Pulse of an Asset via Fibonacci: NDX at ATH Impulse Redux"Impulse" is a surge that creates "Ripples", like a pebble into water.
"Impulse Redux" is returning of wave to the original source of energy.
"Impulse Core" is the zone of maximum energy, in the Golden Pocket.
Are the sellers still there? Enough to absorb the buying power?
Reaction at Impulse is worth observing closely to gauge energy.
Rejection is expected on at least first approach if not several.
Part of my ongoing series to collect examples of my Methodology: (click links below)
Chapter 1: Introduction and numerous Examples
Chapter 2: Detailed views and Wave Analysis
Chapter 3: The Dreaded 9.618: Murderer of Moves
Chapter 4: Impulse Redux: Return to Birth place <= Current Example
Chapter 5: Golden Growth: Parabolic Expansions
Chapter 6: Give me a ping Vasili: one Ping only
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Ordered Chaos
every Wave is born from Impulse,
like a Pebble into Water.
every Pebble bears its own Ripples,
gilded of Ratio Golden.
every Ripple behaves as its forerunner,
setting the Pulse.
each line Gains its Gravity.
each line Tried and Tested.
each line Poised to Reflect.
every Asset Class behaves this way.
every Time Frame displays its ripples.
every Brain Chord rings these rhythms.
He who Understands will be Humble.
He who Grasps will observe the Order.
He who Ignores will behold only Chaos.
Ordered Chaos
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want to Learn a little More?
can you Spend a few Moments?
click the Links under Related.
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Trend Analysis
How I Identify Support and Resistance in Day TradingTo understand Price Action, first thing we do is to look for (S) and (R) to help us read strength&weakness of price.
This video will explain how I find Support and Resistance of a trend.
I will provide example of what your chart will looks like throughout trading hours.
how to know which candle to draw (S)/(R).
How I use ORB with Fibonacci Retracement to find (R) and Target.This video will explain how to draw FIB on ORB to find potential resistances and target.
Setting style of Fibonacci Retracement for first target 2.0%: (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%)
extension for Fib is to add another +1.5% incrament to Frist Target of 2.0%. (....2.0%. 2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5%)
how I find support and resistance of a trendTo understand Price Action, first thing we do is to look for (S) and (R) to help us read strength&weakness of price.
This video will explain how I find Support and Resistance of a trend.
I will provide example of what your chart will looks like throughout trading hours.
how to know which candle to draw (S)/(R).
Panic or Common Sense?This is not a recommendation but rather a possibility based on the following:
1. We may see an upward opening gap at start of the market later.
2. There are circumspect views that there is collusion between Iran, Israel and the USA pertaining to the recent escalation. Non of Iran's Oil or Nuclear installations were targeted.
3. US Election race is neck to neck with Trump has a perceived lead in swing states.
4. Rising bond yields and DXY also bullish
5. Possible formation of Bear Flag Chart pattern, which looks highly logical because of severe overbought conditions.
Please remember this coming week has a plethora of news culminating with the NFP news!
I will be looking to sell at the upper Fib level and with buy stop above the ATH.
Please leave your comments if you have any ideas!
Happy and safe trading!
Prop Trading - All you need to know !!A proprietary trading firm, often abbreviated as "prop firm," is a financial institution that trades stocks, currencies, options, or other financial instruments with its own capital rather than on behalf of clients.
Proprietary trading firms offer several advantages for traders who join their ranks:
1. Access to Capital: One of the most significant advantages of working with a prop firm is access to substantial capital. Prop firms typically provide traders with significant buying power, allowing them to take larger positions in the market than they could with their own funds. This access to capital enables traders to potentially earn higher profits and diversify their trading strategies.
2. Professional Support and Guidance: Many prop firms offer traders access to experienced mentors, coaches, and support staff who can provide guidance, feedback, and assistance. This professional support can be invaluable for traders looking to improve their skills, refine their trading strategies, and navigate volatile market conditions.
3. Risk Management Tools: Prop firms typically have sophisticated risk management systems and tools in place to help traders monitor and manage their exposure to market risks. These systems may include real-time risk analytics, position monitoring, and risk controls that help traders mitigate potential losses and preserve capital.
4. Profit Sharing: Some prop firms operate on a profit-sharing model, where traders receive a share of the profits generated from their trading activities. This arrangement aligns the interests of traders with those of the firm, incentivizing traders to perform well and contribute to the overall success of the firm.
Overall, prop firms provide traders with access to capital, technology, support, and learning resources that can help them succeed in the competitive world of trading. By leveraging these advantages, traders can enhance their trading performance, grow their portfolios, and achieve their financial goals.
CHOCH vs BOS !!WHAT IS BOS ?
BOS - break of strucuture. I will use market structure bullish or bearish to understand if the institutions are buying or selling a financial asset.
To spot a bullish / bearish market structure we should see a higher highs and higher lows and viceversa, to spot the continuation of the bullish market structure we should see bullish price action above the last old high in the structure this is the BOS.
BOS for me is a confirmation that price will go higher after the retracement and we are still in a bullish move
WHAT IS CHOCH?
CHOCH - change of character. Also known as reversal, when the price fails to make a new higher high or lower low, then the price broke the structure and continue in other direction.
What is Confluence ?✅ Confluence refers to any circumstance where you see multiple trade signals lining up on your charts and telling you to take a trade. Usually these are technical indicators, though sometimes they may be price patterns. It all depends on what you use to plan your trades. A lot of traders fill their charts with dozens of indicators for this reason. They want to find confluence — but oftentimes the result is conflicting signals. This can cause a lapse of confidence and a great deal of confusion. Some traders add more and more signals the less confident they get, and continue to make the problem worse for themselves.
✅ Confluence is very important to increase the chances of winning trades, a trader needs to have at least two factors of confluence to open a trade. When the confluence exists, the trader becomes more confident on his negotiations.
✅ The Factors Of Confluence Are:
Higher Time Frame Analysis;
Trade during London Open;
Trade during New York Open;
Refine Higher Time Frame key levels in Lower
Time Frame entries;
Combine setups;
Trade during High Impact News Events.
✅ Refine HTF key levels in LTF entries or setups for confirmation that the HTF analysis will hold the price.
HTF Key Levels Are:
HTF Order Blocks;
HTF Liquidity Pools;
HTF Market Structure.
Market Structure Identification !!Hello traders!
I want to share with you some educational content.
✅ MARKET STRUCTURE .
Today we will talk about market structure in the financial markets, market structure is basically the understading where the institutional traders/investors are positioned are they short or long on certain financial asset, it is very important to be positioned your trading opportunities with the trend as the saying says trend is your friend follow the trend when you are taking trades that are alligned with the strucutre you have a better probability of them closing in profit.
✅ Types of Market Structure
Bearish Market Structure - institutions are positioned LONG, look only to enter long/buy trades, we are spotingt the bullish market strucutre if price is making higher highs (hh) and higher lows (hl)
Bullish Market Structure - institutions are positioned SHORT, look only to enter short/sell trades, we are spoting the bearish market strucutre when price is making lower highs (lh) and lower lows (ll)
Range Market Structure - the volumes on short/long trades are equall instiutions dont have a clear direction we are spoting this strucutre if we see price making equal highs and equal lows and is accumulating .
I hope I was clear enough so you can understand this very important trading concept, remember its not in the number its in the quality of the trades and to have a better quality try to allign every trading idea with the actual structure
How to avoid being emotional in trading?Avoiding emotional trading is a key skill in successful investing and trading, as it helps minimize impulsive decisions that can lead to losses. Here are some strategies and insights to help maintain a disciplined approach to trading and avoid being swayed by emotions like fear, greed, or overconfidence:
🔸 Create and Stick to a Trading Plan
▪️Set Clear Goals: Define your profit goals, risk tolerance, and entry/exit points in advance.
▪️Follow Predefined Rules: A trading plan provides structure, guiding you to make logical decisions rather than impulsive ones.
▪️Limit Exposure: Decide on position sizes beforehand to avoid overcommitting and feeling compelled to make irrational moves if markets turn volatile.
🔸 Use Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Orders
▪️Automate Exit Points: Setting up stop-loss and take-profit orders allows you to exit trades at predefined points, limiting the need to make quick, emotion-driven decisions during market fluctuations.
▪️Reduce Monitoring: Knowing your trades will automatically exit at specific points reduces the need for constant checking, which can often lead to stress and emotional reactivity.
🔸 Practice Patience and Avoid Overtrading
▪️Avoid Excessive Monitoring: Watching the market closely can lead to impulsive reactions to small fluctuations. Stick to reviewing your trades periodically rather than minute-by-minute.
▪️Limit Trade Frequency: Overtrading, driven by the need to “make back” losses or maximize gains, often leads to poorly thought-out decisions. Trade only when your trading plan calls for it.
🔸 Develop a Balanced Mindset
▪️Stay Neutral to Wins and Losses: Emotional attachment to individual trades can make it harder to accept losses and lead to revenge trading, where you try to make up losses through risky moves.
▪️Accept Losses as Part of the Process: Even the best traders face losses. Accepting this and moving on helps maintain perspective and discipline, which are essential for long-term success.
🔸 Utilize Data and Analysis Over Intuition
▪️Focus on Objective Indicators: Base decisions on data, such as price charts, moving averages, and technical indicators, rather than “gut feelings.”
▪️Avoid Confirmation Bias: Seeking only information that supports your existing beliefs can lead to one-sided and often poor decisions. Stay open to all relevant information.
🔸 Take Breaks and Manage Stress
▪️Step Away After a Major Loss or Win: Strong emotional responses often follow big losses or gains. Taking a break gives you time to reset your mindset before your next trade.
▪️Practice Relaxation Techniques: Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or even short exercises can reduce stress and improve focus, reducing emotional reactions.
🔸 Build Self-Awareness
▪️Reflect on Your Emotions: Keeping a trading journal can help you understand emotional triggers and patterns in your decision-making.
▪️Work with a Trading Coach or Join a Community: Having accountability, whether through a mentor or a trading group, can help you stay grounded and receive objective feedback on your trading behavior.
🔸 Set Realistic Expectations
▪️Don’t Chase Unrealistic Returns: Expecting massive returns can lead to risky, emotion-fueled decisions. Focus on sustainable, gradual growth.
▪️Acknowledge Market Unpredictability: Markets are often unpredictable, and not every trade will go as planned. Accepting this helps lower emotional stakes with each trade.
🔸 Consider Using Algorithmic or Automated Trading
▪️Remove Emotion from Execution: Algorithmic trading allows traders to set parameters and let algorithms execute trades, effectively reducing emotional interference.
▪️Define Rules for Entry and Exit: Predefined rules, when followed strictly by algorithms, allow for a structured and emotion-free approach to trading.
Adopting these practices helps build discipline, patience, and resilience, which are essential for minimizing the negative impact of emotional trading on your overall financial success.
Using Renko Charts to Uncover SECRET Bank LevelsRenko charting has a unique way of displaying price data by filtering out smaller fluctuations and focusing only on substantial price moves. With a setting of Average True Range (ATR) 13, Renko charts become even more powerful for finding key institutional levels—what many traders call "secret bank levels." These are the levels where large institutional traders place their orders, often leading to significant price moves. In this tutorial, we’ll dive into how you can use Renko charts with an ATR setting of 13 to identify these bank levels and improve your trading strategy.
What Are Secret Bank Levels?
Institutional or bank levels are price points where big players—like banks and hedge funds—are likely to buy or sell in large quantities. Retail traders can leverage these levels by understanding where the big money is moving, aligning their trades accordingly. Renko charts, with their clarity in price movement, help identify these areas by smoothing out noise and highlighting essential support and resistance zones.
Why Renko Charts?
Renko charts are designed to filter out minor price movements, providing a cleaner view of market trends by focusing solely on significant price changes. Unlike time-based charts, Renko charts print a new "brick" only when price moves by a specified amount, determined here by the ATR 13 setting. This brick-by-brick approach can reveal clear levels where price repeatedly finds support or resistance, often signaling where major institutions are setting up their positions.
Setting Up Renko with ATR (13)
Choose Your Charting Platform: Most charting software, including TradingView and MetaTrader, offers Renko charting. Make sure your platform supports Renko and ATR-based calculations.
Configure Renko with ATR (13):
Open the Renko chart on your selected asset (e.g., EUR/USD, GBP/USD).
In your settings, set the brick size to use the ATR indicator and specify an ATR length of 13. This setting is designed to adjust the brick size based on the recent average true range, capturing a balanced view of price movement.
This 13-period setting adapts to recent market volatility, allowing Renko bricks to reveal significant price movements that matter to large institutional players.
Adjust Timeframes:
Since Renko charts don’t follow traditional time-based intervals, switch between higher and lower timeframes (like the 1-hour or 4-hour charts) to observe different levels of institutional interest. Higher timeframes generally provide more reliable secret bank levels, but you can switch to lower timeframes for refined entry points.
Identifying Bank Levels with Renko and ATR (13)
Now that your chart is set up, let's move on to the process of identifying institutional levels.
1. Look for Brick Clusters at Key Levels
Renko bricks tend to form clusters at significant institutional levels. When you see several bricks stacked horizontally with little movement, it often indicates a zone where price is struggling to break through, either as strong support or resistance.
Use these clusters as potential entry or exit points, aligning with the institutional flow.
2. Identify Breakouts and Rejections
When price breaks out of a cluster or encounters rejection (where bricks reverse direction after hitting a level), you may be witnessing bank-level reactions.
Watch for bricks that quickly shift direction after hitting a level—these can signal that institutions have stepped in to either push price further or halt its momentum.
3. Note Patterns and Reversals at Round Numbers
Banks and institutions often place orders at round numbers, which are psychologically significant levels (like 1.2000, 1.2500).
As Renko charts with ATR (13) are sensitive to significant price changes, they can help highlight when price respects or bounces off these round numbers, offering clues to potential institutional zones.
Practical Example: Trading Secret Bank Levels with Renko
Let’s say you’re analyzing EUR/USD on a Renko chart with an ATR 13 setting.
Identify Clusters at 1.2000: After setting up your chart, you observe a cluster of Renko bricks at 1.2000, indicating a strong support zone. This level has held multiple times, suggesting institutional buying interest.
Wait for a Brick Breakout: You then see price breaking out with consecutive Renko bricks closing above 1.2000. This breakout suggests that the buying pressure might push prices higher.
Enter and Manage Your Position:
Take a buy position after confirming the breakout. Set your stop loss just below the cluster at 1.1980 to minimize risk.
If you’re looking for a shorter-term position, aim for profit at the next round number, like 1.2100.
For a longer-term trade, follow Renko’s direction, adjusting your stop as the bricks move.
Tips for Trading Bank Levels with Renko and ATR (13)
Trust Your Levels: Renko charts can simplify your analysis, but it’s easy to second-guess your levels. If you’ve identified strong clusters or patterns at certain price points, trust your analysis.
Use Alerts to Avoid Over-Trading: TradingView and other platforms allow you to set alerts at specific price levels. This way, you won’t need to stare at charts all day.
Thank you for watching and feel free to leave a comment to let me know your thoughts on Renko and if you see yourself using this chart type.
-TL Turner
AI Algo Trading Intro/OverviewAI ALGO TRADING INTRO/OVERVIEW
🔹AI algorithmic trading, often referred to as AI algo trading, is a sophisticated approach to financial trading that uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to make trading decisions. It combines finance, statistics, and computer science to analyze vast amounts of data and execute trades in real-time, often at speeds impossible for human traders. Here's a closer look at how it works, its benefits, and the key components:
1. How AI Algo Trading Works
AI algo trading employs machine learning, deep learning, and other advanced data analysis techniques to create models that can predict stock prices or detect trading patterns. These AI models are designed to identify patterns or anomalies in historical and real-time data, which helps them make predictions about price movements. The algorithms can process huge datasets from multiple sources, including stock prices, news, sentiment data from social media, and even macroeconomic indicators.
Typical steps involved in AI algo trading include:
🔹Data Collection: Gathering historical price data, technical indicators, financial reports, and alternative data (e.g., news, social media sentiment).
Model Training: Training machine learning models on historical data to predict asset price movements or specific trading signals.
🔹Backtesting: Testing the model on historical data to see how it would have performed in the past, adjusting for any biases or errors.
🔹Execution: Implementing the model in live markets to execute trades automatically when certain conditions are met.
2. Key Components of AI Algo Trading
Several key components work together in AI-driven trading systems, including:
🔹Data Management: Collecting, cleaning, and storing large volumes of financial and alternative data.
🔹Feature Engineering: Selecting or creating specific data features that improve the model's accuracy, such as moving averages, volatility measures, or sentiment scores.
🔹Machine Learning Models: Models like neural networks, decision trees, or support vector machines (SVMs) are common in AI trading. More advanced models use deep learning and reinforcement learning.
🔹Risk Management: Ensuring trades meet certain risk parameters to prevent excessive losses. Many AI algorithms have built-in risk management measures, like stop-loss limits or position size restrictions.
🔹Execution Algorithms: After generating trade signals, execution algorithms place trades in the market. These can include smart order routing and algorithms for optimizing trade timing.
3. Advantages of AI Algo Trading
🔹Speed and Efficiency: AI algorithms can execute trades within milliseconds, reacting instantly to market movements.
🔹Data-Driven Decisions: AI algo trading relies on empirical data rather than emotions, leading to potentially more consistent decision-making.
🔹Pattern Recognition: Advanced AI models can identify complex patterns in large datasets, uncovering trading opportunities that may be invisible to human traders.
🔹24/7 Operation: AI systems can monitor markets continuously, which is especially valuable in global markets that operate around the clock.
🔹Customization: AI-driven strategies can be tailored to specific asset classes, trading goals, and risk tolerances.
4. Popular AI Techniques in Trading
AI algo trading employs several popular techniques:
🔹Supervised Learning: This includes models like regression, classification, and neural networks, often used to predict price changes or determine trading signals.
🔹Unsupervised Learning: Clustering and anomaly detection models help identify unusual trading patterns or group similar assets.
🔹Reinforcement Learning: This is where AI learns to optimize strategies through trial and error, which can be particularly useful for adaptive, evolving trading strategies.
🔹Sentiment Analysis: AI can analyze text data (e.g., news articles, tweets) to gauge market sentiment, adding a qualitative dimension to trading models.
5. Risks and Challenges
While AI algo trading offers numerous advantages, it also comes with certain risks:
🔹Model Overfitting: Overfitting to historical data can result in poor performance in live markets if the model is too specific to past conditions.
Market Volatility: AI algorithms may struggle to adapt to sudden market changes, like unexpected geopolitical events or economic crises.
🔹Technical Failures: Infrastructure and connectivity issues can disrupt AI trading systems, leading to missed opportunities or unwanted positions.
🔹Regulatory Concerns: Regulatory bodies often scrutinize algorithmic trading for issues like market manipulation, requiring firms to ensure their algorithms are compliant.
6. Future of AI Algo Trading
🔹The future of AI algo trading looks promising, with ongoing advancements in AI and access to even more diverse data sources. Innovations in quantum computing, natural language processing (NLP) for deeper sentiment analysis, and reinforcement learning for adaptive strategies are likely to further enhance AI-driven trading.
🔹As AI trading models continue to evolve, they may also become more accessible to individual investors and retail traders, allowing a broader range of market participants to benefit from data-driven trading strategies. However, regulatory agencies may also implement stricter controls to manage the risks associated with autonomous AI trading.
The best entry pointOne of the best ways to find suitable entry points is to use the Cumulative volume delta indicator, the lowest points of which can be used as the lowest price level in different time periods, draw a horizontal line at the lowest part and trade Use right in the market
You can use this indicator as a tool along with your strategy, definitely no indicator has 100% accuracy and sensitivity.
Sasha Charkhchian
Understanding The Basics Of AI/Inference Engine ConstructionRecently, there has been a lot of discussion related to my SPY Cycle Patterns and how they work.
In short, without disclosing proprietary code/quants, I built an inference engine based on Fibonacci, GANN, and Tesla theories.
Part of this inference engine is to identify the highest probable outcome related to the patterns.
This is not rocket-science. This is the same process your brain does when determining when and what to trade.
The only difference is I'm doing a bunch of proprietary calculations/quants related to data and price theory in the background, then the inference engine determines the best, most likely outcome.
Take a few minutes to watch this video and try to understand the difference between static and dynamic modeling.
Again, my objective is to help as many traders as possible. My Plan Your Trade videos are my opinions based on my skills, knowledge, and proprietary modeling systems/tools.
None of my tools are 100% accurate all the time - nothing is. But, I do believe the quality of information and instructional information I provide is invaluable to most traders.
Get some.
#trading #research #investing #tradingalgos #tradingsignals #cycles #fibonacci #elliotwave #modelingsystems #stocks #bitcoin #btcusd #cryptos #spy #es #nq #gold
Understanding Bullish Engulfing Candlestick PatternThe Bullish Engulfing Candlestick Pattern is a popular price action signal used by traders to identify potential trend reversals in the market. If you're keen on mastering price action trading, understanding this pattern is essential. This guide will take you from the basics of the pattern to advanced insights, with easy-to-understand explanations to help you become more confident in your trading decisions.
What is a Bullish Engulfing Candlestick?
A bullish engulfing candlestick is a two-candle pattern that signals a potential reversal in a bearish trend. The pattern consists of a smaller bearish (red) candle followed by a larger bullish (green) candle that completely engulfs the previous one. This indicates that the buying pressure has overwhelmed the sellers, suggesting a shift from a downtrend to an uptrend.
Key Features of the Bullish Engulfing Pattern
Here’s a breakdown of the key characteristics:
Number of Candles: The pattern consists of two candles.
First Candle: A bearish candle, typically red, showing a decline in price.
Second Candle: A bullish candle, typically green, that completely engulfs the previous bearish candle, including its wicks.
Prior Trend: A bearish trend must precede the pattern to validate it as a potential reversal signal.
Prediction: A potential shift from bearish to bullish trend.
The Anatomy of a Bullish Engulfing Pattern
To fully grasp this pattern, let's break down the structure:
The first candle in the pattern is a small bearish candle, indicating the continuation of a downtrend.
The second candle is a large bullish candle that opens lower than the previous close and closes higher than the previous high, completely engulfing it. This suggests a strong buying momentum.
Why Do Bullish Engulfing Patterns Work?
A bullish engulfing pattern is significant because it reflects a shift in market sentiment. Here’s why:
Seller Exhaustion: The first candle shows a bearish trend, indicating seller dominance. When the second candle engulfs it, it suggests that sellers are losing control.
Buyer Strength: The second candle’s larger body signals strong buying interest, indicating a shift in market control from sellers to buyers.
Market Psychology: A bullish engulfing pattern indicates that traders are willing to buy at higher prices, leading to increased bullish momentum.
Why a Pin Bar Can Be an Engulfing Pattern
A common observation among experienced traders is that a pin bar on a higher timeframe can appear as a bullish engulfing pattern on a lower timeframe. This happens because:
A pin bar shows a strong rejection of lower prices, which on a lower timeframe looks like a large bullish candle engulfing smaller bearish candles.
This highlights the importance of multi-timeframe analysis. Understanding how patterns form on different timeframes gives a more holistic view of market dynamics.
How to Read a Forex Quote: Bid, Ask, and Spread ExplainedSo, you’ve decided to jump into the forex markets and stumbled upon your first quote. Now you're staring at numbers like EUR/USD 1.0987/1.0990, wondering what these flashing digits mean. Don’t worry—we’ve all been there. Let’s break it down, TradingView style, and get you up to speed on forex quotes, bid-ask spreads, and why these tiny decimal points matter more than you might think.
The Basics: What’s a Forex Quote?
At its core, a forex quote tells you the exchange rate between two currencies. Think of it like a price tag for the money you want to buy or sell. In any quote, you’ve got two currencies: the base currency and the quote currency. For example, in EUR/USD , the euro (EUR) is the base currency, and the US dollar (USD) is the quote currency. This quote tells you how many US dollars it costs to buy one euro.
Now the fun part: You’ll notice two prices next to that quote—the bid and the ask.
Bid vs. Ask: What’s the Difference?
When you see a forex quote like EUR/USD 1.0987/1.0990, you’re actually looking at two prices:
Bid Price (1.0987): This is the price a buyer (broker or trader) is willing to pay for the base currency. In simpler terms, this is the price you sell at.
Ask Price (1.0990): This is the price the seller (broker or trader) is willing to sell you the base currency for. In other words, this is the price you buy at.
So, if you’re buying EUR/USD , you’ll pay the ask price (1.0990), and if you’re selling, you’ll receive the bid price (1.0987). Notice how the ask is always higher than the bid? That’s where brokers make their money. Which brings us to…
The Spread: The Broker’s Cut
The spread is the difference between the bid and the ask. In this case, it’s 1.0990 - 1.0987 = 0.0003 or 3 pips (percentage in points). Think of the spread as the broker’s fee for facilitating the trade, essentially acting as the middleman. The tighter the spread, the less you’re paying to execute a trade.
For major currency pairs like EUR/USD , the spread is often pretty small (like 1-3 pips), but for exotic pairs (think USD/ZAR or USD/TRY ), spreads can get wider than your Uncle Bob’s waistband after Thanksgiving dinner.
Why the Spread Matters for Traders
Here’s the thing: spreads eat into your profits. Whether you’re a day trader or holding a longer-term position, the spread is something you need to bake into your strategy.
Scalpers and day traders need tight spreads. If you’re making a bunch of small, quick trades throughout the day, every pip counts. Wide spreads can kill your profit margins faster than a rogue tweet from Elon Musk.
Swing traders and position traders are less sensitive to spreads. If you’re in it for the long haul, a few pips won’t make or break your trade. But it’s still something to keep an eye on, especially when trading less liquid currency pairs.
Market Conditions and Spreads
Spreads aren’t fixed — ideally, they should be floating around in real-time dealmaking. They widen and tighten based on market conditions. During high volatility (like, say, a major economic announcement or a surprise central bank rate cut), spreads can widen. Conversely, during quiet market hours, spreads tend to tighten.
To avoid getting fleeced by wide spreads, keep an eye on liquidity. Major pairs like EUR/USD , GBP/USD , or USD/JPY have higher liquidity, meaning tighter spreads. Exotic pairs? Not so much. You’ll pay more to play in the less popular markets.
How to Use the Bid-Ask Spread to Your Advantage
Here’s a pro tip: If you’re in a tight spread market, like EUR/USD during peak trading hours, you can place tighter stop-loss and take-profit orders, maximizing your profits with minimal slippage. In volatile markets with wider spreads, give yourself more breathing room, or wait until liquidity returns.
How TradingView Does It
On TradingView, forex pairs are displayed with a single price quote rather than separate bid and ask prices. This single price quote represents the midpoint between the bid and the ask. TradingView uses this midpoint, also called the last trade price , to better display price flow and make it simpler to analyze price trends without the fluctuation that would come from constantly updating bid and ask prices.
For traders using TradingView to monitor forex prices, this single price quote allows them to focus more on price movements and technical analysis rather than factoring in the spread between bid and ask, which as we mentioned, is available with brokers since it's their bread and butter. So factor this in.
The Bottom Line
Going expert-level at bid, ask, and spread isn’t just forex surviving — it’s forex thriving. These tiny details can be the difference between making bank or watching your profits trickle away. Always factor in the spread when setting up trades, especially if you're trading lower-volume currency pairs or during off-hours.
Ready to flex your new bid-ask spread skills? And win some prizes at the same time? Join our paper trading competition "The Leap" , starting November 1, and show everyone what you've got. $25,000 are up for grabs.
BIG POST! | How To Beat SP500?
S&P 500 Performance: +35% since 2022.
My Selected Portfolio Performance: +62%, with an 82% hit rate.
Top Performing Stocks: NVDA (+735%), ANET (+343%), META (+209%), and more.
Technical Analysis Tools Used: Price action, trendlines, Fibonacci levels, round numbers, and more.
It’s been nearly three years since I posted my analysis of S&P 500 stocks on February 23, 2022. Back then, I reviewed all 500 stocks, applied some quick technical analysis, and identified 75 stocks that stood out for me. Importantly, I relied solely on technical analysis to make my picks. Fast forward to today, and the results speak for themselves. Most of these selections have significantly outperformed the broader market, proving the power and importance of technical analysis.
While many investors rely solely on fundamentals, technical analysis brings a dynamic edge that’s often underestimated. By focusing on price action and market behavior, technical analysis allows us to spot opportunities that others might miss, especially it gives a massive psychological edge while the markets are making corrections. The market doesn't care what you know, the market cares what you do!
Here’s what I used for my analysis:
It's kind of pure price action - previous yearly highs, trendlines, a 50% retracement from the top, round numbers, Fibonacci levels, equal waves, and channel projections. For breakout trades, determined strong and waited for confirmation before pulling the trigger.
The Results
While the S&P 500 has gained around 35% over this period , my selected stocks from the same list have made +62%! Out of the 75 stocks I picked, 67 have hit my target zones and 54 are currently in the green. That’s an 82% hit rate, and for me, that’s a good number!
Now, for those who favor fundamental analysis, don’t get me wrong, it has its place. But remember, fundamentals tell you what to buy, while technicals tell you when to buy - to be a perfect investor, you need them both. You could hold a fundamentally strong stock for years, waiting for it to catch up to its "true value," while a technical analyst might ride multiple trends and capture far superior returns during that same time. Also, the opposite can happen – you may see a great technical setup, but if the fundamental factors are against it, you could end up with your money stuck in a bad trade.
To put these ideas in perspective, starting with a simulated portfolio of $76,000, where each stock had an equal investment of around $1,000–$1,100, the portfolio is now worth around $124,000. The results are based on buying at marked zones and holding until today. I calculated entries from the middle of the target zone, as it’s a more realistic and optimal approach compared to aiming for perfect lows (which, frankly, feels a bit scammy) to get much(!) higher returns. This method reflects real-world trading.
Before we dive in, here are the current Top 5 stocks from My Picks:
NVDA: +735%
ANET: +343%
TT: +227%
META: +209%
LEN: +164%
These numbers demonstrate the effectiveness of a solid technical strategy. Many say it's tough to beat the market with individual stock picks, but these results show it’s not just possible, it’s absolutely achievable with the right tools and approach.
Now, let's dive into the charts!
1. Apple (AAPL) - a load-it-up type of setup has worked out nicely. Used previously worked resistance levels. If the stocks performing well and the market cap is big enough then these levels can help you to get on board.
Current profit 65%
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2. Adobe (ADBE) - came down sharply, but the price reached the optimal area and reversed.
Current profi 38%.
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3. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) - round number, strong resistance level becomes support and the climb can continue.
Current profit 101%
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4. Amazon (AMZN) - came down from high prices to the marked levels and those who were patient enough got rewarded nicely.
Current profit 66%
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5. Arista Networks (ANET) - retest of the round nr. worked perfectly, as a momentum price level, after the strong breakout.
Current profit 343%
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6. Aptiv PLC (APTV): Came down quite sharply and it will take some time to start growing from here, if at all. The setup was quite solid but probably fundamentals got weaker after the all-time high.
Current loss -24%
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7. American Express (AXP) - firstly the round nr. 200 worked as a strong resistance level. Another example is to avoid buying if the stock price approaches bigger round numbers the first time. Came to a previous resistance level and rejection from there…
Current profit 104%
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8. Bio-Rad Laboratories (BIO) - in general I like the price action, kind of smoothly to the optimal zone. It might take some time to start growing from here but also fundamentals need to look over.
Current loss 6%
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9. BlackRock (BLK) - kind of flawless. All criteria are in place and worked perfectly.
Current profit 81%
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10. Ball Corporation (BALL) - a perfect example of why you should wait for a breakout to get a confirmed move. No trade.
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11) Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) - Buy the dip. Again, as Apple, a big and well-known company - all you need to do is to determine the round numbers, and small previous resistances that act as support levels, and you should be good.
Current avg. profit from two purchases 64%
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12) Cardinal Health (CAH) - the retest isn't as deep as wanted but still a confirmed breakout and rally afterward. Still, the bias was correct!
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13) Ceridian HCM Holding (DAY) - found support from the shown area but not much momentum.
Current profit 20%
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14) Charter Communications (CHTR) - technically speaking it is a quite good price action but kind of slow momentum from the shown area. Probably came too sharply and did not have enough previous yearly highs to support the fall.
Current loss -10%
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15) Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) - got liquidity from new lows, pumped up quickly, and is currently fairly solid.
Current profit 10%
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16) Cummins (CMI) - got rejected from 2028 and 2019 clear highs, fairly hot stock, and off it goes.
Current profit 80%
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17) Salesforce.com (CRM) - perfect. 50% drop, strong horizontal area, and mid-round nr did the work.
Current profit 83%
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18) Cisco Systems (CSCO) - worked and slow grind upwards can continue.
Current profit 30%
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19) Caesars Entertainment (CZR) - not in good shape imo. It has taken too much time and the majority of that is sideways movement. Again, came too sharply to the optimal entry area.
Current loss -16%
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20) Devon Energy (DVN) - inside the area and actually active atm. Still, now I’m seeing a bit deeper correction than shown.
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21) Electric Arts (EA) - 6 years of failed attempts to get a monthly close above $150 have ended here. It got it and we are ready to ride with it to the higher levels.
Current profit: kind of BE
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22) eBay (EBAY) - it took some time but again, worked nicely.
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23) Enphase Energy (ENPH) - got a breakout, got a retest, and did a ~76% rally after that! If you still hold it, as I do statistics, then…
Current loss -59%
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24) Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) - kind of worked but didn't reach. No trade.
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25) Meta Platforms (META) - the bottom rejection from the round number $100 is like a goddamn textbook :D At that time 160 and 200 were also a good area to enter. Here are several examples of the sharp falls/drops/declines - watch out for that, everything should come fairly smoothly. Still, it ended up nicely and we have a massive winner here...
Current profit 209%
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26) FedEx (FDX) - I love the outcome of this. Very solid price action and multiple criteria worked as they should. Perfect.
Current profit 60%
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27) First Republic Bank (FRC) - firstly got a solid 30 to 35% gain from the shown area but...we cannot fight with the fundamentals.
Current loss 99%
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28) General Motors (GM) - finally found some liquidity between strong areas and we are moving up.
Current profit 47%
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29) Alphabet (GOOG) - load it up 3.0, a good and strong company, and use every previous historical resistance level to jump in.
Current avg. profit after three different price level purchases 63%
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30) Genuine Parts (GPC) - coming and it looks solid.
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31) Goldman Sachs (GS) - really close one.
Current profit 86%
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32) Hormel Foods (HRL) - quite bad performance here. Two trades, two losses.
The current loss combined these two together is 35%
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33) Intel (INTC) - at first perfect area from where it found liquidity, peaked at 65%. Still, I make statistics if you still holding it then…
Current loss -21%
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34) Ingersoll Rand (IR) - beautiful!
Current profit 144%
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35) Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) - the trendline, 50% drop, strong horizontal area. Ready, set, go!
Current profit 157%
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36) Johnson Controls International (JCI) - second rest of the area and then it started to move finally..
Current profit 55%
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37) Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) - Buy the dip and we had only one dip :)
Current profit 13%
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38) CarMax (KMX) - the area is strong but not enough momentum in it so I take it as a weakness.
Current profit kind of BE
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39) Kroger Company (KR) - without that peak it is like walking on my lines
Current profit 15%
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40) Lennar Corp. (LEN) - strong resistance level becomes strong support. Beautiful!
Current profit 164%
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41) LKQ Corp. (LKQ) - just reached and it should be solid. Probably takes some time, not the strongest setup but still valid I would say.
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42) Southwest Airlines (LUV) - no breakout = no trade! Don’t cheat! Your money can be stuck forever but in the meantime, other stocks are flying as you also see in this post. If there is a solid resistance, wait for the breakout and possibly retest afterward! Currently only lower lows and lower highs.
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43) Las Vegas Sands (LVS) - channel inside a channel projection ;) TA its own goodness!
Current profit 70%
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44) Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP) - worked!
Current profit 37%
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45) Altria Group (MO) - got a bit deeper retest, liquidity from lower areas, and probably a second try..
Currently kind of BE
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46) Moderna (MRNA) - "seasonal stocks", again too sharp and we are at a loss…
Current loss -37%
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47) Morgan Stanley (MS) - the first stop has worked, and got some nice movements.
Current profit 62%
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48) Microsoft (MSFT) - Load it up 4.0, buy the dip has worked again with well-known stock.
Three purchases and avg. return from these are amazing 70%
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49) Match Group (MTCH) - it happens..
Current loss -53%
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50) Netflix (NFLX) - almost the same as Meta. Came quite sharply but the recovery has been also quick. Another proof is that technical analysis should give you a psychological advantage to buy these big stocks on deep corrections.
Current profit 153%
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51) NRG Energy (NRG) - Perfect weekly close, perfect retest…
Current profit 90%
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52) NVIDIA (NVDA) lol - let this speak for itself!
Current profit 735%
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53) NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) - usually the sweet spot stays in the middle of the box, and also as I look over these ideas quite a few have started to climb from the first half of the box. Touched the previous highs.
Current profit 74%
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54) Pfizer (PFE) - actually quite ugly, TA is not the strongest. Probably results-oriented but yeah..
Current loss -25%
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55) PerkinElmer - “after” is EUR chart but you get the point.
Current profit 25%
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56) Pentair (PNR) - worked correctly, 50% drop combined with the horizontal area, easily recognizable, and the results speak for themselves.
Current profit 124%
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57) Public Storage (PSA) - again, previous yearly highs and the trendline did the job.
Current profit 36%
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58) PayPal (PYPL) - the area just lowers the speed of dropping, but slowly has started to recover.
Current loss -14%
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59) Qorvo (QRVO) - slow, no momentum.
Current profit 10%
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60) Rockwell Automation (ROK) - previous yearly high again, plus some confluence factors.
Current profit 32%
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61) Rollins (ROL) - after posting it didn’t come to retest the shown area. Being late for a couple of weeks. Worked but cannot count it in, the only thing I can count is that my bias was correct ;)
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62) Snap-On Incorporated (SNA) - same story!
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63) Seagate Technology (STX) - firstly it came there! Look how far it was, the technical levels are like magnets, the price needs to find some liquidity for further growth and these areas can offer it. I like this a lot, almost all the criteria are in place there.
Current profit 73%
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64) Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) - one of the textbook examples of how trendline, 50% drop, round nr. and strong horizontal price zone should match. Still a bit slow and it will decrease the changes a bit.
Kind of BE
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65) TE Connectivity (TEL) - came down, and got a rejection. “Simple” as that.
Current profit 37%
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66) Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) - mister Ranging Market.
Current profit 19%
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67) Trimble (TRMB) - finally has started to move a bit. Got liquidity from previous highs again and..
Current profit 45%
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68) Tesla (TSLA) - made a split. Have been successfully recommended many times after that here and there but two years ago we traded in these price levels and..
Current profit 19%
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69) Train Technologies (TT) - dipped the box and off it goes! Epic!
Current profit 227%
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70) Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) - I like this analysis a lot. Worked as a clockwork.
Current profit 60%
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71) United Rentals (URI) - WHYY you didn’t reach there :D Cannot count it.
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72) Waters Corp. (WAT) - came to the box as it should be slow and steady. As the plane came to the runway.
Current profit 41%
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73) Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) - another escaped winner. Didn’t come down to retest my retest area so, missed it.
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74) Xylem (XYL) - perfect trendline, good previous highs, 50% drop from the peak and..
Current profit 76%
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75) Autodesk (ADSK) - took a bit of time to start climbing but everything looks perfect. Nice trendline, 50% drop from ATH, previous yearly highs - quite clean!
Current profit 66%
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The strategies above show how useful price action, key levels, and psychology can be for investing. By spotting breakouts, and pullbacks, or focusing on round numbers and past highs, technical analysis helps give traders an edge in understanding the market.
Regards,
Vaido
"Trading Confluences Explained: Daily Highs, Engulfing Patterns,I break down the key confluences used by professional traders to make high-probability trades. Learn how to leverage Daily Highs/Lows, spot Pin Bars, recognize Engulfing Patterns, and understand Break of Structure to enhance your trading strategy. I'll also dive into Demand Zones, Fibonacci Retracements, and Trendline Analysis to show how these powerful tools can align for stronger trade entries.
Plus, I cover an essential aspect of the market – Stop Loss Hunts – and how to avoid being caught by them, while setting up your stop losses intelligently.
Stacey Burke ID Setup taken on WTI, and Silver reversal shortIn this video, I walk you through my entire thought process during today's trading session. You'll learn how I selected the pairs and executed three key trades:
- Silver Reversal Short
- WTI inside day , first red day, short
Inside days are a key best trade setup of Stacey Burke. Don't miss out on these valuable insights and tips!
For details on the Stacey Burke style trading approach see his site and playbook: https://stacey-burke-trading.thinkifi...
Working To Unlock The 3-6-9 Secrets Of The MarketRecently, there have been a lot of questions related to my SPY Cycle Patterns and how they work.
I've often stated that these patterns are based on Gann, Tesla, and Fibonacci's price theory.
However, underlying all that is a core component related to the 3-6-9 (secrets of the universe) theory.
This video tries to introduce you to the concepts of the 3-6-9 theory and how it overlays with Gann, Tesla, Fibonacci, Japanese Candlesticks, and more.
My focus for the past 24+ months has been to unlock this theory's secrets and develop a practical use component (code) that attempts to provide very clear future trading/price predictions.
Spend some time watching this video. See what you think and open your mind to the concept that price moves through construction and destruction phases (likely based on the 3-6-9 concepts).
At the end of this video, I share some practical knowledge/examples showing why I believe the 3-6-9 theory is critical to unlocking the true secrets of market price action.
I may never be able to unlock all of it, but I'm dedicated to trying to unlock as much as I can within my lifetime.
This drives me to build code solutions and attempt to improve my skills.
Get some.
#trading #research #investing #tradingalgos #tradingsignals #cycles #fibonacci #elliotwave #modelingsystems #stocks #bitcoin #btcusd #cryptos #spy #es #nq #gold
Why Buying High and Selling Low Hurts Your PortfolioStock trading can be a pathway to wealth, but it requires a disciplined approach and a deep understanding of market dynamics. One of the most common errors traders make is buying high and selling low. This mistake, driven by emotions like greed and fear, occurs when traders buy stocks at peak prices due to hype, only to sell them later at a loss when panic sets in. This fundamental error not only undermines trading performance but also runs counter to the basic principle of buying low and selling high.
Understanding the Classic Mistake
"Buying high and selling low" refers to purchasing stocks at elevated prices, often driven by market euphoria, and selling them at lower prices out of panic during a downturn. For example, consider a trader who buys tech stocks during a strong rally, expecting continued gains. When the market corrects and prices drop, the trader panics and sells at a loss, embodying the classic mistake.
SPX Chart Daily with RSI Indicator
Psychological and Emotional Triggers
The root cause of buying high and selling low often lies in emotional and psychological triggers:
--Greed: This can push traders to chase rising stocks, leading to buying at inflated prices.
--Fear: Panic can set in during downturns, prompting traders to sell prematurely to avoid further losses.
--Cognitive Biases: FOMO (fear of missing out) and loss aversion further exacerbate this behavior, clouding judgment and increasing the likelihood of impulsive trading decisions.
Trading with divergences is a powerful tool for identifying potential reversals.
Why It’s a Problem
The impact of buying high and selling low can be devastating. Repeated losses from this mistake can erode capital, reduce recovery potential, and derail long-term financial goals.
--Market Timing Issues: Poor timing, especially in volatile markets, often leads to buying during uptrends and selling during downtrends.
--Profitability Impact: The repeated pattern of trading against the trend limits profitability, making it harder to grow wealth over time.
Identifying the Mistake in Practice
Recognizing this mistake early is crucial. Common scenarios include:
--Bull Markets: FOMO can drive traders to buy during rallies, often at inflated prices.
--Market Corrections: Panic selling during downturns leads to locking in losses, even if the stock rebounds soon after.
Warning Signs include overbought/oversold conditions, excessive market hype, and impulsive decisions based on emotional reactions.
Strategies to Avoid Buying High and Selling Low
To avoid this mistake, traders must employ a disciplined approach:
--Develop a Trading Plan: Set clear entry/exit criteria, define risk management rules, and commit to the plan even during volatility.
--Use Technical Analysis: Tools like Moving Averages and RSI help identify overbought/oversold conditions, guiding better entry/exit decisions.
RSI as Technical Tool on Nasdaq NQ1!
--Set Stop Loss and Take Profit Levels: These predefined levels limit potential losses and lock in gains, preventing emotional decisions.
Psychological and Behavioral Adjustments
Improving trading performance involves managing emotions and making rational decisions:
--Managing Emotions: Techniques like journaling and mindfulness can help traders remain calm and focused.
--Improving Decision-Making: Objective analysis, regular review of trades, and checklists can ensure systematic, data-driven decision-making.
Conclusion
The mistake of buying high and selling low is a common pitfall in stock trading, driven by emotional biases and poor timing. By understanding this mistake, developing a solid trading plan, using technical tools, and setting Stop Loss/Take Profit levels, traders can significantly reduce losses and enhance profitability. Implementing disciplined practices and improving decision-making processes are key to overcoming this classic error and achieving long-term trading success.
4 of the Best Day Trading Strategies4 of the Best Day Trading Strategies
Day trading is one of the most challenging approaches as it requires traders to make decisions quickly. Therefore, many traders like using established trading strategies. Explore the intricacies of day trading strategies in this article. For those keen on hands-on experience, consider using FXOpen's free TickTrader platform to follow along and enhance your trading insights.
1. Bollinger Bands & RSI Strategy
Bollinger Bands and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) are potent tools that, when combined, can offer one of the best strategies for day trading, capitalising on both volatility and momentum.
Entry/Exit Criteria
Entries
Buy Entry:
- Price touches or exceeds the lower Bollinger Band.
- RSI dips below 30 (indicating oversold conditions).
Sell Entry:
- Price touches or exceeds the upper Bollinger Band.
- RSI rises above 70 (indicating overbought conditions).
Stop Losses
Buy Trades:
- Slightly below the low point where the price touched the lower Bollinger Band.
Sell Trades:
- Slightly above the high point where the price touched the upper Bollinger Band.
Take Profits
Buy Trades:
- Price touches the middle Bollinger Band line or
- RSI rises towards 50-60, indicating diminishing bearish momentum.
Sell Trades:
- Price touches the middle Bollinger Band line or
- RSI drops towards 40-50, showing fading bullish momentum.
How/Why the Strategy Works
Bollinger Bands measure an asset's volatility. The outer bands expand during high volatility and contract during low volatility. The asset prices tend to revert to the mean, so a touch or breach of an outer band often indicates a short-term price extreme.
On the other hand, the RSI measures the magnitude and persistence of price movements. Values below 30 or above 70 denote oversold or overbought conditions, respectively.
By combining these tools, traders get a two-fold verification system. The Bollinger Bands hint at price extremes through volatility, while the RSI confirms it through momentum. This dual filter helps in improving the strategy's reliability, capturing reversals with a higher degree of accuracy.
2. Moving Average Crossover with MACD Confirmation
Combining the simplicity of Moving Averages (MA) with the insights from the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), this is one of the day trading strategies. When the two MAs crossover, it indicates a potential change in trend. The MACD serves as a filter to ensure the trend has momentum and is not a false signal. It’s a good idea to set the MACD’s fast and slow lengths to the same as your Fast and Slow MAs.
Entry/Exit Criteria
Entries
Bullish Entry:
- Fast MA (e.g., 20-period, blue in chart) crosses above the Slow MA (e.g., 50-period, red in chart).
- MACD line moves above the signal line.
Bearish Entry:
- Fast MA crosses below the Slow MA.
- MACD line moves below the signal line.
Stop Losses
Stop Loss for Bullish Entry:
- Slightly below the Slow MA at the point where the Fast MA crossed above the Slow MA.
Stop Loss for Bearish Entry:
- Slightly above the Slow MA at the point where the Fast MA crossed below the Slow MA.
Take Profits
Bullish Trades:
- Fast MA crosses below the Slow MA or
- MACD line descends below the signal line.
Bearish Trades:
- Fast MA crosses above the Slow MA or
- MACD line ascends above the signal line.
Why/How the Strategy Works
Moving Average crossovers indicate trend shifts. If the fast MA surpasses the slow MA, it implies rising momentum; if it drops below, it indicates a potential decline. However, these signals can be misleading. The MACD, reflecting the relationship between two MAs, validates momentum. A MACD line crossing its signal line confirms the MA's direction.
3. Fibonacci Retracement with Stochastic Oscillator
Marrying the predictive power of Fibonacci retracements with the momentum sensitivity of the Stochastic oscillator, this strategy aims to identify potential reversals within major trends. Fibonacci retracements are horizontal lines that indicate potential support and resistance levels, while the Stochastic oscillator measures the speed and change of price movements.
Entry/Exit Criteria
Entries
Bullish Reversal:
- Price retraces to a significant Fibonacci level (commonly 38.2%, 50%, or 61.8%).
- The Stochastic oscillator goes below 20 (oversold territory) and then crosses back above, indicating gaining bullish momentum.
Bearish Reversal:
- Price retraces to a major Fibonacci level.
- The Stochastic oscillator exceeds 80 (overbought territory) and then crosses back below, signalling growing bearish momentum.
Stop Losses
Stop Loss for Bullish Reversal:
- Slightly below the Fibonacci level where the entry was made.
Stop Loss for Bearish Reversal:
- Slightly above the Fibonacci level where the entry occurred.
Take Profits
Exit for Bullish Trades:
- Price reaches the next Fibonacci resistance level or
- The Stochastic oscillator surpasses 80.
Exit for Bearish Trades:
- Price hits the next Fibonacci support level or
- The Stochastic oscillator drops below 20.
Why/How the Strategy Works
Fibonacci retracement levels are grounded in the belief that markets often retrace a predictable portion of a move. When prices pull back to these levels, they often find support or resistance, creating potential trading opportunities.
However, solely relying on Fibonacci can lead to false signals. To mitigate this, the Stochastic oscillator is employed. By determining if an asset is overbought or oversold relative to its recent price action, the oscillator adds a layer of momentum-based confirmation.
4. VWAP and Moving Average Confluence
The Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) is a trading benchmark used by traders to determine the average price an asset has traded throughout the day based on both volume and price. When combined with a simple moving average (SMA), traders can pinpoint high-probability trade entries based on confluence and deviations. It’s one of the preferred day trading stock strategies.
Entry/Exit Criteria
Entries
Bullish Entry:
- Price is above both the VWAP (blue in chart) and the chosen SMA (e.g., 20-period, red in chart).
- A pullback occurs, where the price tests the SMA without closing below it.
Bearish Entry:
- The Price is below both the VWAP and the chosen SMA.
- A pullback occurs, where the price tests the SMA without closing above it.
Stop Losses
Stop Loss for Bullish Entry:
- Slightly below the entry point.
Stop Loss for Bearish Entry:
-Just above the entry point.
Take Profits
Exit for Bullish Trades:
- Price crosses below the VWAP or SMA.
- A predetermined risk-reward ratio is reached.
Exit for Bearish Trades:
- Price crosses above the VWAP or SMA.
- A predetermined risk-reward ratio is achieved.
Why/How the Strategy Works
The VWAP adjusts the day's price action for volume, indicating an average price. If the price is above the VWAP, it's seen as bullish, and the opposite for bearish. Paired with the SMA, it reinforces trend identification. When both align and serve as support/resistance, they signal market sentiment. By waiting for the price to respect both the VWAP and SMA during pullbacks, traders can achieve a higher probability of successful trade outcomes.
The Bottom Line
Whether trading forex, commodities, or stocks, these day trading strategies can help you find your feet and get started in the markets. Still, you should remember that they don’t guarantee 100% success. Markets are dynamic, therefore, each strategy should be used as a model that transforms depending on market conditions and your trading approach. Once you’ve got some experience under your belt, consider opening an FXOpen account. When you do, you’ll gain access to a broad range of markets to put your skills to the test, while benefiting from lightning-fast execution and competitive trading costs. Good luck!
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.