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Revenge Trading vs. Roaring Comeback: How to Tell the Difference“I’m going to get even with the market and I’m going to get even today!” We’ve all been there. You take a loss—maybe a small one, maybe an account-crushing one—and something inside you snaps. Logic leaves the chat, and a new trader takes over: the vengeful, angry version of you who’s out to "get back" at the market. Welcome to the world of revenge trading, where decisions are fueled by frustration, and the market does what it always does: punishes impatient and emotional traders. But what if there’s a better way? What if instead of spiraling into self-destruction, you could channel that energy into a thoughtful and strategic comeback? That’s the difference between revenge trading and a true trader’s rebound. Grab your hot coffee and let’s talk about it. 💥 Revenge Trading: The Fastest Way to Financial Self-Sabotage Revenge trading isn’t a trading strategy—it’s an emotional response masquerading as a quick-witted reaction. The thought process goes like this: "I just lost money. I need to make it back—fast." So you double down, size up, stretch out the leverage ratio and ignore your usual risk management rules. Maybe you trade assets you don’t even understand because the price looks juicy. Maybe you jump into a leveraged position without a stop loss because, hey, you’re in it to win it. What could go wrong? Everything. Everything can go wrong. Revenge trading is the financial equivalent of trying to punch the ocean. The market doesn’t care that you’re mad. It doesn’t owe you a winning trade. And when you start making impulsive decisions, the only thing that may get hurt is your trading mindset. 📢 Signs You’re Revenge Trading You’re taking trades you wouldn’t normally take. You’re increasing position sizes irrationally. You’re ditching risk management (stop losses, position sizing, logic, etc.). You feel desperate to "make it back"—right now. You’re ignoring your trading plan, assuming you had one to begin with. Recognizing these signs is the first step to stopping the cycle. But avoiding revenge trading is only half of the battle—you need to know how to stage a real comeback. 🦁 Staging the Roaring Comeback A roaring comeback isn’t about making back your losses in one dramatic trade. It’s about recalibrating, reassessing, and regaining control. Here’s how traders who actually recover from losses do it: 📌 Recognize the Signs Early If your heart rate spikes and your fingers are itching to “fix” a bad trade immediately, stop. That’s not a setup. That’s an emotional reaction. 📌 Set Daily Loss Limits If you hit your max loss for the day, you’re done. No exceptions. Your best decision at that point is to fight another day with a clear head. 📌 Step Away from the Screens Revenge trading thrives on impulsivity, and the best way to kill that impulse is to take a break. Go outside. Breathe. The market isn’t going anywhere. Now touch that grass. 📌 Post-Loss Review: What Actually Happened? Was the loss due to a bad strategy, poor execution, or just market randomness? Pull up your trading journal ( you do keep one, right ?) and break it down. 📌 Reaffirm Your Strategy (Tweak if Necessary) If your loss came from a solid trade setup that just didn’t work, then there’s nothing to change. If it came from a mistake, figure out how to prevent that mistake from repeating. 📌 Reduce Risk for the Next Trades After a loss, the worst thing you can do is over-leverage. Instead, cut your position size and take smaller, high-probability trades to rebuild confidence. Howard Marks, a firm believer in market psychology, always reminds investors that the biggest risk is emotional overreaction. Stay disciplined. 📌 Trust the Process The best traders understand that one trade does not define them. They trust their system, stick to their edge, and take losses as part of the game. Trading is a long-term play, not a single battle to be won or lost. 💚 Turning Losses into Lessons Losses are tuition fees for the market’s greatest lessons. Every great trader has taken hits—what separates them from the rest is how they respond. The thing is this can happen anywhere—from an ill-fated trade in the crypto market (it’s wild out there) to an account-battering reaction to anything that pops out of the earnings calendar . How do you deal with a trading loss? And when’s the last time you had to stiffen that upper lip and make your comeback? Share your experience in the comments!
SP:SPXEducation
by TradingView
9
Trading Is Not Gambling : Become A Better Trade Part IOver the last few weeks/months, I've tried to help hundreds of traders learn the difference between trading and gambling. Trading is where you take measured (risk-restricted) attempts to profit from market moves. Gambling is where you let your emotions and GREED overtake your risk management decisions - going to BIG WINS on every trade. I think of gambling in the stock market as a person who continually looks for the big 50% to 150%++ gains on options every day. Someone who will pass up the 20%, 30%, and 40% profits and "let it ride to HERO or ZERO" on most trades. That's not trading. That's flat-out GAMBLING. I'm going to start a new series of training videos to try to help you understand how trading operates and how you need to learn to protect capital while taking strategic opportunities for profits and growth. This is not going to be some dumbed-down example of how to trade. I'm going to try to explain the DOs and DO N'Ts of trading vs. gambling. If you want to be a gambler - then get used to being broke most of the time. I'll work on this video's subsequent parts later today and this week. I hope this helps. At least it is a starting point for what I want to teach all of you. Get some. #trading #research #investing #tradingalgos #tradingsignals #cycles #fibonacci #elliotwave #modelingsystems #stocks #bitcoin #btcusd #cryptos #spy #gold #nq #investing #trading #spytrading #spymarket #tradingmarket #stockmarket #silver
AMEX:SPYEducation
by BradMatheny
12
Stop chasing 20-30 pips if you want to become profitableOne of the biggest obstacles for traders who want to become consistently profitable is the mindset of chasing small 20-30 pip moves. While it may seem appealing to enter and exit trades quickly for immediate profits, this strategy is often inefficient, risky, and unsustainable in the long run. Here’s why you should change your approach if you want to succeed in trading. ________________________________________ 1. Trading Costs Eat Into Your Profits When you target small moves, you need to open and close many trades. This means that spreads and commissions will eat up a significant portion of your profits. If you have a spread of 2-3 pips (depending on the pair) and you’re only aiming for 20-30 pips per trade, a consistent percentage of your potential gains is lost to execution costs. ________________________________________ 2. High Risk Compared to Reward A smart trader focuses on a favorable risk-reward ratio, such as 1:2, 1:3 or even 1:4. When you chase just 20-30 pips, your stop-loss has to be very tight, making you highly vulnerable to the normal volatility of the market. An unexpected news release or a liquidity spike can stop you out before the price even reaches your target. ________________________________________ 3. You Miss Big Moves and Real Opportunities Professional traders focus on larger trends and significant price movements of hundreds of pips. The market doesn’t move in a straight line; it goes through consolidations, pullbacks, and major trends. If you’re busy trading short-term 20-30 pip moves, you’ll likely miss the big trends that offer more sustainable profits and better risk management. ________________________________________ 4. Increased Stress and Emotional Trading Short-term trading requires constant monitoring and quick decision-making. This increases your level of stress and negative emotions like fear and greed, leading to costly mistakes. In the long run, this trading style is mentally exhausting and difficult to sustain. ________________________________________ How to Change Your Approach to Become Profitable ✅ Think in terms of larger trends – Focus on 200-300+ pip moves instead of small fluctuations. ✅ Aim for a strong risk-reward ratio – Look for setups with at least 1:2 risk-reward to maximize your profits. ✅ Use higher timeframes – Charts like 4H or daily provide clearer signals and reduce market noise. ✅ Be patient and wait for the best setups – Don’t enter trades just for the sake of activity; wait for high-probability opportunities.
Education
by Mihai_Iacob
38
How to use ETFs instead of Indexes to know how to trade that dayMost Traders use the indexes to try to understand whether they should buy long or sell short. However, the ETFs impact the index components prices not the other way around. Most traders do not realize that they should be studying the ETF of an index rather than the index to determine how to trade the next day. Also ETF trading can be highly lucrative. Using the chart layouts that I have designed to trade Dark Pool activity, HFT and Hedge Fund activity and Sell Side activity helps you understand who is on control of price for the ETF and thus is created the value changes of the indexes. When you study the ETF rather than the index, you will find you have far more information in the chart, indicators and price changes.
NASDAQ:QQQLong
by MarthaStokesCMT-TechniTrader
6
Mastering MACD- Complete Guide- 10 ways to trade itThe Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a versatile indicator that can help traders navigate the markets with precision. From trend identification to momentum assessment, the MACD provides multiple actionable insights. In this educational post, we’ll explore the key ways to use MACD effectively, with an example illustration accompanying each strategy. ________________________________________ 1. Signal Line Crossovers The most common use of MACD is the signal line crossover, which identifies potential shifts in market momentum: • Bullish Signal: When the MACD line (fast-moving) crosses above the signal line (slow-moving), it suggests upward momentum is increasing. This can be an entry signal for a long trade. Bullish crossovers often occur after a period of consolidation or a downtrend, signaling a reversal in market sentiment. • Bearish Signal: When the MACD line crosses below the signal line, it signals downward momentum, often triggering a short-selling opportunity. Bearish crossovers can occur during retracements in an uptrend or at the start of a bearish reversal. How to Use: Look for confirmation from price action or other indicators, such as a breakout above a resistance level for a bullish signal or a breakdown below support for a bearish signal. It's essential to avoid acting solely on a crossover; consider volume (stocks, crypto), candle stick formations and other market conditions. Example: A bullish crossover on the daily chart on TRADENATION:XAUUSD indicates a potential buying opportunity as the price begins to rise. Add a stop-loss below recent lows to manage risk and look for a 1:2 risk:r eward in the next resistance. ________________________________________ 2. Zero Line Crossovers The MACD’s zero line acts as a boundary between bullish and bearish momentum, making it a valuable trend confirmation tool: • Above Zero: When the MACD line moves above the zero line, it confirms an uptrend, as the fast-moving average is above the slow-moving average. Sustained movement above zero often indicates a strong bullish trend. • Below Zero: A MACD line below zero reflects a downtrend, indicating bearish market conditions. Persistent movement below zero confirms bearish momentum. How to Use: Use the zero line crossover to validate trades based on other signals, such as candlestick patterns or trendline breaks. The crossover can act as a second layer of confirmation for existing trade setups. Example: MACD on a crypto pair crosses above the zero line, confirming the start of a new bullish trend. Traders can combine this with volume analysis to ensure strong market participation. ________________________________________ 3. Histogram Analysis The histogram represents the distance between the MACD line and the signal line, offering insights into momentum: • Expanding Histogram: Indicates strengthening momentum in the direction of the trend. Larger bars show increasing dominance of bulls or bears. • Contracting Histogram: Suggests weakening momentum, signaling a possible reversal or consolidation. Smaller bars indicate a loss of trend strength. How to Use: Monitor the histogram for early signs of momentum shifts before a crossover occurs. The histogram can act as a leading indicator, providing advanced warning of potential changes in price direction. Example: A shrinking histogram in a forex pair signals that the bullish momentum is losing steam, warning traders of a possible retracement. This can be a cue to tighten stop-loss levels or take partial profits. Conversely, an expanding histogram during a breakout confirms the strength of the move. ________________________________________ 4. Identifying Divergences MACD divergences are powerful tools for spotting potential reversals: • Bullish Divergence: Occurs when the price makes a lower low, but the MACD forms a higher low, signaling weakening bearish momentum. This often precedes a trend reversal to the upside. • Bearish Divergence: Happens when the price makes a higher high, but the MACD forms a lower high, indicating diminishing bullish strength. This suggests a potential reversal to the downside. How to Use: Combine divergence signals with support or resistance levels to enhance reliability. Divergences are most effective when spotted at major turning points in the market. Example: On a TRADENATION:EURUSD chart, a bearish divergence signals an upcoming price reversal from an up trend to a down trend. ________________________________________ 5. Trend Confirmation MACD confirms trends by staying consistently above or below the zero line: • Above Zero: Indicates a strong uptrend. Look for pullbacks to enter long trades. The longer the MACD remains above zero, the stronger the trend. • Below Zero: Reflects a persistent downtrend. Use rallies as opportunities to short. A sustained period below zero reinforces bearish dominance. How to Use: Use MACD’s trend confirmation alongside other trend-following tools like moving averages or Ichimoku clouds. Ensure that market conditions align with the broader trend. Example: Combining MACD trend confirmation with moving averages helps traders stay on the right side of the trend in a stock market index. For example, buy when both MACD and a 50-day moving average indicate an uptrend. Exit trades when the MACD begins to cross below zero or shows a divergence. ________________________________________ 6. Overbought and Oversold Conditions Although MACD is not traditionally an overbought/oversold indicator, extreme deviations between the MACD line and the signal line can hint at stretched market conditions: • Overbought: When the MACD line is significantly above the signal line, it may indicate a price correction is imminent. This often occurs after an extended rally. • Oversold: When the MACD line is well below the signal line, it suggests a potential rebound. Such conditions are common following sharp sell-offs. How to Use: Monitor extreme readings in conjunction with oscillators like RSI for added confidence. Look for reversals near key support or resistance levels. Example: An extended bearish move with a large MACD-signal line gap warns traders of a potential price correction. This can signal an opportunity to exit. Pair this observation with a bullish candlestick pattern to confirm the move (in this example morning star) ________________________________________ 7. Combining MACD with Other Indicators MACD works best when paired with complementary indicators to provide a more comprehensive market analysis: • RSI (Relative Strength Index): Use RSI to confirm momentum and overbought/oversold conditions. • Bollinger Bands: Validate price breakouts or consolidations with MACD signals. • Support and Resistance: Use MACD signals around key levels for confluence. How to Use: Wait for MACD signals to align with other indicator readings to improve accuracy. Cross-validation reduces false signals and increases confidence in trades. Example: A bearish MACD crossover near a key resistance level reinforces a short-selling opportunity. ________________________________________ 8. Multi-Timeframe Analysis Using MACD across different timeframes strengthens trade signals and provides context: • Higher Timeframe: Identify the broader trend to avoid trading against the market. For instance, if the daily chart shows a bullish MACD, focus on long trades in lower timeframes. • Lower Timeframe: Pinpoint precise entries and exits within the higher timeframe’s trend. The MACD on lower timeframes can help fine-tune timing. How to Use: Align MACD signals on both higher and lower timeframes to confirm trade setups. This alignment minimizes the risk of false signals. ________________________________________ 9. Customizing MACD Settings Traders can tailor MACD settings to suit different trading styles and timeframes: • Shorter Periods: Provide more sensitive signals for scalping or day trading. Shorter settings react quickly to price changes but may generate more false signals. • Longer Periods: Produce smoother signals for swing trading or position trading. Longer settings are less responsive but more reliable. How to Use: Experiment with different settings on a demo account to find what works best for your strategy. Adjust settings based on the volatility and nature of the asset. Example: A scalper uses a 5, 13, 6 MACD setting to capture quick momentum shifts in the market, while a swing trader sticks with the standard 12, 26, 9 for broader trends. Compare results across different markets to refine the approach. ________________________________________ 10. Crossovers or Divergence at Key Levels Combining MACD crossovers with price action levels enhances the reliability of trade signals: • Horizontal Levels: Use MACD signals to confirm reversals or breakouts at support and resistance levels. Crossovers near these levels are often more reliable. • Fibonacci Retracements: You can combine MACD with retracement levels to validate potential entries or exits. Confluence with retracements adds weight to the signal. How to Use: Wait for MACD signals to align with key price levels for higher probability trades. Confirmation from candlestick patterns or volume (stock and crypto) adds further credibility. Example: A bullish MACD divergence aligns with a strong support level, signaling a strong buy setup. Add confirmation with a candlestick reversal pattern, such as a piercing pattern in our case, to enhance precision. ________________________________________ Conclusion: The MACD indicator’s flexibility makes it a must-have tool for traders of all styles. By mastering these strategies and integrating them in your trading, you can elevate your trading decisions. Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
Education
by Mihai_Iacob
21
How to Draw Trendlines Like a Pro – Rulers Out, Rules In!Hi everyone! If you don’t have any rules for drawing a trendline, then this is by far the most subjective technical analysis criterion of all. So, grab your ruler, and let’s dive in! ;) Without clear guidelines, you can draw it however you want, shaping the narrative to fit your bias. This makes it the perfect tool to talk yourself into a trade or justify staying in a bad one—there’s always a new “support” coming… If you don't have rules, you can always find some dots to connect, making it look "perfect" for you. In this post, I'll discuss buying opportunities using trendlines, share key rules for drawing them correctly, and highlight common mistakes to avoid - all with a focus on mid- and long-term investment opportunities. ------------------------- The Basics: How to Draw a Trendline The trendline is a highly effective tool for mid- and long-term investors to find an optimal buying zone for their chosen asset. I always take a full view of the chart, analyzing its entire history to find the longest trendline available. The longer the trendline, the stronger it is! To draw a trendline, we simply connect two points and wait for the third touch to confirm it. Easy, right? The strongest trendline comes from points that are easily recognizable—you should spot them in a split second. Maximum view, if possible Monthly chart, connect the dots and wait for a third one. For me, the third and fourth touches are the most reliable. If you have to look deeply to find where to draw a trendline, then it's already a first sign that it’s not strong! The best ones appear instantly. --------------------------- Two Myths About Trendlines Myth #1: "You cannot draw a trendline without three touching points." Don’t even remember from where I heard that kind of bs but as you see in the images above, yeah I can. If I have a correct lineup, the third touch is the strongest. Myth #2: "The more touches, the stronger the trendline." Yes, a trend appears stronger with more touches, but each additional touch increases the odds of a break or trend change. To buy from, let’s say, the sixth touch, there must be strong confluence factors, and fundamentals should support the investment. “The trend is your friend, until the end when it bends.” — Ed Seykota Sure, I’ve had great trades from the fifth or seventh touch, but as said, the area has to be strong, combining multiple criteria. Think of a trendline like 3-5 cm thick ice on a lake. You can’t break it with one hit, or the second, or the third. But after the fourth or fifth, it starts to crack, and by the sixth—boom! From my psychological perspective, the more touches, the weaker the trendline becomes. ----------------------- Rule #1: Wick to Wick or Body to Body If there aren't any anomalies, the trendline should always be drawn from wick to wick (image below) or body to body. Here was the trendline draw from wick to wick I mostly use body-to-body when there is a lot of noise on the chart and many large wicks that don’t show the real price behavior—whether from a panic sell-off or other unexpected market moves. Candlestick chart, the trendline drawn from body-to-body Tip! Body-to-body means drawing trendlines from closing prices to remove unnecessary noise from the chart. To make the chart even clearer, I often use a line chart (it tracks closing prices), which filters out the noise and gives a cleaner view of the price action. The same chart as above using line chart. Mistake to avoid: If you start from the wick but the second point is from the body, it's wrong. This can lead to misleading breakout trades or confusing rejection trades. If there are no significant large wicks, go from wicks. If a chart offers a lot of huge panic-sell wicks, use bodies instead to get a cleaner setup. Quite often, I use a hybrid version as well. We are investors, not traders. We need a price zone, not an exact price! In these cases, I combine wicks and closing prices to find the optimal trendline, which stays somewhere between them. Light-blue is the zone ----------------------- Rule #2: Higher Highs Strengthen the Trendline A trendline is more reliable if the price makes a new higher high (HH) after the previous rejection, and before it approaches a trendline. The third and fourth touch came from higher high (HH) levels This confirms that the recent trend is strong. If it all lines up, we can step in! ----------------------- Rule #3: Even Timing Between Touches A trendline rejection works best when the timing between touches is symmetrical. They don’t have to be perfectly equal but they also shouldn’t be wildly different - one touch being very small and another very large can weaken the trendline’s reliability. A good combinations is when the price comes from higher high levels, the next touch has an equal or fairly similar distance between previous ones. Yeah, there are quite a lot of touches, but you get the point; market symmetry plays an important role in making decisions. Warning: If the next touch comes too soon, especially from a lower high (LH) levels, which signals that momentum may be fading, and the touch happens at an uneven distance, it weakens the trendline’s reliability. So, watch out for that. Two alerts: uneven length between touches & comes from lower highs. Next red alert: When there are huge uneven gaps between touches, as shown in the picture below. The first and second touch compared to the second and third touch are out of balance, weakening the trendline's reliability. ------------------------ Trendline Summary: Key Criteria for Mid- to Long-Term Analysis Open the maximum chart view – analyze all available data for the asset. The higher the timeframe, the stronger the trendline. A trendline needs two clean and clear points to be drawn. The highest probability rejection happens at the third and fourth touch. If there are large wicks or panic sell-offs, use closing prices (body-to-body). Remove noise and wicks by using a line chart for a clearer view. A trendline touch is strongest when the price approaches from a higher high (HH). A trendline touch is strongest when the distance between touches is symmetrical. A slight flex in the trendline is ideal; it should be between 20 to 35 degrees, not too steep in its climb. ;) These are the main criteria for a trendline that I use when analyzing stocks or any asset from a mid-to long-term perspective. ---------------------- Trendlines Alone Are Not Enough Now, here’s the interesting part. Even if a trendline looks perfect and meets all criteria, I still won’t rush to share an analysis. Why? Because a trendline alone isn’t enough. A trendline is just one piece of the puzzle. We need multiple confluence factors in a single price zone to make the setup truly strong and reliable. Usually, I need at least 3-7 criteria to align before making a move or recommendation. So, that's it! A brief overview and hopefully, you found this informative. Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts! Before you leave - Like & Boost if you find this useful! 🚀 Trade smart, Vaido
NASDAQ:TSLAEducation
by VaidoVeek
43
Gold Devours Stocks and Outshines Crypto with 40% Gains. Why So?Gold OANDA:XAUUSD has returned 40% in the past twelve months — that’s more than four times the S&P 500’s SP:SPX 9% increase. Besides leaving stock bros with a sour taste in their mouths, gold is also serving a cold dish of revenge to the crypto heads who had for years been slamming it for lack of appeal. It crushed the $3,000 mark last week, pumping to the rarefied air of $3,005 per ounce. The market’s digital gold — Bitcoin BITSTAMP:BTCUSD — is up 26% in the past year. Gold is certainly having a moment here with just about every star aligning for its upside swing. War tremors, inflation jitters, consumer uncertainty and lower interest rates have come together to make gold great again. Catch the drift? Yes, we mean US tariffs. Trump’s tariff drama is perhaps the biggest driver right now for the shiny stuff. Anxiety over gold getting slapped with a tariff has sent traders, dealers and investors scrambling to get more of it. The US President has floated some comments on gold but not to the point where he even remotely hints at imposing a tariff. Around the end of February, Trump said he suspects someone might’ve actually been stealing gold from Fort Knox. His remarks came after Elon Musk, designated as a “special government employee,” raised some alarming questions. “Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox? Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not,” Musk wrote on X . “That gold is owned by the American public! We want to know if it’s still there.” Trump chimed in and said in an interview they’re planning to visit Fort Knox soon. “We’re going to go into Fort Knox, the fabled Fort Knox, to make sure the gold is there. He added that “if the gold isn’t there, we’re going to be very upset.” Fort Knox is the equivalent of Scrooge McDuck’s impenetrable fortress full of gold collectibles. Only that Fort Knox staff doesn't backstroke through the piles of coins (or do they?). The vault holds a total of 147.3 million ounces worth roughly $430 billion today. To those who’re asking why not sell it and pay off some debt — America has a staggering $36 trillion debt burden . Selling gold to pay it off wouldn’t even return a blip on the chart. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (who’s also a hedge fund manager) the gold at Fort Knox is audited “every year” and “all the gold is present and accounted for.” All American gold is stored in a number of vaults, which collectively add up to a total of 261.5 million ounces (8,100 tons), according to Federal Reserve balances. That’s around a $770 billion piece of a market that’s worth nearly $20 trillion. So is the gold rush exaggerated and maybe a little overrated? In practice, gold is a pet rock with an added flair. It doesn’t generate yield, produce earnings or pay any form of interest to those who hold it. But gold has a solid history of being the ultimate store of value. Gold’s supply is more or less fixed as miners are only able to dig out about 1% to 2% a year at best. All the gold ever unearthed in the world is a little over 216,000 tons , according to the World Gold Council. One way to picture that is 64,200 Tesla Cybertrucks. Or, if we were to melt it all, it would be enough to form a cube that’s 25 yards (23 meters) on each side. You be the judge now — do you think gold is overpriced? Or are you a gold bug who believes that $3,000 could be the start of a new mega cycle for the precious metal? Share your comments below!
OANDA:XAUUSD
by TradingView
13
Bitcoin can rebound from triangle pattern to 90K pointsHello traders, I want share with you my opinion about Bitcoin. Not long ago, the price was trading within a range, where it quickly entered the seller zone and remained near this area for quite some time. BTC attempted to rise but failed, and after nearly reaching the upper boundary of the range, it dropped sharply. The price broke through the 94000 level, exiting the range as well, and then fell to the support level, which aligned with the buyer zone. Shortly after, the price made a strong upward impulse toward the resistance level before starting a decline within a downward triangle. Inside this pattern, BTC initially made a correction, climbed back to the resistance line of the triangle, and then resumed its decline. Eventually, the price dropped to the 78900 support level, where it touched the triangle’s support line and then began to rise. At the moment, BTC continues to climb near this level, and I expect it to rebound from the support line of the triangle and break above the resistance, signaling an exit from the pattern. If this happens, I anticipate further growth, so my target is set at 90000 points. Please share this idea with your friends and click Boost 🚀
Long
by LegionQ8
31
Volkswagen AG (VOW) – The Cheapest Military Stock in Europe? TP1: €150 – Short-term breakout TP2: €180 – Mid-term resistance TP3: €250 – Long-term revaluation target Why Are We Bullish? 🔹 Defense Sector Entry? -VW exploring military production, with CEO Oliver Blume confirming interest. -Idle plants may be repurposed, potential Rheinmetall partnership in the works. -Rearmament boom – Rheinmetall’s valuation already surpassed VW’s. 🔹 Financial & Growth Catalysts -Q4 sales up 21%, 7.0% margin, 2025 revenue target +5%. -€1B cost-cutting, strong EV & U.S. market expansion. 🔹 Bullish Technicals -MACD Bullish Crossover + Green Histogram Bars confirm momentum. -Bounced off long-term trendline support, signaling a strong reversal.
XETR:VOWLong
by Charts_M7M
12
EURUSD - How Long Will The Bullish Gravy Train Last?German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz announced he had secured the crucial backing of the Greens for a massive increase in state borrowing. The deal will likely be approved by the outgoing parliament next week. It includes a 500 billion euro ($544.30 billion) fund for infrastructure and sweeping changes to borrowing rules. Due to this, the dollar weakened against the euro but rose against the Swiss franc and the yen, underpinned by the likelihood the U.S. government will avert a shutdown over the weekend. Will this weeks high impact events lead to the weakening of EURUSD?
Short
by LegendSince
3
Bull Trap Confirmed: HOOD's 8% Rally Faces ExhaustionHey Traders after the success of our last month trade on Tesla hitting all targets more than 35%+ With a Similar Trade setup I bring you today the NASDAQ:HOOD Short opportunity on Hood Based on Technical + Fundamental View -Market structure -Head and shoulder pattern -Currently will be trading at supply zone which was a recent support and now an ideal place for a reversal to create the right shoulder of the bigger head and shoulder pattern - Daily time frame. 1. Declining User Growth and Transaction-Based Revenue 2. Regulatory and Legal Challenges 3. Rising Costs and Profitability Pressures 4. Intense Industry Competition 5. Macroeconomic and Market Volatility Technical View Head and shoulder pattern - Pretty visible. Right shoulder is yet to be formed, Which makes an ideal place to SELL with a great Risk Reward ratio. Pro Tip Wait for a bearish candle stick pattern to execute trades on end of the day keeping stop loss somewhere above the supply zone. Target 1 - 35.52$ Target 2 - 30.81$ Target 3 - 26.26$ Stop Loss - 44.72$ Fundamental View 1. Declining User Growth and Transaction-Based Revenue Robinhood’s revenue model relies heavily on Payment for Order Flow (PFOF), which makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in trading activity. After a pandemic-driven surge in 2020–2021, user growth stalled, with monthly active users dropping 34% YoY to 14 million by mid-2022. Transaction revenue fell 55% in Q2 2022, and while assets under custody grew to $140 billion by Q2 2024, the platform’s dependence on volatile crypto and meme-stock trading amplified revenue instability. 2. Regulatory and Legal Challenges The SEC’s scrutiny of PFOF and proposed trading rule changes threaten Robinhood’s core revenue source. In 2022, New York regulators fined Robinhood’s crypto unit $30 million for anti-money laundering violations. Ongoing legal risks, including backlash from the 2021 GameStop trading restrictions, have further eroded institutional trust. 3. Rising Costs and Profitability Pressures Operating expenses surged due to aggressive marketing, technology upgrades, and compliance investments. Despite workforce reductions (23% layoffs in 2022), profitability remains strained. The company’s shift toward diversified products like retirement accounts and credit cards has yet to offset these costs. 4. Intense Industry Competition Traditional brokers like Fidelity and Charles Schwab adopted zero-commission trading, neutralizing Robinhood’s initial edge. Newer platforms like Webull and Public.com also captured younger investors with advanced features, while Robinhood’s limited product range (e.g., lack of wealth management services) hindered retention of high-net-worth clients. 5. Macroeconomic and Market Volatility - Interest Rate Sensitivity: As a growth stock, HOOD declined amid rising rates in 2022–2023 and broader tech-sector sell-offs. - Recent Market Turmoil: On March 10, 2025, HOOD dropped 18% alongside crypto-linked stocks like Coinbase due to Bitcoin’s price volatility and fears of inflationary tariffs under new U.S. policies. - Retail Investor Pullback: Reduced discretionary investing and crypto crashes (e.g., Bitcoin’s 71% plunge in 2022) dampened trading activity. NOT AN INVESTMENT ADVISE
NASDAQ:HOODShort
by REUBEN_EUSTACE
19
AAPL and MSFT Reading Charts For Better Entries and ExitsOptions Trading Strategy Using Ichimoku Cloud, 200 SMA & Monthly Contracts (Following Your 3 Trading Rules) This strategy adapts the Ichimoku Cloud & 200 SMA trend-following method for trading monthly options contracts with a focus on high-probability setups. It leverages time decay (theta), trend strength, and proper timing to maximize gains while reducing risk. 🔹 Strategy Overview We will trade monthly options contracts using: Trend confirmation via Ichimoku Cloud & 200 SMA Directional bias based on price positioning Entry timing rules to avoid low-probability setups Theta-friendly positioning (avoiding weeklies to reduce time decay risks) 📈 Trading Rules & Setup (My 3 Golden Rules) 🚫 No trading on Mondays → Avoids choppy market structure from weekend gaps. 🚫 No trading on Fridays → Avoids gamma risk and weekend time decay. ⏳ No trades before the first 15-minute candle closes → Ensures market direction is established. 📊 Selecting the Right Option Contract For monthly expiration contracts, select options that: Expire within 30 to 60 days (avoid weekly contracts to minimize rapid time decay). Are slightly in-the-money (ITM) or at-the-money (ATM) for higher delta (0.55–0.70). Have open interest >1,000 and a tight bid-ask spread to ensure liquidity. Example: If today is June 11, trade the July monthly contract (third Friday of the month). 📉 Bearish Put Play (Short Trade) 200 SMA Bias: Price is below the 200 SMA Ichimoku Cloud Confirmation: Price is below the cloud Tenkan-sen is below Kijun-sen (bearish momentum) Chikou Span is below price from 26 candles ago Future cloud is red Entry Trigger (After First 15 Min Candle): Price pulls back into the Kijun-sen but rejects it OR price breaks below the cloud after a weak consolidation Enter PUT contract (monthly expiration) Stop Loss & Take Profit: SL: Above Kijun-sen or recent swing high TP: First at the cloud’s lower edge, second at a key support level Exit before Theta decay accelerates (last 14 days before expiry) 📈 Bullish Call Play (Long Trade) 200 SMA Bias: Price is above the 200 SMA Ichimoku Cloud Confirmation: Price is above the cloud Tenkan-sen is above Kijun-sen (bullish momentum) Chikou Span is above price from 26 candles ago Future cloud is green Entry Trigger (After First 15 Min Candle): Price pulls back into the Kijun-sen but holds OR price breaks out above the cloud Enter CALL contract (monthly expiration) Stop Loss & Take Profit: SL: Below Kijun-sen or recent swing low TP: First at the cloud’s upper edge, second at a key resistance level 📊 Trade Management & Adjustments Rolling: If trade is profitable near expiry but not at the full target, roll to the next monthly contract. Closing Early: If the trade is at 70-80% max profit, close early to avoid decay risk. Cutting Losses: If price closes inside the Ichimoku Cloud, consider exiting early (trend loss warning). 🛠 Why This Works for Monthly Options? ✅ Avoids time decay risks of weekly options by trading monthly contracts. ✅ Uses strong trend confirmation from Ichimoku & 200 SMA. ✅ Only trades at high-probability times, avoiding choppy Monday & Friday moves. ✅ Allows scaling into strong trends rather than short-term noise.
NASDAQ:MSFT
by invinoveritas7671
10
Why DCA Does Not Work For Short-Term TradersIn this video I go through why DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) does not work for short-term traders and is more suitable for investors. I go through the pitfalls than come through such techniques, as well as explain how trading should really be approached. Which at it's cost should be based on having a positive edge and using the power of compounding to grow your wealth. I hope this video was insightful, and gives hope to those trying to make it as a trader. Believe me, it's possible. - R2F Trading
CME_MINI:ES1!Education
by Road_2_Funded
8
5 Most Popular Momentum Indicators to Use in Trading in 20255 Most Popular Momentum Indicators to Use in Trading in 2025 Want to master the art of momentum trading? Look no further. In this FXOpen article, we’ll explore how to use momentum indicators, the signals they generate, and five most popular momentum indicators for trading in 2025. What Is a Momentum Indicator? Momentum in technical analysis refers to the rate at which an asset's price accelerates or decelerates, helping traders identify potential trend continuations or reversals. A momentum indicator is a tool used in technical analysis to measure the speed and strength of an asset’s price movements. By analysing changes in price over a specific period, these indicators provide insights into the underlying force driving market trends. Momentum indicators do not focus on the direction of the price movement itself, but rather the strength behind it. Traders use these tools to gauge whether the market is overbought, oversold, or losing momentum, which helps determine entry or exit points. A stock momentum indicator like the Relative Strength Index (RSI), for instance, may indicate that stocks are currently bought or sold too heavily and their price is due for a reversal. The Significance of Momentum Technical Indicators Momentum indicators do not focus on the direction of the price movement, but rather on the strength behind it. They’re able to quantify and represent hidden clues about the future market direction in an easily interpretable way. By learning to read momentum indicators, traders can develop effective trading strategies, identify potential opportunities, and manage risk more efficiently. Momentum tools produce a range of signals that offer traders an edge over the markets. Let’s take a look at some of the most common momentum signals. Overbought and Oversold Conditions These signals indicate when an asset's price has moved too far in one direction without sufficient support from fundamental or technical factors and is likely to reverse. For example, RSI generates overbought signals when the reading rises above 70 and signals oversold conditions when the reading falls below 30. Divergence Divergence occurs when the price of an asset moves in the opposite direction of the indicator, suggesting an upcoming reversal. For instance, when the price is making higher highs, but RSI is making lower highs, this indicates a bearish divergence that increases the likelihood of a downward move. Crossover These signals are generated when the indicator's lines cross each other or a certain threshold. A common example is the MACD, where traders look for crossovers between the fast MACD line and the slower signal line to spot potential entry and exit points. Top Five List of Momentum Indicators for Technical Analysis Now that we understand the types of signals that momentum tools produce, let’s break down five of the most popular with a momentum indicators list. 1. Relative Strength Index (RSI) The RSI is one of the most popular and well-documented momentum indicators. It measures the speed and change of price movements by comparing the average gain to the average loss over a specified period, usually 14. RSI is an oscillator, moving between 0 and 100. Values above 70 reflect overbought conditions, while values below 30 indicate oversold conditions. When the RSI moves out of overbought or oversold territory, many traders interpret this as a reversal confirmation. Sustained movements above or below the midpoint (50) can also be used to confirm a bullish or bearish trend, respectively. Moreover, traders look for divergence between the RSI and price to identify weakening trends and possible reversals. 2. Average Directional Index (ADX) The ADX is a momentum indicator used to determine a trend’s strength. Unlike most other tools, its reading doesn’t move according to the direction of price action, i.e. it doesn’t move up if bullish or down when bearish. Instead, it ranges from 0 to 100, with values above 25 indicating a strong trend and below 25 suggesting a weak or non-trending market. ADX is commonly used in combination with other tools, as it simply confirms the trendiness of a market. For example, traders might use a leading indicator like RSI to anticipate bullishness and confirm the trend when ADX crosses over 25. 3. Commodity Channel Index (CCI) The CCI is a versatile momentum indicator. It uses a constant in its calculation to ensure that 75% of values fall between +/- 100, with moves outside of the range generally indicating a trend breakout or continuation. It can also show extreme overbought or oversold conditions when its value exceeds +/- 200. The CCI requires a more nuanced approach than other tools and is typically used to confirm a trader’s directional bias and to identify potential opportunities. For instance, a visually identifiable bullish trend can be confirmed by looking at the CCI. If its value is skewed toward 100+, traders can be confident in their observation. When the market cools off, CCI will fall below 100. Traders can then confirm a pullback entry with a move back into the +/- 100 range. 4. Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) The MACD is a highly regarded trend-following momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of an asset's price. It’s used in technical analysis to identify the relationship between two moving averages of a security’s price. It helps traders understand the trend’s strength, direction, and duration, as well as possible reversal points. Traders use crossovers between the MACD and signal lines as potential entry and exit signals. Additionally, when the MACD histogram crosses above or below the zero line, it can indicate bullish or bearish momentum in the market. Lastly, it’s also possible to spot divergences between price and the indicator’s peaks and troughs, similar to how divergences are identified with RSI. 5. Momentum (Mom) The Momentum indicator is a simple yet potentially effective tool that measures the rate of change in an asset's price over a specific period. The value of the Momentum depends on the market it’s applied to. For example, using the Momentum indicator in stocks will result in a fluctuating value typically between +/- 20, depending on the stock’s price. For forex pairs, its range may look more like +/- 0.02. The common feature across all markets, however, is the zero line. Generally speaking, positive Momentum values indicate upward price movement, while negative values suggest downward movement. It can also show overbought and oversold conditions, but its lack of defined boundaries means this can be tricky. However, Momentum is especially useful for identifying divergences. Advantages of Momentum Indicators Momentum indicators are valuable tools in technical analysis, helping traders assess the strength and speed of price movements. They offer several benefits that enhance trading strategies and decision-making: - Identify Trends Early: Market momentum indicators can reveal the start of a new trend and the end of the old trend, allowing traders to enter trades at opportune moments. - Objective Analysis: They provide quantifiable data, reducing reliance on subjective analysis and emotional decision-making. - Spot Overbought and Oversold Conditions: Momentum tools help traders identify when an asset is overbought or oversold, signalling potential reversals and exit points. - Confirm Trade Signals: Combining momentum indicators with other technical tools enhances the accuracy of trade signals, providing stronger confirmation for trading decisions. - Adaptable Across Markets: They can be applied to various assets, including stocks, forex, and commodities, making them versatile tools for traders. Things to Consider When Trading Momentum Indicators While momentum indicators can be an effective addition to any trader’s arsenal, there are a few things to be aware of: - Trade with the Trend: Trends often last longer than you may think, and constantly looking for trend reversals will only end in frustration. Look for bullish signals during an uptrend and bearish signals in a downtrend. - Use Multiple Indicators: Relying on a single tool can lead to false signals. Many traders combine a lagging indicator, like MACD, with a leading indicator, like RSI. Combining two or three tools can help confirm signals and improve trade accuracy. - Beware of False Signals: Momentum indicators can sometimes generate false signals, especially in sideways or choppy markets. Being patient and waiting for confirmation before entering a trade is vital. - Don’t Rely Too Heavily on Indicators: While momentum indicators can be helpful, relying solely on them without considering price action, market structure, or fundamental aspects can lead to poor trading decisions. Use these indicators alongside other tools for a momentum indicator strategy. Final Thoughts Now that you have a comprehensive overview of momentum indicators and the signals they produce, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. After experimenting with a few tools and settling on your favourites, you can open an FXOpen account. You’ll be able to trade over 600+ markets with low costs and ultra-fast execution speeds while partnering with one of the world’s fastest-growing forex brokers. Good luck! FAQ How to Use Momentum Indicators? With momentum indicators, traders monitor the rate of price changes to assess whether it is gaining or losing strength. Traders look for overbought or oversold conditions, divergences, and crossovers to determine potential entry and exit points. What Is the Best Period for a Momentum Indicator? If we are talking about the Momentum indicator, the best period depends on your trading style. For short-term traders, 7 and 10 periods are common, while long-term traders may prefer 14 and 21 periods. Testing various periods based on asset volatility can improve results. What Is the Best Momentum Indicator for Scalping? There is no best momentum indicator for scalping but the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is often favoured by scalpers due to its ability to quickly identify overbought or oversold conditions. Its responsiveness helps scalpers make rapid decisions in fast-moving markets. What Is the Difference Between Momentum and Trend Indicators? Momentum trading indicators measure the speed of price changes, while trend indicators assess the direction and persistence of price movements. To put it simply, momentum focuses on strength, while trend indicators focus on the overall direction. Is MACD a Momentum Indicator? Yes, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is one of the most popular momentum indicators, especially in stock trading. It reveals changes in momentum and helps identify potential trend reversals. 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.
FXOPEN:XAUUSDEducation
by FXOpen
5
Are Gold Miners Going Higher?Gold miners are one of the top-performing industries this year, and some traders may see further upside in a key ETF tracking the group. The first pattern on today’s chart of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF is the falling trendline along the highs of October and February. GDX cleared that resistance on Thursday, which may suggest a breakout is underway. Second, the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) rose above the 200-day SMA in February and above the 100-day SMA in March. That alignment, with faster SMAs above slower SMAs, may be consistent with a longer-term uptrend. Third, the ETF peaked around $39 in December and bounced at the same level on February 28. Did old resistance become new support? Next, MACD just turned positive. The 8-day exponential moving average (EMA) is also above the 21-day EMA. Those are potentially bullish short-term signals. Fifth, GDX remains below its 2020 high of $45.78 –- despite physical gold setting new records. The ETF is also still under peaks from early last decade. Investors may wonder whether the producing companies are undervalued on a relative basis. Finally, TradeStation data shows GDX averaging roughly 128,000 options per day in the last month. That may help traders position for moves with calls and puts. Standardized Performances for the ETF mentioned above: VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) 1-year: +52.63% 5-years: +34.98% 10-year: +83.14% (As of February 28, 2025) Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs") are subject to management fees and other expenses. Before making investment decisions, investors should carefully read information found in the prospectus or summary prospectus, if available, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Click here to find the prospectus. TradeStation has, for decades, advanced the trading industry, providing access to stocks, options and futures. If you're born to trade, we could be for you. See our Overview for more. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss equal to or greater than your entire investment regardless of which asset class you trade (equities, options or futures); therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. Online trading is not suitable for all investors. View the document titled Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options at www.TradeStation.com . Before trading any asset class, customers must read the relevant risk disclosure statements on www.TradeStation.com . System access and trade placement and execution may be delayed or fail due to market volatility and volume, quote delays, system and software errors, Internet traffic, outages and other factors. Securities and futures trading is offered to self-directed customers by TradeStation Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a futures commission merchant licensed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission). TradeStation Securities is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the National Futures Association, and a number of exchanges. Options trading is not suitable for all investors. Your TradeStation Securities’ account application to trade options will be considered and approved or disapproved based on all relevant factors, including your trading experience. See www.TradeStation.com . Visit www.TradeStation.com for full details on the costs and fees associated with options. Margin trading involves risks, and it is important that you fully understand those risks before trading on margin. The Margin Disclosure Statement outlines many of those risks, including that you can lose more funds than you deposit in your margin account; your brokerage firm can force the sale of securities in your account; your brokerage firm can sell your securities without contacting you; and you are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin call. Review the Margin Disclosure Statement at www.TradeStation.com . TradeStation Securities, Inc. and TradeStation Technologies, Inc. are each wholly owned subsidiaries of TradeStation Group, Inc., both operating, and providing products and services, under the TradeStation brand and trademark. When applying for, or purchasing, accounts, subscriptions, products and services, it is important that you know which company you will be dealing with. Visit www.TradeStation.com for further important information explaining what this means.
AMEX:GDX
by TradeStation
5
Booze Wars... How DAX could react?Now it's time for US and EU to have their public tariff battle. Given that wine, champagne and beer are a huge part of EU export into the US, there might be some pain felt among the MARKETSCOM:DE30 bulls. Let's dig in. XETR:DAX Let us know what you think in the comments below. Thank you. 74.2% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of investments may fall as well as rise and the investor may not get back the amount initially invested. This content is not intended for nor applicable to residents of the UK. Cryptocurrency CFDs and spread bets are restricted in the UK for all retail clients.
MARKETSCOM:DE30
by Marketscom
8
O kurwa! Curvature in Technical Analysis: What Does It Tell Us?Curvature in TA is trading approach where curved lines are used instead of traditional straight trendlines. Curved lines help to visualize how trends evolve and can provide insights into potential reversals or trend continuations. One of the known methods that utilize curvature is the MIDAS (Market Interpretation/Data Analysis System). This system was developed by physicist Paul Levine in 1995 and uses curved support and resistance lines based on Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP). The curves adapt dynamically as price and volume change, helping to identify trend shifts and potential reversals. 💡 Why should we use Curvature? Dynamic Support and Resistance: Curved lines adapt to price changes, unlike static horizontal lines. Reversal Signals: They can signal potential trend shifts earlier than traditional methods. Better Trend Visualization: They are particularly useful for parabolic or exponential price movements. 📊 Applying Curvature to HBAR (1H TF) There are two curves on my chart. Both of them shows a curvature pattern forming on the 1-hour timeframe. L: The curve on left side indicates a strong downward move, and the price appears to be following this curve closely. R: On the other hand I have drawn curve on the right side, which is alligned as downward curve as well, but it has different angle. This post is meant to test my theory on real life example. 🔑 Key Points: Breaks away from the curvature could indicate a potential trend reversal or consolidation. Combining this analysis with volume and momentum indicators can improve accuracy when predicting possible bounce or breakdown scenarios. Let's see how it works!
Education
by Expate
11
Bitcoin reversal confirmed ?!Bitcoin reversal confirmed ?! 👀 I would like to present you some charts with important levels and relevant patterns. 🖥daily-chart (BITSTAMP) and 💡everything important in the chart 👀 💥Here in the daily chart (BITSTAMP) - a Deep-Crab harmonic with - a WolveWave and the daily-chart of the 🔥Daily MA200 re-test 👀 - gap fill - support-line 2022 and 2024 TOPs 👉 BITCOIN roadmap/outlook (from 27th february 2024) 💡 🎯 If you like this idea, please leave me a 🚀 and follow for updates 🔥⏰ Furthermore, any criticism is welcome as well as any suggestions etc. - You're also very welcome to share this idea. Have a nice evening & successful trading decisions 💪 M_a_d_d_e_n ✌ NOTE: The above information represents my idea and is not an investment/trading recommendation! Without any guarantee & exclusion of liability!
BITSTAMP:BTCUSDLong
by M_a_d_d_e_n
17
BITCOIN Correction in Play - Can Bulls Regain Control?COINBASE:BTCUSD is experiencing a corrective move after forming a double top near the upper boundary of the channel. The rejection from this level has led to increased selling pressure, with price steadily approaching a significant support zone around $73,000. The confluence of the trendline support and the horizontal demand zone increases the probability of a bullish reaction. If buyers step in at this level, we could see a rebound, with a potential move toward the $90,000 resistance zone. This level could act as a short-term target within the current market structure. However, failure to hold this support could signal further downside, potentially extending the retracement toward lower levels. Traders should monitor bullish confirmation signals, such as rejection wicks, increasing volume, or bullish engulfing patterns, before anticipating a continuation to the upside. If you agree with this analysis or have additional insights, feel free to share your thoughts here! 🚀
COINBASE:BTCUSDLong
by DanieIM
63
Trading Psychology or Technical Analysis—When Mind Meets MatterThere’s an age-old battle in trading that makes the bull vs. bear debate look like a game of pickleball (no offense, finance bros). It’s the clash between the traders who swear by their charts and the ones who insist it’s all about mindset. The technicals versus the psychologicals. Fibonacci retracements versus fear and greed. RSI versus your racing heart. TLDR? Both matter—a lot. But knowing when to trust your indicators, when to trust yourself, and when to blend both is the fine line that separates those who thrive from those who rage-quit. ⚔️ The Cold, Hard Numbers vs. the Soft, Messy Brain Think of technical analysis as your sometimes inaccurate GPS in trading. It’s structured, predictable, and gives you clear entry and exit points—until it doesn’t. Because markets, much like a GPS in a tunnel, don’t always cooperate. That’s where psychology creeps in. Your mind is the ultimate trading algorithm, but it’s often running outdated software. Fear of missing out? That’s just your brain throwing a tantrum. Revenge trading? A glitch in emotional processing. Overconfidence after three wins in a row? Well done, you genius. Technical analysis gives you signals, but trading psychology determines how you act on them. 🤷‍♂️ When the Chart Says One Thing, and Your Brain Says Another Picture this: You’ve mapped out the perfect setup. The moving averages align, volume confirms the breakout, and everything screams BUY . But then your brain whispers, What if it reverses? What if this is a trap? What if I’m about to donate my account balance to the market gods? You hesitate. The price moves without you. Now, frustration kicks in, and suddenly, you’re clicking BUY at the worst possible moment—just in time for a pullback. Sometimes, the best trade is the one you don’t take. And sometimes, trusting the chart over your overthinking brain is the only way forward. 🔥 The Big Guys and Their Choices Legendary investors have picked their sides in this debate. Howard Marks, the co-founder of Oaktree Capital, has long been a big believer in market psychology. He argues that understanding investor sentiment is more valuable than any chart pattern because markets are driven by cycles of greed and fear. On the other hand, Paul Tudor Jones—one of the greatest traders of all time—leans on technicals, famously saying, “The whole trick in investing is: ‘How do I keep from losing everything?’ If you use the 200-day moving average rule, you get out. You play defense.” Both approaches work. The question is: Are you the type who deciphers market mood swings, or do you trust that a well-placed moving average will tell you when to cut and run? 🌀 Overtrading: The Technical Trap and the Psychological Spiral Overtrading usually starts with a good trade, a small win, and a rush of dopamine that convinces you you’ve cracked the code. So, you take another trade. Then another. And before you know it, you’re firing off entries like a caffeinated gamer, except your PnL is the one taking the damage. Technical traders fall into this trap because they see too many setups. Every candlestick pattern, every little bounce, every “potential” breakout becomes a reason to trade. Psychological traders, on the other hand, may overtrade out of boredom, frustration, or the need to “make back” losses. The result? An emotional rollercoaster that ends with an account balance you don’t want to check the next morning. The fix? Trade selectively. The best setups don’t come every five minutes, and forcing trades is like forcing a bad joke—it just doesn’t land. 💪 Fear, Greed, and the Art of Holding Your Ground Every trader knows the feeling: You’re in profit, but instead of letting the trade play out, you close early because profit is profit, right? Wrong. Fear of losing profits is what keeps traders from maximizing their wins. And greed—the evil twin of fear—is what makes traders hold losing trades, hoping for a miracle. It’s the classic “let winners run, cut losers short” rule in reverse. Technical traders know where their stops and targets are. The problem? They often ignore them when emotions take over. Psychological traders “feel” the market but get crushed when that gut feeling betrays them. The best traders find the balance—using technicals to set logical targets and psychology to actually stick to the plan. 🤝 The Solution? A System That Checks Both Boxes So, what’s the verdict? Do you put matter over mind or mind over matter? The truth is, great traders do both. They develop strategies based on technicals but manage execution with discipline. They respect risk management rules not just because the chart says so, but because they know how destructive emotions can be. Here’s what the best do differently: ✅ They journal trades —not just the setups but how they felt during the trade. ✅ They stick to a trading plan so they can trust their system over impulse. ✅ They set rules that help them to properly bounce back from losses . ✅ They know the value of knowledge and never stop learning. (We’ve got you covered here, too. Go check the Top Trading Books if you’re a trader and stop by the Top Books on Investing if you’re an investor). 💚 Final Thoughts: Mind and Market in Harmony In the end, trading is never just one or the other. It’s not pure math, and it’s not pure mindset. It’s a dance between structure and instinct, strategy and psychology. The ones who get it right aren’t just great at reading charts—they’re great at reading themselves.
SP:SPXEducation
by TradingView
17
Idea #100 - In this market, it BETTER be a good one: LONG WMTIt's been a while since I posted an idea and to those who follow me I am sorry/not sorry. I didn't post for a few reasons: 1) I know that there are people who trade my ideas despite my warnings/disclaimers and I didn't like how the market was acting for the last couple of weeks (rightly, as it turns out) and I didn't want anyone else to get caught up in this unnecessarily. I have been continuing to personally trade my system, with mixed results (to be expected in this market), but I wanted to make #100 a good one. 2) I wanted to do a summary of the ideas I've posted so far with #100 and wanted to get that information together first. 3) I think posting this now can provide some insights as to how to deal with market washouts calmly and with confidence, with things that could apply to most trading systems, I think. So first, lets deal with the idea at hand. I chose WMT because: a) it is historically a top 10% stock in terms of daily % return for how I trade, so if anyone decided to follow me on this trade (see disclaimer below), it was at least a stock that has historically done well. And by well, I mean 1355-0 W/L record well, with an AVERAGE gain of 5.16% per trade for all 1355 trades (backtested and actual trades combined) going back through every market meltdown since 1972. b) This is the kind of market that makes it FAR more likely that trades will take a long time to play out. MUCH longer than average. So again, if I have to hold this a long time, I want a quality stock that has a long track record of surviving long downtrends in the market. I can't think of a better retail stock to own during a recession, which I think is a certainty at this point, it's just a question of when it becomes official and how long it lasts. WMT is already the retailer of choice for many, and if saving money becomes a requirement for many more, WMT will steal a lot of business from more expensive retailers. c) despite the recent carnage for it and the market, WMT is still above it's 200d MA and solidly in an uptrend. I always like trading stocks in uptrends. Hopefully it stays in one long enough for me to make my money and run. Lot 1 opened today at the close at 87.82 Per my usual strategy, I'll add to my position at the close on any day it still rates as a “buy” and I will use FPC (first profitable close) to exit any lot on the day it closes at any profit. As always - this is intended as "edutainment" and my perspective on what I am or would be doing, not a recommendation for you to buy or sell. Act accordingly and invest at your own risk. DYOR and only make investments that make good financial sense for you in your current situation. _______________________________ So there's my case for WMT. Now here's the case for why I'm trading anything using my system right now. The first idea I posted here was on June 22nd of this past summer. Since the close that day, the Nasdaq's return is actually negative (-1.48%) and the S&P 500 is up marginally (+2.7%). Since June 22nd, I have logged (timestamped) here every buy and sell of every lot of every idea since then. That amounts to a total of 330 lots traded. In the time since, 289 of those trades closed with a gain, 37 are still open and negative, and two were opened today (this one and an add to RDDT) which are neither winning nor losing yet. That's an 87.6% win rate so far. INCLUDING the 37 trades that are losers right now (the losers include 8 lots that are down 30% or more and two options trades that each lost 100%), the AVERAGE return on those 330 trades is +1.88% EACH. That translates to .11% per day held - almost 3x the long term average daily return for stocks and almost 8x the average daily return of the S&P 500 since June 22. Annualized, that's 27% rate of return and I was on pace for a 36% annualized rate of return on these trades before this market swoon hit. Compared to -1.48% and 2.4% for the indices, it's been a pretty good 9 months of trading, but actually below my system's long term average. The profit factor on these trades (including the open losers) is currently 1.98 (it was over 2.5 2 weeks ago before the market collapse began). The average holding period is 17 days, but that is skewed longer by 10 lots of PXS that I've been holding for over 4 months each. The median hold length for all 330 trades is 5 trading days and the most common holding period (including the 37 still open losers) is ONE trading day. OK, this turned out to be a longer post than I intended, so I'll post another idea tomorrow with some thoughts about dealing with trading in down markets. To everyone who is reading this and especially those who are following me - thanks for the follows and for taking the time to read this whole thing. Be safe trading out there!
NYSE:WMTLong
by redwingcoach
24