SIA's Trading Journal - 2025

Hi guys, I will be journaling down my FTMO propfirm 10k evaluation account here.

Setup a sell limit on a highly possible retracement zone, waited really long and got rewarded for it when price snaps and touches my price line, instant reversal and TP-ed before carrying out upwards. Will look for other trades for today.

I initially thought I was done for today, but another setup just got entered and TP-ed.
Here is the 2nd trade for the day, my zones has been contacted and are no longer A+ setup structures. I will stop trading on this account for today.

I made my first mistake today: Early Exit

As soon as my trade entered, I noticed a really strong upwards trend that scared me into exiting early. Subsequently, my trade strategy worked out, but I missed out on the potential profits. This thought almost pushed me into breaking my own trading system with thoughts of revenge trading, but I stopped myself, calmed myself down, and told myself to take a break.

This time round, even after my trade was entered and I decided to exit early, it was done with calmness and understanding that the market volume was too strong and my zone couldn’t hold. I exited early with a small profit, barely escaping a SL.

I waited 3 hours for the price action to retrace back to my marked price zone. When the trade entered, it whiplashed to 1-2 pips away from my SL. It was really very close, but it eventually gave way to resistance and retraced upwards. Managed to clock a full TP this time. I must admit I was very tempted to early TP twice and close with a partial lost. But I’m glad I didn’t.

I setup a limit sell order at this price this morning and waited patiently for price action to reach my EP. There were a few times where price action almost jumped to my EP and went back down, but I resisted the urge to enter before price action reached my planned point of entry. When price finally hit my EP, I was suddenly bombarded with “Will the price action go to my SL” thoughts, once again, I resisted it, closed my charts and went to get a drink. When I’m back at my desk, I was rewarded for my patience and discipline.

I setup two sell limit orders today, the first trade was based on one qualified secondary confirmation, whereas the second trade based on my primary confirmation and another qualified secondary confirmation. The 1st trade SL-ed due to the strong price trend movement, but the 2nd trade entered and TP-ed smoothly, achieving a very small profit due to market volatility. Lesson learnt, enter trades according to the system and not avoid the trades due to a previous loss.

I waited for 8 hours today before price action finally reaches my limit buy order. It almost did not entered as price action was bouncing around my EP. I resisted the urge to enter earlier and let price action go where it wants to. After a couple of minutes, it entered the trade with a small whiplash, when the 1H candle closed, bounced upwards and a smooth TP was achieved.

Price action was suspicious this morning, it broke through one of my zones with ease, and it hovered to my next zone, I was thinking twice, whether to set my limit orders as according to the system, or let my gut feeling stop me. I proceeded to set the order as according to my system, but when price entered, it immediately whiplashed upwards, causing my SL to not only get hit, but broke through by 10+ pips, losing more than what was intended. Interesting observation. No pain, no gain, I don't feel anything much from this loss, because I am disciplined and followed my system and stop making instinct based actions. Let's do this.

After patiently waiting past an hour for the next trade, I saw another valid entry when a 5m candle closed below my marked zone. I entered the trade, and observed while price action goes to my TP, within a few minutes, price whiplashed upwards and hit my SL. Once again, no negative loop here, just follow my system, no early TPs, no early SLs, just let the trade run according to the system, keep track of statistics. Let’s do this. Will wait for at least another hour before I enter my third and last trade for the day, if there is any opportunity available according to my system.

I setup a sell limit order at a pivotal price point for gold at 3,300. I was very tempted to become greedy, to try and recoup my losses from my previous 2 trades, to 2X my TP margin, to break my system, to cave into "What ifs". But I stopped myself, follow the system, follow the system, do not cave in to those temptations of greed that will destroy not just this one trade, but your entire belief in your own trading system altogether. I'm glad I stuck to my principles, as price action headed to my original TP, and went back upwards. Let's do this.

Sometimes price action goes wild and decides to tap your SL before moving into your TP in a matter of minutes. The key lesson here is to acknowledge the loss, wipe the mental state clean and start over again. No what ifs, no revenge trading, just a calm mind, looking out for the next opportunity again. Let's do this.

Setup another sell limit order at this position, adhering to the system's principles, price touches the EP, goes down to TP within 15 minutes, trade closed, TP-ed. Let's do this.

Setup this buy limit order here, but price action went against my zone and broke through with an SL. 3 trades done for today, end of trading day, time to reflect and start afresh tomorrow. Let's do this.

A+ Setup, entered trade, but due to US market volatility, trade SL-ed. Note to self, current system doesn't work on US sessions, moving forward. Let's do this.

First trading day of the week, I was more patient than usual. I setup a sell limit order at a strong psychological price point. Price action keeps avoids triggering my limit order. Waited for 4 hours before my order got triggered and within minutes, TP-ed, before it whiplashed and went into the other direction. Staying disciplined, let’s do this!

After waiting for 3-4 hours in the morning with no trades, I went for a secondary zoning session and setup another limit buy order. After 4 hours, price action went to my EP and TP-ed within minutes. Following the system without caving in to the temptation of deviating from the rules is key to this trade. Let’s keep doing this.

Interesting observation today as both B+ and A setup zones were breached during the Asian market. This is probably the first time this system officially didn’t work out, with the previous losses usually due to my impatience more than the system.

Note to self: Watch out for market sentiment, as the two hemisphere are starting to become polar opposites on the value of gold.

Good luck fellow Singaporean.

Thanks!