The level defense patternI use the concept of a level being defended by either a buyer or a seller to find potential buying or selling opportunities. This is a specific pattern that can be identified on a chart. Let's consider one variant of this pattern. In this variant, the defense of a level by a buyer looks as follows: a buyer's candle closes above the level. Then, a seller's candle or candles interact with the level, followed by the appearance of a buyer's candle, which needs to be evaluated. If it meets the criteria, entry points can be identified.
Let's look at a concrete example. The pattern developed over 10 hours.
On the chart, blue-shaded areas represent 2-hour buyer's candles, and red-shaded areas represent 2-hour seller's candles. After the buyer pushed the price back above the 6.733 level, they attempted to resume from the 6.7571 level, the volume of the buyer's candle (632K) was less than that of the seller's candle (1.274M).
Then, the seller attacked the 6.733 level with increased volume (709K) but could not push the price below this level. Note where POC of the volume profile for the 2-hour seller's attack candle is: below 6.7571. The high of the attack candle is at 6.8166.
The next buyer's candle had increased volume (792K). Notice where the buyer's movement started in this candle: from the POC of the volume profile of the seller's attack candle.
Now entry points can be identified. In this example, the entry points are visible on the 1-minute time frame. The chart shows two entry points. Note how volumes are distributed at these points and the resulting buyer's zones (blue rectangles on the chart).
The first entry point is the defense of the breakout from the range by the buyer, which was formed in the previous 2-hour candle (RPL on the chart, 6.7784).
The second entry point is the defense of the high of the attacking 2-hour seller's candle by the buyer (6.8166 level).
Trend Analysis
SWING TUTORIAL - EMAMILTDThe stock had found a Resistance zone @ 602 during Aug 2021 and had started a Lower Low Pattern ever since.
Eventually finding its Support Zone @ 360 during Mar 2023 after 1 Year and 7 Months.
At this point notice that the Lower Low Pattern in the Price Action, however MACD slightly started showing a Higher Low formation. Hence the Convergence Divergence indicating a good move upward and also the 1st confirmation upward.
Finally in July the stock showed its 2nd confirmation once it successfully exited the Lower Low Pattern Trendline with a massive huge green candle.
Thus giving us our 1st Entry point at this stage which took the stock as close to the previous Resistance zone @ 602 and a safe exit as High as 31% for the Trade as well.
Another cool thing to note here is the Stock also retested the same breakout zone and the MACD as well was making a new Crossover, thus indicating another fresh Entry into the stock.
This trade had eventually broken the 4 Year Resistance zone @ 602 with a large volume and taking the stock as High as 67% in returns as of today.
What do you think about this Tutorial? Give your comments in the Comments Section below:
How to pick trades in different market conditionsIn the video I look at two different markets and the resultant setups which yielded the prime trades. The two markets had to be approached in different ways, especially early in the session.
I look through the price action on the DOW and then the Nasdaq. The DOW proved to be more clear cut and a trend style approach while the Nasdaq was very choppy and warranted a range or reversion style approach to the trades.
Still, both were tradable and produced some good scalps although the action had to be recognised early.
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The Mechanics Of Trading - Part XII - 6-4-24 FlagsPart XII
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part XI - SPY Flagging ExamplePart XI
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
Is trading really gambling? Yes and no!I know why you’re NOT trading.
You think trading is nothing more than gambling.
I get emails every day from members saying things like.
“Timon trading seems like going to the casino”.
“Timon I don’t want to put money into something that’s gambling”
“Timon thanks but I don’t gamble”
So you’re not trading because you think it’s like gambling.
Well, before you send me another email like this – Please make sure you read this carefully.
Let’s dive into the heated debate and let’s see if I agree whether trading is just gambling.
Does Timon think trading is just gambling?
YES! I do believe trading is a form of gambling.
BUT – hold on…
Gambling exists in two realms. Chance vs. Strategy
There is chance gambling and strategic gambling.
Chance gambling is similar to playing slot machines, lotteries, and coin tosses.
It’s 50/50. And it’s all up to chance.
Have you ever heard of a professional slots player or coin flipper?
I don’t think so.
Then in the other realm of gambling is known as strategic gambling.
The strategic domain is where skill, knowledge, risk management, methodology, probabilities and decision-making play crucial roles.
And that my friend, is why I believe trading is a form of strategic gambling.
You do get professional and successful poker and black jack players, sports bettors and of course traders.
Right?
And that’s because you need skill, strategies and the right techniques to WIN as oppose to mere luck.
So before you quit trading because you think it’s nothing more than gambling, allow me to go one step further.
Let’s talk about the similarities between certain strategic gambling games and see how we can learn from them with trading.
Strategic Game #1:
Trading and Poker – The art of strategy and risk management
Poker and trading share a few similarities.
They both emphasize skill, strategy, and a sprinkle of luck.
But you need a deep understanding of the rules.
You need keen observation of the competitors.
You need adeptness at risk, reward and money management.
Poker players and traders alike must know when to hold their ground and when to fold.
Poker players put their cards down when the probability is low.
Traders either don’t take the trade, risk little in medium probability trades and use tools like stop losses to risk little.
Poker also teaches the importance of emotional control and patience.
And these as I have written many times before, are crucial in trading.
Because emotional decisions can lead to significant losses with both poker and with trading.
Next game…
Game #2: Trading and Roulette
Playing the probabilities
It may seem at first that roulette leans more towards chance.
Red or black, odd or even etc…
But the fact that you have a choice, means that it offers you some form of probability.
A fundamental concept in trading are probabilities.
Traders, like professional roulette players, use statistical analysis to help make informed and better decisions.
It is unpredictable what the ball will land on.
Just like it is unpredictable which way the market will go.
But if you have a sound system, proven track record and winning strategy – you will be able to base the probabilities and tilt the odds in your favour – over time.
In trading, while certain market movements can’t be predicted with absolute certainty, we rely heavily on technical, fundamental, statistical analysis and probabilities to make trading decisions.
Trading, much like roulette, is where you need to diversify your positions and bets.
And you can WIN in the long run if you follow your high probability strategy.
Game #3: Trading and Blackjack
How a maths boffon can win overtime
In blackjack, players make strategic decisions to outmaneuver the dealer.
The main goal is to try and get the cards we’re dealt to hit 21, be close to 21 or be closer to 21 than our opponent’s hand.
Bet too high past 21 and you burn (lose).
This is similar to trading.
You need to be able to analyse the marker conditions.
You need to be able to calculate your position sizes and risk management according to your trade line up.
Both games need you to have a balance of risk, strategy, and knowledge to succeed.
Game #4: Trading and Horse Racing
Know your horse!
Now this is a game that has turned many statisticians into multi millionaires.
Horse racing is where you need to know and choose the right horse that will win based on its:
Form
Characteristics
Conditions of the race
Weather on the day
and other factors.
They study the characteristics, and race conditions to a T.
They calculate based on past performance on which horse has the higher probability of winning.
Traders need to know their horses (markets) too.
Every market you choose to trade, has its own personality, form, movements, and style.
You need to check to see if the chosen market has worked for your trading system and portfolio over time.
And you need to choose the right time, market environment and other factors – before you take on the trade.
In horse racing, experienced bettors also diversify their bets across multiple races and horses to spread risk.
With trading we diversify our portfolios over different accounts, markets, sectors, instruments and types.
Finally let’s talk about the last game:
Game #5: Trading and Sports Betting
The power of predictive analysis
Sports betting, much like trading, relies on predictive analysis to almost see potential outcomes.
If you understand a team’s performance, strategy, and conditions – You will be able to make better betting decisions for the next game.
As a sports bettor you definitely need to know how to analyse a team’s or player’s form, weather conditions, past scores and more to predict an outcome.
Whether it’s football, rugby or cricket – you need to have your winning game plan to increase your chances of winning the bet.
Traders do the same. They have different markets like sports bettors have different games.
Traders also conduct similar technical, fundamental, sentimental, volume analyses to help predict potential market movements.
Both activities involve calculated risk-taking, aiming for high-probability successes based on thorough research and analysis.
Final words:
So, as you can see trading is MORE than just gambling.
Unlike games of pure chance, trading is a disciplined, analytical pursuit that shares more in common with skill-based gambling.
It does require you however to have the right knowledge, strategy, and strong risk, reward and money management.
Let’s sum up the games and sports vs trading so you can remember what we’ve covered today:
Game #1: Trading and Poker – The art of strategy and risk management
Game #2: Trading and Roulette – Playing the probabilities
Game #3: Trading and Blackjack – How a maths boffon can win overtime
Game #4: Trading and Horse Racing – Know your horse!
Game #5: Trading and Sports Betting – The power of predictive analysis
DO YOU THINK TRADING IS LIKE GAMBLING?
A textbook reversal signal..And if you do not know what I mean then see the linked idea below ‘the study’. Now the market cap is way to small for my interest but it might appeal to someone or indeed someone who is interested in the long game.
The reversal pattern is one we see play out time and time again in all markets. Most recently on a crypto called CFX (see example below). The psychology between buyers and sellers is very specific and is told in great detail on this particular pattern. The last 6-day candle to print on this chart informed you of the great weakness amongst sellers. This crucial.. for the moment demand returns there practically no resistance until new buyers sell into the market.
Is it possible price action falls further? Sure.
It is probable? No
Ww
Type: trade
Risk: 1%
Timeframe: now
Return: At least 500%
The study
Example
My interpretation of the superTrend indicatorHello, traders.
If you "Follow", you can always get new information quickly.
Please click "Boost" as well.
Have a nice day today.
-------------------------------------
I think the superTrend indicator is a good indicator for checking trends.
Also, when the superTrend indicator shows a horizontal line, it can act as support and resistance, so I think it is an even better indicator.
However, it is difficult to use it in trading by adding it to the chart.
Therefore, I think it is one of the indicators that is not used much when actually trading.
In my chart, it is used to construct the BW indicator, but this is the reason why it is not displayed near the actual price chart.
The superTrend indicator creates a buy line and a sell line.
When the buy line forms a horizontal line, it can be interpreted as a buying period if it shows support.
On the other hand, when the sell line forms a horizontal line, it can be interpreted as a selling period if it shows resistance.
However, when the buy line or sell line is created by breaking, it can be used as an opposite concept.
Therefore, when the buy line -> sell line changes, it should be interpreted as a loss-cutting period.
On the other hand, when the sell line -> buy line changes, it should be interpreted as an (aggressive) buying period.
Therefore, when the lines intersect, you should draw a separate horizontal line and create a response strategy.
As explained above, you can see that there are two ways to interpret the supperTrend indicator.
Therefore, you should look at how the buy line or sell line is created.
You should look at whether the buy line or sell line is connected by a line or created by intersecting each other, and create a response strategy accordingly.
It is also better to use the superTrend indicator with other indicators rather than using it alone.
In my chart, I recommend looking at it with the MS-Signal indicator (M-Signal on 1M, 1W, and 1D charts).
The reason is that the superTrend indicator is also a trend indicator.
If you use the MS-Signal indicator, you may wonder if you really need to use the superTrend indicator, but I think it is worth using because the superTrend indicator also has areas that play the role of support and resistance.
Have a good time.
Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------
- Big picture
It is expected that a full-scale uptrend will begin when it rises above 29K.
The section that is expected to be touched in the next bull market is 81K-95K.
#BTCUSD 12M
1st: 44234.54
2nd: 61383.23
3rd: 89126.41
101875.70-106275.10 (overshooting)
4th: 13401.28
151166.97-157451.83 (overshooting)
5th: 178910.15
These are points where resistance is likely to occur in the future.
We need to check if these points can be broken upward.
We need to check the movement when this section is touched because I think a new trend can be created in the overshooting section.
#BTCUSD 1M
If the major uptrend continues until 2025, it is expected to start forming a pull back pattern after rising to around 57014.33.
1st: 43833.05
2nd: 32992.55
-----------------
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part X - EOD 2 Min ES RecapPart X - End Of Day 2 Min ES Recap
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part IX - ES Breakdown To SupportPart IX
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
Trading reversals with iFVG, swing tradeTrying to work out a strategy based on what is known as everything from an imbalance, to a single print, to a Fair Value Gap. When traders see these zones and the momentum doesn't carry on with the prevailing trend, these chart structures and patterns become great jump-off points for a reversal.
The challenge is set to a risk-reward of 1:2, there is a minimum of 25 pips SL. This video is all about trying to ensure you get the best entry and you don't waste time pushing through heavy traffic.
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part VIII - Learning PatiencePart VIII
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part VII - 2 Min ES TrendingPart VII - Applying Success/Failure & Fibonacci Price Theory
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part VI - 2 Min ES ChartPart VI
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
A Practical Guide For Candlestick Patterns!Intraday trading is a method of investing in cryptocurrencies where the trader buys and sells cryptocurrencies on the same day without any open positions left by the end of the day. Intraday traders aim to either purchase a cryptocurrency at a low price and sell it at a higher price or short-sell a cryptocurrency at a high price and buy it at a lower price within the same day. This requires a good understanding of the market and relevant information to help them make the right decisions. In the cryptocurrency market, the price of a cryptocurrency is determined by its demand and supply, among other factors.
Tools such as candlestick chart patterns are very helpful to traders. We will discuss these candlestick charts and offer steps to help you read them.
Trade Like A Sniper - Episode 14 - US10Y - (3rd June 2024)This video is part of a video series where I backtest a specific asset using the TradingView Replay function, and perform a top-down analysis using ICT's Concepts in order to frame ONE high-probability setup. I choose a random point of time to replay, and begin to work my way down the timeframes. Trading like a sniper is not about entries with no drawdown. It is about careful planning, discipline, and taking your shot at the right time in the best of conditions.
A couple of things to note:
- I cannot see news events.
- I cannot change timeframes without affecting my bias due to higher-timeframe candles revealing its entire range.
- I cannot go to a very low timeframe due to the limit in amount of replayed candlesticks
In this session I will be analyzing US10Y, starting from the 3-Month chart.
- R2F
Order Blocks and Breaker Blocks and How To Trade ThemOrder Blocks and Breaker Blocks and How To Trade Them
In the intricate world of trading, especially within the forex markets, understanding the mechanics behind order blocks and breaker blocks is paramount. These concepts, rooted in the actions of institutional participants, offer a window into the potential future price movements. In this article, we’ll explore what these critical areas are and how to use them effectively.
What Is an Order Block in Trading?
An order block, also known as a supply or demand zone, represents a significant area on the price chart where large market participants, such as banks or institutional traders, have placed substantial buy or sell orders. They’re crucial in understanding the flow and direction of an asset, as they often precede notable movements in price. Particularly in the realm of forex, where the magnitude of transactions can be immense, identifying these zones can provide traders with a strategic edge.
A bullish order block, or demand zone, is identified during a downward price movement and is the area where the last bearish candle before a substantial upward price movement occurs. This indicates that institutional buyers are stepping in, absorbing sell orders, and preparing to push the price higher. Traders eyeing bullish order blocks anticipate these areas as potential points of interest where price may find support, thus offering a strategic entry point for long positions.
Conversely, a bearish order block, or supply zone, is found during an upward price movement and is characterised by the area where the last bullish candle appears before a significant downward price shift. This suggests that institutional sellers are overwhelming buyers, likely leading to a decrease in price. Bearish order blocks signal potential resistance zones, presenting opportunities to enter short positions in anticipation of a downward price trajectory.
In both instances, they typically create an impulse move that breaks a nearby high or low to continue or start a given trend. When the market returns to these areas, they often prompt a reversal of the short-term trend and a continuation of a higher timeframe trend.
Order blocks in forex are particularly telling due to the high market liquidity and the sheer volume of trades. Recognising these areas allows traders to align their strategies with the likely actions of major institutional players, potentially leading to more informed and effective trade decisions.
Why Order Blocks Work
These blocks work because they tap into the underlying dynamics of supply and demand, reflecting the actions of large institutional players whose trades can significantly impact price direction. They’re essentially snapshots of where significant buying or selling pressure has accumulated, offering clues to future price movements.
When a market approaches a supply or demand zone, the likelihood of a reaction—whether it's a continuation or reversal of the trend—increases because these levels are where institutional traders have previously shown interest, either by initiating large positions or placing take-profit orders.
Finding and Using Order Blocks
Now, let’s take a closer look at how to identify and use order blocks for trading.
Identifying Order Blocks
Traders often start by analysing historical price charts to locate order blocks. Typically, these are found where there was significant trading activity, often in the form of a consolidation, followed by a strong directional price move.
A bullish order block is where the last bearish candle in a downtrend occurred before a sharp rise. Conversely, in a bearish order block, traders identify the last bullish candle before a significant fall.
Note that order block candles visible on a higher timeframe tend to be more probable. Similarly, a small high-low range on a lower timeframe would appear as a single candlestick on a higher timeframe, meaning that the entire range can be plotted as a supply or demand zone.
To have a go at spotting your own order blocks, head over to FXOpen’s free TickTrader platform and interact with our real-time charts.
Incorporating Order Blocks into a Trading Strategy
Incorporating order blocks into a strategy involves observing how the price behaves as it approaches these marked areas. Traders typically watch for price reactions near these zones, using them as indicators of potential entry or exit points. For instance, a price bounce off a demand zone may signal a good opportunity to go long, anticipating upward momentum as institutional interest possibly resurfaces.
Traders might also combine these areas with indicators and other analysis tools, such as moving averages or Fibonacci retracements, to validate their signals. This multi-faceted approach helps in fine-tuning entry and exit strategies, potentially increasing the likelihood of effective trades.
Risk Management
As with any strategy, it's crucial to practise sound risk management when trading with order blocks. Traders often set stop-losses just outside the zone with the assumption that institutional players won’t let the market trade beyond this point. However, when these zones fail, they become known as breaker blocks.
Understanding Breaker Blocks in Forex
In the realm of forex, understanding the concept of breaker blocks can be crucial when it comes to identifying potential reversals and continuations in trends. Breaker blocks emerge from the failure of order blocks. When these supply or demand zones do not hold, and the market structure shifts, breaker blocks are formed, marking significant levels to watch.
A bearish breaker block occurs after a bullish order block fails. This typically happens when there's an upward trend, and a certain level that was expected to support the market's rise instead gives way, leading to a sharp decline. This decline indicates that sellers have overcome the buyers, absorbing liquidity and shifting the sentiment from bullish to bearish.
Conversely, a bullish breaker block is formed from the failure of a bearish order block. In a downtrend, when a level that was expected to act as resistance is breached, and the price shoots up, it signifies that buyers have taken control, overpowering the sellers.
In both scenarios, price often retraces to the failed zone before continuing the newly formed trend.
Finding and Using Breaker Blocks
To harness the power of breakers, traders adeptly identify these pivotal points and integrate them into a coherent strategy.
Identifying Breaker Blocks
The first step involves scrutinising price charts for significant reversals that follow the failure of established supply or demand zones. A bearish breaker block, for instance, would be marked by a sudden decline after a bullish trend fails to sustain, trading through a bullish order block, and vice versa.
The most notable breaker blocks are often the order blocks that stand out visually or would need to stay intact if a given trend is to continue. When they fail, they can then be plotted as a valid horizontal level to look for a retracement before a potential move away.
Strategic Application
Once identified, these zones can be strategically employed as markers for potential trade entries. For a bearish breaker, traders might consider short positions, anticipating further declines as price retests and rejects the previously failed support level. Conversely, a bullish breaker suggests a potential long position as the market may continue to rise, having breached a significant resistance.
Combining Order Blocks and Breakers
Combining these two ideas offers a nuanced approach to forex, especially when integrating the concept of liquidity voids or fair value gaps. These gaps occur when the price makes an impulsive move away from an order block without retracing, potentially marking areas for future reversals. This strategy shines in trending assets, where the directional momentum aligns with the formation of these critical zones, offering potential entry and exit signals.
Trending and Ranging Markets
In a trending market, order blocks that prompt sharp price movements away can be key areas to mark for a trend reversal. These marked zones can indicate where significant buying or selling pressure originated, offering potential entry points. However, it's essential to recognise that in a ranging or consolidating market, they might not hold as expected.
The Role of Breaker Blocks
When institutional interests shift, leading to the failure of an order block to act as support or resistance, this is where breaker blocks come into play, becoming a critical level to watch. Particularly after a sudden move, if a supply or demand zone ripe for reversal is now too far away to see an immediate retracement, the breaker serves as a strategic entry point ahead of a trend continuation.
Setting Market Direction with Breaker Blocks
Breaker blocks not only signal potential entry points but also help set market direction. The breach of an order block by price action indicates a strong likelihood that the asset will continue in that direction, underscoring a shift in institutional interest. When price trades through an order block, showing no signs of halting, it suggests a path for the trend, offering traders insight into the prevailing momentum.
Limitations of Order and Breaker Blocks
While order and breaker blocks provide insightful strategies in navigating forex markets, they come with limitations that traders should be aware of:
Market Volatility: High volatility can disrupt the reliability of these zones, leading to false signals.
Institutional Disguise: Large market players may mask their activities, making it challenging to identify genuine order or breaker blocks.
Lagging Indicators: These areas are based on past price behaviour, which might not always be effective when analysing future movements.
Overreliance: Solely depending on these strategies without incorporating other analyses can lead to missed opportunities or misinterpretations.
The Bottom Line
Navigating the forex market with an understanding of order and breaker blocks can help refine your trading strategy, offering insights into institutional movements and potential market reversals. For those ready to apply these insights in real-time trading, opening an FXOpen account offers a gateway to the dynamic world of forex, connecting you with global markets and potential opportunities.
FAQs
What Is an Order Block in Trading?
An order block refers to a price area on the chart where significant buy or sell orders were previously placed by large institutional traders. These zones are key to identifying potential support or resistance levels, providing insights into future price movements.
What Is a Breaker Block in Trading?
A breaker block is a concept that emerges when an order block fails, leading to a change in market structure. It signifies a pivotal point where the market shifts direction, offering traders opportunities to enter trades based on anticipated trend continuation.
How to Identify Order Blocks?
Order blocks can be identified by analysing price charts for areas where there was significant trading activity, followed by a strong directional movement. Traders look for the last bullish candle before a downturn for a bearish block, or the last bearish candle before an uptrend for a bullish block, indicating potential zones of interest for traders.
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.
Trade Like A Sniper - Episode 13 - AUDNZD - (3rd June 2024)This video is part of a video series where I backtest a specific asset using the TradingView Replay function, and perform a top-down analysis using ICT's Concepts in order to frame ONE high-probability setup. I choose a random point of time to replay, and begin to work my way down the timeframes. Trading like a sniper is not about entries with no drawdown. It is about careful planning, discipline, and taking your shot at the right time in the best of conditions.
A couple of things to note:
- I cannot see news events.
- I cannot change timeframes without affecting my bias due to higher-timeframe candles revealing its entire range.
- I cannot go to a very low timeframe due to the limit in amount of replayed candlesticks
In this session I will be analyzing AUDNZD, starting from the 12-Month chart.
- R2F
FLOATING SPREAD VS FIXED SPREAD🌐 The trading conditions of any account specify the type of spread: floating or fixed. As a rule, the value of a fixed spread is larger, but a floating spread has an insidious wording “from...” in the terms and conditions. This means that the floating spread may well be greater than the fixed one. Nevertheless, it is considered better. What are its advantages and disadvantages, what spread to choose?
📍 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FLOATING SPREAD
▶️ FIXED SPREAD
The difference between the buy and sell price of an asset is constant. This indicates that the broker works according to Straight Through Processing (STP) model - directly with a specific liquidity provider, the size of the spread with which is pre-agreed. The broker charges its commission (markup) and the trader sees the final difference. The fixed spread is only theoretical. Often in the offer there is a clause that the broker can unilaterally change it. And broker does it at the moment of news release, when volatility increases sharply.
▶️ FLOATING SPREAD
The difference between price/offer is formed by the market. The broker only adds its small commission, that's why there are no zero spreads.
Floating spreads are set on ECN accounts, where orders are not placed to a specific liquidity provider, but to the general market. Such accounts have a high entry threshold and a fixed commission for each lot placed on the account.
📍 THE FLOATING SPREAD DEPENDS ON:
🔘 Market Liquidity. During the vacation season, on the eve of vacations, at the moment of flat trading activity decreases. The smaller the volumes and the fewer traders, the bigger the gap between Bid and Ask prices.
🔘 Currency Liquidity. Or investors' interest. The FX:EURUSD pair is liquid, the pair of the US dollar with the South African rand is called exotic and the spread on it is one of the largest.
🔘 Volatility. Or the speed of trend movement. If after the news release the imbalance of bids in the direction of buyers or sellers sharply increases, the spread will also grow.
🔘 Time of day. Or the period of activity of traders of this or that region.
📍 ADVANTAGES OF A FLOATING SPREAD:
➡️ Most of the time it is less than the fixed spread.
➡️ No requotes - the transaction is executed in any case.
➡️ Floating spread is more profitable than fixed spread for liquid currencies. Fixed spread is more profitable for “exotics”.
➡️ It is favorable for scalping, where every tenth of a point is important for profit.
📍 DISADVANTAGES OF FLOATING SPREAD:
➡️ There are slippages at the moment of sharp spread widening.
➡️ It is necessary to constantly monitor its change.
➡️ It can sharply increase when a fundamental factor appears.
➡️ There is still a risk of artificial spread widening by the broker (it is not easy to prove).
➡️ Increases emotional tension. With a fixed spread a trader always knows the amount of expenses. Expansion of a floating spread can turn a profitable trade into a losing one.
If you open a new account with a broker, pay attention to the following points. In what cases the broker has the right to change the fixed spread. What quotes we are talking about. Outdated data on the website may turn out to be conditions for 4-digit quotes.
Compare spreads at different brokers on a demo account; install a script showing the current spread. Run it on one asset, watch how and when the floating spread might widen.
📍 CONCLUSION
The choice between a fixed spread and a floating spread depends on several factors, including market liquidity, currency pair, volatility, and time of day. While fixed spreads offer a set and predictable price difference, floating spreads can be more competitive and profitable, especially for scalping strategies. However, floating spreads also come with risks, such as slippage and the need to constantly monitor spread changes. When opening a new account with a broker, it's essential to pay attention to the terms and conditions, clarify quotes, compare spreads across different brokers, and test the floating spread on a demo account.
Traders, If you liked this educational post🎓, give it a boost 🚀 and drop a comment
Using Multi-Timeframe analysis for a major WinnerMulti-timeframe analysis is a key techniques for prepping a market prior to a trading session.
The first thing to do before trading is to understand the major moves and longer term price action. This enables us to get on the right side of a sessions move and avoid a lot of the chop.
We take a look at the DOW from the previous trading session and talk through the 30 min timeframe and why it was so important for the 500 pt rally into the close.
I talk through the key price action, the trap of shorts before the big move up and why we needed to be on the long side of the action.
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The Mechanics Of Trading - Part VPart V - Deploying Success/Failure Techniques
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.
The Mechanics Of Trading - Part IVPart IV - Decision Making (A vs B)
I started this video because a friend asked me for help determining trends on multi-interval (time frames) and asked how I look at trading across multiple intervals. Asking how to best setup/use price trends to capture the best trade setups.
Essentially, it comes down to three key components...
A. Initial reversal/impulse waves should be traded lightly (if at all). They are the "potential price reversal setups" that are usually the most dangerous for traders (and often fairly short in length).
B. Looking for the second wave to form provides traders with the opportunity to catch the bigger Wave-3. This wave forms after the impulse (Wave-1) and a corrective wave (Wave-2), which must stay below any previous ultimate high or above any previous ultimate low.
C. Wave-3, and Wave-5 if applicable, are where traders can flex their muscles related to trade size using the techniques I present to try to capture the MEAT (Sweet Spot) of any trend.
Remember, after Wave-3, you must prepare for the potential end of a trend setup where volatility is likely to increase and risks become a bit more elevated.
I go over multiple techniques in this video.
Fibonacci techniques and Fibonacci Price Theory
Anchor Bars (breakaway bars)
Using Fibonacci Retracements to identify key support/resistance levels for trending
Stochastics
RSI
Wave formations (ZigZag)
and Others
This video is designed as an instructional video to help you incorporate usable techniques into your own trading style.
Hope you enjoy.