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What is Technical Analysis?
Technical analysis is a trading approach that involves looking at past price patterns to identify potential future trading opportunities. Technical analysts believe that prices move in trends, and by studying these trends, they can identify entry and exit points for trades.
Technical analysis is not an exact science; however, it can be a helpful tool in identifying trading opportunities if you know what patterns to look for.
Technical Analysis vs. Fundamental Analysis
Technical Analysis
Looks for patterns and trends in price action
Short or Long term trading / investing
Focuses on a stock's chart
Uses historical data and charts
Give importance to price and volume
Fundamental Analysis
Looks for patterns and trends in fundamental performance
Long term trading / investing only
Focuses on a stock's financial and intrinsic value
Uses historical data and future estimates
News and economic data
Technical analysis and fundamental analysis are the two main school of thought when we talk about any type of trading. Technical analysis pays more attention to price patterns, while fundamental analysis looks at company's financial records to find value-based opportunities. Fundamental analysts predict future increases in price based on a company's historical track record and look for discrepancies based on what they believe the stock price is worth.
Both technical and fundamental analysis have their pros and cons, but many traders use a combination of both approaches to make trading decisions. CANSLIM which is one of the most popular trading approach combines both technical analysis and fundamental analysis.
The most important thing is that technical analysis can become a helpful tool for identifying trading opportunities after implementing proper strategy that stick to the basics.
Understanding Technical Analysis?
Technical analysis is the study of price movement and patterns. All relevant information is reflected in price movement of a security and traders can determine the direction of future price movements by studying past price movement and patterns. Technical analysts believe that prices move in trends and by studying these trends, they can identify entry and exit points for securities so as to trade in them.
What are Technical Indicators?
Technical indicators are nothing but certain calculations based on historical price and volume. Of course, they are lagging indicators. Technical analysts use these indicators on charts to help add additional context to the price action.
Some popular technical indicators include moving averages, support and resistance levels, relative strength index and fibonacci retracement levels.
Often multiple technical indicators are used by technical analysts to make trading decisions. But one has to beware of trading strategy which rely on too many indicators. Too many indicators often give too many mixed signals that are conflicting and cause analysis paralysis.
Technical Analysis To Predict Future Price Movement
In technical analysis it is assumed that human emotions repeat themselves after completion of certain period and those repetitions can be seen in the form of chart patterns. By identifying these patterns, traders can predict future price movements. Technical analysis can be used for intra-day trading, short-term or long term trading or for investment purposes.
Charting is a visual way of identifying patterns and technical analysis is the framework for charting. One can accurately identify trends on charts and ride the momentum until the trend reverses using various technical indicators in analysis.
In technical analysis, a trader looks at a chart to identify possible entry and exit points for a trade. By observing a stock chart, traders can determine areas where price is supported and areas where price is going to meet resistance. This information can be used to place trades at a point where risk reward ratio is favorable.
As said earlier, technical analysis can be used for short term, long term trading or for investment purposes. As an investor with a long term outlook, you should perform your analysis on long term time frames such as daily or weekly or monthly charts. Technical analysis can also be used for intraday trading by observing shorter time frame charts such as 5-minutes or 30 minutes or hourly and daily charts.
Price has the tendency to repeat itself and so by studying price patterns, traders can attempt to predict future price movements. In fact, technical analysis is just a puzzle, in order to be successful, one need to have a complete understanding of trading strategy which takes into account risk tolerance, financial goals and overall market view.
Technical analysis works best when the study of price movement is combined with volume traded. Volume adds weight to what the price is doing and can be used to confirm price movements.
Benefits of Technical Indicators
Psychology: Technical analysis helps in understanding of investors' and traders' market sentiment and provides a clear picture of what they are doing. Technical analyses past price movements which is beneficial because people generally react ups and downs of market mostly in identical manner.
Trend Analysis: Technical analysis helps traders and investors in predicting future price movements. It shows the direction of market. There are typically three types of trends: uptrends, downtrends, and sideways or rangebound market, all of which are easy to predict using technical analysis.
Early Signals: Key benefit of technical analysis is that it provides early signals before a trend's reversal, allows investors to take decision based on those signals. All the activities of market makers can be evaluated easily using technical analysis and such activities can be easily observed in Price-Volume Analysis.
Stoploss & Target: With the help of technical analysis, it becomes easy for the trader to decide stop loss and target points and thereby protection of employed capital becomes possible. This allows traders and investors to make decisions based on their risk appetite.
Technical Analysis Summary
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Technical analysts believe that price move in trends and has tendency to repeat itself. By studying these trends, entry and exit point of trades can be identified.
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Technical analysis is not an exact 100% science, but it can be helpful in identifying trading opportunities.
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There are two schools of thought when it comes to trading : technical analysis and fundamental analysis.
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Fundamental analysts predict future increase in price based on a company's historical track record and look for discrepancies based on what they believe the stock price is worth.
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Technical indicators are based on certain calculations based on price and volume.
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Technical analysis can become a helpful tool for identifying trading opportunities.