The Trading Code by Jason Cam
The Trading Code by Jason Cam
Chapter 1: PRICE
I. Intro:
a. Most important element in a chart represented by candlesticks
i. Has a body & tail which shows: the high, low, open and close
ii. The difference between the open and the close is the range/body
II. Guidelines
a. Color determines bullishness or bearishness
b. Size of the body determines strength. Longer = More Bullish/Bearish depending
on color
c. Location of the close in the candle sets the interpretation. The closer the close is
to the high, the more bullish it is. (Small upper wick). The closer the close is to
the low, the more bearish it is. (Long upper wick)
d. Momentum/Strong Candles: 2 or more long candles seen during trending moves.
These propel price to a certain direction.
e. Non-momentum/Weak Candles: 2 or more short candles seen during trend
pauses.
III. Trends
a. Trade only on Uptrend
b. Important to identify if price is on UPTREND, Downtrend or Non-Trending
i. Uptrend: higher highs and lows
ii. Downtrend: lower highs and lows
iii. Sideways: non-directional up and down movement creating a range of
highs (resistance) and lows (support). If properly identified, this can also
be profitable.
IV. Waves
a. Typically composed of 5 counts: 3 momentum waves and 2 pullbacks.
b. The Wave Rule of Alternation: if Wave 2 is deep, then Wave 4 is shallow and vice
versa. This can help anticipate the structure of pullbacks. *also applies to
downtrends.
V. Four Stages of Price Action:
a. Accumulation
i. Price stops dropping and reaches rock bottom and people are no longer
interested
ii. Price moves sideways in a range, big funds/instis are buying quietly
b. The Markup
i. Sudden surge of demand leads to a breakout point
ii. Wave counting begins. Pullbacks are bought forming higher lows.
c. Distribution
i. Big funds quietly sell in tranches, with the public buying but price not
going up
ii. Seen as consolidation after an uptrend.
iii. Volatility is higher than stage 1 and market participation is heavy.
d. Markdown
i. Big funds stop buying, leading to the price free-falling.
ii. Price enters downtrend, forming lower highs and lows.
iii. Instis and big funds start buying as the trend matures.
Chapter 3: VOLUME
I. Volume confirms your trend ideas and warns you of impending disaster
II. Refers to the amount of shares traded over a time period. Higher volume = more
participants
III. 8 Rules of Volume:
a. In an uptrend, volume should increase as price increases.
i. A low or average volume on an uptrend proves that the move is not
supported
b. In a pullback, volume should decrease as price decreases.
i. A healthy pullback is one with low volume. This signifies that buyers are
holding and only few are selling. Expect a continuation soon. If you see
heavy volume on pullbacks, it means that holders are unloading and the
down move may be a downside momentum move and not a pullback.
c. In a downtrend, heavy volume validates the trend.
i. Increasing volume confirms downtrends.
d. In a breakout, explosive volume must be present.
i. The sudden upward move must be supported by a large number of
trading participants.
ii. Volume must have at least doubled on the breakout.
e. In a parabolic move, high volume usually results to exhaustion.
i. Parabolic move = extreme uptrend
ii. The big volume is caused by maximum greed and minimum fear. This is
when the public starts getting in, causing high volume. This is where
momentum ENDS because smart money has gained and is getting out.
iii. The combination of parabolic moves and high volume should tell you to
get out.
f. In a steep downtrend, high volume on extreme selling may reveal the final low.
i. This is the reverse of the high vol parabolic move.
ii. A new low accompanied by unusually high volume should give you a hint
that it has hit rock bottom, esp if this happens in an area of support.
g. After an uptrend, heavy volume with little price movement reveals Distribution.
i. When you see heavy volume with no significant price movement, it is a
bearish sign of distribution when institutions are trying to unload their
shares.
h. After a downtrend, heavy volume with little price movement reveals
accumulation
Chapter 9: TRENDLINES
I. How to Plot:
a. In uptrends, connect two successive lows then extend.
b. In downtrends, connect two successive highs then extend.
c. In sideways movement, connect the highs and lows to identify S&R
II. Better to use tails instead of bodies when plotting because the highs and lows are
significant points in candlesticks.
III. Trendlines are not static. You must adjust the position and angle as needed.
IV. Basic Trendline Use
a. Trendline Violation: a break in the trendline means that the prevailing trend is
over.
b. Support and Resistance: Usually used to plot possible SOR areas
V. Ghostlines: very long trendlines coming from historical price movements.
a. These are NOT used to validate trends, only as support and resistance
Chapter 10: CHANNEL LINES
I. Channel lines are enhancements to trendlines wherein another line is placed parallel
to a trendline, this creating a channel or path where price is expected to bounce up
and down.
II. Price stays confined in the channel until the trend changes and the channel is broken
III. How to plot Channel Lines:
a. In uptrends, connect consecutive lows then place a parallel line connecting
consecutive highs
b. In downtrends, connect consecutive highs then place a parallel line connecting
consecutive lows
c. In sideways movement, connect lows to form the support then connect the highs
IV. A midline or middle channel line is usually placed in the middle to indicate a buy are
for the lower part of the channel, and a sell area on the upper part.
V. This strategy is best used for uptrends and sideways trends
VI. In drawing trendlines, it is okay for some candles or tails to protrude as long as the
channel line still make a good representation of the trend.
TARGET PRICE
I. Rules in Determining the TP
a. Determine the TP before you enter a trade.
b. The farther the TP is from the entry point, the better.
c. Use the same timeframe for entries, stop loss and TP.
d. The TP should be at a resistance area.
II. It is wise to sell in tranches or in parts so as to keep profits running. Sell 50/20/30 or
50/20/20/10 every time your TP is hit to lock in profit.
RISK/REWARD RATIO
I. The distance between the Entry price and the Stop loss point (risk) over the distance
between the Target Price and the Entry Price (reward)
Example:
RRR = (TP - Entry)/(Entry – Stop Loss)
TP = P28
Entry = 26.15
Stop Loss = 25.30
= 1 : 2.18
A ratio of at least 1 : 2 is acceptable.
TRADE ASSESSMENT
Is there a high probability pattern? (Yes)
Is there an entry? (Yes)
Is the RRR at least 1 :2? (Yes)
Take the trade!
Chapter 18: TRAILING STOPS
I. Trailing Stops are stop loss points that have been adjusted UP to follow price
movement. These are used to protect profits when price starts moving in their favor.
II. Two ways to set trailing stops:
a. Per Candle (tight trail): adjusted for each new candle; placed below the previous
candle’s low
b. Per Pivot (loose trail): stops are placed below pivot lows
III. Both methods can be used. The Loose trail stops can be used so that you don’t get
stopped out prematurely from a trade. But as the trend matures and you feel signs
of weakening of the trend, a tighter trail stop must be followed.
IV. Some people use Moving Averages or Trendlines as trail stops. When the pattern is
broken, they exit the trade.