Correct Use of Oscillators
hi,
when using certain indicators and osilators, when they reach wild extreme os/ob levels, ive been told that they have a 95% chance of reversing. As the market is random and no-one can see the future, how can this be true?
jason
Hi Jason
Not certain if you are still around, but this question needs an accurate answer, and so far there has only been waffling around, with no one actually having the knowledge to help you.
Now in case anyone thinks I am an expert ... I'm not - I just know where to find stuff generally, and you can bypass my screed and go directly to the link below for the original un-paraphrased text.
Oscillators belong to either one or the other of TWO classes.
a) Centred Oscillators, like MACD and ROC
b) Banded Oscillators, like Stochastic, RSI and CCI
Centred Oscillators are best used to IDENTIFY the underlying strength or direction of the momentum behind a move.
Banded Oscillators have an ability to IDENTIFY extreme readings.
You will probably not find this in the link below, but it is generally accepted that MACD is more useful in STRONGLY TRENDING markets, to identify a slowing or accelerating trend, or a change in the momentum of the trend.
Stochastic on the other hand, is more useful in NON-TRENDING markets, and you can see them begin to move when there is an imminent beginning of a trend.
But there is a very good place for both RSI and Stochastics, and here is the kicker: Apart from identifying what is referred to as "over-bought" or "over-sold" levels, they actually are VERY GOOD indicators of STRONG trend CONTINUATION. I found this through my own experience, and I imagine so did many of you.
When RSI or Stochastic is registering an over-bought level, it does NOT mean you can enter a "sell" order and just expect to "collect". I once traded CTX on the ASX (Australia) and the Stochastic remained in overbought territory for months at a time, while the price went from around $2.20 to over $20!
The actual time to SELL would have been when the Stochastic dipped through the overbought (80-line) level from above - provided other selling criteria were also met. Keep in mind that sometimes strongly trending instruments go through short "pull-backs" before powerfully resuming their former trend direction.
And so here is where we touch on the secret weapon available within the Stochastic Indicator, available to those who understand how it works.
Here it is:
When an equity, currency, commodity and so on is rallying strongly, but experiences a short pull-back from this direction of trend, Stochastics will dip quickly (temporarily) into an over-sold state.
This is the time to be ready to buy into a rally that is about to resume powerfully (we presume).
If an instrument in a strong rally experiences a pull-back and then resumes, Stochastic will dip into over-sold, and emerge crossing the 20-line from beneath. It is THIS signal you are waiting for to feather your nest!
Similarly, when an instrument is in a strong correction, and experiences a short rally, the imminent resumption of the down-trend is signaled by the Stochastic dipping briefly into over-bought zones,before dropping once again through the 80-line from above.
Mastery of this one simple fact about Stochastic will help you get the very best from an oft-overlooked indicator. Combine this with your new knowledge that an instrument hovering in over-bought/over-sold levels will continue that trend for as long as the Stochastic remains in the >80 / <20 zones respectively, and you are set to both enter good trends during pull-backs, and remain in them for the duration of what is often the most powerful phase of their moves.
Some traders try to complicate their lives by attempting to pick divergences in Stochs and RSI when compared to Price Action, but this is not only an advanced skill, it is also an activity which carries a higher failure rate. Most experienced traders do not bother to split hairs about this - there is other low-lying fruit to be picked before attempting to trade divergences.
Stochastic is a very friendly indicator to have by your side , and it loves to work hard for you. It is uncomplicated, and will not trick you, providing you do a minimum of work to discover its limitations. It will always be there to offer a "second opinion" and believe me - this indicator does not know how to lie. If a move does not occur immediately Stochastic signals a change, you can still be sure that the change is not very far off.
Jason - I hope that answers your question, with enlightenment towards better and smarter trading.
I recommend this link for a full exposition of these and other Indicators, with thanks to the the people at Stockcharts.com - very much worthy of your time to visit.
Introduction to Technical Indicators and Oscillators - StockCharts.com