TRADING TOOL COMPATIBILITY by Daryl Guppy

This article is in two parts. Watch out for Part 2
Although we try to explain the processes of trading clearly there is no escape for the fact that trading is a complex activity. A successful trade brings together many different features. It includes the right selection of indicator tools appropriate for the type of trade. It includes selecting a type of trade that is compatible with our trading style, our emotional reactions and to the way the market is performing at the time. There are always a wide variety of trading opportunities in the market. There are far too many for any individual trader to trade, so we are forced to make choices. The mistake the novice often makes is to search for those trades which offer the most spectacular returns rather than find trades which offer high probability trading situations.

We prefer trade opportunities which offer higher than average returns, but these are in addition to the high probability trading situation. We like chart patterns because they point the way to high probability trades. Stocks that pass this filter are then selected on the basis of higher potential profits. We do not start with potential profits and hope for high probability.

Compatibility of technique and indicator selection is very important for success. A reader wrote to us during the week. He noted that he had learnt that when he buys a stock he has to manage its trend. This is correct and at the core of almost all trading opportunities. The trend may be very short term, as in an intra day trade. It may persist for several days or weeks, as with position trading. Or it may prevail for weeks and months as was common with many stocks between 2004 and 2007. Each of these opportunities is a trend trade, but each calls for different types of management and tools.

The reader continued, noting that he can manage the trend using the count back line, straight edge trend line, the 2xATR indicator and Darvas boxes. Although this is correct, there is an important division in this list. The Darvas approach is a stand alone approach that does not incorporate any additional indicator tools such as trend lines.

The reader asked which of these tools is good to use and which tool is most commonly used to manage the trend? If there was a simple universal answer then trading would be a much easier profession to master. The answer relies on easy to use indicators, but complex combinations that are custom designed to suit each individual. Many people will use the same collection of indicators, but each will apply and interpret them in slightly different ways. Each trader will manage the trade in different ways, reacting to growing profits, or small losses in ways different from other traders. The result is a completely different, and perhaps successful trade, based on the same stock. The current series of notes on finding the trader’s edge is a practical demonstration of these differences.

This combination complexity should not deter new traders, but it is important to be aware of it. The selection of type of trading techniques which are compatible with your personality and preference is an individual issue. The solution also changes as you gain more experience in the market. In these notes we skip this aspect of trade selection and assume you have found the type of trending situation that you are comfortable in trading. Once this first step has been taken the next most important issue is behavioural compatibility.



The MBL chart from more bullish times is a good example of the initial decisions made about stock and indicator compatibility with a trading approach. Many stocks are in the breakout stage of this trend development. When traders look at this chart they have two choices. One choice is to decide what type of trading opportunity exists with MBL based on the past 2 to 3 months of price activity. There are a variety of solutions, including short term rally trading, counter trend trading, or perhaps taking a put warrant or short side trade. These answer the question: What type of trading opportunity exists on this chart? These are all valid solutions, but they are not our solution.

The question we have to answer is about compatibility with trend trading. The question we have to answer is this: Is this chart a trend trade? This is the second choice we have as traders and that is to decide if the stock is compatible with our preferred trading technique. Our focus in these notes is on trend trading approaches so the answer is a clear “No.” For much of 2003 MBL was compatible with trend trading techniques. Since October 2003 this had not been the case with MBL. We do not need to decide what is the best trading method for this period. We simply need to note that this period is not suitable for trend trading. The nature of the trend changed, and the nature of the price action changes after October. It is pointless attempting to make any of the trend trading techniques fit this chart.

The foundation of a successful trade rests upon selecting a chart or stock with a behaviour pattern that suits our trading approach. A trend trade is built around stocks that are moving steadily upwards. The point at which we identify this compatibility will change. Initially MBL was a breakout trade as the previous downtrend ended. Sometime in this period other traders noted the potential for a trend trade. This is indicated by the way the trend trade line starts at a midpoint in the breakout trade segment of the chart display. There is no clean cut off point or date that says this is a breakout trade and this is a trend trade. Aggressive traders recognise trend trades early. Conservative traders wait for much longer before accepting a new trend is in place. This effects their entry point, and the level of profit achieved from the developing trade.

To read more articles and commentaries from Daryl Guppy, click HERE

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Article contributed by Private Trader, Market Expert, Trading Coach and Best-Selling Author Mr. Daryl Guppy. For more articles and commentaries from Daryl Guppy, click HERE.

Benny Lee on BFM 89.9

Benny shares his views on Bursa Malaysia FBMKLCI and CPO Futures, US dollars and Airasia.

KL Composite Index (FBMKLCI): Expected to move into a correction anytime soon

The market continues to make new highs last week but was not able to sustain and immediately pulled back. Resistance is getting stronger, as mentioned last week. The FBMKLCI went as high as 1,288.42 points, highest since May last year before pulling back to close at 1,276.65 points Thursday. The benchmark index still managed to close higher but only 4.9 points from the previous week. Last week, there was selling pressure whenever the market tries to push prices higher. Traders’ sentiment was a little weak as the price in the KLCI futures market closed at a 5 points discount from the underlying FBMKLCI.

The US Dollar rebounded last week against major currencies after starting on a weak note earlier this week but is still lower week-to-week. The US Dollar index (futures) in ICE NYBOT is currently at 75.545, 0.625 or 0.8% from last Monday’s close at 74.920. The Malaysian Ringgit is RM3.39 against the US Dollar, weakened by RM0.01 from last week. Price of commodities increased week-to-week despite a rebound in the US Dollar.

The price of gold continues to make new historical highs and closed 2.2% higher at US$1143.60 an ounce from the previous week. Price of crude oil futures in NYMEX however continues to trade around US$80 a barrel. Price of crude palm finally increased after moving sideways for weeks. The price rose 5.6% higher to close at RM2,371 per metric ton. TOCOM rubber futures (RSS3) also continues its upward rally by climbing 4% to close at JPY$243.50 per kg in a week. Price of rubber has risen 7.7% month-to-date.

The movement on the FBMKLCI can be considered uncertain this week as it close almost at the same level as last week, despite making new highs. Trading volume last week was almost the same as the previous corresponding week. 1.17 billion shares exchanged hands daily on average. The trading volume on Thursday was 1.385 billion shares and Maxis shares, which was re-listed account for about 22% of Thursday’s trading volume. The FBMKLCI up trend is still being supported by increasing moving averages. The nearest short term 30-day moving average is currently at 1,258 points. All short to long term 30 to 90 day moving averages are increasing.

Despite making new highs for the past two weeks, the momentum indicators like RSI and Momentum are still lower than their previous pivot high. The divergence still exists between the momentum indicators and the FBMKLCI uptrend. This simply means that the bullish rally in the past two weeks may not be strong enough to overcome the increasing resistance standing front of the bulls. The MACD indicator may have crossed above its moving average but the cross happened with a lower MACD level.

The volatility of the FBMKLCI is a little weaker last week than the previous week. The FBMKLCI traded in a 7.6 points daily trading range, calculated from the Average True Range (ATR) indicator. The previous week’s ATR was 8.5 points. This simply means that the market does not have confidence in a direction as sentiments were mixed. However, The Bollinger Bands is still expanding as the FBMKLCI managed to stay above the middle band.

The leading Ichimoku Cloud indicator has increased a little but the width of the cloud remains the same. The support from this indicator is between 1,240 and 1265 points. There is still no sign of any trend reversal in the next one month, based on this indicator reading. The possibility of the FBMKLCI to climb to 1,300 points is getting thinner. I have mentioned before that the index may test this level but may not be able to break above it this year.


Daily FBMKLCI chart as at 19 November 2009 using NextVIEW Advisor

With the current level and momentum, the FKLI is expected to move into a correction anytime soon, especially if the 1,258 points immediate support level breaks. The next technical support level will be at 1,200 points. The uptrend is expected to continue with a lower momentum if it can stay above the immediate support level.

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Article contributed by Private Trader, Market Expert, Trading Coach and Chief Market Strategist of Nextview, Mr. Benny Lee. For more articles and commentaries from Benny, click HERE.

Bursa Malaysia FBMKLCI: Resistance getting stronger

The FBMKLCI managed to inch up higher last week but still short of the 1,300 points expected target. Last week, the benchmark index went as high as 1,279.52 points and closed at 1271.75 points Thursday. One a week-to-week basis, the index rose 17.79 points or 1.4%, slightly higher than the increase in the previous week. On Thursday, there is evidence of support when the market rebounded in the last two hours of trade to cover its strong losses in the morning. The FBMKLCI went to a low of 1,262.48 points before it rebounded 9 points.

The FBMKLCI continued its uptrend journey by breaking above the 1,272 points immediate resistance level from the Bollinger Bands indicator last week. A new pivot high is created and this simply means that the uptrend is still developing. The index is well above the short to long term 30 to 90 day moving averages. The upward rally last week was supported by a relatively lower volume of 1.16 billion shares on a daily average. The average for the previous corresponding week was 1.3 billion.

There is a strong divergence between the current uptrend on the FBMKLCI and the momentum indicators. While the FBMKLCI is making new highs, the RSI, MACD and Momentum indicators are not. These indicators are indicating that the uptrend has weakened as the resistance gets stronger. At current level, the market provides a good opportunity for profit taking for those who have got into the market earlier.

The FBMKLCI has been trading around an 8.5 points range a day, as indicated by the 5-period Average True Range (ATR) indicator. The market volatility is almost the same as the previous week. When the index moved towards the top band of the Bollinger Bands as I have mentioned in my first paragraph, the bands starts to expand slightly. For the many times the FBMKLCI broke the top band in the past few months, the market rallied, provided that the FBMKLCI keeps testing the top band. Therefore, next week will be a crucial test that if the index is not move along to top band, the resistance is clearly strong.


Daily FBMKLCI chart as at 12 November 2009 using NextVIEW Advisor

There is still a possibility for the FBMKLCI to climb to 1,300 points, provided that it stays above the immediate support level of 1,230 points. However, it may not happen this year as it needs a proper correction to remove the resistance ahead. The leading Ichimoku Cloud indicator starts to expand but at between 1,220 to 1,260 points, still below 1,300 points. Therefore, the FBMKLCI is expected to just trade slightly above this range in the next one month. If the 1,230 points support level is broken, the FBMKLCI may find support at 1,200 points.


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Article contributed by Private Trader, Market Expert, Trading Coach and Chief Market Strategist of Nextview, Mr. Benny Lee. For more articles and commentaries from Benny, click HERE.

Benny Lee on BFM 89.9

Gold Analysis and Forecast

The long term potential for Gold is higher than what we’ll discuss in this article. My primary purpose here is to identify and confirm trend, and determine as best we can the logical price targets for gold during the month of November. The market continues to be very bullish, although there is evidence of temporary weakening momentum.

Click HERE to continue reading this analysis and forecast by Don Schellenberg

EURO / US DOLLAR ANALYSIS and FORECAST

Is EUR/USD ready for a big swing down?

I ask myself that question because this currency pair appears to be sitting at an important crossroad. It’s received some support from a six-month old rising trend line and hasn’t moved far from there for several days.

On October 26th, it completed a five wave move up that began on August 17th/09. Generally after five waves a fairly large correction can be expected, but not guaranteed, and the drop for the October high of 1.5062 can’t be described as large in the relative sense since it currently approximates corrections that occurred in August and September.

To continue reading this article by Don Schellenberg, please click HERE.

USD / SWISS FRANC ANALYSIS and FORECAST

USD/CHF reached a logical downside target of 1.0032, and that was within last month’s second level of support at S2 (S1 on the current chart).

It also appears that since July 31st to the present time there has been a move of five waves, indicating that either a relatively strong corrective rally is due, or that a mid-term low is firmly in place.

At time of writing a few days of bullish activity have occurred, but a close above the recent high of 1.0337 and more importantly above the October high of 1.0452, must happen before we can anticipate a more serious rally.

The Stochastic indicator suggests that a minor cycle high is in place, so at least some days of downward correction will not be a surprise. Any drop below the October 23rd low of 1.0032 would negate bullish probabilities for the near term.


Daily USD/CHF chart as at 4 November 2009 using NextVIEW Advisor. Click on chart for larger view.

TECHNICALS
MACD – rising strongly, and with bullish divergence.
Stochastic – turning down from around the 80 evel.
SMA200- sloping downwards, far above the current price, at 1.0814.
EMA20- rising from below the market.

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Article and Commentary by Don Schellenberg. A trader and trading coach, he is a noted expert on Market Structure, Elliott Wave and Fibonacci. He trades the forex market.

Vietnam VNI Index Analysis and Forecast

After a strong performance in the past few months, the Vietnam equity market went into a correction in the last week of October. Despite the bullish trend, the momentum was weak, as indicated by the momentum indicators last month. The benchmark VN Index in Ho Chi Minh found resistance at 633.21 points on the 23rd of October and pulled back to close at 587.12 points. On month-to-month, the VN Index only climbed 6.22 points, the lowest monthly increase in 8 months. The index has just broken below the 30-day short term average support level. The crucial support level to maintain the uptrend as mentioned last month is 520 points.

Click HERE to continue reading this analysis and forecast by Benny Lee.

Crude Palm Oil Futures Commentary and Forecast

The price of FCPO continues to trade in a sideway range between RM2,070 and RM 2,240 per metric ton. Traders can continue to trade at these ranges by buying near the lower range and sell at the higher range. Last month created this opportunity as the price of FCPO went as low as RM2,013 and as high as RM2,250. The price of FCPO is currently at RM2,208. The market did not rally despite re-planting exercise by producers which affects the supply or palm oil into the market.

Click here to continue reading more on FCPO be Benny Lee.