Daily Trading Report — 2025-12-31

2025-12-31 · 5 min read

A qualitative run-through of every trade from 2025-12-31: setups, thought process, and outcomes.

Running P&L for 2025-12-31

Day P&L: $+416.19 | Total R: +0.92R

The early momentum in INBS had me focused, especially with that hefty 40% gap at the open. I took a long position right at the start, targeting the sub VWAP trap setup. Entered at 5.79 and exited at 5.82 for a quick gain of $126.42. The tape showed some solid buying interest, and it was clear the market was receptive. I was encouraged by the early action, but I should have been more cautious about chasing after that initial move.

I went back in for another long at 6.90, but this time the tape flipped on me. I got squeezed out quickly at 6.83, taking a loss of $216. That was the first sign of the day that things might not hold. The stock had a tendency to fade after initial spikes, and I didn’t heed that warning. I managed to catch a bounce back at 6.91 shortly after, exiting at 7.00 for a solid gain of $300.95. This was a classic case where the stock pulled back but found support, allowing me to capitalize on the reclaim move.

After that, I made a series of missteps. I took another long position at 7.22 but exited at 7.11, losing $434. That one hurt, especially since it was a setup I believed in. The stock had shown strength earlier, but the tape was starting to show signs of weakness. I should have recognized that shift. I tried to recover with another long at 7.24, but the tape was choppy, and I ended up taking a loss again, this time for $406.

Despite those setbacks, I did manage to catch a bounce at 7.45, exiting at 7.62 with a gain of $447.81. This trade felt right; the stock held above VWAP, and I was more disciplined in taking profits. The action felt like a squeeze, and the volume confirmed it. But the volatility was relentless, and I found myself back in the red shortly after with a painful loss on a long at 8.21, exiting at 7.92 for an $884 hit. That trade was a lesson in not letting emotions dictate my decisions.

Mid-morning saw me trying to navigate through the volatility. I had a nice win at 7.98, but it was a mixed bag overall. The stock was still showing signs of recovery, and I took a few more trades, including a notable breakout at 8.97 that netted me $1,091.53. This was a classic breakout setup, and I was pleased with my execution. The tape was supportive, and I felt the momentum building.

However, I was back to my old habits again, overtrading and not respecting my stop-loss levels. I took a washout long at 9.28 that didn’t work out, and my losses piled up. By midday, I was fighting to stay even, taking a series of small scalps and washouts. I finally found some footing with a parabolic squeeze trade at 9.47 that yielded $251.69. This was a reminder of how crucial it is to focus on setups that have clear momentum.

Despite my struggles, there were moments of clarity. I executed a couple of solid trades in the afternoon, including a nice washout recovery at 10.78 that brought in $707.17. The tape was starting to stabilize, and I felt more in control. But I still had a few misfires, including a loss on a bull flag setup that didn’t materialize as expected.

Reflecting on the day, I executed 57 trades with a win rate of 53%. My average win was $182.32, while my average loss was $187.16. I managed to walk away with a profit of $416.19, but it could have been much more if I had been more disciplined with my entries and exits.

What I did well: I recognized strong setups when they appeared, especially during the breakout phases. I also managed to capture some decent moves when the tape was in my favor, particularly with the classic breakout and parabolic squeeze trades.

What I did poorly: I overtraded, especially in the morning, and let emotions dictate some of my decisions. I ignored the warning signs on the tape and failed to cut my losses quickly enough on several occasions.

Trading grade: B+. My entries were mostly at high-probability spots, and my winners outpaced my losers, but I gave back too much on revenge trades and overtrading.

Tomorrow is a new day. I need to focus on being more selective with my trades and respecting the tape, especially in the early hours. Quality over quantity.