2025-12-23 · 4 min read
A qualitative run-through of every trade from 2025-12-23: setups, thought process, and outcomes.
The morning was heavily centered around ASTI, which was showing some volatility right out of the gate. My first trade was a long entry at 6.53, looking to capitalize on a sub VWAP trap setup. The tape was choppy; as I entered, I saw key support levels being tested but ultimately, the stock didn't hold. I exited with a best exit of 6.30 and an average exit at 6.18, taking a loss of about $386. It felt like there was potential for a bounce, but the sellers were aggressive, pushing it down instead.
Soon after, I tried another long on ASTI at 6.96, again playing the sub VWAP trap. This time, the stock seemed to have a bit more strength initially, but it quickly faded. I exited at 6.71, which was my best and average exit, resulting in a loss of $582. The volume wasn't there to support a strong move, and I could see that sellers were staying heavy, making it tough to hold onto the position.
I decided to give it one more shot, entering at 6.54. This time, I managed to catch a slight bounce, exiting at 6.71 for a gain of $392. The tape showed bids holding up better than before, and I was able to ride that momentum for a bit. It felt good to finally see some follow-through after the earlier struggles.
Following that, I took another long at 6.54, but the stock quickly reversed, leading me to cut for a loss at 6.38. My entry was near the 1m9 at 6.35, but the sellers were aggressive again, and I had to minimize my loss of $381. The choppiness was frustrating, and it seemed like ASTI was having a hard time finding its footing.
Around the same time, I also tried a washout long at 5.67. This trade didn't work out either, as I exited at 5.56 for a loss of $329. The market conditions were not favoring the setup, and the stock was struggling to hold above key levels.
Later in the morning, I moved to ASPC, entering at 28.88 with high hopes after seeing it gapped up significantly. I was looking for a bounce off a sub VWAP trap, but the stock didn’t hold, and I had to exit at 25.69 for a loss of $954. The sellers were overwhelming, and despite the initial excitement, it became clear that the momentum just wasn't there.
I shifted gears again to PCLA, which was showing some promise. My entry was at 0.3736, and I managed to catch a nice move, exiting at 0.3829 for a gain of $428. The stock was acting well, and the tape showed good volume, with buyers stepping in at key levels. It felt like this one was finally giving me some return for my efforts.
I tried to press my luck with PCLA again, entering at 0.3887, but this time, it didn’t hold. I exited at 0.3667 for a loss of $317. The momentum shifted quickly, and the selling pressure came in hard, making it a tough situation.
What I did well: I managed to cut my losses on ASTI quickly when the setups failed. What I did poorly: I was too aggressive with the sub VWAP trap setups that didn't materialize.
Trading grade: C — I struggled to read the tape effectively, leading to multiple losses on similar setups.
Tomorrow, I’ll need to focus on being more selective with my entries and pay closer attention to the tape dynamics.
Trade charts
Selected notable trades (by P&L) with time-of-day vs price (entry → exit).
PCLA 11:39:49 – 11:42:09 — P&L $+427.89
ASPC 11:22:30 – 11:23:01 — P&L $-954.08
ASTI 10:26:35 – 10:27:20 — P&L $+392.07
ASTI 10:25:07 – 10:25:15 — P&L $-582.46
ASTI 10:10:03 – 10:17:35 — P&L $-385.92