You need both
to be effective.
Nope. Don't need to follow funnymentals at all to make money trading. The most consistent winners have proven just the opposite. Look 'em up:
Ed Seykota
Richard Dennis
John Henry
Bill Eckhardt
Paul Tudor Jones
I can't say I'm close to their league, but I only use trading systems...not economic data...and this is what I've done for a living for almost 10 years now.
D
Paul Tudor Jones uses 50% fundamentals and 50% technicals. I don't know about the others. The reason I know this is when I read Market Wizards I felt his method was closest to what I try to do. I don't do what he does, no private jet.
Jim Rogers uses fundamental almost exclusively but he is not a trader he invests long term.
I think pd is right longer term fundamentals are important. Recognizing apple's future dominance based on its growth and product mix can help you stay long that stock over the long term but it doesn't help you at all with day to day trading.
I agree that whatever way you make money, more power to you, congrats on being successfull. I would never knock a person seeing success.
The harder I work, the luckier I get.