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Contraction

The Contraction, Expansion, and Trend PhaseContraction, Expansion, and Trend Phase *also known as the Forex Master Pattern * The contraction, expansion, and trend phase, or the Forex master pattern, is a trading methodology that focuses on identifying and capitalizing on the recurring patterns and phases that occur in the markets. They are based on the concept of these three market cycles. Institutional players play a significant role in shaping these market cycles observed in the markets. 1.Contraction Phase This phase represents a period of low volatility and consolidation in the markets During contraction phases, institutional players often accumulate positions and establish their trading biases. Institutional accumulation during this phase can create the necessary liquidity and order flow for a breakout in the subsequent expansion phase. 2. Expansion Phase The expansion phase occurs when market volatility increases and the market breaks out of consolidation, leading to bigger price movements. Institutional players execute their strategies by inducing price movements to entice retail participation. Depending on their goals, institutions may manipulate prices upward or downward, creating liquidity for their trades while taking advantage of retail sentiment. Institutional buying during this phase can increase the movement in price and volatility, leading to rapid changes in markets and trends. 3. Trend Phase Once the market establishes a clear direction following the breakout, it enters the trend phase. The trend phase marks the end of the contraction, expansion, and trend phases, which are marked by sustained directional movements powered by institutional profit-taking activities. Retail traders often find themselves on the wrong side of the trade during this phase, triggering panic, liquidations, and potential market reversals. The panic caused in this phase can eventually lead to liquidations. While this is not a strategy, it is a versatile methodology that works on any timeframe and assets as long as it has enough volume on the market. You can develop many different types of strategies using the Contraction, Expansion, and Trend Phase .
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by Traders_Endeavors
The true thinking process of the banks - Forex Master Pattern Hello there traders, in this article I have compressed information which will be useful for every trader. There is this trading methodology which very little know of (Even though its public information) that revolves around a market cycle which consist of an contraction, expansion, and trend. This article will just open the doors to your understanding of these principles, and will just go over the basics, to master it you must practice it a lot and identify many different zones in the markets. Practice Makes Perfect __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What will be gone over in this article? This article will explain what exactly are contraction phases, expansions, and trends and how to identify these different market phases. Get a basic understanding of what institutional traders look for and how they operate vs Retail. What exactly is the value line and how it acts like the "center of gravity". __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is the Forex Master Pattern? The “Forex Master Pattern”, is a alternative type of Technical Analysis which shows the true psychological patterns of the Financial Markets. This pattern has 3 Phases, which is known as the Contraction, Expansion, and the Trend Phase, which will complete one market cycle in this term. This pattern also creates a concept known as the “value line,” which is the fair value zone or the neutral belief zone where buyers and sellers agree is the fair value. Consider it in terms of the center of gravity. This pattern is present on every timeframe and in every market with enough liquidity and volume, and shows the behavior, psychology and activity of retail, professional traders, institutional traders and investors and market makers. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Contraction Phase The contraction phase is the setup and it indicates a period that the market is in consolidation, with a tight and narrow range. During the contraction phase there is going to be low institutional volume and they are avoiding positions and trades. It is best to avoid trade entries in this phase and wait for a clear trend after the expansion. The Expansion Phase The expansion phase is the play and its when the institutional traders begin to accumulate positions. There are many things that institutional traders would do in this phase. If the institutional trader or "market maker", main goal is to buy the asset, they will drive the price lower with their money to draw in retail traders to place shorts and sell their positions which will generate liquidity for "smart money" to buy cheaper. and vice versa. If the institutional trader or "market maker", main goal is to sell then they will make the price go up a little with their own money to lure in traders who will buy their bags so that "smart money", can sell in a profit and overvalued. The Trend Phase The trend phase is the final phase that completes this market cycle. Once the institutional traders feel like it is time for them to start taking profits, will commence the distribution cycle which causes price to move down. All this profit taking from "smart money", will eventually lead retail traders to understanding that they were in the wrong side of the trade and the panic, liquidations, and stops start. Eventually they panic and start buying back in, and this generates liquidity for institutional investors and traders to take profits, leaving retail with overvalued bags, for the cycle to repeat itself again. For the short scenario it'll be a vice versa too, they will move price up with their own money, cause retail to believe the price is going up so that they get into wrong trades (Retail buys, Smart Money Shorts), they start accumulating short positions or selling their bag and with the trend drive price back to value or even below, and at this point retail again begin the panic, liquidations, and get stopped, and ultimately sell their bags to institutional traders who buy at a discount. This pattern is also similar to the accumulation and distribution cycle and are basically the same theories with different executions. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is the value line? Previously in this article I have explained how contraction zones create fair value lines. Value lines can be described as the average price and the neutral belief zone for price. It sorta acts like an center of gravity. Knowing the HTF value lines can be your key to success since you will understand the general direction of the market. Value lines help you visually understand what territory the market is in, like if its consolidating at value you should avoid entering any trade at all cost and wait for the expansion and perhaps the trend. These value lines and contractions can also be used to find certain broadening wedge ranges and the longer price stays in a proper broadening wedge the more volatile it will get. The broadening wedge starting from the origin of the contraction is rare to find but can create some pretty good scalping environments and conditions. Conclusion: Well I hope this was educational, and it gives you another way of understanding the markets. This article was pretty basic in understanding this pattern and methodology but hopefully now you have more awareness. The best way to start understanding these principles is to practice in the charts and learn to identify the three phases. This isn't a strategy but more like a theory or a concept which explains the behavior of the market. With proper understanding you can create many different strategies since this is extremely versatile and works on any market and timeframe if the liquidity is there. So go on the charts and try to identify the three phases and see how you can improve your trading game!.
Education
by Traders_Endeavors
2
Ugly Markets - Embrace the TrendsThe trend is always our best friend in markets across all asset classes. While many investors and traders waste their time interpreting the new cycle and other factors, the path of least resistance of market prices is a real-time indicator of the current sentiment. Stocks and bonds fall in Q2 Four of six commodity sectors post losses Rising interest rates and a strong dollar Economic contraction- Copper tells a story Go with the flow Market prices rise when buyers are more aggressive than sellers and fall when sellers dominate buyers. The current price of any asset is always the correct price because it is the level where buyers and sellers agree on value in a transparent environment, the marketplace. The results for Q2 were ugly in most markets. Stocks and bonds fell, the dollar index rose, and four of six commodity sectors posted losses. The best performing sectors reflect the supply-side issues created by the war in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and Russian retaliation. Uncertainty in markets creates price variance, and markets reflect the economic and geopolitical landscapes. As we move into the second half of 2022, uncertainty is at the highest level in years. Meanwhile, market liquidity tends to decline during the summer vacation months. Lower participation only exacerbates price variance as bids can disappear during selloffs and offers often evaporate during rallies. It is a time for caution in markets across all asset classes, but the trends on a simple price chart tell us all we need to know about the path of least resistance of prices. Stocks and bonds fall in Q2 The stock market was ugly in Q2: The DJIA fell 11.25% The S&P 500 declined 16.45% The tech-heavy NASDAQ dropped 22.45% Over the first half of 2022: The DJIA was down 15.31% The S&P 500 fell 20.58% The NASDAQ plunged 29.51% As the Fed began increasing the Fed Funds Rate and reducing its swollen balance sheet, the US 30-Year Treasury bond futures fell 8.19% in Q2 and were 13.75% lower over the first half of this year as of June 30. The long bond fell below its technical support level at the October 2018 136-16 low and reached 132-09 in June before bouncing. Four of six commodity sectors post losses While the energy and animal protein sectors posted gains in Q2, base and precious metals, grains, and soft commodities moved to the downside. The quarterly results by sector were: Energy- +6.77% Animal proteins- +3.31% Gains- -3.46% Soft commodities- -4.12% Precious metals- -12.91% Base metals- -27.24% Over the first half of 2022, four of six sectors were higher than at the end of 2021: Energy- +43.86% Grains- +14.65% Animal proteins- +10.96% Soft commodities- +1.46% Precious metals - -5.43% Base metals- -13.07% The results reflect the economic and political landscapes. Energy and food prices rose as the war in Ukraine threatens the global supply chains. Metal prices declined because central bank policies and economic conditions led to rising rates and a strong US dollar. Rising interest rates and a strong dollar The US Federal Reserve blamed rising prices and inflation on “transitory” pandemic-related factors throughout most of 2021. The central bank waited far too long to address inflation and is now playing catch-up when the war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions impact the global economy’s supply side. Central bank monetary policy can affect the demand-side, but they have few tools to manage supply-side shocks. The rise in energy and food and the decline in metal prices tell us that central banks are struggling to address the current economic landscape. The US 30-Year Treasury bond futures chart shows the pattern of lower highs and lower lows. While the long bond bounced from the June low, the bearish trend remains intact in early July. The US dollar index, which measures the US currency against other world reserve foreign exchange instruments, rose 6.21% in Q2 and was 9.28% higher over the first half of 2022. The dollar index settled at the 104.464 level on June 30 and rose to a new two-decade high of 107.615 on July 8. Since the US dollar is the world’s reserve currency and the pricing benchmark for most commodities, a strong dollar caused raw materials to rise in other currencies, putting downward pressure on dollar-based prices. Economic contraction- Copper tells a story The US remains the world’s leading economy. In Q1, US GDP fell, and it likely declined in Q2. The textbook definition of a recession is two consecutive quarterly GDP declines. Copper is a base metal that trades on the London Metals Exchange and the CME’s COMEX division. Copper has a long history of diagnosing the economic climate, earning it the nickname Doctor Copper. In Q1, COMEX and LME copper prices rose by around 6.5%. In Q2, they plunged, with the COMEX futures falling 21.82% and the LME forwards dropping 20.41%. COMEX and LME copper prices were down over 15% over the first half of 2022. The chart of COMEX copper futures shows the move to an all-time $5.01 per pound high in March 2022 and a decline to a low below $3.40 in early July. The descent below technical support at the August 2021 $3.98 low and nearly 30% drop as of July 8 are signs that recession is not on the horizon; it has already gripped the economy. Go with the flow Inflation remains at a four-decade high, and while raw material prices have declined, the economic condition is far higher than the current Fed Funds rate. The central bank has pledged to fight inflation with monetary policy tools. Higher interest rates could put more downward pressure on raw material prices and the stock market as the economy contracts. Time will tell if the Fed continues its hawkish path or reacts to current market conditions. Waiting far too long to address inflation in 2021 suggests the central bank will likely remain hawkish regardless of market conditions in 2022. It is impossible to pick tops or bottoms in any market as prices often rise or fall far beyond where logic, reason, and rational analysis dictate. A market participant’s most effective tool is to follow the trends until they bend. The path of least resistance of asset prices can be the most significant factor for future performance. In these troubled times, where uncertainty is at the highest level in years, don’t fight the trends and go with the flow. In early Q2, it remains bearish in many markets across all asset classes. Stocks, bonds, commodities, cryptos, and other asset classes are making lower highs and lower lows, while the dollar index is moving in the opposite direction. Markets are ugly, but nothing lasts forever. Trend following can be the best route for capturing the most significant moves. You will never buy the lows or sell the highs when following trends, as they will cause short positions at bottoms and long positions at market tops. However, trend-following allows for extracting a substantial percentage from a significant price move. Embrace those trends until they change. -- Trading advice given in this communication, if any, is based on information taken from trades and statistical services and other sources that we believe are reliable. The author does not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects the author’s good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice the author provides will result in profitable trades. There is risk of loss in all futures and options trading. Any investment involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, pricing volatility, inadequate liquidity, and the potential complete loss of principal. This article does not in any way constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, security, or commodity discussed herein, or any security in any jurisdiction in which such an offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
CBOT:ZB1!Education
by Andy_Hecht