Election Year Cycle & Stock Market Returns - VisualisedIn this chart, we're analysing the open value of the week the US election took place and comparing it to the open of the following election, showing the gain (or loss) in value between each election cycle.
Historically we can see prices in the Dow Jones Industrials Index tend to appreciate the week the election is held. Only twice has the return between the cycles produced a negative return.
Buying stocks on election day, 8 out of 10 times has yielded a profitable return between the election cycles. 80% of the time in the past 40 years returning a profit, has so far been a good strategy to take.
The typical cycle starts with the election results, an immediate positive movement and continued growth before finishing positive.
The Outliers
2000-2004 was the only year which ended negative without prices going higher than the election day.
2004-2008 increased 41.84% before ending negative.
2008-2012 began the cycle falling 30.62% before finishing positive.
The names of presidents who won their respective elections is to visualise who had the presidential term during that specific cycle.
Strategy
Stop Losses: Protecting Your Trades and Building Consistency
Stop losses are a critical tool for any trader aiming to manage risk and protect capital. A stop loss is a preset level at which a trade will automatically close to prevent further losses if the price moves against you. This approach is one of the most effective ways to protect your account, and understanding how to set and use stop losses correctly can help you trade more confidently.
In this article, I will discuss why stop losses are essential, the types of stop losses available, and how they link to other core strategies like position sizing and maintaining consistency.
Why Every Trader Needs a Stop Loss
The primary role of a stop loss is to limit potential losses on a trade. By setting a stop loss level, you define your risk before entering the trade, which helps ensure that no single trade can damage your account significantly. This practice is fundamental to disciplined trading, where managing risk is just as important as aiming for profits. When you use stop losses, you’re able to protect your account without relying on emotions or making quick decisions based on fear or market volatility .
Using stop losses also promotes consistency, as it allows traders to follow their strategy and avoid unexpected, large losses. Knowing your risk upfront means you can execute your trades with a clear plan, focusing on opportunities rather than worrying about sudden market moves. This consistency is key to achieving long-term success in trading 🚀.
The Types of Stop Losses Every Trader Should Know
There are different types of stop losses, each suited to particular trading strategies and market conditions. Here are some of the most common types and how they work:
Fixed Dollar or Percentage Stop Loss
This is the simplest type, where you set a specific dollar amount or percentage of your capital as the maximum loss.
Example: If you’re willing to lose $100 on a trade, you place a stop loss that will close your position if the loss reaches $100.
Technical Stop Loss
A technical stop loss is set using chart levels, like support or resistance, which reflect natural points where prices may bounce or reverse.
Example: If a stock has support at $48 and you buy it at $50, you might set your stop loss just below $48. This way, if the price breaks the support level, the trade closes to prevent further loss.
Trailing Stop Loss
A trailing stop loss adjusts upward as the price moves in your favor, locking in profits if the stock reverses.
Example: If you buy a stock at $50 with a $1 trailing stop, and the price rises to $55, your stop automatically moves to $54. If the price then drops to $54, the trade closes, protecting your $4 profit.
Volatility-Based Stop Loss
This type of stop loss takes into account the stock’s usual price swings, setting the stop far enough away to avoid being triggered by minor fluctuations.
Example: If the ATR (Average True Range) of a stock is $2, you might set your stop $3 below your entry point to account for normal market movements.
Time-Based Stop Loss
A time-based stop loss closes the position after a set period, which is particularly useful for day traders who avoid holding trades overnight.
Example: A day trader might exit all trades by 4 p.m., regardless of the price movement, to avoid the risks of holding overnight positions.
How Stop Loss and Position Sizing Work Together
Stop losses and position sizing are deeply connected. Position sizing is the amount of capital you commit to each trade, and it’s based on your risk tolerance and the distance to your stop loss level. For instance, if you have a $10,000 account and want to risk only 1% per trade (or $100), you’ll need to calculate how many shares you can buy based on the distance to your stop loss.
Let’s say your stop loss is $5 away from your entry price. To stick to your $100 risk limit, you would only buy 20 shares ($100/$5 stop distance). By setting your position size relative to your stop loss, you control how much of your capital is at risk. This approach keeps your losses small enough that no single trade can impact your overall capital significantly, allowing you to trade consistently and confidently.
How Stop Losses Contribute to Consistent Trading
Stop losses are essential for maintaining consistency in trading. They allow you to avoid big losses that can drain your capital and help keep emotions in check, allowing you to trade with a clear mind. Using stop losses also helps you keep your risk-to-reward ratio in balance, so even if some trades go against you, the overall profits from successful trades will outweigh these losses.
This discipline keeps you aligned with your strategy and limits impulsive actions, which are often harmful to trading success. In this way, stop losses help establish a consistent, repeatable process that strengthens your trading foundation and increases your chances of long-term success.
I know very well the frustration of seeing my stop losses being hit, but believe me, the worst feeling is getting stuck with a large loss for weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes, stocks never recover.
7 Ways to Optimize Your Trading Strategy Like a ProYou’ve got a trading strategy—great. But if you think that’s where the work ends, think again. A good strategy is like a sports car: It’s fast, fun, and dangerous… unless you keep it tuned and under control. And given how volatile modern trading is, yesterday’s strategy can quickly become tomorrow’s account-drainer. So, how do you keep your trading strategy sharp and in profit mode? Let’s dive into seven ways to fine-tune your setup like a pro.
1️⃣ Backtest Like Your Profits Depend on It (Spoiler: They Do)
Before you let your strategy loose in the wild, backtest it against historical data. It’s not enough to say, “This looks good.” Run the numbers. Find out how it performs over different time frames, market conditions, and asset classes — stocks , crypto , forex , and more. If you’re not backtesting, you run the risk of trading blind — use the sea of charting tools and instruments around here, slap them on previous price action and see how they do.
💡 Pro Tip : Make sure to backtest with realistic conditions. Don’t cheat with perfect hindsight—markets aren’t that kind.
2️⃣ Optimize for Risk, Not Just Reward
Everyone gets starry-eyed over profits, but the best traders obsess over risk management. Adjust your strategy to keep risk in check. Ask yourself: How much are you willing to lose per trade? What’s your win-loss ratio? A strategy that promises massive returns but ignores risk is more like a ticking time bomb than a way to pull in long-term profits.
💡 Pro Tip : Use a risk-reward ratio of at least 2:1. It’s simple: risk $1 to make $2, and you’ve got a buffer against losses. Want to go big? Use 5:1 or why not even 15:1? Learn all about it in our Asymmetric Risk Reward Idea.
3️⃣ Diversify Your Strategy Across Markets
If you’re only trading one asset or market, you’re asking for trouble (sooner or later). Markets move in cycles, and your strategy might crush it in one but flop in another. Spread your strategy across different markets to smooth out the rough patches.
💡 Pro Tip : Don’t confuse this with over-trading. You’re diversifying, not chasing every pop.
4️⃣ Fine-Tune Your Time Frames
Your strategy might be solid on the 1-hour chart but struggle on the 5-minute or daily. Different time frames bring different opportunities and risks. Test your strategy across multiple time frames to see where it shines and where it stumbles.
💡 Pro Tip : Day traders? Shorten those time frames. Swing traders? Stretch ’em out. Find the sweet spot that aligns with your trading style.
5️⃣ Stay Agile with Market Conditions
No strategy is perfect for every market condition. What works in a trending market could blow up in a range-bound one. Optimize your strategy to adapt to volatility, volume, and trend shifts. Pay attention to news events , central bank meetings, and earnings reports — they can flip the script fast.
💡 Pro Tip : Learn to identify when your strategy isn’t working and take a step back. Not every day is a trading day.
6️⃣ Incorporate Multiple Indicators (But Don’t Go Overboard)
More indicators = more profits, right? Wrong. It’s easy to fall into the trap of loading up your charts with a dozen indicators until you’re drowning in lines and signals. Keep it simple — combine 3 to 5 complementary indicators that confirm your strategy’s signals, and ditch the rest.
💡 Pro Tip : Use one indicator for trend confirmation and another for entry/exit timing.
7️⃣ Keep Tweaking, But Don’t Blow Out of Proportion
Here’s the rub: There’s a fine line between optimization and over-optimization. Adjusting your strategy too much based on past data can lead to overfitting — your strategy works perfectly on historical data but crashes in live markets. Keep tweaking, but always test those tweaks in live conditions to make sure they hold up.
💡 Pro Tip : Keep a trading journal to track your tweaks. If you don’t track it, you won’t know what’s working and what’s not. Get familiar with the attributes of a successful trading plan with one of our top-performing Ideas: What’s in a Trading Plan?
💎 Bonus: Never Stop Learning
The market’s constantly changing and your strategy needs to change with it. Keep studying, keep testing, and keep learning. The moment you think you’ve mastered the market is the moment it humbles you.
Optimizing a trading strategy isn’t a one-and-done deal—it’s an ongoing process. By fine-tuning, testing, and staying flexible, you can keep your strategy sharp, profitable, and ahead of the curve. Optimize smart, trade smart!
Why WAITING on XAU Will pay BIG TIME The charts cover different timeframes of the XAU/USD (Gold/US Dollar) pair, and they reveal several key technical structures and patterns that are useful for trading analysis.
1. Flag Pattern and Breakout (5-Minute and 15-Minute Charts)
- On the 5-minute and 15-minute charts, there is a visible **flag pattern** following a strong upward move (bullish flag). This pattern typically indicates a continuation of the prevailing trend after a consolidation phase.
- The flag's lower trendline (support) and upper trendline (resistance) are marked in yellow. The price consolidated between these lines, and the breakout occurred upwards, confirming the bullish continuation. This breakout could be a potential entry point for a long position, with the stop loss below the flag's lower trendline and a target based on the flagpole's length (the initial strong upward move preceding the flag).
2. Descending Channel and Potential Reversal (1-Hour and 4-Hour Charts)
- The 1-hour and 4-hour charts display a **descending channel** (marked with yellow trendlines). The price recently touched the lower trendline and bounced back, showing signs of a potential reversal.
- If the price continues to break above the upper trendline of the descending channel, it could signal a bullish reversal, providing a possible entry for a long trade. The risk management strategy should include placing a stop loss below the recent low (or the channel's lower trendline) and targeting previous resistance levels or the channel's upper boundary.
3. Broadening Wedge Formation (4-Hour Chart)
- The broader view on the 4-hour chart shows a **broadening wedge pattern**, where the price has been making higher highs and lower lows. This pattern is generally considered a sign of increasing volatility and potential trend reversal.
- If the price breaks above the broadening wedge's upper trendline, this could further confirm a bullish reversal. Conversely, a break below the lower trendline would suggest further downside potential.
4. Support and Resistance Zones (Highlighted on All Charts)
- Several horizontal lines mark significant **support and resistance levels** around $2,507 and $2,532.144, respectively. These levels could serve as potential entry or exit points based on how the price reacts when approaching them.
- Observing how the price interacts with these levels can provide clues for future price action. For example, a sustained move above $2,507 could confirm a bullish sentiment, whereas a rejection or false breakout might suggest the continuation of the bearish trend.
Trading Strategy Recommendations:
1. Flag Pattern (Short-Term Bullish) If looking for short-term trades, consider entering a long position on a confirmed breakout of the flag pattern, with a stop loss below the flag's lower trendline. Target a move equal to the height of the flagpole added to the breakout point.
2. Descending Channel (Potential Reversal):If trading based on the descending channel, a break above the upper trendline could signal a reversal and a potential buying opportunity. In contrast, if the price rejects the upper trendline, consider shorting with a stop above the recent highs and target the lower boundary.
3. Broadening Wedge (Cautious Approach): For traders cautious about volatility, wait for a confirmed breakout from the broadening wedge to determine the trend direction. Enter long if it breaks upwards and short if it breaks downwards, setting stop losses just beyond the breakout points.
4. Support and Resistance Levels (Decision Zones): Use the marked support and resistance zones as decision points. Enter trades based on confirmation signals near these levels, and manage risk by adjusting stop-loss orders accordingly.
By combining these observations with confluence factors such as higher time frame trends, candlestick patterns, and multi-touch confirmations, you can refine your entry and exit points and enhance your trading strategy.
Volatility in Focus: A Trader's Perspective on S&P 500 Futures1. Introduction
Volatility is a critical concept for traders in any market, and the E-mini S&P 500 Futures are no exception. Traditionally, traders have relied on tools such as the Average True Range (ATR) and Historic Volatility (HV) to measure and understand market volatility. These tools provide a snapshot of how much an asset's price fluctuates over a given period, helping traders to gauge potential risk and reward.
ATR measures market volatility by analyzing the range of price movement, often over a 14-day period. It reflects the degree of price movement but doesn’t differentiate between upward or downward volatility. Historic Volatility looks at past price movements to calculate how much the price has deviated from its average. It’s a statistical measure that gives traders a sense of how volatile the market has been in the past.
While these traditional tools are invaluable, they offer a generalized view of volatility. For traders seeking a more nuanced and actionable understanding, it's essential to distinguish between upside and downside volatility—how much and how fast the market moves up or down.
This article introduces a pragmatic, trader-focused approach to measuring volatility in the E-mini S&P 500 Futures. By analyzing daily, weekly, and monthly volatility from both the upside and downside perspectives, we aim to provide insights that can better prepare traders for the real-world dynamics of the market.
2. Methodology: Volatility Calculation from a Trader’s Perspective
In this analysis, we take a more nuanced approach by separating volatility into two distinct categories: upside volatility and downside volatility. The idea is to focus on how much the market tends to move up versus how much it moves down, providing a clearer picture of potential risks and rewards.
Volatility Calculation Method:
o Daily Volatility:
Daily upside volatility is calculated as the percentage change from the prior day's close to the next day’s high, assuming the next day’s high is higher than the prior day’s close.
Daily downside volatility is the percentage change from the prior day's close to the next day’s low, assuming the next day’s low is lower than the prior day’s close.
o Weekly Volatility:
Weekly upside volatility is determined by comparing the previous Friday’s close to the highest point during the following week, assuming the market went higher than the prior Friday’s close.
Weekly downside volatility is calculated by comparing the previous Friday’s close to the lowest point during the following week, assuming the market went lower than the prior Friday’s close.
o Monthly Volatility:
Monthly upside volatility is measured by taking the percentage change from the prior month’s close to the next month’s high, assuming prices moved higher than the prior monthly close.
Monthly downside volatility is calculated by comparing the prior month’s close to the lowest point of the following month, assuming prices moved lower than the prior monthly close.
3. Volatility Analysis
The E-mini S&P 500 Futures exhibit distinct patterns when analyzed from the perspective of upside and downside volatility. By measuring the daily/weekly/monthly fluctuations using the trader-focused approach discussed earlier, we gain valuable insights into how the market behaves on a day-to-day basis.
Key Insights:
Trend Observation: The data reveals that during periods of market distress, such as financial crises or sudden economic downturns, downside volatility tends to spike significantly. This indicates a greater propensity for the market to fall rapidly compared to its upward movements.
Implication for Traders: Understanding these patterns allows traders to anticipate the potential risks and adjust their strategies accordingly. For instance, in highly volatile environments, traders might consider tightening their stop losses or hedging their positions to protect against sudden downturns.
4. Comparative Analysis: Rolling Volatility Differences
To gain deeper insights into the behavior of the E-mini S&P 500 Futures, it’s useful to compare the rolling differences between upside and downside volatility over time.
Rolling Volatility Differences Explained:
Rolling Analysis: A rolling analysis calculates the difference between upside and downside volatility over a set period, such as 252 days for daily data (approximately one trading year), 52 weeks for weekly data, or 12 months for monthly data. This method smooths out short-term fluctuations, allowing us to see more persistent trends in how the market behaves.
Volatility Difference: The volatility difference is simply the upside volatility minus the downside volatility. A positive value suggests that upside movements were more significant during the period, while a negative value indicates stronger downside movements.
Key Insights:
Trend Observation: The rolling difference analysis reveals that downside volatility generally dominates, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty or financial crises. This confirms the common belief that markets tend to fall faster than they rise.
Implication for Traders: Traders could use rolling volatility differences to anticipate changes in market conditions. A widening gap in favor of downside volatility may signal increasing risk and the potential for further declines. Conversely, a narrowing or positive rolling difference could suggest improving market sentiment and potential opportunities for long positions.
5. Volatility Trends Over Time
Understanding the frequency and conditions under which upside or downside volatility dominates can provide traders with valuable insights into market behavior. By analyzing the percentage of days, weeks, and months where upside volatility exceeds downside volatility, we can better grasp the nature of market trends over time.
Volatility Trends Explained:
Percentage of Days with Greater Upside Volatility: This metric shows the percentage of trading days within a given year where the upside volatility was higher than the downside volatility. It highlights the frequency with which the market experienced more significant upward movements compared to downward ones on a daily basis.
Percentage of Weeks with Greater Upside Volatility: Similarly, this metric calculates the percentage of weeks in a year where the upside volatility was greater than the downside. It provides a broader perspective on market trends, capturing sustained movements within weekly timeframes.
Percentage of Months with Greater Upside Volatility: This metric reflects the percentage of months in a year where upside volatility exceeded downside volatility. It is particularly useful for identifying longer-term trends and understanding the market’s behavior over extended periods.
Key Insights:
Trend Observation: Historically, again, we can see the data shows that downside volatility tends to dominate, especially during periods of market stress. However, there are years where upside volatility has been more frequent.
Implication for Traders: Traders can use these insights to adjust their strategies based on the prevailing market conditions. In years where downside volatility is more frequent, defensive strategies or hedging might be more appropriate. Conversely, in years where upside volatility dominates, traders might consider more aggressive or trend-following strategies.
6. Key Takeaways for Traders
The analysis of the E-mini S&P 500 Futures’ volatility, broken down by daily, weekly, and monthly intervals, provides crucial insights for traders. Understanding the distinct patterns of upside and downside volatility is essential for making informed trading decisions, particularly in a market that often behaves asymmetrically.
Practical Conclusions for Traders:
Risk Management: Given the dominance of downside volatility, traders should prioritize risk management strategies. This includes using stop-loss orders, protective options, and other hedging techniques to mitigate potential losses during volatile periods.
Strategic Positioning: Traders might consider adjusting their position sizes or employing defensive strategies during periods of heightened downside volatility. Conversely, when upside volatility shows signs of strengthening, more aggressive positioning or trend-following strategies could be beneficial.
Timing Entries and Exits: Understanding the patterns of volatility can help traders better time their entries and exits. For instance, entering the market during periods of lower downside volatility or after a significant downside spike can offer better risk-reward opportunities.
Adaptability: The key to successful trading in volatile markets is adaptability. Traders should remain flexible and adjust their strategies based on the prevailing market conditions, as indicated by the volatility analysis.
By incorporating these insights into their trading approach, traders can better navigate the E-mini S&P 500 Futures market, enhancing their ability to capitalize on opportunities while managing risks effectively.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
High-Impact News Trading StrategiesHigh-Impact News Trading Strategies
Trading in the dynamic world of foreign exchange demands a constant adaptation to the ever-evolving factors influencing currency markets. Among these factors, high-impact forex news stands out as a catalyst capable of reshaping market action. In this article, we explore some of the nuances of high-impact news trading, aiming to offer insights that may help manage high volatility and harness its power.
Trading High-Impact News
Understanding which news releases wield significant influence over the forex market and what market reaction can be expected is paramount for any trader.
Forex News with High Impact
High-impact news includes events like interest rate decisions, inflation rates, retail sales, consumer spending, labour market data, and nonfarm payroll reports. The impact of these events can be profound, affecting market sentiment and, thus, currency values. Traders keen on mastering this domain must comprehend the dynamics that drive market reactions to such news and position themselves accordingly. It's important to note that these news events can cause extreme volatility in either direction, creating both challenges and opportunities.
Forex News Impact Analysis
Traders analyse the potential impact of events on currency pairs, employing a combination of technical and fundamental analysis.
Fundamental Impact of Economic Data
Fundamental analysis involves evaluating the economic factors that underpin a currency's value based on the country's economic health. Traders delve into the consensus forecast, scrutinise historical data, and gauge the prevailing economic climate to gain insights into how these fundamental elements might shape market reactions.
Technical Analysis
Simultaneously, technical analysis plays a vital role in deciphering the market sentiment and potential price movements. Utilising technical analysis tools such as indicators, support and resistance levels, and trendlines, traders can identify key entry and exit points. By integrating technical analysis, traders gain a more comprehensive view of the market, potentially enhancing their ability to make informed decisions.
Forex News Trading Strategies
Considering the expected impact of economic data and utilising advanced technical analysis tools based on past forex rates performance, traders can design viable trading strategies at times of major news releases.
Retracement Trading: Unveiling Potential Reversals
Retracement trading is a strategic approach that capitalises on market pullbacks following significant movements triggered by high-impact news. Look at the example of trading on the US CPI announcement in November 2023:
- Fibonacci Retracement: Helps identify key support and resistance areas where price corrections may occur.
- Moving Averages: The 9- and 20-period MAs can be applied as a trend confirmation.
Entry
Traders identify significant Fibonacci retracement levels, typically 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, or 78.6%, and look for alignment with a bullish/bearish MA crossover to confirm entry points for a long/short position.
Stop Loss
Stop loss may be placed just below (for long positions) or above (for short positions) the identified Fibonacci retracement level to safeguard against unexpected market reversals.
Take Profit
A potential signal for a take-profit point could be an MA crossover in the opposite direction of a trade following a failed attempt of the price to break a resistance/support level that coincides with a Fibonacci extension level.
Do you already have a strategy for the upcoming high-impact forex news today? Visit FXOpen and trade on the free TickTrader forex trading platform.
Trend-Change Trading Strategy
Trading during major news releases demands a nimble and precise approach to capitalise on medium-term price fluctuations. This strategy incorporates three technical indicators simultaneously to evaluate the strength of the price movement and determine potential entry and exit points. In this approach, we utilise:
- Relative Strength Index (RSI): Identifying overbought or oversold conditions.
- Stochastic Oscillator: Gauging the strength of a price trend.
- Average True Range (ATR): Measuring market volatility, helping to settle appropriate stop-loss levels.
Entry
Following a major price move on the news event, traders could identify weakness in an uptrend/downtrend by observing the divergence of both RSI and Stochastic indicators with the price movement. A potential entry for a long/short position involves aligning bullish/bearish signals from RSI and Stochastic, such as crossing above/below oversold/overbought areas.
Stop Loss
Stop loss could be placed just below recent lows or above recent highs for long and short trades, respectively, factoring in the ATR to account for potential market volatility.
Take Profit
Traders may determine possible take-profit points by considering bearish/bullish signals from RSI and Stochastics.
Exploiting Increased Volatility
Trading during high-impact news events requires a specialised strategy that accounts for increased market volatility. A sound volatility-based approach implements specific indicators so traders may be able to capitalise on rapid forex rate deviations. The chart shows trading on Japan’s industrial production data release at the end of October 2023, and we use:
- Bollinger Bands: These help identify potential surges in volatility through band expansion.
- ATR (Average True Range): This can be used for trailing stop-loss levels
- MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence): A surge in buying or selling pressure can be reflected in MACD crossovers.
Entry
Traders would monitor Bollinger Bands for an expansion preceding news events. Price cross above/below the middle Bollinger Band after the release may signal an entry point for long/short positions. This should align with a bullish/bearish MACD crossover.
Stop Loss
Traders may place stop-loss orders just beyond recent price extremes to account for potential market reversals and limit possible losses and use the ATR indicator to calculate trailing stop-loss levels.
Take Profit
A possible take-profit level for long/short trades can be derived from a bearish/bullish reversal of the MACD indicator, or it can be set based on the expected price range derived from the ATR.
Concluding Thoughts
Trading high-impact forex news requires a mix of market analysis, risk management, and strategic execution. By understanding the dynamics of high-impact events and implementing robust trading strategies, traders may navigate the volatility inherent in these situations. Ready to trade on major economic news? You can open an FXOpen account and try out your strategies.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
HOW-TO: Cyato Bands
█ Overview
Welcome to the getting started page dedicated to my automated trading strategy Cyatophilum Bands, which is in continuous development.
The strategy principle is to identify consolidation areas, catch breakouts and ride the trend as long as possible.
█ Trade examples
Breakout from Tight Consolidation
Price consolidates within a narrow range and identifies the breakout point.
False Breakout Avoidance
Filter out noise from the market by incorporating volume, trend and range filters.
Multi-Timeframe Analysis
Set the Bands time frame higher than the current chart to perform MTF analysis.
Reversal Confirmation
In the strategy direction settings, you can choose to go long, short or both.
Profitable Trend Continuation
A cool feature the take profit has is that it gets disabled when the trend is strong and clear, allowing to play safe in a ranging market, while maximizing profits in strong trends.
█ Indicator settings
Bands Settings
The band configuration settings allow you to create any kind of band, my favorite is the Donchian channels, but you can also create Bollinger and Kelter kinds of bands.
Filter Settings
The entry is triggered by a band breakout, but only that is not enough to create a solid strategy. Adjust the consolidation area, set a volume, range and trend filter to strengthen your entry.
Stop Loss Settings
Easily create a stop loss system using %, ATR, pips or AUTO calculation modes.
Add a trailing stop using ATR or Classic modes. (more modes can be added upon request)
Take Profit Settings
Set a take profit system using also different modes and the amazing feature to disable take profit during strong trends.
Backtest Settings
Backtest quickly using the information panel. See if you beat buy and hold and ATH buy and hold, as well as other stats like daily return.
█ Backtesting results & preconfigured charts
BTC/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart : www.tradingview.com (Access Required)
ETH/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart : www.tradingview.com (Access Required)
BNB/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart: www.tradingview.com (Access Required)
SOL/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart: www.tradingview.com (Access Required)
ADA/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart: www.tradingview.com
AVAX/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart: www.tradingview.com
LINK/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart: www.tradingview.com
MATIC/USDT
Snapshot:
Chart: www.tradingview.com
IMX/USDT
Chart: www.tradingview.com
█ SCRIPT ACCESS
Indicator and automation tools access can be purchased on my website. Links in my signature below.
A Simple/Consistent Trading Strategy Using AnchorBars For AllI was talking with a friend today and he stated he just wanted something simple and consistent.
He stated he was using Weekly, Daily, and 30 Min charts to try to confirm his trade setups.
He did not want to swing for trades too often - only when the Weekly, Daily, 30 Min charts aligned.
I've build multiple systems somewhat like the one I'm showing you in this video. The trick to managing this system is to avoid consolidation periods. When price settles into an extended sideways range - you want to cut your trading down to almost NOTHING and wait for a more defined trend.
Here you go. Simple and easy.
If you don't understand AnchorBars, you can learn more on my other TradingView videos.
Go Get Some...
Ultimate Trading Strategy: Reaction to Supply and Demand Levels!🔍 Identifying Potential Buy or Sell Zones: In this step, you need to identify the zones that are likely to react and wait for the price to potentially reach them. ⏳📊
🌟 With the reaction to the first area, a buy trade is activated. 🌟
📝 Confirmations:
📉 Reaction to the expected area – Watch for a price movement hitting our anticipated zone!
🛠️ Formation of a combined hammer pattern – Look out for this powerful reversal signal!
📈 Formation of a bullish engulfing pattern – A strong indicator of upward momentum!
🔍 Trading Tips:
💡 High-risk stop-loss location:
👉 Place it below the candlestick pattern. At least twice the spread to ensure you're covered! 📏🔒
💡 Lower-risk stop-loss location:
👉 Place it below the expected area. Again, at least twice the spread for extra safety! 📏🔒
💰 Take-profit strategy:
👉 Base it on risk management mathematics, such as risk-reward ratios of 2, 4, and 6.
👉 Alternatively, observe reactions to past market areas, especially near important market highs and lows. 📊📈
🎯 Entry point strategies:
👉 Enter at the close of the confirmation candle.
👉 Or, set a limit order around 50% of the confirmation candle for a bigger volume opportunity! 📉📈
🌟 Buying in Two Phases: A Smart and Exciting Strategy! 🌟
🔹 Phase One:
When you reach a profit of twice the risk, exit the trade. Why? Because the Asian high has been hunted and the candlestick formed has a long upper shadow. 🌄💹
💡 Analysis:
The price hasn’t reached other zones yet and has risen in reaction to the first expected zone. Therefore, we expect a pullback and continued upward movement. 💪📈 So, I’ll place a second buy trade. 🚀💵
🔍 Confirmations for the Second Buy Trade:
A double bottom has formed, marked with an X. ❌❌
A small hammer candlestick has swept the double bottom. 🔨
A long positive shadow candlestick has swept the bottom and reacted to a small order block on the left. 🌟
💡 Tips for the Second Buy Trade:
Enter at the close of the long-shadowed doji candlestick or place a stop limit order above the long-shadowed doji candlestick. 📉📈
The stop loss should be below this candlestick. 📏🔒
🔹 Phase Two:
Next, the price has reached an expected reaction zone from where we expected a price drop. 🌐💡
🔍 Confirmations for the Sell Trade:
Reaction to the expected zone. 🔍
An inverse hammer candlestick reacting to the zone. 🔨
💡 Tips for the Sell Trade:
The entry point should be in a candlestick with a negative signal indicating a price drop. This hammer candlestick can indicate a decline. 📉🔻
The target can be a reward of 2 or the last price bottom. 🎯💰
The stop loss should preferably be behind the expected zone. 📏🔒
🔥 Important Points!!:
Since the price hasn’t deeply penetrated the zones, there’s a chance it might go higher or even mitigate this zone twice, ultimately turning it into a pullback for a further price rise. 🚀📈
Continuing on, the price reached the upper zone area.
We expected a price drop from this zone, but it reached at 03:15,
which is outside our trading session. However, we could have traded on it.
🔍 Sell Confirmations:
The price has reached the expected zone.
An inverse hammer candlestick pattern.
💡 Interesting Fact:
If you had placed a limit order around the midpoint of the previous two zones,
you would have profited by now. So, for this zone, you can also place
a limit order around 50% of it.
Continuing further, other zones have formed below that could be useful
for new trades.
✨ Successful Sell Trade Achieved, Reaching a Reward of 4 Times the Risk.
📉 During the session continuation, the trend line was broken, triggering an upward price pullback.
🔹 Now, at the beginning of the session, we have a new zone, likely a selling order placement area. We're taking the risk on this zone. This time, we can place the trade around 50% of it. 🚀💼
🔥 Alright, what's your take now? 🔥
🌟 Is the price reacting to this level or not? 🌟
🚀📈 or 📉💥
Where are the upper zones located?
What do you think? 🤔💬
Paper Trading Challenge: Which Strategy Did the Best, Winner is The winner has now been decided! In this thrilling paper trading battle, we put four powerful trading strategies to the test: Harmonics Trading Strategy, Sentiment Trading Strategy, RSAI Blueprint Strategy, and Market Structure Strategy.
Throughout this episode, we:
Explained the fundamentals of each strategy.
Demonstrated real-time application of each trading approach.
Tracked and analyzed trades executed by each strategy.
Compared performance metrics including win/loss ratio, average return, and overall profitability.
Whether you're a seasoned trader or just starting out, this video offers valuable insights into the practical application of these popular trading techniques. Watch till the end to see which strategy emerges victorious and to learn tips and tricks you can incorporate into your own trading practice.
🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more trading strategy battles and tutorials!
Top 3 Tips on How to Avoid FOMO Trading (Fear of Missing Out)Here you are, casually sipping your coffee and watching the clock go by while you wait for the market to open so you can buy a few shares of your new stock pick. Remember, you chose that one after deep research and careful planning.
And then “ WHAM! ” Twitter notifications start flying. GameStop (ticker: GME ) is once again rocketing to the moon after some livestream on YouTube unleashes a huge buying spree. “MUST. GET. IN.” — you, probably, after you get your emotions shaken and stirred by something called FOMO.
🔔 What’s FOMO?
FOMO is an abbreviation for Fear Of Missing Out. This little four-word phrase can throw your investment rationale, thesis and analysis out the window so it could settle in your prefrontal cortex where your brain goes to make life decisions.
In this blog, we’ll talk about that little gremlin FOMO and what steps you can take to prevent it from overriding your emotions and decisions. And for the sake of your time, we’ll keep it short. Let’s go.
💡 Tip 1: Plan Your Trade
Plan your trade in advance and don’t sink into the moment. Knowing your entry, take profit and stop loss before you move into your position will eliminate the urge to rush in when things get hot.
🔴 Problem: News Releases, Earnings Reports
We all know how intense markets can get when there are news reports coming out. Company data such as earnings reports or some of America's top economic events , such as the widely anticipated nonfarm payrolls , or the Federal Reserve’s market-moving interest rate decisions can spur volatility and cause trading instruments to seesaw and fluctuate in both directions. And because these events are well-known in advance — the Fed only meets eight times a year — these moments can be an attractive invitation to make a profit.
🟢 Solution:
Plan your trade and understand that news reports and earnings releases are a double-edge sword and even if the data supports a certain narrative, i.e. lower inflation = higher gold prices, this isn’t always the case. Take a step back, regulate your breathing and keep your emotions in check. Wait it out until the noise tones down.
💡 Tip 2: Avoid Revenge Trading
Revenge trading is the trading you do when you want to get back at the market after getting smacked in the face with a loss. Next time you stare at a losing position, notice if you feel the urge to jump right back in and make up what you lost. That's revenge trading.
🔴 Problem: Losses and Missed Opportunities
Taking a beating from Mr. Market can be a painful experience. Yet, not taking the loss the right way can lead to even more pain and wiped out funds. Whenever you’re staring at a losing position, you might be tempted to sell out and jump right back in an effort to make back what you lost.
🟢 Solution:
Avoid revenge trading. Recognize that pesky feeling, which — whenever you lose money on a trade — makes you want to pare back your losses with one quick trade. That quick trade could be a) more aggressive (for more potential profit), and b) cost you even more money because you’ve been impatient.
💡 Tip 3: Don’t Chase the Pump
Any pump usually has a strong pull, because it makes gains look easy. All you need to do is catch the speed train (or get onboard the rocket ship) and, boom, you're in profit. Although, it's not as easy as it looks.
🔴 Problem: Pump and Dump Schemes
Quite often we see some little-known stock or a cryptocurrency with a small market capitalization perform some outstanding moves. It may shoot higher by 100% or more and that may trigger some FOMO in you, causing you to panic-buy and then watch your investment evaporate like snow in water.
🟢 Solution:
Don’t chase the pump. It’s simple. A pump can play with your decision-making capabilities and cause you to make irrational choices out of the desire to join the volatility train. But many of those pumps end up as dumps. Pump and dump schemes are real — the gains go as quickly as they came and you don’t want any of that.
Final Considerations
Forming a deep emotional connection with the market isn’t a bad thing. This place is your passion and you’ve chosen to participate in it, together with its ups and down. What you should pay attention to is how you react to its changing moods and whether you behave logically or illogically to get what you want.
Acting illogically can lead you to trip up so you want to distinguish that. Use your emotions to get rational inspiration and excitement about what you want to accomplish.
📣 Your Turn!
Have you ever tripped up over a FOMO trade that hurt your account? What was your trigger and subsequent result? Let us know in the comment section below!
Exploring Auction Market Theory in Forex TradingAuction Market Theory (AMT) is a conceptual framework used to understand the dynamics of financial markets, viewing them as auctions where buyers and sellers interact to determine prices.
Although the AMT was initially developed to understand & analyse price action movements in the stock market, some of its core concepts can also be applied to any market, including forex.
Within the forex market, currency pairs are traded 24/5, with price driven by a multitude of factors such as economic data releases, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. Despite this complexity, AMT provides a framework for understanding market dynamics through the concepts of value, balance, and imbalances .
Value represents the equilibrium price at which buyers and sellers agree on the fair value of an asset. Market balance occurs when supply and demand are roughly equal, resulting in stable price ranges, while imbalances arise from deviations from this equilibrium due to shifts in market sentiment or unexpected events. These imbalances can create trading opportunities for astute traders who can identify them and act accordingly.
Lets now take a look into how this can be visually identified on a line chart using only price action.
Example 1
On the left, we can see an area of market balance. This is usually evident when the market is range bound as we can see in this case.
The midpoint of the range is the point of equilibrium. Value can be interpreted as the equilibrium price at which buyers and sellers agree on the fair value of a currency pair.
This equilibrium is constantly shifting as new information becomes available and market participants reassess their expectations.
When these expectations shift as a result of either economic data releases, geopolitical events, and/or market sentiment, price shifts away from the balanced price range and creates an imbalance within the market.
Identifying value areas are important because these can act as an area of future support/resistance for price. Notice how in this example, after price displaces from the balanced range, it later came back and found support near the fair value within that range.
Practical Application
One practical application of AMT in forex trading is through the analysis of price action and market profile. By observing how price behaves at different levels and how volume interacts with price movements, you can gain insights into market sentiment and potential areas of support and resistance.
For example, if a currency pair consistently fails to break above a certain resistance level despite multiple attempts, it may indicate strong selling pressure at that level, presenting an opportunity for short trades. Conversely, if a currency pair finds strong support at a particular price level, traders may look for buying opportunities as the market reverts to equilibrium.
To conclude, Auction Market Theory offers a valuable framework for understanding the dynamics of the forex market. By analysing price action, volume, and market profile through the lens of AMT, you can gain a deeper understanding of market sentiment and identify potential trading opportunities. While no theory can guarantee success in trading, incorporating Auction Market Theory into your analysis can help you make more informed trading decisions.
Please leave a comment if you've found this post helpful or if you have any questions.
Happy Trading
DCA - is for those who do not like to be nervousIn the fast-paced and often volatile world of cryptocurrency, finding best investment strategy can be a daunting task. While many traders seek quick gains through active trading, a more prudent and less stressful approach exists: Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA).
What is DCA?
DCA is an investment strategy that involves investing a fixed amount of money into a particular asset at regular intervals, regardless of the asset's price. This approach aims to reduce the impact of market volatility on investment returns by averaging out the purchase price over time.
Why is DCA the Sleep-Well Strategy?
DCA offers several advantages that make it an ideal strategy for investors seeking long-term growth and peace of mind:
Emotional Discipline: DCA eliminates the emotional decision-making that often plagues traders. By investing consistently, regardless of price fluctuations, you avoid the urge to buy high and sell low.
Reduced Risk: DCA averages out the purchase price, reducing the overall impact of market volatility. You may buy some coins at higher prices, but you'll also benefit from lower prices, evening out your investment cost.
Long-Term Focus: DCA encourages a long-term investment mindset, discouraging impulsive decisions based on short-term price movements. It's about building wealth gradually and consistently over time.
DCA vs. Trading:
DCA stands in stark contrast to active trading, which involves buying and selling assets frequently to capitalize on short-term price movements. While active trading may appeal to experienced traders with high-risk tolerance, it often leads to emotional decision-making and can be time-consuming and stressful.
DCA: A Proven Strategy with Remarkable Returns
To illustrate the effectiveness of DCA, let's examine the returns of some prominent cryptocurrencies over the past few years, assuming a monthly DCA investment of $100:
Bitcoin (BTC): Investing $100 monthly in BTC since January 2019 would have yielded a staggering 112% return, with a total investment of $12,000 growing to $25,440.
Ethereum (ETH): A DCA approach for ETH since January 2019 would have resulted in an impressive 770% return.
Solana (SOL): DCA into SOL since January 2021 would have generated a remarkable 304% return
Fetch.ai (FET): Investing $100 monthly in FET since January 2019 would have yielded an exceptional 776% return
Understanding the Coins: Technology and Applications
Bitcoin (BTC): The world's first and most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that enables peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries.
Ethereum (ETH): A decentralized blockchain platform, Ethereum supports a wide range of applications, including smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Solana (SOL): A high-performance blockchain known for its scalability and speed, Solana aims to provide a faster and more efficient alternative to Ethereum.
Fetch.ai (FET): An AI-powered decentralized platform, Fetch.ai facilitates the development of autonomous agents for various applications, including open marketplaces and data monetization.
Conclusion:
DCA is a powerful investment strategy that allows individuals to build wealth in cryptocurrency while minimizing risk and emotional stress. By consistently investing fixed amounts, regardless of market fluctuations, DCA investors can reap significant rewards over the long term. Embrace DCA, sleep well, and let your investments grow steadily towards a brighter financial future.
GOLD MACD StrategyRules for engagement:
- Price must be below the 200SMA
- MACD must cross above the 0 line (higher the better)
- Price must then cross over short term SMAs (5&8)
- Stops at previous high
- Take Profits at the target low
Here we saw price break down to create a new lower low and sweeping previous support. Price on the daily has broken below the 21 moving average and price is close to crossing the 200 moving average on the 4hr chart.
Using the FIB we can set an expected target entry zone between the 382 and 618 zones which also aligns with previous support which could turn to resistance. We see price stall here and we look for entries short.
two entries identified using the above rules with a 130SL and a 400+TP.
What's in a Trading Plan? Here's All You Need to Include.Ready, set… plan? In this guide, we discuss why you need to plan your trading before trading your plan. Let’s roll.
Table of Contents:
»Importance of a Trading Plan
»The Successful Trading Plan Doesn't Exi...
»What's in a Typical Trading Day?
»Markets, Strategies and Styles
»Summary
Venturing into trading without a plan is akin to setting sail on the ocean without a compass. Or taking the leap without looking first 😉. We can keep the metaphors rolling but if there’s one thing you must remember from this word salad of an article, it’s this: success in trading is possible with a plan. Without a plan, not so much.
In this guide, we'll talk about the importance of creating a trading plan, what you should include in it, and how to follow it.
📍 Importance of a Trading Plan
A trading plan is not just a list of dos and don’ts; it's the roadmap to trading success. Here's why it matters:
➡️ Streamlines Your Actions : Much like a roadmap, a trading plan outlines your objectives, time frames, strategies, and risk management techniques, and offers a clear path forward.
➡️ Limits Emotional Swings : By defining rules and parameters in advance, a trading plan helps to keep emotions in check, limiting impulsive actions that could lead to financial pitfalls.
➡️ Fosters Discipline : Sticking to a plan holds you accountable for your actions and allows you to see where you jump out of your rule book and into undisciplined FOMO-driven pump-chasing revenge trading.
📍 The Successful Trading Plan Doesn't Exi...
Many traders believe that you can be successful by buying and selling random selections of stocks, forex pairs, or commodities. However, the reality is that the most — if not all — successful traders have one thing in common: a well-defined trading plan. Here's what makes for a successful trading plan:
☝🏽 Adaptability : A successful trading plan is not rigid but flexible, allowing for adjustments in response to changing market conditions.
☝🏽 Consistency : A plan helps you stay on track toward your goals as a trader, allowing you to stick to predefined rules and strategies, especially when things get hot and volatile.
☝🏽 Continuous Improvement : A successful trading plan is a work in progress. The more time you use it, the higher probability you will have to refine it as you drift along diverse assets, all swayed by different factors.
📍 What's in a Typical Trading Day?
A typical trading day is a blend of preparation, execution, and reflection. And while you should leave room for new ideas, fresh approaches, and some surprises, there are mainstay components that you need to have in your trading plan.
📰 Reading the News : Staying in the know is always a good idea. For many successful traders, the first thing to do is check what’s the latest on the news front. Known as fundamental analysis, reading the news and doing your research will help you get a sense of investor sentiment.
Moreover, you can stay ahead of the curve and anticipate big market moves by following the economic calendar. Lots of those sharp swings you see in forex or stocks are caused by regular data dumps such as the monthly US nonfarm payrolls report. The Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates or the monthly Consumer Price Index are also keys to anticipating volatility.
And what better place to follow all that’s moving markets than the TradingView News section ?
📈 Following the Charts : if you’re here, this one won’t be too new to you. Chart reading, known as technical analysis, is one of the oldest ways to analyze anything — from stocks to crypto and even frozen orange juice.
Think of a chart as your trading canvas. It’s your space to be creative, draft ideas, look for technical patterns and formations, and anticipate potential moves. Observing the chart and watching how prices behave will help you spot where a trend may form, extend, or reverse.
Some of the most popular technical formations include double tops and bottoms, head and shoulders, cup and handle, and more. And some of the most popular technical indicators include the Simple Moving Average (SMA), the Relative Strength Index (RSI), and the Fibonacci sequence.
All of that, and much more, is readily available for you almost anywhere you click on the TradingView platform.
⚒️ Work on Your Skills : Trading doesn’t have to glue you to the screen in constant monitoring of every blip. If you don’t see anything to trade, don’t trade just for the sake of it. Sometimes the best trading position is no position at all.
Instead, use some of your idle time to build out your knowledge base. Grab some books on technical analysis or trading psychology. Or watch interviews of successful traders and investors and gain that educational edge to help you become a more aware, informed, and confident trader.
🏖️ Take a Break : Not everything you do needs to be related to productivity gains and trading improvement. Stare into space or read a great novel. Take your mind off trading and unwind, let the steam off, and recharge your batteries.
Go out, enjoy a walk or do some people-watching. Taking time to zone out every now and then will help you get back to trading sharper, smarter, and more balanced.
📍 Markets, Strategies and Styles
The world of trading is as diverse as it is dynamic, offering a flurry of markets, strategies, and trading styles to explore. Here's a glimpse into the landscape:
💹 Markets : Traders can choose from a variety of financial markets, including stocks , forex , and cryptocurrencies , each with its unique characteristics and opportunities.
When you set out to create your trading plan, think carefully whether you want your portfolio to be concentrated into any one market or asset class. Or maybe you’d like to go for a diverse approach to trading and pull in assets from several markets.
Knowing what your asset preference is will help you phase out markets so they don’t distract you.
🎯 Strategies : From technical analysis to fundamental analysis, you can adopt various strategies to identify trading opportunities and manage risk, ranging from trend following to mean reversion.
News trading is a popular approach to markets as it allows you to bet on economic reports, geopolitical events, central bank updates, and more. On the other hand, technical traders tend to stick to the chart in efforts to gauge price movements and trends. Every chart tells a story. Deciphering it is the tough part.
🌈 Styles : Trading styles are equally important and they’re all tied to a specific time frame of holding your positions. If you’re more into short-term trading, you may pick scalping and target a few pips of gains before jumping out of your trade.
Day trading and swing trading are two popular time-sensitive trading strategies that you may want to explore when building out your trading plan.
📍 Summary
Your trading plan should be exactly that — yours. Tailor it to your specific goals, risk orientation, asset preference, and find out how it stacks up against market conditions.
That way, you can navigate the markets with confidence and direction, instead of letting markets sway your decision making and lead you into uncharted waters. Embark on your trading journey armed with a well-crafted plan, and let it be your roadmap to trading success.
📣With that said, let us know in the comments: do you have a trading plan? What’s the most important element of it and are you always sticking to it?
Strategy: Butterfly Continuation Failure. This strategy is intended to be a method to help to differentiate a pullback from reversal.
Here we're using the butterfly pattern which is a continuation pattern, but the failure of this continuation pattern can mean the failure of the trend.
It's a very useful signal that can be used on all time frames. You can find great examples of this before crashes (Such as 2007 - 2008) and also near the lows of major downtrends.
The strategy also works great for day trading. Spotting the breaking of intraday trends.
Usually upon the breaking of this pattern the momentum picks up.
Meaning a bearish break leads to capitulation and bullish break leads to parabolic move.
Very useful for spotting reversals and a method for trailing stop losses.
----
This is a counter strategy to the butterfly continuation.
Strategy: Butterfly Correction Pattern. The butterfly can appear as a corrective pattern in a trend.
When it does, it's a two leg correction. The second leg is a false breakout of the first.
Being a harmonic, the final leg (D leg) is always the strongest.
When the butterfly serves as a corrective pattern, strong follow through can come.
In the times this works, we usually see the next swing extend 2.20 of the full range of the two leg correction (B-D legs).
Strategy: The Butterfly Reversal. Harmonics are a very useful tool for gaining insight into possible reversal levels after strong trends.
"M" shapes are often found at the bottom of trends and "W" shapes at the top. Most often these fit into the rules of the butterfly reversal.
A defining characteristic of the butterfly is the final leg (D leg) is always a very strong leg.
It's a strong and scary false breakout. Comes out of a range and always tends to look like trend continuation.
In the times the butterfly reversal will work, the strong move is terminal.
It'll run just far enough to take out the stops and bring in breakout traders and then have a spectacular reversal.
Another trait of harmonics is the reversal is at least as strong as the move heading into it, often stronger.
Since they have as a defining feature very strong swings at different points, when we have large chart harmonics these are often also accompanied by news that drives the fast moves.
In the times they work, harmonics are one of the most accurate forms of forward looking signals for a reversal.
However, it should be noted that trading harmonics as a sole strategy against a trend is not expected to have a winning outcome.
Typically you'd expected to hit about 1/3 winners on 1:3 RR and come out around even. That's if you do it really well. Otherwise, it's a losing game.
Lots of "M" shapes form in a downtrend and lots of "W" shapes form in an uptrend.
The formation of these does not always mean reversal, but when there are reversals; you often see these structures signalling them.
Harmonic butterflies are a classic false breakout / stop hunt pattern and very useful to know about.
Strategy: The 1.61 Head Fake Strategy. The 1.61 head fake strategy is intended to give early signals of where a high/low might be and be an early tell on the potential turn of the trend.
This strategy can be used for both pullbacks and reversals.
When traded as a correction, this strategy usually is successful in the forecasting and trading of the end of Elliot wave 5 heading into the ABC.
Absolute highs and lows can also be made with this 1.61 head fake.
Breaking of the 2.20 fib triggers failure of this strategy.
Strategy: 76 Correction Trend Continuation. The 76 correction strategy aims to pick up optimal continuation trades into large retracements.
It's a trend following strategy that aims to enter into strong counter trend moves to a 76% retracement of the previous trend leg.
This strategy usually performs best when combined with Elliot wave. Waiting for there to be a full impulsive leg in 5 waves followed by a big ABC correction.
The strategy aims to pick up trades into the "C" point in such a correction.
With a default minimum risk:reward of 1:3 the strategy is expected to breakeven on win rates of 35% or higher.
STOP LOSS more important than you think!Set STOP-LOSS and stop your loss!
The Vital Role of Stop-Loss in Forex and Crypto Trading
In the fast-paced realms of forex and cryptocurrency trading, where market volatility is the norm, the integration of a stop-loss strategy holds paramount importance. A stop-loss order acts as a critical risk management tool, shielding traders from excessive losses and preventing impulsive decision-making in turbulent market conditions. However, its significance goes beyond risk mitigation; stop-loss orders also play a pivotal role in guiding traders towards selecting optimal entry points. Let's delve into why incorporating stop-loss orders into your trading approach is essential for achieving long-term success.
Fostering Discipline and Psychological Resilience
One of the primary rationales for the necessity of stop-loss lies in its capacity to nurture discipline and psychological resilience among traders. By establishing predetermined exit points, traders not only manage risk effectively but also cultivate a disciplined mindset crucial for navigating the complexities of financial markets. Adhering to stop-loss levels compels traders to conduct thorough analyses of entry points, thereby refining their decision-making processes. This disciplined approach not only mitigates the influence of emotional trading but also fosters rationality and consistency, pivotal attributes for sustainable trading success.
Empowering Effective Risk Management Practices
Effective risk management forms the bedrock of successful trading endeavors. Without the implementation of stop-loss mechanisms, traders expose themselves to the peril of unchecked losses, which could potentially erode their entire trading capital. Stop-loss orders serve as a bulwark against such scenarios, capping losses at predetermined levels. By calculating appropriate position sizes relative to stop-loss distances, traders ensure that each trade aligns with their risk tolerance and overarching trading strategy. Moreover, the process of setting stop-loss levels inherently prompts traders to meticulously assess entry points, reinforcing the importance of selecting optimal trade setups.
Optimizing Risk-Reward Dynamics
An often-overlooked aspect by novice traders is the critical importance of maintaining favorable risk-to-reward ratios. Trading without stop-loss not only compromises risk management but also distorts the risk-reward dynamics of each trade. Well-placed stop-loss orders enable traders to define risk upfront, enabling them to seek out trades with favorable risk-reward profiles. By aligning potential losses with anticipated gains, traders can pursue asymmetric returns, where profit potential outweighs risk undertaken. This strategic alignment not only enhances profitability but also instills confidence in traders, empowering them to execute trades with conviction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the integration of stop-loss orders into your forex and crypto trading endeavors is indispensable for cultivating discipline, managing risk effectively, and optimizing profitability. Beyond serving as a risk management tool, stop-loss orders nurture psychological resilience, refine decision-making processes, and uphold the principles of disciplined trading. Moreover, stop-loss implementation inherently encourages traders to scrutinize entry points meticulously, reinforcing the importance of selecting optimal trade setups. Therefore, traders must recognize the pivotal role of stop-loss in safeguarding capital and fostering long-term success in the dynamic world of financial markets.
10 EMA strategy ^BEST TREND-FOLLOWING STRATEGY^Welcome! Today, I'm excited to share with you one of the most effective trend-following strategies that is adaptable to any timeframe and asset class ( OANDA:XAUUSD , NSE:NIFTY , FX:USDCHF ), boasting a remarkable risk/reward ratio of up to 1:10. Let's dive right in.
As mentioned, this strategy revolves around the Exponential Moving Average (EMA), specifically the 10-period EMA. For those unfamiliar, the EMA places greater emphasis on recent price data compared to a Simple Moving Average (SMA), providing a dynamic view of market trends.
When the price on your chart is above the 10 EMA, it signifies a bullish trend; conversely, when the 10 EMA is above the price, it indicates a bearish trend. Let's illustrate with an example:
Imagine a bullish trend with four consecutive green candles followed by a red candle. Our entry point occurs when this red candle, the trigger candle, fails to touch the 10 EMA. Subsequently, when a green candle crosses above the high of the trigger candle, we enter the trade. Setting our stop loss (SL) just below the EMA line beneath the trigger candle, we establish our take profit (TP) based on a risk/reward ratio, starting at 1:2 and potentially reaching an impressive 1:10.
Trailing the 10 EMA line allows us to stay in the trade longer, albeit experiencing initial stop-loss hits. However, perseverance reveals the strategy's efficacy over time.
Now, for short positions, such as during a downtrend characterized by three red candles followed by a green candle, our entry occurs when the low of the green candle is breached by the subsequent red candle. Setting the SL just above the EMA line above the trigger candle and TP based on the risk/reward ratio, we execute the trade.
For those interested in trailing stops, there are two options: firstly, trailing along the 10 EMA line; secondly, utilizing the Average True Range (ATR) for algorithmic trading enthusiasts.
With this strategy's flexibility and potential for significant returns, it offers traders a robust approach to navigating diverse market conditions.
***Here are 2 examples of Long & Short: Long position in BINANCE:SOLUSDT
www.tradingview.com
Short in FOREXCOM:EURCAD
It's crucial not only to grasp the concept of this strategy but also to put it into practice. 💼 Start by implementing it with small capital or utilize paper trading, which platforms like TradingView offer. 📝 Additionally, don't hesitate to experiment. For instance, try using an 11-period EMA and assess its effectiveness. You might find that it better suits your trading style and objectives. 🧪💡 Remember, trading is a journey of discovery! 🚀 Don't be afraid to explore new strategies and techniques along the way.
🌟 Like (boost), follow, comment, and share this strategy to spread the knowledge and empower fellow traders! 📈🚀👍
For the optimal TradingView experience, upgrade now to unlock the platform's full potential:
www.tradingview.com
How to Use Stop Loss Orders in Trading?Stop loss order is the order that automatically closes your trade once it reaches a specified price target. Learn all about it here.
Table of Contents:
🔹What Is a Stop Loss Order?
🔹Why Stop Loss Orders Matter?
🔹Setting Stop Loss Levels
🔹Types of Stop Loss Orders
🔹Adjusting Your Stop Loss Orders
🔹Summary
In trading, reducing risks is oftentimes all that matters to achieving success. One of the essential tools to protect your investments from steep or unexpected losses is the stop loss order. Understanding how to use stop loss orders can unlock your path to profitability by allowing you to balance your risk and reward ratio. In other words, with the right stop loss setup, you can shoot for asymmetrical risk returns by keeping your drawdown small and letting your profits run.
Let’s dive into the exciting world of trading and see how stop loss orders can be your greatest ally in trading.
📍 What Is a Stop Loss Order?
A stop loss order is an essential risk management tool used by traders to limit potential losses on a trade. By using a stop loss order, you instruct your broker to automatically sell the asset you’re holding when it reaches a predetermined price level that is below your purchase price, or entry.
A stop loss order allows you to control your losses and protect your investments so you don’t have to sit glued to the screen all the time.
📍 Why Stop Loss Orders Matter
Stop loss orders play a big role in risk management. These easy-to-set trading tools help traders stick to predefined risk tolerance levels by limiting the amount of money they are willing to lose on any given trade.
Without a stop loss order in place, traders may give in to emotional decision-making during periods of market volatility, leading to potential losses. If you have a hard time cutting your losses If you have a hard time cutting your losses when —ok, we get it, you're a bigshot— IF positions go against you, setting a stop loss when you enter the market will do the hard work for you.
➡️ Risk Management: One of the primary reasons stop loss orders are essential is because they help traders manage risk effectively. This is crucial in volatile markets where prices can fluctuate rapidly, as it prevents significant losses that could otherwise occur if trades were left unattended.
➡️ Emotional Control: Trading can evoke strong emotions such as fear and greed, which can lead to irrational decision-making. Without a stop loss order in place, traders may be tempted to hold onto losing positions in the hope that the market will reverse in their favor.
➡️ Peace of Mind: Knowing that there is a safety net in place can provide traders with peace of mind. Stop loss orders allow you to do your thing in the market without obsessively watching charts and tickers. Set your stop loss orders and focus on other aspects of your market study like catching up on the latest market-moving news and analysis .
➡️ Preventing Catastrophic Losses: In extreme market conditions, prices can experience sudden and significant declines. Without stop loss orders, traders risk experiencing catastrophic losses that could wipe out a significant portion of their capital.
➡️ Enforcing Discipline: Successful trading requires discipline and adherence to a well-defined trading plan. Stop loss orders help enforce discipline by striving to ensure that traders stick to their predetermined risk management rules. If trading is about discipline and consistency, then stop loss orders are the stepping stone to success.
📍 Setting Stop Loss Levels
Choosing the appropriate stop loss level is a critical aspect of using stop loss orders effectively. Traders should consider various factors, including their risk tolerance, investment objectives, market conditions, and the volatility of the asset being traded.
A common approach is to set the stop loss below a significant support level or a recent low in an uptrend (if you have a long position) and above a significant resistance level or a recent high in a downtrend (if you have a short position).
Example: Suppose you purchase shares of a company called X (not Elon Musk’s privately held X Corp., which he created by rebranding Twitter) at $50 per share. You estimate that a 5% decline in the stock price would indicate a potential trend reversal. Therefore, you set your stop loss order at $47.50 per share to limit your potential loss to 5% of your investment.
📍 Types of Stop Loss Orders
There are several types of stop loss orders that traders can utilize, each with its own special characteristics. The most common types include:
➡️ Market Stop Loss: a type of stop loss order that triggers a market order to sell the instrument at the prevailing market price once the stop loss level is reached.
➡️ Stop Limit: with a stop limit order, you have to deal with two types of prices. The first one is the price that will trigger a sell and the limit price. But instead of converting your order into a sell based on current market prices, you set a limit price.
➡️ Trailing Stop Loss: A trailing stop loss order is dynamically adjusted based on the movement of the instrument’s price. It allows traders to lock in profits while giving the trade room to move in their favor.
Example: You purchase shares of a big tech company at $100 per share, and the stock price then rises to $120 per share. You set a trailing stop loss order with a 10% trail. If the stock price declines by 10% from its peak, the trailing stop loss order will trigger, selling the shares at prevailing market prices.
📍 Adjusting Stop Loss Orders
While setting stop loss orders is essential, monitoring and adjusting them as market conditions evolve is equally important. Traders should regularly reassess their stop loss levels to account for changes in volatility, price action, and overall market sentiment. Additionally, as profits accumulate, trailing stop loss orders should be adjusted to protect gains and minimize potential losses.
📍 Summary
In conclusion, stop loss orders are one of the most essential and effective tools for traders seeking to manage risk and preserve and grow capital in the challenging world of trading. By understanding how to use stop loss orders effectively, you can rein in emotional decision-making, protect your investments, and increase your chances of long-term success.
Whether you're a novice or an experienced trader, integrating stop loss orders into your trading strategy is a smart approach to navigate the twists and turns of the financial markets. Remember, trading involves inherent risks, but with proper risk management techniques like stop loss orders, you can tilt the odds of success in your favor.
❓Do you use stop loss orders when trading? Which type ? Let us know in the comments ⬇️