Have you ever heard of the Dow technique? It’s a strategy that a number of foreign currency traders utilize to identify price rallies. It entails going long when the currency surpasses resistance levels, and placing a stop at the most recent low price. It also entails going short after support has been broken. The technique also suggests the use of trailing stops to continue obtaining gains as the currency stays within the same direction after piercing through key levels.
The pros who propose using this method strongly advocate implementing money management. The Dow method may seem somewhat risky because it calls for placing the stop within a narrow range. However, they go on to explain that the individual who opts for trading this tactic ought to set the stop while taking into consideration his or her risk tolerance.
Educators who teach this method of trading say that whether EUR trading or attempting to make money with another major currency pair, it’s vital to wait until the currency establishes its trend before opening a position.
As with any strategy that may be new to you, this one ought to be tested first on the demo platform. This is how you’ll know whether your plan should include this or another way of trading the currencies. The speculators who go on to make substantial amounts of money in the Forex obtain their skills through hours of practice. They realize it’s one of the most important aspects of Forex trading.
Trading Forex With The Dow Technique
Trading Turning Points
Trading currencies requires that you learn to identify reference points. These are vital as they can help you determine when to open a position, where to set the stops and where to exit with profits. However, most newcomers divert their attention to the study of technical indicators such as the two money-making letters of the Gartley system. They fail to understand how crucial it is to locate the pivot points known as support and resistance. These are not only practical turning points, but levels that can also define risk in the live Forex. And as you’ll find out, unmanaged risk can result in margin calls; and calculating the odds can improve your chances for succeeding in the market.
Therefore, experts say that some of the tools that can actually help you are the pivot points and their derivatives. There are those who believe that a combination of pivot points can be more powerful than the average signal indicators. Pivot points were initially used by floor traders at stock and futures exchanges, and have since proven to be exceptionally practical in the currency business. In fact, once you learn to work with them, you’ll find that the projected key levels of support and resistance generated by these pivot points work even more efficiently in the Spot Forex. This is because the less liquid markets don’t adhere to technical principles as the FX does.
As you can see, you can still earn today’s profits with yesterday’s methods.
Tips For Trading Volatility Spikes
Most traders focus all their attention on a small number of currency pairs when they trade the market. And there’s no reason to limit your chances for profitability. As you gain experience you may want to consider trading volatility spikes; they’re great indicators of change. A volatility surge can point to a breakout.
According to successful market traders, the key to mastering the technique is to have an idea when the currencies are apt to become more volatile. The best Forex platform is usually equipped with an economic calendar. In it you’ll find a bounty of valuable information. The calendar not only showcases the dates and time for important economic releases; but it denotes which announcements are predicted to shake the foreign currency exchange. You’ll see that non-farm payroll for instance is marked with red letters or with three stars, indicating that it’s a big announcement.
So if you need tips for trading the Euro, simply follow the reports out of the Euro region and make notes on those that are likely to affect the currency.
The experts also recommend using charts to confirm the volatility spikes. While you may assume non-farm payroll will increase volatility, the market may have already taken the forecast into account. So what does this mean? Simply, that volatility may have spiked the day before, and won’t surge while the report is issued. The signals you receive may be fakeouts; so again, as the experts emphasize, review the different time charts.
The Golden Cross Of Forex
Some Forex participants have heard of the golden cross and yet despite its usefulness, they fail to see how advantageous it would be to include it in their Forex market analysis routine.
The golden cross, for those of you who’ve never heard of it, is a hawkish formation that represents upward momentum in an ongoing trend; it also reflects a possible reversal in a market that’s trading to the downside. Now you see why it’s such a useful tool?
This pattern develops from a combination of moving average lines or a number of signals found in different oscillators such as MACD. It even provides for the logic behind MACD’s signals.
If you plan on using it, skilled traders have indicated that it’s best to first identify a short term moving average. As the prices trend higher, the short term component will climb above the average currency values over the long term. This usually supports higher prices than the previous highs as momentum builds.
As with any other type of technical trading, it’s a good idea to have filters that can work as confirmation tools. This way, you have additional information for making the decision on whether to buy or sell the currency pair. Some traders who have a better understanding of KST believe it’s the ideal complement to the golden cross. Others believe Bollinger bands make for better filters as they help test the key levels. The Bollinger bands render great buy sell signals.
Trading The Forex Stars
Stars are a candlestick pattern that often shows when the hawks and the doves are undecided in the market. The appearance of a star candle comes about after a trend has established itself and it’s got strength to continue on. But there are several types of star formations, and all are important for those Forex traders who perform technical analysis.
If you’re wondering how to trade currency, the pros recommend implementing a method that will help you understand why the currencies are rising or declining in value. Japanese candlestick charts have been a favored tool of traders around the world, for many centuries.
Of all the patterns, the morning star appears after a currency has moved for an extended period to the downside. It denotes that a reversal is happening at some time soon. If the stars aren’t present, some experts say why not benefit from breakouts. The key though, is to become a pro at spotting fake breakouts to avoid losses.
The evening star is considered a big reversal pattern and showcases three candlesticks. The initial two candlesticks reflect bearish conditions, and the final one shows the market is trending to the upside as the hawks take over.
A Doji star is composed of both, the evening and morning star. It has no body and depicts dramatic declines or increases in price. Lastly, the shooting star identifies a strong movement to the upside.
To learn how to trade candlestick patterns, the Forex sites offer excellent tutorials.