Trading Gold on lower TF. Educational only. Very recent.Here is another example of trading on the very low time frame. I was live here trading and I had 2 Short positions, one of which I close during the video.
I would not say that being on the very low TF's is better. But what it does allow for is to see the way price is moving in the lead-up to the low timeframes 1-15 minutes. Down on the very low TF's you will see the same patterns and formation just like the higher TF's, lots of D/tops, D/bottoms and even the 1 second has these patterns.
I think its an advantage to be on very low timeframes when trading things like Heads n Shoulders patterns because you can see what is happening in the price action.
For example, say you are waiting for price to move up to the neckline where the pattern may trigger your Long and you are on the 1 minute timeframe, but you see that price is ever so gently receding and moving back down. Well, I would drop to the very low timeframes all the way down to 1 second. Now back to our example, on the 1 second TF I see a double top and because we are on the 1 sec things will move a bit faster.
However, I have confirmed why price is moving back a bit on the 1 miute. The very low TF's confirm that price is moving down a bit due to a Double top forming, so I do not worry so much and I wait until the D/top plays out and then my pattern on the 1-5 minutes will hopefully stay in play.
Trend Analysis
Silver Bullet Strategy AUDUSD | 17/12/2024At 9:55 EST, we arrived at our trading desk to scout for trades using silver bullet strategy. We focused on these pairs EURUSD, AUDUSD, GBPUSD, and USDCAD, hoping to get favorable trading conditions during the session.
After 15 minutes, our first FVG formed on GBPUSD, indicating a buying opportunity when price retraces into the FVG on this currency pair. Five minutes later, a similar setup to that which formed on GBPUSD appeared on USDCAD as well indicating that we also look for buying opportunities on this pair when we get a retrace into the FVG. Shortly, a FVG formed on AUDUSD, suggesting a selling opportunity when the price retraces into the newly formed FVG.
Immediately after identifying the FVG on AUDUSD, the next candle entered the FVG fulfilling all the requirements for our entry criteria. We executed the trade and monitored the other pairs to check if any of them met the entry criteria. However, none of them had at that time, so we entered one trade and waited to see others would give us an entry.
We had only 25 minutes to enter the two other setups we observed, otherwise, we would not be able to take those trades due to our trade deadline being at 11:00 EST. We checked USDCAD and realized we got a retrace, but it failed to go lower to give us an entry, so we did nothing. A similar situation was encountered on GBPUSD.
We failed to get an entry on the other pairs, however, the positive aspect was that our trade on AUDUSD was progressing well in our intended direction. After waiting a while, we checked on the position again to assess its performance only to realize it had retraced back to our entry point. An ideal situation? No, but this was the reality, we remained unfazed because we had only risked an amount we were comfortable losing.
The trade consolidated around our entry price for a while, but we were in no rush. We had three options:
1. Trade reaches the take profit
2. The trade hits the stop loss
3. We manually close the trades at 16:00 EST
These are the rules we have on our checklist and we intend to stick by them
This trade neither hit our TP nor SL, so we decided to manually close it at 16:00 EST for a small profit, which we’re perfectly okay with. Remember, simply following your trading rules is a win on its own. Your rules exist for a reason!
What Is ICT Turtle Soup, and How Can You Use It in Trading?What Is ICT Turtle Soup, and How Can You Use It in Trading?
The ICT Turtle Soup pattern is a strategic trading approach designed to exploit false breakouts in financial markets. By understanding and leveraging liquidity grabs, traders can identify potential reversals and enter trades with relative precision. This article delves into the components of the ICT Turtle Soup pattern, how to identify and use it, and its potential advantages and limitations, providing traders with valuable insights to potentially enhance their trading strategies.
The ICT Turtle Soup Pattern Explained
ICT Turtle Soup is a trading pattern developed by the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) that focuses on exploiting false breakouts in the market. This ICT price action strategy aims to identify and take advantage of situations where the price briefly moves beyond a key support or resistance level, only to reverse direction shortly after. This movement is often seen in ranging markets where prices oscillate between established highs and lows.
The concept behind ICT Turtle Soup trading is rooted in the idea of liquidity hunts and market imbalances. When the price breaks out, it often triggers stop-loss orders set by other traders, creating a temporary imbalance. The ICT Turtle Soup strategy seeks to capitalise on this by entering trades in the opposite direction once the breakout fails and the price returns to its previous range.
The pattern is named humorously after the original Turtle Traders' strategy, which focuses on genuine breakouts. In contrast, ICT Turtle Soup takes advantage of these failed attempts, thus "making soup out of turtles" by transforming unproductive breakout attempts into potentially effective trades.
Typically, traders look for specific signs of a false breakout, such as a price briefly moving above a recent high or below a recent low but failing to sustain the move. This strategy is particularly effective when used in conjunction with other ICT concepts, such as higher timeframe analysis and understanding of market structure.
Components of the ICT Turtle Soup Pattern
To effectively utilise the ICT Turtle Soup setup, it’s essential to understand its core components: order flow and market structure, liquidity, and internal versus external liquidity.
Order Flow and Market Structure
Order flow and market structure are critical in analysing the ICT Turtle Soup pattern. This involves observing price movements and traders' behaviour in different timeframes. Traders can analyse higher and lower timeframe price movements in FXOpen’s free TickTrader platform.
Higher Timeframe Structure
This refers to the broader trend governing the lower timeframe trend. For traders using the 15m-1h charts to trade, this might mean structure visible on 4-hour, daily, or weekly charts.
Higher timeframe structures help traders identify the major support and resistance levels. These levels are essential as they mark the boundaries within which the market generally oscillates. Traders use these to determine the prevailing market direction and potential areas where false breakouts (stop hunts) are likely to occur.
Lower Timeframe Structure
Lower timeframe structures are examined on hourly or minute charts. These provide a more detailed view of price action within the higher timeframe’s range and account for the bullish and bearish legs that dictate a broader higher timeframe trend.
Liquidity and Stop Hunts
In general trading terms, liquidity represents how easy it is to enter or exit a market. However, in the context of the ICT Turtle Soup pattern, areas of liquidity can be identified beyond key swing points.
Stop Hunts
Stop hunts, also known as a liquidity sweep, occur when the price temporarily moves above a resistance level or below a support level to trigger stop-loss orders. This movement creates a liquidity spike as traders' stops are hit, providing a favourable condition for the price to reverse direction. ICT Turtle Soup traders seek to exploit these moments by entering trades opposite to the initial breakout direction once the liquidity is absorbed.
Internal and External Liquidity
Understanding internal and external liquidity is vital for applying the ICT Turtle Soup pattern effectively.
Internal Liquidity
This refers to the liquidity available within the range of the higher timeframe structure. It involves identifying smaller support and resistance levels within the larger range. For example, in a bullish leg, there will be a series of higher highs and higher lows; beneath these higher lows is where internal liquidity rests. This internal liquidity will be targeted to form a bearish leg as part of a higher timeframe bullish trend.
External Liquidity
This involves liquidity that exists outside the key highs and lows of the higher timeframe trend. To use the example of the bullish leg in a higher timeframe bullish trend, the low it originated from and the high it creates as the bearish retracement begins count as areas of external liquidity.
Order Blocks and Imbalances
While not directly involved in the ICT Turtle Soup setup, understanding order blocks and imbalances can provide insight into where the price might head and the general market context.
Order blocks are areas where significant buying or selling activity has previously occurred, often due to institutional orders. These blocks represent zones of support and resistance where the price is likely to react.
Bullish Order Blocks
These are typically found at the base of a significant upward move and indicate zones where buying interest is strong. When the price revisits these areas, it often finds support, making them potential entry points for long trades.
Bearish Order Blocks
Conversely, these are located at the top of significant downward moves and signal strong selling interest. These zones often act as resistance when revisited, making them strategic points for short trades.
Imbalances
Imbalances, or fair value gaps (FVGs), are price regions where the market has moved too quickly, creating a significant disparity between the number of long and short trades. These gaps often occur due to high volatility and indicate areas where the market might revisit to "fill" the gap, thereby achieving fair value.
In other words, when a price rapidly moves in one direction, it leaves behind an area with little to no trading activity. The market often returns to these imbalanced zones to facilitate proper price discovery and liquidity.
How to Use the ICT Turtle Soup Strategy
Here's a detailed breakdown of how traders use the ICT Turtle Soup pattern.
Establishing a Bias
Traders begin by analysing the higher timeframe trend, such as the daily or weekly charts, to establish a market bias. This analysis helps determine whether the market is predominantly bullish or bearish. Identifying this trend is crucial as it guides where to look for potential Turtle Soup setups.
For instance, the example above shows AUDUSD initially moving down after a bullish movement off-screen. It eventually breaks above the lower high, indicating that the higher timeframe trend may now be bullish. Similarly, the shorter-term downtrend beginning from mid-May also saw a new high, meaning a trader may want to look for long positions.
Identifying Internal Liquidity
Once the higher timeframe trend is established, traders look for a move counter to that higher timeframe trend. In the example shown, this would be a downtrend counter to the bullish structure break. They mark levels of internal liquidity; in a bullish leg, these would be below swing lows and vice versa. These areas are likely to attract stop-loss orders.
Looking for Liquidity Taps
The next step involves waiting for these internal liquidity areas to be tapped. This typically happens when the price briefly breaks through a support or resistance level, triggering stop-loss orders before quickly reversing direction.
Ideally, the price should tap into the same area or order block where the internal liquidity formed and then exhibit a quick reversal, often leaving just a small wick. This movement indicates a liquidity grab, where large players have taken out stops to facilitate their own orders.
Lower Timeframe Confirmation
After identifying a liquidity grab beyond this internal liquidity level, traders look for an entry. On a lower timeframe, they look for a similar pattern: internal liquidity being run and a subsequent break of structure in the direction of the higher timeframe trend. This involves price retracing back inside the range to fill an imbalance and meet an order block, which provides a precise entry point.
Executing the Trade
Once these conditions are met, traders typically enter the market. Specifically, they’ll often leave a limit order at an order block to trade in the direction of the higher timeframe trend. They place a stop loss just beyond the liquidity grab, either above the recent high for a short trade or below the recent low for a long trade. Profit targets are often set at key liquidity levels, such as previous highs or lows, where the market is likely to encounter significant activity.
Potential Advantages and Limitations
The ICT Turtle Soup pattern is a trading strategy with several potential benefits and drawbacks.
Advantages
- Precision: Allows for precise entry points by identifying false breakouts and liquidity grabs.
- Adaptability: Effective across different timeframes and market conditions, including ranging and trending markets.
- Risk Management: Built-in risk management by placing stop losses just beyond the liquidity grab points.
Limitations
- Complexity: Requires a deep understanding of market structure, liquidity, and order flow, making it challenging for less experienced traders.
- Market Conditions: Less effective in highly volatile or illiquid markets where false signals are more common.
- Time-Consuming: Demands continuous monitoring of multiple timeframes to identify valid setups, which can be time-intensive.
The Bottom Line
The ICT Turtle Soup pattern offers traders a powerful tool to identify and exploit false breakouts in the market. By understanding its components and applying the strategy effectively, traders can potentially enhance their trading performance. To put this strategy into practice, consider opening an FXOpen account, a reliable broker that provides the necessary tools and resources for trading.
FAQs
What Is ICT Turtle Soup in Trading?
ICT Turtle Soup is a trading pattern that exploits false breakouts. It identifies potential reversals when the price briefly moves beyond a key support or resistance level, triggering stop-loss orders before reversing direction. This strategy aims to take advantage of these liquidity grabs by entering trades opposite to the initial breakout direction.
How to Identify ICT Turtle Soup Conditions?
To identify the ICT Turtle Soup pattern, traders analyse higher timeframe trends to establish market bias. They then look for counter-trend moves and mark internal liquidity areas. The pattern is identified when the price taps these liquidity zones and reverses quickly, often leaving a small wick. This signals a liquidity grab and potential trade setup in the direction of the higher timeframe trend.
How to Use the ICT Turtle Soup Pattern?
Using the ICT Turtle Soup pattern involves several steps. First, traders establish a market bias based on higher timeframe analysis. Then, they look for liquidity grabs at marked internal liquidity areas, indicating false breakouts. The next step is to confirm the setup on a lower timeframe by observing a similar liquidity grab and structure break. Lastly, they enter trades in the direction of the higher timeframe trend, placing stop losses just beyond the liquidity grab and targeting key liquidity levels for profit-taking.
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.
Profitable SMC Smart MoneyConcept Strategy Explained
I will teach you how to trade liquidity grab, a trap, inducement, order block and imbalance.
I will share with you my Smart Money Concept strategy for trading forex & gold.
We will study a real SMC trading setup that I took on a live stream with my students.
Trend Analysis With Structure Mapping
The first step in our trading strategy will be the analysis of a market trend on a daily time frame with structure mapping.
Analyzing GBPNZD on a daily time frame, we can see that the conditions for a bullish trend are met.
Liquidity Zones Analysis
The second step will be to find liquidity - supply and demand zones on a daily time frame.
According to our rules, here are 3 liquidity zones that I spotted on GBPNZD. We see 2 demand zones and 1 supply zone.
Test of Liquidity Zone
The third step will be to wait for a test of a liquidity zone.
And on that step, we should remember an important rule:
We will wait only for a test of a liquidity zone that ALIGN with the market trend.
It means that we will wait for a test of a demand zone in a bullish trend.
We will wait for a test of a supply zone in a bearish trend.
The only demand zones that meets these criteria on GBPNZD is Demand Zone 1.
It aligns with a bullish trend.
We don't consider Demand Zone 2, because a bearish violation of a Demand Zone 1 will be a Change of Character and a violation of a bearish trend.
And here is how a test of a liquidity zone should look like. The price should simply reach that.
Liquidity Grab & Imbalance
After we identified a test of a significant liquidity zone that aligns with a market trend, we will start analyzing lower time frames.
We will look for a liquidity grab, order block and imbalance on 4H and 1H time frames.
Here is a liquidity grab that is confirmed by a bullish imbalance.
We see a false violation of a liquidity zone, followed by a high momentum bullish candle.
It will be our strong bullish signal.
Order Block Zone
In order to identify the entry point, the next step will be to identify the order block zone.
According to our rules, here is the order block zone on a 4H time frame.
Entry Level
Our entry level will be the level of the upper boundary of the order block zone.
Here is such a level on GBPNZD.
A buy limit order should be set on that level.
Please, note that in that particular case we don't need a 1H time frame analysis, because we have a confirmation signal on a 4H time frame. We will analyse an hourly time frame only when THERE IS NO SIGNAL on a 4H time frame.
Stop Loss & Take Profit
Safe stop loss should be below the lowest low of a bearish movement.
To safely calculate a stop loss in pips for the trade, simply take 0.5 ATR - Average True Range.
For Average True Range indicator , take the default settings - 14 length.
Here is a safe stop loss level on GBPNZD. ATR is 55 pips. Our stop loss for the trade is 28 pips.
Take profit for the trade will be based on the closest 4H liquidity - supply zone.
That is the closest supply zone that I spotted on GBPNZD on a 4H time frame.
Your target level should be a couple of pips below a supply zone.
Look how perfectly the market reached the target!
As you can see, that trading strategy is quite complex and combines different important elements. But what I like about this SMC trading strategy is that it truly makes sense.
The intentions of Smart Money are crystal clear here and the trade execution rules are straight forward.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Vbl crash with Low volume can give reversal When a stock (or any tradable asset) experiences a volume breakout level crash but does so with low trading volume, it can often signal a potential reversal rather than further downside movement.
Here’s why:
1. Weak Commitment: A price break below a significant support level on low volume indicates there isn't strong conviction among market participants. In other words, sellers are not aggressively dumping shares, and buyers are likely cautious. This implies the move could lack sustainability.
2. Reversal Potential: Low-volume breakdowns often reflect temporary price movement caused by minor selling pressure, rather than a trend-defining event. If demand re-emerges or larger buyers enter the market at these lower prices, the stock may rebound above the support, triggering a reversal.
3. Significance of Support: Support levels act as zones where buying interest historically outpaces selling pressure. A false breakdown (especially on low volume) below such a level can prompt a "trap," where sellers expecting further decline are forced to cover when prices rebound, amplifying the reversal.
Key Considerations:
Volume Analysis: Always compare the volume during the support breach to the average volume. A convincing breakdown requires high volume to confirm significant selling pressure.
Catalysts: Check for underlying reasons, such as news, sector performance, or earnings reports, which could explain low-volume moves.
Price Action Afterward: Watch for a reversal candle pattern (like hammer or engulfing candle) at the breached level to validate reversal potential.
To summarize: A crash below support on low volume often indicates an unreliable breakdown and increases the probability of a reversal, especially if significant buyers step in at the lower price zone.
BTC CYCLE EXPLAINED🔄 THE BITCOIN-ALTCOIN CYCLE EXPLAINED 🔄
In the crypto market, a well-known pattern plays out:
When Bitcoin rises 📈, altcoins like Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana tend to struggle 📉.
When Bitcoin consolidates or corrects 📉, altcoins often rally 🚀.
Why does this happen?
1. 💪 Bitcoin Dominance: Bitcoin (BTC) leads the market, setting the tone for all crypto movements.
2. 🛡️ Risk-Off Sentiment: During Bitcoin’s bullish runs, traders shift funds into BTC as a safer option.
3. 🔄 Altcoin Rotation: When BTC slows, investors look to altcoins for higher returns, driving their prices up.
🚨 The Big Question: Are we on the verge of another altcoin season? 🤔
📊 Keep watching Bitcoin’s movement—it might be signaling the next big altcoin breakout.
🔥 Stay tuned, the cycle could be heating up! 🚀
The Next Bubble: Hunting for Sci-Fi Hype in Emerging MarketsExploring potential emerging market bubbles with a focus on futuristic and lesser-known technologies.
In the ever-evolving landscape of investment opportunities, savvy investors are always looking for the next big wave. This potential market bubble could transform obscure technologies into astronomical valuations. While traditional industries like banking and oil remain predictable, the most exciting investment frontiers lie in science fiction-adjacent technologies that most people can barely comprehend.
Quantum Computing: The Invisible Revolution
Quantum computing represents a prime candidate for a potential market bubble. Most people struggle to understand how quantum computers work, which makes them perfect for speculative investment. Companies like IBM, Google, and several stealth startups are developing quantum technologies that seem more like science fiction than reality.
The allure is simple: quantum computers promise to solve complex problems that classical computers can't handle. From cryptography to drug discovery, the potential applications are mind-bending. As public understanding remains limited, this knowledge gap creates fertile ground for massive hype and potentially inflated valuations.
Synthetic Biology: Programming Life Itself
Another frontier that screams "future bubble" is synthetic biology. Imagine companies that can program biological systems, design custom organisms, or create entirely new forms of life. Startups in this space are working on everything from lab-grown meat to engineered microorganisms that can clean up environmental pollution.
The complexity of synthetic biology means most investors won't understand the underlying technology, creating perfect conditions for a speculative frenzy. Companies like Ginkgo Bioworks are already pushing the boundaries of what seems possible, blurring the lines between engineering and biology.
Space Resource Extraction: The Final Economic Frontier
While space tourism gets most of the headlines, the real potential bubble might be in space resource extraction. Companies are developing technologies to mine asteroids, harvest helium-3 from the moon, or extract rare minerals from extraterrestrial sources. These ventures sound like plot points from a science fiction novel but are becoming serious investment considerations.
The total addressable market is astronomical, and the technological challenges are so complex that they create a perfect environment for speculative investment. Most people can't comprehend the engineering required, which means wild narratives can drive market sentiment.
Neuromorphic Computing: Brains in Silicon
Neuromorphic computing represents another potential bubble zone. These are computer systems designed to mimic the human brain's neural structures, promising revolutionary approaches to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Companies developing neuromorphic chips and systems are creating technologies that seem more like sentient machines from a William Gibson novel than traditional computing.
The mystique of creating "brain-like" computers that can learn and adapt independently is a powerful narrative for investors seeking the next transformative technology.
Key Bubble Indicators
When hunting for potential market bubbles in sci-fi-adjacent technologies, look for these red flags:
- Technological complexity that defies easy explanation
- Massive potential market size with minimal current revenue
- High-profile founders with grandiose visions
- Media coverage that sounds more like science fiction than economic analysis
- Significant venture capital interest despite unclear monetization paths
Investor Caution: The Thin Line Between Innovation and Illusion
While these technologies represent exciting investment frontiers, they also embody significant risks. Not every sci-fi-like technology will become the next big bubble. Careful research, understanding technological feasibility, and avoiding pure hype is crucial.
The most successful investors will be those who can distinguish between genuine technological breakthroughs and elaborate narratives designed to attract speculative capital.
Remember: Today's impossible dream could be tomorrow's trillion-dollar market—or next year's cautionary tale.
#RGTI: is up +650% in less than 2 months since I published the analysis!
Trading with Multiple Time Frames: A Balanced ApproachWhy Use Multiple Time Frames ?
In trading, understanding flow and target areas across different time frames is essential for precision. Each time frame provides a unique insight:
Higher Time Frame (HTP) : Establishes the direction and target areas.
Focal Time Frame : Serves as your primary or main frame of focus for trading decisions.
Lower Time Frame (LTP) : Confirms the HTP’s direction and offers entry/exit points.
Examples: If you are position trading (holding longer than 1 month) you focal time frame is the monthly, the weekly is the time frame that offers entry/exits and the Quarterly is the time frame that establishes the direction and target areas. If you are swing trading (holding longer than 1 week) then you focal time frame is the weekly, LTP is the daily for entry/exists and HTP is the monthly. If you trade intraday then HTP is the hourly, focal is 15min and LTP is the 5min.
🔎 Key Principles for Multi-Time Frame Analysis
HTP Determines the Flow:
Strong resistance or support on the higher time frame drives the market flow.
Example: If HTP resistance is strong, the LTP will typically trend downward
LTP Monitors the Setup:
Use lower time frames to observe and confirm HTP predictions.
Lower time frame bars should progressively move away from strong HTP levels
Focus on Nearby and Further Out Areas:
Nearby areas provide short-term strength or weakness.
If a nearby area breaks, targets shift to further-out energy zones
🧩 Example Strategy: Integrating Time Frames
Step 1: Identify a strong support/resistance area on the HTP (e.g., Weekly Chart).
Step 2: Use the focal time frame (e.g., Daily Chart) to monitor for trend setups.
Step 3: Zoom into the LTP (e.g., Hourly Chart) to:
Confirm the setup.
Look for price reactions and ideal entry points.
Step 4: Set targets based on the HTP structure, while managing risk on the LTP.
🎯 Tips for Target Setting
Targets are often defined where price terminates energy (e.g., HTP resistance/support levels).
Monitor flow: If LTP flow aligns with HTP direction, the trade is on track.
If nearby energy breaks, shift your target to the next further-out area
🚀 Final Thoughts
The HTP shows the big picture; the LTP provides execution clarity.
Always let the HTP guide you, and the LTP confirm your trade entries/exits.
Remember: “Strength is strength until proven otherwise.”
By combining multiple time frames, traders can trade confidently, anticipate targets, and stay in sync with the market flow.
Mastering the German 40 Index: A Comprehensive Trading Strategy 👀👉 In this detailed video, I examine the complexities of trading the German 40 Index (DAX), sharing my personal trading plan and strategies aimed at identifying lucrative trade opportunities. Most importantly, my goal is to provide you with the essential tools to effectively navigate the indices markets. 📈✨
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
✅ Trading Strategy Overview: I outline a structured approach to planning trades and identifying optimal trading opportunities.
✅ Technical Analysis Techniques: We explore concepts such as Wyckoff Theory and ICT (Inner Circle Trader) principles, emphasizing their application in real-world trading scenarios.
✅ Timeframe Analysis: The video guides you through analyzing higher timeframes to inform lower timeframe entries, ensuring a well-rounded trading strategy.
✅ Entry Points & Risk Management: Learn how to pinpoint entry points, set effective stop-loss orders, and establish profit targets to maximize your trading success. 🎯
✅ TradingView Features: I highlight essential features of TradingView, showcasing two advanced indicators: the Volume Profile and VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price), which are crucial for intraday analysis and understanding market trends. 📊
🔔 Disclaimer: Trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct thorough research and consider your financial situation before engaging in trading activities.
Join me on this journey to enhance your trading skills and gain valuable insights into the German 40 Index! Don't forget to comment and if you found the info of value, giving this post a BOOST would be awesome! 🙏
Reading Price Action to Tell a Chart's (Liquidity) StoryUsing Domino's Pizza in this case I want to show you how simple and practical it is to find important levels and to understand why price is doing what it's doing at a certain level. If we can map out where we are going to have to put a fight, and know why we are going to put up a fight (i.e. buyers or sellers, who needs what to win the fight, who is building liquidity and in control on a certain time frame) --> Then there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to identify solid trade opportunities and take them when they're given. If we are wrong on an analysis (i.e. we lose money on the trade), it's either that you're executing trades on a different time frame than your analysis is telling you to or there is something about your analysis that is wrong or not effective enough.
DPZ Analysis coming next..
Happy Trading :)
Mastering RSI: The Complete and CORRECT Way to Trade ItThe Relative Strength Index (RSI) is one of the most popular and widely used indicators in trading.
Despite its prevalence, many traders misuse it or are unaware of its full potential. RSI isn't just about identifying overbought and oversold conditions; when applied correctly, it becomes a robust tool for trend confirmation, reversals, momentum acceleration, and much more.
This guide explores how to unlock the full power of RSI and avoid common pitfalls.
What Is RSI?
Developed by J. Welles Wilder Jr., RSI measures the speed and magnitude of price changes over a specified period. It oscillates between 0 and 100, with the following traditional zones:
Above 70: Indicates overbought conditions, where the price may reverse or consolidate.
Below 30: Indicates oversold conditions, where the price may rebound or reverse upward.
However, it’s important to note that RSI above 70 or below 30 can sometimes indicate trend acceleration rather than an immediate reversal—especially in strong trending markets, discussed in #6
The real reversal signal comes after RSI crosses back below 70 (for overbought) or back above 30 (for oversold). Understanding this distinction is critical to using RSI effectively.
1. Overbought and Oversold Conditions
The classic use of RSI involves identifying overbought and oversold levels:
Overbought: RSI rises above 70 and then drops back below it, signaling potential selling pressure.
Oversold: RSI falls below 30 and then moves back above it, indicating potential buying interest.
These signals are more effective when combined with tools like support/resistance levels or trendlines.
2. Centerline Crossover
The 50-level on RSI is a reliable trend indicator:
Above 50: Bullish momentum dominates.
Below 50: Bearish momentum dominates.
Use these crossovers to confirm trends:
Enter long trades when RSI is above 50.
Enter short trades when RSI is below 50.
3. Divergences
Divergences between RSI and price can signal potential trend reversals:
Bullish Divergence: Price makes lower lows, but RSI forms higher lows.
Bearish Divergence: Price makes higher highs, but RSI forms lower highs.
These divergences highlight weakening momentum and often precede reversals.
4. RSI Patterns
RSI can form recognizable chart patterns, such as triangles, head-and-shoulders, or double tops/bottoms. These patterns often precede price moves:
Triangles: A breakout on RSI often signals a strong price move.
Double Tops : A topping pattern on RSI warns of potential price declines.
5. Failure Swings
Failure swings occur when RSI enters an extreme zone (above 70 or below 30) but fails to sustain momentum and reverses. This is a strong reversal signal and can precede significant price moves:
Bullish Failure Swing:
RSI dips below 30.
It rises but dips again, staying above 30.
RSI breaks its previous high, signaling a bullish reversal.
Bearish Failure Swing:
RSI rises above 70.
It falls but rises again, staying below 70.
RSI breaks its previous low, signaling a bearish reversal.
How to trade it:
For a bullish failure swing, enter long when RSI confirms the higher low and breaks above the previous swing high.
For a bearish failure swing, enter short when RSI confirms the lower high and breaks below the previous swing low.
6. Momentum Acceleration Strategy
While RSI is traditionally used for spotting overbought and oversold conditions, it can also identify momentum acceleration during strong trends:
Above 70: In strong uptrends, when RSI rises above 70 and stays there, it signals upward acceleration, indicating buyers are in control.
Below 30: In strong downtrends, when RSI dips below 30 and stays there, it signals downward acceleration, with sellers driving the market lower.
How to trade it:
In uptrends, treat RSI staying above 70 as a sign of strength and look for pullbacks to enter long positions.
In downtrends, use brief rebounds as opportunities to short while RSI remains below 30.
7. Multi-Timeframe Strategy
Analyzing RSI across multiple timeframes enhances accuracy:
Use the higher timeframe (e.g., daily) to identify the overall trend.
Use the lower timeframe (e.g., 1-hour) to time trade entries.
Example:
If RSI on the daily chart is above 50 (bullish trend), look for hourly RSI dips below 30 to enter long trades.
If RSI on the daily chart is below 50 (bearish trend), wait for hourly RSI to reach overbought levels above 70 to short.
Tips for Advanced RSI Use:
Adjust RSI Settings: Shorter periods (e.g., 7) make RSI more sensitive, while longer periods (e.g., 21) smooth out signals for longer-term trends.
Combine RSI with Other Tools: Use RSI alongside moving averages, Fibonacci retracements, or Candlesticks.
Risk Management: Always pair RSI signals with a stop-loss strategy to manage risk effectively.
PRO TIP: As I like to say "Trade the price, not the indicator."
Use RSI as a confirmation tool, not the main signal.
For example, a price reversal from resistance or a bullish engulfing candle becomes far more reliable when backed by RSI signals.
Conclusion
RSI is far more versatile than many traders realize. While it’s traditionally used for identifying overbought and oversold levels, strategies like momentum acceleration and failure swings add depth to its utility. By combining RSI with centerline crossovers, divergences, multi-timeframe analysis, and chart patterns, traders can pinpoint entries, reversals, and momentum shifts with more precision and trade more confidently.
Key Takeaways:
- RSI staying above 70 or below 30 in trends signals momentum acceleration.
- Failure swings offer reliable reversal signals when RSI breaks key levels.
- Combining RSI strategies with other tools and proper risk management leads to more confidence
Cup & Handle Pattern TutorialA cup and handle pattern is a bullish continuation pattern that signals a potential upward price movement after a consolidation period. Here's a breakdown of its key components:
Cup: The pattern starts with a downward move in price, forming a rounded bottom (the "cup"). The price then rallies back up to the level where it began, creating a U-shape.
Handle: After the cup forms, the price pulls back downward in a smaller, rounded formation (the "handle"). This handle is typically a consolidation period before the price resumes its upward trend.
Win Rate
The cup and handle pattern is known for its high reliability and success rate. Research shows that it has a 95% success rate in bull markets and an average profit of around 54%. However, it's important to follow strict trading rules to achieve these results
Forecasting Swing Levels in a Trend Using Elliot WaveHere's a simple template that can help you to draw good fib extensions off different useful swings when the is a possible Elliot wave pattern.
This should help to flag up the high probability areas in a nice expression of the Elliot pattern and also give you warning levels to watch along the way in case the nice simple pattern fails.
We're going to focus on two legs. There's a few more you can draw fibs from and have useful repeating ratios but to keep it simple I'm just going to focus on the two high value ones here.
Working left to right on the chart notes:
When we know waves 4-5 we can use it for wave C
An extension fib drawn from low to high of the 4-5 swing (you'd know this was in when wave A breaks the trend) is very useful for determining the levels the market is likely to make a low and also the level which a capitulation event is likely.
The 1.61 extension is the important level here. It can hold in a simple wave 4 spike out correction. If it breaks, usually price capitulates to at least the 2.20. More commonly the 2.61 in the event we're making a low (You'll usually find this is a 76 retracement of 1-5 also).
In the first instance of a 4-5 fib, I've shown a 1.61 break. Bit of a dummy rally around the 1.61 (very common) and then the capitulation to the lower fibs. Which is more common in the first leg of a trend. Deep retracements are common in trend reversals.
When we know 1-2 we can use it for levels for wave 3
When we know where waves 1-2 should be in our count we can draw an extension fib high to low on this. We can define waves 1-2 as being in by the breaking of the first wave 5 high. It's also possible to pre-emptively draw these fibs when you think we're at the end of wave C. Obviously these need checked and adjusted if things change.
There are four main fib levels we use in this swing. 1.27, 1.61, 2.20 and 2.61.
1.27 and 1.61 levels here are expected to have pullbacks or soft stalls but ultimately break. They're levels to be careful. If it will fail these are hot spots for it, but once we have some reaction around 1.27 - 1.61 and a valid breakout we trend consistently to 2.20. That usually completes wave 3 of the trend.
From 2.20 we'll get chop and some false reversals. This is wave 4. It'll go on for a while and be full of false breakouts. Every time something looks like it's happening, it's not. Eventually there's a false bear breakout and then a big spike to the 2.61. This completes waves 4-5.
Now we're back to where we started. Once we know waves 4-5, these help with levels for C.
Since we now are inside a developing trend rather than in the first leg of it, the retracement is likely to be shallower. Stopping a little past the 1.61. With the trading under there mainly being a wick. There's a big bounce from the 1.61. A pullback (usually to the 1.27) and then there's a break of the high.
Once we have seen those legs, then we have our new 1-2 legs and we can use these to forecast where we expect the nice trending action of C. The soft resistance levels along the way that might turn the market if the Elliot thesis is incorrect and the target levels we know to look for the bigger crash correction.
For so long as the Elliot cycle plays this, these things just keep rolling into each other and you can make pretty good forecasts of the trend levels.
A Guide for Beginner Traders: Navigating the Markets Safely.Welcome to the world of trading! Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your skills, this guide is for you. Trading can be exciting and rewarding, but it's crucial to approach it with the right knowledge and mindset. Let's dive into the essentials you need to know to trade safely and effectively.
Understanding the Basics
It’s really concerning to see how many beginner traders, or even people with no prior knowledge, are getting misled by false signals and scams in various groups like Telegram and Discord. Following bad advice can lead to significant financial losses, false confidence, and emotional stress. Learning the fundamentals is essential to navigate the markets independently and avoid these pitfalls.
Why Understanding the Basics Matters
Empowerment: Learning to use indicators empowers you to make your own trading decisions. Instead of relying on others for buy or sell signals, you gain the ability to analyse market conditions and determine the best course of action.
Risk Management: Proper knowledge helps you manage risks better. You'll learn to spot potential market reversals and adjust your positions to protect your capital.
Market Insights: Indicators offer valuable insights into market trends, momentum, volatility, and volume. This information helps you identify trading opportunities, spot trends early, and avoid potential pitfalls.
Confidence Building: Understanding how trading works boosts your confidence. You'll be less likely to make impulsive trades based on emotions or unverified advice.
Key Concepts and Tools to Learn
Let's break down some essential concepts and tools to get you started:
Indicators and Technical Analysis:
Moving Averages (MA): These smooth out price data to help identify trends. The Simple Moving Average (SMA) calculates the average price over a specific period, while the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) gives more weight to recent prices.
Relative Strength Index (RSI): This momentum oscillator measures the speed and change of price movements. An RSI above 70 indicates overbought conditions, while an RSI below 30 indicates oversold conditions.
Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD): This indicator shows the relationship between two EMAs. When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, it suggests a bullish trend; crossing below indicates a bearish trend.
Bollinger Bands: These measure market volatility and provide a range within which the price is expected to move. The bands expand and contract based on market conditions.
Volume Indicators: Tools like On-Balance Volume (OBV) and Volume Moving Average (VMA) help assess the strength of a price move.
Developing a Trading Strategy:
Research and Education: Continuously educate yourself about the market. Read articles, watch webinars, and join trading communities.
Back testing: Before applying your strategy in real-time trading, test it using historical data. This helps you refine your approach and gain confidence in your trading plan.
Risk Management: Determine how much you're willing to risk on each trade and stick to it. Use stop-loss orders to limit potential losses.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls:
Overtrading: Trading too frequently can lead to unnecessary losses. Focus on quality over quantity.
Following Unverified Signals: Relying on signals from unverified sources can be risky. Learn to analyse the market yourself.
Emotional Trading: Trading based on emotions rather than analysis can lead to poor decisions. Stay disciplined and stick to your strategy.
Conclusion
Trading can be a rewarding journey, but it's essential to approach it with the right knowledge and mindset. By understanding the basics, developing a solid strategy, and avoiding common pitfalls, you'll be better equipped to navigate the markets. Remember, continuous learning and disciplined application of knowledge are key to long-term success.
Happy Trading! 🚀.
BDL - An update and a VSA Learning ExerciseThis is just a learning exercise. We had anticipated a good move from this stock. However, 1230 was the trigger point for the Up move Now let us do a bar to bar analysis.
Refer the box marked “A”. We can see there was a sideways move or a consolidation happening. We can see the prices clustering together and the volume became low. It Indicated accumulation going on.
Refer to the bar marked “B”. It is an up bar with increased volume. This bar was an indication that things are about to change.
Refer to the Bar marked “C”. The next bar is a wide spread bar going past the trigger point, ending near the top. Also, we can see the volume increased volume indicating a high probable Breakout.
And today's bar (marked “D’) opened up above the previous close. The bar did see some selling, but finally it overcame the selling and closed up. Of course, the spread was not, the spread was narrow indicating selling pressure still present.
We can see the stock has started its up move and it is all supported by increased volume and the momentum. The price action momentum is also driven by volume and we can see increased relative strength. All that support further up move and the first obstacle we could see would be 1365, where we may see some more consolidation before further up move. This whole exercise is just for learning purpose.
Uptrend & Downtrend Bullish Falling Wedge Pattern TutorialA bullish falling wedge is a charting pattern that signals a potential reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend. Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:
Shape: The pattern forms a wedge that slopes downward, with the upper trendline connecting the highs and the lower trendline connecting the lows. The key is that the highs and lows get closer together as the pattern develops.
Trend: It typically forms during a downtrend, indicating that selling pressure is decreasing.
Breakout: The pattern is bullish when the price breaks above the upper trendline. This breakout suggests that the downward trend is losing momentum, and an upward trend may follow.
Volume: During the falling wedge formation, volume tends to decrease, which supports the idea that selling pressure is diminishing.
Retest: After the breakout, it's common for the price to retest the upper trendline, and if it holds, it provides further confirmation of the bullish reversal.
Example
Imagine a stock that has been falling for several months. The price forms lower highs and lower lows, creating a narrowing wedge. Suddenly, the price breaks above the upper trendline with increased volume, signaling a potential reversal and the start of an upward trend.
4-Year Cycles [jpkxyz]Brief Introduction why Crypto moves in Cycles.
"Crypto is an expression of Macro."
The 2007-2008 global financial crisis was a pivotal moment that fundamentally transformed monetary policy, particularly in how central banks manage economic cycles through liquidity manipulation.
Before the crisis, central banks primarily used interest rates as a blunt instrument for economic management. The 2008 financial crisis exposed deep vulnerabilities in the global financial system, particularly the interconnectedness of financial institutions and the risks of unregulated credit markets.
In response, central banks, led by the Federal Reserve, developed a more sophisticated approach to economic management:
1. Quantitative Easing (QE)
The Federal Reserve introduced large-scale asset purchases, essentially creating money to buy government bonds and mortgage-backed securities. This unprecedented monetary intervention:
- Prevented a complete economic collapse
- Provided liquidity to frozen credit markets
- Kept interest rates artificially low
- Supported asset prices and prevented a deeper recession
2. Synchronized Global Monetary Policy
Central banks worldwide began coordinating their monetary policies more closely, creating a more interconnected approach to economic management:
- Coordinated interest rate decisions
- Shared information about economic interventions
- Created global liquidity pools
3. Cyclical Liquidity Management
The new approach involves deliberately creating and managing economic cycles through:
- Periodic liquidity injections
- Strategic interest rate adjustments
- Using monetary policy as a proactive economic tool rather than a reactive one
The 4-year cycle emerged as a pattern of:
- 2-3 years of expansionary policy
- Followed by a contraction or normalization period
This cycle typically involves:
- Expanding money supply
- Lowering interest rates
- Supporting asset prices
- Then gradually withdrawing support to prevent overheating
The 2007-2008 crisis essentially forced central banks to become more active economic managers, moving from a passive regulatory role to an interventionist approach that continuously adjusts monetary conditions.
This approach represents a significant departure from previous monetary policy, where central banks now see themselves as active economic architects rather than passive observers.
Currency Wars: Exploring BTC/Fiat Ripple Effects on Key Markets1. Introduction
In today's interconnected financial markets, major fiat currencies like the Euro (6E) and Yen (6J) play a critical role in influencing USD-denominated assets. The relative strength between these currencies often reflects underlying economic trends and risk sentiment, which ripple across key markets like Treasuries (ZN), Gold (GC), and Equities (ES).
However, Bitcoin (BTC), a non-traditional digital asset, introduces an interesting divergence. Unlike fiat currencies, BTC's behavior during periods of significant market stress may reveal a unique relationship to USD movements. This article explores:
The relative strength between the Euro and Yen.
Correlations between fiat currencies, BTC, and USD-denominated markets.
Whether BTC reacts similarly or differently to traditional currencies during market volatility.
By analyzing these dynamics, we aim to identify how shifts in currency strength influence assets like Treasuries while assessing BTC’s independence or alignment with fiat markets.
2. Relative Strength Between 6E and 6J
To evaluate currency dynamics, we compute the relative strength of the Euro (6E) versus the Yen (6J) as a ratio. This ratio helps identify which currency is outperforming, providing insights into broader risk sentiment and market direction.
Another way to think of this ratio would be to use the RY1! Ticker symbol which represents the Euro/Japanese Yen Futures contract.
Correlation Heatmaps
The correlation heatmaps below highlight relationships between:
o Currencies: Euro (6E), Yen (6J), and Bitcoin (BTC).
o USD-Denominated Markets: Treasuries (ZN), S&P 500 (ES), Crude Oil (CL), Gold (GC), and Corn (ZC).
o Key Observations (Daily Timeframe):
The 6J (Yen) shows a positive correlation with Treasuries (ZN), supporting its traditional role as a safe-haven currency.
Bitcoin (BTC) demonstrates mixed relationships across assets, showing signs of divergence compared to fiat currencies during specific conditions.
o Key Observations (Weekly and Monthly Timeframes):
Over longer timeframes, correlations between 6E and markets like Gold (GC) strengthen, while the Yen's (6J) correlation with Treasuries becomes more pronounced.
BTC correlations remain unstable, suggesting Bitcoin behaves differently than traditional fiat currencies, particularly in stress periods.
3. BTC Divergence: Behavior During Significant Moves
To assess BTC's behavior during stress periods, we identify significant moves (beyond a predefined threshold) in the Euro (6E) and Yen (6J). Using scatter plots, we plot BTC returns against these currency moves:
BTC vs 6E (Euro):
BTC returns show occasional alignment with Euro movements but also exhibit non-linear patterns. For instance, during sharp Euro declines, BTC has at times remained resilient, highlighting its decoupling from fiat.
BTC vs 6J (Yen):
BTC's reaction to Yen strength/weakness appears more random, lacking a clear pattern. This further underscores BTC’s independence from traditional fiat dynamics, even as Yen strength typically aligns with safe-haven asset flows.
The scatter plots reveal that while fiat currencies like the Euro and Yen maintain consistent relationships with USD-denominated markets, Bitcoin exhibits periods of divergence, particularly during extreme stress events.
4. Focus on Treasury Futures (ZN)
Treasury Futures (ZN) are among the most responsive assets to currency shifts due to their role as a safe-haven instrument during economic uncertainty. Treasury prices often rise when risk aversion drives investors to seek safer assets, particularly when fiat currencies like the Yen (6J) strengthen.
6E/6J Influence on ZN
From the correlation heatmaps:
The Yen (6J) maintains a positive correlation with ZN prices, particularly during periods of market stress.
The Euro (6E) exhibits a moderate correlation, with fluctuations largely dependent on economic events affecting Eurozone stability.
When relative strength shifts in favor of the Yen (6J) over the Euro (6E), Treasury Futures often attract increased demand, reflecting investor flight-to-safety dynamics.
Forward-Looking Trade Idea
Given the above insights, here’s a hypothetical trade idea focusing on 10-Year Treasury Futures (ZN):
Trade Direction: Long Treasury Futures to capitalize on potential safe-haven flows.
Entry Price: 109’29
Target Price: 111’28
Stop Loss: 109’09
Potential for Reward: 126 ticks = $1,968.75
Potential for Risk: 40 ticks = $625
Reward-to-Risk Ratio: 3.15:1
Tick Value: 1/2 of 1/32 of one point (0.015625) = $15.625
Required margin: $2,000 per contract
This trade setup anticipates ZN’s upward momentum if the Yen continues to outperform the Euro or if broader risk-off sentiment triggers demand for Treasuries.
5. Risk Management Importance
Trading currency-driven assets like Treasury Futures or Bitcoin requires a disciplined approach to risk management due to their volatility and sensitivity to macroeconomic shifts. Key considerations include:
a. Stop-Loss Orders:
Always use stop-loss levels to limit downside exposure, especially when markets react sharply to currency moves or unexpected news.
b. Position Sizing:
Adjust position size to match market volatility.
c. Monitor Relative Strength:
Continuously track the 6E/6J ratio to identify shifts in currency strength that could signal changes in safe-haven flows or BTC behavior.
d. Non-Correlated Strategies:
Incorporate BTC into portfolios as a non-correlated asset, especially when fiat currencies exhibit linear correlations with traditional markets.
By implementing proper risk management techniques, traders can navigate the ripple effects of currency moves on markets like Treasuries and Bitcoin.
6. Conclusion
The relative strength between the Euro (6E) and Yen (6J) provides critical insights into the broader market environment, particularly during periods of stress. As shown:
Treasury Futures (ZN): Highly sensitive to Yen strength due to its safe-haven role.
Bitcoin (BTC): Demonstrates unique divergence from fiat currencies, reinforcing its role as a non-traditional asset during volatility.
By analyzing correlations and BTC’s reaction to currency moves, traders can better anticipate opportunities in USD-denominated markets and identify divergence points that signal market shifts.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
Solo Trading in a Frenzied Market: Avoiding the Crowd TrapIn the world of trading, the crowd effect is a serious psychological obstacle that often causes traders to lose their way. This phenomenon, where traders make decisions based on the majority's actions rather than their own analysis, can result in impulsive buying or selling. As many traders point out, such decisions often end in financial losses.
📍 Understanding the Crowd Effect
The crowd effect is based on the tendency of people to obey the actions of the majority. In the trading arena, it can manifest itself when traders jump on the bandwagon and buy assets during an uptrend in the market or hastily sell them during a downtrend due to panic.
While trend trading may be logical - after all, if most people are buying, it may seem unwise to resist the flow - there is a delicate balance to be struck here. Joining a long-term uptrend can lead to buying assets at their peak. This is especially evident in cryptocurrency markets, where FOMO can cause prices to rise artificially, allowing an experienced market maker to capitalize on these moments by selling off assets at peak levels.
📍 The Dangers of the Crowd Effect for Traders
• Impulsive Decision-Making: Crowd-driven decisions are rarely based on careful analysis, increasing the risk of costly mistakes.
• Ignoring Personal Strategy: Traders often abandon their trading plans in the heat of mass panic or excitement, forgetting the essential disciplines that guide their decisions.
• Overestimating Risks: Following the herd can lead to overextended positions in the expectation of “guaranteed” profits, further increasing potential losses.
• Market Bubbles and Crashes: Collective crowd behavior can lead to market bubbles and sharp declines, negatively affecting all participants.
📍 Examples of the Crowd Effect
▸ Bull Market and FOMO: During a strong uptrend, new traders may be attracted by the sight of other people buying assets. They often join the frenzy at the peak of prices and then take losses when the market corrects.
▸ Bear Market and Panic Selling: During a downturn, fear can prompt traders to sell off massively, minimizing their ability to recoup losses in a recovering market.
▸ Social Media Influence: In today's digital age, the opinions of self-proclaimed market “gurus” can prompt uncritical investment decisions. Traders may buy trending assets without proper analysis, leading to losses when prices inevitably fall.
📍 Why Traders Give in to Crowd Influence
Several psychological factors underlie why traders may succumb to the crowd effect:
▪️ Fear of Being Wrong: Traders derive a sense of security by aligning with the majority, even when it contradicts their logic.
▪️ Desire for Social Approval: The inclination to conform can lead to decisions based on collective trends rather than independent analysis.
▪️ Emotional Traps: High volatility can spread feelings of euphoria or panic, swaying traders away from rational decision-making.
▪️ Cognitive Distortions: The phenomenon of groupthink reinforces the false belief that popular decisions are invariably correct.
▪️ Lack of Confidence: Inexperienced traders, particularly, may align themselves with the crowd out of insecurity in their own judgment.
📍 Steps to Mitigate the Crowd Effect
🔹 Develop a Clear Trading Strategy: Create and adhere to a trading plan that reflects your risk tolerance, and trust it even when market participants act differently.
🔹 Avoid Emotional Decision-Making: Base your trading on systematic analysis rather than fleeting market sentiment. Take a moment to pause and assess your emotions before making critical choices.
🔹 Limit External Influences: Steer clear of forums and social media during volatile periods; avoid following advice without verifiable research.
🔹 Employ Objective Analysis Tools: Lean on technical and fundamental analysis instead of crowd sentiment. Identify patterns and levels for entry and exit rather than moving with the trending tide.
🔹 Enhance Self-Confidence: Fortify your market knowledge and trading strategy to reduce reliance on crowd validation. Keep a trading journal to document your successes and the soundness of your decisions.
🔹 Manage Risks Wisely: Never invest more than you can afford to lose. Segment your capital to mitigate the impact of any sizable losses.
🔹 Assess Crowd Behavior: Use indicators, such as market sentiment and trading volume, to gauge the crowd's actions, but retain the independence of thought. Remember that crowds can often misjudge trend reversals.
📍 Conclusion
The crowd effect poses a serious threat to rational decision-making in trading. However, through disciplined strategies, thorough analysis, and effective emotion management, traders can minimize adverse impacts. Remember that successful trading is rooted in objectivity and independent judgment rather than blind conformity.
“The market favors traders who think independently instead of conforming to the crowd.”
Traders, If you liked this educational post🎓, give it a boost 🚀 and drop a comment 📣
Trading Timeframes: Measured Moves and ContextIn the previous post, we introduced the concept of measured moves, a structured framework for estimating future price behavior. This method is based on the observation that each swing move tends to be similar in size to the previous one, assuming average price volatility remains consistent. While not exact, this approach offers a practical way to approximate the potential extension of a swing move.
A common question that arises is: which timeframe should you use for measured moves, and how do you choose the correct swing move? These questions open up a completely different and important topic.
Imagine analyzing a chart across three timeframes: daily, weekly, and monthly. You’ve projected a viable measured move on each chart. Now, ask yourself: which projection is the correct one? Where is the move most likely to play out?
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
The reality is that there is no singular “correct” answer. The appropriate measurement depends entirely on your purpose as a trader, the timeframe you operate in, and trading style.
The Fractal Nature of Price Action
Price action is fractal by nature. Regardless of whether you’re observing a 30-minute chart, a daily chart, or a weekly chart, the price displayed is the same in real time. However, the purpose of charts is to provide context. Each timeframe offers a unique perspective on how price has developed. For example, a 5-minute chart may reveal details about intraday movements while a daily chart condenses those details into broader a broader structure and context.
These perspectives may align or contradict one another, they can confirm or challenge your biases. The key takeaway is that charts and timeframes are tools to contextualize price, not definitive answers.
Defining Your Trading Timeframe
To navigate the apparent contradictions between timeframes, start by defining your trading timeframe. This is where you analyze price structure, execute trades and define holding periods. This will answer the opening question: measured moves and other tools should in preference align with your trading timeframe.
In case one wants to consider context, for various reasons, then multiple timeframes can be utilized. These act as a complement, not replacement.
Here’s how different timeframes can be used for context.
Higher timeframe: Moving one timeframe up will compress the price data, providing a broader context, but at the expense of detail.
Lower Timeframe: Moving one timeframe down will reveal intricate details, but can introduce excessive noise.
The balance between these components should match your trading style. Without a clear and defined approach, there is a risk of confusion and contradictory biases.
The Concept of "Moving in Twos"
Another, more anecdotal observation in price movement is the idea of “moving in twos.” This concept suggests that price often moves in sequences of two swings: an impulse move, followed with a pullback, which then repeats.
There tends to be some price disruption after this has played out, but does not always imply that trend movement must stop after two moves. However, measured moves tend to align more reliably with these sequences.
While not a scientifically validated principle, this concept has been discussed by traders such as Al Brooks, Mack and more. It provides a practical heuristic for applying measured moves more consistently.
Practical Application
To apply these ideas, consider the following:
Define your trading timeframe. Use it as the primary basis for your measured move projections.
If needed, incorporate one higher or lower timeframe to balance context and detail. However, these additional perspectives should not overrule your primary focus.
Think in terms of “moving in twos.” Use this concept to locate sequences.
This post was about the relationship between timeframes and the fractal nature of price action. The focus is on our role as traders and how we decide to operate, rather than absolute answers. This might be clear to most, but if not, take some time to think about and define your trading style.
Comprehensive Guide to Bull and Bear Flag PatternsBull and bear flag patterns are some of the most reliable and widely used chart patterns in technical analysis.
These patterns are particularly effective for traders who prefer trading with the trend, offering clear entry and exit points.
They appear frequently in trending markets and represent short consolidations before the trend resumes.
In this guide, we’ll cover the characteristics of bull and bear flags, trading strategies, and how to enhance your flag trading using multi-timeframe analysis.
What Are Bull and Bear Flag Patterns?
Bull and bear flags are continuation patterns, meaning they signal the potential for a price move to continue in the direction of the prior trend after a brief consolidation or retracement.
Bull Flag: This pattern occurs during an uptrend. After a sharp rise in price (the flagpole), the price begins to consolidate within a downward-sloping channel (the flag). A breakout to the upside typically follows, continuing the trend.
Bear Flag: In a downtrend, after a strong decline (the flagpole), the price consolidates in an upward-sloping channel (the flag). When the price breaks downward, it continues the downtrend.
These patterns are valuable for traders as they provide clear entry signals when the price breaks out of the flag's consolidation range.
Anatomy of a Flag Pattern
The flag pattern consists of two main components:
The Flagpole: This is the sharp price movement that occurs in the direction of the trend. It signifies strong momentum and establishes the direction in which the trend is moving.
The Flag: The flag is a period of consolidation or retracement that follows the flagpole. The price moves within parallel or slightly converging trendlines and typically retraces about 30% to 50% of the flagpole. The flag represents a pause in the market before the trend resumes.
Key Characteristics:
Bullish Flag: Occurs in an uptrend, and the consolidation takes place in a downward-sloping channel.
Bearish Flag: Occurs in a downtrend, and the consolidation takes place in an upward-sloping channel.
Volume (if you trade Crypto or stocks) tends to decrease during the consolidation phase and increases significantly at the breakout point, confirming the continuation of the trend.
Trading Strategies for Bull and Bear Flags
While bull and bear flags are relatively simple to identify, using different strategies can help enhance the effectiveness of trades. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective approaches to trading these patterns:
1. Breakout Strategy
The breakout strategy is a straightforward approach that traders use to enter a position when the price breaks out of the flag's consolidation. This marks the continuation of the trend and offers a high-probability setup.
Entry: Enter the trade when the price breaks above the upper trendline of a bull flag or below the lower trendline of a bear flag.
Stop-Loss: Place the stop just outside the flag’s opposite boundary (below the flag for bull flags or above for bear flags).
Take-Profit: Measure the length of the flagpole and project it from the breakout point. This will give you a target for where the price could potentially move.
2. Multi-Timeframe Strategy
The multi-timeframe strategy involves using multiple timeframes to analyze the flag pattern. This strategy can provide a more robust confirmation for entering the trade, as it gives you a broader perspective on the overall trend.
Higher Timeframe Analysis: Begin by analyzing a higher timeframe (e.g., the daily chart). Look for a strong trend, either bullish or bearish, and identify if a flag pattern is forming within this trend.
Lower Timeframe Confirmation: Once the pattern is identified on the higher timeframe, zoom in on a lower timeframe (e.g., the 1-hour or 4-hour chart) for precise entry points. Look for the price to break out of the flag pattern on the lower timeframe, confirming the trend continuation.
Why Use This Strategy?
Multi-timeframe analysis reduces the risk of false breakouts by confirming the broader trend on a higher timeframe.
It allows you to refine your entries by using a lower timeframe for greater precision.
Note:
A critical benefit of this strategy is its ability to significantly enhance the risk-to-reward (R:R) ratio, with the example presented achieving an impressive 1:5 ratio. This means that for every unit of risk taken, the potential reward is five times greater—a highly efficient use of capital and risk management.
3. Pullback Entry Strategy
The pullback entry strategy offers a more conservative approach to trading flag patterns. Instead of entering at the initial breakout, this strategy waits for a pullback toward the breakout level to confirm the trend’s continuation.
Entry: Enter the trade after the breakout has occurred but wait for the price to pull back to the flag’s trendline. This pullback gives you a better risk-to-reward ratio.
Stop-Loss: Place the stop just below the flag’s trendline for a bull flag or above it for a bear flag.
Take-Profit: As with the breakout strategy, project the flagpole's length from the breakout point for your target.
When Not to Trade Flag Patterns
While flag patterns are reliable, they are not always guaranteed to work. There are specific conditions when you should avoid trading them:
Choppy or Sideways Markets: Flags perform best in trending markets. If the market is choppy or moving sideways, flag patterns are less likely to lead to a strong breakout.
Weak Flags: If the flag's consolidation is too broad or the market loses momentum during the consolidation, the breakout may be weak or fail altogether.
Conclusion
Bull and bear flag patterns are essential tools in any trader's toolkit, offering high-probability setups in trending markets.
By understanding how to spot them, applying different trading strategies, and incorporating multi-timeframe analysis, traders can enhance their chances of success.
Final Tip: Always combine flag patterns with good risk management techniques, such as proper stop-loss placement and positive risk:reward.
Example of how to select a volatility period
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The date that I am talking about as a volatility period refers to a period in which there may be a movement that may change the trend.
In other words, it means that there is a high possibility of creating a new wave as the volatility period passes.
Basically, the volatility period is expressed as an issue regarding the coin (token) or a global issue, but the volatility period that I am talking about is expressed by the support and resistance points and trend lines drawn on the chart.
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The support and resistance points refer to the points drawn on the 1M, 1W, and 1D charts.
In other words, they refer to the points of the HA-Low, HA-High, BW(0), BW(100), and OBV indicators displayed on each chart.
When indicating support and resistance points, indicators connected to the current price candle are unconditionally drawn.
Also, indicators that are not expressed up to the current price candle are drawn starting from the one with the longest horizontal line.
Among indicators that are not expressed up to the current candle, horizontal lines expressed less than 5 candles are not drawn if possible.
If there are support and resistance lines that are expressed too closely, the support and resistance lines that are closest to the current candle are used.
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The StochRSI indicator is used to draw a trend line.
When the StochRSI indicator enters the oversold or overbought zone and reverses, that is, when a peak is created, those points are connected and expressed.
Therefore, the peak created in the 20~80 range of the StochRSI indicator is ignored.
Therefore, the trend line is created by connecting the high and low points of the StochRSI indicator.
However, the high point connection line connects the opening price of the falling candle.
If there is no bearish candle at the peak of the StochRSI indicator, move to the right and use the first bearish candle.
When drawing the trendline for the first time, it is better to draw it from the vicinity where the current wave started.
If the StochRSI indicator has two peaks in the overbought or oversold area, use both when it leaves the overbought or oversold area and then re-enters it.
Otherwise, use only one peak at a time.
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Draw support and resistance points and trendlines on each chart.
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Find and mark points where trend lines or support and resistance points intersect at least two times.
The importance is determined in the order of trend lines drawn on the 1M chart > trend lines drawn on the 1W chart > trend lines drawn on the 1D chart.
Therefore, in order to express a period of volatility with a trend line drawn on the 1D chart, there must be at least two intersecting points.
In other words, there must be at least two intersecting points when indicating a period of volatility, such as when trend lines intersect each other or when trend lines intersect support and resistance points.
In addition, support and resistance points are also important in the order of 1M > 1W > 1D charts, so when they intersect with support and resistance points, they are selected according to this importance.
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Then, if you hide the trend line, you will complete the chart showing the period of volatility.
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When drawing for the first time,
1. When indicating support and resistance points, if you do not understand the arrangement of candles, it may be difficult to select.
2. It may be difficult to select the peak and candle of the StochRSI indicator.
3. It may be difficult to select which intersection point to select when indicating the volatility period.
Since you cannot get used to everything at once, it is recommended to draw and observe one by one and try to solve the difficulty of the next step once you get used to it.
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The StochRSI indicator on this chart is an indicator whose formula has been changed from the basic StochRSI indicator.
Therefore, if possible, it is recommended to use the StochRSI indicator on my chart.
If you use your own StochRSI indicator,
Settings: 14, 7, 3, 3 (RSI, Stoch, K, D)
Source value: ohlc4
If you change the values above, it will be expressed similarly.
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Thank you for reading to the end.
I wish you successful trading.
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