As a currency trader, you need to understand the various terms that are frequently used in Technical Analysis. By definition, Technical Analysis is the study of historical and ongoing price data through charts, price patterns and chart indicators. Charts display price action in time intervals using bars and candlesticks.
Moving averages are a very popular tool among the traders because they are a lagging indicator of the price action. Short and long term trends are easier to identify using moving averages.
Based only on the market activity of the previous few days, most candlestick patterns are valid. Using one of these without knowing about the previous trends wouldnt be very useful. For instance, some of the candlestick patterns indicate a change in trend.
Suppose you want to detect a trend reversal breakout. You can identify it through the MACD divergence signals. You should look at how the MACD histogram is performing when you spot a potential breakout scenario on a currency pair chart.
Without the aid of an online tool such as forex signal software, even expert traders would find it virtually impossible to stay on top of all the media that indicates opportunities for those trading currencies. It’s also important for anyone to get a good night’s rest and eat healthy meals, so at some point, forex traders need to take a break from analysing world events.
When there is a lack of momentum or the breakout is small and weak, a whipsaw breakout usually occurs. When prices move out of a price range, then back into the price range and then breaks out of the level again, stopping both breakout traders and faders at least once, whipsaw takes place.
A breakout typically occurs when the currency price moves beyond the period of consolidation or range trading. Who doesnt want to reap massive profits from a big price move in a short time? This is what breakout trading can provide you.
Few things are more satisfying to me that bare chart trading. Ive seen traders with so many indicators on their screen that I could not even see the price of the currency pair. What do any of these indicators tell you anyway? Do I need a MACD or a CCI? I can see which direction the trend is moving without them. How about a stochastic? I can see where candles are closing relative to the high or low. Other than some horizontal lines at key support and resistance levels, some Fibonacci retracements, and trend lines I often have nothing on my charts at all. All of these are topics for future articles.
In order to employ the breakout fading strategy, you should be able to identify likely false breakouts. There are some technical formations where the false breakouts are more likely to occur in the currency price charts. You need to apply a lot of common sense in identifying a false breakout.
However, false breakouts just do not happen because of the tricks big players use. They could also be the result of market running out of steam to reach higher highs and lower lows in a sustained price break.