Chapter 2.

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Technical Analysis: Technical Indicators
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TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: TECHNICAL
INDICATORS
Charts always have a story to tell. However, from time to time those
charts may be speaking a language you do not understand and you
may need some help from an interpreter. Technical indicators are the
interpreters of the Forex market. They look at price information and
translate it into simple, easy-to-read signals that can help you
determine when to buy and when to sell a currency pair.

Technical indicators are based on mathematical equations that produce

a value that is then plotted on your chart. For example, a moving
average calculates the average price of a currency pair in the past and
plots a point on your chart. As your currency chart moves forward, the
moving average plots new points based on the updated price
information it has. Ultimately, the moving average gives you a smooth
indication of which direction the currency pair is moving.

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Each technical indicator provides unique information. You will find you
will naturally gravitate toward specific technical indicators based on
TRENDING INDICATORS
your trading personality, but it is important to become familiar with all Trending indicators, as their name suggests, identify and follow the
of the technical indicators at your disposal. trend of a currency pair. Forex traders make most of their money when
currency pairs are trending. It is therefore crucial for you to be able to
You should also be aware of the one weakness associated with determine when a currency pair is trending and when it is
technical indicators: Because technical indicators look at historical price consolidating. If you can enter your trades shortly after a trend begins
data, they are not guaranteed toq know anything definite about the and exit shortly after the trend ends, you will be quite successful.
future.
Let’s take a look at the following trending indicators:
Technical indicators are divided into the following categories:

- Moving average
- Trending Indicators
- Bollinger bands
- Oscillating Indicators

- Volume Indicators

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 You can adjust the volatility of a moving average by adjusting the time
MOVING AVERAGE frame the indicator looks at to obtain the average price. Moving
Moving averages are the most basic trending indicator. They show you averages that look at fewer time periods to determine an average are
what direction a currency pair is going and where potential levels of more volatile. Moving averages that look at more time periods to
support and resistance may be — moving averages themselves can determine an average are less volatile.
serve as both support and resistance.

As we discuss moving averages, we will look at the following three

topics:

- How moving averages are constructed

- Moving average trading signal

- Strengths of moving averages

How a Moving Average is Constructed

Moving averages are constructed by finding the average closing price
of a currency pair at any given time and then plotting these points on a
price chart. The result gives you a smooth line that follows the price
movement of the currency pair.

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 MOVING AVERAGE TRADING SIGNAL
Moving averages provide useful trading signals for currency pairs that
are trending.

Entry signal—when an up-trending currency pair bounces back up

after hitting an up-trending moving average, or when a down-trending
currency pair bounces back down after hitting a down-trending moving
average.

Exit signal—when you enter a trade on an up-trending currency

pair, set a stop loss below the moving average. As the moving average
rises, move your stop loss up along with the moving average. If the
currency pair ever breaks far enough below the moving average, your
stop loss will take you out of your trade.

When you enter a trade on a down-trending currency pair, set a stop

loss above the moving average. As the moving average falls, move your
stop loss down along with the moving average. If the currency pair ever
breaks far enough above the moving average, your stop loss will take
you out of your trade.

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Strengths of a Moving Average
Moving averages enjoy the following strengths: - How Bollinger bands are constructed

- Bollinger band trading signal

- They identify simple trends

They are flexible enough to work in both short-term and long- - Strengths of Bollinger bands
-
term time frames

How Bollinger Bands are Constructed

Bollinger bands are typically based on a 20-period moving average. This
BOLLINGER BANDS moving average runs through the middle of the two bands. The upper
Bollinger bands, created by John Bollinger, are a trending indicator that band is plotted two standard deviations above the 20-period moving
can show you not only what direction a currency pair is going but also average. The lower band is plotted two standard deviations below the
how volatile the price movement of the currency pair is. Bollinger bands 20-period moving average.
consist of two bands—an upper band and a lower band—and a
A standard deviation is a statistical term that measures how far various
moving average and are generally plotted on top of the price
closing prices diverge from the average closing price. Therefore 20-
movement of a chart.
period Bollinger bands tell you how wide, or volatile, the range of
As we discuss Bollinger bands, we will look at the following three closing prices has been during the past 20 periods. The more volatile
topics: the currency pair, the wider the bands will be. The less volatile the
currency pair, the narrower the bands will be.

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CHART: MOVING AVERAGE

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BOLLINGER BAND TRADING SIGNAL OSCILLATING INDICATORS
Bollinger bands provide useful breakout signals for currency pairs that Oscillating indicators, as their name suggests, are indicators that move
have been consolidating. back and forth as currency pairs rise and fall. Oscillating indicators can
help you determine how strong the current trend of a currency pair is
Entry signal—when the bands widen and begin moving in and when that trend is in danger of losing momentum and turning
opposite directions after a period of consolidation, you can enter the around.
trade in the direction the price was moving when the bands began to
widen. When an oscillating indicator moves too high, the currency pair is
considered to be overbought (too many people have bought the
Exit signal—when the band narrows the price of the currency pair currency pair and there are not enough buyers left in the market to
moved away from the breakout turns and starts moving back toward push the currency pair higher). This indicates the currency pair is at risk
the current price of the currency pair, set a trailing stop loss to take you of losing momentum and turning around to move lower or sideways.
out of the trade if the trend reverses.
When an oscillating indicator moves too low, the currency pair is
considered to be oversold (too many people have sold the currency pair
and there are not enough sellers left in the market to push the currency
STRENGTHS OF BOLLINGER BANDS pair lower). This indicates the currency pair is at risk of losing
Bollinger bands enjoy the following strengths: momentum and turning around to move higher or sideways.

- They help you identify the trend

- They identify current market volatility

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Let’s take a look at the following oscillating indicators: As we discuss the CCI, we will look at the following three topics:

- Commodity channel index (CCI) - How the CCI is constructed

- Moving average convergence divergence (MACD) - CCI trading signal

- Slow stochastic - Strengths of the CCI

- Relative strength index (RSI)

How the Commodity Channel Index (CCI) is
Constructed
The commodity channel index (CCI) is based on both the average value
COMMODITY CHANNEL INDEX (CCI) of past price movements and how far those price movements have
strayed from the average—how volatile the price movements have
The commodity channel index (CCI) is an oscillating indicator developed been.
by Donald Lambert that can show you how bullish or bearish traders
are toward a currency pair and how dramatic those sentiments are. If the average price of the currency pair is moving higher, the CCI will
You can see the volatility of a currency pair with the CCI, much like you also be moving higher. Just how quickly the CCI moves higher depends
can with Bollinger bands. on how volatile the currency pair is. If it is more volatile, the CCI will
move higher faster. If it is less volatile, the CCI will move higher slower.
The CCI is usually plotted below the price movement on a chart.

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If the average price of the currency pair is moving lower, the CCI will
also be moving lower. Just how quickly the CCI moves lower depends
on how volatile the currency pair is. If it is more volatile, the CCI will
move lower faster. If it is less volatile, the CCI will move lower slower.

The CCI moves back and forth, crossing 100, zero and -100 as it cycles
through its progression.

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CHART: CCI

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Commodity Channel Index (CCI) Trading Signal of support. If the currency pair turns around and moves below support,
your stop loss will take you out of the trade.
The commodity channel index (CCI) produces trading signals as it
crosses back and forth above and below both 100 and -100.

Entry signal—when the CCI rises above 100 and then turns Strengths of the Commodity Channel Index (CCI)
around and crosses back below 100, you can sell the currency pair The commodity channel index (CCI) enjoys the following strengths:
knowing that buyers have exhausted their momentum and the currency
pair is likely to decline in the near future.
- It helps you identify volatility in a currency pair
When the CCI falls below -100 and then turns around and crosses back
above -100, you can buy the currency pair knowing that sellers have - It helps you identify potential reversal points for a currency pair
exhausted their momentum and the currency pair is likely to rise in the
near future.
- It helps you confirm the strength of current trends

Exit signal—when the CCI turns around and starts moving higher
after you have sold a currency pair, place your stop loss just above the
nearest level of resistance. If the currency pair turns around and moves
above resistance, your stop loss will take you out of the trade. MOVING AVERAGE CONVERGENCE
DIVERGENCE (MACD)
When the CCI turns around and starts moving lower after you have The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is an oscillating
bought a currency pair, place your stop loss just below the nearest level indicator developed by Gerald Appel that can show you when trading

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momentum changes from being bullish to bearish and from being How the Moving Average Convergence Divergence
bearish to bullish. The MACD can also show you when traders are
(MACD) is Constructed
becoming over-extended, which usually results in a trend reversal for
The moving average convergence divergence is constructed based on a
the currency pair.
series of moving averages and how they relate to one another. The
The MACD is usually plotted below the price movement on a chart. standard MACD looks at the relationship between a currency pairs 12-
period and 26-period exponential moving average. Specifically, the
As we discuss the MACD, we will look at the following three topics: MACD looks at the distance between these two moving averages. If
the 12-period moving average is above the 26-period moving average,
the MACD line will be positive. If the 12-period moving average is
- How the MACD is constructed below the 26-period moving average, the MACD line will be negative.

The MACD line is accompanied by a trigger line. This line is a 9-period

- MACD trading signal
exponential moving average of the MACD line.

- Strengths of the MACD

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CHART: MACD

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Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) Strengths of the Moving Average Convergence
Trading Signal Divergence (MACD)
The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) produces trading The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) enjoys the
signals as it crosses back and forth above and below the trigger line. following strengths:

Entry signal—when the MACD crosses above the trigger line, you
It helps you identify when the momentum of a currency pair
can buy the currency pair knowing that momentum has shifted from -
changes
being bearish to being bullish.
- It helps you confirm the strength of current trends
When the MACD crosses below the trigger line, you can sell the
currency pair knowing that momentum has shifted from being bullish
to being bearish.

Exit signal—when the MACD crosses back below the trigger line SLOW STOCHASTIC
when you have bought the currency pair, you can sell the currency pair The slow stochastic is an oscillating indicator developed by George Lane
back knowing that momentum has shifted back from being bullish to that can show you when investor sentiment changes from being bullish
being bearish. to bearish and from being bearish to bullish. The slow stochastic can
also show you when traders are becoming over-extended, which
When the MACD crosses back above the trigger line when you have
usually results in a trend reversal for the currency pair.
sold the currency pair, you can buy the currency pair back knowing that
momentum has shifted back from being bearish to being bullish. The slow stochastic is usually plotted below the price movement on a
chart.

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As we discuss the slow stochastic, we will look at the following three If the closing price of the currency pair is near the bottom of the range
topics: of past closing prices, the %K line (followed by the %D line) will move
lower.

- How the slow stochastic is constructed For example, if the EUR/USD has closed in between 1.4200 and 1.4300
on each of the past 14 trading periods and it closes at 1.4295 (near the
- Slow stochastic trading signal high of the range), %K will move toward the top of the indicator’s
range.
- Strengths of the slow stochastic

How the Slow Stochastic is Constructed

The slow stochastic consists of two lines—%K and %D—that oscillate
in a range between 0 and 100. %K is constructed based on where the
current closing price of a currency pair is in relation to the range of
closing prices for that same currency in the past. %D is a moving
average of %K.

If the closing price of the currency pair is near the top of the range of
past closing prices, the %K line (followed by the %D line) will move
higher.

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CHART: SLOW STOCHASTIC

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Slow Stochastic Trading Signal Strengths of the Slow Stochastic
The slow stochastic produces trading signals as it crosses in and out of The slow stochastic enjoys the following strengths:
its upper and lower reversal zones. The upper reversal zone is the area
of the indicator that is above 80. The lower reversal zone is the area of
It helps you identify when investor sentiment toward a currency
the indicator that is below 20. When %K is above 80, it shows the -
pair changes
currency pair may be overbought and may be reversing trend shortly.
When %K is below 20, it shows the currency pair may be oversold and - It helps you confirm the strength of current trends
may be reversing trend shortly.

Entry signal—when %K crosses from above 80 to below 80, you

can sell the currency pair knowing that investor sentiment toward the VOLUME INDICATORS
currency pair has shifted from being bullish to being bearish. Since currencies are traded on the inter-bank market and not on a
central exchange, volume data for currency transactions is not
When %K crosses from below 20 to above 20, you can buy the available. Without volume data, you cannot construct volume
currency pair knowing that investor sentiment toward the currency pair indicators. Therefore, we do not use volume indicators in Forex trading.
has shifted from being bearish to being bullish.
You will learn more about volume indicators as you diversify your
Exit signal—when %K reverses direction after having crossed investing into stocks, CFDs and futures.
either above 20 or below 80 and crosses over %D, you can exit your
trade knowing that investor sentiment is changing direction again.

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Disclaimer
None of the information contained herein constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument or to make any investments.
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personal investment objectives or financial situation and make no representation, and assume no liability to the accuracy or
completeness of the information provided, nor for any loss arising from any investment based on a recommendation, forecast or other
information supplied from any employee of Saxo Bank, third party, or otherwise. Trades in accordance with the recommendations in an
analysis, especially, but not limited to, leveraged investments such as foreign exchange trading and investment in derivatives, can be
very speculative and may result in losses as well as profits. You should carefully consider your financial situation and consult your
financial advisor(s) in order to understand the risks involved and ensure the suitability of your situation prior to making any investment
or entering into any transactions. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice. Any opinions made may be personal
to the author and may not reflect the opinions of Saxo Bank.

Please furthermore refer to Saxo Bank's full General Disclaimer: http://www.saxobank.com/?id=193

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