If you’ve ever felt like trading is a bit like trying to read tea leaves while riding a roller coaster, then Markets and Momentum: How Profiling Gives Traders an Advantage might just be your new best friend. Written by trading veteran James F. Dalton and co-author Robert B. Dalton, this book promises to bring some much-needed clarity to the chaos of the markets. It’s designed to help traders—from day traders grappling with quick decisions to longer-term investors aiming to sharpen their entries and exits—develop a smarter, more self-aware approach to trading.
Key Features
This book isn’t just another how-to guide; it’s more like a deep dive into the psychology and mechanics that underlie market movements. One of the standout concepts is the Market Profile, which organizes time, price, and volume into a meaningful context—a sort of financial x-ray that reveals hidden patterns. Jim Dalton, drawing on decades of experience from the Chicago Board Options Exchange to hedge fund research, explains how understanding markets must go hand in hand with knowing yourself. That’s where Robert B. Dalton’s insights into emotional impulses and trading habits come in, offering readers tools to dodge common pitfalls like FOMO (fear of missing out), doubling down on losing trades, and fading trend days.
The book also tackles the issue of information overload—a familiar problem in today’s fast news environment. Instead of getting bogged down by every headline and analyst opinion, Jim urges traders to zero in on market-generated data, the only truly objective information. Think of it as turning down the static to hear the signal clearly.
Pros & Cons
Many readers praise Markets and Momentum for being an engaging and thought-provoking read. They appreciate the blend of practical market analysis with insights into personal discipline and emotional control. The book’s approachable writing style, attributed to Robert B. Dalton, also helps in digesting what could otherwise be dense material.
Discover the Secrets of Profiling
On the flip side, some customers feel the book’s value doesn’t quite match up to its price tag. Despite its solid ideas, a few reviews suggest that the concepts might not offer new information for seasoned traders or that it falls short of providing concrete, actionable steps for everyone. This mixed feedback on value points to the book being potentially more beneficial for those new to Market Profile techniques or those keen on improving their trading psychology rather than everyone.
Boost Your Trading Skills Today
Who Is It For?
If you’re a trader who’s struggled with the emotional roller coaster of short-term trading—whether it’s resisting the urge to chase trends or knowing when to let profits run—this book could offer some valuable perspective. It’s well-suited for day traders wanting to refine their approach based on tested market profiling methods, as well as investors looking to time their moves better without getting overwhelmed by outside noise. Casual readers hunting for quick fixes, however, might want to temper their expectations.
Final Thoughts
Markets and Momentum: How Profiling Gives Traders an Advantage is a thoughtful and nuanced addition to trading literature. It combines hard-earned market wisdom with psychological insights that challenge traders to be as disciplined internally as they are observant externally. While its price may raise some eyebrows and its lessons may feel dense at times, the book stands as a meaningful resource for those serious about improving their trading edge. If you’re willing to invest a bit of time reflecting on both the market’s pulse and your own impulses, Jim and Robert Dalton’s work could help unlock a new level of trading success.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you are looking for more information on commodity trading, trading advisories, brokers. trading platforms, trading systems, copy trading and more please visit our resources page: