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Engulfing Candles: The Power ShiftIf there’s one candle pattern that represents an immediate shift in balance between buyers and sellers it is the engulfing candle. Today we take a deep dive into some of the key nuances of this pattern and explain how context and confirmation are essential elements to making this pattern a useful tool in your trading toolkit. Understanding the Engulfing Pattern The Engulfing candle pattern occurs when a single candlestick completely engulfs the body of the previous candle. In a bullish engulfing, a large bullish candle fully covers the smaller previous bearish candle, while in a bearish engulfing, a large bearish candle engulfs the previous bullish one. Within the space of a signal candle, the market has completely erased the previous candles price action and sometimes multiple prior candles price actions. This step change in momentum, is why it is often known as the ‘power shift pattern’ – when it is identified correctly can represent a key inflection point. Bullish Engulfing: A bullish engulfing suggests that after a period of selling, buying pressure has taken over, overpowering the bears in one strong move. This may indicate a potential reversal, from a bearish trend to a bullish one. Bearish Engulfing: A bearish engulfing indicates that after a period of buying, selling pressure has overwhelmed the bulls. This could signal a shift from an uptrend to a downtrend. Example: Nvidia Daily Candle Chart In this example, we see bullish and bearish engulfing candles form at the parameters of a range that formed on Nvidia’s daily candle chart. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results The Importance of Location and Context Like any chart pattern, the Engulfing candle is most effective when it occurs in the right context. Its location is crucial to its reliability. Trading the pattern within a range or consolidation zone can be misleading, as there may not be a clear prevailing trend for the pattern to reverse. For a bullish engulfing to be meaningful, it should ideally appear near a key support level, where buyers are likely to step in. In contrast, a bearish engulfing is more reliable when it appears near a key resistance level, where selling pressure may be about to take control. In short, location is everything. An engulfing pattern at a support or resistance level holds more weight than one formed in the middle of a range or without a clear market direction. Example: USD/CAD Daily Candle Chart In this example, we see small bearish engulfing candles form within a consolidation range. These are not significant signals as the location and context is sub-optimal. We then see a large engulfing candle form at the parameter of resistance – creating a clear bearish signal. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results Confirmation: The Next Candle is Key A major element to watch for with the Engulfing candle is confirmation. The next candle after the engulfing one should trade in the direction of the engulfing candle. For a bullish engulfing, the next candle should ideally close above the high of the engulfing candle. This confirms that the buying momentum is likely to continue. For a bearish engulfing, the next candle should ideally close below the low of the engulfing candle. This suggests that selling pressure is likely to persist. Without this confirmation, the pattern can be less reliable, and the initial move may not hold. The following candle helps validate whether the momentum shift is real or just a short-term fluctuation. Stop Placement Stop placement is a crucial aspect of trading the Engulfing pattern. Stops should generally be positioned just beyond the high or low of the engulfing candle, depending on the direction of the trade. For a bullish engulfing, place the stop below the low of the engulfing candle to allow for some movement without being stopped out prematurely. For a bearish engulfing, place the stop above the high of the engulfing candle to protect against any potential reversal or false breakouts. Placing stops in these locations helps manage risk while giving the trade enough room to develop, without exposing the position to unnecessary losses. The Engulfing Pattern Across Timeframes One of the advantages of the Engulfing candle is its versatility. It can be used effectively on any timeframe, from short-term intraday charts to long-term daily or weekly charts. On shorter timeframes, the Engulfing pattern may act as a signal for intraday trades, indicating a quick shift in momentum. On longer timeframes, the pattern could signal a larger, more sustained trend change, suggesting a longer-term move in the market. Regardless of the timeframe, the Engulfing candle remains an important pattern because it highlights a significant change in market sentiment, whether on a micro or macro scale. Final Thoughts The Engulfing candle is an effective pattern for identifying a shift in market momentum, either from bullish to bearish or vice versa. However, its effectiveness is heavily influenced by location and confirmation. When the pattern forms at a key support or resistance level and is followed by confirmation from the next candle, it can offer valuable insight into where the market may be headed. By combining these elements with good stop placement, traders can better manage risk and increase the reliability of the signals this pattern provides. Disclaimer: This is for information and learning purposes only. The information provided does not constitute investment advice nor take into account the individual financial circumstances or objectives of any investor. Any information that may be provided relating to past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or performance. Social media channels are not relevant for UK residents. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Education
by Capitalcom
1
Revenge Trading vs. Roaring Comeback: How to Tell the Difference“I’m going to get even with the market and I’m going to get even today!” We’ve all been there. You take a loss—maybe a small one, maybe an account-crushing one—and something inside you snaps. Logic leaves the chat, and a new trader takes over: the vengeful, angry version of you who’s out to "get back" at the market. Welcome to the world of revenge trading, where decisions are fueled by frustration, and the market does what it always does: punishes impatient and emotional traders. But what if there’s a better way? What if instead of spiraling into self-destruction, you could channel that energy into a thoughtful and strategic comeback? That’s the difference between revenge trading and a true trader’s rebound. Grab your hot coffee and let’s talk about it. 💥 Revenge Trading: The Fastest Way to Financial Self-Sabotage Revenge trading isn’t a trading strategy—it’s an emotional response masquerading as a quick-witted reaction. The thought process goes like this: "I just lost money. I need to make it back—fast." So you double down, size up, stretch out the leverage ratio and ignore your usual risk management rules. Maybe you trade assets you don’t even understand because the price looks juicy. Maybe you jump into a leveraged position without a stop loss because, hey, you’re in it to win it. What could go wrong? Everything. Everything can go wrong. Revenge trading is the financial equivalent of trying to punch the ocean. The market doesn’t care that you’re mad. It doesn’t owe you a winning trade. And when you start making impulsive decisions, the only thing that may get hurt is your trading mindset. 📢 Signs You’re Revenge Trading You’re taking trades you wouldn’t normally take. You’re increasing position sizes irrationally. You’re ditching risk management (stop losses, position sizing, logic, etc.). You feel desperate to "make it back"—right now. You’re ignoring your trading plan, assuming you had one to begin with. Recognizing these signs is the first step to stopping the cycle. But avoiding revenge trading is only half of the battle—you need to know how to stage a real comeback. 🦁 Staging the Roaring Comeback A roaring comeback isn’t about making back your losses in one dramatic trade. It’s about recalibrating, reassessing, and regaining control. Here’s how traders who actually recover from losses do it: 📌 Recognize the Signs Early If your heart rate spikes and your fingers are itching to “fix” a bad trade immediately, stop. That’s not a setup. That’s an emotional reaction. 📌 Set Daily Loss Limits If you hit your max loss for the day, you’re done. No exceptions. Your best decision at that point is to fight another day with a clear head. 📌 Step Away from the Screens Revenge trading thrives on impulsivity, and the best way to kill that impulse is to take a break. Go outside. Breathe. The market isn’t going anywhere. Now touch that grass. 📌 Post-Loss Review: What Actually Happened? Was the loss due to a bad strategy, poor execution, or just market randomness? Pull up your trading journal ( you do keep one, right ?) and break it down. 📌 Reaffirm Your Strategy (Tweak if Necessary) If your loss came from a solid trade setup that just didn’t work, then there’s nothing to change. If it came from a mistake, figure out how to prevent that mistake from repeating. 📌 Reduce Risk for the Next Trades After a loss, the worst thing you can do is over-leverage. Instead, cut your position size and take smaller, high-probability trades to rebuild confidence. Howard Marks, a firm believer in market psychology, always reminds investors that the biggest risk is emotional overreaction. Stay disciplined. 📌 Trust the Process The best traders understand that one trade does not define them. They trust their system, stick to their edge, and take losses as part of the game. Trading is a long-term play, not a single battle to be won or lost. 💚 Turning Losses into Lessons Losses are tuition fees for the market’s greatest lessons. Every great trader has taken hits—what separates them from the rest is how they respond. The thing is this can happen anywhere—from an ill-fated trade in the crypto market (it’s wild out there) to an account-battering reaction to anything that pops out of the earnings calendar . How do you deal with a trading loss? And when’s the last time you had to stiffen that upper lip and make your comeback? Share your experience in the comments!
SP:SPXEducation
by TradingView
11
A Triple Top Pattern: Signals and StrategiesA Triple Top Pattern: Signals and Strategies Traders are always on the lookout for reliable analysis tools that can help them make informed trading decisions. One such tool is the triple top trading pattern. It is a bearish reversal formation that can help traders identify potential trend reversals and take advantage of market opportunities. In this FXOpen article, we will explore what the triple top pattern is, what it indicates, and how to identify it on price charts. Keep reading to find examples that will help you understand how to use it in a trading strategy. What Is a Triple Top Pattern? A triple top is a technical analysis pattern that signals a potential reversal in a trend. Is the triple top bullish or bearish? It’s a bearish formation. The pattern occurs when the price of an asset hits the same resistance level three times, failing to break above it on each occasion. This indicates that buyers are losing strength and sellers are starting to dominate the market. It is often seen after a sustained uptrend. Identifying a triple top involves spotting three distinct peaks at roughly the same price level, separated by two troughs. The peaks are formed when the price hits resistance but fails to push through, while the troughs occur when the price retraces after each failed attempt. To confirm a valid triple top, the peaks should be close in height, and the troughs should create a roughly horizontal neckline. The pattern is confirmed when the price breaks below the neckline, signalling that sellers have overtaken buyers. Triple Top Chart Pattern Trading Strategy Once traders have identified the triple top formation, they can use various trading strategies to take advantage of it. However, there are common rules that are used as the basis: - Entry: Traders enter a short position when the price breaks below the neckline, which is the level that connects the two troughs that separate the peaks. This level is a critical support level, and when it is broken, it confirms the triple top candlestick pattern and indicates that the trend is reversing. - Stop Loss: To manage risk, traders place a stop-loss order above the neckline. If the price starts to rise again, the stop-loss order will limit potential losses. The theory states that traders can place a stop-loss on the neckline. However, the price often retests the support level after a breakout, so the risk of an early exit rises. - Take Profit: There are several ways of determining a profit target. The most common technique is to measure the distance between the tops and bottoms and subtract it from the triple top breakout point. Another strategy is to identify the target based on the closest support levels. However, this may limit potential returns if the support is too close to the entry point. Therefore, traders sometimes use trailing stops to lock in potential profits as the price continues to fall. Trading Example In the chart above, the price formed the triple top. We could have entered a short position once the price broke below the neckline and closed it either at the point equal to the distance between the peaks and the neckline or at the closest support level, as the levels are almost equal. However, selling volumes were low (1) at the breakout level, so we could have expected an upcoming bullish reversal. Therefore, we wouldn’t have kept the position beyond the initial take-profit target. How Traders Confirm the Triple Top To confirm the triple top pattern and ensure its validity, traders use a combination of technical tools and indicators. These help confirm that the trend is indeed reversing and not just experiencing a temporary pullback. Here are the key methods traders use: - Neckline Break. The most important confirmation comes when the price breaks below the neckline, which is the horizontal level connecting the lows between the peaks. A clean break suggests a stronger reversal. - Volume Analysis. Volume plays a crucial role in confirming the triple top. Traders look for a surge in selling volume when the price breaks the neckline. If the volume is low during the breakout, the pattern may not be reliable, and a bullish reversal could follow. - Momentum Indicators. Traders often use momentum indicators like the Stochastic Oscillator or Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD). When these indicators show bearish divergence, it signals a potential downward reversal. A negative crossover in the MACD or Stochastic adds further confirmation. - Retest of Neckline. Sometimes, after breaking the neckline, the price may retrace and retest this level as resistance. A failed retest, where the price does not move back above the neckline, confirms that sellers are in control. Triple Top vs Triple Bottom It is important to distinguish between the triple top and the triple bottom chart patterns, as the former is the bearish setup, while the latter is a bullish reversal formation. The triple bottom setup forms when the price hits a particular support level three times and fails to break through it. It suggests that the sellers have lost their strength, and the buyers are starting to take control. The bottoms are separated by two peaks, which occur when the price retraces some of its gains from the support level. Traders use the same principles to trade the triple bottom as they would the triple top but vice versa. They enter a long position when the price breaks above the neckline and set a stop-loss order below it. The take-profit target might equal the distance between bottoms and peaks or be set at the closest resistance level. Triple Top Challenges While the triple top pattern is a valuable tool for spotting reversals, it has its limitations. Traders should be aware of the following challenges: - False Breakouts. The price may break below the neckline only to quickly reverse back, leading to a false signal. This can cause traders to enter losing positions if they act too quickly without further confirmation. - Extended Sideways Movement. Sometimes, the price can stay near the neckline after a breakout, leading to indecision and uncertain market behaviour. This sideways movement can make it difficult to determine if the trend has truly reversed. - Retests Leading to Reversals. After the initial breakout, the price may retest the neckline and move back above it, invalidating the triple top pattern. Traders need to be cautious and set appropriate stop-loss orders to help potentially mitigate risk. Final Thoughts The triple top pattern offers traders a powerful tool for identifying potential market reversals. However, it’s crucial to confirm the pattern and integrate it with other forms of analysis to avoid false signals. Ready to put these insights into action? Open an FXOpen account today, and trade with a broker offering tight spreads, low commissions, and advanced trading platforms. FAQ What Does a Triple Top Mean in Trading? The triple top pattern meaning refers to a bearish reversal formation indicating a potential end to an uptrend. It forms when the price reaches the same resistance level three times without breaking through, suggesting weakening buying momentum and increasing selling pressure. This pattern signals that the asset's price may soon decline. How Do You Confirm the Triple Top Pattern? To confirm a triple top pattern, traders watch for a decisive break below the neckline, which connects the lows between the peaks. Increased trading volume during the breakout strengthens the confirmation, indicating strong seller interest. Technical indicators like the Stochastic Oscillator showing bearish divergence can provide additional validation. Is a Triple Top Bullish? No, a triple top is not bullish; it is a bearish reversal pattern. It signifies that the asset's price has repeatedly failed to surpass a resistance level, indicating diminishing upward momentum. Traders see this as a cue to consider short positions or to exit existing long positions. Is a Triple Top Stronger Than a Double Top? A triple top is generally considered stronger than a double top pattern because the price has failed to break resistance three times instead of two. This extra failed attempt reinforces the strength of the resistance level and increases the likelihood of a significant reversal. However, both patterns are important and should be analysed with other market factors. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Education
by FXOpen
1
Trading Miscalibration: Crypto Aims Too High, FX Aims Too LowI was thinking about something fascinating—the way traders approach different markets and, in my opinion... One of the biggest mistakes traders make is failing to calibrate their expectations based on the market they’re trading. 📌 In crypto, traders dream of 100x gains, refusing to take profits on a 30-50% move because they believe their coin is going to the moon. 📌 In Forex and gold, the same traders shrink their expectations, chasing 20-30 pip moves instead of riding 200-500 pip trends. Ironically, both approaches lead to frustration: 🔴 Crypto traders regret not taking profits when the market crashes. 🔴 FX and gold traders regret not holding longer when the market runs without them. If you want to be a profitable trader, you must align your strategy with the reality of the market you’re trading. ________________________________________ Crypto: Stop Aiming for the Moon—Trade Realistic Outcomes Crypto markets are highly volatile, and while 10x or 100x gains can happen, they are rare and unpredictable. However, many traders have been conditioned to expect extreme returns, leading them to ignore solid 30-50% gains—which are already fantastic trades in any market. 🔴 The Problem: Holding Too Long & Missing Profits Many traders refuse to take profits on a 30-50% move, convinced that a 10x ride is around the corner. But when the market reverses, those unrealized gains disappear—sometimes turning into losses. 🚨 Frustration: "I was up 50%, but I got greedy, and now I’m back to break-even—or worse!" ✅ The Fix: Take Profits at 30-50% Instead of Waiting for 10x ✔️ Take partial profits at key resistance levels. ✔️ Use a trailing stop to lock in gains while allowing for further upside. ✔️ Understand that even professional traders take profits when they’re available—they don’t blindly hold for the next 100x. 📉 Example: If Bitcoin jumps 30% in a month, that’s already a massive move! Instead of waiting for 200%, a disciplined trader locks in profits along the way. Similarly, if an altcoin is up 50% in two weeks, securing profits makes sense—instead of watching it all disappear in a market dump. ________________________________________ FX and Gold: Stop Thinking Small—Aim for Big Market Trends On the other hand, when it comes to Forex and gold, many traders shrink their expectations too much. Instead of capturing multi-hundred-pip moves, they settle for 20-30 pip scalps, constantly entering and exiting the market, exposing themselves to unnecessary whipsaws. 🔴 The Problem: Exiting Too Early & Missing Big Trends Unlike crypto, where traders hold too long, in FX and gold, they don’t hold long enough. Instead of riding a 200-500 pip move, they panic-exit for a small profit, only to watch the market continue without them. 🚨 Frustration: "I closed at 30 pips, but the market kept running for 300 pips! I left so much money on the table!" ✅ The Fix: Target 200-500 Pip Moves Instead of Scalping ✔️ Focus on higher timeframes (4H, daily) for clearer trends. ✔️ Set realistic yet ambitious targets —200-300 pips in Forex, 300-500 pips in gold. ✔️ Use a strong risk-reward ratio (1:2, 1:3, even 1:5) instead of taking premature profits. 📉 Example: • If EUR/USD starts a strong downtrend, why settle for 30 pips when the pair could drop 250 pips in a week? • If gold breaks a major resistance level, a move of 300-500 pips is entirely possible—but you won’t catch it if you exit at 50 pips. ________________________________________ Why Traders Fail to Calibrate Properly So why do traders fall into this misalignment of expectations? 1️⃣ Social Media & Hype Culture – Crypto traders are bombarded with "to the moon" narratives, making them feel like 30-50% gains are not enough. Meanwhile, in Forex, traders get stuck in a scalping mindset, thinking that small, frequent wins are the only way to trade. 2️⃣ Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) vs. Fear of Losing Profits (FOLP) • In crypto, FOMO keeps traders holding too long. They don’t want to miss "the big one," so they refuse to take profits. • In FX and gold, fear of losing small profits makes traders exit too soon. They don’t let trades develop because they fear a pullback. 3️⃣ Misunderstanding Market Structure – Each market moves differently. Crypto is highly volatile but doesn’t always go 10x. Forex and gold move slower but offer consistent multi-hundred-pip trends. Many traders don’t adjust their strategies accordingly. ________________________________________ The Solution: Align Your Strategy with the Market 🔥 In crypto, don’t wait for 10x— start taking profits at 30-50%. 🔥 In FX and gold, don’t settle for 30 pips—hold for 200-500 pip moves. By making this simple mental shift, you’ll: ✅ Trade smarter, not harder ✅ Increase profitability by targeting realistic moves ✅ Reduce stress and overtrading ________________________________________ Final Thoughts: No More Frustration! The calibration problem leads to frustration in both cases: ⚠️ Crypto traders regret not taking profits when the market crashes. ⚠️ FX and gold traders regret not holding longer when the market trends. 💡 The solution? Trade according to the market's behavior, not emotions.
FX:XAUUSDEducation
by Mihai_Iacob
13
Liquidity Grab eurusd Supply & Demand Zones: 🔻 A major supply zone (resistance) is marked above 1.09618, where institutional selling pressure may appear. 🔹 A demand zone (support) is established below 1.09064, providing potential entry opportunities. 📈 Trading Plan & Targets: ✅ Expecting a bullish move from the demand zone as price reacts positively. 🎯 Target 1: 1.09064 – Mid-level liquidity area. 🎯 Target 2: 1.09618 – Major resistance & supply zone. 📌 Smart Money Concept (SMC): 🔹 Price is forming a liquidity sweep before a potential bullish push. 🔹 The structure suggests an accumulation phase, with a breakout confirmation above key levels. 💡 Key Takeaways: 🔹 Bullish bias unless price invalidates the demand zone.
Education
by Greenfireforex
Trading Is Not Gambling : Become A Better Trade Part IOver the last few weeks/months, I've tried to help hundreds of traders learn the difference between trading and gambling. Trading is where you take measured (risk-restricted) attempts to profit from market moves. Gambling is where you let your emotions and GREED overtake your risk management decisions - going to BIG WINS on every trade. I think of gambling in the stock market as a person who continually looks for the big 50% to 150%++ gains on options every day. Someone who will pass up the 20%, 30%, and 40% profits and "let it ride to HERO or ZERO" on most trades. That's not trading. That's flat-out GAMBLING. I'm going to start a new series of training videos to try to help you understand how trading operates and how you need to learn to protect capital while taking strategic opportunities for profits and growth. This is not going to be some dumbed-down example of how to trade. I'm going to try to explain the DOs and DO N'Ts of trading vs. gambling. If you want to be a gambler - then get used to being broke most of the time. I'll work on this video's subsequent parts later today and this week. I hope this helps. At least it is a starting point for what I want to teach all of you. Get some. #trading #research #investing #tradingalgos #tradingsignals #cycles #fibonacci #elliotwave #modelingsystems #stocks #bitcoin #btcusd #cryptos #spy #gold #nq #investing #trading #spytrading #spymarket #tradingmarket #stockmarket #silver
AMEX:SPYEducation
by BradMatheny
27
Stop chasing 20-30 pips if you want to become profitableOne of the biggest obstacles for traders who want to become consistently profitable is the mindset of chasing small 20-30 pip moves. While it may seem appealing to enter and exit trades quickly for immediate profits, this strategy is often inefficient, risky, and unsustainable in the long run. Here’s why you should change your approach if you want to succeed in trading. ________________________________________ 1. Trading Costs Eat Into Your Profits When you target small moves, you need to open and close many trades. This means that spreads and commissions will eat up a significant portion of your profits. If you have a spread of 2-3 pips (depending on the pair) and you’re only aiming for 20-30 pips per trade, a consistent percentage of your potential gains is lost to execution costs. ________________________________________ 2. High Risk Compared to Reward A smart trader focuses on a favorable risk-reward ratio, such as 1:2, 1:3 or even 1:4. When you chase just 20-30 pips, your stop-loss has to be very tight, making you highly vulnerable to the normal volatility of the market. An unexpected news release or a liquidity spike can stop you out before the price even reaches your target. ________________________________________ 3. You Miss Big Moves and Real Opportunities Professional traders focus on larger trends and significant price movements of hundreds of pips. The market doesn’t move in a straight line; it goes through consolidations, pullbacks, and major trends. If you’re busy trading short-term 20-30 pip moves, you’ll likely miss the big trends that offer more sustainable profits and better risk management. ________________________________________ 4. Increased Stress and Emotional Trading Short-term trading requires constant monitoring and quick decision-making. This increases your level of stress and negative emotions like fear and greed, leading to costly mistakes. In the long run, this trading style is mentally exhausting and difficult to sustain. ________________________________________ How to Change Your Approach to Become Profitable ✅ Think in terms of larger trends – Focus on 200-300+ pip moves instead of small fluctuations. ✅ Aim for a strong risk-reward ratio – Look for setups with at least 1:2 risk-reward to maximize your profits. ✅ Use higher timeframes – Charts like 4H or daily provide clearer signals and reduce market noise. ✅ Be patient and wait for the best setups – Don’t enter trades just for the sake of activity; wait for high-probability opportunities.
Education
by Mihai_Iacob
43
Geopolitical Analysis and Impacts on Currency Markets Hello, my name is Andrea Russo and today I want to talk to you about how recent geopolitical news is impacting the Forex market, analyzing the main currency pairs and providing a detailed technical picture. Current Geopolitical Context This week, the geopolitical landscape has been characterized by a series of significant events. Among them, tensions between the United States and Russia have dominated the scene, with a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that has opened up the possibility of a negotiation in Ukraine. However, the situation on the ground remains critical, with Russian forces advancing in several Ukrainian regions2. Furthermore, uncertainty over gas supplies in Europe has led to significant volatility in energy markets, with the price of gas falling by 3%. Impacts on the Forex Market Geopolitical tensions have had a direct impact on the Forex market, influencing volatility and capital flows. For example: EUR/USD: The pair has been showing a bearish trend, influenced by economic uncertainty in Europe and the strength of the dollar as a safe haven. USD/JPY: The dollar has gained ground against the yen, thanks to the perception of economic stability in the United States. GBP/USD: The British pound has been under pressure due to concerns about economic growth in the United Kingdom. Technical Analysis A technical analysis of the major currency pairs reveals the following trends: EUR/USD: Technical indicators suggest a "sell" position, with key support at 1.0832 and resistance at 1.0862. USD/JPY: The pair is showing "buy" signals, with an uptrend supported by resistance at 148.09. GBP/USD: Indicators are mixed, with resistance at 1.2944 and support at 1.2920. Conclusion Geopolitical dynamics continue to play a crucial role in determining the movements of the Forex market. Investors should carefully monitor global developments and use technical tools to make informed decisions. The current volatility offers opportunities, but also requires careful risk management. I hope this analysis has been useful to you in better understanding the connections between geopolitics and Forex. Stay tuned for more updates!
Education
by Andrea_Russo_SwipeUP
Best GOLD XAUUSD Consolidation Trading Strategy Explained In article , you will learn how to identify and trade consolidation on Gold easily. I will share with you my consolidation trading strategy and a lot of useful XAUUSD trading tips. 1. How to Identify Consolidation In order to trade consolidation, you should learn to recognize that. The best and reliable way to spot consolidation is to analyse a price action. Consolidation is the state of the market when it STOPS updating higher highs & higher lows in a bullish trend OR lower lows & lower highs in a bearish trend. In other words, it is the situation when the market IS NOT trending. Most of the time, during such a period, the price forms a horizontal channel. Above is a perfect example of a consolidation on Gold chart on a daily. We see a horizontal parallel channel with multiple equal or almost equal highs and lows inside. For a correct trading of a consolidation, you should correctly underline its boundaries. Following the chart above, the upper boundary - the resistance, is based on the highest high and the highest candle close. The lowest candle close and the lowest low compose the lower boundary - the support. 2. What Consolidation Means Spotting the consolidating market, it is important to understand its meaning and the processes that happen inside. Consolidation signifies that the market found a fair value. Growth and bullish impulses occur because of the excess of demand on the market, while bearish moves happen because of the excess of supply. When supply and demand find a balance, sideways movements start . Look at the price movements on Gold above. First, the market was rising because of a strong buying pressure. Finally, the excess of buying interest was curbed by the sellers. The market started to trade with a sideways range and found the equilibrium At some moment, demand started to exceed the supply again and the consolidation was violated . The price updated the high and continued growth. Usually, the violation of the consolidation happens because of some fundamental event that makes the market participants reassess the value of the asset. At the same time, the institutional traders, the smart money accumulate their trading positions within the consolidation ranges. As the accumulation completes, they push the prices higher/lower, violating the consolidation. 3. How to Trade Consolidation Once you identified a consolidation on Gold, there are 2 strategies to trade it. The resistance of the consolidation provides a perfect zone to sell the market from. You simply put your stop loss above the resistance and your take profit should be the upper boundary of the support. That is the example of a long trade from support of the consolidation on Gold. The support of the sideways movement will be a safe zone to buy Gold from. Stop loss will lie below the support zone, take profit will be the lower boundary of the resistance. AS the price reached a take profit level and tested a resistance, that is a short trade from that. You can follow such a strategy till the price violates the consolidation and establishes a trend. The market may stay a very extended period of time in sideways, providing a lot of profitable trading opportunities. What I like about Gold consolidation trading is that the strategy is very straightforward and completely appropriate for beginners. It works on any time frame and can be used for intraday, swing trading and scalping ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️ I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
TRADENATION:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
4
The Ultimate Guide to Price Action TradingIntroduction to Price Action Price action trading is a powerful method that relies solely on analyzing price movements without using indicators. Instead of following lagging signals, traders use historical price movements to predict future market behavior. This approach helps in making informed decisions based on real market sentiment. Why Use Price Action? Many traders prefer price action because it simplifies trading by focusing only on the movement of price rather than complex technical indicators. Here are some key advantages: Eliminates reliance on lagging indicators: Indicators often generate signals after the price has already moved significantly. Price action provides real-time insights. Provides a clearer picture of market sentiment: By analyzing candlestick formations and key levels, traders can assess where the market is likely to move next. Works across all timeframes and markets: Whether you trade stocks, forex, or crypto, price action techniques remain relevant. Market Structure & Trend Analysis Understanding market structure is key to recognising trends and making profitable trades. Price moves in patterns, forming trends, consolidations, and reversals. Identifying Trends A trend is a general direction in which the price is moving. Identifying trends early can give traders a significant edge. Uptrend: Characterized by higher highs (HH) and higher lows (HL). This indicates strong buying pressure. Downtrend: Identified by lower highs (LH) and lower lows (LL). This signals dominant selling pressure. Ranging Market: Occurs when price moves sideways, forming equal highs and lows, showing indecision. Using Market Structure to Trade Follow the dominant trend for higher probability trades rather than trading against the market direction. Look for breakouts from consolidation zones, which often lead to explosive moves in the market. Identify trend reversals by observing changes in market structure, such as a break of previous highs or lows. Key Support & Resistance Levels Support and resistance levels help traders identify where price might react, leading to potential trade opportunities. Types of Support & Resistance Horizontal Levels: These are static price levels where the price has reversed multiple times, acting as strong barriers. Trendlines: These dynamic levels move with price and act as diagonal support or resistance. Psychological Levels: Round numbers like 100, 200, or 1.0000 in forex often act as key psychological barriers for traders. How to Use Support & Resistance Buying near support and selling near resistance is a classic strategy used by traders. Breakout trading: If the price breaks a key level with strong momentum, it often continues in that direction. Retest confirmation: After a breakout, the price may return to test the level before continuing its move. This offers a high-probability entry. Candlestick Patterns & Their Meaning Candlestick patterns provide insights into market sentiment and potential reversals or continuations. Single Candlestick Patterns Pin Bar (Rejection Candlestick): A pin bar has a long wick and a small body, showing strong rejection at a price level. It signals a potential reversal. Doji: A candlestick with a small body and wicks on both sides, indicating indecision in the market. Hammer & Shooting Star: The hammer forms at the bottom of a downtrend, signaling reversal, while the shooting star appears at the top, suggesting a potential sell-off. Multi-Candlestick Patterns Engulfing Pattern: A bullish engulfing pattern occurs when a large green candle completely engulfs the previous red candle, signaling a strong upward move. The opposite is true for bearish engulfing patterns. Morning Star & Evening Star: These three-candle patterns indicate a shift in momentum, either bullish or bearish. Head & Shoulders: A reversal pattern that suggests a shift from an uptrend to a downtrend or vice versa. Price Action Strategies Breakout Trading Breakout trading involves identifying key price levels where a breakout is likely to occur. This can be from a range, a pattern like a triangle, or a resistance level. Identify consolidation zones where price has been trading in a tight range. Enter a trade when the price breaks above resistance or below support with strong volume. Use stop-losses to avoid false breakouts, placing them just outside the consolidation zone. Reversal Trading Reversal trading focuses on identifying trend exhaustion and potential reversals. Look for exhaustion at key levels, where price struggles to move further. Confirm reversals with candlestick patterns such as pin bars, engulfing patterns, or head & shoulders formations. Use risk-reward ratios of at least 1:2 to maximize profits on successful reversals. Trend Continuation Trading Enter on pullbacks within an established trend, rather than chasing breakouts. Look for price bouncing off moving averages or trendlines as confirmation. Ride trends until momentum weakens, using trailing stop-losses to lock in profits. Trading Without Indicators Analysing raw price action helps traders understand market movement without distractions. Key Steps for Chart Analysis Identify the overall market trend by checking higher highs or lower lows. Mark key support and resistance levels to find potential trade areas. Observe candlestick formations that provide confirmation for entries. Wait for confirmation before entering a trade to avoid false signals. Risk Management & Psychology in Price Action Trading A strong mindset and risk management strategy are crucial for long-term success. Risk Management Tips Use stop-losses to limit risk and prevent large drawdowns. Risk no more than 1-2% of capital per trade, ensuring longevity. Always aim for a favorable risk-reward ratio, such as 1:2 or 1:3. Psychological Tips Stay disciplined and avoid emotional trading, as emotions can lead to impulsive decisions. Accept losses as part of the process and learn from them. Stick to a well-defined trading plan, reducing uncertainty in decision-making. Final Thoughts & Next Steps Mastering price action trading takes time, patience, and consistent practice. Here’s how you can improve: Continuously analyze charts and refine your strategy by backtesting historical data. Keep a trading journal to track progress and identify areas for improvement. Stay updated with market conditions, as price action can behave differently in different market environments. By applying these techniques, you can develop a strong foundation in price action trading and make more informed trading decisions. Stay disciplined, keep learning, and happy trading! __________________________________________ Thanks for your support! If you found this idea helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀 Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈
Education
by TehThomas
48
Popular Hedging Strategies for Traders in 2025Popular Hedging Strategies for Traders in 2025 Hedging strategies are key tools for traders seeking to potentially manage risks while staying active in dynamic markets. By strategically placing positions, traders aim to reduce exposure to adverse price movements without stepping away from potential opportunities. This article explores the fundamentals of hedging, its role in trading, and four hedging strategies examples across forex and CFDs. What Is Hedging in Trading? Hedging in trading is a risk management strategy that involves taking positions designed to offset potential losses in an existing investment. This concept of hedging in finance is widely used to reduce market volatility’s impact while maintaining the potential opportunity for returns. Rather than avoiding risk entirely, traders manage it via hedging strategies, meaning they have protection against unexpected market movements. So, what are hedges? Essentially, they are investments used as protective measures to balance exposure. For example, a trader holding a CFD (Contract for Difference) on a rising stock might open a position on a correlated asset that moves in the opposite direction. If the stock’s price falls, returns from the offsetting position can potentially reduce the overall impact of the loss. Hedging is common in forex trading, where traders may take positions in currency pairs with historical correlations. For instance, a trader exposed to EUR/USD might hedge using USD/CAD, as these pairs often move inversely. Similarly, traders dealing with indices might diversify into different sectors or regions to spread risk. Importantly, hedging involves costs, such as spreads or holding fees, which can reduce potential returns. It’s not a guaranteed method of avoiding losses but rather a calculated approach to navigating uncertainty. Why Traders Use Hedging Strategies Different types of hedging strategies may help traders manage volatility, protect portfolio value, or balance short- and long-term goals. 1. Managing Market Volatility Markets are unpredictable, and sudden price swings can impact even well-thought-out positions. Hedging this risk may help reduce the impact of unexpected volatility, particularly during periods of heightened uncertainty, such as geopolitical events, economic announcements, or earnings reports. For instance, a forex trader might hedge against fluctuations in a currency pair by taking positions in negatively correlated pairs, aiming to soften the blow of adverse price movements. 2. Balancing Long- and Short-Term Goals Hedging allows traders to pursue longer-term strategies without being overly exposed to short-term risks. For example, a trader with a bullish outlook on an asset may use a hedge to protect against temporary downturns. This balance enables traders to maintain their primary position while weathering market turbulence. 3. Protecting Portfolio Value Hedging strategies may help investors safeguard their overall portfolio value during market corrections or bearish trends. By diversifying positions or using opposing trades, they can potentially reduce significant drawdowns. For instance, shorting an index CFD while holding long positions in individual stocks can help offset sector-wide losses. 4. Improving Decision-Making Flexibility Hedging provides traders with the flexibility to adjust their strategies as market conditions evolve. By mitigating downside risks, they can focus on refining their long-term approach without being forced into reactive decisions during volatile periods. This level of control can be vital for maintaining consistency in trading performance. Common Hedging Strategies in Trading While hedging doesn’t eliminate risks entirely, it can provide a layer of protection against adverse market movements. Some of the most commonly used strategies for hedging include: 1. Hedging with Correlated Instruments One of the most straightforward hedging techniques involves trading assets that have a known historical correlation. Correlated instruments typically move in alignment, either positively or negatively, which traders can leverage to offset risk. For example, a trader holding a long CFD position on the S&P 500 index might hedge by shorting the Nasdaq-100 index. These two indices are often positively correlated, meaning that if the S&P 500 declines, the Nasdaq-100 might follow suit. By holding an opposing position in a similar asset, losses in one position can potentially be offset by gains in the other. This approach works across various asset classes, including forex. A well-planned forex hedging strategy can soften the blow of market volatility, particularly during economic events. Consider EUR/USD and USD/CAD: these pairs typically show a negative correlation due to the shared role of the US dollar. A trader might hedge a EUR/USD long position with a USD/CAD long position, reducing exposure to unexpected dollar strength or weakness. However, correlation-based hedging requires regular monitoring. Correlations can change depending on market conditions, and a breakdown in historical patterns could result in both positions moving against the trader. Tools like correlation matrices can help traders analyse relationships between assets before using this strategy. 2. Hedging in the Same Instrument Hedging within the same instrument involves taking opposing positions on a single asset to potentially manage risks without exiting the original trade. This hedging strategy is often used when traders suspect short-term price movements might work against their primary position but still believe in its long-term potential. For example, imagine a trader holding a long CFD position in a major stock like Apple. The trader anticipates the stock price will rise over the long term but is concerned about an upcoming earnings report or market-wide sell-off that could lead to short-term losses. To hedge, the trader opens a short position in the same stock, locking in the current value of their trade. If the stock’s price falls, the short position may offset the losses in the long position, reducing overall exposure to the downside. This is often done with a position size equivalent to or less than the original position, depending on risk tolerance and market outlook. A trader with high conviction in a short-term movement may use an equivalent position size, while a lower conviction could mean using just a partial hedge. 3. Sector or Market Hedging for Indices When trading index CFDs, hedging can involve diversifying exposure across sectors or markets. This strategy helps reduce the impact of sector-specific risks while maintaining exposure to broader market trends. For example, if a trader has a portfolio with exposure to technology stocks and expects short-term declines in the sector, they can open a short position in a technology-focused index like Nasdaq-100 to offset potential losses. Another common approach is geographic diversification. Traders with exposure to European indices, such as the FTSE 100, might hedge with positions in US indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Regional differences in economic conditions can make this a practical strategy, as markets often react differently to global events. When implementing sector or market hedging, traders should consider the weighting of individual stocks within an index and how they contribute to overall performance. This strategy is used by traders who have a clear understanding of the underlying drivers of the indices involved. 4. Stock Pair Trading Pair trading is a more advanced hedging technique that involves identifying two related assets and taking opposing positions. This approach is often used in equities or indices where stocks within the same sector tend to move in correlation with each other. For instance, a trader might identify two technology companies with similar fundamentals, one appearing undervalued and the other overvalued. The trader could go long on the undervalued stock while shorting the overvalued one. If the sector experiences a downturn, the losses in the long position may potentially be offset by gains in the short position. Pair trading requires significant analysis, including fundamental and technical evaluations of the assets involved. While this strategy offers a built-in hedge, it can be risky if the chosen pair doesn’t perform as expected or if external factors disrupt the relationship between the assets. Key Considerations When Hedging What does it mean to hedge a stock or other asset? To fully understand the concept, it’s essential to recognise several factors: - Costs: Hedging isn’t free. Spreads, commissions, and overnight holding fees can accumulate, reducing overall potential returns. Traders should calculate these costs to ensure the hedge is worth implementing. - Market Conditions: Hedging strategies are not static. They require adaptation to changing market conditions, including shifts in volatility, liquidity, and macroeconomic factors. - Correlation Risks: Correlations between assets are not always consistent. Unexpected changes in relationships driven by fundamental events can reduce the effectiveness of a hedge. - Timing: The timing of both the initial position and the hedge is critical. Poor timing can lead to increased losses or missed potential opportunities. The Bottom Line Hedging strategies are popular among traders looking to manage risks while staying active in the markets. By balancing positions and leveraging tools like correlated instruments or partial hedges, traders aim to navigate volatility with greater confidence. However, hedging doesn’t exclude risks and requires analysis, planning, and regular evaluation. If you're ready to explore hedging strategies in forex, stock, commodity, and index CFDs, consider opening an FXOpen account to access four advanced trading platforms, competitive spreads, and more than 700 instruments to use in hedging. FAQ What Is Hedging in Trading? Hedging in trading is a risk management approach where traders take offsetting positions to potentially reduce losses from adverse market movements. Rather than avoiding risk entirely, hedge trading aims to manage it, providing a form of mitigation while maintaining market exposure. For example, a trader with a long position on an asset might open a short position on a related asset to offset potential losses during market volatility. What Are the Three Hedging Strategies? The three common hedging strategies include: hedging with correlated instruments, where traders take opposing positions in assets with historical relationships; hedging in the same instrument, where a trader suspects a movement against the direction of their original position and opens a trade in the opposite direction; and sector or market hedging, where a trader uses indices or regional diversification to reduce exposure to specific market risks. What Is Hedging in Stocks? Hedging in stocks involves taking additional positions to offset risks associated with holding other stocks. This can include shorting related stocks, trading negatively correlated indices, or using market diversification to reduce exposure to sector-specific downturns. How to Hedge Stocks? To hedge stocks, traders typically use strategies like short-selling correlated equities, diversifying into other asset classes, or opening opposing positions in related indices. The aim is to limit downside while maintaining some exposure to potential market opportunities. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Education
by FXOpen
1
Crypto: From "HODL Paradise" to a Speculator’s PlaygroundDuring past bull markets, a simple HODL strategy worked wonders. Bitcoin and Ethereum set the market trend, and altcoins followed with explosive gains. If you bought the right project before the hype wave, the profits were massive. However, today’s market is vastly different: ✅ Liquidity is unevenly distributed – Only a handful of major projects attract serious capital, while many altcoins stagnate. ✅ Investors are more sophisticated – Institutional players and smart money dominate, making retail-driven pumps less frequent. ✅ Not all coins pump together – Only projects with real utility and solid tokenomics see sustainable growth. ________________________________________ 2. What Matters Now? Strategies for the New Crypto Era To succeed in the current market, you need a more calculated approach. Here’s what you should focus on: 🔹 Technical Analysis You can’t just buy blindly and hope for a moonshot. Understanding support and resistance levels, price patterns, trading volumes, etc. is crucial. Example: If an altcoin has surged 50% in a few days and reaches a strong resistance level, it’s not a buying opportunity—it’s a sell signal for short-term traders. 🔹 Tokenomics and Supply Mechanics In 2017 and 2021, as long as a project had a compelling whitepaper, it could attract investors. Now, you need to analyze total token supply, distribution models, utility, and vesting schedules. Example: If a project has an aggressive vesting schedule where early investors and the team receive new tokens monthly, there will be constant selling pressure. No matter how good the technology is, you don’t want to be caught in a dumping cycle. 🔹 Market Psychology and Speculative Cycles Crypto is driven by emotions. You need to recognize when the crowd is euphoric (time to sell) and when fear dominates (time to buy). Example: If a project is all over Twitter, Telegram, and TikTok, it might already be near the top. On the other hand, when a solid project is ignored and trading volume is low, it could be a prime accumulation opportunity. ________________________________________ 3. Realistic Expectations: 30-50-100% Are the New "100x" If catching a 10x or 100x was common in the past, those days are largely over. Instead, 30-50-100% gains are far more realistic and sustainable. Why? • The market is more mature, and liquidity doesn’t flood into random projects. • Most "100x" gains were pump & dump schemes, which are now avoided by smart investors. • Experienced traders take profits earlier, limiting parabolic price action. Recommended strategy: 1. Enter early in a solid project with clear utility and strong tokenomics. 2. Set realistic profit targets (e.g., take 30% profit at +50%, another 30% at +100%, and hold the rest long-term). 3. Don’t wait for a “super cycle” to make money—take profits consistently. ________________________________________ 4. Conclusion: Adapt or Get Left Behind The crypto market has evolved from a “HODL Paradise” where almost any coin could 10-100x into a speculator’s playground, favoring skilled traders and informed investors. To stay profitable, you must: ✅ Master technical analysis and identify accumulation vs. distribution zones. ✅ Pick projects with solid tokenomics and avoid those with aggressive unlock schedules. ✅ Set realistic expectations—forget about 100x and aim for sustainable 30-100% gains. ✅ Stay flexible and adapt to market psychology and emerging trends. Crypto is no longer a game of luck. It’s a game of knowledge and strategy. If you don’t adapt, you’ll be stuck waiting for a 100x that may never come. So, at least this is my opinion. But what about you? Do you think crypto is still a "HODL paradise," or are we fully in the era of skilled traders and speculators? Will we ever see another cycle where almost everything pumps together, or is selective investing the new reality? I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below and let’s discuss
BITFINEX:BTCUSDEducation
by Mihai_Iacob
How To Properly Read Open Interest (OI) Identify Trends $VARAIn crypto, especially when trading shit coins, measure OI on BTC, ETH, and any other asset that has futures up against whatever you are trading. Most importantly identify positive or negative correlation between the asset pair and TRADE accordingly. i.e. if you are measuring OI for USDX or DXY know that it will have negative correlation toward your risk asset whatever it is. Open Interest and Volume ARE NOT THE SAME THING! Volume is the measure of contracts settled in a trading session (hourly, daily, monthly, etc.) Open interest (or OI for short) is the total number of contracts still outstanding. OI and order wall size are correlated. OI is charted. Increasing OI means an increase in liquidity i.e. open contracts. Decreasing OI means that there is a decrease in liquidity i.e. liquidity is leaving the market either cash or asset. Open Interest can help you identify trend shifts. Use it along with order flow the compliment each other. OI Rising - Market trends up - Volume increasing - Trend will continue OI Falling - Market trends up - Volume decreasing - Trend will turn bullish OI Rising - Market trends down - Volume rising - Strong bearish continuation OI Falling - Market trends down - Volume falling - Bearish bias is lessening Notice in the above simplified examples that volume MUST be paired with OI to be useful. One might mistake that volume on it's own can be used to judge trends. Open interest will increase as more traders enter the market which means often that money is coming into the market. OI will decrease as traders exit the market or as contracts are closed. This means that money is leaving the market i.e. less buyers
COINBASE:BTCUSDEducation
by fritbjorn
Institute of Intermediation and 24 Coffee LoversWhen the market is efficient, the most efficient strategy will yield zero financial return for the investor. Therefore, firstly, it is necessary to strive to find inefficiencies in the market itself to apply a strategy that will be effective for it. What creates market inefficiency? First, there are delays in disseminating important information about the company, such as the approval of a contract with a major customer or an accident at a plant. If current and potential investors do not receive this information immediately, the market becomes inefficient at the time such an event occurs. In other words, objective reality is not considered by market participants. This makes the stock price obsolete. Secondly, the market becomes inefficient during periods of high volatility. I would describe it this way: when uncertainty hits everyone, emotions become the main force influencing prices. At such times, the market value of a company can change significantly within a single day. Investors have too many different assessments of what is happening to find the necessary balance. Volatility can be triggered by the bankruptcy of a systemically important company (for example, as happened with Lehman Brothers), the outbreak of military action, or a natural disaster. Third, there is the massive action of large players in a limited market - a "bull in a china shop" situation. A great example is the story of 2021, when the Reddit community drove up the price of GameStop shares, forcing hedge funds to cover their short positions at sky-high prices. Fourthly, these are ineffective strategies of the market participants themselves. On August 1, 2012, American stock market trading company Knight Capital caused abnormal volatility in more than 100 stocks by sending millions of orders to the exchange over a 45-minute period. For example, Wizzard Software Corporation shares rose from $3.50 to $14.76. This behavior was caused by a bug in the code that Knight Capital used for algorithmic trading. The combination of these and other factors creates inefficiencies that are exploited by trained traders or investors to make a profit. However, there are market participants who receive their income in any market. They are above the fray and are engaged in supporting and developing the infrastructure itself. In mathematics, there is a concept called a “zero-sum game”. This is any game where the sum of the possible gains is equal to the sum of the losses. For example, the derivatives market is a perfect embodiment of a zero-sum game. If someone makes a profit on a futures contract, he always has a partner with a similar loss. However, if you dive deeper, you will realize that this is a negative-sum game, since in addition to profit and loss, there are commissions that you pay to the infrastructure: brokers, exchanges, regulators, etc. To understand the value of these market participants and that you are paying them well, imagine a modern world without them. There is only a company issuing shares and investors in them. Such a company has its own software, and you connect to it via the Internet to buy or sell shares. The company offers you a quote for buying and selling shares ( bid-ask spread ). The asking price ( ask ) will be influenced by the company's desire to offer a price that will help it not lose control over the company, consider all expected income, dividends, etc. The purchase price ( bid ) will be influenced by the company's desire to preserve the cash received in the capital market, as well as to earn money on its own shares by offering a lower price. In general, in such a situation, you will most likely get a huge difference between the purchase and sale prices - a wide bid-ask spread . Of course, the company understands that the wider the bid-ask spread , the less interest investors have in participating in such trading. Therefore, it would be advisable to allow investors to participate in the formation of quotes. In other words, a company can open its order book to anyone who wants to participate. Under such conditions, the bid-ask spread will be narrowed by bids from a wide range of investors. As a result, we will get a situation where each company will have its own order book and its own software to connect to it. From a portfolio investor's perspective, this would be a real nightmare. In such a world, investing in not one, but several companies would require managing multiple applications and accounts for each company at the same time. This will create a demand from investors for one app and one account to manage investments in multiple companies. Such a request will also be supported by the company issuing the shares, as it will allow it to attract investors from other companies. This is where the broker comes in. Now everything is much better and more convenient. Investors get the opportunity to invest in multiple companies through one account and one application, and companies get investors from each other. However, the stock market will still be segmented, as not all brokers will support cooperation with individual companies, for technical or other reasons. The market will be fragmented among many brokerage companies. The logical solution would be to create another market participant that would have contracts with each of the companies and universal software for trading their shares. The only thing is that it will be brokers, not investors, who will connect to such a system. You may have already guessed that this is an exchange. On the one hand, the exchange registers shares of companies, on the other hand, it provides access to trading them through brokers who are its members. Of course, the modern structure of the stock market is more complex: it involves clearing, depository companies, registrars of rights to shares, etc.* The formation of such institutions and their licensing is handled by a regulator, for example, the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States ( SEC ). As a rule, the regulator is responsible for legislative initiatives in the field of the securities market, licensing of market participants, monitoring violations in the market and supporting its efficiency, protecting investors from unfair manipulation. *Clearing services are activities to determine, control and fulfill obligations under transactions of financial market participants. Depository services - services for the storage of securities and the recording of rights to them. Thus, by making a transaction on the exchange, we contribute to the maintenance of this necessary infrastructure. Despite the fashion for decentralization, it is still difficult to imagine how one can ensure speed, convenience and access to a wide range of assets due to the absence of an intermediary institution. The other side of the coin of this institution is infrastructure risk. You can show phenomenal results in the market, but if your broker goes bankrupt, all your efforts will be nullified. Therefore, before choosing an intermediary, it is useful to conduct a mental survey of the person you will be dealing with. Below you will find different types of intermediaries, which I have arranged according to their distance from the central elements of the infrastructure (exchanges, clearing houses, depositories). Prime broker Exchange Membership: mandatory License: mandatory Acceptance and accounting of your funds/shares: mandatory Order execution: mandatory Clearing and depository services: mandatory Marginal services: mandatory Remuneration: commission income from trades, clearing, depository and margin services This category includes well-known financial houses with history and high capitalization. They are easily verified through lists of exchange members, clearing and depository companies. They provide services not only to individuals, but also to banks, funds and next-level brokers. Broker Exchange membership: mandatory License: mandatory Acceptance and accounting of your funds/shares: mandatory Order execution: mandatory Clearing and depository services: on the prime broker side Margin services: on the prime broker side or own Remuneration: commission income from trades and margin services This category includes intermediaries with a focus on order routing. They delegate participation in depository and clearing services to a prime broker. However, such brokers can also be easily verified in the lists of exchange members. Sub-broker Exchange Membership: no License: mandatory Acceptance and accounting of your funds/shares: mandatory Order execution: on the broker or prime broker side Clearing and depository services: on the prime broker side Margin services: on the broker or prime broker side Remuneration: commission income from trades This category includes brokers who have a brokerage license in their country, but do not have membership in foreign exchanges. To provide trading services on these exchanges, they enter into agreements with brokers or prime brokers from another country. They can be easily verified by license on the website of the regulator of the country of registration. Introducing Broker Exchange Membership: no License: optional, depending on the country of regulation Acceptance and accounting of your funds / shares: no Order execution: on the side of the sub-broker, broker or prime broker Clearing and depository services: on the prime broker side Margin services: on the broker or prime broker side Remuneration: commission income for the attracted client and/or a share of the commissions paid by them This category includes companies that are not members of the exchange. Their activities may not require a license, since they do not accept funds from clients, but only assist in opening an account with one of the top-tier brokers. This is a less transparent level, since such an intermediary cannot be verified through the exchange and regulator’s website (unless licensing is required). Therefore, if an intermediary of this level asks you to transfer some money to his account, most likely you are dealing with a fraudster. All four categories of participants are typical for the stock market. Its advantage over the over-the-counter market is that you can always check the financial instrument on the exchange website, as well as those who provide services for its trading (membership - on the exchange website, license - on the regulator's website). Pay attention to the country of origin of the broker's license. You will receive maximum protection in the country where you have citizenship. In case of any claims against the broker, communication with the regulator of another country may be difficult. As for the over-the-counter market, this segment typically trades shares of small-cap companies (not listed on the exchange), complex derivatives and contracts for difference ( CFD ). This is a market where dealers rule, not brokers and exchanges. Unlike a broker, they sell you their open position, often with a lot of leverage. Therefore, trading with a dealer is a priori a more significant risk. In conclusion, it should be noted that the institution of intermediation plays a key role in the development of the stock market. It arose as a natural need of its participants for concentration of supply and demand, greater speed and security of financial transactions. To get a feel for this, let me tell you a story. New Amsterdam, 1640s A warm wind from the Hudson brought the smell of salt and freshly cut wood. The damp logs of the palisade, dug into the ground along the northern boundary of the settlement, smelled of resin and new hopes. Here, on the edge of civilization, where Dutch colonists were reclaiming their homes and future fortunes from the wild forest, everything was built quickly, but with a view to lasting for centuries. The wooden wall built around the northern border of the town was not only a defense against raids, but also a symbol. A symbol of the border between order and chaos, between the ambitions of European settlers and the freedom of these lands. Over the years, the fortification evolved into a real fortification: by 1653, Peter Stuyvesant, appointed governor of New Netherland by the West India Company, ordered the wall to be reinforced with a palisade. It was now twelve feet high, and armed sentries stood on guard towers. But even the strongest walls do not last forever. Half a century after their construction, in 1685, a road was built along the powerful palisade. The street received a simple and logical name - Wall Street. It soon became a bustling commercial artery for the growing city. In 1699, when the English authorities had already established themselves here finally, the wall was dismantled. She disappeared, but Wall Street remained. A century has passed Now, at the end of the 18th century, there were no walls or guard towers on this street. Instead, a plane tree grew here - a large, spreading one, the only witness to the times when the Dutch still owned this city. Traders, dealers, and sea captains met under its shadow. Opposite the buttonwood tree stood the Tontine Coffee House, a place where not just respectable people gathered, but those who understood that money makes this world go round. They exchanged securities right on the pavement, negotiated over a cup of steaming coffee, and discussed deals that could change someone's fate. Decisions were made quickly - a word, backed up by a handshake, was enough. It was a time when honor was worth more than gold. But the world was changing. The volume of trades grew, and chaos demanded rules. May 17, 1792 That spring day turned out to be decisive. Under the branches of an old buttonwood tree, 24 New York brokers gathered to start a new order. The paper they signed contained only two points: trades are made only between their own, without auctioneers, and the commission is fixed at 0.25%. The document was short but historic. It was called the Buttonwood Agreement, after the tree under which it was signed. Here, amid the smell of fresh coffee and ink, the New York Stock Exchange was born. Soon, deals were being concluded under the new rules. The first papers to be traded were those of The Bank of New York , whose headquarters were just a few steps away at 1 Wall Street. Thus, under the shade of an old tree, the history of Wall Street began. A story that will one day change the whole world. Buttonwood Agreement. A fresco by an unknown artist who adorns the walls of the New York Stock Exchange.
NYSE:BACEducation
by Be_Capy
Behind the DCA Strategy: What It Is and How It WorksWho invented the Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) investment strategy? The concept of Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) was formalized and popularized by economists and investors throughout the 20th century, particularly with the growth of the U.S. stock market. One of the first to promote this strategy was Benjamin Graham , considered the father of value investing and author of the famous book The Intelligent Investor (published in 1949). Graham highlighted how DCA could help reduce the risk of buying assets at excessively high prices and improve investor discipline. When and How Did Dollar Cost Averaging Originate? The concept of DCA began to take shape in the early decades of the 20th century when financial institutions introduced automatic purchase programs for savers. However, it gained popularity among retail investors in the 1950s and 1960s with the rise of mutual funds. Overview The core principle of DCA involves investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals (e.g., every month. This approach allows investors to purchase more units when prices are low and fewer units when prices are high, thereby reducing the impact of market volatility. Why Was DCA Developed? The strategy was developed to address key challenges faced by investors, including: 1. Reducing Market Timing Risk Investing a fixed amount periodically eliminates the need to predict the perfect market entry point, reducing the risk of buying at peaks. 2. Discipline and Financial Planning DCA helps investors maintain financial discipline, making investments more consistent and predictable. 3. Mitigating Volatility Spreading trades over a long period reduces the impact of market fluctuations and minimizes the risk of experiencing a significant drop immediately after a large investment. 4. Ease of Implementation The strategy is simple to apply and does not require constant market monitoring, making it accessible to all types of investors. Types of DCA Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) is an investment strategy that can be implemented in two main ways: Time-Based DCA → Entries occur at regular intervals regardless of price. Price-Based DCA → Entries occur only when the price meets specific criteria. 1. Time-Based DCA How It Works: The investor buys a fixed amount of an asset at regular intervals (e.g., weekly, monthly). Entries occur regardless of market price. Example: An investor decides to buy $200 worth of Bitcoin every month, without worrying whether the price has gone up or down. 2. Price-Based DCA How It Works: Purchases occur only when the price drops below a predefined threshold. The investor sets price levels at which purchases will be executed (e.g., every -5%). This approach is more selective and allows for buying at a “discount” compared to the market trend. Example: An investor decides to buy $200 worth of Bitcoin only when the price drops by at least 5% compared to the last entry. Challenges and Limitations 1. DCA May Reduce Profits in Bull Markets If the market is in an bullish trend, a single trade may be more profitable than spreading purchases over time or price dips. 2. Does Not Fully Remove Loss Risk DCA helps mitigate volatility but does not protect against long-term bearish trends. If an asset continues to decline for an extended period, positions will accumulate at lower values with no guarantee of recovery. 3. May Be Inefficient for Active Investors If an investor has the skills to identify better entry points (e.g., using technical or macroeconomic analysis), DCA might be less effective. Those who can spot market opportunities may achieve a better average entry price than an automatic DCA approach. 4. Does Not Take Full Advantage of Price Drops DCA does not allow aggressive buying during market dips since purchases are fixed at regular intervals. If the market temporarily crashes, an investor with available funds could benefit more by buying larger amounts at that moment. 5. Higher Transaction Costs Frequent small investments can lead to higher trading fees, which may reduce net returns. This is especially relevant in markets with fixed commissions or high spreads. 6. Risk of Overconfidence and False Security DCA is often seen as a “fail-proof” strategy, but it is not always effective. If an asset has weak fundamentals or belongs to a declining sector, DCA may only slow down losses rather than ensure future gains. 7. Requires Discipline and Patience DCA is only effective if applied consistently over a long period. Some investors may lose patience and leave the strategy at the wrong time, especially during market crashes.
Education
by thequantscience
123 Quick Learn Trading Tips - Tip #6 - Defensive or Aggressive?123 Quick Learn Trading Tips - Tip #6 - Defensive or Aggressive? To make money in trading, you need to control your emotions. Traders often fall into two emotional traps: Overly Aggressive: After several wins , a trader may become too confident. They might increase their position sizes or take on riskier trades. This can lead to significant losses if the market turns. Overly Defensive: After several losses , a trader may become too fearful. They might hesitate to enter good trades or exit trades too early. This can lead to missed profit opportunities. Maintaining a balance between these states is key. Learn to recognize and control your emotions. Discipline and a calm mind are essential for successful trading. In trading, you must simultaneously be defensive and aggressive. Balance is Key ⚖️ Navid Jafarian Every tip is a step towards becoming a more disciplined trader. Look forward to the next one! 🌟
BINANCE:BTCUSDEducation
by Navid_Jafarian
21
Gann Astro Trading Course | Gann Trading StrategyGann Astro Trading Course | Free Lesson. Gann Astro Trading | Gann Time Cycles | Gann Financial Astrology. Gann Trading Strategy - Gann Trading Course TOPIC OF THIS VIDEO - Gann Astro Trading Course | Free Lesson 🎯 Unlock the Market’s Hidden Code with W.D. Gann’s Strategies! What if market movements weren’t random — but followed a precise, predictable blueprint? In this powerful breakdown, we dive into the groundbreaking methods of W.D. Gann, revealing how price, time, and planetary positions create a hidden pattern behind market highs and lows. Gann’s revolutionary idea was that time and price vibrate together — making them interchangeable. By converting prices into planetary longitudes, tracking time cycles, and applying market geometry, you can uncover the market’s natural rhythm and predict turning points with remarkable accuracy. This video unveils the core of Gann’s strategy, giving you the tools to anticipate price moves before they happen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Video: ✅Gann Square of 9 Explained – Understand how this iconic tool aligns price and time with planetary degrees to identify key turning points. ✅Price to Longitude Conversion – Learn how to convert market prices into planetary longitudes to uncover hidden reversal points. ✅ Time and Price Interchangeability – Discover how Gann’s theory of time-price equality helps predict trend shifts. ✅ The 10% Decimal Shift Rule – A powerful trick to reveal harmonic price levels by shifting the decimal point. ✅ Market Geometry: The Blueprint of Price Movements – Explore Gann’s geometric approach using circles, squares, and hexagons to map market pivots. ✅ Planetary Cycles and Longitudes – See how planetary movements — like Saturn’s retrograde and Mars' heliocentric positions — influence price action. ✅ Harmonic Degrees and Price Reactions – Find out why 10, 15, and other degree increments often mark critical spike reversal areas. ✅ Equilibrium Principle – Learn how Gann's "squared out" price and time cycles lead to powerful reversal setups. ✅ Real Case Studies: Tesla & IBM Analysis – Watch Gann’s techniques in action as we analyze historical charts to uncover price pivots and reversal dates. market geometry and harmonic degrees.
CAPITALCOM:GOLDEducation
by GannAstroTrader
2
Chande Kroll Stop: Definition, Calculation, and Trading StrategyChande Kroll Stop: Definition, Calculation, and Trading Strategies In the ever-changing landscape of financial markets, traders are constantly seeking effective tools to manage risk and protect their investments. The Chande Kroll Stop, a dynamic indicator, is one such tool that has gained popularity due to its ability to help traders determine optimal stop loss locations. In this article, we will delve into the Chande Kroll Stop, exploring its definition, formula, and application. What Is the Chande Kroll Stop? The Chande Kroll stop is a technical analysis indicator that is used to determine the optimal placement of a stop-loss order. It was developed by Tushar Chande and Stanley Kroll, two highly-respected figures in trading in the mid-90s, and is grounded in the idea of volatility. By taking into account the current price, market volatility, and the security's average true range (ATR), the indicator calculates an appropriate stop-loss level that moves in tandem with the security's price. It’s plotted as two lines that help traders determine their stop losses, regardless of whether they go long or short. It is applicable to virtually every asset class – traders can use the Chande Kroll Stop for forex, commodities, stocks, and cryptocurrencies*. Calculation of Chande Kroll Stop The Chande Kroll encompasses three key components: the average true range (ATR), the multiplier, and the current price of the security. ATR: The ATR is a volatility measure calculated by averaging the true ranges over a specific timeframe. The true range is determined by finding the maximum of the following: - The range between the high and low of the current period. - The difference between the close of the previous period and the high of the current period. - The difference between the close of the previous period and the low of the current period. Multiplier: The multiplier adjusts the ATR and is typically set between 1 and 3, depending on the trader's risk tolerance. Price: The current price of the security being analysed. The Chande Kroll Stop formula is as follows: Initial high stop = HIGHEST (high) - x * Average True Range Initial low stop = LOWEST (low) + x * Average True Range Short stop = HIGHEST (Initial high stop) Long stop = LOWEST (Initial low stop) This calculation produces two stop-loss levels, typically a red (or orange) and green (or blue) line. The stop-loss may be placed below the green line for a long position, while it could be placed above the red line for a short position. So what are the three numbers for the Chande Kroll stop? The ATR’s current period is denoted by the letter P (10 by default), while X represents the ATR multiplier (1 by default). Q is the lookback period for updating the indicator lines; its initial value, 9, means that the indicator will adapt to the highest and lowest values of the short-stop and long-stop lines, respectively, across the previous 9 bars. However, there’s no need to perform these calculations yourself. In TradingView, you’ll discover the Chande Kroll Stop alongside dozens of other tools ready to help you navigate the markets. How to Use the Chande Kroll Stop Indicator in Trading When learning how to read the Chande Kroll stop, there are three key areas to be aware of: setup, stop-loss implementation, and entry signals. Setup The first step is to adjust your Chande Kroll Stop settings to suit your risk tolerance and trading style. In essence, setting a higher period for P will widen both lines and give your positions more room to breathe, while increasing X will bring the line closer to the current price. Similarly, a lower Q value will produce a more responsive indicator that will stop you out sooner. Stop Loss Implementation Once you have found your preferred settings and added the indicator to your chart, you can use it as a dynamic stop-loss. For a long position, you can place your order below the applicable level (blue line) and adjust it as the indicator adapts. In a short position, traders place it above the orange line. Entry Signals Although the Chande Kroll is primarily a stop-loss tool, it can also provide entry signals. When the long-stop line crosses above the short-stop line, it can signal that bullish momentum is entering the market. Conversely, the opposite can indicate that a short position could be opened. Advantages and Limitations of Chande Kroll Stop Indicator Advantages: The Chande Kroll Stop is a dynamic indicator that adapts when the price moves, making it a potent risk management tool. By taking into account market volatility, it offers protection against sudden price fluctuations, becoming particularly useful in volatile assets. The simplicity of Chande Kroll's calculation and application makes it accessible to traders of all experience levels. Limitations: The indicator can be overly sensitive to price movements, leading to premature stop-outs and potentially missed opportunities. It may be less effective for assets with low volatility, which could make it unsuitable for certain trading approaches or timeframes. The Chande Kroll should not be used in isolation. It's best to combine it with other technical indicators and analysis techniques. Final Thoughts Overall, the Chande Kroll stop is a useful tool for traders looking for a dynamic stop-loss order that takes into account volatility. Now that you have a solid overview of the Chande Kroll stop and how to use it, why not consider opening an FXOpen account? You can enjoy access to over 700 markets and low-cost trading. Good luck! *Important: At FXOpen UK, Cryptocurrency trading via CFDs is only available to our Professional clients. They are not available for trading by Retail clients. To find out more information about how this may affect you, please get in touch with our team. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Education
by FXOpen
1
Mastering MACD- Complete Guide- 10 ways to trade itThe Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a versatile indicator that can help traders navigate the markets with precision. From trend identification to momentum assessment, the MACD provides multiple actionable insights. In this educational post, we’ll explore the key ways to use MACD effectively, with an example illustration accompanying each strategy. ________________________________________ 1. Signal Line Crossovers The most common use of MACD is the signal line crossover, which identifies potential shifts in market momentum: • Bullish Signal: When the MACD line (fast-moving) crosses above the signal line (slow-moving), it suggests upward momentum is increasing. This can be an entry signal for a long trade. Bullish crossovers often occur after a period of consolidation or a downtrend, signaling a reversal in market sentiment. • Bearish Signal: When the MACD line crosses below the signal line, it signals downward momentum, often triggering a short-selling opportunity. Bearish crossovers can occur during retracements in an uptrend or at the start of a bearish reversal. How to Use: Look for confirmation from price action or other indicators, such as a breakout above a resistance level for a bullish signal or a breakdown below support for a bearish signal. It's essential to avoid acting solely on a crossover; consider volume (stocks, crypto), candle stick formations and other market conditions. Example: A bullish crossover on the daily chart on TRADENATION:XAUUSD indicates a potential buying opportunity as the price begins to rise. Add a stop-loss below recent lows to manage risk and look for a 1:2 risk:r eward in the next resistance. ________________________________________ 2. Zero Line Crossovers The MACD’s zero line acts as a boundary between bullish and bearish momentum, making it a valuable trend confirmation tool: • Above Zero: When the MACD line moves above the zero line, it confirms an uptrend, as the fast-moving average is above the slow-moving average. Sustained movement above zero often indicates a strong bullish trend. • Below Zero: A MACD line below zero reflects a downtrend, indicating bearish market conditions. Persistent movement below zero confirms bearish momentum. How to Use: Use the zero line crossover to validate trades based on other signals, such as candlestick patterns or trendline breaks. The crossover can act as a second layer of confirmation for existing trade setups. Example: MACD on a crypto pair crosses above the zero line, confirming the start of a new bullish trend. Traders can combine this with volume analysis to ensure strong market participation. ________________________________________ 3. Histogram Analysis The histogram represents the distance between the MACD line and the signal line, offering insights into momentum: • Expanding Histogram: Indicates strengthening momentum in the direction of the trend. Larger bars show increasing dominance of bulls or bears. • Contracting Histogram: Suggests weakening momentum, signaling a possible reversal or consolidation. Smaller bars indicate a loss of trend strength. How to Use: Monitor the histogram for early signs of momentum shifts before a crossover occurs. The histogram can act as a leading indicator, providing advanced warning of potential changes in price direction. Example: A shrinking histogram in a forex pair signals that the bullish momentum is losing steam, warning traders of a possible retracement. This can be a cue to tighten stop-loss levels or take partial profits. Conversely, an expanding histogram during a breakout confirms the strength of the move. ________________________________________ 4. Identifying Divergences MACD divergences are powerful tools for spotting potential reversals: • Bullish Divergence: Occurs when the price makes a lower low, but the MACD forms a higher low, signaling weakening bearish momentum. This often precedes a trend reversal to the upside. • Bearish Divergence: Happens when the price makes a higher high, but the MACD forms a lower high, indicating diminishing bullish strength. This suggests a potential reversal to the downside. How to Use: Combine divergence signals with support or resistance levels to enhance reliability. Divergences are most effective when spotted at major turning points in the market. Example: On a TRADENATION:EURUSD chart, a bearish divergence signals an upcoming price reversal from an up trend to a down trend. ________________________________________ 5. Trend Confirmation MACD confirms trends by staying consistently above or below the zero line: • Above Zero: Indicates a strong uptrend. Look for pullbacks to enter long trades. The longer the MACD remains above zero, the stronger the trend. • Below Zero: Reflects a persistent downtrend. Use rallies as opportunities to short. A sustained period below zero reinforces bearish dominance. How to Use: Use MACD’s trend confirmation alongside other trend-following tools like moving averages or Ichimoku clouds. Ensure that market conditions align with the broader trend. Example: Combining MACD trend confirmation with moving averages helps traders stay on the right side of the trend in a stock market index. For example, buy when both MACD and a 50-day moving average indicate an uptrend. Exit trades when the MACD begins to cross below zero or shows a divergence. ________________________________________ 6. Overbought and Oversold Conditions Although MACD is not traditionally an overbought/oversold indicator, extreme deviations between the MACD line and the signal line can hint at stretched market conditions: • Overbought: When the MACD line is significantly above the signal line, it may indicate a price correction is imminent. This often occurs after an extended rally. • Oversold: When the MACD line is well below the signal line, it suggests a potential rebound. Such conditions are common following sharp sell-offs. How to Use: Monitor extreme readings in conjunction with oscillators like RSI for added confidence. Look for reversals near key support or resistance levels. Example: An extended bearish move with a large MACD-signal line gap warns traders of a potential price correction. This can signal an opportunity to exit. Pair this observation with a bullish candlestick pattern to confirm the move (in this example morning star) ________________________________________ 7. Combining MACD with Other Indicators MACD works best when paired with complementary indicators to provide a more comprehensive market analysis: • RSI (Relative Strength Index): Use RSI to confirm momentum and overbought/oversold conditions. • Bollinger Bands: Validate price breakouts or consolidations with MACD signals. • Support and Resistance: Use MACD signals around key levels for confluence. How to Use: Wait for MACD signals to align with other indicator readings to improve accuracy. Cross-validation reduces false signals and increases confidence in trades. Example: A bearish MACD crossover near a key resistance level reinforces a short-selling opportunity. ________________________________________ 8. Multi-Timeframe Analysis Using MACD across different timeframes strengthens trade signals and provides context: • Higher Timeframe: Identify the broader trend to avoid trading against the market. For instance, if the daily chart shows a bullish MACD, focus on long trades in lower timeframes. • Lower Timeframe: Pinpoint precise entries and exits within the higher timeframe’s trend. The MACD on lower timeframes can help fine-tune timing. How to Use: Align MACD signals on both higher and lower timeframes to confirm trade setups. This alignment minimizes the risk of false signals. ________________________________________ 9. Customizing MACD Settings Traders can tailor MACD settings to suit different trading styles and timeframes: • Shorter Periods: Provide more sensitive signals for scalping or day trading. Shorter settings react quickly to price changes but may generate more false signals. • Longer Periods: Produce smoother signals for swing trading or position trading. Longer settings are less responsive but more reliable. How to Use: Experiment with different settings on a demo account to find what works best for your strategy. Adjust settings based on the volatility and nature of the asset. Example: A scalper uses a 5, 13, 6 MACD setting to capture quick momentum shifts in the market, while a swing trader sticks with the standard 12, 26, 9 for broader trends. Compare results across different markets to refine the approach. ________________________________________ 10. Crossovers or Divergence at Key Levels Combining MACD crossovers with price action levels enhances the reliability of trade signals: • Horizontal Levels: Use MACD signals to confirm reversals or breakouts at support and resistance levels. Crossovers near these levels are often more reliable. • Fibonacci Retracements: You can combine MACD with retracement levels to validate potential entries or exits. Confluence with retracements adds weight to the signal. How to Use: Wait for MACD signals to align with key price levels for higher probability trades. Confirmation from candlestick patterns or volume (stock and crypto) adds further credibility. Example: A bullish MACD divergence aligns with a strong support level, signaling a strong buy setup. Add confirmation with a candlestick reversal pattern, such as a piercing pattern in our case, to enhance precision. ________________________________________ Conclusion: The MACD indicator’s flexibility makes it a must-have tool for traders of all styles. By mastering these strategies and integrating them in your trading, you can elevate your trading decisions. Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
Education
by Mihai_Iacob
22
The Four Fears of Trading and the Law of HarmonyTrading is not just about charts, strategies, and numbers. It’s a psychological battlefield, where fear dominates — but there’s also an often-overlooked factor: harmony. WD Gann’s Law of Harmony teaches that markets, like people, have unique vibrations. When you trade in sync with stocks or currency pairs that ‘resonate’ with you, your confidence and performance improve. Let’s explore how combining Gann’s insights with an understanding of the Four Fears of Trading can create a balanced, more successful trading mindset. What Is the Law of Harmony? The Law of Harmony is one of WD Gann’s foundational principles. Gann believed that everything in the universe moves according to natural laws, and markets are no different. Each stock, commodity, or currency pair has its own ‘vibration’ or rhythm — a unique frequency that determines how it behaves. When a trader finds a market whose vibration aligns with their own psychological makeup and trading style, they experience greater clarity, confidence, and success. This is trading in harmony. Gann used this principle to select markets that matched his analysis style, making it easier to forecast price movements. He believed that recognizing harmony between the trader and the market was just as important as the technical setup itself. He meticulously studied time cycles, price patterns, and astrological influences to find markets that moved in predictable, harmonic ways — and traded only those that felt “right.” In essence, Gann’s Law of Harmony is about working with the market’s natural flow, not against it. When you’re in sync, trades feel clearer, decisions become easier, and success feels almost effortless. The Four Fears of Trading In a recent Twitter poll I conducted, 45% of traders admitted that fear was their toughest emotional challenge — more than greed, hope, or overconfidence. Fear in trading can be broken down into four key categories: the fear of losing money, fear of missing out (FOMO), fear of being wrong, and fear of leaving money on the table. Let’s explore each one — and how the Law of Harmony can help conquer them. 1. Fear of Losing Money This is the most common fear among traders — nobody wants to lose money. The reality, however, is that losses are an inevitable part of trading. Trading is a game of probabilities, with each trade having around a 50% chance of success. Many traders react to losses with irrational decisions like closing trades too early or holding onto losing trades in the hope they’ll bounce back. This behavior stems from loss aversion — the natural human tendency to avoid losses more than we seek equivalent gains. How the Law of Harmony helps: Trade assets that ‘vibe’ with you. Some stocks or forex pairs will naturally feel clearer and easier to predict — that’s harmony. Stop forcing bad trades. If you consistently lose on a specific pair, stop forcing it. It might not align with your psychology. Backtest your system. Develop and backtest a trading system over multiple market conditions (trending, sideways, volatile). When you find one that feels ‘right,’ stick with it. 2. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) FOMO drives traders to jump into unplanned trades, often near market tops, for fear they’ll miss a big move. This leads to poor entries, increased risk, and reduced potential rewards. The irony? These impulsive trades often result in losses. How the Law of Harmony helps: Shift your mindset from “making money” to “following a process.” Money is a byproduct of trading in harmony with the right instruments. Accept that the market is endless. Opportunities are like waves — there’s always another one coming. When you trade in sync with a market’s natural rhythm, better setups come to you. 3. Fear of Being Wrong From childhood, we’re conditioned to avoid mistakes. In trading, however, losses are not failures — they’re feedback. The fear of being wrong can cause traders to hold onto losing trades, cut winners short, or avoid taking trades altogether. How the Law of Harmony helps: Focus on pairs or stocks that feel intuitive. When you feel more connected to an asset’s behavior, the fear of being wrong diminishes. Accept that not every market resonates with you — and that’s okay. Embrace losing trades as a natural part of the business. Even in harmony, some trades won’t work — that’s part of the rhythm. 4. Fear of Leaving Money on the Table This fear emerges when a trader exits a trade too soon, only to watch the market continue in their favor. It’s frustrating, but trying to capture every last pip is a recipe for disaster. Markets are unpredictable, and no one catches the exact top or bottom consistently. How the Law of Harmony helps: Trust the market’s rhythm. If you’re aligned with the right instrument, more opportunities will come. Define your exit strategy before entering a trade. Let go of perfection. Accept that partial profits are better than no profits. In a harmonious market relationship, consistency matters more than squeezing every move. Final Thoughts: Finding Harmony in Trading Fear is a natural part of trading — it’s part of being human. The goal isn’t to eliminate fear but to manage it. By identifying which type of fear affects you the most and combining it with Gann’s Law of Harmony, you’ll make more rational decisions and improve your long-term performance. Imagine you’re at a party. A mutual friend introduces you to a new group of people. You might vibe with some, while others give you an uncomfortable feeling. Stocks and forex pairs work the same way. You naturally gel with some, understanding their behavior and making profitable trades, while others consistently lead to losses. The secret to long-term trading success is not forcing trades or chasing markets — it’s about finding what resonates with you. Focus on the process, trade in harmony, and the profits will follow. Remember: The market doesn’t reward those who fight it. It rewards those who flow with it. Happy trading!
CAPITALCOM:GOLDEducation
by GannAstroTrader
How to Draw Trendlines Like a Pro – Rulers Out, Rules In!Hi everyone! If you don’t have any rules for drawing a trendline, then this is by far the most subjective technical analysis criterion of all. So, grab your ruler, and let’s dive in! ;) Without clear guidelines, you can draw it however you want, shaping the narrative to fit your bias. This makes it the perfect tool to talk yourself into a trade or justify staying in a bad one—there’s always a new “support” coming… If you don't have rules, you can always find some dots to connect, making it look "perfect" for you. In this post, I'll discuss buying opportunities using trendlines, share key rules for drawing them correctly, and highlight common mistakes to avoid - all with a focus on mid- and long-term investment opportunities. ------------------------- The Basics: How to Draw a Trendline The trendline is a highly effective tool for mid- and long-term investors to find an optimal buying zone for their chosen asset. I always take a full view of the chart, analyzing its entire history to find the longest trendline available. The longer the trendline, the stronger it is! To draw a trendline, we simply connect two points and wait for the third touch to confirm it. Easy, right? The strongest trendline comes from points that are easily recognizable—you should spot them in a split second. Maximum view, if possible Monthly chart, connect the dots and wait for a third one. For me, the third and fourth touches are the most reliable. If you have to look deeply to find where to draw a trendline, then it's already a first sign that it’s not strong! The best ones appear instantly. --------------------------- Two Myths About Trendlines Myth #1: "You cannot draw a trendline without three touching points." Don’t even remember from where I heard that kind of bs but as you see in the images above, yeah I can. If I have a correct lineup, the third touch is the strongest. Myth #2: "The more touches, the stronger the trendline." Yes, a trend appears stronger with more touches, but each additional touch increases the odds of a break or trend change. To buy from, let’s say, the sixth touch, there must be strong confluence factors, and fundamentals should support the investment. “The trend is your friend, until the end when it bends.” — Ed Seykota Sure, I’ve had great trades from the fifth or seventh touch, but as said, the area has to be strong, combining multiple criteria. Think of a trendline like 3-5 cm thick ice on a lake. You can’t break it with one hit, or the second, or the third. But after the fourth or fifth, it starts to crack, and by the sixth—boom! From my psychological perspective, the more touches, the weaker the trendline becomes. ----------------------- Rule #1: Wick to Wick or Body to Body If there aren't any anomalies, the trendline should always be drawn from wick to wick (image below) or body to body. Here was the trendline draw from wick to wick I mostly use body-to-body when there is a lot of noise on the chart and many large wicks that don’t show the real price behavior—whether from a panic sell-off or other unexpected market moves. Candlestick chart, the trendline drawn from body-to-body Tip! Body-to-body means drawing trendlines from closing prices to remove unnecessary noise from the chart. To make the chart even clearer, I often use a line chart (it tracks closing prices), which filters out the noise and gives a cleaner view of the price action. The same chart as above using line chart. Mistake to avoid: If you start from the wick but the second point is from the body, it's wrong. This can lead to misleading breakout trades or confusing rejection trades. If there are no significant large wicks, go from wicks. If a chart offers a lot of huge panic-sell wicks, use bodies instead to get a cleaner setup. Quite often, I use a hybrid version as well. We are investors, not traders. We need a price zone, not an exact price! In these cases, I combine wicks and closing prices to find the optimal trendline, which stays somewhere between them. Light-blue is the zone ----------------------- Rule #2: Higher Highs Strengthen the Trendline A trendline is more reliable if the price makes a new higher high (HH) after the previous rejection, and before it approaches a trendline. The third and fourth touch came from higher high (HH) levels This confirms that the recent trend is strong. If it all lines up, we can step in! ----------------------- Rule #3: Even Timing Between Touches A trendline rejection works best when the timing between touches is symmetrical. They don’t have to be perfectly equal but they also shouldn’t be wildly different - one touch being very small and another very large can weaken the trendline’s reliability. A good combinations is when the price comes from higher high levels, the next touch has an equal or fairly similar distance between previous ones. Yeah, there are quite a lot of touches, but you get the point; market symmetry plays an important role in making decisions. Warning: If the next touch comes too soon, especially from a lower high (LH) levels, which signals that momentum may be fading, and the touch happens at an uneven distance, it weakens the trendline’s reliability. So, watch out for that. Two alerts: uneven length between touches & comes from lower highs. Next red alert: When there are huge uneven gaps between touches, as shown in the picture below. The first and second touch compared to the second and third touch are out of balance, weakening the trendline's reliability. ------------------------ Trendline Summary: Key Criteria for Mid- to Long-Term Analysis Open the maximum chart view – analyze all available data for the asset. The higher the timeframe, the stronger the trendline. A trendline needs two clean and clear points to be drawn. The highest probability rejection happens at the third and fourth touch. If there are large wicks or panic sell-offs, use closing prices (body-to-body). Remove noise and wicks by using a line chart for a clearer view. A trendline touch is strongest when the price approaches from a higher high (HH). A trendline touch is strongest when the distance between touches is symmetrical. A slight flex in the trendline is ideal; it should be between 20 to 35 degrees, not too steep in its climb. ;) These are the main criteria for a trendline that I use when analyzing stocks or any asset from a mid-to long-term perspective. ---------------------- Trendlines Alone Are Not Enough Now, here’s the interesting part. Even if a trendline looks perfect and meets all criteria, I still won’t rush to share an analysis. Why? Because a trendline alone isn’t enough. A trendline is just one piece of the puzzle. We need multiple confluence factors in a single price zone to make the setup truly strong and reliable. Usually, I need at least 3-7 criteria to align before making a move or recommendation. So, that's it! A brief overview and hopefully, you found this informative. Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts! Before you leave - Like & Boost if you find this useful! 🚀 Trade smart, Vaido
NASDAQ:TSLAEducation
by VaidoVeek
44
Chart Analysis and Trading Strategy (2) Hello, traders. If you "Follow", you can always get new information quickly. Please also click "Boost". Have a nice day today. ------------------------------------- If you look at the candle that the finger is pointing to, you can see that it is a bearish candle with Open > Close. If you look at this on a 30m chart, you can see that it moves as follows and forms lows and highs. These candle movements come together to form a candle arrangement, and by looking at this, we ultimately set support and resistance points. As your understanding of candles deepens, you will study charts in various ways. The reason is that you may know it when you look at the chart, but you cannot when you trade. That is, because the understanding of candles is not clear. As you study the charts over and over again, you will learn that charts tend to converge to the median and average values. You learn that they converge to the median and average values ​​while studying various indicators, but you end up not knowing what you can learn from them. What is important in the arrangement of candles is that the arrangement of the Open and Close bodies and the Low and High tails that make up the candles play an important role in setting support and resistance points. I recommend that you understand this explanation through the Internet or a book. The reason is that it is something that requires a lot of time investment to acquire. - The HA-MS indicator was created to quickly display support and resistance points as objective information. Therefore, you can see that when the channel composed of the HA-Low indicator and the HA-High indicator is broken, a trend is formed, and if not, a sideways movement is shown. The HA-Low, HA-High indicators are indicators created by combining the arrangement of candles and the RSI indicator on the Heikin-Ashi chart. Therefore, the trading strategy is used to create a trading strategy depending on whether there is support near the HA-Low, HA-High indicators. The other indicators, BW(0), BW(100), DOM(-60), and DOM(60), are used as support and resistance to create a detailed response strategy. - Based on this information, trading should be divided into trading in the sideways section and trading in the trend to create a trading strategy. This trading time is created based on whether there is support in the HA-Low, HA-High indicators. Since it is made of indicators, I think it provides objective information for chart interpretation with others, reducing the room for controversy. This is the fundamental reason for using indicators. It is because we can share objective information with each other. - In trading within the sideways section, information about the trend is not particularly necessary. If you set the sideways section with your own indicator or support and resistance points, you can trade based on whether there is support at the end of that section. - However, when you leave the sideways section, information about the trend is necessary. That is why we use the M-Signal indicator and Trend Cloud indicator on the 1D, 1W, and 1M charts as indicators for the trend. For short-term information, you can use the M-Signal indicator and Trend Cloud indicator on the 1D chart. If the Trend Cloud indicator is displayed in green and the price is maintained above the M-Signal indicator on the 1D chart, it can be interpreted that there is a high possibility of a turn to an uptrend. If not, it can be interpreted that there is a high possibility of a downtrend. The mid- to long-term trend can be identified by checking the arrangement status of the M-Signal indicator on the 1W chart and the M-Signal indicator on the 1M chart. That is, if the M-Signal on the 1W chart > the M-Signal on the 1M chart, it can be interpreted that the mid- to long-term trend is maintaining an uptrend. Therefore, in order to continue the uptrend from a long-term perspective, the price must be maintained above the M-Signal indicator on the 1M chart. If not, it is recommended to make short trades if possible. - To better set the support and resistance points, look at the 1M chart > 1W chart > 1M chart in that order and draw a horizontal line on the indicators (HA-Low, HA-High, BW(0), BW(100), DOM(-60), DOM(60)) displayed on the chart and mark them on the chart. Mark the support and resistance points on the chart as above. This marks the support and resistance points with the low and high points. - It is not easy to start trading at the low or high points every time. Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, it is important to create a detailed response strategy based on the median and average values. For this, the StochRSI 50 indicator is displayed. In addition, the Close of the Heikin-Ashi chart of the 1D chart, which can be usefully utilized when trading below the 1D chart, is added. ------------------------------------------------- The information I mentioned above is ultimately information that can be obtained through chart analysis. You can create a trading strategy by deciding whether to check it directly with your eyes and indicate support and resistance points, or to use an indicator that can be checked more quickly. Chart analysis is about understanding the movement of the chart, and actual trading is conducted according to the trading strategy. You may think that chart analysis is the trading strategy, but it is not. No matter how well you analyze charts with your eyes, if you analyze charts when your psychological state is unstable due to subjective thoughts based on various information other than the chart, as I mentioned earlier, you may end up trading in the wrong direction. To prevent this, it is necessary to use indicators so that subjective thoughts are not applied. Even if you start trading at the support and resistance points created by the indicator, and it goes in the opposite direction and you suffer a loss, the influence will be weak. The reason is that you created a trading strategy with the support and resistance points created by the indicator in advance. Things to consider when starting a trade in a trading strategy are: 1. When to buy or how to buy 2. When to cut loss or how to cut loss 3. How to realize profit For this reason, it is important to set support and resistance points through chart analysis. - It is better to do chart analysis briefly. If you spend too much time analyzing charts, you may end up being trapped in your own subjective thoughts, so be careful. I think you can tell whether you will do chart analysis in an analyst-like manner or in a chart analysis necessary for trading by looking at how the support and resistance points are marked on the chart. The ideas of chart analysis often do not include things that need to be considered when starting a trade. Therefore, in order to apply them to actual trading, you need to create a trading strategy through chart analysis. The chart analysis for trading reduces the need for separate chart analysis because the information necessary for the trading strategy is displayed on the chart. However, it may need to change depending on your investment style or the time frame chart you are actually trading on, but it can be advantageous for trading because the support and resistance points are marked. To ensure this, you need to create an indicator and receive support and resistance points as objective information. - Thank you for reading to the end. I hope you have a successful trade. --------------------------------------------------
Education
by readCrypto
2