{"id":666188,"date":"2025-09-03T16:00:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ftmo.com\/?p=666188"},"modified":"2025-09-03T16:16:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:16:35","slug":"disciplined-scalping-profits-from-us-indices-despite-a-mid-cycle-drawdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ftmo.com\/en\/disciplined-scalping-profits-from-us-indices-despite-a-mid-cycle-drawdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Disciplined Scalping: Profits From US Indices Despite a Mid-Cycle Drawdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
In the next part of our series on successful FTMO Traders, we take a look at a trader who showed that scalping doesn\u2019t have to mean reckless trading. With discipline, focus on just one asset class, and controlled risk, he managed to grow his $200,000 account steadily \u2013 even despite a sharp mid-cycle drawdown.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The equity curve tells a clear story: strong early gains, followed by a sharp $10,000 dip across four days, before recovering to finish with a profit of <\/span>$15,576.55 (7.7%)<\/strong>. While not the largest return we\u2019ve seen in this series, the ability to bounce back from a sizeable drawdown without losing control is what sets serious traders apart.<\/span><\/p>\n This conservative performance also demonstrates the trader\u2019s risk awareness. By keeping losses under control and focusing on consistent setups, he avoided the all-too-common trap of \u201crevenge trading\u201d after setbacks.<\/span><\/p>\n The trader\u2019s <\/span>Consistency Score of 83%<\/strong> confirms that his results were not random. He respected both his <\/span>Max Daily Loss (-$5,537.80, or -2.7%)<\/strong> and <\/span>Max Loss (-$785.60, or -0.3%)<\/strong> limits, proving that risk management was central to his plan.<\/span><\/p>\n The win rate may appear modest, but combined with a reward-to-risk ratio above 2:1, it provided a profitable edge. His <\/span>average profit trade was $1,615.66<\/strong>, more than double his <\/span>average loss of \u2013$741.55<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike other traders we\u2019ve featured who spread their trades across forex pairs, gold, and crypto, this trader stayed laser-focused on <\/span>US indices<\/strong> \u2013 primarily the <\/span>US30.cash (Dow Jones)<\/strong> and <\/span>US100.cash (Nasdaq)<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Both long and short trades<\/strong> were taken in nearly equal measure, showing flexibility in reading market conditions rather than sticking to a bias. This single-asset focus gave him an edge: knowing the behavior of one instrument deeply, instead of chasing opportunities across multiple markets.<\/span><\/p>\n Reviewing the trade list reveals that Stop Losses were not always placed immediately when opening positions. While this is not uncommon among scalpers, it does carry risk, especially in volatile markets.<\/span><\/p>\n The positive note is that he never left trades running overnight without protection<\/strong>, which shows discipline in managing exposure. Still, consistently setting Stop Losses at entry would strengthen the approach further.<\/span><\/p>\nA Balance Curve With Ups and Downs<\/h2>\n
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Risk Well Under Control<\/h2>\n
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Numbers That Support the Style<\/h2>\n
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Focused Approach: Just US Indices<\/h2>\n
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A Small Criticism: Stop Loss Usage<\/h2>\n