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AM

Or

WHAT MATTERS
IS PROFIT
J. Welles Wilder Jr,
THE
ADAM THEORY
OF
MARKETS
or
WHAT MATTERS IS PROFIT

By
Welles Wilder
This book is published by and available from
CAVIDA LTD.
P.0. BOX 128
5615 McLeansville Road
McLeansville,N.C. 27301
It is the intent of CAVIDA LTD. to publish
and maintain the availability of

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


in perpetuity.
The price is sixty-five dollars.
The author of this book is J. Welles Wider, Jr. While this book is dedicated to,some-
times quotes, and occasionally paraphrases Jim Sloman, Mr. Sloman has not partici-
pated in its writing or publication. Accordingly, Mi. Sloman assumes no responsibility for
its contents.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!
PATENT PENDING
The techniques and processes for manipulating
data(whether manually or by computer program)
as disclosed herein are the subject of pending
patent applications. Such patent rights will be
strictly enforced against violators.

Copyright 1987 Cavida, Ltd.


All rights in the text and materials herein are
reserved to the copyright owner. Reproduction
of these materials in whole or in part is prohibited
without the written consent of Cavida, Ltd.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT ADAM THEORY WILL


GENERATE PROFITS FOR THE READER.
This book is dedicated to Jim Sloman.

“Adam is getting in tune with the universe, not insisting that it get in
tune with me. To insist that it get in tune with me would be arrogant,
and it would be my own arrogance that would destroy me. To get in
tune with it is to be humble, willing to follow it where it goes.

If l fight against the river by trying to go up stream, it seems like a


relentless implacable enemy constantly pushing against me,
constantly trying to thwart me. But the river is not against me, it's just
flowing the way its flowing. If I can get in tune with it, mirror it, go
the way it's going, then life - or trading - becomes an effortless,
serene, beautiful float down the stream.”

Jim Sloman
PROLOGUE
In the fall of 1983 I received a phone call from someone I
had never heard of by the name of Jim Sloman. Jim told me that he
had discovered something about the markets and that he was willing
to sell it to me for a large sum of money. He said that if l would come
to Chicago he would show it to me.
I had received calls of this nature before which had resulted
in a number of wild goose chases so l began asking a number of ques-
tions about Jim's discovery. It appeared that Jim had discovered a
way of predicting what markets would do in the future... that is, when
the next highs and lows would occur. Apparently, it was not based
on anything that was currently known such as the works of Gann or
Elliott or others.
l asked Jim how I would know the value of what he wanted
to sell to me. He said if I came to Chicago that he would show it to
me and then I could decide if I wanted to buy it. I was sufficiently in-
trigued by what Jim said that I decided to risk a plane ticket to Chicago
and a day of my time.
When I got to Chicago, Jim showed me his discovery, which
he called DELTA. I was amazed to learn that Jim had discovered that
there was, in fact, perfect order in all markets. Understanding this
order made all markets predictable indefinitely into the future with a
very high degree of accuracy. And, it was very simple... no
mathematics... and yet, no one had ever discovered it before. I was
absolutely astounded by what I had seen.
l paid Jim the large sum of money he wanted right on the
spot and caught the evening flight back to Greensboro. I spent the
next six months proving to myself that DELTA was real by going back
many years in history to see how it held up. I also worked it out for
many markets other than the ones Jim had used. After all the research
was completed I found that DELTA had been just as accurate in history
as in the present, no matter how many years I applied it to historical
data.(Now, in 1987, it has continued to maintain the same accuracy
as it did historically.)


THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
In 1985 I founded the DELTA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL
(DSI). Members of this secret society have the DELTA information
about future market turning points. The DELTA information will be
made available to members until the year 2000. At that time member-
ship may or may not be available.
What I have said up until now is background information for
what l am going to say next. Indeed, without this background, what
l am going to say next would not be believed ... or if it were, you
would think that l was a complete idiot.

In the spring of 1985 after I had finished all of my historical


research about DELTA, l invited Jim to come to Greensboro to review
my work. After a week or so of getting to know each other better, Jim
made another attention-getting statement.
He said,"Welles, when I discovered DELTA I asked the ques-
tion, is there order in the markets? The answer to that question was
DELTA. Recently, I have asked another question. That question is,
how does one really make money trading the markets? Or to put it
another way, what is the basic principle behind succeeding in markets.
Those who apply that principle, either knowingly or unknowingly, are
tremendously successful in trading the markets. That is a different
question,
Several months later, Jim said,"I will sell you the answer to
that question for one million dollars.”
I replied, “Tll have to think about it.”

What did I know about Jim Sloman? He was a very gifted


person. His intellectual abilities were first recognized in high school
when he placed among the top in the country in a national exam given
to all senior math students. Subsequently he was awarded a National
Merit Scholarship to Princeton University where he studied math and
physics in special advanced classes.

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


Jim had done many things since college looking for an elusive
fulfillment. He started out on the corporate ladder, became a high
achiever but felt that something was missing. He wrote a novel, and
studied film directing at Columbia University. He had been a stock
broker and briefly a commodity trader, but he left that profession
because he felt that he did not have the right temperament for it.
Lately,Jim had been experimenting with manifesting things by
visualizing them.
Jim had the unusual ability to discover things by approaching
the problem with a clean slate. He could actually forget or put aside
anything he knew about a subject and seek a true solution without
being swayed by what he thought he knew about the problem. Indeed,
that is the only way one could ever have discovered DELTA.
I remembered that Jim knew a lot about trading. He had been
invited to join a group of traders in Chicago. This group had been
selected from good traders, bad traders and other traders with the
purpose of each learning something from the other. They also obtained
a very favorable commission rate due to the volume of trades made
by the group. I also knew that Jim did not want to make a living trading
... what he really wanted to do was to have time to think... think
new thoughts ... and discover new concepts.
I knew that Jim had much of the answer to the question,
“What is the basic principle behind succeeding in markets?” Jim
wanted me to begin paying on the million dollars so he could con-
tinue his research and when he finished I would have the answer upon
the final payment ...one million dollars.

If anyone except Jim Sloman, the person who discovered


DELTA, had made such a rash statement... that he had discovered
the real secret of making money in the markets...and that he would
sell it to me for one million dollars ... well, I would probably have
had a good laugh!
On December 7, 1985 in Southern California, I finished pay-

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


ing Jim the one million dollars. What I learned is exactly what you
will learn in this book.

There is one more thing that must be said. Why? Why have
I published in an inexpensive book what I paid a million dollars to
learn? The answer is three-fold and will be given in inverse order of
importance to me.
Money, of course, is a consideration. The price of this book
was carefully thought out. If it were free or of negligible cost, many
would not read it because something of great value is not usually given
away. If it were very high priced, it would prohibit many who need
it from reading it. So I have tried to price it in between these two
extremes. Also much of the profit from this book will go to a trust over
which I have no control. Among other things, the trust actively sup-
ports charities world-wide that are oriented toward helping children.
Another reason is that making this knowledge available will
not affect its usefulness to me as a trader. I know that it is a truism
that the more people who know something about the markets, the
less useful it is. However, the more general this knowledge is, the
less effect it has on markets even if many people know it. For exam-
ple, in the 1800's, even before the Dow theory of technical analysis
was known, things like support and resistance must have worked quite
well because few, if any, traders knew what it was or how to use it.
Today, every technical trader knows about support and resistance
...and it still is an effective tool because it is so general. Adam's
effectiveness will be diminished by published knowledge of it, but only
slightly, because it is so general.
The main reason is that I want to make this discovery
available to others. It's a contribution that I feel is a privilege to be
able to make.
I'm glad too that Jim Sloman will get the credit for discover-
ing Adam while he is still around to enjoy it.

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


One last thought. Both DELTA and Adam are about market
symmetry. DELTA is the market's outer symmetry... Adam is the
market's inner symmetry. Jim Sloman discovered them both.

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


FOREWORD

For many years "Technical Analysis" has been a basic ap-


proach to trading the futures markets. More recently it is becoming
accepted as a valid approach to trading the stock markets.
What is technical analysis?
Technical analysis is a way of analyzing markets using only
information that is generated from actual trades made in the market.
This information has names such as price, volume, and open interest.
When a number of markets are analyzed with each other, the infor-
mation takes on names such as new highs vs. new lows and uptics
vs. downtics, down volume vs. up volume, etc.
With the advent of the computer it became possible to
analyze vast amounts of technical information in relatively short
periods of time. Consequently, technical analysis of all markets pro-
liferated. Traders were overwhelmed by the number of different
systems and methods that were devised by the mind of man with which
to trade. Equally amazing was the fact that all of these methods and
systems were based on only three things, each generated by actual
trading: price, volume, and(in the case of futures) open interest.

“Tech” became the byword for innovative trading techniques


and fast profits. Traders bought computers and trading software so
fast that a whole new industry sprang up to fill the insatiable appetite
for “tech”. Tech magazines were created to evaluate and make a
market for "tech". Software"groups" emerged to sift through all the
available "tech" and provide the best to their group.
A trader joining one of these "groups" may have fifty or more
different forms of technical analysis available to use in his trading.
He can pick out any number of these systems and methods and run
them every evening after the markets have closed on all the stocks
or commodities he is following. He can set his computer on automatic
and in a couple of hours or less all of the results of all the systems
are available to him for his“analysis” as to how he will trade the


THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
markets tomorrow. Every few weeks, there is a new, better, more prof-
itable system to add to the scenario. Whenever trading is not going
well ... then he can switch to another set of systems.

Does this sound complicated? Is it logical that in this mad


scenario that any trader will ever find the ultimate system, stick with
it, and trade happily ever after?
One of the greatest futures traders of modern times has
reportedly made over 100 million dollars trading in just a few years.
When asked in a magazine interview how he did it, he replied,
“There is really a lot less to trading than meets
the eye." Then he added that it had to do with all
the different stuff he doesn't pay attention to.”
l paid Jim Sloman one million dollars to learn ADAM ...a
concept that is presented here in this book. Nothing about that con-
cept has been omitted. The first thing I learned was that ...

“There is really a lot less to trading than most


people think."
The second thing l learned was... what not to pay attention
to.

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 ADAM IS.. 8
2 A FAIRY TALE ... 10
3 TO SUCCEED IN MARKETS WE MUST. 14
4 THERE IS REALLY A LOT LESS TO TRADING THAN MEETS THE EYE 18
5 WHAT MATTERS IN MARKETS? - PRICE 22
6 IS versus SHOULD 23
7 AVOID ARBITRARINESS 25
8 TRADING SYSTEMS 27
9 WHAT MATTERS IN MARKETS?- TREND 33
10 WHAT IS A TREND? 34
11 WHAT IS THE MOST BASIC FORM OF REPETITION? 35
12 WHAT DOES EXACT REPETITION LEAD TO? 36
13 WHAT LEADS TO THE GREATEST SYMMETRY? 39
14 PROJECTING THE SECOND REFLECTION 40
15 CONSTRUCTING THE SECOND REFLECTION CHART THE EASY WAY 42
16 WHAT DOES THE PREDICTION CONTAIN? 47
17 WHICH MARKETS TO TRADE 49
18 REVIEW OF MARKET SELECTION 56
19 HOW ABOUT TOPS AND BOTTOMS? 59
20 THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENT ABOUT MARKETS 64
21LET YOUR PROFITS RUN 70
22 WHAT IF WE GET STOPPED OUT? 71
23 DISCIPLINE 75
24 REVIEW OF ADAM THEORY 77
25 WHEN DO WE ENTER A TRADE? 79
26 MARKET EXAMPLE - COTTON 81
27 RECAP OF FIRST EXAMPLE 100
28 THE TEN TRADING RULES 102
29 THE TEN RULES EXPANDED 104
30 MARKET EXAMPLE - EASTMAN KODAK 110
31MARKET EXAMPLE - COFFEE 117
32 VISUALIZATION 122
33 THE PLAYFUL COMMODITY TRADER 127
APPENDIX 128

ADAM IS.
Adam is about making profits trading the markets ... any
freely traded markets anywhere in the world. Adam presents a special
way to look at markets and an even more special way to trade markets.
Adam is the purest, simplest, and easiest way to make profits trading
the markets ... using only what the markets are telling us about
themselves.

But Adam is more than that. Adam shows the trader the
most probable course the market will take in the future. Using
Adam technology the trader is able to project and actually see
that course. The trader then asks the question, “Do l want that trade?”
If the answer is yes, then the trader enters the market.
Adam is applicable to any time frame. That is, Adam can be
applied to a daily chart, a weekly chart, a monthly chart, an hourly
chart, a five minute chart, etc. Adam is a visual thing. It is best seen
on a simple bar chart. No mathematics are ever involved.
Now, using a daily bar chart, go back to the question, “Do
you want the trade?" The answer is "yes", so the trader enters the
market. The next day, the trader again applies Adam technology and
again obtains the most probable course the market will take. He then
asks the question, "Do I still want the trade?" Eventually the answer
will be “no” and Adam technology will tell the trader how to get out
of the trade.
Adam does all this by looking only at what the market is
saying about itself ... never introducing anything arbitrary. Adam is
the simplest and purest concept... and yet it eludes most traders.

Jim Sloman puts it this way:


“Adam looks at the question: What is the basic principle
behind succeeding in markets?


THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Or, to put it another way, Adam looks at what would go into
the blank space in the sentence: To succeed in markets we must

ls there some common thing that everyone who succeeds


in trading the markets follows, knowingly or unknowingly?"

“Notice that there is a distinction between theories or


discoveries about how markets work - and succeeding in markets.
Adam is not primarily about markets or how they work. It is about the
secret of what it takes to succeed in markets. And that is a different
thing.

It's a safe bet that the greater a secret the simpler it is. That
is why it is missed, because it is too simple. The mind feels very much
at home with the complex and difficult; it enjoys the challenge of
understanding them. But the mind usually just cannot comprehend
the simple: “This is a great truth? How can it be so ridiculously simple?”

“Adam is a bottom-line kind of thing. It's about what works,


only. It may seem that it's not fancy enough or complicated enough,
but that is a function of what it's about. You see, it's not about what
should work or about what seems impressive. It's about one thing
only - what really, actually works. And that happens to be ex-
ceedingly simple, not nearly complicated enough to be impressive.

But if we think about it, we're really only interested in one


thing: What works? Everything else is perhaps interesting, but not
important."


THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS

A FAIRY TALE.
At this point you are anxious to jump right in and learn Adam.
You want to know immediately how to find "the most probable course
the market will take in the future". We could do that ...go right to
it and finish this book in another twenty or thirty pages. If we did, there
are few of you who would really see it, understand it, appreciate it,
and most important ... benefit from it.
It took Jim over one year, concentrating on it full time, to
discover and develop the Adam concept. When you get through
reading this book, you will find that a lot of things that you learned
in this book, you wil think you always knew! The reason you will think
you always knew them is because they are so simpie. That is a
paradox. You did not really know them until you understood them.
The only way you will understand what you think you have always
known...(which you really haven't known) is to understand why you
really have not known it.
That is why it is absolutely necessary that you learn Adam
from the beginning. Do not jump ahead. Take it as it is painfully and
meticulously presented, step by step, and appreciate the logic and
beauty and purity of the concept. Even then, many of you who read
this will not really know it... because you don't really know something
until you do it... that is, actually do it in the market.
Read now, with understanding, a modern day fairy tale
... by Jim Sloman.

“Once upon a time there was an enchanted land called


Marketland where a fascinating game called The Market was played
most days. And the thing about this game was that it would go up
or down every day and the players would make bets about the
outcome. A simple game.
But there were complications, which had to do with the

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
fact that all the players in Marketland had opinions about which way
the market would go.
And not only opinions. The players had systems, methods,
evidence and analysis to back up their opinions. They had Dactyl
numbers and Pdontiff waves, Xandon lines and Zigdar harmonics.
They had the legacies of the old masters, Oerbot and Caljen. They
had inventories and earnings, money-flow studies, astrology charts
and the benefits of 4th-order spectrum analysis, all of which was ex-
tremely fascinating. Yes indeed, the players had many marvelous
things.
The problem, though, was that sometimes the methods called
for the market to go one way and it would go the other way. This never
failed to astonish everyone concerned, and there were many long
discussions about how or why the market could be so perverse.
However, it was usually agreed that this had just been a temporary
aberration by the market and that the methods and analyses were
as good as ever.
But one afternoon something happened to one of the players,
a man named Mr. Beright. And he was never the same again. Mr.
Beright had made a detailed study of Azerhof numbers, becoming
one of Marketland's recognized experts on the subject. And the
Azerhof numbers were now quite plainly stating that the market
needed to go up, so Mr. Beright had taken a solid long position.
Unfortunately, quite soon after Mr. Beright had gone massive-
ly long, the market started down. This did not worry Mr. Beright ex-
cessively, since he realized the market had to go up. Yet the market
(strange creature that it is) wouldn't pay any attention. It kept going
down. And down. And down. And Mr. Beright(understandably,
since we've all lived through these moments) got quite anxious and
depressed. But he knew it would all get better very soon, just as soon
as the market turned around and went the way it was supposed to go.
Now all good fairy tales have children in them and this one
is no exception. Mr. Beright, it turns out, had a beautiful five year-old

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
daughter named Herenow, and just as he was contemplating his sad
fate, Herenow walked into the room. Sensing that something was
wrong, she asked what it was.

“Oh nothing, darling, You wouldn't understand. It's just that


the market is supposed to go up and it hasn't yet."
“Is this the market, daddy? This line on the screen here?”
“Yes.”
Little Herenow went over and peered intently at the jagged
line on the screen. And then she said:
“Well, daddy, I don't know anything about the market. But
it certainly seems to be going down.”
“Well dear, that's why you don't understand. You see, the
Azerhof numbers say that absolutely, positively the market has to go
up here.'
“I know, daddy, but right now it seems to be going down.”
“Not only that Herenow, but the Melinxar frequencies state
unequivocably that the market has got to go up here."
"I know, daddy, but right now it seems to be going down."
“You don't understand, darling. When the Azerhof numbers
and the Melinxar frequencies agree, the market has got to go in that
direction.”
Little Herenow looked puzzled. She went over and peered
at the screen once more.
"I don't understand all those things you're talking about, dad-
dy,and I don't understand the market, but right now it seems to be
going down. Doesn't it?"

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


Mr. Beright paused and looked carefully at his five year-old
daughter."Would you say that again, Herenow?"
“Just that right now, daddy, the market seems to be going
down. That's all. Did I say something wrong?"
“No, dear no... not at all.”
And at that precise moment something snapped in Mr.
Beright. All those years of studying Azerhof numbers and Melinxar
frequencies and everything else swam in front of his eyes. Then he
looked at his little daughter again, picked up the phone and sold out
his long position. And what's more, he went very, very short.
Now Mr. Beright is a changed man. Because all that time
that he used to spend studying Azerhof numbers and so on he now
spends playing golf and enjoying his family. And his friends think he
has become very strange, because he has no interest in all those
fascinating systems and methods and statistics about the market
anymore.
But Mr. Beright doesn't care. Because he's making money.
Lots and lots of it."

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THE ADAM THEOAY OF MARKETS

TO SUCCEED IN MARKETS WE MUST.
Anyone who has traded the markets to any extent has, at one
time or another, found himself in the classic situation that Mr. Beright
was in. In the next several chapters we are going to learn several
important things that are vividly pointed out in The Modern Day Fairy
Tale.

The first thing is the answer to the above question. If we were


to ask a hundred different traders this question, TO SUCCEED IN
MARKETS WE MUST. , we would
get many different answers. I'll bet you no one... absolutely no one
would give you the right answer. The right answer is dramatically
pointed out in the Fairy Tale.

This question was posed in Chapter 1 in the first paragraph


quoted by Jim Sloman. Here is the paragraph again.

“Adam looks at the question: What is the basic principle


behind succeeding in markets?

Or to put it another way, Adam looks at what would go into


the blank space in the sentence: To succeed in markets we must

Is there some common thing that everyone who succeeds


in markets follows, knowingly or unknowingly?"

Think a minute and see if you can determine what Mr. Beright
did...what he really did, to succeed in the game of “markets”.

Remember, when you finish reading this book you are going
to think you already knew most of what was in it. I challenge you,
before you turn the page, make at least three guesses. The answer
is one word.

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
If you guessed the word SURRENDER you are way ahead
of the class!

What was Mr. Beright doing wrong when he was losing? Well,
he was doing a number of things wrong. One thing was that he was
fighting... fighting the market. The market was going against him
... it was his opponent ... it was taking his money.
So what did he do right? He surrendered the battle. He
stopped swimming upstream and turned around and went with the
flow.
Jim Sloman tells the following true story.
“One of the greatest professional traders l ever met we'll call
Robert. Robert would take very large sums of money out of the
markets week-in and week-out. When I was a green trader starting
out in Chicago I had the good fortune to be able to trade next to him
for awhile. We were "upstairs" traders; we traded from an office in
a building next to the Chicago Board of Trade. And one morning, about
a week after I'd started, I came into the office early and Robert was
there alone. We were trading the S&P 500 at the time, and naturally
I took the opportunity of asking his opinion of what the market would
do that day. His answer truly startled me.
"I don't know." Robert said.

"You'd prefer not to tell me," I said.


“No," Robert said."I'm telling you the truth. I really don't have
any idea what it's going to do."
Now at that point I'm afraid l looked at him with a kind of blank
stare, because I simply couldn't comprehend what he was saying.
“Robert,” I finally said,"you're obviously one of the most suc-
cessful traders around. You really don't have any idea what the market
is going to do today?”

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


“Honestly.”
“Well then...well then... what do you trade on?”
“You wouldn't believe me if l told you," Robert said.“You really
wouldn't.'

“You're probably right. But try me.”


Robert looked at me.“Okay," he said."Here goes. If the
market goes up, I buy some. If it goes up some more, I buy some
more. If it goes up some more, I buy some more. If it goes down, I
sell some. If it goes down some more, I sell some more. If it goes down
some more, I sell some more.”
Does that sound silly? Absurd? Too simple?
I didn't realize it at the time(being basically a pretty thick-
headed kind of guy), but Robert had told me that morning something
that penetrated to the very essence of successful trading. Something
that i later saw in every other really successful trader. And it was this:
They never, ever let any opinions about the market get
in the way of trading.”
★★★★ ★

“To succeed in markets we must surrender.”


*★★★ ★

“Surrendering to the markets means, in a sense, giving up.


It means giving up all of our cherished opinions, judgments and con-
clusions about the markets. What can make this so difficult is that
in many cases we have spent long days and years patiently learning
about markets, accumulating one seeming advantage after another.
In other words, we have quite a large investment in what
we think we know. And it can be difficult to give up, in particular,

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
because it seems so tempting to combine both."Why not?" we ask.
“Why not use both - Adam and whatever else we've got in our tool
kit?"
Because it won't work that way. Either we're approaching the
markets with total detachment, or we're not. Adam, we might say, is
a jealous mistress.

It demands nothing less than that we approach the markets


with total ignorance.
As long as we approach markets thinking that we know
something about them, the seed of a losing approach is planted. Not
that we'll necessarily lose money. Almost any good system or method
can make money for a while. But sooner or later (and often sooner)
our rigidity is likely to catch up with us.
Why? Because markets keep changing. And only someone
who approaches them with total ignorance can adapt to them with
complete flexibility. Otherwise, we get caught defending some posi
tion or another: "But it's supposed to go this way."
Nonsense. All that matters is: Which way is it going? Right
now. Or, to put it another way:
To be really successful in markets we must look at them
through the eyes of a five year-old.
Because if five year-olds cared enough to look at markets
(and, admittedly, they're much too wise to do that; they'd rather play
out in the sun), they wouldn't bring any accumulated baggage to the
looking. Their look would be totally fresh.”

*★★★ ★

“To succeed in markets we must surrender.”

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS



THERE IS REALLY A LOT LESS TO TRADING
THAN MEETS THE EYE...

One of the greatest traders of our time was asked in an


interview how he did it. He replied:

“There is really a lot less to trading than meets


the eye." Then he added that it had to do with all
the different stuff he doesn't pay attention
to.
Mr. Beright had spent many years studying Azerhof numbers
and Melinxar frequencies. He had quite an investment of time and
experience in his vast knowledge of the subject. He also understood
the legacies of the old masters, Oerbot and Caljen. In fact, he was
one of the most renowned experts in the field. His attention was riveted
on what he knew about markets in terms of his knowledge and
experience. Yet this very knowledge kept him from seeing reality.
Jim expresses it this way:
“The third greatest obstacle to success in the market is not
that we don't know enough yet, but that we know too much. We need
to be able to forget all the things we think we know so that we can
better "see" what is actually going on."
In other words, we must be willing to surrender, to follow
the market where it goes - instead of trying to fit it into the
straightjacket of our opinions and "knowledge" about it.
Does this mean that money-flow studies and all manner of
fundamental analysis need to be given up?
Yes, it does.
Otherwise, our view of the markets will no longer be
completely detached. Almost without realizing it, we'll have
expectations about the market's direction.

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THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


Does this mean that all manner of technical analysis including
volume, advance-decline, open interest, yield spreads, cycle analysis,
wave structure and so on needs to be given up?
Yes, it does.

Not that such things can't ever make valid predictions, but
that such predictions and analysis can badly cloud our direct
perception of reality. They put a"spin" on the way we are looking at
the market. And that spin is too costly, because it takes away the third
most valuable thing that we have concerning markets - our
ignorance.

Predictions are great, but when predictions and reality


diverge, we must always go with reality. Analysis is great, but when
analysis and reality diverge, we must always go with reality.
Knowledge is great, but when knowledge and reality diverge, we must
always go with reality. And what is reality? Simply the way it's actually
going right now.

We must allow ourselves to mirror the market, follow it,


surrender to it. We must be willing to let go of what we think we know
about it so that we can see it directly.

Does this sound too simple-minded? Not complicated


enough? Not worth anything?
Remember, the mind has an easy time with the complex, but
a very difficult time with the simple, because it's too simple."This?"
the mind says."This simple thing?" The mind has a hard time giving
any value to it. That is why it misses.
And remember, too, we are talking here about what works.
Not about some great, complicated thing, but simply about what
works. Unfortunately for the mind, it's just too simple to comprehend.

19
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Now all this is true if we are in the markets to make money.
If, on the other hand, we are in them for their entertainment value,
or for the “action”, or for the sheer fascination of them, well, that's
another matter.

Then we should spend our time reading newspapers and


magazines about the markets, soliciting opinions and hot tips,
spending many long hours on analysis, and above all, gathering new
“knowledge” about the markets.

So we should ask ourselves very honestly: Are we really in


the markets to make money? Is that our true interest in them? If so,
we need to learn to do something that's extremely easy and yet can
be extraordinarily difficult (because the mind doesn't want to accept
it): We need to learn to let go, to surrender to the markets.”

“Let me call by the name"Wlliam," perhaps the greatest trader


that Ive had the opportunity to watch for an extended period of time.
He was legendary even among other very good traders, and made
truly staggering sums of money on a consistent basis.
In his personal life he was not mature, but to watch him trade
was like watching a great artist or athlete. He had no system at all
(which, by the way, I found very puzzling, and refused to believe for
a long time). He had no opinions or analysis of any kind, and he never
tried to predict the markets in any way. He was far too smart for that.
What would he do? He would follow the markets and do so with
tremendous flexibility.

Once he was long 40 S&P's and was building up to a larger


position when the market suddenly gapped down 30 points. Most of
us sat frozen, staring in unbelief at the screen. Not William.

He picked up the phone, verified that the screen was

20
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
accurate, then immediately sold 50 contracts, making him short 10.
Then over the next minute or so he built up to a short position of 60
contracts. In one minute he had gone from long 40 to short 60.And
he made a very handsome profit on that short.
This dramatically illustrated to me something that was verified
on many other occasions: That William was, more than anything else,
interested in remaining flexible, so that he could faithfully mirror the
market. No opinion of any kind was ever allowed to get in the way
of that flexibility. And the results spoke for themselves."

21

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS



WHAT MATTERS IN MARKETS?

The final answer to that question is "Dollars per day". This


we will get to later. However, the first answer is:
PRICE. Price is all that matters. Price is reality. Everything
every trader knows about the market is reflected in the price.
Everything the market knows about itself is reflected in its price. Price
reflects the effects of volume, of open interest, of everything.
Price is the only thing we want to look at because price is
what a market is doing. All fundamentals are contained in the price.
Supply and demand are contained in the price. Price is what IS.
Jim says:
“Implicit in everything that's been said is that the only thing
that matters is price. When looking at markets, nothing else matters
at all, because everything else is reflected, summed up, discounted
in that one thing. Everything."

Price is reality.
★ ★★★ ★

22
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS

IS versus SHOULD.

Mr. Beright was concerned by what should happen. Most


traders are totally concerned by what should happen. All fundamen-
tal considerations are based on what should happen. If the supply
of a commodity is plentiful, then the market should go down. If there
is a bad harvest, then demand will be greater than supply and the
price should go up. If there is one more leg yet to be completed in
an Elliott wave formation, then the price should go up. If the Relative
Strength Index (RSl) is over 80 then the market should turn down.
We are constantly thinking in terms of what should happen... what
the market should do. But, that's not what matters in markets. What
matters is what is happening... and that means what the price IS
doing RIGHT NOW.
Jim puts it even stronger:

“As said before, the greatest secrets and principles are always
the most simple. Simple things are overlooked again and again; their
very obviousness is their greatest disguise.”
If we really think about it, if we really think about it, we will
see that the only thing that ever matters about a market is which way
it is moving right now. Everything else is - totally - irrelevant. If every
system and method in the world says that a particular market should
be moving down here, but it's actually moving up - then up is the
way it's going right now. And that's all that ever matters.

To repeat: Everything whatsoever that states what a market


should do is absolutely irrelevant.(Note: Not necessarily wrong, just
irrelevant.) The only thing that matters is what the market is actually
doing.

Yes, this means that all our favorite ways of analyzing and
thinking about markets need to be abandoned - and not just
downgraded or partially abandoned, either, but completely
abandoned.

23
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Why? Because the two won't mix. If we are looking at some
system or method - even if just partially, or with a grain of salt, or
"just to see what it says"- to that extent we are not focused com-
pletely on what the market is doing right now.
Herenow's advantage over everyone else was that she had
no"knowledge" about the market to get in the way. So she could see
the market directly without any mists or filters to cloud her vision.”

24

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS



AVOID ARBITRARINESS

The dictionary defines the word arbitrary as"determined by


whim or caprice". The purest and simplest approach to trading is to
avoid arbitrariness. What would be an example of being arbitrary?
Let's devise the most arbitrary trading system we can think of.
Suppose we say that we will never lose more than ¥300 on
a single trade. Why ¥300? Why not ¥200 or ¥400? This is probably
the most arbitrary thing we could do. This action has nothing at all
to do with what the markets are doing. In some markets a ¥300 stop
would be too much. In other markets, it might not be enough.
Suppose our system also states that we will establish a target
of ¥1,000 and that we will always exit the trade when the profit in the
trade has reached ¥1,000. Again, why ¥1,000? How does that relate
to what the market is doing?
A less arbitrary approach would be to make the stop a
function of the average daily range. As the range increases through
volatility then the stop would become farther away or closer as
appropriate. But now we are faced with the question of how many
days to use to determine the average range. In the final analysis almost
everything we do is based on something that is arbitrary.
Suppose we say that we will let the market itself determine
our rules for trading. Good thought. How do we do that? We say that
we will buy the market when it goes past the previous high point. Good.
. which previous high point? The last one. The most significant one.
How do we define significant?
The above example is about the least arbitrary thing we can
do because we are letting the market tell us, by moving into new
ground, that it is going someplace... someplace it has not been
recently.

Instead of placing a ¥300 stop loss, we could place our stop


just under a recent market low point if, for example, we were long.

25
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
That is the least arbitrary thing we can do ... but which recent low
point?
How about our ¥1,000 target to take profits? The least ar-
bitrary thing to do is to let the market tell us when to take profits. One
way to do this is to simply keep moving our stop in the direction of
the trade until we are stopped out.
It is obvious then that if we want to use the simplest and
purest approach to trading we would want to do whatever is the least
arbitrary. We would want to let the market tell us how to trade.

What we do not want to do is to put our parameters on the


market...we do not want to tell the market what it should do. We
want to surrender to what it IS doing. If we are doing what it is
doing then we are making profits ... and that is what matters in
markets.

26
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS

TRADING SYSTEMS

Adam is a complete trading system. When applying Adam,


we will always know what to trade... in which direction, when to
get in and where to get out. What more do we need to know to have
a trading system? Yet, Adam does all of this based on simply what
the market is saying about itself... not on what we are saying about
it. For example, Adam can never pick tops and bottoms. In fact, Adam
will always be wrong at tops and bottoms. When you stop to think
about it, isn't trying to pick a top or a bottom the most arbitrary thing
you can think of?
Adam is oriented toward what is... instead of what should
be. Adam is not arbitrary because it does not operate on our restric-
tions. Adam is simple, so simple that a five year-old child could trade it.
Now before we learn what Adam is, we need to talk about
systems...because Adam is a system. To understand and appreciate
Adam we must understand how it is different from all other systems.
So, lets take a look at some other systems in light of our discussion
to this point.
First, if we were going to design the perfect trading system,
what would we want the system to be?
SIMPLE...? Yes. I am convinced that the more basic
something is the simpler it is. For example, nuclear energy is based
on a very simple equation that says energy equals mass times the
speed of light squared. The more complicated something is, the far-
ther away it is from its essence.
FOLLOWS THE MARKET...? Yes. It is oriented to what
the market IS doing instead of what it should do.
ADAPTIVE...?Definitely. It should be flexible; able to adapt
quickly, even instantly to any market condition.
HANDLE ANY TIME FRAME...? Yes, it should work equally
well on a weekly time frame as a 30 minute time frame.

27
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
DO NOT WANT IT TO LAG..?Right. It should be able to
react immediately to any change in the market.
ACCURATE MEASURING ...? Yes, without interference
from us... the market measuring itself.
NOT ARBITRARY ...? Most important ... that it not be
arbitrary
MIRROR THE MARKET...? Thought you would never say
it! Yes, it must go with the flow... a complete surrender to what the
market is doing.

Now let's look at some of the more popular systems, tools,


and indicators that people use to trade the markets... in light of what
we have tried to define as the perfect system. (Actually, there is no
such thing as the perfect system. We should say that we are trying
to approach the perfect concept for trading by trying to define the
elements of the approach.)

How about MOVING AVERAGES...? Moving averages do


follow. They don't try to tell what SHOULD happen. However, they
are arbitrary because someone must tell it how many time frames to
use and it lags the market.
How about OSCILLATORS...? For example, one of the most
popular oscillators is the Relative Strength Index (Which I invented
a number of years ago). It is oriented toward picking turning points
which puts it in the SHOULD area. It is also arbitrary because someone
must decide how many time frames it should use.
How about CYCLES...? Cycles try to pick tops and bot-
toms, what SHOULD happen. Cycles can be complicated; however,
cycles which are based on what the market is doing rather than on
an arbitrary number of days is one of the least arbitrary approaches.

28
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
How about ELLIOTT WAVE...? A fairly complicated predic-
tive tool oriented toward what SHOULD happen. But iet me say right
here, that all of these things can be effective in trading markets.
We are not in any way trying to say that these things don't often work,
and work well. We are simply trying to learn more about a concept
by using some things with which we are already familiar.
How about LINEAR REGRESSION...? Less arbitrary, but
oriented toward SHOULD. It is also a lagging indicator.
How about CONTRARY OPINION...? Tends to be in the
SHOULD area by predicting market turns. Also lagging.
How about TREND LINES...? Tend to be predictive and
somewhat arbitrary depending on the points picked and the time frame
to use for the line. However, trend lines are one of the least arbitrary
tools because the market itself determines where the lines are drawn.

We could go on and on but I think we have covered enough


ground to establish the concept. We are looking for a system that is
unlike all other systems. It must be oriented toward what IS, not what
SHOULD be. It must mirror the market and adapt quickly. It must con-
tain only what the market is telling us about itself. It must not contain
our arbitrary parameters. It must be pure and simple.
Now that we know what we are looking for, we will follow step
by step how Jim developed Adam. But first, before we leave “systems”,
some of Jim's comments about systems.

“I am completely struck by the fact that the most effective


things in trading are the simplest, the most obvious. You know, the
basic principle espoused here is so simple it's actually scary. What

29
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
our minds are looking for is some system that will nail everything down
for us - buy here, sell there - some system that will be so automatic
that we won't need to actually look at the market and look into its
essence.
But may I tell you the truth?(At least as far as I can com-
prehend it, anyway. The truth is infinite, and this little brain of mine
is very, very finite.) Any system whatsoever is bound to fail sooner
or later, not because the system is necessarily bad, but because it's
inherent in the very nature of systems themselves.

The reason is that the markets are an accurate reflection of


life itself — always the same, yes, but always changing. Or, to be more
accurate, always the same underneath, always changing on the
surface.
Adam deals with the essence of the markets, which is always
the same. But this essence can only really be comprehended within
an individual consciousness which "falls in tune" with the market. And
this "falling in tune" will always be changing, even though the basic
principle remains the same.

Notice that it is a "falling" in tune. It is a let-go, a surrender.


It is not in any way a "figuring-out' of the market. It's more like a direct
perception of it, the way a five year-old would do. That is why all our
"knowledge" about the market just gets in the way, ultimately.

It's not too difficult to design an automatic system, preferably


on a computer, that will always tell us exactly when to buy and when
to sell. Such things are proliferating now. And, if reasonably well
designed, it will work for a while. But then it will fail - and usually
fail quite badly. And when it does, it will seem inexplicable."But," we'll
say,"it was working so well!"
In fact, this very phenomenon has been well-documented
lately by the magazines specializing in futures markets. A few years
ago the various "computer system" funds were doing well.

30
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Now, most of them are losing badly. Why?
Their designers seem to think it's because they overlooked
a few refinements, and that minor adjustments here and there will
do the trick. Maybe, but I doubt it. At least not for a permanent solution.

(Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all against computers. On the


contrary, I have a passion for them. In fact, I'm writing these words
on one, and wouldn't dream of doing it any other way.)

Automatic systems, whether computerized or not, can only


deal with the superficial aspects of the market, the aspects that keep
changing. So they're always a bit behind, perfectly prepared to trade
the markets of recent history, but ill-equipped to deal with the unpredic-
tabilities of the future.

It's no accident that the greatest traders of our time do not


depend on automatic trading systems (although they' ll look at them
sometimes as a factor).

Here's what one had to say (he made about ¥8 million last
year):“I try to control the downside. The only way you can be consis-
tent and control the risk of the downside is to have hands-on deci-
sion making.”

He added:“If the contract I'm long is lower - even though


it might look good on the charts and all the numbers and systems
might be saying,'go, be long'- I know I have a problem."
Another had this to say:“A system by itself can make money
sometimes. But it sits through a lot of terrible action which I don't like
to sit through.”
Or this: “There was a time when I made every systems trade
that came down the pike - and sat with it as long as I could. I was
ready to jump out of the window in two days."

Perhaps the greatest trader of the 20th Century said this:

31
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
“I think there's an evolution toward those that use judgment in con-
junction with numbers. I think the people who are just ripping and
reading numbers aren't going to have any money left."
Success In markets, to put it another way, is not so much
a matter of "knowledge" and analysis as it is a function of con-
sciousness, of being able to let go and flow with the continually-
changing way it is. To look at reality. Which way is it actually going?"

32
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS

WHAT MATTERS IN MARKETS?
Ultimately, what matters in markets is PROFIT PER DAY.
The most basic thing that matters in markets is PRICE.
The other thing that matters in markets is the TREND.
The TREND is everything that matters about PRICE.
Let's ask the question, what is a trend? How can we define
a trend ... any kind of trend? When I was in high school there was
a time when all the guys wore white buckskin shoes. We all carried
around a little bag of chalk dust to keep them clean. Everybody who
was anybody had to have a pair of these shoes. This was a trend.
What was happening?

How about agreement...? Well, not really.


How about simularity of movement ...? Sort of.
How about sameness ...? Can you be more specific?
How about sequence of movement...? Go on...
How about mass action...? Try again!
How about duplicating...? Now you are getting close.
What is the most basic definition of a trend? How about a
price trend in the markets? If you really get down to basics, if you
break it down to its simplest elements, how would you define a price
trend?
Remember, we are talking about simple things here. How
would Herenow answer the question? When you finish this book you
are going to think you already knew almost everything you have
learned.Y challenge you, before you read the next page, make three
guesses as to the answer,"what is a trend?"

33
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
10
WHAT IS A TREND?

Something is repeating.
It's as simple as that. Something is repeating. Can we get
to a more basic definition than that?
No.
Now that we are at ground zero, lets ask the next logical
question.
What is the most basic form of repetition?
Suppose we have two points in two-dimensional space.





(B)
(A) 4
(C)
●1987 Cavida, Ltd. 5

We have point (A) and point (B), two pieces of information.


Using that information and all other information available to us, where
is point (C)? Where is the most logical place for point (C) to be?

The solution to this problem gives the answer to the question,


“What is the most basic form of repetition?”
Before you turn the page, I challenge you to circle the number
that represents the most logical place for point (C) to be.

34
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
11
WHAT IS THE MOST BASIC FORM OF REPETITION?

Exact repetition.

1 (C)

(B)
(A) 4
5 1987 Cavida, Ltd.

Point (C) must be at 3. That is the only place that provides


exact repetition. It is the only place that utilizes all of the information
available.
Let's put it another way. Suppose we were in an airplane and
we were tracking a submarine. The only information we have is that
the submarine was sighted first at point (A) and then again at point
(B). That is all the information we have. Where is the most likely place
to expect the submarine to be? The answer is at point (C).

Point (C) fulfills the trend in progress better than any other
point in two-dimensional space. It is the resultant projection of points
(A) and(B).

Now, the next logical question is, What does exact repeti-
tion lead to?

Suppose we focus on point (B) and then survey the other two
points relative to point (B). What can we say about points (A) and (C)?
What does exact repetition lead to?
Think about it for a few minutes before you read the next
page.

35
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
12
WHAT DOES EXACT REPETITION LEAD TO?

Symmetry.
Exact repetition leads to symmetry.
Lets look at our points again. Let's let point (B) be the NOW
moment. Everything to the left of (B) is in the past. Everything to the
right of (B) is in the future.

●1987 Cavida, Ltd (0)


(B)

(A)
Past NOW Future

If we know where (A) is and we know where (B) is then, we


know the most likely place that (C) will be. Now lets ask another
question. Where is the second most likely place that (C) will be? Which
number on the following diagram is the next most likely place for (C)?

●1987 Cavida, Ltd.



—1—
(B)

(A)
Past NOW Future

36
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
The answer is 2. The second most likely place that point (C)
could be is at 2 which is a single reflection from (A).

1987 Cavida, Ltd.

(B)
(C)
(A)
Past NOW Future

Now here is the sixty-four dollar question.


WHAT IS THE DEEPEST SYMMETRY? The deepest
symmetry is the most likely place for point (C) to be. The deepest
symmetry is the second reflection.

●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

(D)
(C)
(B)
(E)
(A)

Past NOW Future

Now if we add point (D) to the diagram the most likely place
for point(E) to be is the second reflection as shown.

37
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Now, before we go on, let's define what we mean by a single
reflection and a double(or second) reflection. We'll start out by
designating each quadrant by a number. Quadrants I and ll are in
the past. Quadrants Ill and IV are in the future. If we go from quadrant
I to quadrant Ill, that is called a single reflection. Also if we go from
quadrant ll to quadrant IV, that is a single reflection because we have
passed one axis... the vertical axis.
However, if we go from quadrant I to quadrant IV we have
a double reflection. Also, if we go from quadrant ll to quadrant Ill we
have a double reflection because we have crossed two axes... the
vertical axis and the horizontal axis.

1 I

(D)
(C)
(B)
(E)
(A) ●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

ll IV
Past NOW Future

The deepest symmetry is the most likely future reflection of


the past. To put it another way, the second reflection is the best
prediction of what will happen based on what has happened.
Now that we know what is the deepest symmetry, let's ask
another question.
What leads to the greatest symmetry? The answer is two
things. Think about what these could be before you turn the page.

38

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


13
WHAT LEADS TO THE GREATEST SYMMETRY?

[1] Proximity to the NOW moment. The closer a point is


to the Now moment the greater the symmetry will be. Another way
of saying it is the closer a point is to the Now moment the more
accurate the prediction of the future occurrence of that point will be.
[2] The velocity of the point. To understand this concept
we need to define the two dimensional space we are describing. Since
we are really talking about markets here, we will call the horizontal
axis TIME and the vertical axis PRICE. Velocity then is PRICE divided
by TIME. Velocity increases when PRICE increases faster than time.
Velocity decreases when time increases faster than PRICE.
Lets think of a line which is made up of many price points
as they occur in time. The steeper this line is, the faster a market is
moving; therefore, the higher the velocity. The velocity of a market
is referred to as the trend. Therefore, the steeper the trend the greater
the symmetry. Another way of saying it is, the steeper the trend the
more accurate is the prediction in the second reflection.
Okay, so what is this all leading to? Just this:
The second reflection is the market's own prediction of
the highest probability of where it will go in the future...
continously updated.
The closer the market is to the NOW moment and the
faster the market is moving, the more accurate is the market's
own prediction about where it will go in the future.
It's worth pausing a minute and pondering those two
statements. They are so simple and logical that you will soon think
you always knew them. However, it took Jim a long time to discover
what is covered in those two statements.
Now we will look at these concepts in terms of a market
...any freely traded market. It makes no difference whether we call
the market a stock, commodity, currency or what. The Adam Theory
is a general theory and applies to any and all markets.

39
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS

PROJECTING THE SECOND REFLECTION

●1987 Cavida, Ltd.


14

We have stated that the second reflection is the market's


own prediction of the highest probability of where it will go in the
future...continuously updated. Let's look at a market and try to
project the second reflection.



b)

e' f


h' i


9 尸心
f e
ll IV
Past NOW Future
Since we are talking about markets, let's say points a through
j are market closes. Every point in the past has a corresponding point
in the future. The historicai close is b. The corresponding future point
is b'. The most recent close is a and is on the NOW moment.
Each of the future closes is projected from its corresponding
historical close. This is done by duplicating the distance and angle
of each past point through the most recent close on to the projected
future point. For example, to project point j into the future, a straight
line is drawn from point j in the past, to the NOW Point close. The
distance from j to the NOW point close is measured and this same
distance projected from the NOW point in a continuing straight line
which locates point j.

40
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
As each new close occurs, the NOW point must be moved
to the new close and all the points in the past must again be projected
into the future.
(Hold on! Don't throw up your hands and walk away... we
are going to show you an easy way to do this ... so easy, in fact,
that your five year-old can do it in a few seconds...but please bear
with us for one more illustration which is necessary to really under-
stand what we are doing.)
In the following illustration we are going to project just two
days using the high, low, and close of each day.
l Ⅲ


a C
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.


ll IV
Past NOW Future
Note that the most recent day, designated a, is centered on
the horizontal axis at the NOW point. Note that in projecting day b
that the high of the historical day b becomes the low of the projected
day b.The low of the historical day b becomes the high of the projected
day b. Note that the close falls on the opposite end of the range on
the projected day as on the historical day.
This is a projection of just two days. Can you imagine what
it would be like to project fifty historical days... every trading day
...on 20 or 30 different markets? Fortunately there is a simple easy
way to do this. Think about it for a few minutes and see if you can
figure it out before you read the next page.

41
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
15
CONSTRUCTING THE SECOND REFLECTION CHART THE EASY
WAY
We have stated that the second reflection is the market's
own prediction of the highest probability of where it will go in the
future... continuously updated.
Get ready for a shock!
Here is how you can obtain - in a few seconds - the
market's own prediction of the highest probability of where it will go
in the future.
[1] Place a piece of clear acetate over your chart.
[2] With a pen that will write on acetate, begin with
the most recent day and trace each day on your
chart going back in history as far as you wish.
[3] Now turn the piece of acetate over just as you
would turn the page of a book.
[4] Next grip the bottom edge of the acetate and turn
it over from bottom to top so that your hand ends
up at the top of the page of acetate.
[5] Now overlay the first day (on the left hand side)
of the acetate with the last (most recent) day on
your bar chart
You have just constructed a double reflection chart!
Once you have traced the complete history of your bar chart
one time, then each day, simply line up the acetate overlay and trace
over the most recent day. Then flip-flop the acetate, align it with the
most recent day and look at the market's own prediction of the highest
probability of where it will go in the future.
Or, if you prefer, let your five year-old do it for you!
This procedure is illustrated on the following two pages. Turn
the page so that you have a "see through" paper overlay covering the
chart on the left side and a“see through” paper overlay covering the
chart on the right side.

42
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
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.05 POINT
525.00/CONTRACT
MARCH1987 EACH GR1O
VALUE
.5 POINT
5250/CONTRACT
INDEX AND OPTION MARKET
IRADINC HOURS 8130-3115 CI 310
305
[1] Place a piece of clear acetate over your chart.
[2] With a pen that will write on acetate, begin with the most
300
recent day and trace each day on your chart going back in
history as far as you wish. 295
290
285

280

275

270
265

260
255
250
245
240

235
230

28 4 | 18 251 815 22 29 6 13 20 27 31017 24 8 1522 29 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 2 9 162330


AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

43
S & P 500 INDEX CONTRACT 5izE 5500 TiWES INDEX
uN:nc
vatut
.05 POIN7
825.00/CONTRACT
MARCH 1987 tacn anio 3POINT
INDEX AND OPTION HARKEI VALug 5250/CONTRACT
IRADINC HOURS B+30 - 3115 CI 310

305
[1] Place a piece of clear acetate over your chart.
[2] With a pen that will write on acetate, begin with the most 300
recent day and trace each day on your chart going back in
history as far as you wish. 295

290

285

280

275

270
265
260

255
250

245

240

235
230

28 4 11 18 25 8 152229613 20 27 3 10 17 24 1 8 15 22 29 5 1219 26 2 9 16 23 2 9 162330


AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
。1987 Cavida, Ltd.

44
S INDEX CoNTRACT 4128 8500 TiNEs INOEX
Te .os Foint
MARCH
1NOEXA0
987
*ARKE'
Vatut
acn enio
AtUE
326.00/CONTRACT
.3 Poiti
3250/CONTRACT

imaoissmdiam )3? 31

305
[3] Now turn the piece of acetate over jut am
the page of a book. 300
4] Now grip the bottom edge of the acetate ad
lrom bottom to top so that your hand endn up
the page of acetate. 295
[5] Now overlay the first day (on the left hand
acotate with the last (most recent) day on your 290
You have just constructed a double refleel
285

24

270

265
26(

21

250
245

240
235
230
28 4 11 18 25 8 18 22.296 13 20 27 3 10 1724 8 1522 29 5 12 26 2 9 1623 2 9 16 23 30
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
1987 Cavida, Ltd.

445
S & P 500 INDEX CONTRACT SIZE5500
MiN TiC
VALUE
TIMESINOEX

.05 POINT
525.00/CONTRACT
MARCH 1987 EACN GRIO .5 POINT
INDEX AND OPTION HARKET VALuE 5250/CONTRACT
TRADING HOURS 8130-3115 CT 310
305
[3] Now turn the piece of acetate over just as you would turn
the page of a book. 300
[4] Now grip the bottom edge of the acetate and turn it over
from bottom to top so that your hand ends up at the top of
the page of acetate. 295
[5] Now overlay the first day (on the left hand side) of the
acetate with the last(most recent) day on your bar chart. 290
You have just constructed a double reflection chart.
285
280
275

270
265
260
255
250
245
240
235
230

28 4 !1 18 25 18 15 22 29 6 13 2027 3 10 17 24 18 15 22 1295 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 2 9 162330


AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR

。1987 Cavida, Ltd.

46
16
WHAT DOES THE PREDICTION CONTAIN?
The prediction contains all the information that is known by
the market at the NOW moment. This prediction is made by the market
itself. It cannot be improved upon. This is the market speaking pure
and simple. There is no arbitrary input into this analysis. The market
alone is saying what it should do without any help from us.
HOW DO WE TRADE A MARKET USING THE DOUBLE
REFLECTION CHART?
We simply look at the prediction made by the double
reflection chart and we ask ourselves this question. Do I want the
trade?
If what I see is what the market will do in the future, do I want
the trade today? The answer is either YES, NO, or I'm not sure. Only
take the trade if the answer is YES.
The question should be based only on what we see while
looking at the double reflection chart. That's all. So, let's ask the
question, do we want to take the trade. The date is January 14, 1987.
Our regular bar chart indicates that this market is on the move. It has
done one of the least arbitrary things that a market can do... it has
moved up past all of the previous tops we can see on our chart. That
tells us a lot.
When we construct our double reflection chart the market
is telling us that the highest probability is that this market will move
about up 20 points ... up over 280 before it starts a retracement.
It also says that this should be a fast move to the 280 area.
Do we want the trade today? YES ... definitely.
This is the kind of situation we should be looking for. First,
the market is strong enough to take out (move past) old highs showing
that it is ready to go somewhere. Second, our double reflection chart
predicts a rapid move.
If we are looking at a market that is in a down trend and want
to go short, we want to see the market weak enough to take out old
lows. Then we want to see a projection for a fast down move on the
double reflection chart.

47
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
S & P 500 INDEX CONTRACTS(ZF S500 TIMES INOEX
MIN TIC
VALUE
.05 POiNT
MARCH1987 FACH GR1D
525.00/CONTRACT
.5 POINT
INDEX AND OPTION MARKET VALUE 5250/CONTRACT
TRADING HOURS 8130-3115 CT 310

305
300
295

290
285
280
275
270
265
260
255
250
245

240

235
230
284!1 18 25 1 8 1522296 l 1320 27 3 10 17 241 8 15 22 i 29 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 2 9162330
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

48
17
WHICH MARKETS TO TRADE?

Now that you understand the Adam Theory of markets, we


will take an interlude and talk about how to use the Adam Theory in
trading... what to do and what not to do. Then we will return to more
examples of practical market application of Adam which will include
where Adam Theory says to place stops. But first we want to discuss
something very basic... how to know which markets to trade and
which markets not to trade.
First, there is just one reason to select a market to trade. That
is potential for profit. This book is oriented toward just one concept.
"What matters in markets is profit". Market selection is fifty percent
of the answer to that question. How you trade the market that you
select is the other fifty percent. That's why it is important right now,
to pause and learn about market selection.

If potential for profit is the only criteria for selecting a market


to trade, then we must get rid of any personal feelings we may have
about markets. To maximize the bottom line, we should not have any
favorite markets. Markets are numbers... they are little lines on paper.
The name that is given to those lines is not important. For example,
if you trade stocks, it doesn't matter if the name of the lines on the
chart is IBM, Chrysler, or Avon. What we are interested in is the trend.
If we trade futures, it makes no difference if the name of the lines
is T-Bonds, Soybeans, or Pork Bellies. What matters is the trend.
If we stop and think about it, the only way we can make
money in markets is to operate with the trend. if we buy something,
it must go up to make a profit. Therefore, BUY is synonymous with
UP. If we sell something, it must go down to make a profit. Therefore
SELL is synonymous with DOWN. That's simple enough for our five
year-old, isn't it. Yet, that's not what most traders do ... its only
what good traders do.
There is an old adage which says "Buy low, sell high." Most
traders do this. Most traders lose! Adam Theory makes a different
statement. Adam would say “Buy high, Sell higher”.

49
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Jim emphasizes this with a true story.

“Many traders have the idea that if a market goes down far
enough it becomes"cheap" or"oversold" and one should look for a
place to buy it; or conversely,that if a market goes up far enough
t becomes "expensive" or "overbought" and one should look for a place
to sell it.

Such thinking must be banished from our minds forever.


Previously I had mentioned William, the greatest trader that
I personally have had the opportunity to watch for an extended period.
(To give you an idea, in a mediocre month William might make and
keep ¥300,000; in a good month, ¥500,000 or more.)

In my third week of trading I got a lesson from William that


Ill never forget. One afternoon the S&Ps had been meandering along
doing nothing much when suddenly they fell out of bed - about 50
points in five minutes. By then, William was short 30 contracts.
Over the next five minutes the S&P's shed another 50 points
and now William was short 60. The market hit an air pocket, screamed
down another 100 points, then retraced a bit and William got out.
About then the market was looking pretty cheap to me and
I was looking for an excuse to buy it, and said so. William looked at
me in exasperation.

“Are you crazy?” he said.


“What do you mean?”
“You've got to be crazy. This thing has just broken down 200
points in a few minutes and you're looking to buy it?
“Well, what would you do?”

50
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
William took a sip of his soda.“Let me put it this way. I'm
certainly not looking to buy them here."
“Would you sell them here?”
“Of course I would.”
“But they ve come down so far.”
“I know,” William said.“That's the point.”
Just then the market broke below its lows and started down
again. William loaded up with another 60 contracts - short - over
the next minute. The longs ran for cover, the market broke another
150 points, then pulled back and William covered his short. He had
made about ¥50,000 in a little under half an hour.

“Okay,”I said, a little breathless.“Let me ask you a dumb


question. How far down would this market have to go before you'd
be ready to buy it?"
William looked at me in total disbelief.“Jim," he said, "as long
as it's going down, why would I want to buy it?"
“But it's so cheap here. It may be a bargain. It's 350 points
cheaper than if was half an hour ago.”
“Forget cheap. Forget expensive. It's just numbers on a
Screen."

l persisted. I had to know. "If it kept going down, is there any


point at all where you would want to buy it?"
William stared at me with great finality.“Jim,” he finally said,
“if it kept going down, Id sell it down to zero.”
Ill never forget that phrase:
“I'd sell it down to zero.”

51
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
“And on the up side," I said, "if it kept going up, you'd keep
buying it - forever?"
“Forever. If it kept going up. Id buy it up to the moon.”

If we can only make a profit if we operate with the trend,


then the trend is the basis for all profit. Therefore, we must learn
everything we can about a trend. Let's start with a very basic question.
“How do you know that a market is going up?”
One time l asked this question to a group of thirty people.
I got a lot of different answers. Some were:
“Because it is making higher highs?” Yes, but simpler than
that.
“Because it is taking out old highs?” Yes, but more basic.
Because the slope of the trend line is up?" Come on, we said
simple.
These are all right answers, but if a market is not going up
then it must be going down or moving sideways. Suppose ten different
bar charts of ten different markets were flashed on a movie screen
for a fraction of a second and we were asked to write down whether
each was going UP, DOWN, or SIDEWAYS.

ll bet we all would come up with virtually the same answers.


There could be some doubt about UP and sideways and there could
be some doubt about DOWN and sideways, but there would be no
doubt about UP as opposed to DOWN.
How do we know that a market is moving UP? Think about
this in light of what we have just said before you turn the page. What
would Herenow say?

52
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Okay, so how do we know that a market is going up? Simple.
Because it's going up.
What other reason could we give if we had to make that deci-
sion by seeing a chart flashed on a screen for a fraction of a second?
We know it is going UP because it is not going down and
it is not going sideways.
Let's examine another old market adage in light of Adam
Theory.
“Get on the train before it leaves the station.”
That means buy a market before it starts to go up. Why would
anyone want to do that? How do you know that market is going to
go up. It's just as likely to go down. It also is just as likely to continue
to move sideways. Remember, in the final analysis, what matters
is dollars per day.
So why would anyone want to buy a market before it starts
to move? Yet, most traders do just that. Most traders lose.
Jim likens market selection to a hobo catching a train.

“A trader is like a hobo. Imagine a hobo in Kansas City who


wants to catch a train to the West coast. Would he catch a train going
East to New York or Florida and hope that it would reverse? Of course
not. He'd catch a train going west.

And what is the best way for the hobo to know that the train
is going west? When it's already going that way.
He'll wait for a train that's pulling out of the station heading
west, and then just climb on.

If this is beginning to sound to you like Groucho's famous


question,"Who's buried in Grant's tomb?" you're absolutely right.

53
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
In fact, successful trading has a flavor very much like asking
“Who's buried in Grant's tomb?” The basic principle involved is, when
we think about it, absurdly obvious, absurdly simple. That is why it
is so often overlooked, and rarely followed. We are looking around
the world for something that is right in front of our eyes.
One legendary and wildly successful trader, when asked on
a TV show if he could condense into one statement the secret of his
success, said the following: “There is a lot less to trading than meets
the eye." Then he added that it had to do with all the different stuff
that he doesn't pay attention to. (Bold type is mine.)
To repeat: The best evidence a hobo has that a train is going
to go west is that it's already doing so. Actually, it's the only evidence
that really matters. He can have all kinds of theories about trains, but
the bottom line is: Which way is it moving?
Then he simply climbs on the train in the direction it's
already going.
He's simply going with the flow, surrendering to the obvious,
floating with the river instead of battling it.
Sound too simple? Watch. It gets worse:
The best evidence that a market is going to move is that
it's already doing so.
The best evidence that a market is going to go up is that
it's already doing so.
The best evidence that a market is going to go down is
that it's already doing so.”
★ 肃 ★

54
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Let's look at one more old market adage in light of Adam
Theory before we move on. Ill bet you have heard this one too.
“Don't chase the market”

This means that if a market has already gone up that we


should not try to get on it. We should wait for another opportunity
...or another market. This adage presumes that if we were not smart
enough to be in that market before it went up, that we should not chase
it and try to jump on it now.

Again, let's ask the question, how did anyone know that
market was going to go up? Suppose we thought that market should
go up. What we think a market SHOULD do doesn't matter a whole
lot, does it? What counts is what it IS doing. Yet, most traders will
just not chase a market. They believe that they should have gotten
on board before the move started. They count how much profit they
could have made already if they had already been on board. They
can think of many reasons not to buy that market now. Do you
recognize some of these reasons?

[1] Wait for a reaction, then buy it cheaper.

This also presumes foreknowledge. How do you know there


will be a reaction anytime soon ... in time for you to get aboard?
If there were, why would you want to buy the reaction? Why would
you want to buy a market that is going down?
[2] It's time now to look for a top.
Another presumption. Why should it turn around and go down
...right now it's going up. Why not buy it right now while it is going
up? As for tops and bottoms, those are the trader's nemesis. We will
have a lot to say about that later.
Adam Theory would say, Yes, by all means, chase markets.
A market never gets too high to buy or too low to sell.

55
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
18
REVIEW OF MARKET SELECTION

[1] All markets are lines on charts. It matters not


what the name of the lines is. There are no
favorites.
[2] We can only make profits in markets when we
operate with the trend. Therefore we must wait
until we can see a trend before we enter. This
means we must jump on a moving market.

[3] Forget cheap. Forget expensive. A market never


gets too high to buy or too low to sell.
Many things that are obvious to us now, having read this far,
are not obvious to others ... even some experienced traders.
Jim remembers the following:
“In a way, the most interesting principle that Isaac Newton
pointed out is that bodies have inertia; that is, that they tend to keep
doing whatever it is they're already doing, unless some force acts to
change them.
If a body is at rest, it tends to stay at rest. If a body is moving,
it tends to keep moving - in the same direction and with the same
velocity that it already has.
Einstein referred to this as "laziness". That is, a body tends
to do the laziest thing possible - and the laziest thing possible is
to continue to do whatever it's already doing. Making a change of any
kind, either in direction or velocity, is far less lazy, and therefore not
done, unless the curvature of space-time - what Newton would refer
to as a“force”- compels it to do so.
The market is exactly the same. It tends to keep doing
whatever it's already doing. If it's going up with a certain velocity
it will tend to keep doing that unless some force(buying or selling

56
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
pressure) causes it to accelerate or decelerate. The same if it's going
down. The same if it's doing nothing.
Therefore, if you want to know what the most likely thing
is that a market will do in the future, take a look at what it's doing
right now.
If a market is going nowhere, it will keep on doing that until
it changes. Why get on until it does?
From that seemingly obvious statement an important truth
derives:
Only trade in markets that are already moving. If a market's
been going nowhere for a while, why play in it? What it's doing right
now is going nowhere. Why get involved until it's clearly on the move?
And the corollary to that is: Let's only play in those markets
that are moving the most.
In the fall of 1982 my trading group was trading almost
exclusively the S&P 500 contract. (We were all independent traders,
but traded from the same office to make it more fun and to have more
clout with the clearing firms.) And trading that contract was a wise
choice:
The stock market had violently exploded from a multi-year
bottom in August, and it was in a“moving” mode. Every week we would
get at least two or three moves where the S&P would violently move
up or down 200 points or more in an hour or less. Making money was
easy.
After the first of the year, however, things slowed down. The
market went nowhere all that spring. And the intraday moves tended
to fizzle out almost as soon as they got going. Yet most of us kept
trading the S&P's out of habit, and because we felt comfortable with
them.(The very best traders did not do this, however.) Making money
became very difficult. Some of the traders even went out of business.

57
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Yet during that spring several commodities were making
major moves. How much wiser it would have been if we had simply
shifted over to the commodities that were moving. How simple! 一
Yet, believe it or not, it never occurred to most of us.
There seems to be an analogy between a vibrating string and
markets. When a string on a musical instrument is plucked it continues
vibrating for a while before it damps down to zero. Markets are like
that. Once they're moving -"vibrating", as it were - they continue
moving for a while before slowing down. Those are the markets to
trade.”

58
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
19
HOW ABOUT TOPS AND BOTTOMS?

Tops and bottoms are the technical traders nemesis. Why?


Because ali traders want to be right at tops and bottoms. Trying to
pick tops and bottoms has ruined more traders than everything else
combined. Trying to pick tops and bottoms violates everything we have
learned about Adam Theory. It is arbitrary, it is in the should category,
and it is just the opposite of surrendering to the market. Picking tops
and bottoms is saying "I know more than the markets know... I know
more than the other traders know. I am smarter than the rest.” It is
egotistical. Egotists can win for a while, but when they go, they
plummet. Those who end up with a profit at the end of the year are
those who take an humble attitude toward markets.
To put it bluntly, forget tops, forget bottoms, trade like the
trend will never end! Does that startle you? Another way of saying
it is, make the market prove that it has topped or bottomed. Adam
Theory will always be wrong at tops and bottoms ... but it will tell
you to get out of your position in a hurry when a top or bottom really
does occur.
I know traders who occasionally are able to pick tops and
bottoms and they are addicted to it. Literally addicted to it. They could
not stop trying to do it if their life depended on it. Ask yourself honestly,
am l able to trade and forget about trying to pick tops and bottoms?
If the answer is no, then do yourself a favor. Put this book down and
walk away from trading right now. Unless you are extremely wealthy
you will not be able to support that habit.
Good traders take advantage of direction and duration
... not turning points.
Remember Adam will always be wrong at tops and
bottoms... but Adam will be right in between.
Jim gets pretty adamant about that subject!

“Let's talk about tops and bottoms. (Whatever is said about

59
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
being long applies in reverse to being short.) Take a look at the
following diagram:


C.
1987 Cavida, Ltd.

In fact, all of our money will be made between C and E. Why?
First of all, we certainly don't want to get on at A. Why get
long when the market is still going down?
Picture our hobo and the trains again. He wants to catch a
train going west. If he catches a train going east he will have to wait
for the train to slow down, stop, reverse and then pick up speed going
west. Now that's absurd. Why not just catch a train going west in the
first place?
No hobo in his right mind would do that, yet I have seen many,
many traders do the exact equivalent and go long at point A. I myself
did it many times, and paid for it many times. I did it because I had
heard that you should buy on weakness, which is absolute nonsense.
I did it because some analyst or another told me that a turn was
imminent. I did it because I felt that the market had gone down "far
enough" or "too far.”
It wouldn't be too bad if we could be absolutely sure that the
bottom (B) wasn't far away (although still incredibly dumb), but in fact
in many cases B is still very far away. How many times did I go long
while the market was still falling and then pray for it to turn?

60
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
To go long at B is not much better because we won't know
for sure that B is a bottom until the market reaches C. B may be the
bottom, and then again, the market may keep falling for a long time
yet. I know. I watched it happen to me many times.
Even if B does turn out to be the bottom, it's still very bad
trading, because the only proof that B is the bottom is that the market
has risen to C. To go long at B, therefore, is to be predicting the
market, not a very wise thing to do.
(Yes, the market can sometimes be successfully predicted,
but it's still not a wise thing to do because following the market is
so much more powerful. Also, even trying to predict the market gets
you completely in the wrong frame of mind.)

To surrender to the way things are means to buy on strength


and sell on weakness.
Thus the proper course is to go long at C, after the market
has completed its turn and is already gathering a head of steam in
the direction we want it to go.(The train's already heading west, and
we jump on the moving train. Why? Because the only way to know
for sure that the market is ready to go is that it's already going up.)
Don't pick tops and bottoms, therefore. Let them pick
themselves. To help us keep that clearly in mind, we can remember
the following homily:
Top pickers and bottom pickers become cotton pickers.

William once said this to me:“Who am I to pick tops and


bottoms? I'm not smart enough. Who am I to pick them?
This was coming from one of the best traders anywhere.
Bernard Baruch, who made ¥30 million in the markets back
when it was worth perhaps 10 times what its worth today, had this
to say:

61
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
“I don't believe that tops and bottoms can be picked by
anybody except liars. I try to just take the middle 50out of a move.
If I can do that, I've done ali I need to do.”
Another way of saying this is as follows:
Never look for a reversal.

Always just go with the way its going. Go with the trend. Don't
even think about looking for reversals.
The trend is your friend.
Once a fantastically successful trader made a thorough
computer study of the markets. Here's what he said about it:
“I created a bunch of numbers to spin through a computer,
trades that had made a lot of money in the past...I tried to make
explicit and test on the computer any idea on trading that had ever
filtered by me
I found that very few of the things people say work well
enough to make a profit... Now, if I were to give you an explanation
of what works in the market, what the numbers crunched out to mean,
I would say: 'The trend is your friend.'

“Implicit in everything that's been said is that the only thing


that matters is price. When looking at markets, nothing else matters
at all, because everything else is reflected, summed up, discounted
in that one thing. Everything.
If that hobo wants to catch a train going west, all he has to
look at is what direction the train is going in and whether it's built up
enough speed to mean business about it. He doesn't need to know
how the train is built, how many passengers it's carrying, or what is
powering it. All that is irrelevant. All he needs to look at is its
movement.

62
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
The trader who did the computer study once summed up his
feelings about what's relevant and what's not in markets this way:
“Reality is price.”

There is no other way to make a profit than for a trend


to be in the direction of your trade from entry to exit.

63
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
20
THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENT ABOUT MARKETS
There is an adage that is a truism. In my opinion it is the single
most important statement ever made about trading. It is as follows:
Cut your losses short and let your profits run.
These nine words say it all. If we are talking about futures
trading where leverage is the name of the game and there is a time
limit to how long we may hold a position, there is no other way to make
a profit. Even if you day trade, you must let your profits run relative
to cutting your losses.
It is not as critical trading stocks where there is less leverage
and there is no necessity for exiting the trade, but to maximize profits,
it is still necessary to follow that adage.
Have you seen those dart boards that list markets in a buy
and sell column? The idea is to throw the dart and where it lands it
may say to sell T-Bonds, or buy wheat, etc. Well, I believe that a trader
could end up the year with a profit if he selected his trades with the
dart board ... reversed his position at the initial stop only ... and
simply followed the above adage. Someday, I plan to model this on
a computer using a random generator for trade selection. At any rate,
that gives some insight into how important those nine words are to
making profits in the markets... any markets.
We are now going to spend some time understanding what
those nine words realiy mean, then we will illustrate how to actually
trade the Adam Theory.
There is one thing that virtually all successful traders (who
carry a position longer than one day) agree on. It is this. If it were
not for the occasional big move, no one but day traders would be able
to end up the year with a profit. Another way of saying this is that
if you don't follow the big moves you will not make enough profit to
cover your small losses..because you will probably have as many
as, or more losses than profits. Therefore, the only way to win is for
your profits to be bigger than your losses.

64
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Let's first talk about losses. It is important to have the right
outlook about losses. Trading is a business. It may be a part time
business, but as with any business it has income and expenses. The
income for the business is the profit generated by your profit trades.
The expenses are commissions, charts, data retrieval, etc.
The business of trading can be very lucrative. But it is also thought
to be a dangerous business, therefore the insurance premiums are
relatively high. Your small trading losses are your insurance premiums
... your insurance against large losses.
The only way to keep from having large losses is to have small
losses. Small losses are the cost of remaining in business. It should
not bother us to have small losses. They should be considered as
a business expense. If we have a problem paying the insurance
premiums, we should be in a less risky business.
There is only one unforgivable sin in trading ... letting a
small loss turn into a large loss.
Adam Theory gives you a point to place your stop as you will
see. The stop may not be the same for all traders because the stop
is based on the question,"At what point do I not still want this trade?"

What we are addressing here is not the stop, because at the


right time you will know where to place the stop. The point we are
making is will you always do it? If you don't do it...if only one time
you don't do it... you run the risk of ruin. Murphy's law works best
in the markets. In terms of markets, Murphy says, "If something can
go wrong it will, and it will be the one time that will hurt you the most."
Jim has this to say about that.
★★★

“We human beings are prone to approach discipline very


rigorously at first, but to slack off later. This is fatal in markets. In
markets, we can do things right a thousand times and wrong just once

65
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
- and in that one time the market can slice our equity in half or
eliminate it altogether.
Thus, it is not enough to take an enthusiastic approach to
cutting losses short. What is necessary is to understand that cutting
losses short is something that must be practiced day in -day out,
trade in- trade out, forever. That there must be no exceptions, not
ever, for any reason whatsoever.

The first thing that will happen when we're thinking of riding
with a loss is that we will think of some good excuse to do so, and
the excuse will seem plausible and logical. That is when we need to
remember that there must be no exceptions ever. We always cut our
losses short, we never let them ride. Not even that one time when
it seems so tempting.
It almost goes without saying that a successful trader would
never, under any circumstances,"average down" or add to a losing
position. Why would we want to add to a position that's already losing?
How can we mirror the market that way?
The only kind of position that we ever want to add to is a
winning position. In that way we're following the market, going the
way its going, building on strength, surrendering the way it is.
Have you ever seen this? A trader takes a position and then
the market goes strongly against him. Then he holds on, hoping that
it will not go bad, and refusing to admit that it already has.

It's a safe bet that if we ever find ourselves hoping about the
market it's time to get out of our position immediately.

The mind works in strange ways. Often a position is going


against us, but in our minds we feel we haven't really lost the money
unless we pick up the phone and exit the position. Need to be said?
The money is already lost.

66
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Without an easy willingness to admit that we're wrong and
to get out when we're wrong, it is virtually impossible to consistently
be successful in markets.

One of the greatest traders of his generation once said the


following:“You can do a lot of things wrong and one thing right-
that being cutting your losses - and you can make a lot of money
in this business.'

A close friend and very successful trader once told me that


he had spent his first two years as a professional in Chicago learning
just one single thing - getting out quickly from losing positions, 100
times out of 100.
Perhaps the greatest trader of our time put it this way: “The
secret to trading... is what you do with the wrong positions, not with
the right ones.
Another hugely successful trader had this to say: "The most
important thing is to conserve your equity ... The way you make
money is to take lots of small losses."
It's the big losses that kill us, not the small ones. If we think
about it, why would we want to be in there if the market is going
seriously against us? If it goes our way again, we can always get back
in.
This may seem like incredibly elementary stuff, but you would
be surprised at how many traders Ive seen break over and over the
rule of cutting losses short.
The bottom line is this: Don't worry about the gains, worry
about the losses

If you take care of the losses, the gains will take care of
themselves.”

★★★

67
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
"In my experience I've only known one very successful trader
(outside the pit traders) who did not use stops, and he had a rapid-
fire style that was somewhat akin to trading on the floor. Everyone
else I've known who has been consistently successful has used stops.
I believe there's a reason for this.

Anyone who has ever had a position in a market knows that


once you're in the position you tend to be less rational and objective,
more emotional and subjective. Once we're in, we're engaged; we tend
to start looking for evidence to prove that we're right.We get caught
up in the position; fear and/or greed intensify.

The time of greatest clear-headedness is while we're still out


of the market, and that is the best time to decide where to get out
if we're wrong

The purpose of the stop then becomes to force us to carry


through that decision if it becomes necessary during the heat of the
battle.

Without a stop it can become overwhelmingly tempting to


adopt a"wait-and-see" attitude when a position starts moving against
us. Then we're no longer mirroring the market; then we're saying that
our opinion is more important than the reality of what's happening.
Then disaster can strike.

Without a stop we're like a small boat adrift in a turbulent sea


without rudder or anchor - it's all too easy to become a victim of our
own emotions and rationalizations.

The second compelling reason for using stops is that they


can act in the market much faster than we can. Even if it only takes
us 15 seconds to get an order executed on the floor, those seconds
can seem like hours when the market is moving rapidly against us.
And that's assuming that we'll never encounter a delay, a questionable
assumption at best.

68
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
I don't know how many times I was saved from near-disaster
by a well-placed stop order in a market that suddenly and explosively
broke out or broke down. Many times.

A well-placed stop-loss order is priceless. Never be without


one. Yes, the floor traders know where the stops are, and yes, they
go gunning for stops. It doesn't matter, the advantages of stops far,
far outweigh the disadvantages.
It's also true that once a market is really beginning to move
(and that's when we want to be in there), it's much more difficult for
the floor traders to go hunting for stops. The market has too much
momentum then for that.

Ive seen traders not put in a stop because“I don't want to


be stopped out.” But that's the whole point of a stop, to get us out
at a small loss if the position goes against us. If the position goes our
way again, we can always get back in.
The worst mistake a trader can make is to let a small loss
turn into a large one. That is much more likely to happen without a
stop. Once a stop is in, it should never be removed. And it should
not be moved except in the desired direction of the trade. Otherwise,
what is the point of putting in the stop in the first place?
If day stops are used (which expire at the end of the trading
day), a new stop must be put in the next day before the opening at
the same or a better price(i.e., in the desired direction of the trade).
Never move a stop backwards, or take it out.
And the stop should be placed at a point where the resulting
loss, if triggered, will be insignificant. To put the stop at a point which
would allow a large loss would defeat the purpose of having a stop.
One of the most brilliant traders of our time puts it this way:
“No loss should ever be so big that it makes a difference.”

69
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
21
LET YOUR PROFITS RUN
One of the most arbitrary things one can do in trading is to
take profits too soon ... or at a target. Trying to do this puts us in
the SHOULD area. We are saying this is as far up as the market should
go. There should be a reaction here. We should be approaching a
top, etc,
The question is then"When to take profits?" The least
arbitrary thing to do is to let the market tell us. How many times have
you taken a profit and then watched the market keep on moving up
while you are sitting on the sidelines. If we are trying to mirror the
market, to follow the market, then it becomes obvious when to get
out. We just keep moving our stop up until the market turns against
us and takes us out.
Remember, by using stops and never taking much risk we
will have as many losses as profits...maybe even more losses than
profits. Therefore, the only way that we will end up at the end of the
year with a profit is that our average profit trades will be larger than
our average loss trades. This can only happen if we have some very
large profit trades. Very large profit trades can only come from
following the long term trends to the end of the trend.
Jim sums it up briefly:
“Where do we get out? The answer may seem strange:
Don't decide where to get out. Let the market decide.
The greatest single mistake we can make is not to cut our
losses short, every time. If we don't do that, we simply won't survive.

The second greatest mistake we can make is not to go with


the trend.
The third greatest mistake we can make is not to let our profits
ride.”

70
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
22
WHAT IF WE GET STOPPED OUT?
Sometimes we will latch onto a sharply trending market that
is so strong that the reactions are not severe enough to cause us to
get off the train and we ride it very nicely right to the top where it turns
and gets us out. Often, however, even very nice trends are interrupted
by reactions that are severe enough to cause us to jump off the train.
What do we do then?
This is the beautiful thing about Adam...it's so simple. Just
keep updating your daily double reflection chart and the market will
tell you when or if you should get back aboard. If the projection shows
you that the most likely thing the market will do is continue the trend,
then get back aboard.
Don't ever be afraid to get out quickly or to get back on
board quickly.

HOW ABOUT ADDING TO A POSITION?


Adding to a position should be thought of in the same way
as initiating a position originally. How do you know if you should add
to your position? Just look at your double reflection chart and ask the
question, based on what the market is telling me about itself, do l want
to add to my position?
The time we really want to add is on the occasional big
moves. Right! So how do we know which moves are the occasional
big moves? The same way we know that a market is going up ...
because it is going up. We know we have a big move under way
because it is a big move. When most traders recognize a big move,
they are looking for a top to go short. Adam Theory says when we
recognize a big move, we should add to it... make the most of it.
Obviously, we want to use a separate stop for each new
position.
If we get a reaction (pull back) to the trend at a time when

71
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
we are contemplating adding to our position, we have a choice of doing
the right thing or doing the wrong thing. The wrong thing would be
to buy or add to our position (assuming we are long) during the reaction
... when the market is lower than the high of the trend. The right
thing to do would be to add to our positon when the market has told
us that the trend has resumed... that is when it is moving into new
high ground and the second reflection chart tells us we would want
to add to the position.

The ideal type of reaction to consider adding to is a fast,


one, two, or three day reaction in a very strong market.
It is important to remember just one thing. Never, ever, at
any one time, increase the position by more than the original buy.
For example, if your original purchase was for three contracts, never,
ever, add more than three contracts at any add point. In fact, the
prudent trader would add two contracts or a lesser amount than the
original buy
If short the market, of course, apply the above in reverse to
a sell situation.
Jim has this to say about adding to a position:

“The proper place to enter a market is when the market is


already moving in the direction we would like. But do we put on our
whole position there?

No.Again, we want to flow with the market, to mirror it. So


we should put on a part of our position and wait for the market to
prove us right. Then we would add some to our position, and again
wait for the market to prove us right before adding a third lot, and
so on.(More accurately, wait for the market to prove that we are in
tune with it.)

In this way we are always going the way it's going, and we
only add to our position when we're already profitable. In other
words, we're selling (more) only on (further) weakness and buying
(more) only on (further) strength.

72
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
ls there some point where we would stop selling if the market
is still going down? Why would we want to? The last display of
weakness is just as valid as the first, if not more so. Who are we to
say it can't go down further from here?
Naturally, we're adding to our stop-loss order as we add to
our position.

Do we wait for pullbacks before initiating or adding to our


position?
No. One of the very best ways to keep ourselves off a trend
is to wait for pullbacks. Often, while we're waiting for a pullback we're
simply missing the train. The markets that trend the strongest (the
ones we want to be in) tend to pull back the least.

The trader I mentioned previously who did a thorough


computer study of trading methods had this to say about waiting for
pullbacks:"I don't want to wait for a retracement. That is everyone's
favorite technique - to buy something strong that retraces. i don't
see any justification in the statistics for that.
When beans are at ¥8.00 and go to ¥9.00, if the choice is
to buy them at ¥9.00 or buy them if they retrace to ¥8.80, I'd rather
buy them at ¥9.00. They may never retrace at ¥8.80. Statistics would
show that you make more money buying them and not waiting for a
retracement.”
If we think about it, to buy on a retracement is to be buying
on weakness within strength. Whereas what we want to do is buy on
strength within strength (and sell on weakness within weakness). We
want to buy on strength and sell on weakness, always.
Many, many times I saw the following happen: The market
would start moving strongly up, say, and William would, simply
enough, pick up the phone and start buying. So would Robert. And
if it went up a bit further they would press it (add to their position).
And if it went up some more they would press it some more. Really,

73
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
not very complicated.
And they were willing to experiment. If it seemed to be going
up, but they weren't sure, they'd buy a little to test the water. If they
were proved right, they'd buy some more, and so on. And if they were
proved wrong, they'd get out at a small loss. No big deal.
In the meantime, what were most of the rest of the traders
doing? Believe it or not, we'd be looking for a reversal. Our thinking
was usually along the lines that the market had "gone too far" and
now it was "too late" to get on, so we'd be waiting for it to reverse.
Either that, or we'd be waiting for a pullback in order to get
on. (It's too expensive here, it's gone too far, we need to get it a little
cheaper.") Quite often, the market would just keep going, and by the
time we got our pullback to get long, William and Robert would be
selling to get out of their positions.

Then, after getting out, if the market started going up again,


they'd rebuy it. Sometimes somebody would say,"How can you rebuy
it here, when it's so high?" To which William would say something
like,"It"s going up, isn't it?"
Do you know, I really couldn't understand it when he said that.
To myself and others, his and Robert's way of playing it just seemed
incredibly risky. We were always looking to buy it when it was "cheap"
or sell it when it was “too expensive.”
We thought they had some kind of secret system. It just
couldn't penetrate my thick skull that the reason I couldn't comprehend
what they were doing was because it was too simple.
They were perfectly open about what they were doing, there
was no mystery about it at all, and yet their trading seemed magical,
incomprehensible, totally shrouded in mystery."

74
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
23
DISCIPLINE

One can have all the knowledge it takes to be successful in


markets. He can know all the right things to do. He can do all the
right things 99of the time. But, he can let down his guard and slip
just once and lose all he has gained and more. So it is with discipline.
Discipline is the name of the game in trading. It separates the winners
from the losers. There is no substitute for it. Nothing can take the place
of it in trading.
The point is that you can trade with complete discipline for
a long time and then once, just once, you can spot a super trading
situation...one that comes along once in a life time... so it seems.
You become emotionally involved with the trade. This has got to be
a big winner. It SHOULD be a big winner.
This situation presents itself to every trader sooner or later.
Watch out for it. Be prepared. Above all else, maintain your discipline.
Jim learned a lot from the people in the trading group.
"I once knew a trader(lets call him Edward) who would trade
marvelously for several months at a time, making a great deal of
money in the process. Then, over the course of several days or
sometimes even just an afternoon, he would loosen up and get
careless and stubborn.
He would start insisting that the market had to go his way.
He would take a large position and hold on while the position went
seriously against him. Worse, he would add to the position,
compounding his error. He would average down. He would refuse to
put in a stop.
Finally, when his position had almost completely deteriorated,
he would get a kind of glassy stare on his face and become very
fatalistic, declaring that circumstances were beyond his control and
that the market would determine his fate. He would watch the screen
as if paralyzed, and woe to the person who tried to interfere.

75
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
He would completely wipe himself out in an afternoon.
Then he would borrow some money and start the process
all over again. I saw this happen several times.
Is this phenomenon restricted to Edward? No, indeed. Off
the top of my head I can think of half a dozen traders who follow the
same pattern.
During the intervals between disasters, Edward's trading
technique was quite fine and he would make handsome sums of
money. Can we call him a good trader then? No, I think not.
The legendary Jesse Livermore made many millions of dollars
during his lifetime and lost it all. Can we call him a good trader? No.
Making a lot of money isn't enough.
It's not how much we make, it's how much we keep that
matters.”

76
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
24
REVIEW OF ADAM THEORY
Just before we study the application of Adam to charts, let's
quickly review the basic points of Adam Theory.
WHAT IS ADAM?
Adam is a theory...about succeeding in markets. Adam
makes the statement, what matters in markets is profit per day.
TO SUCCEED IN MARKET WE MUST
Surrender.
WHAT MATTERS IN MARKETS?

[1] Price. Everything is contained in the price. Price is


reality.
[2] Trend. The trend is everything that matters about
price.
WHAT IS A TREND?
Something is repeating.
WHAT IS THE MOST BASIC FORM OF REPETITION?
Exact repetition.
WHAT DOES EXACT REPETITION LEAD TO?

Symmetry.
WHAT IS THE DEEPEST SYMMETRY?
Where the number of reflections equals the number of
dimensions. In a time/price function, the second reflection.

77
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
WHAT LEADS TO THE GREATEST SYMMETRY?
[1] The greatest velocity of the trend.

[2] The proximity to the NOW moment.


WHAT IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO GET THE SECOND
REFLECTION CHART?

Flip flop an acetate overlay chart tracing.


WHAT DOES THE SECOND REFLECTION CHART
REPRESENT?
The market's own prediction of the highest probability of
where it will go in the future, continuously updated.
WHAT DOES THE PREDICTION CONTAIN?
All information known by the market... information that
cannot be improved by adding anything to it.
WHY IS ADAM DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER TRADING
SYSTEMS OR METHODS?

[1] Adam has no arbitrary restraints.


[2] Adam IS... not SHOULD.

[3] Adam is simple.

78
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
25
WHEN DO WE ENTER A TRADE?

We know that we want to enter a trade when we have a trend.


The faster a market is moving the more likely that it will keep moving
because the momentum and symmetry are strongest in a fast moving
market.
Does the market itself give us some clues to indicate it is time
to apply the second reflection chart and make a decision to get on
board?
Yes, there are three clues that l look for. Each of these clues
is obviously on your bar chart. Each is an indication that the market
is doing something... something that would indicate that it is mov-
ing in a definable direction and that there is some power behind the
move.
Clue #1.A breakout. Apply the second reflection chart for
an entry decision when:
The market has moved above many or all of the
previous tops that can be seen on your chart. Or,
conversely,for a short trade, the market has
broken down below many or all of the previous
bottoms that you can see on your chart. Either
situation shows that there is enough power behind
the move to propel the price into new ground. The
longer the time frame for the breakout, the more
significant is the move. In other words, a breakout
of all tops for the last six months is more significant
than a breakout of all tops for the last three
months.
Clue # 2.A trend change. Apply the second reflection
chart for an entry decision when:
The market has broken out above a long well
defined downtrend and has taken out several
previous highs of the new uptrend. It takes a lot

79
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
of power to turn a market around from a long
established downtrend. When the new uptrend is
confirmed by repeatedly moving above the newly
established tops of the new uptrend, this is
significant. The reverse of the above would apply
to a well established uptrend for a short trade.
Clue # 3.Gaps and/or long range days. Apply the second
reflection chart for an entry decision when:
The market is relatively dull and suddenly, it gaps
up and/or the daily range increases significantly
showing that the market has waked up and
something is happening. This is especially
significant if it happens in combination with clues
#1 and #2 above. The reverse of the above would
be true for a gap down situation and a short trade.
Remember, the bottom line is dollars per day. We do not want
to just trade any market using Adam Theory, we only want to trade
markets which are doing something. We know that they are doing
something because they are already doing something.
In the following chart examples we will see these clues show
up over and over again. There will be times when you will see these
clues show up and then the move will fizzle out causing small losses.
As we know that is a necessary expense... our insurance, but you
will find that if you are patient and selective about entering a market,
you will maximize the bottom line ... dollars per day.

80
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.01 CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID .02 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE VALUE S100/CONTRACT
62
IRAD1NC HOURS 10・30-3100 Ei
60

58
Here is an example of clue #2 and clue
#3.A long term well-defined down trend
has been broken. The daily ranges have 56
increased and some gaps are establish-
ed on the upside. The market has taken
out previous tops 4 & 5 of the new up- 54
trend as well as lops 1.2.8 3of the down
trend.
52
We trace the uptrend from the bottom
on the acetate overlay. then turn the
overlay over like turning a page in a book 50
and then turn the overlay over again from
bottom to top. Now we line up the first day
on the overlay with the last day in the 48
chart. (The first day to the left on the
overlay is the same day as the last day 46
on the chart.)
44

42
HH 40

38

36
34

32

5 1219262 9 30 284111825 I 8 15 222:296 13 20273 101724 1 8 152222:295 12 1926 2 9 1623


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OcT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

81
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY1987 EACH GRID ,02 CENTS
VALUE SIOO/CONTRACT
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE
TRADINC HOURS 10130- 3100 ET 62
60
58
56

54
52
50
Do we want to buy this market the next
day at point (1)? the projection shows the 48
trend continuing up to point B. but it also
shows a reaction (pull back) down to C
which is slightly below the proposed buy 46
point. We decide to wait for a mere
favorable situation. 44

42
B 40

Jl
38
(1)
36

tr 34


32

5 12 19 262 9 162 23307 142128411 18;25 l 8 1522296 1320:27 3 101724 l 8 15 22 29 5 12 19262 9 16:23
MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
1987 Cavida, Ltd.

82
CONTRACT SIZF 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.Oi CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID
VALUE
.02 CENTS
5100/CONTRACT
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE
TRAD1NC HOURS 10130・ 3+00 ET 下

60
Each day we continue to update the
double reflection chart and flip flop it to 58
show the markets projection. The pull
back that was indicated materialized and
the market moved back up. 56
54

52
50

48
46
44

42
Nr
40
38

36
34
tist
32

5 12 19;262 9 16 23 30 714 21 28 4 !1 18225 I


MAY
8 15 22 29 6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24 1 815 22 29 5 121926 2 9 16:23
JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

83
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
55.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID .02 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE VALUE SIOO/CDNTRACT
TRADING HOURS 10130・3100 EI 62
60
58

56
54
52
On August 29th the second reflection
50
showed another pull back, but this time
we decided we would rather enter here 48
and sustain that projected reaction rather
than wait for another entry point because
the second reflection chart indicates that 46
the next reaction will stay above the cur.
rent price. We therefore bought our first
position of five contracts at point 2 at a 44
market price of 38.20. Since we must
always have a stop in the market, we 42
place our stop just below the last market
pull back at 34.00
40
(2)
38
36
STOP 34

32
12 19262 9 16 23307 14 C! 20 10 1 81522296 1320 273 10 17 24 8 15 22 295 21926 2 91623
JUN AUG
C0
MAY JUL SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

84
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S8
CONTRAGT SIZF 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TiCk
VAEUE
.OI CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
EACH QRIO 02 CENTS
MAY1987 VALUE SIOO/CONTRACT
NEW YORK CDTTON EXCHANGE 62
TRADING HOURS 10130- 3100 ET
60

58
56
54

52
50

48
M 46
44
H 42
STOP LEVEL@ 42
40
On September 25th, our second reflec- 38
tion shows a projected reaction down to
42.80 but then it shows the trend resum-
ing. We decide to move our stop up the 36
42 level so as to stay just under the pro
jection.(Always place your stop beyond
tr
the projection or in other words, further
away from the current price than the 34
actual projection shows.)

32

5 12 19262 9 16 23 30 7 1421 28 4 11 18 25 l 8 1522296 1320273 10 17:241 8 15 22 29 5 121926 2 916:23


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
61987 Cavida, Ltd.

86
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID
VALUE
102 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE SI0O/CDNTRACT
TRADING HOURS 10130-3:00 ET

The market ceased its downward


movement almost exactly at the 42.80
level and moved back up exceeding the
previous high point. Should we add to our
position at this point? 56

52

50

48

46

44

STOP LEVEL @ 42 42


40

38

36
34

32

5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 212841118 25 I 8 15 22 29 6 13;20;273 10 17;24 1 815


MAY JUN 22 29 5 12 19: 26 2 9 16;23
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

87
CONTRACT SIZE 50.000 LBS
.OI CENTS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
EACH GRIO
35.00/CONTRACT
.02 CENTS
MAY1987 VALUE ¥100/CONTRACT
62
NEW YORK COITON EXCHANGE
TRADING HOVRS 10:30・3+00 E
Jt
60
The second reflection chart indicates 58
that some more pull backs are in store for
us so we decide not to add at this time
lt also indicates that the next pull back
could be in the 45 area so we raise our 56
stop to 44.00
54
52
50
48
46

44
STOP LEVEL @ 44
42
40
38
36
34
32

27 3 10 17: 241 8 15 22 29 5
12 19.26 2 9 1623
1825 1
5 12 19 26 2 916 23 30 7 142128 4 11AUG 815 22:296 13:204
OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
MAY JUN JUL SEP
1987 Cavida. Ltd

88
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
MIN TICK .OI CENTS
COTTON VALUE
EACHGRID
35:00/CONTRACT
.02 CENTS
MAY1987 VALUE ¥100/CONTRACT
62
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE
TRADINC HOURS 10130・3+00 EI

The market continues to move up


however, it shows some whipsawing
action ahead

52

48

46

-STOP LEVEL @ 44
42

40

38

36

32

12119226 2 9 1623
29 16 23 30 7 14.21 28 4 1 18: 25 l 8 15 22:296 13 20; 273 10 17:2418 15 22 29 5 FEB
5 1219
26
ocT NOV DEC √AN
MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
●1987 Cavida.Ltd.

89
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
,OI CENTS
55.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRIO .02 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE VALUE SIOO/CONTRACT
62
IRAD1NG HOURS 10t30-3100 ET

60
The second reflection indicates that the
latest pull back may be down to the 46 58
level so we move our stop to 45.00.
56
54
52
50

48
46
STOP LEVEL ① 45
44

42
40
38
36
34
32

5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 4 ! I8251 8 15 22 29 6 13 20 27 3 10 1724 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19262 91623


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

90
CONTRACT SIZE 50.0001AS
COITON MIN TICK
VALUE
.O1 CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
.02 CENTS
EACH GRID
MAY1987 VALUE S100/CONTRACT
NEW YORK CDTIDN EXCHANCE 62
TRADING HOURS 10130- 3100 ET
60

The trend is still up but the market has 58


taken on a more sideways movement.We
had better check this latest reaction or 56
the second reflection chart
54

52
50

48
46
STOP LEVEL @45
44

42
40

38

36

34

32

16 23 30 7 14212841 18; 25 1 8 1522296 13 20273 1017:24 | 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 2 916;23


5 1219 2629 DEC JAN FEB
MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV
1987 Cavida, Ltd.

91
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
The second reflection chart indicates COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
55.00/CONTRACT
that this current reaction may carry down
to just below our stop level at 45.Should MAY 1987 EACH GRID
VALUE
.02 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE S10O/CONTRACT
we move our stop down to say 44 just in 1RADING HOURS 10130- 3100 ET 62
case?
60
It's tempting . but the answer is NO! 58
Never, ever, succumb to the temptation
to lower a stop. Suppose you lowered it
to 44 and then the next projection made 56
you lower it to 42. Suppose it now goes
back up and moves to new highs. You 54
have done the wrong thing and won.
Would you do it again? Probably. And,
eventually you will commit the un-
forgiveable sin to let a small 52
reasonable loss turn into a large loss.
Think of the market as an adversary
which is able to set you up and then take
50
you out!
Note the similarity between this second 48
reflection projection and the actual
market chart on page 99. 46
STOP LEVEL @ 45
44
42
40
38

36

34
32

5 12
MAY
19;262 9 16: 23307 1421 28 4 l118;251 8 15 22 29 6 13 20 27 3 10 1724 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 262 9 1623
JUN JUL AUG SEP 0CT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

92
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
01 CENTS
35.007CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID :02 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE VALUE S10O/CONTRACT
TRADING HOURS 10130・ 3100 ET 62

60
By November 20th, the trend is still up
but the market has taken on more of a
sideways movement. Some traders would 58
say that is looks toppy". Should we just
gef out and look for something with more 56
potential? That's a possibility; however.
if we are going to get out we must do it
by moving our stop in the direction of the
trend unti we are stopped out. 54

52

m 50

48
理 46
STOP LEVEL 45
44


42
H 40
38

36

34

32

5 12 19 26 2 9162330714 21 28 4 11 1825 1 8 15222296 1320:273 1017 24 l 81522295 12 19126 2 9 1623


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

93
CONTRACT SIZE 50.000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
lO/ CENTS
35.007CONTRACT
.02 CENTS
MAY 1987 EACH GRID
VALUE SIOO/CONTRACT
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE
IRADING HOURS 10130- 3100 ET 62
J 60
The second reflection chart indicates
that this sideways movement may con- 58
tinue for some time longer It also in-
dicates that the potential is for a good up
move to come and it indicates that our 56
stop at 45 may just see us through it un-
ti the upmove begins. Lets stay with the
move with our stop at the 45 level. 54
52
50
48
46
STOP LEVEL 45
44

42
H 40
38
36
34
32

5 12 19 26 2 91623 30 7 14 21 28 4 |1 18; 25 l 8 15; 22 296 13 20: 273 10 17 24 1 8 15 22: 295 12 19 26 2 9 16;23


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

94
CONTRACT SIZE 50.000 LBS
MIN TICK .OI CENTS
COTTON VALUE
EACH GRIO
35.00/CONTRACT
.02 CENTS
MAY1987 VALUE ¥100/CONTRACT
62
NEW YORK COIION EXCHANGE
TRADING HQURS10:30・3100 E1
60

58
On November 29th the market gaps up
taking out the previous high points Ths 56
acton satisfies clue #1 as a breakout ano
clue #3 as a gao.Should we add to ou
position at this point? 54

52
50

48
46
STOP LEVEL @ 45
44

42
40

38

36
34

32

91623
1320 27 3 10|17 24 1 8 1522295 1219262 FEB
14 21 28 4 11 1825181522296 OC7 NOV DEC JAN
5 1219262 9161 307 JUL
23 SEP
MAY JUN AUG ●1987 Cavida. Ltd.

95
CONTRACT SIZF 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID .02 CENTS
VALUE S1OO/CONTRACT
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE
TRADINC HOURS 10130- 3100 ET 62
60
The second reflection chart indicates 58
some immediate continued up movement
and then some sideways movement 56
before the uptrend continues. However,
the pull backs are still above where we
plan to enter. Lets do it. We will add three 54
contracts to our original five. On L3 @:52..60
December 1st May Cotton opened at 52
52.60 where we added three contracts.
We also move our stop level up to the 50
previous low point at 47.00
48
STOP LEVEL @ 47
46
44

42
40
38
36
34

32

5 1219262 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 4 11 18 25 8 1522296 13 20; 273 10 1724 1 8 1522:295 12 191262 9 1623


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OcT NOV DEC JAN FEB
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

96
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
35.007CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID
VALUE
.02 CENTS
NEW YDRK COTTON EXCHANGE 5100/CONTRACT
62
IRADING HOURS 10130- 3100 ET
60

We begin to get a pull back on January


5th and by January 12th we get a littie 58
concerned.
56

54

52
50

48
STOP LEVEL @ 47
46
44

42
H 40

量…
38

36
34

32

5 1219262 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 4 !1 18 2518 15 22
MAY AUG
29 6 13 2027 3 10 17 24 | 8 15 22 29 5 1219262 9 16:23
JUN JUL SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

97
CONTRACT SIZF 50,000 LaS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.OI CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY1987 EACH GRID 02 CENTS
¥100/CONTRACT
VALUE
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE
TRADING HOURS 10130・ 3100 ET
62
60
The second reflection chart indicates 58
a pull back to the 55 area so we move our
stop on all eight contracts up to 54.00 56
STOP LEVEL @ 54| 54

52
50
48
46
44

42
40
38
36

34
32

5 12 19:262 9 1623307 14 21 28 4 11 18:25 1815 22 29 613 20 27 3 10 17 24 1 815 22 29!5 1219262 9 1623


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida. Ltd.

98
CONTRACT SIZE 50,000 LBS
COTTON MIN TICK
VALUE
.Oi CENTS
35.00/CONTRACT
MAY 1987 EACH GRID .02 CENTS
NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE VALUE S1OO/CONTRACT 62
TRADING HOURS 10130- 3100 EI

60

On January 29th we sold 8 contracts


of May Cotton at 54.00. Our total profit in
all contracts was 83.2 points. At S500 per
point that is a total profit of ¥41,600. All
positions were in a profit from day of en-
try. Total margin requirement was S5.000. SOLD 8(@54 00
(The profit on the first five contracts more
than covered the margin for the second BUY 3@ 52.60
three contracts.) 52

50

48

46

44

42


40

BUY 5 @38.20 38

36
34

32

5 12 19:262 9 16 23 30 714 21 28 4 !1 18 25 1 8」15 22296 1320;273 10!17:24 l 815 22 29 5 12 19z26 2 91623


MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.

99
27
RECAP OF FIRST EXAMPLE

Let's recap quickly how we used Adam Theory in the example.


[1] We first became interested in this trade because of clue
#2 and clue #3.
[2] We did not try to get in at the bottom. We waited until
both clues were satisfied and the double reflection chart
indicated that we could enter without a pull back to our
entry level.
[3] We used an initial stop based on the previous market low
because the second reflection chart had not indicated a
stop as yet.
[4] At each reaction we placed a stop under the projection
indicated by the double reflection chart. We either left the
stop where it was or moved it only in the direction of the
trade.
[5] We added to our position using the same considerations
as we used to enter the trade originally.
[6] We went through some very trending markets and some
very choppy markets but the second reflection chart
projections told us what to expect, gave us the confidence
we needed and then guided us through the choppy areas
until the trend resumed.

[7] We did not get in at the bottom nor did we get out at the
top. We got the middle 50of the move. We did the right
thing in trading.
Note that there was never a time when our positions were
in a loss. Now that is not too significant and it will not always happen
that way. The point is that most traders would not have had the guts
to enter the market when we did. It would seem to most traders to
be too risky ...

100
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
(I mean, after that much upmove the market could react
severely. The prudent thing to do would be to wait for a
reaction to get aboard. And, if there is no reaction soon,
then we should look for a top because the down move
could be fast and profitable!)
And yet we know from Adam Theory that the greater the
velocity and the closer we are to the NOW moment, the greater the
symmetry. We know that jumping on a speeding train going West is
the surest and safest way to end up West of where we started!

101
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
28

…的
THE TEN TRADING RULES

Before we look at some more examples showing how to use


Adam Theory in trading the markets, I want to pause again and present
a recap of ali the things we have been talking about in this book that
are involved in doing the right thing when trading.
Adam Theory is your roadmap for trading. It tells you where
you are going and how to get there. It tells you where to place your
stops and what to expect. It gives you confidence to follow through
with the plan.
Now we are not going to recap Adam Theory, but we will
recap always doing the right thing in implementing Adam Theory.
Jim has laid out ten rules that cover everything we have talked
about so far about doing the right thing in trading. I cannot over-
emphasize the importance of understanding and using these ten rules
when trading.
The ten rules are typeset so as to be covered on one page,
which follows. I would recommend that you copy that page and place
the ten rules in a convenient place beside your telephone... the one
that you use to place trading orders to your broker. Be sure that you
never place an order that contradicts one of these rules.

102

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


BASIC TRADING RULES
[1] Never, ever add to a losing position or "average down."
[2] Never,ever initiate or add to a trade without also and
simultaneously initiating or adding to a stop to get you out if
you are wrong.
[3] Never, ever cancel or move a stop except in the desired direction
of the trade.
[4] Never, ever allow a small, reasonable loss to become a large,
catastrophic loss. Get out, and come back to fight another time.
[5] Never, ever allow yourself to lose more than 10of your trading
capital on a single trade or any single day.
[6] Don't pick tops and bottoms, let them pick themselves. Adam
will always be wrong at tops and bottoms... so will traders that
try to pick them. However, Adam will only be wrong once...
when the top or bottom finally does happen.
[7] Don't step in front of freight trains. If a market is exploding
in a certain direction, don't position yourself against it until there
is strong evidence that a turn has already occurred (not that
it will or should, but that it has).

[8] Stay Flexible. Remember that you can be wrong, Adam can
be wrong, anything in the world can be wrong from time to
time. Remember that Adam is dealing in high probabilities, not
absolute certainties.

[9] When in a chop, stop. If you sustain a series of losses, please


get out and take some kind of vacation from the market. Let your
emotions cool and your head clear.
[10] Ask yourself if you at all levels of yourself really want to make
money in the markets, and listen carefully to the answer. There
are people who have a psychological need to lose, or who just
want to play for the action.“Know thyself.”

103
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
29
THE TEN RULES EXPANDED

[1] NEVER, EVER add to a losing position or “average down.”

If your trade is in a profit position, at that point in time


you are right. If your trade is in a loss position, at that point
in time you are wrong. If you are wrong the only question is“how
long will you be wrong?" The only answer is that you will be
wrong until the position moves into a profit or until your stop is
hit. It is that simple. IF YOU ARE WRONG, there are only two
ways you can be more wrong than you already are. One is to
add to your wrong position. The second way is covered in Rule 3.
[2] NEVER, EVER initiate or add to a trade without also and

simultaneously initiating or adding to a stop to get you out


if you are wrong.
Before you ever enter a trade, decide in advance how
long you are willing to be wrong. Another way of saying it is,"How
much am I willing to lose on this trade?" This decision must be
made before you enter the market because an objective deci-
sion can only be made before you enter the market. Once you
are in the market you are no longer objective. You have taken
a position...made a commitment...and an element of hope
is now fighting against your cool and calculated objectivity. There
is no such thing as a mental stop. A stop is not a stop until it
is placed in the market.

[3] NEVER, EVER cancel or move a stop except in the desired


direction of the trade.
The only time you will be tempted to move a stop in the
opposite direction of the trade is when the trade is in a loss posi-
tion and the market is moving against you. By definition, at this
point in time you are wrong. The second way that you can be
more wrong than you already are is to move your stop so that
you can lose more money on the trade. Remember, the

104
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
last time you were truly objective was before you entered the
trade when you decided on your stop. If you move a stop, then
the element of hope has completely overcome your cool
calculated objectivity and you are no longer able to function as
a rational trader. Fear can serve a useful purpose. Greed can
be a hindrance. But hope, when it becomes predominate, leads
to disaster.

[4] NEVER, EVER allow a small, reasonable loss to become a


large, catastrophic loss. Get out, and come back to fight
another time.

A large catastrophic loss can occur by just once


disregarding any one of these Ten Rules...just once. Murphy's
law practically guarantees that the one time you do it will be the
one time that the market will move so adversely as to hurt you.
But don't blame it on Murphy's Law. The real answer is that the
market is a formidable adversary... a gladiator opposing you
in the ring. Like a gladiator, it should be expected to take ad-
vantage of every mistake you make. Let your guard down just
once and it will thrust hard at a vulnerable place and you will
lose much blood. There are many good traders who, day in and
day out, follow the rules ... keep their guard up... and then
just once become so sure they are right that they go against
one of the rules... drop their guard, begin to hope, and lose
much blood. In a few days, more can be lost than is gained in
a year. I know many traders, myself included, who have wiped
out their accounts by just once letting their guard down. I don't
know a single trader who was wiped out when following these
rules. No one ever bled to death from pin pricks. Pin pricks do
not mortal wounds make! It's the deep gashes that hurt. Watch
your losses very closely and your gains will take care of
themselves.

[5] NEVER, EVER allow yourself to lose more than 10of your
trading capital on a single trade or any single day.

105
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
You can follow the first four rules and still get hurt. One
way is to take on so many positions that even with close stops,
if most or all of the positions went against you, you could lose
more than 10of your trading capital in one day. This can
happen by putting on too many positions. There will be times
that everything you bought went down and everything you sold
went up. Remember that trading should be fun. To keep it that
way, never risk enough at any one time that it becomes too
serious.

[6] DONT PICK TOPS AND BOTTOMS, LET THEM PICK


THEMSELVES. Adam will always be wrong at tops and
bottoms...so will traders that try to pick them. However,
Adam will only be wrong once... when the top or bottom
finally does happen.
Most traders try to pick tops and bottoms. Most traders
lose! There are two reasons that most traders try to pick tops
and bottoms... self esteem and greed. The odds for picking
tops and bottoms are much worse than playing the "one armed
bandits" at Las Vegas. Everybody knows that. Your adversary
knows it too and allows you to successfully pick a top or bottom
occasionally just so you will be tempted to keep on trying it.
It's an ego trip to be able to tell your friends that because of
your astute interpretation of the markets, you bought beans on
the low day of the move...self esteem. How many times have
you picked the low day (or minute or hour or whatever) and
actually held the position for the duration of the move?
Why not simply wait for a confirmation of the turn?
What, and lose out on all of that profit that will be gone by the
time the confirmation comes?... greed. How many losses
have you taken by not waiting? You can apply all of the previous
six rules and you will still lose if you disregard this one rule.

[7] DONT STEP IN FRONT OF FREIGHT TRAINS. If a market


is exploding in a certain direction, don't position yourself

106
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
against it until there is strong evidence that a turn has
already occurred (not that it will or should, but that it has.)

There is no market that is so overbought that it just


can't go much higher. There is no market that is so oversold
that it just can't go much lower. This is a trap that the adversary
just loves to set. Show a chart of a strong directional market
to a five year-old child and ask him what side of the market he
would enter tomorrow. He doesn't know anything about
overbought or oversold or support or resistance or sophisticated
technical analysis. He doesn't know anything about how low
or high the market has ever been. He doesn't know anything
about fundamentals. He doesn't have the background or the
experience to be a trader. So what will he tell you about the
side of the market he would be on? It's that simple. Don't stand
in front of freight trains ... ride them.

[8] STAY FLEXIBLE. Remember that you can be wrong, Adam


can be wrong, anything in the world can be wrong from time
to time. Remember that Adam is dealing in high
probabilities, not absolute certainties.
The more often you are right the more susceptible you
become to being inflexible. When you have had six or seven
profit trades in a row that is the time you are likely to double
up and become inflexible. That's what your adversary, the
market, has been waiting for you to do. It will get back your
previous profits... plus some blood. Always remember, you
are dealing in probabilities, not absolutes.

[9] WHEN IN A CHOP, STOP.If you sustain a series of losses,


please get out and take some kind of vacation from the
market. Let your emotions cool and your head clear.
One of the reasons that most traders lose is that it's
usually the easiest route to take because it is the undisciplined
route. It is not easy to get out and quit for a while when your

107

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


equity has just suffered a big drop. The tendency at times like
that is to hang in there and fight until you come back... then
take a rest. You don't want to admit that everything you have
done lately was wrong. You tell yourself, the fight is not over,
this is just a temporary setback. You have come back fast
before, you can do it again. To quit now would mean defeat
and starting over again from a lower equity level.
The adversary loves to play the game with a trader who
is in this frame of mind. The trader is now at a disadvantage.
It's harder for the trader to be objective because he is under
stress to come back fast. He takes chances he would not usually
take. He is not ready to admit he has lost. He is now very likely
to disregard some of the TEN RULES. Whether the trader
realizes it or not he is not in the frame of mind to really believe
he will win. He is now hoping that he can win. In this situation,
it's hard to quit, take a vacation, and admit defeat. But then,
that is one of the reasons that few traders win... it's the hardest
route to take.

[10] ASK YOURSELF if you, at all levels of yourself, really want


to make money in the markets, and listen carefully to the
answer. There are people who have a psychological need
to lose, or who just want to play for action. "Know thyself."
If your real reason for trading the markets is to make
money, the kind you can spend at the end of the year, then
you will realize sooner or later, WHETHER OR NOT ONE
MAKES MONEY IN THE MARKETS DEPENDS ON WHETHER
OR NOT HE FOLLOWS THE TEN RULES. HOW MUCH
MONEY HE MAKES DEPENDS ON HIS METHOD FOR
ENTERING AND EXITING THE MARKET.
If you asked yourself the question at all levels of your
self and listened carefully to the answer, then you will realize
the value of the TEN RULES. You will realize that they are as
valuable as Adam Theory. You will realize that you may not be

108
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
a winner just by using Adam or anything else. Adam Theory
simply gives you a reason for entering the market. The reason
is that there is a high probability that the market will move in
a particular direction for a period of time.
Adam Theory, nor anything else(there is no
“tomorrows WALL STREET JOURNAL”) is accurate enough to
consistently make a profit in the markets unless the basis of
all your trading is the TEN RULES. When you know this you
will make real profits in the markets... the kind you can spend
at the end of the year.
You will know it because you do it.

Now let's apply Adam Theory to a stock. We have picked


Eastman Kodak because it illustrates some things worth pointing out.
As before, we will use a different color to show both the time
frame to be projected and the second reflection chart projection.
The stock is Eastman Kodak and the period of time analyzed
is June 1986 through February 1987.

109
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Eastman Kodak Company (EK)
LTD s||15.PFD NO COM 225.8

Photoqraph apparatus, chemicals


799 INSTITUTIONS HOLD IO9.7 ML SHS 80

75

70

65

BUY @ 59
好 60
,hl 地

ST OP LEVE @ 55 55

50

6 20 4 18 1 15 29 12 26 l0 24 7 21 5 19 2 16 30 13 27 13 27
JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.
On October 24th the market broke out above the highs for the last three months con-
vincingly with two long range days. This move took out five previous high points on the
new uptrend and all of the highs for the last three months previous to the most recent
bottom. Clues #1 and #3 were confirmed. Our second reflection chart(in green) indicates
that the uptrend will most likely continue and that a pull back will most likely occur above
the current market price. The next day we buy the stock at 59 and place our stop just
below the previous reaction (pull back) at 55.

110
Eastman Kodak Company (EK)
LTo sll15.PFD No CoM 225.8
Photoqraph apparatus, chemicals
799 INSTITUTIONS HOLD 109.7 MIL SHS 80

75


70


65


耐 60
STOP LEVEL @ 59


H H HP
5!5

50


JUNE
20 4 18
JULY
l 15 29 12 26 10 24
AUG SEPT OCT

NOV
21 5 19
OEC
2 16
JAN ra 27 13 27
MAR
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.
On November 10th the first reaction is over because a low point at about 62 was made.
Based on this low, the second reflection chart indicated a possible reaction would most
likely not go below the 60 level. Therefore we moved our stop just below this projection
to the 59 level. The second reflection chart then indicates a continued uptrend.

111
Eastman Kodak Company (EK)
LTD sll15.PFD NO COM 225.8
Photoargph apparatus, chemicals
799 INSTITUTIONS HOLO 109.7 ML SHS 80

75


70


H 65
Hr

H STOP LEVVEL@61
60


儿 工


5!5

50


JUNE
20 4 18
JULY
1 15 29 12 26 10 24
AUG SEPT OCT

NOV
21 5 19
DEC
2 16
JAN
30
ra 27 13 27
MAR
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.
On November 18th the next reaction was over, making a market low point at just above
64.The second reflection chart at this point indicates that the market would most likely
not go below 61.50, so we move our stop up to about the 61 level.

112
Eastman LToKodak Company
sl115. PFD NO COM 225.8
(EK)
Photoqraph apparatus, chemicals
799 INSTITUTIONS HOLD 109.7 MIL SHS 80

75


时 70

65
4 STOP LEVEL @ 64

60




比 #
55

50

6 20 4 18 l 15 29 12 26 10 24 7 21 5 19 2 VAN
16 30 FEB
13 27 13 27
JUNE JULY AUG SEPT 0CT NOV DEC MAR
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.
On November 30th the next reaction is over and the second reflection chart indicates
that the market will most likely remain above 64.50 so we move our stop again up to just
under the 64 level.

113
Eastman Kodak Company (EK)
LTD sll15.PFO NO COM 225.8
Photoqraph apparatus, chemicals
799 INSTITUTIONS HOLD 109.7 MIL SHS 80

雄 75


70
L 井

H ST(OP LEVEL @(64


65

H 60
H 山



5! 5

50

6 20 4 18 l 15 29 12 26 10 24 7 21 5 19 2 16 30 13 27 13 27
JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
・1987 Cavida, Ltd.
On December 6th a more severe reaction takes place. The second reflection chart
indicates that the market most likely will remain above the 63 level, but could penetrate
to our stop at 64. Do we move our stop down to 63? You already know the answer to that!

114
Eastman Kodak Company (EK)
LTo sll15.PFD No COM 225.8
Photoqraph apparatus, chemicals
799 INSTITUTIONS HOLD 109.7 MIL SHS 80

H 75

-STOFP LEVEL 71

70

H 65

60

h H


55

50

6 20 4 18 1 15 29 12 26 10 24 7 21 5DEC 19 2 JAN
16 30 13 27 13 27
JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV FEB MAR

1987 Cavida, Ltd.


The market moves up nicely, gets volatile, and makes a significant reaction on February
7,1987.The second reflection chart indicates that the market will most likely stay above
the 72 level. We move our stop up to the 71 level.

115
Eastman Kodak Company (EK)
LTo slǐl5. PFD NO COM 225.8
Photoqraph apparatus, chemicals 性 80
799 INSTITUTIONS HOLD 1O9.7 MIL SHS



75


70
HL

65


H 60

n此 立
H H
5!5

50

6 20 4 18 1 15 29 12 26 10 24 7 21 5 19 2 16 30 13 27 13 27
JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
1987 Cavida, Ltd.
It is not necessary to make the second rellection projection every day unless you just
want to. As long as the market is moving in the direction you are trading no new stop
will be indicated. However, whenever there is reaction (pull back) opposite to the direc-
tion you are trading, then a projection should be made. Once a low point is made and
the market starts back up, the new stop level will take the place of the old stop level. There
will be times however, when you will decide that you do not want to sit still for the pro-
jected reaction.When that happens, then place your stop at the point you are comfortable
with.Remember, you can always get back in the market based on what the second rellec.
tion chart is telling you.

116
CONTRACT SIZE
COFFEE MINTICK
VALUE
37.500L8S
01 CENTS
53.75 /CONTRACT
DECEMBER 1986 EACA GR/O
VALUE
I CENTS
3375/CONTRACT
COFFEE,SUGAR,AND COCOA EXCHANGE,INC.
TRADING HOURS 9145- 2130 ET 290

280

270
260
250

240

230
INITIAL STOP 225.00
220
SOLD SHORT @ 210.55 210

200
190
# 180

170

160

150

30613 20;27 3 10 17 24 3 10 17 24 31 7 14 21 28 5 12 19 26 2 9 16:23307 1421 284 11 18 25 | 815


JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.
Our last trading example will illustrate Adam Theory in a market which is going down.
By the middle of May this market had gone down so far that most traders thought it was
"cheap" and were looking for a double bottom. Then it gapped down through the previous
bottom. Clues #1 and #3 were satistied. We entered the market short on May 28th on
the open at 210.55.We placed out initial stop just above the previous market top at 225.00.

117
CONTRACI SIZE 37.500 t8S
COFFEE MiN TiCK
VALUE
O1 CENTS
53.75./CONTAACT
DECEMBER1986 EACH GR10
VALUE
1CENTS
5375/CONTRACT
COFFEE, SUGAR,AND COCOA EXCHANGE,INC.
TRADINC MOURS 9:45- 2130 ET 290
280

270

260
250

240

230
220
STOP LEVEL @215
210

200
190
180

170

160
150

30 6 13 20 27 310 1724 3 10172431 7 1421 28 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 1421 28 4 1! 18 25 1 8 15


JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG

●1987 Cavida, Ltd.


The first sign of a reaction came on June 6th and then the market again gapped down.
The second reflection chart gave us a stop at 212 and we placed our market stop at 215.

118
COFFEE CONTRACT SIZE
MINTICK
VALUE
37.500LBS
O1 CENTS
53.75 /CONTRACT
DECEMBER 1986 EACH GRiD
VALuE
CENTS
3375/CONTRACT
CDFFEE,SUGAR,AND COCOA EXCHANGE,INC.
TRADINO HOURS 9145-2130 EI 290

280

270
260
250

240
230

220
210
STOP LEVEL 203.00
200
190

180

170

160

150

30613 20273 10 17 24 3 10 17 24 31 7 1421 285 12 1926 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 284 1 18 25 1 8 15


JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG

1987 Cavida, Ltd.


The next reaction came on June 13th. The second reflection chart projected a reac-
tion up to 200. We moved our stop down to 203. Notice how the next reaction was also
projected.

119
CONTRACT SIZE 37.500LBS
COFFEE MINTICK
VALUE
O1 CENTS
53,75 /CONTRACT
DFCFMBFR1986 EACH GR1D
VALUE
1 CENTS
8375/CONTRACT
COFFEE,SUGAR,AND COCOA EXCHANGE,INC.
TRADING HOURS 9145- 2130 ET 290

280
270
260
250

240

230

220

210
200
190
STOP LEVEL 185
180
170
160

150

30 6 13 20 27 3 10 17:24 3 10 17 24 317 1421 28 5 12 19; 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 4 11 1825


AUG
| 8 15
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

●1987 Cavida, Ltd.


The next reaction came on July 1st showing a reaction to the 182 level. We moved
our stop down to 185

120
37.500LBS
COFFEE CONTRACT SIZE
MINTICK
VALUE
.O1 CENTS
53.75 /CONTRACT
DECEMBER 1986 EACH GRID
VALUE
1 CENTS
3375/CONTRACT
COFFEE. SUGAR,AND COCOA EXCHANGE,INC.
TRADING HOURS 9145- 2130 ET 290
280

270
260

250

240

230

220
ENTERED SHORT @ 210.55 210
200
190
OUT @ 188.00 ON OPEN
180
PE
H 170

160

150

30 6 13 20 27 3 101724 3 10 17 24 317 1421 285 12 19;26 2 9 1623307 14 21 28 4 !1 18 25 1 8 15


JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG

●1987 Cavida, Ltd.

The market bottomed on July 9th and we were stopped out on the open at 188.00
on July 16th.We did not get in at the top. far from it. Nor did we get out at the bottom,
but we made 22.55 points per contract which translates into S8456.25 per contract. Did
that trade look risky to the average trader? Probably so! Adam Theory says that was one
of the safest trades we could make.

121
VISUALIZATION
One day in the early 1980's Jim Sloman was walking down
a street in Durham, N.C. He had just finished writing a book which,
characteristically, he titled "Nothing". He had spent his time, efforts
and funds for the last year or so in writing the book and getting it
published. He had only a few dollars in his pocket and not much more
in his bank account. But he was not concerned ... in fact he was
quite happy. Why?
Jim had discovered something called visualization. Jim
visualized that he would soon be a commodity trader in Chicago and
that he would have a beautiful apartment on the shore of Lake
Michigan.
Not long after that Jim found himself in Chicago looking
around the Board of Trade. He met a person who was putting together
a group of about a dozen traders. Some were very good traders. Some
were not. The idea was that this group would meet every day in one
room around a large table where there were a number of quote
machines and trade the futures markets. The reason for this was
twofold. First, everybody would learn something about trading from
everybody else. And second, the combined trading volume would allow
them to each get a very favorable commission rate.
Through a series of seemingly unrelated events, Jim had
already obtained enough trading capital to get started. He was asked
to join the group.
Soon, through other seemingly unrelated events he was living
in a beautiful apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. It was the only
apartment complex with its own private beach.
On the day I first met Jim we went to his apartment and I
remember asking him, "How in the world did you ever get this fantastic
apartment?’

Jim answered,"I just visualized that I was living in a beautiful


apartment overlooking Lake Michigan and through a series of

122
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
seemingly unrelated events, here I am.”
Little did I know at that time that several years down the road
I would spend some time every day for a full year applying something
called visualization to futures trading.
Now, I am not going to get on the stump and proclaim that
applying something called visualization to trading the markets is a
sure fire way to get rich or anything like that. I will say one thing. After
using the visualization technique (that I will show you) for a year, I
can say that I have not done any of the wrong things in trading...
things that l used to do occasionally even when I knew better. In fact,
if l tried to do the wrong thing I would feel very uncomfortable. For
example, when I put on a trade I never wait longer than it takes to
get my fill (and l deal directly with the clearing house) to enter my
stop. One time l delayed entering my stop just to see how it would
feel. Even sitting there watching that market on my quote machine,
I became very uncomfortable.I could not relax unti I had placed the
stop.I had been preconditioned to do the right thing when trading.
Books could be written on the subject of visualization and
the techniques involved.I will try to explain in as few words as possible
a little of what I learned from Jim about applying visualization to
trading.
Visualizing means to picture something in your mind. If this
picture is repeated often enough it sinks into your subconscious mind
and has an influence on not only what you think, but what you do and
what happens to you. For example, a few years ago I began to gain
weight so I went on a diet and began to watch what and how much
l ate. Then l learned about visualization and each morning as I shaved
in front of the mirror I would affirm to myself how slim and trim I am.
Very soon this image of my slim trim body sunk into my subconscious
mind and l found that I no longer had to worry about what or how much
l ate. My appetite was not affected, but l just did not care to eat too
much. In fact, I believe that my subconscious mind, which is the
computer that regulates heartbeat, breathing, and all body functions
also regulates my metabolism if necessary to keep my body slim.

123
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
Anyway, the idea is to create a mental picture of what you
want. The picture must be affirmative because your subconscious
mind does not understand negatives. Jim has this to say about how
one should create the pictures.

・Allow myself to feel the emotions appropriate to each picture.


・Allow my pictures to be vivid, detailed and concrete, located in
the real world.
・Allow my pictures to be about end results, not about the means
to achieve them.
・ Continue to ask myself,“What do l really want?" rather than “What
do l think is possible?" Allow myself to answer the first question
without regard to whether I think it is possible or logical.
・ Only picture myself. Never picture other people being a certain
way or doing certain things.
・ Remember to phrase and picture things in positive rather than
negative terms.
・ Remember that consistent, daily visualizing is essential.
・ Don't allow myself to get bogged down. Spend no more than 20
or 30 seconds picturing each item.If I have difficulty picturing an
item clearly, do the best I can for half a minute or so and go on
to the next one.
●Allow myself to complete the process of visualization each morning
in fifteen minutes or less.

・Allow my pictures to naturally go from third person to first person


as I become more comfortable with them.

・Allow no interruptions whatsoever while I am completing this


process each morning, and under no circumstances to start on

124
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
the day's activities until I have completed this process.
・Above all, remember to be grateful, have fun, be playful, and enjoy
the process of my life.

Following are the eleven things that I visualized each morning


for a year. You should make up your own picture to support each idea.
You may want to use other ideas that are in keeping with Adam
Theory. Be creative. Most important, be consistent and enjoy it.

[1] Being a wildly successful trader, easily and enjoyably.


Picture: Reading about myself as a legendary trader.

t-ndenng toemaret,o9 tn9


Picture: Getting out of a very successful trade... satisfied,
having done all the right things.
[3] Having a clear open mind in looking at the market.
(Free of opinions and prejudices.)
Picture: Myself watching the markets and thinking that it is nice
not to have any opinion at all.
[4] Getting on the fastest moving trains in the direction they
are going.
Picture: Looking at the second reflection chart and planning
to buy a market that is already moving fast.
[E]
[V] Always and immedately putting in a stop that will get me
out at a small loss if wrong.
Picture: Entering the stop with the same phone call as the
entering order.

[6] Remembering that no point is too high to buy or too low


to sell.
Picture: The market making a new high or low in my direction
and I am adding to my position.

125
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
[7] Being happy to take lots of small losses while waiting for
profitable moves.
Picture: Being stopped out and feeling good about it because
I did the right thing.
[8] Always moving the stop only in the direction of the trade
and only getting out upon the trigger of a stop. (Letting your
profits ride.)
Picture: Picking up the phone and giving a "cancel/replace"
order, knowing that I will never get out except by a stop being hit.
[9] To undertrade both in size and frequency.
Picture: Holding a position and feeling extremely relaxed and
comfortable about it.
[10] Being relaxed and serene about winning and losing.
Picture: At the end of a trading week feeling very relaxed and
comfortable about my success... about how I handled myself
...about doing the right thing in that week's trading.
[11] MY FINANCIAL GOALS IN TRADING.
Picture:
Starting with A. ¥ 100,000 trading equity and then going to:
B. 150,000
C. 225,000
D. 350,000
E. 500,000 Picture seeing this progression
F.700,000 on the equity runs. Concentrate
G.1,000,000 on the next number. Eliminate a
H.1,500,000 number that has been hit.
1. 2,250,000
J.3,500,000
K.5,000,000

126

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


33
THE PLAYFUL COMMODITY TRADER
Does the title of this last chapter cause you to do a
double-take?
How often do we hear the phrase "the serious commodity
trader” used in advertisements to describe a professional and
sophisticated person who is qualified to buy the product advertised?
We think that commodity or stock trading is serious business. Boy,
you don't play around with things as serious as markets and trading
and highly leveraged situations ... markets that can move fast ...
I mean, man, markets like this can "eat your lunch". Do the wrong
thing and you'll get your head handed to you. Yes sir, this is serious
business!
Many years ago l met with a group of guys about every week
to play poker. It was a friendly game ... nickel, dime, and quarter
limit. Being basically a percentage player, I usually won. I could always
look back after a game and say that whether I won or lost, I had played
a good game of poker... and it had been fun.
One time l was invited to attend another game with a different
group. The stakes there were a dollar, two dollars, pot limit last card.
This meant that for the last bet on each hand dealt that any player
could bet as much money as was in the pot. I soon found out that
I was not playing my usual percentage game... in fact, I was playing
quite badly. Man, this game was not much fun ... it was serious
business! i finally had the good sense to cut my losses and get up
and go home.
I have known several people who traded on the side and did
pretty well. Then they decided that if they could devote full time to
trading they would be able to further improve their trading skills and
just trade for a living. Not only would it be more fun than going to work
every day, but there was the potential for some big bucks.
The problem was that when they had to win to survive, it
became serious business. When you have to make important trading
decisions under that kind of pressure then if you are like most people,

127
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
you do not do as well... not nearly as well as when you were playing
on the side. When you really get serious about it, your objectivity
diminishes inversely to the square of your fear and greed.
I heard the following story from several sources, so l suspect
there is some truth to it.On an average day perhaps 75of the trading
taking place on the floor is between the locals. On this day the word
was out that one of the biggest and most successful traders was
heavily long this particular market. The market was drifting down and
most of the locals were heavily short. Everyone was sort of anticipating
that the big trader would tire of being on the seemingly wrong side
of the market and when he sold his position it would create a significant
down move that would give them a nice profit on their shorts.
Therefore, the locals continued to hammer the market down at every
opportunity.

The big trader finally did tire of this game and put in an order
under the market to BUY a thousand contracts! The market continued
to drift down. Suddenly it hit the resting order for one thousand
contracts. Bedlam broke out on the floor. The locals scrambled trying
to get out... the market took off like a shot triggering more and more
stops from the other traders. Needless to say, by the time the shorts
got out there were some heavy losses.

When asked why he would do something like that, the big


trader replied that it helps to have a sense of humor when trading!
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that one
will trade better, much better if he doesn't take trading too seriously
... if he can maintain a playful attitude about trading. I also think I
know why this is.

There are three things that a trader must constantly deal with.
They are objectivity, fear, and greed. When trading becomes too
serious ... when the outcome takes on great importance, then fear
and greed tend to influence the trader's decisions. The trader loses
some objectivity as the situation becomes more serious. At some point

128
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
fear and greed can take over entirely and when that happens the
wrong decision will usually be made.
If having a playful attitude about trading will make one a better
trader, then how does one do it? That's a good question. There may
not be a pat answer that applies to every trader but I will tell you what
works best for me.
First, look at the markets in terms of numbers ... of lines
on charts. Think of the markets as a challenge... a game that is
fun to play. Think of it as a game of percentages ... a game of
discipline. A game to see if you can always do the right thing.
It has been said that a commodity trader is never happy. If
he loses he is not happy because he lost. If he wins he is not happy
because he should have had a bigger position. Well, I will tell you
how you can be happy trading the markets. At the end of the week,
if you can look back at your trading and say "this week I did the right
thing in my trading" then you truly have reason to be happy. Whether
you won or lost that particular week is not the important thing. It is
better to have done the right thing and lost than to have done the
wrong thing and won. Doing the wrong thing puts you on the road
to ruin. Doing the right thing insures your success.
Second, don't think"money". Think in terms of points. Never
count your money in a trade while still in the trade.
Third, don't trade to make money... trade to win the game.
The point is, don't put the emphasis on money but on being a
successful trader. When you are successful the money will be there.
Fourth, keep fear and greed out of the picture by taking very
small positions at first. When you become successful then gradually
increase your position size... but never enough so that you begin
to think"money".

The object is to play the game, have fun and win ... that
translates into profits ... and thats what matters in markets.

129
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
I will end this book with the following thoughts from Jim
Sloman.

“In terms of our essence and being, in the eyes of God we


are very significant. Yet, in terms of our temporal affairs and in relation
to the grand totality of the universe, we are totally insignificant. We
should be grateful for the privilege of being here, for all of the many
things that we have. We should allow ourselves to be light, playful
and enjoy being here.

We should be grateful that we can trade and play this great


game called the market. But remember that it is only a game... a
playful game. We play the game best when we are at ease, simply
enjoying the game, not taking it seriously, and unconcerned about
the outcome.
When the outcome of the game becomes too important it
affects the way we play it. When it becomes a serious or heavy matter
we play at our worst, at the mercy of fear and greed.
It is a great paradox that the more important it is that we win
the game, the less chance we have of winning. When we can maintain
a playful attitude toward the game, we play it superbly. Following are
some of the things that can make the game too heavy, thus reducing
our ability to play it lightly and enjoyably.
[1] Taking positions that are too large.
[2] Putting stops too far away.
j3j In general, taking too much risk in any way.
[4] Trying to prove how good a trader we are to
others.
[5] Entering trading contests.
[6] Bragging to others about our positions.
[7j Increasing our "necessities" relative to our
trading profits.
[8] Having to survive from trading.

In summation, a man of wisdom will let go, will flow the way
the river is flowing, will trust in the ultimate wisdom and goodness

130

THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS


of the universe, and will lightly and playfully do his best while being
unattached and unconcerned about the outcome. He will allow himself
to enjoy the great privilege of being here and play his little part
simultaneously with both great love and great detachment, serene
from the understanding that ultimately the river is flowing where it
should. He allows himself to stay in the present and enjoy the beauty
of each precious moment while he is here on this earth."
Good luck and good trading!

131
THE ADAM THEORY OF MARKETS
EPILOGUE

In 1972 l left a career in real estate to be able to spend full


time in market research. I bought a computer and set out on a quest
to discover the secret to making money in the markets. I began looking
for it in mathematical models. In 1978 I published some of the models
in my book NEW CONCEPTS IN TECHNICAL TRADING SYSTEMS
which has become quite well known in technical trading circles.
In 1983 Ilearned that there was beautiful order in the markets
and that this order was really very simple yet so well disguised that
no one had ever discovered it before. This order is called DELTA.
Next, l learned Adam just as presented in this book.
My course in this quest has been from the very complex
approach to the very simple approach. When I think about it, I am
amazed that the most important... the most significant things I know
about markets are simple. I feel that I am very fortunate to have
learned these things.
I think that it is also amazing that one person in just three
years discovered the order in the markets and also discovered the
inner symmetry in markets. Jim Sloman has made another amazing
discovery about markets. There is not only order in the markets, there
is a mathematical equation that all markets follow on all time frames.

I suspect that someday, someway he will make this discovery


known.

One thing I can say about this quest is... it has surely been
exciting!

THE ADAM THEORY OF MAAKETS


JAPANESE YEN
International Monetary Market
Weekly High, Low-Friday Close
APPENDIX Nearest Futures Contract
Adam works on a weekly time frame as well as daily or even
intra-day. Here is a weekly chart of the Japanese Yen.
It you would like to practice applying the second reflection
technique on this chart of the Yen, there should be a piece of clear
acetate in the back of this book. Most felt tipped pens will write well
.68
on acetate and can be used to trace the daily bars. You may also
want to practice on the completed example charts in this book on
pages 99, 116, and 121. .64
When practicing Adam Theory on historical charts.you should
cover the chart with a thick piece of plain paper and progress for.
ward.uncovering one day at a time. As each new day (or week.
depending upon the time trame of the bar) is uncovered, then draw .60
it on the acetate and apply the second reflection chart projection.
An example of clues #2 and #3 occurred in May 1984 when
the long uptrend line was broken. The gap and long ranges satisfied
clue #3. Also,in July 1985 clues #2 and #3 occurred when the .56
downtrend line was broken. The big event happened in September
1985 when clues #1 and #3 were satisfied. The highs of the last
three years were taken out in just one week. This is the kind of thing
you should look for … but most traders will not chase if … untl .52
they learn Adam Theory!
Have tun while youre making what matters in markets"!
.48

.44

.40

.36

.32
410*6217A*+J41010118AH」」 A1
1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
●1987 Cavida, Ltd.
THE ADAM THEORY
OF MARKETS THE ADAM THEORY
or OF MARKETS
WHAT MATTERS IS PROFIT or
WHAT MATTERS IS PROFIT

WHAT IS ADAM?
ADAM IS...about making profits
trading the markets... any freely traded
markets anywhere in the world. Adam
presents a special way to look at markets
and an even more special way to trade
markets.
But Adam is more than that. Adam
is the market's own, non-arbitrary,
projection of the most probable course
it will move in the future continuously
updated with every time frame. Using
Adam technology, the trader is able to
project and actually see that course. The
trader then asks the question, "Do I want
that trade?” If the answer is yes, then the
trader enters the market. Adam is ap-
Welles Wilder is known world-wide for plicable to any time frame… a daily chart,
his innovative and original concepts in a weekly chart, an hourly chart, etc. Adam
technical trading. FORBES MAGAZINE is a visual thing. No mathematics are ever
(Oct.'80) singled Mr. Wilder out as “The involved.
premier technical trader publishing his
work today.” BARRON'S(Jul.'84) states Adam Theory shows why many of
that "In 1978 the basis of mathematical the concepts that traders hold dear are
analysis was expanded when J. Welles doomed to failure. When you have read
Wilder, Jr. published NEW CONCEPTS Adam Theory, you will never see markets
IN TECHNICAL TRADING SYSTEMS.” in the same way again.
FINANCIAL WORLD(Jul 9,'85) acknowl-
edges that, "Over the years, Wilder has Adam is a bottom-line kind of thing.
developed more accurate commodity It's about what works, only. It may seem
trading systems and concepts than any that it's not fancy enough or complicated
other expert.” enough, but that is a function of what it's
about. You see, it's not about what should
Mr. Wilder has authored many articles work or about what seems impressive. It's
on trading techniques and has made ap- about one thing only - what really, ac-
pearances on radio and television pro- tually works. And that happens to be ex-
grams. He has presented his methods and ceedingly simple, not nearly complicated
systems at technical trading seminars in enough to be impressive.
Asia, Australia, Canada, the U. S. and the
capitals of Europe. Around the world there But if we think about it, we're really
are probably more traders using Mr. only interested in one thing: What works?
Wilder's systems and methods than any What matters in markets is profit.
other discipline. Everything else is perhaps interesting, but
In the mid'80's Mr. Wilder founded the not important.
DELTA SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL which
furnishes unique market information to its ¥65.00
members world-wide. In 1986 Mr. Wilder Available from
announced his retirement to just trade for
himself. THE ADAM THEORY OF TREND RESEARCH
MARKETS is his second and(he says) his P.O. Box 128
last book… a final contribution to the field McLeansville, N.C.27301
of technical trading.


TREND RESEARCH
In4 Research Bullding
-Nici eans le Square
creansvme, N.C. 27301

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