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What Really Works for Technical Traders
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phantom, in Technical Analysis
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By David Carter
My broker (Jones Mutual) advised me to use candlesticks when CFD trading, as the simple line graph option does not give you enough information - is this correct?
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By inthemoneystocks
One of the most important reasons why traders take big losses is because they often fail to recognize when a trade has gone wrong. You see, stopping out of a trade is probably the biggest fault of traders and investors. Often, this happens to young and inexperienced traders and investors, but I know many veteran traders and investors that struggle with this as well. Early in my own career I struggled with stopping out of a bad trade myself, so I can sympathize with this problem.
The problem with taking a loss is really two fold. First, the trader has to admit that he is wrong. As you all know, as human beings we all hate to be wrong. The ego simply gets in the way and we all want to always be right all the time. The first secret in this business is to check the ego at the door. The market does not care about your the color of your skin, religion or anything else. It will move in the direction of the money and that is the bottom line. Once a trader or investor goes into what I call 'hope mode' the trade is over. I'm sure everyone has been in this position at one time or another. Simply put there is no room for ego or hope in the stock market. The market is always right and there is no reason to fight it.
Here is the second problem with taking a loss, it hurts. Pain and pleasure are the two reasons why humans do anything at all. As a human being, we are always looking to have pleasure and avoid pain. Well, losing money is painful and many people would rather simply hold a losing equity than lock in a small loss and move on. I cannot tell you how often I see a trader hold a losing trade only to see the position move further out of the money. Many years ago I watched a day trader blow up a $200,000 account in a single day averaging in on a bad day trade. To this day I can remember the look on his face as his money vanished in thin air. Believe it or not, this trader could have exited the position with a $500.00 loss, but instead he kept averaging in and fighting the position until he was wiped out. As a rule, once you have your full position you should never average in on a trade. At that point, it is critical to know where your max loss is going to be and stop out if that level is breached.
Now when should we stop out? The answer to this question is not that simple, but here is what I personally do. I always place my stop loss below an important breakout or pivot on the chart. You see, prior breakout or pivot levels are usually defended when retested. After all, this is usually an area where institutional traders and investors got involved, that is why there is a pivot low or high on the chart to begin with. If that level is breached on a closing basis then I will move out of the position. So If I took a trade based on a daily chart pattern then I will usually check the daily and weekly chart levels. If there is a major pivot on the weekly chart then I will use a week chart close as my stop out level. While this method may not be perfect, it has saved me from much bigger losses when I have been wrong.
Nicholas Santiago -
By LindsayBev
Hello! I am new to this forum. I am interested in learning about candlestick reading. I would appreciate hearing from any that will answer this post WHICH book you found the most helpful?
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By Stocks4life · Posted
MNST Monster Beverage stock, top of range breakout above 60.45, from Stocks to Watch at https://stockconsultant.com/?MNST -
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By HFblogNews · Posted
Date: 11th July 2025. Demand For Gold Rises As Trump Announces Tariffs! Gold prices rose significantly throughout the week as investors took advantage of the 2.50% lower entry level. Investors also return to the safe-haven asset as the US trade policy continues to escalate. As a result, investors are taking a more dovish tone. The ‘risk-off’ appetite is also something which can be seen within the stock market. The NASDAQ on Thursday took a 0.90% dive within only 30 minutes. Trade Tensions Escalate President Trump has been teasing with new tariffs throughout the week. However, the tariffs were confirmed on Thursday. A 35% tariff on Canadian imports starting August 1st, along with 50% tariffs on copper and goods from Brazil. Some experts are advising that Brazil has been specifically targeted due to its association with the BRICS. However, the President has not directly associated the tariffs with BRICS yet. According to President Trump, Brazil is targeting US technology companies and carrying out a ‘witch hunt’against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally who is currently facing prosecution for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2022 Brazilian election. Although Brazil is one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the Americas, it is not the main concern for investors. Investors are more concerned about Tariffs on Canada. The White House said it will impose a 35% tariff on Canadian imports, effective August 1st, raised from the earlier 25% rate. This covers most goods, with exceptions under USMCA and exemptions for Canadian companies producing within the US. It is also vital for investors to note that Canada is among the US;’s top 3 trading partners. The increase was justified by Trump citing issues like the trade deficit, Canada’s handling of fentanyl trafficking, and perceived unfair trade practices. The President is also threatening new measures against the EU. These moves caused US and European stock futures to fall nearly 1%, while the Dollar rose and commodity prices saw small gains. However, the main benefactor was Silver and Gold, which are the two best-performing metals of the day. How Will The Fed Impact Gold? The FOMC indicated that the number of members warming up to the idea of interest rate cuts is increasing. If the Fed takes a dovish tone, the price of Gold may further rise. In the meantime, the President pushing for a 3% rate cut sparked talk of a more dovish Fed nominee next year and raised worries about future inflation. Meanwhile, jobless claims dropped for the fourth straight week, coming in better than expected and supporting the view that the labour market remains strong after last week’s solid payroll report. Markets still expect two rate cuts this year, but rate futures show most investors see no change at the next Fed meeting. Gold is expected to finish the week mostly flat. Gold 15-Minute Chart If the price of Gold increases above $3,337.50, buy signals are likely to materialise again. However, the price is currently retracing, meaning traders are likely to wait for regained momentum before entering further buy trades. According to HSBC, they expect an average price of $3,215 in 2025 (up from $3,015) and $3,125 in 2026, with projections showing a volatile range between $3,100 and $3,600 Key Takeaway Points: Gold Rises on Safe-Haven Demand. Gold gained as investors reacted to rising trade tensions and market volatility. Canada Tariffs Spark Concern. A 35% tariff on Canadian imports drew attention due to Canada’s key trade role. Fed Dovish Shift Supports Gold. Growing expectations of rate cuts and Trump’s push for a 3% cut boosted the gold outlook. Gold Eyes Breakout Above $3,337.5. Price is consolidating; a move above $3,337.50 could trigger new buy signals. Always trade with strict risk management. Your capital is the single most important aspect of your trading business. Please note that times displayed based on local time zone and are from time of writing this report. Click HERE to access the full HFM Economic calendar. Want to learn to trade and analyse the markets? Join our webinars and get analysis and trading ideas combined with better understanding of how markets work. Click HERE to register for FREE! Click HERE to READ more Market news. Michalis Efthymiou HFMarkets Disclaimer: This material is provided as a general marketing communication for information purposes only and does not constitute an independent investment research. Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of buying or selling of any financial instrument. All information provided is gathered from reputable sources and any information containing an indication of past performance is not a guarantee or reliable indicator of future performance. Users acknowledge that any investment in Leveraged Products is characterized by a certain degree of uncertainty and that any investment of this nature involves a high level of risk for which the users are solely responsible and liable. We assume no liability for any loss arising from any investment made based on the information provided in this communication. This communication must not be reproduced or further distributed without our prior written permission. -
Back in the early 2000s, Netflix mailed DVDs to subscribers. It wasn’t sexy—but it was smart. No late fees. No driving to Blockbuster. People subscribed because they were lazy. Investors bought the stock because they realized everyone else is lazy too. Those who saw the future in that red envelope? They could’ve caught a 10,000%+ move. Another story… Back in the mid-2000s, Amazon launched Prime. It wasn’t flashy—but it was fast. Free two-day shipping. No minimums. No hassle. People subscribed because they were impatient. Investors bought the stock because they realized everyone hates waiting. Those who saw the future in that speedy little yellow button? They could’ve caught another 10,000%+ move. Finally… Back in 2011, Bitcoin was trading under $10. It wasn’t regulated—but it worked. No bank. No middleman. Just wallet to wallet. People used it to send money. Investors bought it because they saw the potential. Those who saw something glimmering in that strange orange coin? They could’ve caught a 100,000%+ move. The people who made those calls weren’t fortune tellers. They just noticed something simple before others did. A better way. A quiet shift. A small edge. An asymmetric bet. The red envelope fixed late fees. The yellow button fixed waiting. The orange coin gave billions a choice. Of course, these types of gains are rare. And they happen only once in a blue moon. That’s exactly why it’s important to notice when the conditions start to look familiar. Not after the move. Not once it's on CNBC. But in the quiet build-up— before the surface breaks. Enter the Blue Button Please read more here: https://altucherconfidential.com/posts/netflix-amazon-bitcoin-blue Profits from free accurate cryptos signals: https://www.predictmag.com/ -
What These Attacks Look Like There are several ways you could get hacked. And the threats compound by the day. Here’s a quick rundown: Phishing: Fake emails from your “bank.” Click the link, give your password—game over. Ransomware: Malware that locks your files and demands crypto. Pay up, or it’s gone. DDoS: Overwhelm a website with traffic until it crashes. Like 10,000 bots blocking the door. Often used by nations. Man-in-the-Middle: Hackers intercept your messages on public WiFi and read or change them. Social Engineering: Hackers pose as IT or drop infected USB drives labeled “Payroll.” You don’t need to be “important” to be a target. You just need to be online. What You Can Do (Without Buying a Bunker) You don’t have to be tech-savvy. You just need to stop being low-hanging fruit. Here’s how: Use a YubiKey (physical passkey device) or Authenticator app – Ditch text message 2FA. SIM swaps are real. Hackers often have people on the inside at telecom companies. Use a password manager (with Yubikey) – One unique password per account. Stop using your dog’s name. Update your devices – Those annoying updates patch real security holes. Use them. Back up your files – If ransomware hits, you don’t want your important documents held hostage. Avoid public WiFi for sensitive stuff – Or use a VPN. Think before you click – Emails that feel “urgent” are often fake. Go to the websites manually for confirmation. Consider Starlink in case the internet goes down – I think it’s time for me to make the leap. Don’t Panic. Prepare. (Then Invest.) I spent an hour in that basement bar reading about cyberattacks—and watching real-world systems fall apart like dominos. The internet going down used to be an inconvenience. Now, it’s a warning. Cyberwar isn’t coming. It’s here. And the next time your internet goes out, it might not just be your router. Don’t panic. Prepare. And maybe keep a backup plan in your back pocket. Like a local basement bar with good bourbon—and working WiFi. As usual, we’re on the lookout for more opportunities in cybersecurity. Stay tuned. Author: Chris Campbell (AltucherConfidential) Profits from free accurate cryptos signals: https://www.predictmag.com/
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