Brandon Wendell, CMT
Brandon Wendell
New traders often get confused when deciding what tools to use in order to analyze the markets and select trading opportunities. Looking at the selections available as well as the tools offered in today’s advanced trading software, it is easy for one to become overwhelmed. Fortunately, there is a simple and logistical way to sort through the market ebbs and flows and identify the highest probability, lowest risk trading opportunities.
When we are planning to trade, we need to start from the top. It does not matter if you are holding for 10 minutes, 10 days, or 10 weeks. The broad markets always have influence over the stocks making up their components. I have seen this hold true for markets in the U.S., India, London, Dubai, and Singapore. We need to establish the trend and potential turning points (supply & demand), of the broad market before we look to our individual stocks. Most stocks will move further and faster with the market’s trend than when they are fighting it. Of course, there are always exceptions. However, even when the stock is trending opposite of the market, they will often reach supply and/or demand at nearly the same time.
Once we know what the market is likely to do during the timeframe we are trading, it is important to look at the stock to find the current trend. We want to know the direction of the trend, the strength of the trend, and the possible turning points in that trend (again supply and demand). By looking at the price and volume, a trader gains most of the knowledge they need to trade without the added use of any indicators. You can ascertain the trend direction and strength by observing the color, size, and shape of the candles themselves with volume as a supporting indicator. Looking at the past price action, a trader can also see the most probable turning points or entry and exit targets from supply and demand.
For those of you who are not familiar or comfortable with reading price and volume, I suggest you visit your local Online Trading Academy center and take one of our courses that will give you this knowledge. For added information regarding strength of the trend and confirming weakness at turning points, you can use a momentum indicator such as ADX or MACD. Even multiple moving averages offer a clue to a trader looking to determine trend strength. Just remember that you need to rely on price itself to make your entries and exits. Relying on the indicators makes you late as they are all lagging in their movement and signals.
When looking at the possible turning points of price, we can also look at the condition of oscillators like Stochastics, RCI, CCI and others. You have to use them in the correct manner however. Trying to take all buy and sell signals given by them will not only make your crazy, it will also drain your account. They are to be used to confirm decisions made on price action. Stocks will remain overbought or oversold for a long time in a strong trend. What you need to look for are clues that there is a change in sentiment and price action at a previously identified supply or demand zone.
Overall, your trading decisions need to be centered on identifying trends and supply and demand zones of the broad market and your stock. The technical indicators are decision support tools and may not even be necessary once you become adept at reading price.
Neither Freedom Management Partners nor any of its personnel are registered broker-dealers or investment advisers. I will mention that I consider certain securities or positions to be good candidates for the types of strategies we are discussing or illustrating. Because I consider the securities or positions appropriate to the discussion or for illustration purposes does not mean that I am telling you to trade the strategies or securities. Keep in mind that we are not providing you with recommendations or personalized advice about your trading activities. The information we are providing is not tailored to any individual. Any mention of a particular security is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that or any other security or a suggestion that it is suitable for any specific person. Keep in mind that all trading involves a risk of loss, and this will always be the situation, regardless of whether we are discussing strategies that are intended to limit risk. Also, Freedom Management Partners’ personnel are not subject to trading restrictions. I and others at Freedom Management Partners could have a position in a security or initiate a position in a security at any time.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD holds above 1.1800 after German sentiment data
EUR/USD stays in positive territory above 1.1800 on Monday after the data from Germany highlighted a modest improvement in business sentiment in February. Meanwhile, the US Dollar stays under pressure amid growing unceratinty surrounding the US trade regime, allowing the pair to hold its ground.
GBP/USD rises toward 1.3550 as tariff confusion slams USD
GBP/USD extends the advance toward 1.3550 on Monday. The US Dollar faces intense selling pressure as tariff uncertainty lingers following US President Trump's latest announcement. Traders will take more cues from the broader market sentiment and central bank talks.
USD/JPY recovers early losses as investors look beyond US SC’s ruling
The USD/JPY pair recovers almost its entire early losses and trades marginally lower to near 154.85 during the European trading session on Monday. The pair bounces back as the US Dollar claws back its initial losses, driven by the United States Supreme Court’s ruling against President Donald Trump’s tariff policy.
Editors’ Picks
US Dollar declines as Trump tariff uncertainty grows
The US Dollar stays under bearish pressure to start the new week as investors assess the headlines surrounding the US trade regime. After the Supreme Court ruled against US President Trump's tariffs, Trump hiked global tariff rates to 15%.
Gold climbs above $5,100 on broad USD weakness
Gold sticks to its bullish bias near the monthly above $5,100 on Monday. Renewed trade-war fears, along with rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, turn out to be key factors that underpin the safe-haven precious metal and validate the constructive outlook.
EUR/USD holds above 1.1800 after German sentiment data
EUR/USD stays in positive territory above 1.1800 on Monday after the data from Germany highlighted a modest improvement in business sentiment in February. Meanwhile, the US Dollar stays under pressure amid growing unceratinty surrounding the US trade regime, allowing the pair to hold its ground.
Cardano braces for impact as US tariff storm brews
Cardano is down 4% at press time on Monday, entering its third consecutive day of decline. Bearish bias in Cardano’s derivatives market positional buildup aligns with rising pressure on the broader cryptocurrencymarket amid US President Donald Trump's reassessment of global tariffs and domestic conflict with the US Supreme Court.
Supreme Court nixes tariffs, Trump teases 15% global tariff
On February 20th, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s global tariffs under IEEPA authority were unconstitutional, effectively nullifying the framework. However, the relief was short-lived. Within hours, Trump floated a 15% blanket tariff under an alternative legal authority.
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