Trader and consultant Cynthia Kase relies on a series of proprietary technical indicators that has developed for her trading signals. Kase makes her trading decisions strictly based on these technical indicators and doesnt rely on fundamental analysis at all.

Kase was first exposed to trading in August 1983, when her employer at the time-Standard Oil of California-transferred her to the trading department as part of a management development program. With a background in chemical engineering, Kase brought a new perspective to the trading room.

Two things happened in 1983 that were interesting and important for oil trading, Kase noted. In 1983, the crude oil contract was introduced and also the other thing that happened was that the PC finally made its way into the business, she added.

I got them to put a computer in the trading room, Kase said. For a trader (in the early 1980s), I was fairly computer literate because I had an engineering background, she explained.

Some of the early lessons Kase said she learned regarding trading were that you have to be a bit of a loner if you are going to trade well. You cant listen to what everyone else thinks. I think it is important to stay focused, get enough sleep, remain calm and everything else will fall into place. You cant care too much.

While Kase calls herself strictly a technical trader now, I didnt start to trade technically until 1985, she said. Technical trading is a lot more complicated that it seems on face value, she added.

It takes a lot of work-its not like-take two days to read John Murphys book and go trade, Kase said, referring to Technical Analysis of the Futures Markets by John J- Murphy, often considered the bible for market technicians.