Ch. 26Strategy #840

Strategy #840

End of Month Window Dressing

Entry Logic

  • Entry trigger: A strong trend in the last few days of the month.
  • Confirmation: Institutional buying or selling pressure.
  • Timeframe: Daily chart.
  • Location context: Trade in the direction of the end-of-month flow.
  • Market condition: A trending market leading into the end of the month.

Exit Logic

  • Profit target: The last trading day of the month.
  • Scaling out: Not recommended.
  • Trailing stop: Not used.
  • Signal failure exit: Exit if the trend reverses.
  • Opposite signal exit: Not applicable.
  • Time expiration: Exit at the close of the last trading day of the month.
  • Momentum loss: Not applicable.

Stop Loss Structure

  • Hard stop: A fixed percentage loss.
  • Soft stop: Not used.
  • Max dollar loss: $500 per trade.
  • Max percent loss: 2.5% of account.
  • Structural stop: Below a key support/resistance level on the daily chart.

Risk Management Framework

  • Risk per trade: 2.5% of account.
  • Daily limit: 1 trade per month.
  • Weekly limit: Not applicable.
  • Max drawdown: 10%.
  • R:R requirement: Not applicable.

Position Sizing Model

  • Sizing approach: Based on conviction.
  • Volatility adjustment: Not applicable.
  • Conviction sizing: This is a high-conviction trade.
  • Scaling in/out: No scaling.

Trade Filtering

  • Market conditions: Only trade in the last few days of the month.
  • Setups: Look for stocks that are being accumulated or distributed by institutions.
  • Instruments: Large-cap stocks that are widely held by funds.
  • Time restrictions: Entry in the last 2-3 trading days of the month.
  • Chop/news avoidance: Be aware of any month-end news.

Context Framework

  • Trend direction: Trade with the dominant trend of the month.
  • VWAP relationship: Not relevant.
  • Moving average relationship: Price should be trending strongly on the daily chart.
  • Range location: Not relevant.
  • Higher TF alignment: The weekly chart should confirm the trend.

Trade Management Rules

  • Breakeven: Not applicable.
  • Scale out: Not applicable.
  • Add size: Not applicable.
  • Fast vs slow moves: This is a position trade held for a few days.

Time Rules

  • Optimal trading window: The last 2-3 days of the month.
  • Times to avoid: Any other time.
  • Session notes: This is a seasonal trade based on institutional behavior.

Setup Classification

  • A+ criteria: A strong trend with clear institutional activity.
  • A criteria: A moderate trend with some institutional activity.
  • B criteria: A weak trend.
  • C criteria: No clear trend (avoid).

Market Selection Criteria

  • Instruments: Stocks that are components of major indices.
  • Volume: High volume is a key indicator.
  • Volatility: Moderate volatility is ideal.

Statistical Edge Metrics

  • Win rate: 60%.
  • Avg win: Varies.
  • Avg loss: Varies.
  • Profit factor: Varies.
  • Expectancy: Varies.

Failure Conditions

  • Fails if the expected window dressing does not materialize.
  • Avoid in bearish market environments.

Psychological Rules

  • Requires patience to hold a trade for several days.
  • Must have confidence in the seasonal tendency.

Advanced Components

  • Regime detection: Not applicable.
  • Filters: Filter trades based on fund ownership data.
  • Correlation: Be aware of the overall market trend.
  • MTF alignment: The weekly and monthly charts should be aligned.

Location

  • Strongest: In a bull market at the end of a strong quarter.
  • Weakest: In a bear market.