diff --git a/src/trading/journal.py b/src/trading/journal.py
index d863bc0..67451ad 100644
--- a/src/trading/journal.py
+++ b/src/trading/journal.py
@@ -346,12 +346,13 @@ def get_order_type() -> Optional[str]:
         print("Invalid choice. Please try again.")
 
 def add_trade(trade: TradeEntry):
+    """Add a new trade to the database"""
     with create_client() as client:
         query = f"""
             INSERT INTO stock_db.trades (
-                id, position_id, ticker, entry_date, shares, entry_price, target_price, stop_loss,
-                strategy, order_type, direction, followed_rules, entry_reason, exit_price, exit_date,
-                exit_reason, notes
+                id, position_id, ticker, entry_date, shares, entry_price, target_price, 
+                stop_loss, strategy, order_type, direction, followed_rules, entry_reason,
+                exit_price, exit_date, exit_reason, notes
             ) VALUES (
                 {generate_id()},
                 '{trade.position_id}',
@@ -363,11 +364,11 @@ def add_trade(trade: TradeEntry):
                 {trade.stop_loss if trade.stop_loss else 'NULL'},
                 {f"'{trade.strategy}'" if trade.strategy else 'NULL'},
                 '{trade.order_type}',
-                '{trade.direction}',
+                '{trade.direction.lower()}',  # Ensure direction is stored in lowercase
                 {1 if trade.followed_rules else 0},
                 {f"'{trade.entry_reason}'" if trade.entry_reason else 'NULL'},
-                {trade.exit_price if trade.exit_price else 'NULL'},
-                {f"'{trade.exit_date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}'" if trade.exit_date else 'NULL'},
+                NULL,
+                NULL,
                 {f"'{trade.exit_reason}'" if trade.exit_reason else 'NULL'},
                 {f"'{trade.notes}'" if trade.notes else 'NULL'}
             )