Although Rick’s Picks  is not explicitly geared to day trading, I’ll occasionally send out updates and recommendations in real time if warranted. Like yesterday, for instance. The December Mini-S&P was looping lazily lower as the morning began, trading at 1242.50 but seemingly bound for a hidden-pivot support at 1237.75. I put out the following at that time: “I'm looking to buy 1237.75 here, stop 1236.75. The hidden-pivot effect will likely be most pronounced if it's hit within the next 30 minutes or so. Current exchange time is 9:14 a.m.”  

(Click on chart to enlarge)

If you’re new to the service, you may not be aware of the bulletin launcher that has been created to communicate such advice to you in timely fashion. This tool was designed to permit you to tune to Rick’s Picks via an unobtrusive “live” window similar to instant messaging. Ordinarily the launcher will be dormant, springing to life when the stock market is doing something dramatic or when there is a juicy trade in the offing such as the one mentioned above.

Typically, though, the Bulletin Launcher gets its workout on Wednesday mornings, when I field questions from subscribers concerning specific stocks, options, index futures and commodities. If you want to participate, or to take advantage of trading strategies broadcast in real time, then I would encourage you to give the launcher a try.

Incidentally, if you followed yesterday’s advice to-the-letter you would not have initiated the trade, since the actual low missed touching our bid by a single tick. The December contract fell to exactly 1238.00, then catapulted nine points before giving up the entire day’s gains even more precipitously. However, I should emphasize that my recommendations are not chiseled in stone, and that as you become more familiar with hidden pivots, it will behoove you to adapt them imaginatively to suit your goals.