Starting Out In Forex....

pierre · #1 09-30-2006, 03:03 AM

Hi all. I am new to this forum. I read about pivot points in this forum and would like to know if they can applied to the forex markets. Can pivot points be used on a longer time frame as well?

So far, I use a variety of indicator signals for my entry and exits. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

earsha · #2 10-07-2006, 04:14 PM

Pierre,

A "Pivot Point" is a Technical Analysis term. Exactly how it is arrived at, I'm not sure. Any of the sites that publish FOREX news and commentary should also publish the "Pivot Point" along with their Technical Analysis for each pair. Essentially the "Pivot Point" is the point that (according to technicals) the direction of the pair is expected to change (or pivot). There is also something called a "Daily Pivot Point".

My experience is that it is a good idea to be aware of technicals and fundamentals. But I would not trade based upon technical analysis and certainly not on any person's analysis other than my own. Also keep in mind that basically every level of support or resistance is a potential "Pivot Point". so for our purposes, we have already learned as much about "Pivot Points" that we need in order to trade successfully.

Earsha

pierre · #3 10-07-2006, 04:27 PM

Thank you earsha. I'm still trying to develop my own methods of analysis. I read alot of good posts in this forum emphasizing the importance of having a trading style. Perhaps I may look into pivots and test it out.

forex_gump · #4 10-17-2006, 02:14 PM

Where can I get detail instructions on how to read and apply pivot points.

carter · #5 10-17-2006, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by forex_gump

Where can I get detail instructions on how to read and apply pivot points.

Try doing a search here. There is a ton of material on pivot points including videos, formulas, etc...

surfer · #6 10-19-2006, 03:34 PM

Hi, i am new in this forum and my english is not the best. But i will give my best.

A good side for actual pivots:

mataf.net

Anna-Maria · #7 11-11-2006, 02:38 PM

Anything will work some of the time, and if Pivots float your boat, then ensure you're aware of their strengths as well as their limitations (as with every form of t/a).

I haven't particularly found them to be of any great benefit across the cash FX instruments.

I prefer to use the prev day's close (5pm EST) as the fulcrum for next day's activity & use 2 averages (35 & 50%) of the prev session high-low as my R1-2 & S1-2 levels.

An alternative to that would be observing the prev 2 days high-low markers as your S1-2 & R1-2 markers, especially when price has been mired within a choppy range on the mid-frames (1-4hr)

Just my view! As ever, do your own diligence & TEST your observations thoroughly!!

carter · #8 11-11-2006, 02:54 PM

Hi texxas,

How did you come up with 35%? 50% is common, also a fib ratio. Curious to know why 35%? Thanks

Carter

Anna-Maria · #9 11-11-2006, 03:21 PM

carter:

I keep a detailed spreadsheet of the main instrument(s) I predominantly trade. Those being Euro & Cable.

Basically, I record the daily Open-High-Low & percentage change bias on these babies, & categorize them into "normal" & excess range parameters.

Excluding the abnormal range extremes, both these pairs spend the majority of their lives clipping between those 2 aforementioned % barriers.

so, I calc the 35 & 50% long/short measure away from the prev day's close & use those 4 levels (2 resist & 2 support measures) as my next day's observation points.

If it's likely to be a Big day, one or either side of those s&r levels will get taken out during the early to mid London shift.

If range play's are the order of the day, those levels will generally dictate the flow.

if they happen to confluence a prev swing high-low or key Fib number, all the better - but I prefer to use actual price range behaviour rather than an arbitrary math calc, which Pivots are essentially derived from.

hope that helps explain.

*Soultrader* · #10 11-11-2006, 03:46 PM

Veryyy interesting texxas. The 35% and 50% points basically act as S1,S2,R1,R2 pivots. So you would play them as if a pivot based trader would trade pivots?

The way you categorize them makes perfect sense. I have studied methods kind of similar in which fib ratios are applied to the high/low of the session to predict the following days range (for futures.... not my method). Very interesting indeed....