The weekend before October 31, 2005 was another big one for your MTA. It was the first day of our first world-wide computerized testing for the CMT. Approximately 600 members and affiliates took the exams at 347 sites around the world. Although Thomson cautioned us that we should expect a decrease in the number of test takers the first time around, and although we did experience some capacity limitations in a few sites, we did not experience any hesitation on the part of test takers. The demand for the CMT is strong and growing. Marie Penza and I were in the Woodbridge office on Saturday October 29, 2005 to field questions and respond to problems during the kickoff. I am pleased to report that overall the experience for candidates was extremely positive. They found the test sites professionally run and the proctors courteous and helpful. Frankly, the opinion was that these sites

On July 16th, Andy Ratkai provided the audience at the Denver MTA Chapter meeting with specific guidelines they could use to benefit from the activities of corporate insiders. Like any good instructor, Andy began with simple definitions to establish a common knowledge base for meeting participants: Operating officers are insiders with day-today knowledge of sales and product trends. Their actions usually offer the most reliable indication of insider activity. Directors represent “Big Picture” insiders with varying degrees of knowledge. It is best to confirm their activities with an analysis of the actions of operating officers. Large shareholders are those that control at least 10% of a company’s stock. These insiders are often savvy individuals with insight into the company and proven track records of successful investment. Hedge funds may file as insiders because of their size and trading style. However, since they are mostly driven by short-term performance, their activity is not nearly as reliable

Pivot points, floor levels, support/resistance values. Various labels for the same tools: a calculated formula for what should be “fair value” in a market to follow. Before the days of palm pilots, cell phones and the general wireless world, floor traders and market makers relied on hand-scribbled price points of where buyers / sellers should cluster their stops. The information age has arrived, but these valuable price points still retain their power over market action hence. Pivot Point General Guidelines Of utmost importance to know, daily pivot point values tend to be touched or traded thru roughly 75% of the time. In other words, seven out of every ten sessions for any liquid market will see the daily pivot point come into play at some point during live trading. I know this to be true, because fellow traders and I have done the math, counted daily touches of stock index E-mini markets