Moving averages are calculated to remove sharp, frequent fluctuations that take place in a stock chart. Sometimes, stock prices can move very sharply in a small period of time making it difficult to spot a trend. Although these trading styles can vary, understanding the differences between fundamental and technical analysis – and how to combine them – can be extremely beneficial. Momentum indicators are statistical figures that are churned out based on price and volume data of stocks. They act as supporting tools to charts and moving averages in carrying out the technical analysis. Trader’s make use of historic data, based primarily on price and volume and use this information to identify trading opportunities based on common patterns in the market.

Momentum indicators are tools traders use to understand better how quickly or slowly the price of security changes. Momentum indicators should be used with other indicators and tools because they do not identify the direction of movement but only the timeframe in which the price change occurs. In technical analysis, trends can be analyzed by using trendlines or price action, which tells us when the price is making higher highs for an uptrend, or lower lows for a downtrend.

Suppose in the uptrend, the price will be making higher high suddenly there will be a little pullback, and then it will continue to make higher highs. The minor level can be broken, whereas the major one may stop the prices from moving in the ongoing direction and cause trend reversals. On the initial breakout from the range or chart pattern, a rise in the volume indicates strength in the move. Little change or decline in volume on a breakout indicates a false breakout. Increasing prices and decreasing volume are warnings of a potential reversal.

If the volume increases simultaneously with the increase in the price of the stock, the trend is probably valid. And, if the volume of trade grows slightly, probably it is due to the reverse trend that is in motion. This theory reveals that the history is bound to be repeated and the condition holds true for the stock market too. This property makes the investors and market players react in the same manner as they reacted in the past because of re-occurrence of the events. All entities like Return on equity ratio, price-to-earning ratio(P/E) and shareholder equity are not considered as they come under the fundamental analysis.

Chart patterns and technical (statistical) indicators are the two main categories of technical analysis. Technical analysts use chart patterns, a form of subjective technical analysis, to try and pinpoint regions of support and resistance on a chart. Technical analysis can be applied to any security with historical trading data. This includes stocks, futures, commodities, fixed-income, currencies, and other securities. In fact, technical analysis is far more prevalent in commodities and forex markets where traders  focus on short-term price movements. By understanding these basics, you’ll gain valuable insights into market trends, price patterns, support and resistance levels, and momentum indicators.

Technical analysis differs from fundamental analysis in that the stock’s price and volume are the only inputs. The core assumption is that all known fundamentals are factored into price; thus, there is no need to pay close attention to them. Technical analysts do not attempt to measure a security’s intrinsic value, but instead, use stock charts to identify patterns and trends that suggest what a stock will do in the future.

Fibonacci retracement is a technical analysis technique that uses Fibonacci ratios to identify potential support and resistance levels. Fibonacci ratios are based on the Fibonacci sequence, which is a series of numbers that appear frequently in nature. Fibonacci retracement levels are used to identify possible levels where the price of an asset may retrace or pull back after a significant price movement. Let us discuss technical tools used by traders while doing technical analysis.

When the dots reverse, it indicates that a potential price direction change will occur. Stochastics help in identifying the overbought and oversold zones and oscillates in the range of 0 and 100. When this indicator is above 80, it is considered an overbought zone; when it is below 20, it shows an oversold differentiate between fundamental and technical forecasting zone. Candlestick charts show that emotion by visually representing the size of price moves with different colors. For example, if the company’s earnings are higher than expected, the stock will gap up the next day. This is formed mainly due to any news in that specific stock after the trading session.

This pattern is formed when the prices of the stock rise to a peak and fall down to the same level from where it had started rising. Chart patterns are a great way of viewing price actions during the stock trading period. Chart patterns put all buying and selling happening in the stock market into a concise picture. It provides a complete picture of all trading and a framework for analysing the battle between bulls and bears. When the prices are making higher highs and higher lows, then the trend can be termed an Uptrend.

When dealing with an agricultural commodity like Coffee or Pepper, the fundamental analysis includes analyzing rainfall, harvest, demand, supply, inventory etc. Also note that in the short term, price action is affected by several factors that fundamental analysis cannot pick up. The effects of market sentiment, market psychology, and supply and demand can all be observed by looking at a chart. Technical analysis can therefore be used to improve timing, and to trade strategies appropriate to market conditions.

• Another criticism of technical analysis is that history does not repeat itself exactly, so price pattern study is of dubious importance and can be ignored.
• Volume of trades is an important factor to be considered when performing the technical analysis of stocks.
• Strategies may also be developed for more complicated trades like options or futures.
• Nowadays technical analysis has evolved to include hundreds of patterns and signals developed through years of research.
• These two trend lines join the peaks and troughs and they occur in the direction of the ongoing trend.

Indicators are used by technical traders when looking for opportunities in the market. Although many indicators exist, traders often make use of volume and priced-based indicators. These assist in determining where the levels of support and resistance are, how often they are maintained or breached as well ascertaining the length of a trend.

For example-  Moving average crossover is a straightforward trading strategy in which a short-term moving average crosses above or below a long-term moving average. Trading strategies come in a wide variety, but they are typically based on either technical analysis or fundamental analysis. The two have in common the use of quantifiable data that can be tested for accuracy in the past. Parabolic SAR is another famous trend indicator highlighting the direction a security is moving. The indicator looks like a series of dots placed above or below a chart’s price bars.

Charts assist in determining the overall trend, whether there’s an upward or downward trend, either over the long or short term or to identify range bound conditions. The most common types of technical analysis charts are line charts, bar charts and candlestick charts. Candlestick charts show four price points (open, close, high, and low) throughout the period of time the trader specifies. The advantage of candlestick charts is the ability to highlight trend weakness and reversal signals that may not be apparent on a normal bar chart. In fact, some view technical analysis as simply the study of supply and demand forces as reflected in the market price movements of a security. These are mathematical calculations based on price, volume, or open interest data.