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Derivatives: Derivatives are financial instruments that acquires the majority of their value from the price of the underlying asset they are tracking such as commodities and currencies, or from securities such as stocks and bonds.
Swaps, futures, forwards, and options are the most common derivatives. Investors trade them on exchange or over-the-counter usually as an alternative to speculating in the underlying asset, or to hedge their risk on a position in the underlying asset.
Validation
It takes two or more points to draw a trend line. The more points used to draw the trend line, the more validity attached to the support or resistance level represented by the trend line. It can sometimes be difficult to find more than 2 points from which to construct a trend line. Even though trend lines are an important aspect of technical analysis, it is not always possible to draw trend lines on every price chart. Sometimes the lows or highs just don't match up, and it is best not to force the issue. The general rule in technical analysis is that it takes two points to draw a trend line and the third point confirms the validity.
The chart of Microsoft (MSFT) shows an uptrend line that has been touched 4 times. After the third touch in Nov-99, the trend line was considered a valid line of support. Now that the stock has bounced off of this level a fourth time, the soundness of the support level is enhanced even more. As long as the stock remains above the trend line (support), the trend will remain in control of the bulls. A break below would signal that net-supply was increasing and that a change in trend could be imminent.
Price Scaling
There are two methods for displaying the price scale along the y-axis: arithmetic and logarithmic. An arithmetic scale displays 10 points (or dollars) as the same vertical distance no matter what the price level. Each unit of measure is the same throughout the entire scale. If a stock advances from 10 to 80 over a 6-month period, the move from 10 to 20 will appear to be the same distance as the move from 70 to 80. Even though this move is the same in absolute terms, it is not the same in percentage terms.
A logarithmic scale measures price movements in percentage terms. An advance from 10 to 20 would represent an increase of 100%. An advance from 20 to 40 would also be 100%, as would an advance from 40 to 80. All three of these advances would appear as the same vertical distance on a logarithmic scale. Most charting programs refer to the logarithmic scale as a semi-log scale, because the time axis is still displayed arithmetically.
Verisign, Inc. (VRSN) price scaling example chart from StockCharts.com
The chart above uses the 4th-Quarter performance of VeriSign to illustrate the difference in scaling. On the semi-log scale, the distance between 50 and 100 is the same as the distance between 100 and 200. However, on the arithmetic scale, the distance between 100 and 200 is significantly greater than the distance between 50 and 100.
Double Bottom: A Double Bottom is a form of chart pattern used in technical analysis. This pattern is characterized by a distinct drop in price, followed by a slight reversal (or recovery) with a second drop occurring soon after to either the same or similar level as the first, before another, significant recovery so that the chart appears to take on the form of the letter 'W'.
The Double Bottom, along with its counterpart, the Double Top, is easily one of the most recognizable chart patterns. While both are reliable reversal patterns, highly indicative of chances in the market, the bullish Double Bottom reflects very strong levels of support and often indicates a strong change of trend.
The double low points are considered to be support levels, with the resistance level measured at the widest point of the 'W' formation. When the rise following the second low breaks the resistance point generally the rise will continue sharply, with these reversal trends garnering more reward following extended downtrends.
It is normally considered that the best entry point on a double bottom formation is around the secondary resistance level, which when broken tends to indicate a the confirmation of the price reversal.
$CBIS BarChart Trader's Cheat Sheet
http://www.barchart.com/cheatsheet.php?sym=CBIS
Pt2. Weaknesses of Technical Analysis Analyst Bias
Furthering the bias argument is the fact that technical analysis is open to interpretation. Even though there are standards, many times two technicians will look at the same chart and paint two different scenarios or see different patterns. Both will be able to come up with logical support and resistance levels as well as key breaks to justify their position. While this can be frustrating, it should be pointed out that technical analysis is more like an art than a science, somewhat like economics. Is the cup half-empty or half-full? It is in the eye of the beholder.
Too Late
Technical analysis has been criticized for being too late. By the time the trend is identified, a substantial portion of the move has already taken place. After such a large move, the reward to risk ratio is not great. Lateness is a particular criticism of Dow Theory.
$IRCE BarChart Trader's Cheat Sheet
http://www.barchart.com/cheatsheet.php?sym=IRCE
$ITKG BarChart Trader's Cheat Sheet
http://www.barchart.com/cheatsheet.php?sym=ITKG
Other people buy stocks based on rumors that the price will rise/fall sharply soon.
Many experienced traders watch financial news on TV, read the relevant newspaper stories, and investigate companies that are in the news. They also use "technical indicators," which are numbers or graphs which may help indicate whether a stock will rise, fall, or stay the same.
A few people will randomly pick stock symbols by throwing a dart at a newspaper, for instance.
Dark Cloud Cover: A bearish reversal pattern that continues the uptrend with a long white body. The next candle opens at a new high then closes below the midpoint of the body of the first candle. The pattern is more signficant if the second candle's body is below the center of the previous body. The pattern is casting a “dark cloud” over the bullish trend that preceded it. Confirmation of the pattern is achieved when another black candle, of smaller size, forms after the second candle
Definition of 'Death Cross'
A crossover resulting from a security's long-term moving average breaking above its short-term moving average or support level.
Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/deathcross.asp#ixzz26ev7vRbs
Beige Book: A summary of economic conditions around the United States compiled for the Federal Reserve Board. Each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current economic condition in its District through reports from Bank and Branch directors and interviews with key businessmen, economists, market experts, and other sources. The Beige Book summarizes this information by District and sector. This report allows outsiders to know what the Fed governors are looking at as they prepare for their upcoming FOMC meeting.
Internal Trend Lines
Sometimes there appears to be the possibility for drawing a trend line, but the exact points do not match up cleanly. The highs or lows might be out of whack, the angle might be too steep or the points might be too close together. If one or two points could be ignored, then a fitted trend line could be formed. With the volatility present in the market, prices can over-react, and produce spikes that distort the highs and lows. One method for dealing with over-reactions is to draw internal trend lines. Even though an internal trend line ignores price spikes, the ignoring should be within reason.
The long-term trend line for the S
Central Bank: Central banks play a key role in the currency markets because of their power over monetary policy. They have a direct influence over money supply, which in turn affects demand and price of the currency. Through the use of different policies, central banks can try to manipulate the markets so that they can keep their currency at specific levels. Some countries and their central banks try to peg their currency to that of another currency or basket of currencies (for example, China to the U.S.).
The central bank can participate in the forex market by buying and selling their currency at the spot market in order to keep it from changing too much. Another motivation for central banks is to keep the local currency at a specific price in order to make their local economy more attractive for international trade. If a country’s currency appreciates too quickly, it could actually make it less appealing to importers.
Remember that many transactions have to use the local currency. Thus, if currency that is needed rises too quickly, it effectively makes goods more expensive to foreigners, which in turn, hurts trade. To counter this, the central bank may intervene in the market by selling its currency and buying up other major currencies. This in effect, weakens the local currency so as to make it more appealing to foreign importers.
While the exact value of what percentage such central bank transactions take up isn’t known, take note that because these are the banks of national governments, such interventions can have a much larger impact on the market than any single commercial bank.
TA Conclusions
Technical analysts consider the market to be 80% psychological and 20% logical. Fundamental analysts consider the market to be 20% psychological and 80% logical. Psychological or logical may be open for debate, but there is no questioning the current price of a security. After all, it is available for all to see and nobody doubts its legitimacy. The price set by the market reflects the sum knowledge of all participants, and we are not dealing with lightweights here. These participants have considered (discounted) everything under the sun and settled on a price to buy or sell. These are the forces of supply and demand at work. By examining price action to determine which force is prevailing, technical analysis focuses directly on the bottom line: What is the price? Where has it been? Where is it going?
Even though there are some universal principles and rules that can be applied, it must be remembered that technical analysis is more an art form than a science. As an art form, it is subject to interpretation. However, it is also flexible in its approach and each investor should use only that which suits his or her style. Developing a style takes time, effort and dedication, but the rewards can be significant.
$NTRR BarChart Trader's Cheat Sheet
http://www.barchart.com/cheatsheet.php?sym=NTRR
Relative Strength: The price relative is a line formed by dividing the security by a benchmark. For stocks it is usually the price of the stock divided by the S
DeMarker Indicator: The Demarker Indicator is a technical analysis tool developed by Tom Demarker for identifying high-risk buying or selling areas in a given market.
Two variants of the Demarker Indicator exist, one bounded by values from -100 to 100, the other bounded by values from 0 to 1. The basic principle behind the Indicator is the same in either case. If the high price for a period is higher than the previous period's high, the DeMax variable for that period is the difference between the highs; the DeMin variable for the period works similarly for the low prices. The Demarker Indicator is then the moving average of DeMax divided by the sum of the moving averages of DeMax and DeMin. Thus, the higher the value of DeMax relative to DeMin, the greater the value of the Demarker Indicator.
On the 0 to 1 Demarker Indicator scale, a value anywhere above .7 indicates that a downward price turn is imminent, while a value anywhere below .3 indicates that the price will shortly turn upward. Values between .3 and .7 indicate relatively low-risk periods for entering a given asset market. Thus savvy traders can use the Demarker Indicator either to determine when to enter a market, or when to buy or sell an asset in order to capitalize on probable imminent price trends.
$GRYO BarChart Trader's Cheat Sheet
http://www.barchart.com/cheatsheet.php?sym=GRYO
Gaps and Gap Analysis
Have you ever wondered what causes gaps in price charts and what they mean? Well, you've come to the right place. Just in case, a gap is an area on a price chart in which there were no trades. Normally this occurs between the close of the market on one day and the next day's open. Lot's of things can cause this, such as an earnings report coming out after the stock market has closed for the day. If the earnings were significantly higher than expected, many investors might place buy orders for the next day. This could result in the price opening higher than the previous day's close. If the trading that day continues to trade above that point, a gap will exist in the price chart. Gaps can offer evidence that something important has happened to the fundamentals or the psychology of the crowd that accompanies this market movement. Before we get into the different types of gaps, here is a chart showing a gap so you will know what we are talking about.
Gaps appear more frequently on daily charts, where every day is an opportunity to create an opening gap. Gaps on weekly or monthly charts are fairly rare: the gap would have to occur between Friday's close and Monday's open for weekly charts and between the last day of the month's close and the first day of the next month's for the monthly charts. Gaps can be subdivided into four basic categories: Common, Breakaway, Runaway, and Exhaustion.
Ascending Trend Channel: An ascending trend channel is a basic chart pattern used in technical analysis.
Ascending trend channels are a useful tool due to their ability to predict overall changes in trend. As long as prices remain within the ascending trend channel, the upward trend in price can be expected to continue. As soon as prices exceed either trendline forming the channel, however, a strong signal either to buy or to sell is generated. A break through the upper trendline generates a strong buy signal, while a break through the lower trendline generates a strong sell signal.
The top of the market cycle is marked by relative strength in materials and energy. These sectors benefit from a rise in commodity prices and a rise in demand from an expanding economy. The tipping point for the market comes when leadership shifts from energy to consumer staples. This is a sign that commodity prices are starting to hurt the economy.
Double Top: Any chart pattern similar to the one show below is known as a ‘Double Top’ and it is arguably one of the most widely recognized and compelling technical signals known amongst the forex trading community. It is considered a reliable test of a previous high or low.
The double top formation is identified as a distinctive chart pattern revealing a rally to new high followed by a moderate retreat which is then in turn followed by a second rally in which to test the new high.
The double top chart pattern classically reveals itself by occurring in the shape of the letter ‘M’. A third rally added to this would result in the occurrence of a triple top resulting in three peaks.
A double top is considered a bearish and is generally thought to be stronger when the equal points are further apart and the price objective usually occurs at an equal distance beyond the correction low.
What is the Dow Jones or the DJIA?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (often referred to as the "Dow") is an averaged number representing the values of 30 U.S. "blue-chip" stocks. The DJIA is the most well-known market indicator in the world and was created in 1896 by Dow Jones
Trader's Remorse ~ Weaknesses of Technical Analysis
Not all technical signals and patterns work. When you begin to study technical analysis, you will come across an array of patterns and indicators with rules to match. For instance: A sell signal is given when the neckline of a head and shoulders pattern is broken. Even though this is a rule, it is not steadfast and can be subject to other factors such as volume and momentum. In that same vein, what works for one particular stock may not work for another. A 50-day moving average may work great to identify support and resistance for IBM, but a 70-day moving average may work better for Yahoo. Even though many principles of technical analysis are universal, each security will have its own idiosyncrasies.
Deflation: Deflation is the opposite of inflation. It is the decrease in the price of a basket of goods and services. Deflation happens when the annual inflation rate turns negative. Such an event is usually brought about by a reduction in the money supply and/or credit.
Currency Impact
While inflation tends to decrease the purchasing power of a currency, deflation tends to result in an increase in the “real” value of money.
Analyst Bias
The majority of the information that goes into the analysis comes from the company itself. Companies employ investor relations managers specifically to handle the analyst community and release information. As Mark Twain said, "there are lies, damn lies, and statistics." When it comes to massaging the data or spinning the announcement, CFOs and investor relations managers are professionals. Only buy-side analysts tend to venture past the company statistics. Buy-side analysts work for mutual funds and money managers. They read the reports written by the sell-side analysts who work for the big brokers (CIBC, Merrill Lynch, Robertson Stephens, CS First Boston, Paine Weber, DLJ to name a few). These brokers are also involved in underwriting and investment banking for the companies. Even though there are restrictions in place to prevent a conflict of interest, brokers have an ongoing relationship with the company under analysis. When reading these reports, it is important to take into consideration any biases a sell-side analyst may have. The buy-side analyst, on the other hand, is analyzing the company purely from an investment standpoint for a portfolio manager. If there is a relationship with the company, it is usually on different terms. In some cases this may be as a large shareholder.
Daily Candlestick Chart for WLOL
[img]stockcharts.com/c-sc/sc?s=WLOL
What Is Resistance?
Resistance is the price level at which selling is thought to be strong enough to prevent the price from rising further. The logic dictates that as the price advances towards resistance, sellers become more inclined to sell and buyers become less inclined to buy. By the time the price reaches the resistance level, it is believed that supply will overcome demand and prevent the price from rising above resistance.
Resistance does not always hold and a break above resistance signals that the bulls have won out over the bears. A break above resistance shows a new willingness to buy and/or a lack of incentive to sell. Resistance breaks and new highs indicate buyers have increased their expectations and are willing to buy at even higher prices. In addition, sellers could not be coerced into selling until prices rose above resistance or above the previous high. Once resistance is broken, another resistance level will have to be established at a higher level.
Value Spotting
Sound fundamental analysis will help identify companies that represent a good value. Some of the most legendary investors think long-term and value. Graham and Dodd, Warren Buffett and John Neff are seen as the champions of value investing. Fundamental analysis can help uncover companies with valuable assets, a strong balance sheet, stable earnings, and staying power.
Bond Auction: A government bond auction is the process of selling short and long-term government bonds to investors in an attempt to minimize the cost of financing national debt.
The process starts with the central bank announcing how much money it intends to borrow. Details like the term length of the bonds and the date of the auction are included in the announcement.
Interested market players like broker-dealers, institutions, and individual investors then submit the amount of bonds that they’re willing to buy and bid at the yield that they want to be paid. Take note that the specific processes of bond auctions are different across countries.
The success of a government bond auction can be measured by the bid-to-cover ratio, a metric that measures how much the total bids exceed the initial amount that the central bank was aiming for.
For example, an auction collects bids worth $100 billion, but the central bank had only aimed for $45 billion. The bid-to-cover ratio is 2.22 ($100/$45). An auction with a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.00 or higher is usually considered as successful.
Traders also look at the change in bond yields after each auction. A higher yield means that investors are demanding a higher price for holding the government bond. Alternatively, a lower bond yield usually signals higher investor confidence and lower borrowing costs for the government (which would make it easier to pay debts).
Daily Candlestick Chart for IWSY
[img]stockcharts.com/c-sc/sc?s=IWSY
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