Mar
31
Price Analysis - A Top-Down Approach
Filed Under Finance | Leave a Comment
Lance Beggs wrote:
In a previous article I mentioned that my analysis involves monitoring price action, in order to gain an insight into the short term sentiment of the market. Determining who is in control at that time - the bulls or the bears. And assessing how they’re likely to respond to changes in the market.
I thought today I’d prepare a quick article to give an overview of how I analyze price. Those of you who know me know that I’m a great fan of candlestick charting. However, price analysis is much more than just watching for your favorite candlestick patterns. Too many people just teach the candlestick patterns, which are fine, but in my opinion there’s some essential analysis missing that an astute trade needs to consider BEFORE they look at price action and respond to every candlestick or bar chart pattern.
Let’s have a look at what I mean.
Price analysis for me is essentially a top down approach, working from the macro level of Market Structure (so we analyze the big picture first), then down to the current Trend within that structure, and only then do we look at the current price pattern, whether through candlestick analysis or whatever other method works for you.
So I basically start off with a wide view of the market, and drill down to the detail in the current price bar or pattern.
I prefer to do this over two timeframes.
The market structure is defined primarily on a higher timeframe. For me, as a daytrader, that’s the one hour charts. Of course, if you trade differently to me then that can be any other time period you wish. Just make it higher than the timeframe you trade on - I recommend by at least a factor of four.
Then on the shorter timeframe (what I call the trading timeframe) I refine the market structure a little further, analyze the movement and strength of the trend, and then assess the bullish or bearish sentiment based on the current price patterns.
For me, the trading timeframe’s anywhere from 1 minute to 5 minute charts, depending on the market and its volatility, and how well the price is flowing.
So, what do I mean by market structure, trend analysis and price analysis?
Firstly Market Structure:
The higher timeframe chart is opened and any areas of major support or resistance are identified and clearly marked on the chart.
Support & Resistance for me are areas of past price congestion, swing highs or lows, or gaps. That doesn’t include any ‘guessing’ at future support or resistance, via the use of pivots points or Fibonacci levels. I’m not a fan of these analysis techniques. Of course, if they work for you, good on you, keep using them.
My expectation when I trade is that there is a higher probability of price stalling or reversing at these areas of major support or resistance.
I then narrow my focus to the shorter trading timeframe and add to the market structure framework, by identifying areas of minor support or resistance. (Typically we look on the current trend first, but you may at times need to look back beyond the current trend, to previous market action, to find applicable areas of minor support or resistance)
Once again, these come from areas of congestion, swing highs or lows, or gaps. That is, areas which are proven to stall price movement or reverse price direction. My expectation with minor support or resistance is for a higher probability of minor support holding in an uptrend, and minor resistance holding in a downtrend.
That’s it for Market Structure - simply identifying a support and resistance framework within which price moves. Simple!
Having defined our market structure, or a framework within which price will move, we now focus our attention on the current trend. This occurs, as does all further analysis, on the trading timeframe.
I conduct analysis on the trend to identify its strength. Is the trend moving strongly, in which case we can anticipate it being more likely to break through the next support or resistance levels, or is it weakening, in which case we have a greater probability of the support or resistance levels forming a barrier to further price movement?
We determine the strength of the trend by looking at its proximity to the support and resistance barriers within the framework, and also gain clues from changes in momentum or volatility.
Is the current price swing, faster or slower than preceding swings within that trend? Is the current price swing speeding up, or slowing down?
Is the volatility changing? Is the average range of the price bars increasing or decreasing?
These sorts of questions regarding changes of volatility and momentum can give you clues into the changing strength of the trend, and the likelihood of a reversal at, or continuation through, an area of support or resistance.
If you want to get experienced at this, it takes time. Review price charts over and over, identifying how changes of momentum and volatility precede either a continuation or reversal of that trend.
Having gained an appreciation of the strength of the trend, and its location within the support and resistance framework, ONLY THEN, finally, do I concern myself with the current price action to determine the bullish or bearish sentiment (or more particularly a potential change of sentiment) through candlestick analysis.
What does this little bit of extra work give me?
Here’s an example:
Instead of entering short on a shooting star reversal pattern, just because it matches the shooting star diagram in my book on candlestick patterns, I will first conduct further price analysis regarding the trend and how it moves within the support and resistance framework. For example, the price may have just meandered slowly up to a major resistance level. The current price swing may clearly show less momentum than both the previous upswing and downswing. And the price bar range may be narrowing. This gives a reduced likelihood of the commitment required from the bulls to break through the area of increased supply. The shooting star pattern provides evidence of a clear rejection of prices at that resistance level. This provides me with a lower risk or higher probability trade in the short direction.
Another example:
Instead of entering long on a harami cross reversal pattern, just because it matches the harami cross in my book on candlestick patterns, I’ll conduct further analysis to see where this pattern occurs within the bigger picture of market structure. For example, the trend may show a strong and accelerating move downward, on greatly increased volume, extending price rapidly to great distances below its average, right into an area of major support. This is an area where I expect increased demand is likely to be sufficient to absorb and overcome the force of the bears who have spent all their energy on the climactic move downwards. This is an area where I expect price to find support. The harami cross shows a clear halting of the rapid move down, and allows me an opportunity to enter a low risk trade close to an area of major price support.
Seriously, the end result might be the same, but at least I’ve entered based on a reasonable assessment of the price action in order to maximize the potential for a lower risk or higher probability trade. Over a lifetime of trading I expect this approach will produce more favorable results than just entering because the pattern matched one I’d memorized from a book.
Ok, a bit of a summary, and I know this is a bit of repetition for those familiar with my work, but don’t just blindly take your entry triggers. Think about where they occur within the bigger picture structure of the market.
The market structure defines where you trade. The trigger, whether a candlestick pattern or some other form of entry trigger, tells you when to get in, ONLY when you’ve first met the requirements of the market structure rule.
Think about where the current price movement is within a framework of support and resistance. Think about the changing strength of the current trend, or price swing, as it approaches this area of support or resistance. Watch for signs of strength or weakness in the trend, through the clues evident in changes of momentum and volatility.
And don’t forget - ALWAYS USE STOPS, because there are no guarantees. This is a game of probabilities.
Happy trading,
Lance Beggs
How to Lose Weight
In a previous article I mentioned that my analysis involves monitoring price action, in order to gain an insight into the short term sentiment of the market. Determining who is in control at that time - the bulls or the bears. And assessing how they’re likely to respond to changes in the market.
I thought today I’d prepare a quick article to give an overview of how I analyze price. Those of you who know me know that I’m a great fan of candlestick charting. However, price analysis is much more than just watching for your favorite candlestick patterns. Too many people just teach the candlestick patterns, which are fine, but in my opinion there’s some essential analysis missing that an astute trade needs to consider BEFORE they look at price action and respond to every candlestick or bar chart pattern.
Let’s have a look at what I mean.
Price analysis for me is essentially a top down approach, working from the macro level of Market Structure (so we analyze the big picture first), then down to the current Trend within that structure, and only then do we look at the current price pattern, whether through candlestick analysis or whatever other method works for you.
So I basically start off with a wide view of the market, and drill down to the detail in the current price bar or pattern.
I prefer to do this over two timeframes.
The market structure is defined primarily on a higher timeframe. For me, as a daytrader, that’s the one hour charts. Of course, if you trade differently to me then that can be any other time period you wish. Just make it higher than the timeframe you trade on - I recommend by at least a factor of four.
Then on the shorter timeframe (what I call the trading timeframe) I refine the market structure a little further, analyze the movement and strength of the trend, and then assess the bullish or bearish sentiment based on the current price patterns.
For me, the trading timeframe’s anywhere from 1 minute to 5 minute charts, depending on the market and its volatility, and how well the price is flowing.
So, what do I mean by market structure, trend analysis and price analysis?
Firstly Market Structure:
The higher timeframe chart is opened and any areas of major support or resistance are identified and clearly marked on the chart.
Support & Resistance for me are areas of past price congestion, swing highs or lows, or gaps. That doesn’t include any ‘guessing’ at future support or resistance, via the use of pivots points or Fibonacci levels. I’m not a fan of these analysis techniques. Of course, if they work for you, good on you, keep using them.
My expectation when I trade is that there is a higher probability of price stalling or reversing at these areas of major support or resistance.
I then narrow my focus to the shorter trading timeframe and add to the market structure framework, by identifying areas of minor support or resistance. (Typically we look on the current trend first, but you may at times need to look back beyond the current trend, to previous market action, to find applicable areas of minor support or resistance)
Once again, these come from areas of congestion, swing highs or lows, or gaps. That is, areas which are proven to stall price movement or reverse price direction. My expectation with minor support or resistance is for a higher probability of minor support holding in an uptrend, and minor resistance holding in a downtrend.
That’s it for Market Structure - simply identifying a support and resistance framework within which price moves. Simple!
Having defined our market structure, or a framework within which price will move, we now focus our attention on the current trend. This occurs, as does all further analysis, on the trading timeframe.
I conduct analysis on the trend to identify its strength. Is the trend moving strongly, in which case we can anticipate it being more likely to break through the next support or resistance levels, or is it weakening, in which case we have a greater probability of the support or resistance levels forming a barrier to further price movement?
We determine the strength of the trend by looking at its proximity to the support and resistance barriers within the framework, and also gain clues from changes in momentum or volatility.
Is the current price swing, faster or slower than preceding swings within that trend? Is the current price swing speeding up, or slowing down?
Is the volatility changing? Is the average range of the price bars increasing or decreasing?
These sorts of questions regarding changes of volatility and momentum can give you clues into the changing strength of the trend, and the likelihood of a reversal at, or continuation through, an area of support or resistance.
If you want to get experienced at this, it takes time. Review price charts over and over, identifying how changes of momentum and volatility precede either a continuation or reversal of that trend.
Having gained an appreciation of the strength of the trend, and its location within the support and resistance framework, ONLY THEN, finally, do I concern myself with the current price action to determine the bullish or bearish sentiment (or more particularly a potential change of sentiment) through candlestick analysis.
What does this little bit of extra work give me?
Here’s an example:
Instead of entering short on a shooting star reversal pattern, just because it matches the shooting star diagram in my book on candlestick patterns, I will first conduct further price analysis regarding the trend and how it moves within the support and resistance framework. For example, the price may have just meandered slowly up to a major resistance level. The current price swing may clearly show less momentum than both the previous upswing and downswing. And the price bar range may be narrowing. This gives a reduced likelihood of the commitment required from the bulls to break through the area of increased supply. The shooting star pattern provides evidence of a clear rejection of prices at that resistance level. This provides me with a lower risk or higher probability trade in the short direction.
Another example:
Instead of entering long on a harami cross reversal pattern, just because it matches the harami cross in my book on candlestick patterns, I’ll conduct further analysis to see where this pattern occurs within the bigger picture of market structure. For example, the trend may show a strong and accelerating move downward, on greatly increased volume, extending price rapidly to great distances below its average, right into an area of major support. This is an area where I expect increased demand is likely to be sufficient to absorb and overcome the force of the bears who have spent all their energy on the climactic move downwards. This is an area where I expect price to find support. The harami cross shows a clear halting of the rapid move down, and allows me an opportunity to enter a low risk trade close to an area of major price support.
Seriously, the end result might be the same, but at least I’ve entered based on a reasonable assessment of the price action in order to maximize the potential for a lower risk or higher probability trade. Over a lifetime of trading I expect this approach will produce more favorable results than just entering because the pattern matched one I’d memorized from a book.
Ok, a bit of a summary, and I know this is a bit of repetition for those familiar with my work, but don’t just blindly take your entry triggers. Think about where they occur within the bigger picture structure of the market.
The market structure defines where you trade. The trigger, whether a candlestick pattern or some other form of entry trigger, tells you when to get in, ONLY when you’ve first met the requirements of the market structure rule.
Think about where the current price movement is within a framework of support and resistance. Think about the changing strength of the current trend, or price swing, as it approaches this area of support or resistance. Watch for signs of strength or weakness in the trend, through the clues evident in changes of momentum and volatility.
And don’t forget - ALWAYS USE STOPS, because there are no guarantees. This is a game of probabilities.
Happy trading,
Lance Beggs
How to Lose Weight
Mar
27
harveywalsh wrote:
Harvey Walsh of http://www.daytradingfreedom.com trades Nasdaq and NYSE stocks live. See how to make money daytrading
How to Lose Weight
Mar
24
MisterGreen777 wrote:
http://www.greenroomstocks.com/
Want to learn to read stock charts? Looking for great daytrading stock picks? Check out our stock chart reading tutorial videos! Full screen on website!
To try these charts free - http://www.worden.com/CURRENTAFPROMO.aspx?AFCODE=717
Designer Handbags
Mar
23
Part3 LIve Day-Trading Emini S&P
Filed Under Howto | 2 Comments
tradingiq wrote:
Daytrading Emini S&P; trading stocks - full version available at tradingIQ.com
Motor Scooters}http://TaketheMotorScooterToday.blogspot.com/
Mar
21
What is the relationship between volatility or beta and trading volume?
Filed Under Other - Business & Finance | 1 Comment
D wrote:
i am masters student and i doing my thesis on the correlation between volatility and trading volume. my research aims to find the impact of trading volume on the volatility or the beta of each stock. i wanted to do this by having a regression analysis but will that mean that i will have to measure the weekly or daily beta. so i need to know other techniques or models that will help predict this correlation and if the regression analysis is a good way then how? i have also read about the GARCH model but i don’t really understand how to predict this correlation using it.
Buying a Dog
i am masters student and i doing my thesis on the correlation between volatility and trading volume. my research aims to find the impact of trading volume on the volatility or the beta of each stock. i wanted to do this by having a regression analysis but will that mean that i will have to measure the weekly or daily beta. so i need to know other techniques or models that will help predict this correlation and if the regression analysis is a good way then how? i have also read about the GARCH model but i don’t really understand how to predict this correlation using it.
Buying a Dog
Mar
16
Adam Hefner wrote:
There are all sorts of participants seeking to profit in today’s markets. For every personality type there is a corresponding style of approaching Wall Street. Some are long term investors seeking to identify stable companies to park their cash well into the future. Others seek quicker profits through stock market trading.
One must look inward to determine which type best suits you. How high is your tolerance for risk? What are your investment objectives? Each person has different goals while at different stages of their life. A suitable strategy needs to be derived fitting your circumstances.
Many advise that the best time to take additional risks is when you are young. When a long life of earnings lay ahead, losses are easier to absorb. This is not the case as one begins to approach retirement. Advice from a financial advisor is often helpful when making these decisions.
If you end up seeking to be a long term investor this entails viewing things with a patient mind set. Buy and hold investors must ignore the everyday swings of the market and allow their portfolios to flourish over the course of years, not months. There are several methods to buy stocks if you seek this style.
One prominent such method is called dollar cost averaging. To employ this strategy one invests an equal amount of money in a given stock on a monthly basis. This investment is made no matter what the stock is doing at that time. It can be going up or down. This removes emotion and serves to reinforce discipline. It also translates to a basis equating to the stock’s average trailing trading price.
If you aren’t blessed with this level of patience then maybe trading is more for you. As opposed to investing, a trader is looking to exploit shorter term movements in a given stock. Many active traders use technical analysis to help guide their decisions. Others rely on an increasing array of automated trading programs on the market.
Some in this class hold stocks weeks to months. Others, referred to as daytraders, hold for minutes. A brokerage account with very low commissions is paramount for this class of trader. Great profits can be made, however studies have shown the majority of daytraders end up losing money in the end.
Stock market trading can be done in many different styles employing varying strategies. Some are passive investors who buy stocks for the long term. Others are hyperactive traders turning over positions several times within one day. Whichever path you choose do your research and trade intelligently.
Phantom of the Opera
There are all sorts of participants seeking to profit in today’s markets. For every personality type there is a corresponding style of approaching Wall Street. Some are long term investors seeking to identify stable companies to park their cash well into the future. Others seek quicker profits through stock market trading.
One must look inward to determine which type best suits you. How high is your tolerance for risk? What are your investment objectives? Each person has different goals while at different stages of their life. A suitable strategy needs to be derived fitting your circumstances.
Many advise that the best time to take additional risks is when you are young. When a long life of earnings lay ahead, losses are easier to absorb. This is not the case as one begins to approach retirement. Advice from a financial advisor is often helpful when making these decisions.
If you end up seeking to be a long term investor this entails viewing things with a patient mind set. Buy and hold investors must ignore the everyday swings of the market and allow their portfolios to flourish over the course of years, not months. There are several methods to buy stocks if you seek this style.
One prominent such method is called dollar cost averaging. To employ this strategy one invests an equal amount of money in a given stock on a monthly basis. This investment is made no matter what the stock is doing at that time. It can be going up or down. This removes emotion and serves to reinforce discipline. It also translates to a basis equating to the stock’s average trailing trading price.
If you aren’t blessed with this level of patience then maybe trading is more for you. As opposed to investing, a trader is looking to exploit shorter term movements in a given stock. Many active traders use technical analysis to help guide their decisions. Others rely on an increasing array of automated trading programs on the market.
Some in this class hold stocks weeks to months. Others, referred to as daytraders, hold for minutes. A brokerage account with very low commissions is paramount for this class of trader. Great profits can be made, however studies have shown the majority of daytraders end up losing money in the end.
Stock market trading can be done in many different styles employing varying strategies. Some are passive investors who buy stocks for the long term. Others are hyperactive traders turning over positions several times within one day. Whichever path you choose do your research and trade intelligently.
Phantom of the Opera