Technical Analysis PDF
Technical Analysis PDF
Technical Analysis PDF
Technical Analysis
To non-believers,
technical analysis can
sound like a lot of
focus-pocus!
Underlying Assumptions of
Technical Analysis
Trading via technical analysis involve a
number of assumptions about markets
The market value of any good or service is
determined solely by the interaction of supply
and demand
Supply and demand are governed by
numerous factors, both rational and irrational
Underlying Assumptions of
Technical Analysis
Technical analysis assumptions:
Disregarding minor fluctuations, the prices for
individual securities and the overall value of the
market tend to move in trends, which persist for
appreciable lengths of time
Prevailing trends change in reaction to shifts in supply
and demand relationships and these shifts can be
detected in the action of the market
Advantages of Technical
Analysis
Unlike fundamental analysis, technical
analysis is not heavily dependent on
financial accounting statements
Problems with accounting statements:
Lack information needed by security analysts
GAAP allows firms to select reporting procedures,
resulting in difficulty comparing statements
between firms
Many psychological and other non-quantifiable
factors do not show up in financial statements
Advantages of Technical
Analysis
Fundamental analyst must process new
information and quickly determine a new intrinsic
value, but technical analyst merely has to
recognize a movement to a new equilibrium
Technicians trade when a move to a new
equilibrium is underway but a fundamental
analyst finds undervalued securities that may not
adjust to correct prices as quickly
Challenges to Technical
Analysis
Challenges to basic assumptions
Empirical tests of Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH)
show that prices do not move in trends
Technical Analysis
Bottom is an example of
a star, typically indicating
a reversal and/or
indecision.
Somewhat rare
Plots day-to-day increases and declines in price.
A rising stack of XXXXs represents increases
A rising stack of OOOOs represents decreases.
Typically used for intraday charting
If used for multi-day study, only closing prices
will be used
Moving Average
Moving Average
Notice in April when the stock price dropped well
below its 50-day average (the green line).
Bearish signal
Moving Averages
What do the different days mean?
20 days - choppy line. It isn't the most accurate,
but is probably the most useful for short term
traders.
30 day - similar to 20 day but provides a bit more
certainty for the trend.
Moving Averages
What do the different days mean?
50 day - moving averages provide a much less
volatile, smooth line. This can be used to detect
somewhat longer term trends.
100 day - similar to the 50 day, it is less volatile,
and one of the most widely used for long term
trends.
200 day - even less volatile, more of a rolling chart
or smooth line. It doesn't react to quick
movements in the stock price therefore it is rarely
used.
Moving Averages
Trend strength, short vs long term
SMA (50), EMA (50)
Moving Average
as support levels
Take one moving average
Historical back-tracking
Calculating RSI
Bollinger Bands
Three lines used for Bollinger band indicator:
the upper, lower, and the simple moving
average that is between the two
Upper/lower bands are plotted two standard
deviations away from a simple moving average
Bands widen when markets are more volatile and
contract during less chaotic periods
Bollinger Bands
Support
Price level below the current market price at which buying
interest should be able to overcome selling pressure and thus
keep the price from going any lower
Resistance
Price level above the current market price, at which selling
pressure should be strong enough to overcome buying pressure
and thus keep the price from going any higher
Support/Resistance
reverse roles once
penetrated.
Market price falls
below a support level,
then the former
support level becomes
a resistance level
when the market later
trades back up to that
level
Resistance/Support
Support
Charting Patterns
Cup and Handle
Pattern on bar chart as short as 7 weeks or as long as
65 weeks
Cup in the shape of a U; Handle has a slight
downward drift
Right hand side of pattern has low trading volume
As the stock comes up to test old highs, the stock will
incur selling pressure by the people who bought at or
near the old high
Selling pressure will take the stock price sideways for
4 days to 4 weeks, then it takes off
Charting Patterns
10800
Neckline
Shoulder
Shoulder
Head
Double Bottom
Double Top
810 was also resistance on the
monthly Nov
Momentum Oscillators
Bounded between ranges 100,-100 or 1,-1
Centered Oscillators MACD
Rate-of-Change
Percentage price change over a period of
time
Difference between current price and previous
Typically +20% and -20% ranges
Calculations
Closing today 41
Last ten days 46-38
Stochiastic Oscillator
Compares the price of a stock and its
position realtive to a moving price range of
it previous positions
Comprised of a %K and %D line
Main line is %K
Moving Average is %D
%K crosses over %D