2026-01-23 · 4 min read
A qualitative run-through of every trade from 2026-01-23: setups, thought process, and outcomes.
The morning opened with SLE, which had been showing some promise as a bull flag. I entered at 10.83, but it quickly became clear that the buying pressure wasn’t there, and I exited at 10.30 for a loss of $896. The tape showed some initial support, but sellers started to take control, and the volume faded fast, which was a clear sign to cut it.
I tried again on SLE shortly after, this time looking for a washout long at 9.37. The stock had pulled back sharply, but it didn’t hold up as expected. I exited at 8.21, taking another hit of $484. At this point, it was clear the momentum was weak, and the stock was struggling to find support.
KUST was next on my radar, and I saw an opportunity for a washout long. I entered at 3.55, and this time things worked out better, exiting at 3.67 for a gain of $736. The stock showed strong bids and managed to hold above the key levels, which gave me the confidence to ride that move up.
I followed up with a sub VWAP trap on MOVE, entering at 20.36. This one played out well, and I managed to exit at 20.98, netting a modest gain of $371. The stock had pulled back below VWAP but reclaimed it effectively, indicating some strength from buyers.
Back to KUST, I took another stab at a sub VWAP trap at 3.93. Unfortunately, this trade didn’t work out, and I exited at 3.79 for a loss of $624. The selling pressure came in hard, and it was tough to hold the position as sellers stayed heavy.
I attempted another long on KUST, this time at 3.95, but it ended up being another misstep. I cut it at 3.72 for a $1,015 loss. The stock just couldn't find its footing, and I was caught in the downward pressure with no real support to lean on.
Moving into the mid-morning, I looked at QCLS. I entered at 5.00, but the trade didn’t hold up, and I exited at 4.60 for a loss of $400. The stock was extended, and the bids were weak, which made it difficult to stay in.
I took another shot on QCLS at 5.74 with hopes of a washout long. The entry was near the key levels, but it didn’t hold, and I exited at 5.58 for a loss of $375. The tape showed a lack of commitment from buyers, and it was clear that I was on the wrong side of this move.
Finally, I entered DRCT at 4.65, looking for a bounce off VWAP. However, the sellers were aggressive, and I had to cut it at 3.98, resulting in a loss of $1,340. The stock gapped up initially but failed to hold any support, and the selling pressure came in hard late in the day.
What I did well: I executed the KUST trades well, taking advantage of the washout setup.
What I did poorly: I was too aggressive on SLE and QCLS, failing to recognize the weak tape early on.
Trading grade: C — I misread several setups and didn’t adapt quickly enough to the changing market conditions.
Tomorrow is another day to refine my strategy and focus on stronger setups.
Trade charts
Selected notable trades (by P&L) with time-of-day vs price (entry → exit).
DRCT 15:18:18 – 15:18:36 — P&L $-1340.40
KUST 09:43:56 – 09:45:25 — P&L $-1014.64
KUST 09:38:55 – 09:39:03 — P&L $-623.74
KUST 09:29:08 – 09:30:25 — P&L $+735.79
SLE 09:13:05 – 09:13:12 — P&L $-895.76