Daily Trading Report — 2026-01-05

2026-01-05 · 4 min read

A qualitative run-through of every trade from 2026-01-05: setups, thought process, and outcomes.

Running P&L for 2026-01-05

Day P&L: $+2129.91 | Total R: +4.73R

Caught a solid bounce off MNTS early on, which set the tone for a day filled with opportunity and some frustrating moments. I entered at 8.79, riding the initial momentum, and managed a quick scalp for a small gain of $20.18. Nothing to write home about, but it felt good to ease into the day with a win, even if it was just a scratch.

The real action came with my next trade on MNTS. After the stock washed out down to 9.47, I saw a potential reversal setup and jumped in at 9.47. This time, I hit the jackpot; I rode it all the way up to 9.71 for a profit of $1,244.42. The tape was clean, and the volume surged as it broke past resistance. I could see it was holding above VWAP, which gave me the confidence to stay in. This trade was a textbook washout long, and it reminded me of the power of waiting for that capitulation before jumping in.

However, I got a bit too eager after that win. I tried to capitalize on the momentum with a few sub VWAP trap trades, but they didn’t play out as expected. I took a position at 10.50, but it quickly faded, and I had to cut it at 10.47 for a loss of $61.83. The stock just didn’t have the strength to reclaim VWAP, and I should have recognized that from the tape action. I followed this up with another attempt at a sub VWAP trap, entering at 10.73 and exiting at 10.61, which cost me another $180.50. Lesson learned: when the tape is weak, sometimes it’s better to step back.

Mid-morning, I shifted gears to TMDE, which had a nice gap and go setup. I entered at 0.87 and rode it to 0.94, netting $438.84. The stock was showing strong relative volume, and it felt like the kind of trade where I could scale in. I followed up with another entry at 1.00, locking in another $129.64. The momentum was palpable, and TMDE was really moving, reflecting the energy sector's strength today.

As the day progressed, TMDE gave me some mixed signals. I tried a few washout longs, and while I caught a couple of decent moves, I also hit some frustrating losses. For instance, I entered at 1.27 and quickly exited at 1.26 for a small loss of $51.10. The tape was choppy, and I was chasing a bounce that didn’t materialize. I let my emotions get the best of me there, and it showed in my execution.

Looking at INBS, I had a decent win after entering at 10.85 and exiting at 11.06 for $245.13. It had a good gap and showed strength, but I should have been more patient after that. I tried to scalp a couple more trades on it, but they didn’t work out, which contributed to the overall frustration of the morning.

What I did well: I executed a couple of solid washout longs, particularly on MNTS and TMDE, where I capitalized on clear setups. My entries were well-timed for those moves, and I was able to scale into positions effectively. The discipline I showed in cutting losses on the weaker trades was also a plus.

What I did poorly: I let my eagerness lead to overtrading, especially on the sub VWAP traps. I ignored the tape’s signals and chased a few trades that were clearly not setting up the way I expected. Additionally, I could have been more patient with my winners instead of trying to force additional trades.

Trading grade: B+. My entries were mostly clean, and I had solid winners, but I gave back too much on a few revenge trades and lacked patience on some of my positions.

Reflecting on today, I’m reminded of the importance of sticking to my strategy and not letting the emotions of a few good trades lead to over-commitment. Tomorrow, I’ll focus on maintaining discipline and waiting for the right setups without forcing trades.