Dear Valued Subscriber:

Welcome aboard! I look forward to serving you in your quest to become a more successful trader. It is an honorable goal and one in which I take great pride.

As a new subscriber or trial subscriber to Jim Wyckoff on the Markets, let me familiarize you with some matters.

My approach to you: I have been called a “straight-shooter” and “honest.” My background and professional experience taught me the value of both. That may mean I will tell you something you don’t want to hear. Ultimately, my goal is to teach as best I know how, and to help you become a more learned and successful trader.

My approach to trading: I am a very conservative trader. Some of my customers follow what I observe via my weekly Top Market Ideas reports. Some like to trade more actively than I do. Either way, you can profit from my analysis and opinions. 

I work hard at my profession, yet I do not claim to be able to “predict” exactly what markets will do. Fact is, nobody can consistently predict accurately what markets will do. (Remember the caveat – Past performance does not necessarily indicate future results!) The best that any trading professional can do is provide you with well-founded probabilities -- based on factual market price history, trading experience, sound technical and fundamental analysis, and market psychology. I provide my customers with exclusive, valuable early clues on trend changes and developing bigger price moves. I’m also very good at determining pivotal support and resistance levels.

I report on and analyze all major U.S. futures markets. Many trading veterans like to use me as a “second opinion” or second set of eyes in the markets. Most of my customers have “day jobs” and simply don’t have time to follow all the markets. That’s why I’m here. I scan and analyze all the major U.S. markets all day long.

My first responsibility: Part of my service to you is providing a “personal touch” which includes answering your questions. Many of my subscribers are hungry for knowledge. So, you can email me -- or occasionally telephone me (1-319-277-8643) -- with questions and I'll be happy to answer them. There are no “dumb” questions, so don’t be embarrassed about asking anything. And if I don’t know the answer, I will tell you so and attempt to find out.

My second responsibility: There are several products and services you’ll receive regularly. All will come directly to your email box. No passwords or login are required.

Important: All of my email reports to you will come from “Chart Man” (trendspotter@jimwyckoff.com). Since I send legitimate email reports to hundreds of paying customers worldwide, and with all the SPAM on the Internet, you may have to contact your local Internet Service Provider (ISP) to have them set their email filters to accept my emails to you. It's a very easy process. Email or call me if you need help. My Telephone number is 1-319-277-8643.

1. Daily Markets Update: Monday through Thursday you will receive my comprehensive Daily Markets Update via email. There is no Daily Markets Update report issued on Fridays.

In my Daily Markets Updates, I do the following:

ü      I analyze all major futures markets traded in the United States, including pointing out early clues on potential upcoming price trends or trend changes. I also detail the key near-term technical support and resistance levels for each market.

ü      I rate the markets using a simple yet effective system, which is explained in detail below.

2. Top Market Ideas: Every Friday you will receive my Top Market Ideas report via email. It will detail my top three potential trading ideas for the upcoming week. The email will provide analytical charts, including specific technical price levels that can be used as market entry points, protective stop placement levels and profit objectives.

While I have used my best judgment in determining these market ideas, I may or may not actually trade each and every opportunity. Both active traders and less-active "position" traders like Top Market Ideas  reports. Beginning or less active traders also like it to study the charts and rationale for potential trading opportunities -- seeing specific technical support and resistance levels that can be used as protective stop-placement levels; thereby gaining valuable trading knowledge even if they are not making the actual trades.

3. Biweekly Newsletter: Every other Thursday you will receive my newsletter via email. It arrives in your email box via a “link” that you click on, and then the newsletter pops up. No login names or passwords are needed. The biweekly newsletter contains several analytical charts and a unique educational feature.

Important Note: For monthly and quarterly subscribers, you will be automatically re-billed until you email or call me to notify me that you want the service to stop. For yearly customers, I will contact you regarding renewal of service.

I hope this introduction to my service helps you better understand what I'm all about and what you will be receiving from me. Again, please email me if you have any questions. I want to provide you with excellent customer service.

Sincerely,

Jim Wyckoff

P.S. If you haven’t purchased my e-book or my educational seminar on a CD yet, please consider it. They provide a great foundation for trading – and it can save you hundreds of dollars in bad trades. Click on this link to see more details: http://www.jimwyckoff.com/tools.html

Understanding “Wyckoff’s Market Rating System”

Jim Wyckoff on the Markets

 My Daily Markets Update displays the exclusive “Wyckoff's Market Rating System” for each market. I distill risk, probability, technical indicators, fundamental analysis and many other factors in determining these ratings. This simple system can be your quick key to how all the markets are trending (if they are).

 How it Works

Wyckoff’s Market Rating System is based on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the most bearish market rating and 10 being the most bullish market rating. The number 5 would be a neutral rating. And it is not uncommon to see fractions used – like 1.5, 3.5, etc. – if conditions warrant.

It’s important to note that just because a market is rated as very bullish (8 or above), it does not mean I want to establish a fresh long position in that market. A high rating likely means a market has been trending higher for a sustained period of time, or has already seen a quick, powerful move that could mean a "correction" is near. An 8 or higher bull market is likely a more mature one – with the risks being higher for steeper setbacks and a more volatile topping process.

Similarly, a market rated as very bearish (2 or below) does not indicate you should rush out to establish a fresh short position and sell a market. It means a market has likely been in a longer-term downtrend, or has seen a quick and powerful down-move, and is at or near its contract low. It is a more mature bear market that has a higher risk of a corrective bounce higher, or even change in trend to sideways to higher.

Markets rated 4 to 6 are in the middle, and these are the markets I watch most closely for trading opportunities. They are usually characterized by more of a "sideways" and choppier trading range, or have just backed well off from a recent up-trend high or have moved well up from a recent downtrend low.

Importantly, markets that have been in sideways trading ranges for a while – i.e., non-trending and then move to either a rating of 5.5 to 6.5 on an upside price move, or to 4.5 to 3.5 on a downside move – are the most critical to monitor. It’s at these ratings levels that most trading “set ups” occur, based on my trading philosophy and experience.  It's at these ratings which are just above or just below neutral (5) that most "breakouts" from trading ranges occur. But remember, the market has to have been trading generally (but not always) sideways beforehand, for the best trading opportunities to present themselves.

For example, let’s say soybeans had been rated between 4.5 and 5.5 for several weeks. Then one day prices pop above a congestion area on the daily bar chart and are then rated a 6. That’s likely when a good trading “set up” on the long side can occur. Or, let's say the Euro currency has been trading between 4.5 and 5.5 for several weeks, and then prices dip enough to drop below a recent trading range and trigger a 4 rating. That would likely be a good trading opportunity on the short side. Keep in mind that markets rated at 5.5 or 4.5 can also trigger trading opportunities, if chart and fundamental conditions warrant.

Being a conservative trader, I like to trade markets that are just beginning to establish a solid trend. The risk for high volatility (and bigger losses) is lower when a trend is in its early stages, as opposed to when a trend is mature and higher volatility is more likely. Wyckoff's Market Rating System helps me determine the stages of a market trend.

Here’s an important reminder. My Wyckoff's Market Rating System is not and should not be used as a “stand-alone” trading system. But it can be a valuable trading tool in your “Trading Toolbox.”

Jim Wyckoff