What is a characteristic of trade journals?

A key characteristic of trade journals is consistency. Each trade is recorded using the same core information, which makes it possible to compare hundreds of trades without relying on memory.

For a personal trading journal, common fields include the asset, direction, entry, exit, position size, risk, result, setup, and notes. Keeping these fields consistent allows you to find patterns in your trading performance.

Another characteristic of an industry trade journal is its focus on a specific profession or field. These publications use industry terminology and usually cover topics that matter to professionals working in that area. Unlike academic journals, trade journals generally do not use the same peer-review process.