For those using technical analysis, which indicators have actually stayed reliable for you over time?

[steven46]

I am sorry to hear of your difficulty
Let me extend a hand to you
There are many possible avenues for you to obtain a different result
I would start with education
Also there are persons who can provide mentorship and direction
including Trader Dale, Trader Tom Hougaard, Ross at Warrior Trading
and Dr Al Brooks (Price Action Trading). They provide books, comments,
YouTube videos and other free references that might help you.
Suggest you think in terms of the process of learning to distinguish between
what works, and what does not. It might be that simple

Good luck

 

[georgem88]

The only tools I’ve kept long-term are price levels, session highs/lows, and VWAP for intraday bias. I’ll occasionally use a moving average just for trend bias, but that’s it. I trade gold a lot and on Hola Prime the execution has been consistent so I don’t feel the need to keep swapping tools to fix performance.

 

[Tytus_Barnowl]

Moving Averages. There are lots of algorithmic theories out there but fact remains that whatever asset you trade it will always snap back to EMA sometime. It takes a fair bit of watching and planning around also I never just use a single indicator. There is no fast easy method. Greg Secker and gang are now long dead.

 

[steven46]

So the comments about non-directional trading are correct. The problem is that none of
that is helpful to retail traders. NONE of you have the money, access to the tools, or education necessary, to
participate in those non-directional strategies.

There ARE professionals who have an institutional background and trade direction. Its not
that hard. They identify regime, they monitor the open, and identify who is in control, who is trapped
and where the inventory is staged. Once they have that information, they wait for a time based opportunity
to trade either mean reversion or trend. The rest is inventory management (if you have any to manage).

I agree with you, there is little reason to post here. I am stopping as well. For others who may be interested I am
writing a series of article on the funded trader industry. I would hope to keep people from being used badly.
There are a couple good ones, and a lot of sharks. I will try to make it clear how to figure it out. Personally I
would rather create a good business plan, then go to a bank and get a loan This is after all, a business.

That's it for me. Good luck

 

[steven46]

How institutional traders make money

I think it is true that many institutional strategies are non directional. However, none of that is helpful
to Retail Traders. They don't have access to the tools, capital or education necessary to participate
So one might ask the obvious question, how does it help them to know this?

Commercial and institutional traders who are not employed privately, work on any number of systematic
approaches including mean reversion and (of course) trend following on various time frames. The basics
are relatively clear. Identify the regime, the auction, then identify who is trapped, and where the inventory
is located. After that they wait for a time based opportunity to take action. Lately I have been pointing out
how the MOC imbalance for the S&P Market, affects price after the 3:50pm ET orders are placed and how
they can trade it. It is just one example of something that few Retail Traders are aware of, while you have
captivated us with your comments about non-directional trading.

Directional Approaches that are working right now (today).

1) Identifying Trapped Volume

One approach that continues to "work" effectively, is to monitor price at specific times during a session, in
order to identify who is trapped, then wait for the "give up" bar or candle and "Go With" it.

2) Trading the MOC Imbalance

We suggest traders read about the MOC imbalance that occurs regularly for the S&P 500 market at 3:50pm ET
The effects of the imbalance have been reported by many researchers and it can be used to forecast how the next
session is likely to move (within bounds).

3) Momentum & Context

A third approach that works is to simply trade "momentum within a context", meaning that you wait of price to respond at a specific
event, economic report, or to even to a specific time period (the end of the IB for example). Then using a specific candle size, you wait
for a series of consecutive candles to indicate direction you (again) "go with" that momentum.

4) The Overnight Drift

Especially for London & Euro Traders, the "Overnight Drift" is well known and yet it continues to work as a reasonable source of income
for knowledgeable traders.

All of these are directional approaches and all of them are in current use by skilled professionals who learn them and how to manage
the risks associated with trading them.

Sorry about that, apparently I did not finish my comment. Now I believe I have completed the task I agreed to
when my mentor passed.

Good luck