Hello all,
I just signed up and being that I never traded before would like to ask if someone can please explain what is IH OR DAILY time frame as using it in forex. Before i go any further, I should at least know some basics. I read most traders refer to it often and I want to be able to understand it.
the H1 and H4 (and their derivatives) are used as both a TREND indicator and a TRADING chart. During INTRADAY trading, the H1 is used to establish the direction the market is moving as well as being capable of being TRADED on its own !
For instance: I wish to place a trade and look at 1 hour chart. What is the first thing I need to establish? Is it the trend? After determining support and resistance on a 1H chart, do I then place my trade either at S/R price on 1H chart or other t.f.?
The H1 chart will show you the TREND of the currency you are interested in which for those using the lower timeframes is of real importance, because the lower timeframes can be going in any which direction, but the H1 remains tall in the saddle and leading the settlers west ! What comes next depends on your individual choice in trading --- you can trade the H1, which many do, or use the trend direction information you have to trade the lower timeframes --- at this point, its up to you !
If on 1H chart trend appears to be up..but 15, 5mi and daily t f is down, is it still the best to place a buy order based on 1H trend, or what should I do?
While it would be rare to see the daily down while the H1 is up, there "could" be times it happens but I would be very carefull in going LONG as youre getting a reversal signal !
That said, if the shorter timeframes (one, 5 and 15) are down while the H1 is maintaining a good solid uptrend, one can either WAIT for the 15 to bottom at support (30 isnt bad either) which now allows you to buy into the uptrend shown by the H1 at the lowest possible price, OR you can play the shorter timeframes as a SHORT, switching over to a long when the price hits support. If the support price on the H1 and the 15 minute are the same, you should have a very very nice ride back UP. (most of forex trading is finding TWO or more things that agree, like a major (50} moving average and the 50% fib retracement and/or the weekly pivot point or a mess of other things, which you will learn because you are already smart enough to have been asking the right questions !)
Also if s/r is very distant from a market quote, is it ok to place a trade somewhere half way or should I use s/r as a best guide?
I find that s+r is the all important ruler of forex, so once you determine the trend on the H1 you should wait for agreement on the lower timeframes or you will suffer "drawdowns" (your price continues DOWN till it reaches support) on the lower timeframes.
This, in and of itself is not a horrible thing, but just note you will be watching your trade in negative territory for a while, so you should be prepared for it !
The absolute best danged trade comes when ALL timeframes agree in direction --- then you will be sure of a heck of a good ride, and this usually happens after EACH ONE OF THE TIMEFRAMES has reached its support and slowly EACH ONE turns back up --- then you got yourself a run !
Some of the better EA's use techniques such as waiting for the H1 to retrace to a support level that agrees with the 15 min chart, and then once they both start back up again, one enters the trade long (also works short, but then youre dealing with both hitting resistance, of course)
What seperates experienced traders from the newbs is the ability to allow a currency to drop (while they are long) and understand that they simply entered too early --- the "understanding" part comes from knowing that the price will reverse back to the upside, and end up in profit, because thats what forex does --- but that does take a tad bit of experience, cause its scurrrrrrry watching your money get smaller and smaller.
Theres a tad bit more to it than that, but whats here is really the basis of how you trade and with just that, youre already ahead of most newbs !
Thank you in advance, but please present it in a simple way so I can understand it.
Marco