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When it comes to market timing (why market prices turn and how to predict that), there are many opinions out there. There are the many different fundamental factors such as global economic reports, the health of corporate profits and so much more. The thought is when the data is good, market prices rise and when the data is weak, market prices decline. If this market timing theory worked and it was this easy, everyone would make fortunes trading and investing.

Then there is a school of thought called “technical analysis”. As I have written about before, this school of thought focuses on price patterns on a chart that, in theory, help you predict market turning points and market moves in advance. There are many flaws with this form of analysis but one of the biggest is that you’re almost always buying after price rises and selling after price declines, which is not how you profit buying and selling anything.

In this piece, I want to offer a very simple and real alternative to how you “think” the markets. Instead of thinking conventional technical and fundamental analysis, let’s focus on one thing and one thing only to do our market timing analysis, Buy and Sell orders. To do this, let’s use an example from a recent buying opportunity in the S&P from our OTA Supply/Demand grid, a service we publish daily for our members.

OTA Supply/Demand Grid Feb. 24, 2016 – S&P Buy Setup

OTA

A – “A” represents a Demand zone where banks and financial institutions are buying. This demand zone was on the grid because it achieved a very high odds enhancer score. There was very little trading at the level followed by a strong rally from the level. This told us demand greatly exceeded supply. Once the last sell order is filled and you have buyers at the price who still want to buy, price will rise; this is a supply/demand imbalance and the result of it.

B – “B” also represents a demand zone for the same reasons as “A”.

C – “C” is the decline in price to demand level “B”. This is when our rules tell us to buy. At “C”, sellers are making two key mistakes. They are selling after a decline in price and at a level where the chart already told us demand exceeds supply. In short, novice traders and investors are selling at a price level where banks are buying.

D – “D” is the second time price revisits demand zone “B”, however, this time price falls right through it. This is expected as the demand is not there anymore due to the trading at “C”. In other words, the buy orders are filled already which is why we expect price to keep declining at “D”.

E – “E” is the first time price declines to our grid demand zone “A”. This is when our members are taught to buy. Again, banks (smart money) are buying and the ill-informed are selling. The reason price rallies so strong and far from our demand zone “A” is because there is no supply above to stop it. This large profit zone is another reason that level made it onto the grid.

The movement of price in any and all markets is a function of an ongoing supply and demand equation. Prices turn at levels where this simple and straight forward equation is out of balance. It’s not about the filled buy and sell orders that create the candles and bars you see on your price charts. The supply and demand imbalance that causes price to turn is because of the unfilled orders that are not represented by the data you see on charts.

Hope this was helpful, have a great day.

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Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD meets initial support around 1.1800

EUR/USD meets initial support around 1.1800

EUR/USD remains on the back foot, although it has managed to reverse the initial strong pullback toward the 1.1800 region and regain some balance, hovering around the 1.1850 zone as the NA session draws to a close on Tuesday. Moving forward, market participants will now shift their attention to the release of the FOMC Minutes and US hard data on Wednesday.
 

GBP/USD bounces off lows, retargets 1.3550

GBP/USD bounces off lows, retargets 1.3550

After bottoming out just below the 1.3500 yardstick, GBP/USD now gathers some fresh bids and advances to the 1.3530-1.3540 band in the latter part of Tuesday’s session. Cable’s recovery comes as the Greenback surrenders part of its advance, although it keeps the bullish bias well in place for the day.

USD/JPY is looking for direction around 153.00 with key US data in focus

USD/JPY is looking for direction around 153.00 with key US data in focus

USD/JPY reversal from 153.70 has been contained above 152.70 on Tuesday. Major currencies are trading within narrow ranges amid thin trading volumes. Investors await the release of the US GDP and PCE Inflation figures to make decisions.


Editors’ Picks

NZD/USD: All eyes on RBNZ guidance and new Governor Breman's debut

NZD/USD: All eyes on RBNZ guidance and new Governor Breman's debut

NZD/USD opened Tuesday at 0.60344, reached a high of 0.60520 and a low of 0.60044, and closed at 0.60480, down 0.22%. The pair is holding well above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average at 0.59041 and the 200-day EMA at 0.58545, with both averages rising and spaced roughly 50 pips apart, confirming the underlying bullish trend that began from the January low of 0.57110.

AUD/USD extends the bounce, focus back to 0.7100

AUD/USD extends the bounce, focus back to 0.7100

AUD/USD adds to Monday’s optimism and approaches the key 0.7100 barrier ahead of the opening bell in Asia. The pair’s positive performance comes as investors keep assessing the hawkish tilt from the RBA Minutes and despite humble gains in the Greenback. Next in Oz will be the Westpac Leading Index and the Wage Price Index.
 

Gold remains offered below $5,000

Gold remains offered below $5,000

Gold stays on the defensive on Tuesday, receding to the sub-$5,000 region per troy ounce on the back of the persistent move higher in the Greenback. The precious metal’s decline is also underpinned by the modest uptick in US Treasury yields across the spectrum.

RBNZ set to pause interest-rate easing cycle as new Governor Breman faces firm inflation

RBNZ set to pause interest-rate easing cycle as new Governor Breman faces firm inflation

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand remains on track to maintain the Official Cash Rate at 2.25% after concluding its first monetary policy meeting of this year on Wednesday.

UK jobs market weakens, bolstering rate cut hopes

UK jobs market weakens, bolstering rate cut hopes

In the UK, the latest jobs report made for difficult reading. Nonetheless, this represents yet another reminder for the Bank of England that they need to act swiftly given the collapse in inflation expected over the coming months. 

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