Stochastic Forex Indicator

The stochastic Forex oscillator tool is a popular indicator employed by all kinds of traders in their Forex trading analysis. Momentum is the most important employ of this indicator. Traders in general make use of three types of stochastic indicators. They are made up of the slow stochastic, fast stochastic plus the full stochastic tool.

They operate very similarly. However, the most common kind utilized is the slow stochastic indicator. Stochastic indicators are based on the theory that prices normally close in the higher trading ranges when in an uptrend.

The reverse is also assumed where prices will close in the lower trading ranges in a down trending financial market. Momentum remains strong when this happens. There are two main indicator lines in the stochastic tool. These two lines are the %D in addition to the %K lines.

This is another oscillating banded indicator just like the RSI Forex indicator. A range of 0 to 100 is where the two %k in addition to %D lines range. The 80 in addition to the 20 line signify extreme trading ranges.

As mentioned earlier, this tool can also be utilized to spot oversold plus overbought conditions. Making it similar to the RSI indicator yet again. Should the indicator breach the 80 line, this is a sign that conditions are overbought. If the indicator trades below 20, the financial instrument is oversold.

Forex traders also apply the stochastic oscillator to verify if market momentum is diminishing. If the indicator is in an opposite trend than the market then momentum has weakened.

Stochastic oscillators also offer the trader the alternative to employ cross over systems. It involves a cross of the faster %K over or above the slower %D line. Should it cross above the %D line, this is an indication that it may be a good time to buy. The reverse would suggest a sell signal.

As with moving average indicators, traders should avoid using the stochastic oscillator when the markets are ranging. It is mostly applied with a variety of other Forex indicators for its true benefit to be seen.

Read more...

Forex Indicators - The Power of Stochastic Indicators in Highly Profitable Forex Trading

Overbought and Oversold are the two most powerful concepts in trading the Forex. Understanding that a market that is over bought will fall and that an oversold market has no choice but to rise takes a lot of confusion away from trading. So having simple to use indicators that tell when a market is trading in these extremes becomes vitally important.

Enter The Stochastic

Invented by George Lane the stochastic is based on the relationships of where a market closes in relationship to their highs and lows. George noticed that when a falling market is about to turn its closing prices tend to be near their daily lows. And of course the opposite would be true in a booming market that is about to turn south.

Based on this Mr. Lane built a simple indicator called a stochastic.

The Insides

Obviously the math behind the stochastic indicator is lengthy but lucky for you and I most charting services provide the indicator as a free service with their charts. Peeking inside the stochastic you will noticed that it has two lines that are smoothly rising and dropping and crossing each other in their paths. The two lines are represented by the titles %K and %D. The lines represent this relationship between the closing price and the daily high and low. The reason there are two lines is due to sensitivity - the %K is set up to be more sensitive to the market fluctuations than the %D and it is also a moving average of %K which is why it lags a bit behind.

These lines are plotted on a scale of 1% to 100% and it is in this scale that the trade signals are made.

Trade Signals

A good Forex trading signal is when the stochastic enters the upper 80% region, or the lower 20% region. This is the range where the markets are becoming over bought or over sold respectively. And the official "trigger pull" moment comes when the %K and %D cross each other inside these regions.

The beauty of this signal is that it is simple and it conforms to the principle of overbought and oversold. It is not predictive but rather helps to clear up the crazy price movements of the Forex markets.

Read more...

Forex Indicator Trading - Trading with RSI and Stochastic Indicators

Technical indicators are data points that try to predict how the market will move in the future. While they are not always 100% accurate, technical indicators have proven to be rather reliable signals. In this article, we will briefly discuss the RSI and Stochastic indicators.

Relative Strength Index (RSI)

Without going into too much technical detail, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) compares the recent upward and downward price movements in the market. This

comparison is expressed as a ratio and the result is normalized between a range from 0 to 100.

When we see that the RSI 'line' crosses above 70 points, the currency pair is considered to be 'over-bought'. This means that the buying pressure has been 'too strong' and that prices are likely to come down again soon.

Conversely, when the RSI 'line' crosses below 30 points, the currency pair is considered to be 'over-sold'. This means that the selling pressure has been 'too strong' and that prices are likely to go up again soon.

For best results, the RSI indicator should be used as a trade exit signal, NOT a trade entry signal.

Stochastic Oscillator

Similar to the RSI, the Stochastic Oscillator is mostly used to indicate 'over-bought' and 'over-sold' market situations. Also, it is scaled from 0 to 100, just like the RSI.

This indicator measures the ratio of closing prices with the recent market volatility.

These buying and selling conditions for this indicator are expressed by two lines: %K and %D. The divergence between these lines and the market price action can be a reliable trading signal.

Read more...