Shatter the Comparison Trap: Elevate Yourself Through Self-FocusComparing yourself to others can actually be a beneficial emotion. It's a desire to improve yourself, a drive to strive for excellence, and a way to compete with the best in the field. This can inspire traders to develop their skills, explore new ideas and approaches, take calculated risks, and optimize their time and actions effectively.
However, not everyone knows how to manage their emotions properly. At some point, comparing yourself to others can shift from a motivational force to a detrimental state. Instead of fostering self-improvement, it can lead to what we can call “self-beating up,” where traders become overly critical of themselves. This shift can hinder personal growth and create a cascade of problems.
In this post, we will explore strategies for managing the tendency to compare yourself to others in trading, transforming what can be a potential obstacle into a powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth. Let’s dive into how to effectively harness this emotional state and turn it into a positive driving force on your trading journey.
📍 Causes And Consequences
Comparing your self to others in trading is a common emotion that can emerge when a trader witnesses the success of their peers, often resulting in feelings of resentment or disappointment regarding their own performance. This sentiment can be particularly intense when traders measure themselves against friends, acquaintances, or even anonymous traders in online trading communities. As a result, the pressure to match the achievements of others can lead to negative self-reflection and hinder personal growth in the trading journey.
📍 When Do We Start Comparing Our Trading Journey To Someone Else's ?
🔹 Social Media and Forums: The rise of social media and online forums has made it incredibly easy for traders to share their successes. Seeing others post about their impressive gains or profitabe trades can be discouraging, especially when traders feel that their own results are lacking in comparison.
🔹 Comparing Results: Many traders fall into the habit of constantly measuring their performance against that of others. Witnessing peers excel can lead to dissatisfaction with their own progress and foster a distorted view of their own abilities.
🔹 Novice Success: It's often particularly frustrating to observe newcomers achieve quick success, seemingly with minimal effort. This can breed resentment among more experienced traders and leave them questioning their own skills and strategies.
🔹 Lack of Progress: When traders perceive stagnation or a lack of significant success, they may turn to others for comparison. If they feel they're not advancing as expected, they might increasingly look to peers who appear to be making strides.
🔹 Exaggerated Expectations: Many traders set ambitious targets, such as aiming for a specific percentage of profits within a certain timeframe (e.g., 10% per month). Failing to reach these goals—especially in light of others' apparent successes—can lead to feelings of frustration and inadequacy.
📍 Constantly Comparing Yourself To Others Can Hinder Your Trading Journey
🔹 Overestimating Other People's Strategies: Observing the success of others might prompt traders to impulsively alter their strategies in an attempt to replicate those results. This can result in inconsistency in their trading approach and hinder genuine growth, as they may abandon their own tested methods for strategies that might not align with their trading style.
🔹 Negative Emotions: Consistent comparison can generate negative feelings such as resentment and frustration when faced with another's accomplishments. These emotions can cloud judgment and adversely affect decision-making processes, potentially leading to poor trading choices and increased risk-taking behavior.
🔹 Social Isolation: In some cases, the act of comparison may prompt traders to withdraw from social interactions with more successful peers. This distancing can limit opportunities for collaboration, learning, and mentorship within the trading community, which are crucial for personal and professional development.
🔹 Discussing Other People's Successes: Focusing on and discussing the achievements of others—often in a negative or envious light—can distract traders from recognizing and valuing their own progress. This ongoing comparison can breed a cycle of negativity that diminishes motivation, as traders might overlook their own achievements while fixating on the successes of others.
📍 Constantly Comparing Yourself To Others In Trading Can Harm Your Long-term Success
🔹 Impulsive Decisions: Constantly measuring yourself against others can lead to a desire to catch up or replicate another's success. This urgency may cause traders to take unnecessary risks and make impulsive decisions that deviate from their strategies. Such behavior often results in losses and undermines long-term success.
🔹 Decreased Focus: When traders become fixated on comparisons, they tend to lose sight of their individual trading strategies and personal goals. This distraction can detract from their analytical effectiveness and compromise their decision-making processes, leading to bad results.
🔹 Emotional Burnout: Ongoing comparisons can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and perpetual dissatisfaction, leading to emotional exhaustion. As these feelings accumulate, traders may struggle to maintain motivation and enthusiasm for trading, which is essential for sustained performance.
🔹 Breakdown in Discipline: The pressure to achieve results quickly or to match the performance of more successful traders can erode a trader’s discipline. This might result in erratic trading behavior, divergence from well-established strategies, and heightened vulnerability to losses, thereby jeopardizing their trading journey.
🔹 Frustration and Disappointment: Constantly measuring progress against others typically fosters chronic dissatisfaction with own performance. This incessant fixation can lead to ongoing frustration, which in turn can diminish confidence and negatively affect trading outcomes.
📍 How To Stop Constantly Comparing Yourself To Others ?
🔹 Focus on Your Goals: Concentrate on your personal trading objectives and strategies. Instead of comparing yourself to others, turn your attention inward. Remember that not everyone can achieve the same level of success as Warren Buffett, regardless of their abilities. It's not about having lofty ambitions; what matters is the gradual progress toward your goals. Make sure to continually develop yourself, steadily raising your own standards and aspirations.
🔹 Cultivate Reasonable Confidence: Question whether everyone who claims to achieve returns of 50-100% has genuinely earned those results. Avoid falling for misleading advertisements; trust only what can be verified. Remember, knowledgeable traders take pride in their expertise, not their wealth.
🔹 Embrace Development and Learning: Commit to continuously improving your skills and knowledge. The more you learn, the more confident you'll become in your abilities—and the less you'll find yourself fixated on the achievements of others.
🔹 Foster Positive Thinking: Shift your mindset by replacing constant comparison with admiration for the successes of others. Use their accomplishments as inspiration for your own growth and development.
🔹 Build Community and Support: Connect with other traders to share experiences and offer mutual support. Not only can you gain valuable knowledge and learn from the mistakes of others, but you will also appreciate that every achievement requires significant time and effort.
🔹 Practice Meditation and Relaxation: Practice relaxation techniques into your routine to help reduce stress and emotional strain.
📍 Conclusion
Cease the habit of comparing yourself to others, as it often clouds your unique path to success. Instead, redirect your energy toward your personal development by setting clear and meaningful goals that resonate with your aspirations. Cultivate a deep belief in your own potential and capabilities, recognizing that your journey is distinct and valuable. Embrace the idea that with dedication and resilience, success will naturally unfold as a result of your commitment to growth and self-improvement!
Grass Isn't Greener On The Other Side. It Is Greener Where You Water It
Traders, If you liked this educational post🎓, give it a boost 🚀 and drop a comment 📣
Community ideas
Options Blueprint Series [Advanced]: Reverse Time Iron Condors1. Introduction
In today’s advanced options trading discussion, we introduce a unique structure—"Reverse Time Iron Condors"—using Corn Futures Options (ZCH2025). This sophisticated strategy leverages options with different expiration dates, allowing traders to position themselves for a potential market move in the mid-term.
The Corn market has recently shown signs of slowing momentum, as indicated by technical indicators such as ADX (Average Directional Index) and RSI (Relative Strength Index) applied to ADX. Our analysis shows that RSI applied to ADX is oversold, and RSI is approaching a key crossover signal that could confirm an increase in volatility. Given this setup, the Reverse Diagonal Iron Condor (a.k.a. Reverse Time Iron Condor) structure aligns well with the market’s current conditions over two expiration cycles.
CME Product Specs (Corn Futures ZCH2025)
Contract Size: 5,000 bushels per contract.
Tick Size: 1/4 cent per bushel (0.0025), or $12.50 per tick.
Required Margin: USD $1,200 per contract at the time of producing this article.
2. Market Setup & Analysis
To understand why the Reverse Time Iron Condor is suitable for Corn Futures right now, let’s delve into the technical picture:
ADX Analysis: Corn Futures’ Daily ADX has been dropping, indicating weakening momentum. This signals a period of consolidation, where price volatility remains low.
RSI of ADX: By applying the RSI to the ADX values, we notice that ADX is now oversold, suggesting that momentum could soon pick up.
RSI Crossover: The RSI is nearing a crossover above its moving average, confirming that a new impulse in momentum would be in the process of potentially occur. This technical picture suggests the market could stay in a low-volatility phase for now but break out in the near future.
Based on this technical setup, the strategy we present is to capitalize on the short-term consolidation while preparing for a potential breakout, using the Reverse Diagonal Iron Condor structure.
3. Strategy Breakdown: Reverse Diagonal Iron Condor
The Reverse Diagonal Iron Condor is a unique options structure where you sell longer-term options and buy shorter-term options. This setup generates a negative theta position, meaning time decay works slightly against the trader. However, the strategy compensates for this through positive gamma, which accelerates the delta as the underlying market moves, especially during a breakout. This combination allows the position to profit from a sharp move in either direction, with relatively limited cost.
For this trade on Corn Futures (ZCH2025), the structure is as follows:
Sell 450 Call (21 Feb 2025), Buy 455 Call (27 Dec 2024): This creates a short diagonal call spread, where the February short call decays slowly due to the longer expiration, and the December long call acts as a short-term hedge against an early rise in prices.
Sell 410 Put (21 Feb 2025), Buy 405 Put (27 Dec 2024): Similarly, this forms a short diagonal put spread. The February short put is subject to less time decay, while the December long put protects against a sharp downward move before its expiration.
Key Mechanics:
Time Decay (Theta): Although the trade has negative theta, the impact of time decay is relatively small because the February options decay slowly due to their longer-term expiration.
Gamma and Delta: The positive gamma in this position means that if a breakout occurs before the December expiration, the delta will increase significantly, making the trade more sensitive to price changes. This could more than offset the negative theta, allowing the trade to capture large gains from a significant price move.
Objective:
The goal is for Corn prices to experience an impulsive move (either up or down) before the December 2024 expiration of the long legs, allowing the positive gamma to boost the position’s delta. If this breakout occurs, the potential profits from the price move will likely surpass the small losses due to time decay. The structure is ideal for markets in consolidation that may be on the verge of a volatility surge, as the falling ADX and oversold RSI suggest.
This strategy is particularly well-suited for Corn Futures (ZCH2025), given the current technical setup, where a near-term consolidation phase might be followed by an explosive move in either direction. The success of this trade relies on a timely breakout occurring before the December expiration, after which the position may need adjustment to manage risk.
4. Risk Profile at Initial Setup
The initial risk profile for this trade reminds us of an Iron Condor risk profile, with the best case being a range-bound corn market between 410 and 450.
Important Consideration: This risk profile does not reflect the final outcome because the trade spans two different options cycles. The December options will expire first, which means adjustments may be necessary after that expiration to maintain protection.
Note on Options Simulation Tool:
It's important to mention that the options simulation tool provided by TradingView is currently still in its beta stage. While it offers useful insights for analyzing and visualizing options strategies, traders should be aware that certain features may be limited, and results might not always reflect all real-world conditions. For a more comprehensive analysis, it is recommended to complement the simulation with other tools such as the Options Strategy Simulator available in the CME Group website.
5. Optional Trade Management After December Expiration
Once the December 2024 long options expire, you will face two possible scenarios. In both cases, managing the February 2025 short options is crucial:
o Scenario 1: Corn Prices Remain Range-Bound:
If Corn futures continue to trade within the 450-410 range, the December long options will expire worthless.
In this case, the strategy shifts to managing the February short options, which will benefit from time decay. Monitor the market closely and consider whether to buy new protection for the remaining February short options.
o Scenario 2: Corn Prices Break Out:
If Corn futures break above 450 or below 410 prior to the December expiration, the February short options could expose the position to significant risk if we allow them to expire.
One potential action is to purchase new long options within the range (for example, buy the 445 call and the 415 put using 21 February 2025 expiration). While many other actions could be valid, a common and probably the simplest approach could be to close all legs in time for a likely profit at this moment.
6. Risk Management
Effective risk management is essential in any options strategy, especially one as advanced as a Reverse Diagonal Iron Condor. Below are key points to ensure this trade stays within your risk tolerance:
o Position Sizing:
Given the complexity of this trade, ensure that the size of your position fits within your overall risk management plan. Avoid over-leveraging, as unexpected price movements can lead to significant losses once the December long options expire.
o Monitor Key Levels:
Keep an eye on the 450 strike (resistance) and 410 strike (support). If Corn breaks these levels early in the trade, consider closing the position or making adjustments.
o Volatility Management:
The success of this trade hinges on an increase in market momentum.
7. Conclusion
The Reverse Diagonal Iron Condor is an advanced options strategy where the long positions have a shorter expiration than the short positions, creating a negative theta position. Instead of benefiting from time decay as in a traditional Iron Condor, this strategy is designed to take advantage of expected volatility increases over time. By selling longer-term options and buying shorter-term options, traders are positioning themselves for a volatility breakout or significant price movement before the near-term options expire.
In this setup, time decay has a limited negative impact on the position, but the key advantage lies in the positive gamma. This means that if a breakout occurs, the position’s delta will accelerate, potentially outpacing the slight negative effect of theta. Traders should closely monitor the December expiration, as the success of the trade hinges on the anticipated large move happening before this date. This structure is particularly well-suited for Corn Futures (ZCH2025), given the falling ADX and RSI, which suggest a potential momentum shift. The strategy is designed to benefit from a significant price move with limited cost, assuming the breakout occurs within the timeframe of the December long options.
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.
THE MUST-SEE CHART YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED!The TVC:VIX VIX (Volatility Index), often referred to as the "Fear Gauge," measures market volatility expectations based on options prices for the SP:SPX S&P 500 index over the next 30 days. It reflects the sentiment of market participants about future volatility, with higher values indicating more anticipated volatility (often associated with market fear or uncertainty) and lower values reflecting calm market conditions.
Investors frequently use the TVC:VIX VIX as a tool for assessing market risk, especially during periods of market turbulence or significant economic events. Since it tends to rise when the stock market declines, it is often seen as a hedge against market downturns. It's important for traders and analysts, particularly in the context of options trading and for assessing overall market sentiment.
The TVC:VIX VIX's relationship with the cryptocurrency market, particularly with BNC:BLX Bitcoin and other major assets, can offer insights into market sentiment across traditional and digital financial spaces. While the TVC:VIX VIX primarily reflects volatility in the U.S. equity market, changes in its level can indirectly impact cryptocurrencies in the following ways:
1. Market Sentiment Correlation:
High VIX: A rising VIX indicates fear or uncertainty in traditional markets. In times of high volatility, investors tend to move away from risky assets, including cryptocurrencies, leading to potential sell-offs in both markets. However, some may consider Bitcoin a hedge during extreme cases of fear, driving demand as a "digital gold" asset.
Low VIX: A lower VIX reflects calm and stability, which may encourage investors to take on more risk. This could benefit high-risk, high-reward assets like cryptocurrencies, potentially driving capital into Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptos.
2. Liquidity and Risk-Off/Risk-On Dynamics:
In a risk-off environment (high VIX), institutional and retail investors often reduce exposure to volatile assets like crypto, leading to a potential liquidity crunch and sell-offs.
Conversely, a risk-on environment (low VIX) may signal that investors are more willing to take risks, increasing liquidity and driving up crypto prices.
3. Crypto's Evolving Correlation with Equities:
Over time, there has been an evolving correlation between the S&P 500 and Bitcoin, particularly during times of high macroeconomic stress (e.g., during the COVID-19 pandemic or interest rate hikes). As VIX tracks equity market sentiment, rising volatility in equities often spills into crypto markets.
In bull markets or periods of equity recovery, crypto markets may also benefit from an inflow of capital, reducing VIX levels and increasing crypto prices simultaneously.
4. Hedging and Diversification:
Some institutional investors use the VIX as part of their hedging strategy when managing portfolios with exposure to equities and cryptocurrencies. For example, a high VIX may prompt them to move into stablecoins or reduce exposure to speculative assets.
In the future, more sophisticated products like a "crypto volatility index" may emerge, mirroring the role of the VIX but for digital assets.
5. Macro Events:
Major macroeconomic events, such as central bank decisions or geopolitical events, can cause both the VIX to rise and have similar effects on crypto volatility. During such periods, correlations between traditional and digital markets may strengthen.
feargreedmeter.com
The VIX (Volatility Index) and the Crypto Fear and Greed Index serve similar purposes by gauging market sentiment, but they do so in different ways and in distinct markets. Below is a comparison between the two:
1. Purpose and Market Focus
VIX (Volatility Index):
Market: Traditional financial markets, specifically the S&P 500.
Purpose: Measures expected volatility in the S&P 500 over the next 30 days based on options prices. It’s often used as an indicator of fear or complacency in the U.S. stock market.
Focus: Short-term volatility expectations, acting as a “fear gauge” for equity market participants.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index:
Market: Cryptocurrency markets, with a strong emphasis on Bitcoin.
Purpose: Measures the emotional sentiment of the crypto market by analysing multiple factors to determine whether the market is driven by fear or greed.
Focus: Broader emotional sentiment rather than technical market volatility. It tracks how much fear or optimism is present among crypto traders.
2. Inputs and Calculation
VIX:
Derived from the implied volatility of options on the S&P 500. It looks at a range of call and put options to estimate expected price swings in the market.
Key Factors: Options market data, specifically the prices investors are willing to pay to hedge against future volatility in the stock market.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index:
Combines various inputs to capture overall market sentiment. These include:
Volatility: Tracks Bitcoin volatility and compares it with historical trends. Increased volatility is associated with fear.
Market Momentum/Volume: Rising buying volumes signal greed while declining volumes suggest fear.
Social Media Sentiment: Analyses mentions, hashtags, and engagement on social media related to crypto topics, reflecting hype or panic.
Surveys : Sometimes include survey data from market participants.
Dominance: Focuses on Bitcoin’s dominance in the market. Rising dominance suggests fear (as investors flock to Bitcoin for safety) while decreasing dominance implies a risk-on environment.
Google Trends: Looks at search query trends for cryptocurrency terms, reflecting public interest and sentiment.
3. Interpretation
VIX:
Higher VIX (>20): Indicates high expected volatility, often interpreted as fear in the market. Investors are anticipating larger price swings, usually in a negative direction.
Lower VIX (<20): Suggests a calm market with lower expected volatility, often indicating complacency or a bullish outlook in the equity markets.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index:
0-24 (Extreme Fear): Indicates significant fear in the crypto market. Traders may be overly concerned about price drops, which could lead to buying opportunities based on contrarian strategies.
25-49 (Fear): The market is still cautious, with more sellers than buyers.
50-74 (Greed): Optimism and confidence are high, with traders taking on more risk.
75-100 (Extreme Greed): Overconfidence or euphoria in the market. This is often seen as a warning that the market may be overbought, making a correction likely.
4. Time Horizon
VIX:
It focuses on expected short-term volatility (the next 30 days), meaning it's more of a short-term indicator of market swings.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index:
A broader measure of overall sentiment, not specifically tied to volatility or timeframes, it captures emotional extremes in the market that could persist for days, weeks, or longer.
5. Use Cases for Investors
VIX:
Used by traditional investors to gauge risk in the stock market. When the VIX is high, it can be a signal to hedge positions, reduce exposure to equities, or take advantage of volatility-driven strategies like options trading.
During periods of low volatility, investors may become complacent and could be blindsided by sudden spikes in the VIX, often driven by external events (e.g., geopolitical issues or economic reports).
Crypto Fear and Greed Index:
Helps crypto traders assess the general market mood. Extreme fear can signal potential buying opportunities (contrarian strategy), while extreme greed may indicate an overheated market, possibly a time to sell or de-risk.
Useful for emotional market analysis in a space that is known for strong, irrational sentiment swings, making it a helpful tool for timing market entries and exits.
6. Impact on Price
VIX:
Typically inversely correlated with stock prices. A rising VIX often accompanies a falling stock market, and vice versa.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index:
A sentiment indicator is not directly tied to price movements, but extreme readings can signal turning points or potential corrections in crypto prices due to market overreactions.
If you have any questions, please reach out!
What Experienced Traders SayHey! In this post, I would like to share seven unexpected tips that can transform your trading approach and mindset.
These insights, collected from various sources and trader experiences, challenge conventional wisdom. Implementing these principles can significantly enhance your trading performance and decision-making .
7 UNEXPECTED TIPS
1️⃣ Trading More or Longer is Not Better: Quality over quantity should be your mantra; focus on high-value trades rather than increasing volume. Trade proven setups.
2️⃣ Trading is Not About the Market; It's About You: Your mindset, discipline, and emotional control play a pivotal role in your success. Don't gamble!
3️⃣ The Focus is Not on Winning; It's on Not Losing: Risk only what you can afford to lose. Protecting your capital should be your primary goal — profits will naturally follow.
4️⃣ Demanding Certainty is Not Productive: Think probabilistically. Embrace the uncertainty of the markets; flexibility is key to adapting your strategies.
5️⃣ A Trader Does Not Need to Be a Genius: Successful trading is about consistency and learning, not innate talent. Get smart.
6️⃣ The Harder You Try To Make Money, The Harder It Becomes:
LET IT GO! Sometimes, letting go of the need for immediate profits can lead to better results.
7️⃣ How Often You Win is Less Important Than You Think: Focus on your overall strategy and risk management rather than just win rates. You can be PROFITABLE with 33% win rate!
What do you think about these unexpected tips? Have you experienced any of these insights in your trading? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences — drop a comment below!
If you found these tips valuable, please give this post a like and follow for more insights!
Common Mistakes to Avoid in TradingCommon Mistakes to Avoid in Trading
You have probably heard that trading is risky and that traders often make silly mistakes. At FXOpen, we know that many questions arise during trading regardless of your level of experience. In this article, we will discuss the common trading mistakes that you might make even if you have been in the markets for a long time.
1. Not Using a Trading Plan or a Trading Journal
Trading without a trading plan can lead to haphazard decision-making and a lack of accountability. You can consider using a trading plan to make decisions about entering and exiting trades. A trading journal could help you track your win/loss rate and learn from your mistakes. It helps identify patterns and adjust strategies. These tools are essential for long-term success.
2. Emotional Trading
Emotional trading is driven by impulsive decisions based on fear and greed. Without logic and analysis, traders are more likely to make mistakes and take unnecessary risks. A trader driven by fear may exit a trade early, missing out on potential profits, while a trader driven by greed may hold a losing trade for too long. It’s important to always remain calm and rational.
3. Guessing
Guessing is one of the trading mistakes to avoid. It’s based on speculation and assumptions rather than analysis and research. Traders who guess may get lucky, but they are more likely to lose money over time. Trading requires deep analysis of markets, economic indicators, and news events, it’s not a guessing game. It may be more effective to rely on data-driven strategies to achieve long-term profitability.
4. Not Using Risk and Money Management Tools
Special tools for trading help manage risk and preserve capital. Risk management instruments such as stop loss, limit orders, and position sizing help traders limit their losses and protect their profits. In turn, money management tools like risk/reward ratios, diversification, and leverage control help optimise returns while minimising risk. It might be a good idea to use both types of tools.
5. Taking Too Many Positions
Taking too many positions is risky because it increases exposure to market volatility and unpredictability. In these cases, it becomes hard to effectively manage each trade. Having too many positions can lead to over-trading, where trades are made without a clear plan. The theory states that it’s better to use fewer positions to maintain control over the situation.
6. Overleveraging
Overleveraging refers to borrowing too much money from a broker, which results in larger losses if you fail. To avoid excessive leverage, traders should establish strict risk management rules and follow them. You may consider using leverage if you fully understand the risks involved, but it’s not advisable to borrow more than you can afford to lose.
7. Revenge Trading
Revenge trading is trading after a failure in an attempt to compensate for losses by taking risks and making impulsive trades. It’s often accompanied by anger and frustration. To avoid this, many traders take a break and step away from the market. The best way to handle this is to identify what went wrong and how to improve the situation. Don’t let emotions cloud your judgement.
8. Forgetting About Investment Time Horizons
An investment time horizon is the length of time you plan to hold a trade open. If you are aiming for the long term, you can afford to take more risk and trade assets that may yield higher returns over time. Still, in this case, you will need more capital to afford price fluctuations. But if you are focused on the short term, you will need to think about price volatility and fees, which will be higher if you open many trades.
9. Following the Crowd
Following the crowd leads to making decisions based on other people’s opinions rather than sound financial analysis. It can be tempting to buy or sell based on the latest news, which can lead to buying high and selling low. Usually, the crowd doesn’t have the same investment goals and risk tolerance as you do, so their decisions may not suit you. Explore the potential options yourself.
10. Incorrect Hedging and Diversification Strategies
Hedging and diversification help manage risk, but they must be used correctly. Hedging can help limit downside risk, but it can also limit potential gains. Diversification helps reduce the risks to a portfolio, but it doesn’t guarantee profits or protect against losses. Use both mindfully.
Trade on our TickTrader platform and use modern trading tools to achieve the best results. Explore our website to learn more.
How Do You Overcome Trading Mistakes?
Trading mistakes vary significantly and require different approaches, but here are some general techniques you may want to use:
- Analyse entry and exit points, market conditions, and other factors that may have caused the error.
- Try to understand what could have been done differently and how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
- Consider changing your approach to risk management and re-evaluate your overall trading plan.
- If you are struggling to overcome a mistake, learn how other traders dealt with it.
Trading mistakes are inevitable, but what matters is how you deal with them. If you are ready to start trading, you can open an FXOpen account.
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.
Dow Made a Parabolic Move: Did You See the Signs?
The Dow made an unsustainable Parabolic Arc that is a giant U-shaped pattern on Friday, September 27. Did you see the signs? I missed some of them, which lead to a much closer look at what price action moves lead up to a highly volatile ascent and steep drop that's also known as a "Pump and Dump".
The Parabolic move followed typical behaviors that can be seen through price action without needing any indicators. It happened in phases over 3-days, from September 25 - 27:
1. Day 1: A Peak High formed.
2. Day 1 - 2: Valley Low followed.
3. Day 2 - 3: Consolidation between the Peak High and Valley Low. Price action made stair-step moves that created a S&R Zone. Traders also refer to these moves as making multiple bases. An average number of bases is 3 - 4 during a parabolic move. The long consolidation can confuse many traders, including myself, because of no breakout from the Zone happened, especially to the downside. There was strong anticipation for a drop.
4. Day 3: A Triple Inside Day showed up to represent the tight "coiling" action from the consolidation to eventually spring out in an EXPLOSIVE move. The Triple Inside Day pattern that was part of the consolidation was a big giveaway of what's to come.
5. Day 3: A pullback from the consolidation, but was more like a fakeout to trap traders with the Trendbar Reversal, that often leads to no follow through by the bears to really drop. The second, opposing bar within the pattern is a setup for a reversal to the upside. Many traders get fooled by this pattern and drop out at this point, right before the long rally starts.
6. Day 3: Ascending Channel (also called a "Parabolic Channel") formed that is typical after a pullback to the downside before the greater ascent.
7. Day 3: Steep Vertical Ascent with a bullish bar that is 240 tics tall - an Exhaustion Phase.
8. Day 3: Reversal to the downside (that is comparable to or exceeds in length to the steep ascent) from the formation of an Evening Star. The Parabolic move ended with a steep, vertical descent.
______________________________________________
*Citation of Resources:
- Jet Toyco
- FX Open
- Pips 2 Profit
- Top 1 Markets
Cryptocurrency Trading Starter GuidePART 1
INTRODUCTION
What are Cryptocurrencies?
Cryptocurrencies are based on the fundamental idea of being decentralized digital money, created for use on the Internet. Bitcoin, introduced in 2008, was the pioneer in this field and remains the largest, most influential, and well-known of all. Since then, in just over a decade, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum have emerged as digital alternatives to government-issued money.
The most popular cryptocurrencies by market capitalization include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether (a stablecoin), and Solana. There are also others like Doge, Toncoin (from Telegram), and Chainlink, which are quite well-known. Some of these cryptocurrencies function similarly to Bitcoin, while others are based on different technologies or have additional features that allow them to do more than just transfer value.
Cryptocurrencies enable the transfer of value over the Internet without requiring the involvement of intermediaries like banks or payment processors. This facilitates nearly instant value transfers worldwide, at any time of the day, seven days a week, and with very low costs.
Most cryptocurrencies are not issued or controlled by governments or central entities. Instead, they are managed by peer-to-peer computer networks that operate using free and open-source software, allowing virtually anyone who wants to participate to do so.
If there’s no bank or government involved, how is the security of cryptocurrencies ensured? Security is achieved through a technology known as blockchain.
A cryptocurrency's blockchain is similar to a bank’s ledger or balance sheet. Each cryptocurrency has its own blockchain, which serves as a record where all transactions made with that currency are verified and continuously updated.
Why are Cryptocurrencies Considered the Future of Finance?
Cryptocurrencies are the first real alternative that challenges the traditional banking system, offering notable advantages that position them above traditional payment methods and existing forms of investment. They can be seen as "Money 2.0," a new type of cash born on the Internet, giving them the potential to become the fastest, most accessible, economical, secure, and global means of exchanging value the world has ever seen.
Cryptocurrencies can be used to purchase goods and services or as an investment option. Unlike traditional currencies, they cannot be manipulated by a central authority since no such entity exists. Regardless of what happens with a government, your cryptocurrencies will remain protected and secure.
Digital currencies provide equal access, regardless of a person's country of origin or residence. As long as you have a smartphone or a device with an Internet connection, you can access cryptocurrencies just like anyone else.
Cryptocurrencies offer unique opportunities to expand people's economic freedom worldwide. Without physical borders, digital currencies facilitate free trade, even in countries where the government strictly controls its citizens' finances. In regions where inflation is a significant challenge, cryptocurrencies can serve as a viable alternative to unstable fiat currencies for saving or making transactions.
Why Invest in Cryptocurrencies?
You can buy both small and large amounts of cryptocurrencies since it’s possible to purchase fractions of them. For example, you can buy Bitcoin with any amount, such as $1, $25, or $50.
Unlike stocks or bonds, cryptocurrencies can be easily transferred to anyone or used to pay for goods and services in just seconds or minutes.
Millions of people include Bitcoin and other digital currencies in their investment portfolios.
Creating a secure account only takes a few minutes, and you can buy cryptocurrencies using a debit card or through a bank account.
Cryptocurrencies' high volatility means their prices can change abruptly, providing traders with the opportunity to take advantage of these price movements to make profits.
24/7 Market: Unlike traditional stock markets, cryptocurrency markets are always open, allowing traders to operate at any time of the day or night.
What is a Stablecoin?
Examples of Stablecoins:
USDC (USD Coin)
USDT (USD Tether)
PYUSD (PayPal's Stablecoin)
DAI
USDD
These are examples of price-stable cryptocurrencies known as stablecoins. You can think of these assets as "crypto dollars" because they are designed to reduce volatility and increase reliability. Stablecoins combine some of the best advantages of traditional cryptocurrencies, such as seamless global transactions, security, and privacy, with the valuable stability offered by fiat currencies.
These cryptocurrencies achieve this by linking their value to an external element, typically a fiat currency like the US dollar, a tangible asset such as gold, or the Euro.
This makes their value less likely to experience drastic fluctuations from one day to the next. This stability can improve their usefulness as a currency for daily transactions, as both buyers and merchants can trust that the value of transactions will remain relatively constant over more extended periods.
Additionally, they can serve as a safe and consistent way to save money, similar to a traditional savings account.
Part 2 will be published tomorrow
I hope this is valuable to you!
If you liked it, please support me with a like!
If you want to learn more, follow me!
If you didn’t like it, I welcome any criticism or comments!
Weekly Seasonality Dynamic Kelly (Indicator Discussion)# Enhancing Trading Strategies with the Weekly Seasonality Dynamic Kelly Criterion Indicator
Amidst this pursuit to chase price, a common pitfall emerges: an overemphasis on price movements without adequate attention to risk management, probabilistic analysis, and strategic position sizing. To address these challenges, I developed the **Weekly Seasonality with Dynamic Kelly Criterion Indicator**. It is designed to refocus traders on essential aspects of trading, such as risk management and probabilistic returns, thereby catering to both short-term swing traders and long-term investors aiming for tax-efficient positions.
## The Motivation Behind the Indicator
### Overemphasis on Price: A Common Trading Pitfall
Many traders concentrate heavily on price charts and technical indicators, often neglecting the underlying principles of risk management and probabilistic analysis. This overemphasis on price can lead to:
- **Overtrading:** Making frequent trades based solely on price movements without considering the associated risks.
- **Poor Risk Management:** Failing to set appropriate stop-loss levels or position sizes, increasing the potential for significant losses.
- **Emotional Trading:** Letting emotions drive trading decisions rather than objective analysis, which can result in impulsive and irrational trades.
### The Need for Balanced Focus
To achieve sustained trading success, it is crucial to balance price analysis with robust risk management and probabilistic strategies. Key areas of focus include:
1. **Risk Management:** Implementing strategies to protect capital, such as setting stop-loss orders and determining appropriate position sizes based on risk tolerance.
2. **Probabilistic Analysis:** Assessing the likelihood of various market outcomes to make informed trading decisions.
3. **Swing Trading Percent Returns:** Capitalizing on short- to medium-term price movements by buying assets below their average return and selling them above.
## Introducing the Weekly Seasonality with Dynamic Kelly Criterion Indicator
The **Weekly Seasonality with Dynamic Kelly Criterion Indicator** is designed to integrate these essential elements into a comprehensive tool that aids traders in making informed, risk-aware decisions. Below, we explore the key components and functionalities of this indicator.
### Key Components of the Indicator
1. **Average Return (%)**
- **Definition:** The mean percentage return for each week across multiple years.
- **Purpose:** Serves as a benchmark to identify weeks with above or below-average performance, guiding buy and sell decisions.
2. **Positive Percentage (%)**
- **Definition:** The proportion of weeks that yielded positive returns.
- **Purpose:** Indicates the consistency of positive returns, helping traders gauge the reliability of certain weeks for trading.
3. **Volatility (%)**
- **Definition:** The standard deviation of weekly returns.
- **Purpose:** Measures the variability of returns, providing insights into the risk associated with trading during specific weeks.
4. **Kelly Ratio**
- **Definition:** A mathematical formula used to determine the optimal size of a series of bets to maximize the logarithmic growth of capital.
- **Purpose:** Balances potential returns against risks, guiding traders on the appropriate position size to take.
5. **Adjusted Kelly Fraction**
- **Definition:** The Kelly Ratio adjusted based on user-defined risk tolerance and external factors like Federal Reserve (Fed) stance.
- **Purpose:** Personalizes the Kelly Criterion to align with individual risk preferences and market conditions, enhancing risk management.
6. **Position Size ($)**
- **Definition:** The calculated amount to invest based on the Adjusted Kelly Fraction.
- **Purpose:** Ensures that position sizes are aligned with risk management strategies, preventing overexposure to any single trade.
7. **Max Drawdown (%)**
- **Definition:** The maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio, before a new peak is attained.
- **Purpose:** Assesses the worst-case scenario for losses, crucial for understanding potential capital erosion.
### Functionality and Benefits
- **Weekly Data Aggregation:** Aggregates weekly returns across multiple years to provide a robust statistical foundation for decision-making.
- **Quarterly Filtering:** Allows users to filter weeks based on quarters, enabling seasonality analysis and tailored strategies aligned with specific timeframes.
- **Dynamic Risk Adjustment:** Incorporates the Dynamic Kelly Criterion to adjust position sizes in real-time based on changing risk profiles and market conditions.
- **User-Friendly Visualization:** Presents all essential metrics in an organized Summary Table, facilitating quick and informed decision-making.
## The Origin of the Kelly Criterion and Addressing Its Limitations
### Understanding the Kelly Criterion
The Kelly Criterion, developed by John L. Kelly Jr. in 1956, is a formula used to determine the optimal size of a series of bets to maximize the long-term growth of capital. The formula considers both the probability of winning and the payout ratio, balancing potential returns against the risk of loss.
**Kelly Formula:**
\
Where:
- \( b \) = the net odds received on the wager ("b to 1")
- \( p \) = probability of winning
- \( q \) = probability of losing ( \( q = 1 - p \) )
### The Risk of Ruin
While the Kelly Criterion is effective in optimizing growth, it carries inherent risks:
- **Overbetting:** If the input probabilities or payout ratios are misestimated, the Kelly Criterion can suggest overly aggressive position sizes, leading to significant losses.
- **Assumption of Constant Probabilities:** The criterion assumes that probabilities remain constant, which is rarely the case in dynamic markets.
- **Ignoring External Factors:** Traditional Kelly implementations do not account for external factors such as Federal Reserve rates, margin requirements, or market volatility, which can impact risk and returns.
### Addressing Traditional Limitations
Recognizing these limitations, the **Weekly Seasonality with Dynamic Kelly Criterion Indicator** introduces enhancements to the traditional Kelly approach:
- **Incorporation of Fed Stance:** Adjusts the Kelly Fraction based on the current stance of the Federal Reserve (neutral, dovish, or hawkish), reflecting broader economic conditions that influence market behavior.
- **Margin and Leverage Considerations:** Accounts for margin rates and leverage, ensuring that position sizes remain within manageable risk parameters.
- **Dynamic Adjustments:** Continuously updates position sizes based on real-time risk assessments and probabilistic analyses, mitigating the risk of ruin associated with static Kelly implementations.
## How the Indicator Aids Traders
### For Short-Term Swing Traders
Short-term swing traders thrive on capitalizing over weekly price movements. The indicator aids them by:
- **Identifying Favorable Weeks:** Highlights weeks with above-average returns and favorable volatility, guiding entry and exit points.
- **Optimal Position Sizing:** Utilizes the Adjusted Kelly Fraction to determine the optimal amount to invest, balancing potential returns with risk exposure.
- **Probabilistic Insights:** Provides metrics like Positive Percentage (%) and Kelly Ratio to assess the likelihood of favorable outcomes, enhancing decision-making.
### For Long-Term Tax-Free Investors
This is effectively a drop-in replacement for DCA which uses fixed position size that doesn't change based on market conditions, as a result, it's like catching multiple falling knifes by the blade and smiling with blood on your hand... I don't know about you, but I'd rather juggle by the hilt and look like an actual professional...
Long-term investors, especially those seeking tax-free positions (e.g., through retirement accounts), benefit from:
- **Consistent Risk Management:** Ensures that position sizes are aligned with long-term capital preservation strategies.
- **Seasonality Analysis:** Allows for strategic positioning based on historical performance trends across different weeks and quarters.
- **Dynamic Adjustments:** Adapts to changing market conditions, maintaining optimal risk profiles over extended investment horizons.
### Developers
Please double check the logic and functionality because I think there are a few issue and I need to crowd source solutions and be responsible about the code I publish. If you have corrections, please DM me or leave a respectful comment.
I want to publish this by the end of the year and include other things like highlighting triple witching weeks, adding columns for volume % stats, VaR and CVaR, alpha, beta (to see the seasonal alpha and beta based off a benchmark ticker and risk free rate ticker and other little goodies.
//@version=5
indicator("Weekly Seasonality with Dynamic Kelly Criterion", overlay=false, max_labels_count=500)
////////////
// Inputs //
////////////
// User Inputs
int startYearInput = input.int(2015, "Starting Year for Analysis", minval=1900)
float capitalInput = input.float(10000, "Available Capital ($)", minval=0)
// User-defined inputs
float riskToleranceInput = input.float(1.0, "Risk Tolerance (0-1)", minval=0, maxval=1)
float maxDrawdownInput = input.float(20.0, "Maximum Drawdown (%)", minval=0)
float marginRateInput = input.float(0.5, "Margin Rate (0-1)", minval=0.01, maxval=1)
float maintenanceRateInput = input.float(0.25, "Maintenance Rate (0-1)", minval=0, maxval=1)
string fedStanceInput = input.string("neutral", "Fed Stance", options= )
// Options to display the results
bool showTableInput = input.bool(true, "Show Weekly Summary Table")
// Quarter Inputs
// Options to filter returns by specific quarters
bool q1Input = input.bool(true, "Q1")
bool q2Input = input.bool(false, "Q2")
bool q3Input = input.bool(false, "Q3")
bool q4Input = input.bool(false, "Q4")
/////////////////////////
// Function Definitions //
/////////////////////////
// Function to calculate adjusted Kelly Fraction based on Kelly Ratio, risk tolerance, and Fed stance
calculateAdjustedKellyFraction(float kellyRatio, float riskTolerance, string fedStance) =>
// Adjust Kelly Fraction based on risk tolerance
float adjustedKellyFraction = kellyRatio * riskTolerance
// Adjust based on Fed stance
float kellyAdjustment = fedStance == "dovish" ? 0.1 : fedStance == "hawkish" ? -0.1 : 0.0
adjustedKellyFraction := adjustedKellyFraction + kellyAdjustment
// Ensure Kelly fraction is within bounds
adjustedKellyFraction := math.max(math.min(adjustedKellyFraction, 1), -1)
adjustedKellyFraction
// Custom function to sum over an array
sumArray(float arr) =>
float total = 0.0
for i = 0 to array.size(arr) - 1
total += array.get(arr, i)
total
// Function to calculate standard deviation for returns
calculateStdDev(float returns) =>
int count = array.size(returns)
if count > 1
float avg = sumArray(returns) / count
float sumSqDiffs = 0.0
for i = 0 to count - 1
float val = array.get(returns, i)
float diff = val - avg
sumSqDiffs += diff * diff
float variance = sumSqDiffs / (count - 1)
math.sqrt(variance)
else
0.0
// Function to calculate Kelly Ratio
calculateKellyRatio(float returns) =>
float winCount = 0.0
float lossCount = 0.0
float totalWinReturn = 0.0
float totalLossReturn = 0.0
int n = array.size(returns)
for i = 0 to n - 1
float ret = array.get(returns, i)
if ret > 0
winCount += 1
totalWinReturn += ret
else if ret < 0
lossCount += 1
totalLossReturn += math.abs(ret)
float winProb = (winCount + lossCount) > 0 ? winCount / (winCount + lossCount) : 0.0
float lossProb = 1 - winProb
float avgWinReturn = winCount > 0 ? totalWinReturn / winCount : 0.0
float avgLossReturn = lossCount > 0 ? totalLossReturn / lossCount : 0.0
float kellyRatio = 0.0
if avgLossReturn != 0 and avgWinReturn != 0
float odds = avgWinReturn / avgLossReturn
if odds != 0
kellyRatio := winProb - (lossProb / odds)
kellyRatio
// Function to calculate Max Drawdown
calculateMaxDrawdown(float returns) =>
if array.size(returns) == 0
0.0
else
float peak = array.get(returns, 0) // Updated to use array.get
float maxDD = 0.0
float cumulativeReturn = 0.0
for i = 0 to array.size(returns) - 1
cumulativeReturn += array.get(returns, i) // Updated to use array.get
if cumulativeReturn > peak
peak := cumulativeReturn
float drawdown = peak - cumulativeReturn
if drawdown > maxDD
maxDD := drawdown
maxDDPercent = peak != 0 ? (maxDD / peak) * 100 : 0.0
maxDDPercent
/////////////////////////////////
// Data Retrieval and Processing //
/////////////////////////////////
// Initialize variables
var float weekReturnSums = array.new_float(52, 0.0)
var int weekReturnCounts = array.new_int(52, 0)
var int weekPositiveCounts = array.new_int(52, 0)
var float weekReturnSquares = array.new_float(52, 0.0)
var float allWeekReturns = array.new_float()
var int allWeekNums = array.new_int()
// Get weekly data using request.security
= request.security(syminfo.tickerid, 'W', )
// Detect new week
isNewWeek = ta.change(weeklyTime)
if isNewWeek
int weekNum = weekofyear(weeklyTime ) // Previous week number
int yearNum = year(weeklyTime )
if yearNum >= startYearInput
float prevWeeklyClose = weeklyClose
float currWeeklyClose = weeklyClose
float ret = (currWeeklyClose - prevWeeklyClose) / prevWeeklyClose * 100
// Update the arrays
int idx = weekNum - 1 // index in arrays
if idx >= 0 and idx < 52
// Sum of returns
sum = array.get(weekReturnSums, idx) + ret
array.set(weekReturnSums, idx, sum)
// Count of returns
count = array.get(weekReturnCounts, idx) + 1
array.set(weekReturnCounts, idx, count)
// Sum of squared returns
sumSq = array.get(weekReturnSquares, idx) + ret * ret
array.set(weekReturnSquares, idx, sumSq)
// Positive counts
posCount = array.get(weekPositiveCounts, idx)
if ret > 0
posCount += 1
array.set(weekPositiveCounts, idx, posCount)
// Store all returns and week numbers
array.push(allWeekReturns, ret)
array.push(allWeekNums, weekNum)
////////////////
// Visualization //
////////////////
if showTableInput and barstate.islast
// Prepare data for the table
var int selectedWeekNumbers = array.new_int()
var float avgReturnsArray = array.new_float()
var float stdDevArray = array.new_float()
var float posPercentsArray = array.new_float()
var float kellyRatiosArray = array.new_float()
var float adjustedKellyFractionsArray = array.new_float()
var float positionSizesArray = array.new_float()
var float maxDrawdownsArray = array.new_float()
for idx = 0 to 51
int weekNum = idx + 1
// Check if the week number is in the specified quarters
bool isInQuarter = (weekNum >= 1 and weekNum <= 13 and q1Input) or
(weekNum >= 14 and weekNum <= 26 and q2Input) or
(weekNum >= 27 and weekNum <= 39 and q3Input) or
(weekNum >= 40 and weekNum <= 52 and q4Input)
if isInQuarter
int count = array.get(weekReturnCounts, idx)
if count > 0
array.push(selectedWeekNumbers, weekNum)
float sum = array.get(weekReturnSums, idx)
float avgRet = sum / count
array.push(avgReturnsArray, avgRet)
float sumSq = array.get(weekReturnSquares, idx)
float variance = (sumSq - (sum * sum) / count) / (count - 1)
float stdDev = variance > 0 ? math.sqrt(variance) : 0.0
array.push(stdDevArray, stdDev)
// Positive percentage
int posCount = array.get(weekPositiveCounts, idx)
float posPercent = posCount / count * 100
array.push(posPercentsArray, posPercent)
// Extract returns for this week
float returnsArray = array.new_float()
for i = 0 to array.size(allWeekReturns) - 1
if array.get(allWeekNums, i) == weekNum
array.push(returnsArray, array.get(allWeekReturns, i))
// Kelly Ratio
float kellyRatio = calculateKellyRatio(returnsArray)
array.push(kellyRatiosArray, kellyRatio)
// Adjusted Kelly Fraction
float adjustedKellyFraction = calculateAdjustedKellyFraction(kellyRatio, riskToleranceInput, fedStanceInput)
array.push(adjustedKellyFractionsArray, adjustedKellyFraction)
// Leverage factor
float leverageFactor = marginRateInput > 0 ? 1 / marginRateInput : 1.0
// Max position size
float maxPositionSize = capitalInput * leverageFactor
// Position size
float positionSize = maxPositionSize * adjustedKellyFraction
// Ensure position size does not exceed max position size
positionSize := math.min(positionSize, maxPositionSize)
// Max Drawdown
float maxDD = calculateMaxDrawdown(returnsArray)
// Adjust position size if max drawdown exceeds maxDrawdownInput
if maxDD > maxDrawdownInput and maxDD != 0
positionSize := positionSize * (maxDrawdownInput / maxDD)
array.push(positionSizesArray, positionSize)
array.push(maxDrawdownsArray, maxDD)
// Limit the number of rows to fit within the table size limit
int maxRows = 49 // 49 data rows + 1 header row = 50 total rows
int totalRows = array.size(selectedWeekNumbers)
int numRows = math.min(totalRows, maxRows)
int startIndex = 0 // Display from the first selected week
// Create table
var table returnsTable = table.new(position.top_right, 8, numRows + 1, border_width=1)
// Set table headers
table.cell(returnsTable, 0, 0, "Week", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 1, 0, "Avg Return (%)", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 2, 0, "Volatility (%)", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 3, 0, "Pos %", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 4, 0, "Kelly Ratio", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 5, 0, "Adj Kelly Frac", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 6, 0, "Position Size ($)", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
table.cell(returnsTable, 7, 0, "Max Drawdown (%)", bgcolor=color.gray, text_color=color.white)
// Populate table
for idx = startIndex to numRows - 1
int row = idx + 1 // Adjust row index for the table
int weekNum = array.get(selectedWeekNumbers, idx)
float avgRet = array.get(avgReturnsArray, idx)
float stdDev = array.get(stdDevArray, idx)
float posPercent = array.get(posPercentsArray, idx)
float kellyRatio = array.get(kellyRatiosArray, idx)
float adjustedKellyFraction = array.get(adjustedKellyFractionsArray, idx)
float posSize = array.get(positionSizesArray, idx)
float maxDD = array.get(maxDrawdownsArray, idx)
// Week Number
table.cell(returnsTable, 0, row, str.tostring(weekNum))
// Avg Return (%)
table.cell(returnsTable, 1, row, str.format("{0,number,#.##}", avgRet))
// Volatility (%)
table.cell(returnsTable, 2, row, str.format("{0,number,#.##}", stdDev))
// Pos %
table.cell(returnsTable, 3, row, str.format("{0,number,#.##}", posPercent))
// Kelly Ratio
table.cell(returnsTable, 4, row, str.format("{0,number,#.####}", kellyRatio))
// Adj Kelly Frac
table.cell(returnsTable, 5, row, str.format("{0,number,#.####}", adjustedKellyFraction))
// Position Size ($)
table.cell(returnsTable, 6, row, str.format("{0,number,#.##}", posSize))
// Max Drawdown (%)
table.cell(returnsTable, 7, row, str.format("{0,number,#.##}", maxDD))
DreamAnalysis | Technical Analysis Dow Theory EP03📚 Welcome to the Educational Content Section of Our Channel: Technical Analysis Training
👋 Recap of the Previous Session: In the previous session, we covered the middle two principles of Dow Theory. Make sure to review and study them, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the comments.
📖 Today’s Focus: Let’s dive into Principles 5 & 6 of Dow Theory and explore their significance in market analysis.
🎨 What is Technical Analysis? Technical analysis is more of an art than a science. Just like art, there is no definitive right or wrong. Instead, we create rules based on experience to navigate the lawless market. Patterns in life can reflect in the markets, but we must always approach it with an artistic perspective.
📑 Principles of Dow Theory:
1 - The Averages Discount Everything (Not applicable to crypto)
2 - The Market Has Three Trends
3 - Trends Have Three Phases
4 - Trends Continue Until a Reversal is Confirmed
5 - The Averages Must Confirm Each Other
6 - Volume Confirms the Trend
📊 Principle 5: Volume Confirms the Trend
Typically, when the price moves in the direction of the main trend, the trading volume increases. The same applies to bearish trends, where declining prices are supported by increasing sell volume. Low volume suggests weakening momentum. For example, in a bull market, buying volume should rise with the price, and during corrections, volume should remain steady.
📉 However, if volume increases during a correction, it may signal that more investors are turning bearish on the asset. Therefore, volume acts as a crucial indicator of the strength or weakness of a trend.
📉 Principle 6: Trends Continue Until a Reversal is Confirmed
🔄 Dow Theory emphasizes that trends continue until a clear reversal signal is observed. This means that despite short-term fluctuations or corrections, the primary market trend remains intact until there is unmistakable evidence of a change in direction.
🚩 It’s important to distinguish between temporary corrections and true trend reversals. Misinterpreting short-term declines in a bull market or temporary rallies in a bear market can lead to confusion and poor decision-making.
🎯 Conclusion: This concludes our breakdown of the 6 principles of Dow Theory. In the next session, we will review and summarize the entire Dow Theory to solidify your understanding.
📝 Important Note: These principles were developed over 100 years ago, and with today’s diverse markets, there are many different perspectives on their application.
⚠️ Please remember that these lessons represent our personal view of the market and are not financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
CHOCH vs BOS !!WHAT IS BOS ?
BOS - break of strucuture. I will use market structure bullish or bearish to understand if the institutions are buying or selling a financial asset.
To spot a bullish / bearish market structure we should see a higher highs and higher lows and viceversa, to spot the continuation of the bullish market structure we should see bullish price action above the last old high in the structure this is the BOS.
BOS for me is a confirmation that price will go higher after the retracement and we are still in a bullish move
WHAT IS CHOCH?
CHOCH - change of character. Also known as reversal, when the price fails to make a new higher high or lower low, then the price broke the structure and continue in other direction.
Prop Trading - All you need to know !!A proprietary trading firm, often abbreviated as "prop firm," is a financial institution that trades stocks, currencies, options, or other financial instruments with its own capital rather than on behalf of clients.
Proprietary trading firms offer several advantages for traders who join their ranks:
1. Access to Capital: One of the most significant advantages of working with a prop firm is access to substantial capital. Prop firms typically provide traders with significant buying power, allowing them to take larger positions in the market than they could with their own funds. This access to capital enables traders to potentially earn higher profits and diversify their trading strategies.
2. Professional Support and Guidance: Many prop firms offer traders access to experienced mentors, coaches, and support staff who can provide guidance, feedback, and assistance. This professional support can be invaluable for traders looking to improve their skills, refine their trading strategies, and navigate volatile market conditions.
3. Risk Management Tools: Prop firms typically have sophisticated risk management systems and tools in place to help traders monitor and manage their exposure to market risks. These systems may include real-time risk analytics, position monitoring, and risk controls that help traders mitigate potential losses and preserve capital.
4. Profit Sharing: Some prop firms operate on a profit-sharing model, where traders receive a share of the profits generated from their trading activities. This arrangement aligns the interests of traders with those of the firm, incentivizing traders to perform well and contribute to the overall success of the firm.
Overall, prop firms provide traders with access to capital, technology, support, and learning resources that can help them succeed in the competitive world of trading. By leveraging these advantages, traders can enhance their trading performance, grow their portfolios, and achieve their financial goals.
What is Confluence ?✅ Confluence refers to any circumstance where you see multiple trade signals lining up on your charts and telling you to take a trade. Usually these are technical indicators, though sometimes they may be price patterns. It all depends on what you use to plan your trades. A lot of traders fill their charts with dozens of indicators for this reason. They want to find confluence — but oftentimes the result is conflicting signals. This can cause a lapse of confidence and a great deal of confusion. Some traders add more and more signals the less confident they get, and continue to make the problem worse for themselves.
✅ Confluence is very important to increase the chances of winning trades, a trader needs to have at least two factors of confluence to open a trade. When the confluence exists, the trader becomes more confident on his negotiations.
✅ The Factors Of Confluence Are:
Higher Time Frame Analysis;
Trade during London Open;
Trade during New York Open;
Refine Higher Time Frame key levels in Lower
Time Frame entries;
Combine setups;
Trade during High Impact News Events.
✅ Refine HTF key levels in LTF entries or setups for confirmation that the HTF analysis will hold the price.
HTF Key Levels Are:
HTF Order Blocks;
HTF Liquidity Pools;
HTF Market Structure.
Market Structure Identification !!Hello traders!
I want to share with you some educational content.
✅ MARKET STRUCTURE .
Today we will talk about market structure in the financial markets, market structure is basically the understading where the institutional traders/investors are positioned are they short or long on certain financial asset, it is very important to be positioned your trading opportunities with the trend as the saying says trend is your friend follow the trend when you are taking trades that are alligned with the strucutre you have a better probability of them closing in profit.
✅ Types of Market Structure
Bearish Market Structure - institutions are positioned LONG, look only to enter long/buy trades, we are spotingt the bullish market strucutre if price is making higher highs (hh) and higher lows (hl)
Bullish Market Structure - institutions are positioned SHORT, look only to enter short/sell trades, we are spoting the bearish market strucutre when price is making lower highs (lh) and lower lows (ll)
Range Market Structure - the volumes on short/long trades are equall instiutions dont have a clear direction we are spoting this strucutre if we see price making equal highs and equal lows and is accumulating .
I hope I was clear enough so you can understand this very important trading concept, remember its not in the number its in the quality of the trades and to have a better quality try to allign every trading idea with the actual structure
Trading is a waiting game🔸Trading is a waiting game. Stop forcing trades. Learn waiting for your setups. A trader who can't wait is not a successful trader.
🔸Waiting is the hardest part of trading. And also the least talked about. If you can improve your waiting you will improve your trading.
🔸Trading is a waiting game. You sit, you wait, and you make a lot of money all at once. Profits come in bunches. The trick when going sideways between home runs is not to lose too much in between.
🔸Overtrading is the number one reason why traders blow their entire accounts because it exposes them to unnecessary risks and costs that vanish their capital. Some studies show that overtrading accounts for more than 75% of trading losses among retail traders.
🎁Please hit the like button and
🎁Leave a comment to support our team!
RISK DISCLAIMER:
Trading Futures , Forex, CFDs and Stocks involves a risk of loss.
Please consider carefully if such trading is appropriate for you.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
My personal interpretation of the Volume Footprint chart
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Have a nice day today.
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I signed up for an expensive plan on TradingView, but I think there are some parts of the chart that I can't use properly.
I think the Volume Footprint chart is a chart that can be used when you sign up for a premium plan. (I may be wrong, so please check.)
I think it's because I'm used to the old way, so I feel resistant to new things, and the explanation is difficult to read.
In order to solve that problem a little, I'd like to explain how to interpret the chart using only the core interpretation methods.
Since my explanation may be different from the creator's intention, I strongly recommend that you read the creator's explanation.
Volume Footprint Chart Description:
www.tradingview.com
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I think you should pay attention to and interpret the part indicated above.
I think the section marked as VAL, VAH is the section that is mainly traded.
Therefore, I think that depending on which direction it deviates from this section, it will affect the future flow.
Therefore,
- If it rises near or above VAH, it is likely to show an upward trend,
- If it falls near or below VAL, it is likely to show a downward trend.
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The next thing to look at is the column indicated next to each volume. (The part that the arrow points to)
- The column in the Sell Volume section indicates that it is a section with strong selling pressure,
- The column in the Buy Volume section indicates that it is a section with strong buying pressure.
(The creator explains that this is the part that is indicated by the imbalance of volume.)
Anyway, since there is a high possibility of a rebound or reversal in the part where this column is indicated, I think it can be a tradable section depending on whether it receives support or resistance in this part.
-
The Delta section shows the difference between Sell Volume and Buy Volume.
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The time frame charts that are good for viewing the volume footprint chart are 1s, 1m, 15m, 1h, and 1D charts, so I recommend viewing them with the corresponding time frame charts.
If it deviates from the VAL, VAH area near 1, 1-1 and 2, 2-1 shown on the chart, a trend is formed, so you should check whether it deviates from this section.
If it does not deviate, it can be interpreted that there is a high possibility of sideways movement.
-
Therefore,
1. Is it located near VAL, VAH?
2. Is there a section where columns are created next to Sell Volume, Buy Volume?
I think this chart allows you to detect the trading volume, that is, the movement of buyers and sellers, with the above two things.
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Have a good time.
Thank you.
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Pros and Cons of Forex Trading with Robots
Hey traders,
Forex trading robots (EA) are commonly perceived as a sort of magic button. Once it is clicked, the system starts trading automagically, generating consistent profits. What can be better?
However, many pitfalls are hidden behind its simplicity.
In this educational article, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages / pros and cons of trading with Expert Advisers (EA) / robots.
Advantages of Forex Trading Robots
Let's start with the positives ➕:
1. The first major advantage of EA is the fact that it works 24/7 , without delays and coffee breaks. Once it is launched, it will keep working till you stop it.
2. The second advantage of EA is that it is non-emotional and objective .
It strictly follows the algorithm and rules determined by a program. It is not influenced by psychological biases, making each trade extremely precise.
3. The third strength of trading robots is the processing speed and its limitless scalability . EA can monitor dozens of trading instruments on multiple time frames simultaneously, not missing any bit of information. Hence, it requires less time for decision-making and trade execution.
4. The fourth advantage of EA is the simplicity of its backtesting . Once the algorithm is written and the order of execution rules are described, it can be quickly and easily tested on a historical data.
Disadvantages of Forex Trading Robots
So far, sounds like a panacea, right?! But now, let's discuss the negatives ➖:
1. Similar to any software, app or program, the EA is vulnerable to bugs, and may occasionally lag . Therefore, it requires a constant oversight and maintenance . In order to fix the bugs and maintain that, a high level of experience is required .
One should have the advanced skills both in coding and in trading.
2. Moreover, admitting the fact that the market is constantly changing and evolving, one should regularly update the EA and adapt it.
In comparison to humans, trading robots are not learning, they do not evolve, update themselves.
3. Leaving the robot without supervision, updates and patches, it may blow the entire account in a glimpse of an eye without any embarrassment.
4. One more important thing to add about EA, is the fact that it is technical analysis based . For now, there are no solutions on the market that would allow the integration of fundamentals in the algorithm.
Unfortunately, most of the traders overestimate the strengths of trading robots, completely neglecting its obvious weaknesses.
If you decide to apply EA in Forex trading, always consider its pros and cons that we discuss in the post.
CRYPTO: How it works and how it is explained for beginners.Here is a detailed explanation of the key concepts related to cryptocurrencies:
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies are decentralized digital currencies that use cryptography to secure transactions. Unlike traditional currencies, they are not issued by a central authority such as a bank.
The main characteristics of cryptocurrencies are:
-They exist only in electronic form
-Transactions are made directly between users (peer-to-peer)
-They use blockchain technology to record transactions
-Their value fluctuates according to supply and demand
Blockchain
Blockchain is the underlying technology that allows cryptocurrencies to function.
Its main features are:
-It is a distributed and decentralized ledger that records all transactions
-Each transaction forms a "block" that is added to the existing chain
-The data is encrypted and impossible to modify once recorded
-It works without a central authority thanks to a network of computers
The halving
The halving is a scheduled event that concerns certain cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
Its main characteristics are:
- It halves the reward given to miners for creating new blocks
- It usually occurs approximately every 4 years (every 210,000 blocks for Bitcoin)
- Its purpose is to control inflation by gradually reducing the issuance of new units
- It can have an impact on the price of the cryptocurrency by reducing the supply
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The different types of coins
There are several categories of cryptocurrencies:
Bitcoin: The first and best known cryptocurrency
Altcoins: All cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin (e.g. Ethereum, Litecoin)
Tokens: Tokens created on existing blockchains, often linked to specific projects
Stablecoins: Cryptocurrencies whose value is indexed to a fiat currency or a stable asset
Memecoins: a cryptocurrency that comes from an Internet meme or that has a humorous, ironic characteristic, a joke as its origin.
Each type of coin has its own characteristics and uses, but all rely on blockchain technology to operate in a decentralized manner. 10 minutes ago
Comment
Here is a list of the top altcoins, memecoins, and stablecoins to know in 2024:
Major Altcoins:
-Ethereum (ETH)
-Cardano (ADA)
-Solana (SOL)
-Polkadot (DOT)
-Ripple (XRP)
-Litecoin (LTC)
-Chainlink (LINK)
-Polygon (MATIC)
-Avalanche (AVAX)
-Tron (TRX)
Popular Memecoins:
-Dogecoin (DOGE)
-Shiba Inu (SHIB)
-Pepe (PEPE)
-Bonk (BONK)
-Book of Meme (BOME)
Top Stablecoins:
-Tether (USDT)
-USD Coin (USDC)
-Frax (FRAX)
-Dai (DAI)
-TrueUSD (TUSD)
-First Digital USD (FDUSD)
-Decentralized USD (USDD)
Altcoins are alternative cryptocurrencies to Bitcoin, often offering specific features or use cases.
Memecoins are cryptocurrencies that were initially created as jokes but have sometimes gained popularity.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, usually pegged to a fiat currency like the US dollar.
Each category has its own characteristics:
-Major altcoins often aim to solve specific problems or provide platforms for the development of decentralized applications.
-Memecoins are generally driven by their community and can experience high volatility.
-Stablecoins seek to offer the stability of traditional currencies while retaining the benefits of cryptocurrencies.
It is important to note that the cryptocurrency market is very dynamic and the popularity and value of these tokens can fluctuate rapidly
Trading Psychological Levels 101What are psychological levels?
🔸Psychological levels are price points in financial markets that hold significant meaning for traders and investors, mainly due to their simplicity and ease.
🔸Typically, these levels are round numbers, ending in 00 or halfway points like 50.
🔸With currency pairs, the exchange rate of 1.0” or parity is also a major psychological level.
🔸Traders tend to anchor their decisions around these levels, leading to increased buying and selling pressure when prices approach or surpass them.
How to Trade Psychological Levels
🔸Identify Key levels: The first step in incorporating psychological levels into your trading is to identify the key levels relevant to the financial instrument (e.g. currency pair) you are trading. This can be done by observing historical price action and noting round numbers where the price has previously shown significant reactions.
🔸Monitor Price Action: Keep a close eye on how the price behaves as it approaches a psychological level. Look for signs of increased price volatility, as this can indicate heightened interest from market participants.
🔸Set Entry and Exit Points: Once you have identified a psychological level and observed price action around it, use this information to set entry and exit points for your trades. For example, if the price has bounced off a psychological support level, you might enter a long position just above the level and set a stop loss slightly below it.
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RISK DISCLAIMER:
Trading Futures , Forex, CFDs and Stocks involves a risk of loss.
Please consider carefully if such trading is appropriate for you.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Patience in Trading: A Misunderstood VirtuePatience is often touted as a key trait of successful traders, but it’s frequently misunderstood and misapplied. Many traders believe they are exercising patience by holding onto losing trades, hoping the market will turn in their favor. Meanwhile, they tend to exit winning trades too quickly, fearing that profits may evaporate. This common misinterpretation of patience can sabotage long-term success in trading.
In reality, true patience in trading is about having the discipline to stick to your strategy and to wait for the optimal moments — both for entry and exit. Let’s explore what that means in practice.
Misplaced Patience with Losing Trades
One of the biggest pitfalls traders face is holding onto losing trades for too long. This happens because they hope that the market will reverse and their trade will recover. The truth is, this isn't patience; it's emotional attachment or even denial. Successful traders understand that cutting losses quickly is often more important than waiting for the market to "turn around."
The market doesn't care about your hopes. Holding onto a losing trade in the hopes that it will eventually become profitable leads to emotional stress and increased risk. Instead of letting emotions control decisions, a disciplined trader will have the patience to accept small losses and wait for a better opportunity.
Impatience with Winning Trades
On the flip side, traders often close winning trades too quickly. The fear of losing existing profits — or the anxiety of seeing a trade move against them — pushes them to exit prematurely. This is another misuse of patience. In this case, patience is required to allow a profitable trade to reach its full potential.
Think of it this way: if your analysis was sound enough to enter the trade, it should also guide you in determining a reasonable target. Patience in this context means giving the market time to move toward that target, allowing your trade to maximize its reward.
The Art of Waiting for the Best Entry
True patience in trading also means waiting for the right moment to enter a trade . Too often, traders jump into the market without waiting for the ideal setup. They become impatient and enter early, exposing themselves to unnecessary risk. The best traders, however, are like snipers — they wait for the perfect shot.
A well-timed entry has multiple benefits: a better risk-reward ratio and reduced drawdown. Patience here doesn’t mean being passive; it means actively watching and waiting for the market to come to your optimal entry point.
How to Develop True Patience in Trading
- Set Rules for Losses: Establish predefined stop-loss levels for every trade and stick to them. This helps you avoid emotional decision-making when a trade moves against you.
- Let Profits Run: Trust your strategy and give your winning trades room to grow. Use trailing stops or defined profit targets to ensure you don’t close out too soon.
- Wait for High-Probability Entries: Avoid chasing the market. Have patience to wait for the optimal entry point based on your technical or fundamental analysis. You are not missing out if you're waiting for the right opportunity.
- Manage Your Emotions: Trading can be emotional, but patience requires a calm mind. Techniques like journaling or even meditation can help keep emotions in check and allow you to maintain discipline.
Conclusion:
Patience in trading is not about simply waiting and hoping; it's about having the discipline to follow your strategy and maintain a balanced approach. Whether it's cutting losses, letting profits run, or waiting for the perfect entry, true patience involves making decisions based on analysis and discipline, not emotions. By mastering this mindset, you'll align your trading with long-term success and reduce unnecessary risk.
By focusing on these principles, you’ll cultivate the right kind of patience and become a more strategic, disciplined trader — not one swayed by the emotional highs and lows of the market.
A Video Explaining how to use the Greer Invest StrategyGreer Invest Strategy Overview:
The Greer Invest strategy is designed to assist investors in making long-term investment decisions through a structured approach to buying and managing investments over time.
Key Features:
Invest: Indicator to pinpoint optimal entry points for investments.
Investment Management: Includes an additional feature for strategic selling, allowing investors to rebalance their portfolio or generate cash for other purposes without full liquidation.
Precision and Alerts: Offers precise buy signals within BuyZones and customizable alerts for proactive investment management.
Purpose:
This tool aims to simplify the decision-making process for when to enter or adjust positions in stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, or other assets, focusing on long-term wealth accumulation rather than short-term speculation.
Usage:
Backtesting: Investors can use TradingView's strategy tester to evaluate the performance of this strategy over historical data.
Alerts: Set up notifications to be alerted on potential buy or sell opportunities across your watchlist.
Backtesting Results:
The Greer Invest Strategy was backtested against the top 50 companies in the U.S. by market capitalization. Here are the key results from this comprehensive test:
Total number of trades: 470 trades were executed.
Total invested over time: $470,000, with each trade amounting to $1,000.
Total Net Profit: The strategy yielded a profit of $162,344.59.
Total Net Profit %: Overall, the strategy achieved a 35% return on the total investment.
% Trade wins: A notable 82.33% of all trades ended profitably.
% Trade loss: 17.67% of trades resulted in losses.
Average Max Draw Down per $1000: The strategy experienced an average maximum drawdown of $550.74 per $1,000 invested, indicating potential risk levels.
Average Trade Profit per $1000: Each trade, on average, profited $497.93 per $1,000.
Average # bars in trade: Trades were held for an average of 396 bars, reflecting a medium-term to long-term trade duration.
Detailed Results for Selected Companies:
Apple (AAPL): Profit of $6,752 (67.53% return) from 10 trades.
Microsoft (MSFT): Profit of $3,294.13 (32.94% return) from 8 trades.
NVIDIA (NVDA): Profit of $7,743.43 (77.43% return) from 5 trades.
Alphabet (GOOG): Profit of $338.22 (3.38% return) from 2 trades.
Amazon (AMZN): Profit of $3,580.17 (35.80% return) from 6 trades.
Meta Platforms (META): Profit of $731.04 (7.31% return) from 2 trades.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): Profit of $1,902.01 (19.02% return) from 4 trades.
Broadcom (AVGO): Profit of $1,089.64 (10.89% return) from 2 trades.
Eli Lilly (LLY): Profit of $1,408.76 (14.09% return) from 12 trades.
Tesla (TSLA): Profit of $10,263.41 (102.63% return) from 2 trades.
Key Observations:
High Win Rate: An impressive 82.33% of trades were winners, suggesting the strategy was effective in picking winning trades.
Profitability: The strategy was profitable across various companies, with some like TSLA, NVDA, and AAPL showing particularly high returns.
Drawdown: The average maximum drawdown of $550.74 per $1,000 could be a concern for risk management, indicating significant fluctuations in equity.
Trade Duration: With an average of 396 bars in trade, the strategy seems to hold positions for a considerable duration, suggesting a medium to long-term approach.
This analysis indicates that the strategy performs well across a diversified set of top U.S. companies by market cap, with some standout performers. However, the drawdown and long trade duration might require careful risk management and could impact liquidity or opportunity cost considerations.
Credit:
Credit to Tushar Chande who invented the Aroon indicator.
Credit to Carl Friedrich Gauss who invented the Gaussian process.
Credit to Donovan Wall who created the script that has the math for the Gaussian Channel.
Disclaimer:
The Greer Invest strategy is for educational and informational use only. It does not constitute financial or investment advice. Users should perform their due diligence and consider consulting a financial advisor. There's no guarantee of profit or protection against loss. The creator of this script is not liable for any outcomes from its use.
A Detailed Guide for New Traders!Technical Analysis: A Detailed Guide for New Traders
Technical analysis (TA) is a trading method used to evaluate and predict the future price movements of assets like stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, or forex, by analyzing past market data, primarily price and volume. It differs from fundamental analysis, which looks at financial metrics like earnings, revenue, and overall economic conditions. For beginners, here’s a breakdown of technical analysis and its essential tools and concepts:
1. Price Charts: The Foundation of TA
Price charts are visual representations of an asset’s price over a specific period. There are different types of charts, but the most common are:
Line Charts: Show the closing prices over time.
Bar Charts: Display the open, high, low, and close prices (OHLC) for each period.
Candlestick Charts: Similar to bar charts but more visually intuitive, displaying the same OHLC data with colored “candles” for up or down movements.
Candlestick charts are the most popular among traders because they provide more information and are easier to interpret visually.
2. Key Concepts in Technical Analysis
a. Trends
A trend is the general direction in which the price of an asset is moving. Understanding trends is crucial in technical analysis because traders aim to follow the market’s momentum. There are three types of trends:
Uptrend: Prices are generally increasing, making higher highs and higher lows.
Downtrend: Prices are decreasing, making lower highs and lower lows.
Sideways Trend (Range): Prices move within a specific range without a clear upward or downward direction.
b. Support and Resistance
Support: A price level where an asset tends to stop falling due to increased buying demand.
Resistance: A price level where an asset tends to stop rising due to increased selling pressure.
These levels are essential for identifying potential entry and exit points for trades.
c. Moving Averages
Moving averages (MAs) are a simple way to smooth out price data over a specified time period to identify trends more easily. There are two main types:
Simple Moving Average (SMA): The average price over a set number of periods (e.g., 50-day or 200-day SMA).
Exponential Moving Average (EMA): Gives more weight to recent prices, making it more responsive to new information.
Traders use MAs to determine the overall trend, and crossovers (e.g., when a short-term MA crosses a long-term MA) are often seen as buy or sell signals.
3. Indicators and Oscillators
Indicators and oscillators are tools derived from price and volume data to help identify potential trends, reversals, and overbought or oversold conditions.
a. Relative Strength Index (RSI)
The RSI measures the magnitude of recent price changes to evaluate whether an asset is overbought or oversold. It ranges from 0 to 100:
Above 70: Overbought (price might be too high, possible reversal).
Below 30: Oversold (price might be too low, possible reversal).
b. Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)
The MACD is a trend-following momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of an asset’s price. It helps traders identify changes in the strength, direction, and momentum of a trend.
MACD Line: The difference between the 12-day and 26-day EMA.
Signal Line: A 9-day EMA of the MACD Line.
Histogram: Shows the difference between the MACD Line and the Signal Line.
A crossover between the MACD Line and the Signal Line can signal buying or selling opportunities.
c. Bollinger Bands
Bollinger Bands consist of a moving average (middle band) and two outer bands that are two standard deviations away from the middle. The bands expand and contract based on market volatility. When the price moves toward the upper band, the asset might be overbought, and when it moves toward the lower band, it might be oversold.
4. Chart Patterns
Chart patterns are formations created by the price movement of an asset, and traders use them to predict future price movements. Some common patterns include:
Head and Shoulders: A reversal pattern that signals a change from bullish to bearish or vice versa.
Triangles (Ascending, Descending, Symmetrical): Continuation patterns that suggest the price will break out in the direction of the current trend.
Double Top and Double Bottom: Reversal patterns indicating that the price may reverse its current trend after testing a support or resistance level twice.
5. Volume Analysis
Volume refers to the number of shares, contracts, or lots traded during a particular period. It can confirm trends or warn of potential reversals:
Rising volume during an uptrend confirms the strength of the trend.
Decreasing volume in a rising trend can indicate a weakening trend and potential reversal.
Volume spikes often occur at trend reversals.
6. Risk Management
No trading strategy is foolproof, and technical analysis is not a crystal ball. To succeed, you must manage your risk:
Stop-Loss Orders: Automatically sell a position if the price moves against you by a certain amount, limiting your losses.
Risk-Reward Ratio: Determine the amount you're willing to risk for a potential reward. A typical ratio is 1:2, meaning for every $1 risked, you aim to make $2 in profit.
Position Sizing: Only risk a small percentage of your total capital (e.g., 1-2%) on a single trade to prevent significant losses.
7. Combining TA with Fundamental Analysis
While technical analysis is valuable, many traders combine it with fundamental analysis to get a complete picture. For instance, in the stock market, technical analysis might show that a stock is oversold, but if the company’s fundamentals (earnings, revenue) are strong, it could be a buying opportunity.
8. Conclusion
Technical analysis is a powerful tool for traders to predict price movements and make informed trading decisions. However, it requires practice and patience. Start with the basics, use demo accounts to test your skills, and never forget to manage your risk.
For beginners, mastering the key concepts like trends, support and resistance, moving averages, and common indicators like RSI and MACD will set you on the path to becoming a successful trader.
Like and follow if you found this helpful!
#Crypto #Bitcoin #bullrun
Cracking the Forex Code: Trader’s Complete Guide to Market SlangForex is the vast universe of currency pairs floating against each other—sometimes sitting at parity, sometimes shooting for the stars and sometimes just plain nosediving. And because forex has a mind of its own (kind of), it also speaks its own language. This is why this Idea exists—to help you make sense of the jargon by breaking down key terms, phrases, and slang used in everyday forex trading. Let’s get into it!
1. Ask
The price the market is willing to sell a currency at. It’s the price you’ll pay if you’re buying.
2. Arbitrage
Simultaneous buying and selling across different markets to exploit price differences.
3. Aussie
Trader slang for the AUD/USD currency pair.
4. Bagholder
Someone stuck holding a losing position long after everyone else has exited. Don’t be a bagholder. (Are you secretly a bagholder?)
5. Base Currency
The first currency in a pair (e.g., in EUR/USD , EUR is the base). You’re buying or selling this one.
6. Bearish
Expecting the market to fall. Depicts a bear attack—swiping its paws downward.
7. Bid
The price at which the market is willing to buy a currency. If you’re selling, this is the price you’ll get.
8. Black Gold
A nickname for oil. Watch the price of this commodity—it moves entire currencies.
9. Bottom Fishing
Buying a currency or stock at what you hope is its lowest point. It’s risky—sometimes the bottom keeps falling.
10. Breakout
When price moves out of a defined range, smashing through support or resistance, signaling a potential strong move.
11. Buck
Trader slang for the U.S. dollar. Simple, direct, and everyone knows it.
12. Bullion
Physical gold or silver. When traders want the real stuff, they go for bullion.
13. Bullish
Betting on the market to rise. Depicts a bull attack—thrusting its horns upward.
14. Cable
Forex slang for the GBP/USD pair, named after the old transatlantic cable.
15. Candlestick
A visual representation of price movement showing the open, high, low, and close in a specific time period.
16. Carry Trade
Borrowing in a low-interest-rate currency and investing in a higher-interest one to pocket the interest difference.
17. Choppy
Describes a market with no clear direction and lots of erratic movement. A tough one to trade in.
18. Chunnel
Slang for the EUR/GBP pair, referring to the English Channel that connects Europe and the UK. Gotta love that geographical flair.
19. Cross Currency Pair
A currency pair that doesn’t involve the USD (e.g., EUR/JPY ). They have a life of their own, not tied to the greenback.
20. Dip
A temporary decline in price during an uptrend. Smart traders "buy the dip" to get in. But sometimes the dip keeps dippin’.
21. Dragon
The GBP/JPY currency pair. Known for its volatility and wild price swings—trade carefully!
22. Drawdown
The loss from peak to trough in your account balance during a trading period. It’s inevitable—just don’t let it take you out.
23. Exotic Pairs
Currency pairs that include one major currency and one from an emerging or less liquid market (e.g., USD/TRY ). Exotic in name, but not always in your best interest—volatile and wide spreads.
24. Fedspeak
The carefully crafted language of the Federal Reserve. One vague speech from Fed Chair JPow can send markets into a frenzy.
25. Fibonacci Retracement
A technical tool to identify possible support and resistance levels, based on the Fibonacci sequence. Traders love these numbers.
26. Fill or Kill
A type of order where it must be filled immediately at the requested price, or canceled. No waiting around here.
27. Forex (FX)
The foreign exchange market—where currencies are traded 24/5. The biggest, baddest market in the world with $7 trillion moving daily.
28. FOMO
Fear of Missing Out. The emotional trap where traders chase the market late—usually leading to bad trades. Don’t fall for it.
29. Fundamental Analysis
Analyzing economic factors (e.g., GDP, employment, inflation) to predict currency movements. It’s all about the big picture here.
30. Gopher
Slang for the USD/JPY pair. A less common term, but you’ll see it in the trading trenches.
31. Greenback
Another classic slang term for the US dollar, referring to the green color of American bills.
32. Hawkish
A central bank policy favoring higher interest rates to control inflation. Hawkish policy = stronger currency.
33. Kiwi
Slang for the NZD/USD currency pair. Named after New Zealand’s famous bird—not the fruit!
34. Leverage
Trading with borrowed capital. It magnifies gains, but it can also blow up your account faster than you think. Use wisely.
35. Liquidity
The ease with which a currency can be traded without affecting its price. High liquidity means tight spreads and fast trades.
36. Loonie
The nickname for the USD/CAD pair. Named after the loon, a bird featured on Canada’s $1 coin.
37. Lot
The size of your trade. A Standard Lot is 100,000 units, a Mini Lot is 10,000, and a Micro Lot is 1,000.
38. Margin
The amount of money needed to open a leveraged trade. It’s essentially your broker’s “deposit.”
39. Margin Call
When your broker demands more funds because your account can no longer support open positions. Not answering could mean automatic liquidation. New phone who dis?
40. Market Maker
An entity (usually a bank or broker) that provides liquidity to the market by always being willing to buy or sell at certain prices.
41. Moving Average
A technical indicator that smooths price data over a specific period to identify trends. Think of it as the market’s heartbeat.
42. Ninja
Slang for the USD/JPY pair. This one’s fast and stealthy, like a true ninja.
43. Old Lady
A nickname for the Bank of England (BoE). When the “Old Lady” speaks, the GBP moves.
44. Overbought
When a currency has been bought excessively, leading to a potential reversal. Usually spotted with indicators like RSI.
45. Oversold
The opposite of overbought. It means the currency has been sold off too quickly, signaling a potential price bounce.
46. Permabear
A trader who is always bearish, no matter what the market does. They believe the sky is always falling. “I knew BTC was going to zero.”
47. Pips
The smallest price move in a currency pair. In most pairs, it’s the fourth decimal place (0.0001). Collecting pips is how you build profit.
48. Pivot Point
A key level used by traders to identify potential support and resistance levels. Great for spotting reversals.
49. Position Trading
Holding a trade for weeks or months, focusing on long-term trends. You’ll need patience for this one.
50. Price Action
Trading based solely on price movement, ignoring indicators and fundamentals. It’s all about reading the market’s raw behavior.
51. Pump and Dump
A scheme where traders hype up a currency or stock, inflate its price, then sell out for a profit while everyone else is left holding the bag. Sketchy stuff.
52. Pullback
A temporary dip or rise in price within a larger trend. It’s an opportunity to buy in or sell the rally.
53. Ranging Market
When prices are moving sideways in a tight range, with no clear trend. Boring, but there are still trades to be made.
54. Resistance
A price level where selling pressure tends to prevent further rises. If it breaks, a big move could be coming.
55. Rollover
Interest earned or paid for holding a position overnight, based on the interest rate differential between the currencies.
56. Scalping
A fast-paced strategy that involves making quick trades to grab small profits from tiny price moves. Not for the faint-hearted.
57. Shill
Someone who promotes or hypes up a stock, currency, or crypto for personal gain, often misleading others. Watch out for these on social media.
58. Short Squeeze
When a heavily shorted asset rises in price quickly, forcing short sellers to buy back their positions at higher prices, fueling the rally even further.
59. Slippage
When your trade is executed at a different price than expected, usually during high volatility or low liquidity.
60. Spread
The difference between the bid and ask prices. Tighter spreads are better—lower costs for getting into a trade.
61. Stop-Loss
An order that automatically closes a trade when it hits a specified loss level. Protect yourself, set that stop!
62. Support
A price level where buying appetite tends to prevent further drops. Break below it, and things could get ugly.
63. Swissy
Slang for the USD/CHF currency pair. Traders often turn to the Swissy for safety in volatile times.
64. Swap
The interest earned or paid for holding a position overnight. Positive swaps are a nice bonus, negative swaps? Not so much.
65. Swing Trading
Holding trades for days or weeks to capture short- to medium-term market moves. It’s a balanced approach between day trading and long-term investing.
66. Take-Profit
An order that closes your trade automatically when it reaches your target profit. Lock in those gains before the market turns!
67. Tenbagger
A stock or currency that increases tenfold in value. Rare, but when it happens, it’s legendary.
68. Trend
The general direction the market is moving—either bullish, bearish, or sideways. The trend is your friend—until it isn’t.
69. Volatility
The amount of price fluctuation in the market. High volatility means more potential for profits—or losses. Buckle up! (Hint: Anticipate volatility by knowing the market-moving events .)
70. Whipsaw
When the market moves quickly in one direction, stops you out, and then reverses back. It’s the ultimate trader frustration.
71. Widow Maker
A trade with huge risks that’s known for wiping out accounts, especially when shorting the Japanese yen in a strong trend or betting against the Bank of Japan.
And there you have it— the ultimate Forex slang dictionary that prepares you to take a deep dive in the sea of forex trading . Did we catch everything? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!