisure (welcome to my blog; just google it!)
