In their report via “the Harry Winston conference call”, they announced sales of $67 million during that quarter, an increase of 37% over last years 2nd quarter. Even the U.S., fighting an economic slow down recorded sales of $20 million over the comparable quarter last year which is an increase of 31%. Asian sales were $22.5 million, a 40% increase above the prior year. Consolidated sales increased over 60% resulting in a $28.9 in earnings compared to a loss from operations of $3.9 million over the comparable quarter. The Harry Winston brand increased to $66.9 from $48.8 million comparably.

What all this means is there are a lot of very happy ladies out their wearing diamonds, including men who are not shy about glitter. The Far East, Japan and China are the big recipients of these baubles due to their expanding wealth, while the U.S. and Europe struggle to keep up.

Another interesting note was the increase in specialty pieces, not to rival the Hope Diamond of course, but definitely in the million plus category. This phenomena was attributed to an increase in wealth throughout the world. Going on statistics from 2009, the net worth in the world grew by 19.6%, and the high net worth has grown by more that 17%. Another factor seems to be that diamonds as an investment, are much more attractive than your more normal forms of investment. This holds true as more significant pieces are being created for Asia and Middle East customers. They are eager to wear them out and about for their pleasure.

This is not to say that the U.S. doesn’t fall into that catagory as noted by the increase in sales, apparantly by the richest, considering the plight of the middle class in America today. So Viva, Harry Winston, the whole world is in love with your product, the diamond that is everlasting.

For more information visit  http://www.worldmarketmedia.com/779/section.aspx/2325/post/harry-winston-nysehwd-diamonds-in-asia-ruff-17

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The last couple of summers have ushered in tremendous price volatility when day trading the ES e-mini contract. There were times when the market volatility was so extreme that normal backing and filling operations (market noise) could easily stop you out of your trade. In fact, if you chose to trade during these volatile periods, you would need nothing short of 20 tick stop loss point. For me, such wide stops increased my risk tolerance to a point where many days were too volatile for me to trade. On the other hand, if you were lucky the market moved in the direction of your trade and you could realize fantastic profits. The key in the last sentence is “luck,” and luck is no way to day trade. So many days I was relegated to watching the market and hoping the market volatility would settle down some, and some days it did and there were good trades to initiate.

In recent weeks the markets have not been very volatile and we have experienced exactly the opposite phenomena as the previous two summers. So market volatility plays a major part in your ability to trade and to select trades. There is, in essence, there is a “sweet spot” in price volatility where traders can prosper. It is important to be able to recognize just where that sweet spot resides, and how to trade an optimal market volatility conditions.

For me, I like to use the Average True Range to get an idea of the market volatility that I can expect on a given trade. Like most things, the Average True Range is not a foolproof system for gauging market volatility, but it gives me a good idea as to what the market volatility has been and buying any unusual trading circumstances what I can expect based upon the last sequence of bars under measurement. I usually use a setting of 14 for the Average True Range.

A rating all about 2 1/2 or 3 seems to give day traders an optimal chance to earn sizable profits while minimizing the amount of risk tolerance a trader must endure. In my trading, as the Average True Range exceeds 4.5 or 5, I generally find myself on the trading sideline past this level of volatility presents too much risk for my appetite.

But there are other measures of market volatility that are worth a look, too.

The VIX is an indicator distributed and calculated by the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The VIX is a weighted basket of option prices based upon the S&P 500 index. While the VIX is directly related to options and option prices it can still be very useful for most traders because it indicates the implied market volatility of the S&P 500 index over the next month. It is often referred to as the “fear index” as it does not indicate a bearish or bullish bias. Rather, it implies in percentage points the amount of potential movement and the S&P 500 index over the next 30 days. As you might guess, this is a very closely watched index and is even traded as such. In my trading, I don’t have any strict interpretations for using the VIX in my intraday trades, but I am mindful of what the VIX numbers are and the potential for movement they may or may not represent. Obviously, a high reading on the VIX, say 20, implies a potential for sharp movement of 20%, either up or down, in the next 30 days. In essence, a VIX reading of 20 warns the intraday trader that there are indications of pending market volatility. That in itself is something that is good to know.

So if talk a little bit about actual volatility and how to much volatility can make trading very difficult and a very stagnant market, with low market volatility can make trading profitably just as difficult. We have talked about a “sweet spot” in the Average True Range readings that seem to be optimal for trading, at least for my style of scalping, or intraday trading. We also discussed the VIX, which is not directly related to chart trading but can be very helpful as an advisory indicator. We have concluded that sometimes the market can be too volatile to trade effectively and by the same token, it can be not volatile enough to be an effective trader. In short, market volatility is a variable that must be considered carefully and compensated for in a day trader’s daily endeavor.

- About the Author: I am a long time retail and institutional trader who now only trades part time, usually in the morning. I enjoy writing informational articles about my style of trading so others may benefit. Would it be convenient to receive valuable trading tips every night in your email? You can sign up for our free video series by Clicking here These videos contain advanced trading strategies and will enhance your trading knowledge immeasurably. Best of all, they are free! So get your free videos and start trading like the pros. Article Source

I think the most important fact, yes I said fact, regarding pivots points is they are a prediction of future support and resistance levels.  The key word in the previous sentence is “prediction” and traders should keep that in mind when trading pivot point systems.  I have always been conflicted as to why pivot points (PP) become important throughout the course of the day.  Most traders begin their day by plotting pivot points onto their chart.  With so many people using similar formulas to plot PP it is little surprise that the market stops at the calculated support and resistance levels.  Do the support levels and resistance levels occur because everyone is using a similar system or are they part of the natural function of the market?

It doesn’t matter.

As a trader I am only interested in what the market does, not why it exhibits certain tendencies.  I realize that is a bit of an obtuse answer, but it is one I have learned to live with comfortably.  Of course, it is often discussed among traders and each day trader has his opinion, but to trade the markets it is not necessarily important why this phenomena occurs.

On the other hand, some days the market pays absolutely no attention to pivot points and goes along its merry way without stopping at any particular point on the chart.  More often than not, though, the market will stop at the pivot points, or pause , or reverse right at the plotted lines.  My point is a simple one; pivots are very useful, except when they are not useful.  Whether the market will adhere to the predicted support and resistance is something that you must glean from watching the price action for a bit.  I typically don’t initiate my first trade of the day based on pivot points.

The formula for calculating the days support, resistance, and pivot point is as follows:

R2 = P + (H – L) = P + (R1 – S1)R1 = (P x 2) – LP = (H + L + C) / 3S1 = (P x 2) – HS2 = P – (H – L) = P – (R1 – S1)

S=support levelsR=resistance levelsH=hiL=lowC=close

As you might have surmised, the formula plots five lines on your trading chart.  These lines are commonly referred to as S1, S2, PP, R1, and R2.  S1 and R1 are the first lines of potential support/resistance on your chart.  The pivot point is the primary line of support and/or resistance.

Most traders have their own set-up to trade pivots, and I have three that are favorites of mine.  One is a break out through a resistance/support level.

Break outs often time occur when the market is in a consolidating mode and forms a horizontal channel, with the price banging off the top and bottom of the channel, especially if the channel is on a support/resistance line, as is often the case..  After this price action continues for two, maybe three cycles, I will set a sell a point below the channel and a buy a point above the channel. (I am referring to the ES contract here)  Generally the price action will break out of the channel and continue in the direction of the break out and you pick up the trade as it blasts through the channel parameters.  This is a pretty good strategy and can be very profitable.

Breakdowns are also a great way to use your pivots.  This trade is especially good if the market has been hitting a support/resistance line and stopping.  As the price action approaches the support/resistance line, I will set a buy one point below the line in hopes of picking up the trade as it pierces the line.  This trade can be a bit dodgy, especially if the market has been bouncing off the lines all day because the earlier bounces were usually followed a move in the other direction.  Your hope is that the move does not go through the line a bit (as it often does), pick up your trade and change directions.  Again, here you can set your order lower, maybe 1.5 points below the line if you are uncomfortable.

Finally, you trade the pullbacks from R and S.  Let’s say the market pierces S1 and heads straight to S2 and stops and reverses.  Often times the change in direction will go straight to S1 again, retracing it’s move down in the opposite direction.  Once it reaches S1 I will set a trade 1 point below S1.  More often than not, the trade will hit S1 and reverse field to the short side, and if it continues upward you stayed out of the trade by virtue of setting your sell 1 point below S1.  This probably my favorite pivot point trade, and comes with a higher degree of safety than most.  Of course, no specific trade works every time.  If I am stopped out twice on a pivot point trade, I forget pivot points for the rest of the day.

In summary, we learned that pivot points are predictors of future activity.  Further, as predictors they may or may not be effective on a given day of trading.  Your power of observation is key to understanding the effectiveness of a pivot point every trading day.  We reviewed three basic trades that I use; the breakout, breakdown and pullback.  If you learn to combine your trades with an oscillator or a tick chart, you will develop and even higher degree of activity in your trading.  Remember to check yourself when trading pivot points, never trade without stop-loss orders in place.

I endorse a state of the art trading program for beginners at Trading Concepts, Inc It’s an awesome product that will have you well on your way to success. Plus, it has a money back guarantee…you have nothing to lose and thousands to gain.

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