One of the many rewards of being an instructor at Online Trading Academy is the interaction received from students, both in the classroom and via email. The questions and challenges are what keeps you sharp as a trader. By constantly recalling my knowledge and seeing trading concepts through the eyes of new traders, it prevents me from becoming stale and makes me a better trader.
While teaching and trading live in the Extended Learning Track (XLT), this morning, a topic that kept coming up was on candle shape and the importance of price arrival to a supply or demand zone. This reminded me of an old email I received from a student.
“I want you to tell me the importance of how a price comes back to a level? What is the significance of how it arrives, if it comes in like a glider plane or a lead balloon? I think what is important is how it leaves but the arrival is an odd’s enhancer. I am a ‘why’ guy. So why is arrival so important?”
This is a great question and the answer highlights the true market forces behind price movement, fear and greed. I want you to think about a flagpole. If I climbed to the top of that pole it would hold my weight. However, as more and more people climbed up to the top of that same pole, eventually it would bend and break from the added weight. Prices are similar. Stock prices rise because of demand. The demand being greater than the supply causes buyers to outbid each other in an attempt to attract elusive supply and climb the pole. At some point, the buyers have exhausted themselves and everyone who wanted to buy has already done so or is prevented from buying due to the high cost.
Prices start to fall as fear takes hold. Most investors and traders will start to panic when the price starts moving against them (market reversals) or their stops will be triggered. If there was a lot of buying pressure and large green candles going into the supply level, there will be few buyers to stop the collapse and catch the supply being dumped onto the markets from stop orders being triggered.
Compare this with a gradual climb that features smaller green candles and some small pullbacks to shake out weak traders. As prices fall away from a supply level in this scenario, they will be met with less stop orders and more buying pressure as the demand was not exhausted on the way up.
When the approach to the supply level is slower and had smaller candles, price is more likely to break through the level rather than respect it.
Arrival to demand zones are also important. If you arrive to the demand with large red candles signaling panic and fear, you are likely to have a bigger and better bounce. The large red candles signal that everyone who wanted to sell has now exited the stock. When buyers step in they must raise their bids quickly to attract a seller who may still be around.
If the arrival to the demand zone is quiet, there are still many worried holders of the stock who are looking to sell at a smaller loss when the bounce occurs. This added supply will mute the bounce of price from the demand level.
So one of the important odds enhancers for analyzing our trades is how price arrives to test the supply or demand level. To learn all of the other odds enhancers, be sure to visit your local Online Trading Academy Center and enroll for one of our trading courses. Until next time, trade safe and trade well!
Neither Freedom Management Partners nor any of its personnel are registered broker-dealers or investment advisers. I will mention that I consider certain securities or positions to be good candidates for the types of strategies we are discussing or illustrating. Because I consider the securities or positions appropriate to the discussion or for illustration purposes does not mean that I am telling you to trade the strategies or securities. Keep in mind that we are not providing you with recommendations or personalized advice about your trading activities. The information we are providing is not tailored to any individual. Any mention of a particular security is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that or any other security or a suggestion that it is suitable for any specific person. Keep in mind that all trading involves a risk of loss, and this will always be the situation, regardless of whether we are discussing strategies that are intended to limit risk. Also, Freedom Management Partners’ personnel are not subject to trading restrictions. I and others at Freedom Management Partners could have a position in a security or initiate a position in a security at any time.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD stays in positive territory above 1.0850 after US data
![EUR/USD stays in positive territory above 1.0850 after US data](https://editorial.fxstreet.com/images/Markets/Currencies/Majors/EURUSD/money-euro-and-dollar-banknotes-17371247_XtraSmall.jpg)
EUR/USD clings to modest daily gains above 1.0850 in the second half of the day on Friday. The improving risk mood makes it difficult for the US Dollar to hold its ground after PCE inflation data, helping the pair edge higher ahead of the weekend.
GBP/USD stabilizes above 1.2850 as risk mood improves
![GBP/USD stabilizes above 1.2850 as risk mood improves](https://editorial.fxstreet.com/images/Markets/Currencies/Majors/GBPUSD/strong-pound-weak-dollar-17536259_XtraSmall.jpg)
GBP/USD maintains recovery momentum and fluctuates above 1.2850 in the American session on Friday. The positive shift seen in risk mood doesn't allow the US Dollar to preserve its strength and supports the pair.
Gold rebounds above $2,380 as US yields stretch lower
![Gold rebounds above $2,380 as US yields stretch lower](https://editorial.fxstreet.com/images/Markets/Commodities/Metals/Gold/gold-gm187363896-28836378_XtraSmall.jpg)
Following a quiet European session, Gold gathers bullish momentum and trades decisively higher on the day above $2,380. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield loses more than 1% on the day after US PCE inflation data, fuelling XAU/USD's upside.
Avalanche price sets for a rally following retest of key support level
![Avalanche price sets for a rally following retest of key support level](https://editorial.fxstreet.com/images/Avalanche/Avalanche_XtraSmall.jpg)
Avalanche (AVAX) price bounced off the $26.34 support level to trade at $27.95 as of Friday. Growing on-chain development activity indicates a potential bullish move in the coming days.
The election, Trump's Dollar policy, and the future of the Yen
![The election, Trump's Dollar policy, and the future of the Yen](https://editorial.fxstreet.com/images/Macroeconomics/Events/US%20Elections/Donald_Trump_closeup_XtraSmall.jpg)
After an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and drop out of President Biden, Kamala Harris has been endorsed as the Democratic candidate to compete against Trump in the upcoming November US presidential election.
RECOMMENDED LESSONS
Making money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
Discover how to make money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
5 Forex News Events You Need To Know
In the fast moving world of currency markets, it is extremely important for new traders to know the list of important forex news...
Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know
Chart patterns are one of the most effective trading tools for a trader. They are pure price-action, and form on the basis of underlying buying and...
7 Ways to Avoid Forex Scams
The forex industry is recently seeing more and more scams. Here are 7 ways to avoid losing your money in such scams: Forex scams are becoming frequent. Michael Greenberg reports on luxurious expenses, including a submarine bought from the money taken from forex traders. Here’s another report of a forex fraud. So, how can we avoid falling in such forex scams?
What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make
Trading is exciting. Trading is hard. Trading is extremely hard. Some say that it takes more than 10,000 hours to master. Others believe that trading is the way to quick riches. They might be both wrong. What is important to know that no matter how experienced you are, mistakes will be part of the trading process.