Trading Journal – July 23, 2025
Today was one of those days where the journal might look overloaded at first glance—but in reality, it wasn’t as chaotic as it seems. I took what looks like 16 trades, but when broken down properly, it's more like five real trade ideas with multiple scale-ins or attempts at better entries.
🔍 Trade Overview
1. ES Opening Drive Long – Multiple Entries
Timeframe: 09:23 – 10:26 AEST
Direction: Long
Entries: 6,361.00, 6,355.75, 6,355.50, 6,355.75, 6,353.00, 6,355.75
Exits: Range between 6,354.50 and 6,361.75
Outcome: Mixed. Initial scalp hit $250 profit, then multiple stop-outs trying to catch continuation, leading to a net -337.50
Reflection: I got chopped trying to anticipate a continuation breakout. I entered multiple times but didn’t adapt when the tape got heavy. Could’ve sat out after first trade instead of fighting it. Execution felt stubborn.
2. GC Quick Shorts Off Resistance
Timeframe: 10:30 – 11:04
Direction: Short
Entries: 3,445.6, 3,445.6, 3,444.3
Exits: 3,443.9, 3,443.7, 3,444.8
Outcome: Net +$310
Reflection: This was clean. I caught the rotation down from resistance. Only mistake was overstaying on the third short which ended slightly red. Execution was solid, and trade idea was clear.
3. GC Morning Flush Ride
Timeframe: 10:47 – 11:04
Direction: Short
Entry: 3,445.2
Exit: 3,439.3
Outcome: +$590
Reflection: Best trade of the day. Waited for confirmation before loading short. Price moved in my favor quickly. Nailed it. This was the one that carried my day.
4. ES Long Bounce Catch
Timeframe: 11:29 – 13:26
Direction: Long
Entries: 6,356.75, 6,357.00
Exit: 6,357.75 – 6,363.00
Outcome: +$387.50
Reflection: Smooth pullback entry into support. Held through some chop but rewarded for being patient. Was tempted to overtrade this but kept my cool.
5. GC Afternoon Shorts
Timeframe: 14:23 – 14:52
Direction: Short
Entries: 3,437.1, 3,437.0, 3,436.7
Exit: 3,436.1
Outcome: +$250
Reflection: Minor scalps in the afternoon. Price action was slowing down. Probably didn't need to take this but wanted to lock in some extra profits. Controlled size, clean execution.
📊 Daily Stats Summary
Total P&L: +$1,149.32
Win Rate: 58.82%
Profit Factor: 2.75
Best Day % of Total Profit: 49.39%
Average Win / Loss: $180.69 / -$93.93
🧠 Daily Reflection
At first glance, today looks like I overtraded. The reality is, I had about five main setups, and most of the “extra” trades were scale-ins or re-entries on the same thesis. Still, I can definitely streamline execution. I don’t need to keep jumping in after a setup starts to fail.
The GC trades today were far more controlled than the ES ones. I felt more in rhythm with gold, especially during the morning fade. With ES, I let early chop frustrate me and paid the price. The P&L was still strong, but the process could’ve been tighter.
✅ What I Did Well
Trusted my GC read and sized appropriately
Managed risk even in losing streaks on ES
Let winners run when the market offered follow-through
❗️What I Need to Improve
Reduce re-entries after 2 failed attempts on the same idea
Pause longer between ES trades if context is unclear
Accept early profit without forcing more when setup already played out
🎯 Plan for Tomorrow
Fewer entries per setup. If the idea is fading, move on.
Prioritize quality > quantity — only trade ES if structure is clean.
Watch for NY open reaction — patience paid off today, it will again.
