COUNTER-TREND TRADING...SAFE OR RISKY?....EURCAD LIVE EXAMPLEWhat is going on everybody! Hope you are having an amazing weekend so far! Just wanted to come on here and speak a little bit about one of my favorite trading subjects which is counter-trend trading! I personally do counter-trend trading as one of my trading strategies so I wanted to come on here and share a real life example of some things I look for and the mentality behind trading against the current trend of price
Hope you guys enjoy! Please boost and follow my page for more breakdowns! Appreciate you all!
Cheers!
Multiple Time Frame Analysis
Learn Best Time Frames For Scalping Any Forex Pair
I am trading forex with top-down analysis for many years.
In this article, I will teach you powerful combinations of multiple time frames for scalping any currency pair.
For scalping financial markets with multiple time frame analysis, I recommend applying 3 time frames: 4H, 15 minutes and 5 minutes time frames.
4H time frame will be applied for trend and structure analysis.
On a 4H time frame, you should identify the direction of the market and significant supports and resistance.
Key supports in a bullish trend will be applied for buying the market.
While key resistances will be applied for counter trend trading.
Above is USDJPY chart, 4H time frame.
The trend is bullish and I have underlined important historical structures.
Key resistances in a bearish trend will be applied for selling the market.
While key supports will be applied for counter trend trading.
Look at a structure and trend analysis on EURUSD on a 4H time frame.
15 minutes and 5 minutes time frames will be applied for confirmation, entry signal and trade execution.
The logic is that once you identified key levels on a 4H time frame, you are patiently waiting for the test of one of these structures.
Once one of the key levels is tested, you start analyzing 15 minutes and 5 minutes time frame and look for a signal there.
What should be the signal?
It can be a specific candlestick pattern, price action pattern, some signal from a technical indicator or some other stuff.
Personally, I look for a price action pattern.
I am looking for a bearish price action pattern on a 4H resistance and a bullish price action pattern on a 4H support.
Look at GBPUSD. The pair is trading in a bearish trend on a 4H time frame, and it tests a key horizontal resistance.
On 15 minutes time frame, we see a strong bearish price action signal.
Head and shoulders pattern formation and a bearish breakout of its horizontal neckline.
That will be our strong scalping short signal.
If you sell the market in a bearish trend on a 4H from a key resistance, you can anticipate a bearish movement to the closest 4H support.
Look how nicely GBPUSD dropped after a strong bearish confirmation of 15 minutes time frame.
In that case, we did not apply 5 minutes time frame in our analysis,
keep reading and I will explain when we apply 5 minutes time frame for scalping.
Above is USDCAD. On a 4H time frame, I executed trend and structure analysis. We see a test of a key support in a bullish trend.
At the same time, no pattern is formed on 15 minutes time frame after a test of structure.
In such a situation, analyze 5 minutes time frame. If there is no pattern on 15m, probabilities will be high that the pattern will appear on 5m.
On 5 minutes time frame, the pair formed the ascending triangle formation. A bullish breakout of its neckline is a strong bullish signal and confirmation for us to buy.
If you buy the market in a bullish trend on a 4H from a key support, you can anticipate a bullish movement to the closest 4H resistance.
You can see that after our confirmed bullish signal, the price went up to Resistance 1.
Both trading opportunities that we discussed are trend following ones.
Remember that the trades that are taken against the trend are riskier and have lower accuracy.
For that reason, if you are a newbie trader, strictly trade with the trend!
Good luck in scalping with multiple time frame analysis!
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
THE TREND IS YOUR FRIEND...UNTIL THE END...EURUSD EXAMPLEHey everyone! Hope you are having an AMAZING weekend and beautiful Sunday so far! I just wanted to get on here and post a quick educational video for my Trading View community and share some nuggets I have learned over the last 14 years of being in the markets that hopefully can help you guys reach consistency and ultimately profitability.
The subject in this video is "THE TREND IS YOUR FRIEND..UNTIL THE END" hope you guys enjoy get a notepad and paper or iPhone out lol and take some notes! You won't want to miss this!
Cheers!
A classic setup for finding trading opportunitiesHi traders and investors!
In a recent post, I talked about a classic setup. You can find the post below in the related ideas section. I decided to elaborate on it a bit more because this setup frequently appears across different assets, and certain elements of this setup are common in various trading methodologies. In this article, I used a bar chart because bars take up less space, making it easier to see other elements of the chart.
Take a look at the chart. The seller's move from the 52,550 level updated the previous local high. The bar with the highest volume in this entire buyer's movement is the bar from September 18. The 50% level of the entire buyer's movement lies within this bar (!).
Next, we see the seller's movement, and on October 3, a test is formed within the key buyer's bar, at the level of 59,828.11. The price didn't reach the 50% level (59,524).
The key seller's bar in this movement (the bar with the highest volume) is the bar from October 1. The 50% level of the entire seller's movement is within this bar (!).
Next, we see the buyer's movement, and on October 5, a test is formed within the key seller's bar, at the level of 62,484.85. The price didn't reach the 50% level (63,163.06).
Then we see the buyer's attack on the test level of 62,484.85 and the 50% level of the seller's movement (63,163.06), followed by the seller returning the price below the test level, accumulating volume for a downward move. After that, the local minimum of 59,828.11 was updated.
Then, the seller attacks the test level of 59,828.11 and the 50% level of the buyer's movement (59,524), and the buyer returns the price above the test level, gathering volume for an upward move. What happens next... we will soon see.
This is how the buyer's attack on the 50% level of the seller's movement looked on the 4-hour time frame.
No differences whatsoever. Although, maybe I didn’t look hard enough. The key bar of the seller's movement intersects the 50% movement. First, there’s a test below the 50% level (test level 62,975), then an attack on the test level and the 50% level.
Hope you found it interesting.
Good luck with your trading and investments!
How to Adapt Your Trading Plan to Any Market ConditionDaily Trendline Break and Market Structure
The break of the daily trendline suggests potential bearish momentum. However, as the break appears corrective, we must be cautious about interpreting it as a reversal too early. As described in the Trinity Rule, it’s crucial to evaluate whether price is moving impulsively or correctively before deciding.
The market could be forming an arcing structure, which traps traders on the wrong side before reversing, as mentioned in Pattern Separation. This aligns with the idea that the market may retest the trendline or break structure in the opposite direction after a fake-out.
Lower Timeframe Ascending Channel
There is an ascending channel on the lower timeframes, which typically signals continuation of the bullish trend unless there’s a strong breakout to the downside. This is where the Multi-Touch Confirmation comes in; if we get a third touch on this channel without a break, it could present a strong reversal signal.
However, if the price decisively breaks the ascending channel with strong momentum, the next step would be to look for a flag or corrective structure for an entry into the bearish continuation, as highlighted in Running Channels.
High-Probability Trade Setup
Impulse and Correction:
As per Entry Types, a high-probability trade should be executed after the first impulse following a correction. If the price breaks out of the ascending channel, wait for a correction (such as a flag) before entering a short position.
You may look for a third touch confirmation to enhance the probability of success.
Risk Management:
Don’t rush the entry based solely on the trendline break. Ensure the structure evolves, showing a confirmed breakout, especially on higher timeframes.
Manage your stop loss based on market structure rather than arbitrary levels. For instance, if the market presents an impulsive move after breaking the channel, your stop could be above the last lower high.
Market Structure and Valid Trades
Evolve Structure: Continuously update your structure by considering the most recent touches. This avoids getting caught in outdated setups.
Where Are We in Structure?: Evaluate whether the price is impulsively breaking key levels or showing corrective behavior. If momentum is lacking after the trendline break, the bearish setup may not play out.
Trade Scenarios
Bearish Scenario (Short Setup):
Price Breaks the Ascending Channel: If the price breaks with momentum, look for a retest or flag formation to enter short.
Manage Your Position: As the Rule of Three suggests, avoid perfectionism. If the market forms a strong flag or corrective structure, trust the process and adjust your stop as the trade moves in your favor.
Bullish Scenario (Long Setup) :
Price Fails to Break the Channel: If the market respects the ascending channel, this could indicate a continuation of the bullish trend. You could enter long after the third touch confirmation or a clear rejection of lower levels.
Multi-Touch Confirmation: This will be a key factor if the market holds within the channel.
Key Considerations
Impulse and Confirmation: Be patient for the first impulse and correction before committing to a trade.
Stay Neutral: Use running channels and the overall structure to keep a neutral mindset until the market gives a clear signal.
Avoid Perfectionism: Don’t hesitate or wait for the “perfect” setup if multiple confluences align. Stick to your pre-trade checklist to avoid overanalyzing.
Unlock the Market's Hidden Rollercoaster: How to Ride the WavesXau/Usd Review with my trading personality
As a Whimsical Rollercoaster Enthusiast, your trading style is likely driven by the excitement of quick market movements and the thrill of capturing early trades. You're probably someone who thrives on dynamic entries, enjoys the fast-paced action, and may have a more intuitive approach to the market. Let’s blend that with risk management to balance your adventurous spirit while still keeping a solid trading plan.
Technical Review for a Whimsical Rollercoaster Trader:
1. Key Levels to Watch:
2,595 (Resistance) and 2,580 (Support) are your playgrounds right now. You’re drawn to the thrill of what might happen at these zones.
If price pushes toward 2,595, you might feel an urge to jump in, expecting an immediate reaction. However, I encourage you to:
Embrace your adventurous nature but temper it with tactical precision.
Let the level hit and then wait for a quick confirmation (like a wick rejection or a mini pullback). This gives you both the excitement of early entry and higher probability without losing your edge.
Scenario: Price pushes toward 2,595. Here, your Risk Entry could be triggered:
Risk-Entry Plan:
Enter short at the first rejection of 2,595.
Set a tight stop-loss just above the liquidity zone (2,600), respecting your love for quick moves but protecting from being shaken out too soon.
Target the 2,580 area first, knowing the ride might be wild but worth it.
Why it suits you: It’s a quick decision, satisfying your need for speed, while the tight stop-loss aligns with managing risk. You get that thrill, but within guardrails.
2. Confirmation Entry – Building Momentum:
Confirmation Entries might feel a bit “slow” to you, but they can help ensure you stay in the game longer. Consider them when you want to ride bigger moves, not just quick scalp trades.
Scenario: If price breaks through 2,595, wait for a retest to confirm this zone is now support. Here’s where you bring in your whimsical nature: instead of waiting too long, spot a smaller timeframe pattern, like a bullish engulfing candle or a rejection wick, and go long.
Confirmation-Entry Plan:
Enter long at the retest of 2,595 after a clear rejection pattern. Think of it as waiting for the next loop on the rollercoaster — the bigger move is coming, and you want to be on board for it.
Set a slightly wider stop-loss, maybe under 2,580, to allow the trade to develop without getting knocked out early.
Aim for the next higher liquidity zones, like 2,600 or 2,615.
Why it suits you: This method still lets you catch the excitement of a momentum breakout, but the confirmation gives you more confidence. You still get the rush but with less risk of getting thrown out before the big move.
3. Patterns Within Patterns – Your Playground:
As a Whimsical Rollercoaster Enthusiast, you probably love when the market shows intricate patterns — they're like hidden rollercoaster tracks, revealing sudden twists and turns.
Scenario: If price breaks above 2,595, zoom into lower time frames and look for miniature patterns within the broader trend. You might find a bull flag within a larger ascending channel. Entering on these small corrective patterns can satisfy your need for fast-paced decision-making while riding the overall trend.
Plan:
Use these smaller patterns for quick entries. Set your stops just outside the pattern, and take profits quickly as the price breaks out.
Think of it as riding the small waves, but always looking for the bigger momentum move to follow.
Why it suits you: You’re jumping in on short-term opportunities while always keeping an eye on the next big move. This keeps you engaged and allows you to take action when you feel that burst of adrenaline without losing sight of the bigger picture.
4. Managing Whimsical Risk:
Stop-loss flexibility: As someone who enjoys spontaneity, a tight stop might feel restrictive but necessary. Here’s the compromise:
Set initial stops tight (like just above 2,595 if shorting), but allow yourself room to evolve the trade based on market action. If the trade moves in your favor, quickly move the stop to breakeven.
Mental Resilience: Losses will happen, but you need that mental discipline to jump back in without chasing every tick. Treat each trade like a separate rollercoaster ride — whether it’s a good or bad one, there’s always another one coming.
Use your intuition and excitement to recognize evolving setups. But keep a few rules in place to avoid the pitfalls of impulsivity (e.g., no more than 3 trades per day on a single idea to avoid over-trading).
5. Incorporating the Rule of Three:
For the rollercoaster trader, the Rule of Three is your ultimate guide. This rule asks you to identify at least three confirming factors before entering a trade:
Scenario: Price reaches 2,595:
You see a rejection (touch #1).
The lower time frame shows consolidation or a mini bear flag (touch #2).
Momentum begins to fade (touch #3).
Action: This triple confirmation allows you to short confidently, knowing you have the right mix of signals to back your bold entry.
Why it suits you: The Rule of Three still gives you the excitement of quickly entering trades but ensures they are high-probability setups. It prevents you from overtrading out of sheer excitement while still letting you capture those thrilling moves.
Summary Action Plan for a Whimsical Rollercoaster Trader:
Risk Entry: When you feel the market is ready to react at key levels (like 2,595), dive in! But do it smartly — use tight stop-losses and a quick decision-making process. Think of it as jumping onto the coaster right before it starts moving.
Confirmation Entry: Use this when you're looking for a bigger, smoother ride. Wait for the breakout-retest combo, then get in for the larger trend move. Stay patient here; it’s worth the wait.
Patterns within Patterns: Zoom into the mini rollercoasters inside the bigger structure. Catch the small waves but keep your eyes on the longer ride.
Trinity Rule : Ensure three factors align before entering. This rule keeps you disciplined while still embracing your whimsical nature.
XAUUSD: Navigating Key LQZ 4 HIGH-PROBABILITY shortMulti-Timeframe Analysis of XAUUSD
1. 4-Hour Chart
Key Structure:
All-Time High (ATH) at $2,600.318: This level acts as a strong resistance. Price has rejected this zone, showing an initial failure to break higher.
Corrective Channel: The price has formed a small ascending corrective channel after the ATH rejection, which often indicates a potential continuation move downwards.
Key Liquidity Zones (LQZs):
4H LQZ at $2,522.172: This zone could act as the next support if the downtrend continues.
Daily LQZ at $2,511.042: Deeper support that aligns with the broader timeframe.
Implication: Based on the corrective channel and the rejection of ATH, a continuation down towards the 4H and Daily LQZ is likely unless a strong bullish push occurs.
2. 15-Minute Chart
Bearish Momentum: The price formed a sharp drop after the ATH rejection, leading to a corrective structure forming.
Ascending Channel: A bearish ascending channel (corrective) is visible, which may suggest further downside. A clean break below the lower boundary of this channel would confirm bearish continuation.
1H LQZ at $2,542.056: This zone is likely to be the first target if the breakout occurs.
Implication: If the price breaks below the corrective channel, a potential short entry targeting the 1H LQZ is a strong play. A further drop to the 4H LQZ could follow if momentum continues.
3. 5-Minute Chart
Current Reaction:
The price is bouncing from the lower part of the small corrective structure. There is a minor bounce from the 5M LQZ at $2,562.855.
Next Step:
Monitor for price rejection or failure at the 5M LQZ. If it fails to sustain this level, a short opportunity arises.
Implication: A break below the 5-minute structure could lead to a fast move down toward the 1H LQZ. Watch for strong rejections at this level.
---
Trade Setup Suggestion:
1. Entry:
Aggressive: If the price breaks the corrective channel on the 15-minute chart, you can enter short near $2,562-$2,564.
Conservative: Wait for a confirmed break and retest of the lower channel boundary.
2. Stop Loss:
Set above the corrective channel high, around $2,580, to protect against sudden bullish reversals.
3. Targets:
First target: 1H LQZ at $2,542.056.
Second target: 4H LQZ at $2,522.172.
Third target: Daily LQZ at $2,511.042 if further downside persists.
Conclusion:
The price structure and liquidity zones indicate a bearish continuation is possible, especially if the corrective channel breaks down. Keep an eye on how price interacts with the liquidity zones to refine entries and exits.
Bots vs Brains; The hidden edge of Human touch in tradingBots vs Brains; The hidden edge of Human touch in trading
A random Google search on the internet about forex trading robots reveals thousands of forex robots exist. With all these trading robots promising handsome returns in the shortest time, the forex trading industry should be minting new millionaires daily. However, statistics from forex brokers paint a sad picture—a failure rate as high as 90%.
In 2024, you can’t go a day without reading or watching a reel about Artificial Intelligence (AI). The high failure rate, especially in the world of finance, is baffling given all these technological advancements. This led me to take a deeper look into the world of automated forex trading, also known as bots or Expert Advisors (EA).
Overview of Automated Trading
A trading bot is software developed to analyze financial markets and execute trades on your behalf. Semi-automatic trading bots analyze the markets but do not execute trades.
Large financial institutions, such as banks and hedge funds, use specialized algorithmic trading bots. These institutions bring together mathematicians, programmers, and economists to develop sophisticated algorithms. Needless to say, it requires significant financial resources and time to develop these bots. Development can take at least six months, followed by an additional six months of testing. The high cost makes these bots inaccessible to retail traders.
Retail traders, however, are not left out. There are individuals and software platforms where you can develop your own trading bot. These bots are often marketed as being developed by experts with deep market knowledge—or so I thought. Trading bots follow specific rules based on the developer’s strategy, which ideally should mirror the success of an experienced trader. Therefore, if a trader is profitable, the bot should at least mimic their results, if not surpass them—more on this later.
Before launching these bots, developers conduct extensive backtesting and refinement to optimize them for ideal market conditions.
Advantages of Automated Trading
Developers of trading bots often market them as superior to manual trading. They emphasize the need to eliminate human error and emotions, highlight faster execution speeds, and promote the ability to trade 24 hours a day as long as markets are open. Additionally, bots can save traders significant time that would otherwise be spent analyzing markets and executing trades. On the surface, purchasing trading robots seems like a smart decision.
Limitations of Automated Trading
Bots rely on historical data, assuming the future will mirror the past. However, global events are unpredictable. Take, for example, the 2008 financial crisis or the sudden shock of COVID-19—events like these can completely throw off a bot’s programming. Robots struggle to adjust to such volatility unless they’re frequently updated with new data, which many are not. This is a major limitation, especially when you consider how quickly the forex market moves with trillions of dollars in circulation.
Earlier, I mentioned that robots are supposedly developed by profitable traders. But to my surprise, I found that with little trading experience, anyone can create a robot on platforms like EA Trading Academy. All it takes is registering, selecting a few parameters, running a back test, and then selling it. It’s really that simple. The ease with which these bots can be built raises questions about their reliability, especially when they aren’t crafted by experts. I even plan to build one myself, and I’ll give you feedback in a year’s time.
Why I Think Robots Don’t Work
The main issue is that there’s a shortage of consistently profitable traders. A trader who dedicates the time and effort to developing a reliable robot is likely to charge a hefty fee. The likelihood that they would focus solely on developing robots instead of trading themselves is very slim. This makes me wonder—who is actually building all these robots? If most profitable traders are busy trading, it raises concerns about the experience level and expertise of those creating the majority of these products.
Secondly, trading styles vary significantly from trader to trader. Purchasing a robot based solely on profitability or low cost is unwise. In addition to checking a developer’s track record, you should assess whether their risk tolerance and trading approach align with yours. For instance, buying a scalping robot when you prefer swing trading could be a costly mismatch.
Finally, purchasing robots without a solid understanding of the markets is irresponsible, and the disasters that follow are often justified. Many experienced traders who have tested and reviewed bots on YouTube agree that 99% of them are either scams or simply don’t work. I encourage you to watch some of these reviews to see for yourself.
The Future: Automation vs. Human Touch
Mastery in trading comes from a combination of skill, time, and experience. While bots claim to save you the time spent on analysis, it's precisely that time—the deep learning and constant market study—that ultimately leads to true mastery. There are no shortcuts. Bots may be designed to minimize human error, and in theory, they do. But the reality is that even the most sophisticated bots are not infallible. They can and often do fail, sometimes catastrophically. When accounts are blown—whether by a human or a bot—it’s still the trader who bears the loss and the disappointment. So, while bots may reduce human error, they can never eliminate the human responsibility for those errors.
Trading the financial markets is a craft like any other. Automation, AI, and machine learning can be valuable tools in your journey to becoming a skilled trader. They cannot replace the critical thinking and adaptability that come with human experience. AI can assist by analyzing large sets of data, flagging trends, or executing trades faster than a human could—but the nuanced understanding of market sentiment, global events, and individual risk tolerance is something only a human can develop through dedication and practice. Automation might help you refine your craft, but it's the time spent learning, making mistakes, and adapting that leads to true mastery. As promising as they are, AI and bots are tools—not substitutes—for the expertise that comes from being deeply engaged in the markets.
Others before you have achieved mastery, and with enough commitment, you can too.
How I Use Multi Timeframe Analysis to Capture LARGE Price SwingsDISCLAIMER: This is not trade advice. Trading involves real risk. Do your own due diligence.
TUTORIAL:
Today, I demonstrate the thought process and mechanical steps I take when trading my Multi-Timeframe strategy. We take a look at US Treasuries, which have offers a classic lesson in how to apply this approach.
As you will see, throughout the year, this approach took some losses prior to getting involved in the "real" move which we anticipated. No strategy is perfect, and I do not purport this to be perfect. It is a rules based and effective way to read price. This strategy is great for people who don't have a lot of time to spend at the charts. I would classify this more as an "investing" strategy when utilizing the 12M-2W-12H timeframe.
If you have questions about anything in this video, feel free to shoot me a message.
I hope you have all had a great week so far.
Good Luck & Good Trading.
Catch Big Market Moves: How to Trade Liquidity Zones Like a Pro The charts provided showcase potential scenarios based on different liquidity zones (LQZ) on multiple timeframes, such as 15M, 1H, and 4H. Let's break down the key insights from the images:
Key Levels:
Weekly Flag Trendline: This yellow trendline represents the long-term trend and acts as a major resistance or support. It’s crucial to monitor price action around this level for significant moves.
4HR LQZ (Liquidity Zone) at 2,532.077: This level signifies an important area of liquidity on the 4-hour chart. It’s a potential reversal point or continuation area depending on how the price interacts with it.
1HR LQZ and 15M LQZ: These shorter timeframe liquidity zones are at 2,482.129 and 2,470.544 respectively. They act as interim targets or bounce zones based on the smaller trend movements.
Price Action Context:
Wedge Formation: The rising wedge pattern visible in all the charts, combined with slowing momentum near the top, suggests possible bearish pressure. Wedges often lead to sharp breakouts, so a breakout to the downside would align with the wedge structure.
Multi-Touch Confirmation: The multiple touches on trendlines, both support and resistance, increase the probability of significant movements. This concept is supported by multi-touch confirmation techniques.
Scenario Planning:
Upside Potential: A breakout above the 4HR LQZ suggests further bullish momentum, likely toward higher liquidity zones. This can result in a continuation to the upside, as shown with the green line projection on some charts.
Downside Risks: A breakdown below the wedge support and failing to hold the 15M or 1HR LQZ may lead to a bearish move toward the lower liquidity targets. The yellow line projections suggest a pullback to 2,485.055 and potentially lower.
The Trinity Rule Approach:
Confluence Setup: If price interacts with three major zones (like the 4HR LQZ, wedge support, and Weekly Flag Trendline), we can assess whether these align with other signals. This rule adds extra confirmation for higher-probability setups, as discussed in your document.
Overall, price action shows a decision point around the wedge and liquidity zones, with strong reactions expected in either direction.
Unlock Winning Strategies: Spot High-Probability Trades!Chart Analysis: XAU/USD (Gold Spot vs. USD)
Based on the two charts you have provided, here is a detailed technical analysis of XAU/USD using price action and chart pattern observations:
1. Weekly Flag Trendline (Higher Time Frame Context)
The upper and lower yellow trendlines represent a possible flag pattern on the weekly chart. This suggests a consolidation phase after a strong impulsive move. A flag pattern typically signals a continuation of the previous trend, which, if the context is bullish, indicates that after consolidation, there may be a continuation to the upside.
On both charts, we can observe that price action is contained within this broader structure, indicating that price is in a correction phase rather than an impulsive phase.
2. Key Horizontal Levels
2,532.144 and 2,506.245: These levels act as strong resistance zones. The price has struggled to break above these levels multiple times, indicating significant selling pressure or profit-taking at these points.
2,471.313: This is a key support level. The price has reacted to this level before and, most recently, has bounced back after testing this support zone. This suggests that buyers are willing to step in at this level, providing a floor for the price.
3. Descending Channel and Price Action Patterns
Descending Triangle/Channel Pattern: On the 15-minute chart, the price seems to be forming a descending triangle pattern (lower highs and a flat support at 2,471.313). This pattern is typically bearish, suggesting a potential breakdown if the support does not hold.
Potential Reversal Patterns: After testing the lower trendline of the weekly flag pattern and finding support at the 2,471.313 level, there was a notable bullish reaction. This can imply a short-term reversal, especially if confirmed by a break above the minor resistance level of 2,494.370.
4. Consolidation Zone and Lower Time Frame Patterns
The 15-minute chart shows a clear consolidation pattern after the sharp decline, with price action currently moving sideways between 2,494 and 2,506. A break above this consolidation range could signal a short-term bullish continuation towards the upper resistance levels, while a break below would imply a continuation of the bearish trend observed previously.
5. Breakout and Pullback Zones
The yellow dotted lines on the 15-minute chart indicate key areas where the price broke out from consolidation phases. These areas are crucial for identifying potential entry points in a trending market. If the price retests these zones and finds resistance or support, they could act as triggers for either continuation or reversal trades.
Trading Strategy Considerations
Bullish Bias: Traders with a bullish bias might consider waiting for a breakout above the 2,506.245 resistance, looking for a confirmation with a pullback to this level as support. The target could be the upper boundary of the flag around 2,532.144 or higher, depending on momentum and broader market conditions.
Bearish Bias: A trader with a bearish outlook might wait for the price to break below the 2,471.313 support level, looking for short positions targeting lower levels aligned with the descending channel's trajectory.
Range Trading: Given the current consolidation between 2,494.370 and 2,506.245, range traders could look for entries at the edges of this range with tight stops and defined profit targets within the range.
Conclusion
Given the price action analysis and current chart patterns, the XAU/USD market appears to be in a consolidation phase within a broader flag pattern. This suggests that while the immediate outlook may be neutral to bearish, there is potential for a bullish breakout if key resistance levels are breached. Traders should watch for confirmed breakouts or breakdowns from these levels to guide their trading decisions, keeping in mind the broader market trend and any fundamental drivers influencing gold prices.
How I Nailed a Perfect Breakout Trade Using a Simple Strategy*The following Analysis is made by my Trading BOT*
Analysis of Your Trade:
Descending Channel:
Formation and Breakout: The descending channel is well-defined, indicating a corrective phase following an impulsive move. The breakout above the channel suggests a potential reversal or continuation of the prior trend, which appears bullish.
Entry Timing: You entered the trade after the breakout from the descending channel. This entry aligns with a strategy to buy at the break of a corrective pattern, capitalizing on the resumption of bullish momentum.
Resistance Zone (Blue Area):
Initial Resistance Encounter: The blue horizontal line represents a resistance zone where price consolidated and failed to break higher on the first attempt. This is a good spot to watch for confirmation of a breakout or reversal.
False Breakouts: There are some upper wicks visible in this resistance zone, indicating possible false breakouts or liquidity grabs. This suggests that many traders might have been stopped out before the true breakout occurred.
Price Action Post-Breakout:
Sharp Move Down: After the breakout, price made a sharp move down to retest the previous resistance (now turned support), which aligns with the principles of market structure where old resistance becomes new support.
Correction and Continuation: The downward move appears corrective in nature, forming a series of lower highs and lower lows within a descending channel, after which the price breaks out and moves upwards sharply.
Risk and Reward Considerations:
Stop Placement: If your stop loss was placed below the previous swing low or the bottom of the descending channel, this would be a strategic placement to avoid being stopped out by market noise.
Take Profit: Your target seems to be well-placed, considering the previous highs or a key Fibonacci level. The green area likely represents the take-profit zone.
Volume Analysis:
Confirmation with Volume: The volume spike during the breakout from the descending channel and the subsequent move up indicates strong buying interest, which is a good confirmation signal.
Key Takeaways for Future Trades:
Pattern Recognition: Identifying descending channels and their breakouts is a strong skill that can be leveraged in various time frames.
Risk Management: Your trade shows a good understanding of risk management, especially if stops were placed beyond significant levels to avoid market noise.
Confirmation Signals: Waiting for volume confirmation during breakouts is an excellent strategy to avoid false moves.
Suggestions:
Multiple Time Frame Analysis: Ensure that your lower-time-frame trades are aligned with the higher-time-frame trends or setups to increase the probability of success.
Post-Trade Analysis: Continue reviewing your trades like this to refine your entry and exit strategies, especially around key zones like support and resistance.
Chart Patterns Within Patterns: A Guide to Nested Setups Daily Chart Analysis:
Pattern Overview:
The daily chart shows an Ascending Channel formation, which generally indicates a bullish trend but can also signal a potential reversal if the upper trendline acts as strong resistance.
Within the ascending channel, there are continuation patterns such as smaller bull flags, which suggest bullish momentum continuation.
Key Resistance and Liquidity Zone (LQZ):
The upper trendline of the ascending channel aligns closely with the recent highs around the $2,530 - $2,540 region, creating a significant resistance area.
The 1-Hour Liquidity Zone (LQZ) at $2,486.793 is marked below the current price, indicating potential areas where price might retest before any significant upward or downward move.
Potential Reversal Signal:
The upper boundary of the ascending channel has recently been tested multiple times, and each time, there has been a slight pullback, indicating selling pressure. This could be a precursor to a possible reversal if this level is not broken with conviction.
4-Hour Chart Analysis:
Nesting Patterns:
The 4-hour chart also reveals several nested patterns within the broader ascending channel, including smaller bull flags and a potential double-top pattern forming at the resistance zone.
The price action is consolidating below the resistance line at $2,530.750, creating a possible Double Top scenario, which could indicate a bearish reversal if confirmed by a breakdown below the neckline support.
Impulse and Correction Phases:
The recent impulsive moves upwards have been followed by corrective pullbacks, which have been forming higher lows, reinforcing the bullish bias in the medium term.
However, the proximity to the resistance and the potential double-top formation might signal caution for long positions.
1-Hour and 15-Minute Chart Analysis:
Short-Term Structure:
The 1-hour chart shows a more detailed view of the recent consolidation phase near the key resistance level. There are signs of weakening momentum as prices approach the upper trendline.
The 15-minute chart further shows a tightening range and potential bear flag or a descending channel, which could indicate a short-term bearish continuation if the lower trendline of this smaller pattern breaks.
Critical Levels:
The support level around $2,486.793 (1HR LQZ) is critical for intraday trading. A break below this could lead to a sharper correction towards the lower boundary of the ascending channel on the daily chart.
For bullish continuation, a clear break above the $2,530 - $2,540 resistance with strong volume would be needed to confirm further upside potential.
Trading Strategy and Recommendations:
Bullish Scenario:
Look for a strong breakout above the $2,530 - $2,540 resistance on the daily chart, accompanied by increased volume and a break above the smaller continuation patterns (flags) on the lower timeframes.
Enter on a reduced risk entry after a pullback to the breakout level, with stops placed below the recent consolidation range or the 1-Hour LQZ.
Bearish Scenario:
Watch for a confirmed Double Top breakdown on the 4-hour chart, with a clear break below the neckline support around $2,486.793.
Consider short positions on the break of the neckline or after a retest of the breakdown level, with stops placed above the recent highs or the upper boundary of the descending channel on the 15-minute chart.
Risk Management:
Given the proximity to a key resistance level and the potential for a reversal, it is crucial to manage risk carefully. Use tight stops and consider reducing position size until a clear directional move is confirmed.
XAU/USD Strategy: Pattern Recognition and Trade ExecutionComprehensive Market Breakdown for XAU/USD (Gold Spot) Based on Multi-Time Frame Analysis
Overview:
The analysis of XAU/USD across multiple time frames (15-minute, 30-minute, 1-hour, and 4-hour) indicates a complex market structure with both bullish and bearish signals. This detailed breakdown will provide insights into the current market conditions, key patterns to watch, potential trading strategies, and risk management considerations.
1. 15-Minute Time Frame: Symmetrical Triangle Pattern
Pattern Details:
Symmetrical Triangle: This pattern is characterized by converging trend lines connecting lower highs and higher lows, indicating indecision in the market.
Apex Proximity: The price is nearing the apex of the triangle, suggesting a potential breakout is imminent.
Implications:
Neutral Bias: The symmetrical triangle does not inherently suggest a bullish or bearish bias but indicates a potential breakout in either direction depending on market sentiment.
Volume Confirmation: A breakout with a significant surge in volume will confirm the direction of the move.
Trading Strategy:
Bullish Breakout: If the price breaks above the upper trendline with strong volume, consider entering long positions targeting previous resistance levels.
Bearish Breakout: Conversely, if the price breaks below the lower trendline with increased volume, consider short positions targeting previous support levels.
Stop-Loss Placement: Place stops just outside the opposite side of the breakout point to mitigate risks from false breakouts.
2. 30-Minute Time Frame: Mixed Channels (Descending and Ascending)
Patterns Observed:
Descending Channels: Suggest bearish continuation if in a downtrend or a potential reversal if broken to the upside.
Ascending Channels: Suggest bullish continuation if in an uptrend but signal a potential reversal if broken to the downside.
Market Implications:
Corrective Phase: The presence of both descending and ascending channels indicates the market is in a corrective phase, oscillating between support and resistance levels.
Range-Bound Trading: Until a significant breakout occurs, the market is likely to remain range-bound.
Trading Strategy:
Range Trading: Consider buying at the lower boundaries of the channels and selling at the upper boundaries.
Breakout Preparation: Prepare for a potential breakout by setting alerts around key levels (upper and lower boundaries of the channels).
Stop-Loss Placement: Place stops just outside the channels to protect against unexpected breakouts.
3. 1-Hour Time Frame: Rising Wedge Pattern
Pattern Details:
Rising Wedge: This pattern is characterized by higher highs and higher lows within a narrowing upward slope, typically a bearish reversal pattern.
Implications:
Bearish Reversal: The rising wedge suggests that upward momentum is weakening, and a potential breakdown could follow.
Reversal Zone: The price is near the upper boundary of the wedge, which may serve as a reversal zone, especially if a breakout to the downside occurs on high volume.
Trading Strategy:
Short Entry on Breakdown: Enter short positions if the price breaks below the lower trendline of the wedge with confirming volume.
Target Levels: Target the lower boundary of the larger ascending channel or previous support levels as take-profit points.
Stop-Loss Placement: Set stops above the most recent high within the wedge to protect against false breakouts.
4. 4-Hour Time Frame: Broader Rising Channel and Nested Patterns
Patterns Observed:
Broad Rising Channel: Indicates a larger uptrend is intact, providing a bullish bias.
Nested Descending Channels: Smaller corrective patterns within the broader uptrend suggest temporary pauses or consolidation phases before potential continuation moves.
Key Levels to Watch:
Resistance at 2,540: A break above this level would suggest a bullish continuation and potential for new highs.
Support at 2,470: A break below this level would indicate a significant shift in market sentiment towards bearishness.
Market Implications:
Potential Continuation or Reversal: The larger rising channel gives more weight to potential continuation moves, but the presence of smaller corrective patterns within suggests caution.
Echo Phase: The nested descending channel could represent an echo phase, a corrective move within the larger uptrend.
Trading Strategy:
Long Positions on Break Above 2,540: Enter long positions if the price breaks above this resistance level with confirming volume.
Short Positions on Break Below 2,470: Consider short positions if the price breaks below this support level with increased volume.
Volume Confirmation: Ensure any breakout is confirmed with a surge in volume to avoid false signals.
Risk Management: Use wider stops given the higher time frame context to avoid being stopped out by market noise.
5. Synthesis of Multi-Time Frame Analysis:
Confluence of Patterns: The alignment of rising wedges, symmetrical triangles, and mixed channels across multiple time frames suggests a market at a critical juncture. The presence of both bullish and bearish signals indicates that the market is poised for a decisive move.
Key Takeaways for Traders:
Patience and Discipline: Wait for confirmed breakouts with volume before entering trades. Do not rush into trades without sufficient confirmation.
Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt strategies based on the direction of the breakout or breakdown. Use alerts and monitor key levels closely.
Focus on Higher Time Frame Signals: Higher time frame signals carry more weight and should be given priority when making trading decisions.
Risk Management: Employ tight stops and carefully manage position sizes to limit exposure in case of adverse market movements.
6. Final Recommendations:
Potential Bullish Scenario:
Watch for a break above 2,540 on strong volume across multiple time frames. A confirmed breakout could lead to a bullish continuation towards new highs.
Potential Bearish Scenario:
Monitor for a breakdown below 2,470, especially if supported by a break of the rising wedge and descending channel patterns. A breakdown here would signal a shift to a bearish trend.
By combining these insights with real-time monitoring of market conditions, traders can enhance their decision-making process and capitalize on high-probability trade setups in the XAU/USD market.
Gap Between Understanding and Expect;Why forex traders failThis topic explores how uninformed expectations often lead to failure in Forex trading.
The internet is littered with people explaining how they lost money in Forex trading or how Forex is a scam. In your circle of friends and family, should you make the mistake of mentioning Forex trading, you are likely to get salty looks. To many, Forex trading equals failure and heartbreak.
To further emphasize the magnitude of failure in this industry, Forex brokers issue disclaimers on their websites indicating failure rates ranging from 75-90%. To put it into perspective, out of 1000 individuals who venture into Forex trading, up to 900 inevitably will fail and lose their entire capital outlay. A sad statistic indeed. I must admit, in my 10-year trading career, I have formed part of that painful statistic.
Why do we fail? I wonder? Presently, I seem to gravitate towards the belief that fundamentally, our failure is primarily driven by divergence between understanding and expectations. I posit further when we place a premium on expectations over understanding, we should prepare for rather painful results. From experience, many enter the Forex trading space driven by expectations, not understanding.
By definition, understanding is awareness. Expectation is defined as the belief that something will happen. Let me illustrate how the divergence between understanding and expectation causes failure.
Recall your childhood years watching your favorite superhero, say, superman. Watching the indestructible Superman flying around fighting bad guys was quite a motivator. Children are impressionable, therefore, it wasn't hard to find young boys mimicking Superman's behavior to the degree we thought we could fly. It was common to find boys leaping off tables and high surfaces believing and expecting they could fly. At this point, gravity, or the understanding of the effects of gravity was a foreign concept. Later on, of course, gravity was introduced to us painfully, sometimes with an accompanying injury and or beating from our mothers. I believe this reminder illustrates the outcomes when understanding and expectations are not aligned.
Back to Forex trading. If we are honest, we lose not because we seek understanding and mastery, we lose because we seek to fulfill our expectations. The promise of a lavish lifestyle, and the allure of making X % per month without struggling appeals to many. Ultimately, this leads to disastrous decisions that end in heartbreak.
How do you bridge the gap between understanding and expectations?
1. Education and continuous learning
I am in my fourth profitable year in Forex trading. What is different, my desire to consistently improve my knowledge is constant. I am always learning new things that improve my skills and edge. I am not the same trader I was six months ago.
2. Set realistic goals.
Early in my trading career, I would set goals out of desire and ignorance. Consequently, I would trade aggressively and force the markets to meet my expectations. The outcome was always disastrous. Presently, I target a 20% return annually based on experience. This target is achievable and less risky, allowing me to outlast seasons.
In conclusion, mastery is only achieved through understanding. I leave you with a verse from the Bible to reinforce the above statement, Proverbs 4: 5-9
Profitable Gold Price Action Strategy For Beginners
To trade this Gold price action strategy, you need to learn just 2 simple things:
support and resistance levels identification
a couple of bullish and bearish price action patterns.
In this article, I will share with you a complete guide for Gold trading with price action and reveal the best patterns for XAUUSD.
Step 1
Your First task will be to execute complete structure analysis on a daily time frame.
It means that you should identify all vertical and horizontal supports and resistances.
From structure supports, we will look for buying opportunities.
From structure resistances, we will look for selling the market.
Above, you can see how a complete Gold support and resistance analysis should look.
Step 2
Patiently wait for the test of one of these structures.
In the example above, we see a test of Support.
Step 3
Your next task will be to look for a price action pattern on an hourly time frame on one of these structures.
You should look for a bullish pattern after a test of a structure support.
You should look for a bearish pattern after a test of a structure resistance.
Here is the list of classic bullish patterns that you should look for:
falling wedge,
bullish flag,
double bottom,
triple bottom,
inverted head & shoulders pattern,
cup & handle,
ascending triangle.
Once you identified a bullish pattern, simply wait for a signal -
with horizontal patterns like a double bottom or cup & handle you should wait for a bullish breakout of its neckline - an hourly candle close above.
With vertical patterns like a bullish flag or a falling wedge, you should look for a bullish breakout of its trend line - and hourly candle close above.
Here is the list of classic bearish patterns that you should look for:
rising wedge,
bearish flag,
double top,
triple top,
head & shoulders pattern,
inverted cup & handle,
descending triangle.
Once you identified a bearish pattern, simply wait for a signal -
with horizontal patterns like a double top or inverted cup & handle you should wait for a bearish breakout of its neckline - an hourly candle close below.
With vertical patterns like a bearish flag or a rising wedge, you should look for a
bearish breakout of its trend line - and hourly candle close below.
Sometimes there will be the situation when you will encounter multiple patterns. The rule is that the more - the better.
Above, we can see 2 bullish patterns on an hourly time frame, after a test of a key daily support on Gold: bullish flag pattern and cup & handle.
The price broke the resistance line of the flag and a neckline of a cup & handle, giving us a strong bullish signal.
Step 4
Open a trading position.
Once you spotted a bearish pattern after a test of a key daily resistance, and a signal - a bearish breakout of a neckline or a trend line, sell Gold on a retest of a broken neckline/trend line.
Stop loss will lie above the highs of the patterns.
Take profit will be the closest 4H support.
Once you spotted a bullish pattern after a test of a key daily support, and a signal - a bullish breakout of a neckline or a trend line, buy Gold on a retest of a broken neckline/trend line.
Stop loss will lie below the lows of the pattern.
Take profit will be the closest 4H resistance.
In our example, a long position was opened on Gold on a retest of a broken neckline of a cup & handle formation. Stop loss lies below the lows, TP based on a 4H resistance.
After some time, the price reached the target!
This Gold price action strategy is simple and very profitable. Try this strategy by your own and good luck in trading Gold!
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
How to measure a true range in any asset!Hello to everyone familiar with ICT concepts!
If you already understand breakers, order blocks, and the principles of price premiums and discounts, you're in the right place.
I’m excited to share some insights with you, using the FOREXCOM:EURUSD
chart from August 20th, 2024.
One challenge I've always faced is accurately measuring the true range. It often feels like price moves towards balance, finding equilibrium before moving away again. ICT's teachings on this topic can sometimes be a bit vague, especially when it comes to the details of whether to measure wicks or focus solely on candlestick bodies. However, I’ve recently made a breakthrough and discovered the key to accurately measuring a true range!
This knowledge aligns with the idea of balances, but it’s crucial to understand that when one algorithm meets another, neither has the power to deviate far from the current price. But that's not what we need to focus on.
What truly matters is identifying when the price is moving away from its current state. This method works exceptionally well during trending markets, like we’ve seen recently with #EURUSD, #GBPUSD, and other forex pairs. It’s also effective in commodities like Gold, indices such as #NQ, #YM, #ES, and even in the crypto markets!
Take yesterday's trend in EURUSD, for example. We saw a significant 5-15 minute trend where the price perfectly retraced to its 50% level. But how did I know where to start measuring?
This time, I used a breaker from a different structure on the 15-minute chart to identify the key level. The answer lies in understanding breakers, order blocks, and supporting structures.
If this topic resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s dive deeper together—there’s so much more to explore. Feel free to share your insights or reach out if you’re curious about how to apply these concepts more effectively
EURUSD 21.08.2024 10:11
How to Identify Candlestick Strength | Trading Basics
Hey traders,
In this educational article, we will discuss
Please, note that the concepts that will be covered in this article can be applied on any time frame, however, higher is the time frame, more trustworthy are the candles.
Also, remember, that each individual candle is assessed in relation to other candles on the chart.
There are three types of candles depending on its direction:
🟢 Bullish candle
Such a candle has a closing price higher than the opening price.
🔴 Bearish candle
Such a candle has a closing price lower than the opening price.
🟡 Neutral candle
Such a candle has equal or close to equal opening and closing price.
There are three categories of the strength of the candle.
Please, note, the measurement of the strength of the candle is applicable only to bullish/bearish candles.
Neutral candle has no strength by definition. It signifies the absolute equilibrium between buyers and sellers.
1️⃣ Strong candle
Strong bullish candle signifies strong buying volumes and dominance of buyers without sellers resistance.
Above, you can see the example of a strong bullish candle on NZDCHF on a 4H.
Strong bearish candle means significant selling volumes and high bearish pressure without buyers resistance.
On the chart above, you can see a song bearish candle on EURUSD.
Usually, a strong bullish/bearish candle has a relatively big body and tiny wicks.
2️⃣ Medium candle
Medium bullish candle signifies a dominance of buyers with a rising resistance of sellers.
You can see the sequence of medium bullish candles on EURJPY pair on a daily time frame.
Medium bearish candle means a prevailing strength of sellers with a growing pressure of bulls.
Above is the example of a sequence of medium bearish candles on AUDUSD pair.
Usually, a medium bullish/bearish candle has its range (based on a wick) 2 times bigger than the body of the candle.
3️⃣ Weak candle
Weak bullish candle signifies the exhaustion of buyers and a substantial resistance of sellers.
Weak bearish candle signifies the exhaustion of sellers and a considerable bullish pressure.
Usually, such a candle has a relatively small body and a big wick.
Above is the sequence of weak bullish and bearish candles on NZDCHF pair on an hourly time frame.
Knowing how to read the strength of the candlestick, one can quite accurately spot the initiate of new waves, market reversals and consolidations. Watch how the price acts, follow the candlesticks and try to spot the change of momentum by yourself.
Learn How to Apply Top-Down Multiple Time Frame Analysis
In this article, we will discuss how to apply Multiple Time Frame Analysis in trading .
I will teach you how to apply different time frames and will share with you some useful tips and example of a real trade that I take with Top-Down Analysis strategy.
Firstly, let's briefly define the classification of time frames that we will discuss:
There are 3 main categories of time frames:
1️⃣ Higher time frames
2️⃣ Trading time frames
3️⃣ Lower time frames
Higher Time Frames Analysis
1️⃣ Higher time frames are used for identification of the market trend and global picture. Weekly and daily time frames belong to this category.
The analysis of these time frames is the most important .
On these time frames, we make predictions and forecast the future direction of the market with trend analysis and we identify the levels , the areas from where we will trade our predictions with structure analysis .
Above is the example of a daily time frame analysis on NZDCAD.
We see that the market is trading in a strong bullish trend.
I underlined important support and resistance levels.
The supports will provide the safest zones to buy the market from anticipating a bullish trend continuation.
Trading Time Frames
2️⃣ Trading time frames are the time frames where the positions are opened . The analysis of these time frames initiates only after the market reaches the underlined trading levels, the areas on higher time frames.
My trading time frames are 4h/1h. There I am looking for a confirmation of the strength of the structures that I spotted on higher time frames. There are multiple ways to confirm that. My confirmations are the reversal price action patterns.
Once the confirmation is spotted, the position is opened.
Analyzing the reaction of the price to Support 1 on 1H time frame on NZDCAD pair, I spotted a strong bullish confirmation - a triple bottom formation.
A long position is opened on a retest of a broken neckline.
Lower Time Frames
3️⃣ Lower time frames are 30/15 minutes charts. Even though these time frames are NOT applied for trading, occasionally they provide some extra clues . Also, these time frames can be applied by riskier traders for opening trading positions before the confirmation is spotted on trading time frames.
Before the price broke a neckline of a triple bottom formation on an hourly time frame on NZDCAD, it broke a resistance line of a symmetrical triangle formation on 15 minutes time frame. It was an earlier and riskier confirmation to buy.
Learn to apply these 3 categories of time frames in a combination. Start your analysis with the highest time frame and steadily go lower, identifying more and more clues.
You will be impressed how efficient that strategy is.
Ex. Averages interactionsHow trendlines averages interact with price, and can make(be/show) support, resistance, trends, and how crosses can signal moves.
The averages at the end, show memory of price in time, when you find something expensive or cheap over time, having the earlier prices as base for your(traders) sentiment.
After that you will have another feelings like greed or fear etc etc.
Revealing My Top Gold Trading Secrets for Huge Profits!In this video, I reveal my top trading secrets for making huge profits in gold trading (XAU/USD). This educational content will cover key technical analysis techniques and strategies that I frequently use in my charts, as well as valuable insights into trading mindset and proper risk management. Let's unlock the potential of your trading skills together!
Technical Approach:
In this educational segment, we'll focus on the core technical analysis principles that I use to make informed trading decisions. Here's a detailed breakdown of my approach:
Identifying the Trend:
Uptrends and Downtrends: Learn how to recognize market trends using higher highs and higher lows for uptrends, and lower highs and lower lows for downtrends.
Trendlines: Use trendlines to connect the highs and lows of price movements, helping to identify the direction of the trend and potential reversal points.
Support and Resistance Levels:
Support Levels: Identify areas where the price tends to find support as it falls, acting as a floor preventing further decline.
Resistance Levels: Identify areas where the price tends to find resistance as it rises, acting as a ceiling preventing further ascent.
Historical Price Action: Use past price movements to pinpoint key support and resistance levels that the market respects.
Liquidity Zones (LQZ):
Definition: Liquidity zones are areas on the chart where there is a high concentration of trading activity, often leading to significant price movements.
Identification: Learn how to spot these zones using volume profiles, order flow analysis, and historical price action.
Trading Strategy: Use liquidity zones to identify potential entry and exit points, as they often precede major price moves.
Volume Analysis:
Volume Spikes: Understand how volume spikes can indicate strong buying or selling interest, confirming the validity of price movements.
Volume Trends: Analyze volume trends to gauge the strength of a price trend and anticipate potential reversals.
Entry and Stop Loss Strategies:
Breakouts and Pullbacks: Enter trades on confirmed breakouts above resistance or below support, or on pullbacks to key levels within a trend.
Trailing Stop Loss: Implement a trailing stop loss to lock in profits as the trade moves in your favor, adjusting the stop loss level as the price progresses.
Mini Lessons: Mindset:
Patience and Discipline:
Patience: Wait for the right trading setups that meet your criteria, avoiding impulsive decisions.
Discipline: Stick to your trading plan and rules, even when the market becomes volatile or unpredictable.
Emotional Control:
Stay Calm: Keep your emotions in check to avoid making irrational decisions based on fear or greed.
Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to remain focused and calm, especially during stressful trading situations.
Proper Risk Management:
Position Sizing:
Risk Per Trade: Limit the amount of capital you risk on any single trade, typically 1-2% of your trading account.
Position Size Calculation: Calculate your position size based on the distance to your stop loss and your risk tolerance.
Risk-Reward Ratio:
Target Ratio: Aim for a risk-reward ratio of at least 2:1, meaning your potential profit should be at least twice your potential loss.
Trade Evaluation: Evaluate each trade based on its risk-reward ratio before entering, ensuring it aligns with your trading strategy.
By incorporating these technical strategies and mindset principles, you can enhance your trading performance and increase your chances of success in the gold market. Stay tuned for more educational content and trading insights!
You are (probably) using MAs wrongWhen it comes to moving averages, people tend to forget what they are. A moving average is just as the name suggests - an average of the chosen number of candles that moves (once a new candle prints). I know it seems obvious to most, but why then, when it comes to lengths we seem to be so confused about it?
When choosing the length of a MA - what do you look for? "Magical" Fibonacci Numbers? Most common length 200, because you were told that's what everyone uses?
But let's thing about it for a second. What is an EMA200, for example? It's an exponentially weighted average of the past 200 candles. So why would it be so "important"?
MA200, if you're on a 15-minute timeframe represents two hundred 15-minute candles, or, in different words - an average price of the past 50 hours.
MA200 on a 5-minute timeframe represents two-hundred 5-minute candles, which equals to about 16 and a half hours. Is there anything special about the average price of the past 16.5 hours? Of course not.
The way moving averages should be looked at, in my humble opinion is by using them to look at an average price of the past periods that actually matter. Periods like Daily, Weekly, Monthly.
If you're a scalper who trades 1-minute charts, perhaps you want to know what the average price of the past 15 minutes, 1 hour and 4 hours is.
To do that you would divide 15 by 1, giving you MA length of 15 representing the average price of the past 15 minutes.
If you're a day trader, like me, who loves trading 5 and 15-minute timeframes, I want to know the average prices of the past hour, 4 hours and Daily. Weekly and Monthly averages also give me potential targets, or potential areas of interest. Hence the length of forementioned moving averages would be 12, 48, and 288 (on a 5-minute chart) and 4, 12, and 96 (on a 15-minute chart).
I recently created an Indicator that automatically calculates these lengths based on your chosen higher timeframes of interest and your current timeframe, so you don't need to calculate these lengths yourself.
However, you can very easily do the same by making a simple calculation. How many of my current timeframe candles are in a higher timeframe that I want to know.
You can use the same method in calculating length of other things, like a RSI, for instance. Perhaps you wondered, like I did, why the period 14 is used to calculate the RSI.
Fortunately we can adjust these periods and perhaps find an edge in the market.
Hope this short post clarifies some things.
I will be publishing the Timeframe Based Moving Averages script soon.
Cheers
Cancellation of “Head-and-Shoulders” Pattern. Bears trapThe "Head-and-Shoulders" (H&S) pattern is considered a powerful trend reversal indicator. However, it can also become very costly for new traders. Yesterday, the S&P provided a great example of H&S cancellation. Traders who entered short on the break-out of the shoulders line (and Monday's low) incurred losses after the price returned to the previous day's range and rallied all the way up. Such scenarios happen more often than you might think.
To avoid being caught in such traps, it is important to consider two things:
1. Higher Level Context : In this example, the H&S pattern formed on the hourly time frame. But if we zoom out, we'll see that on the weekly chart, the price is in a strong uptrend, currently making new historical highs. This is a very bullish context, with buyers having full control over the price.
2. Price Behavior on the Break-out : Upon confirmation of a reversal pattern, you should expect sellers to jump in and drive the price down as fast as possible. It is "abnormal" to see the price returning to the previous range and gaining acceptance. This is a trigger that something is not right.
Some people will add volume analysis on the break-out, but I’m personally not a fan of it, especially for SPY.
