Sigma Forex Lines & Channels

• Lines & Channels

Trend lines are simple, yet helpful tools in confirming the direction of market trends. An upward straight line is drawn by connecting at least two successive lows. Naturally, the second point must be higher than the first. The continuation of the line helps determine the path along which the market will move. An upward trend is a concrete method to identify support lines/levels. Conversely, downward lines are charted by connecting two points or more. The validity of a trading line is partly related to the number of connection points. Yet it's worth mentioning that points must not be too close together. A channel is defined as the price path drawn by two parallel trend lines. The lines serve as an upward, downward or straight corridor for the price. A familiar property of a channel for a connecting point of a trend line is to lie between the two connecting point of its opposite line.

• Averages

If you believe in the "trend-is-your-friend" tenet of technical analysis, moving averages are very helpful. Moving averages tell the average price in a given point of time over a defined period of time. They are called moving because they reflect the latest average, while adhering to the same time measure.
A weakness of moving averages is that they lag the market, so they do not necessarily signal a change in trends. To address this issue, using a shorter period, such as 5 or 10 day moving average, would be more reflective of the recent price action than the 40 or 200-day moving averages.
Alternatively, moving averages may be used by combining two averages of distinct time-frames. Whether using 5 and 20-day MA, or 40 and 200-day MA, buy signals are usually detected when the shorter-term average crosses above the longer-term average. Conversely, sell signals are suggested when the shorter average falls below the longer one.

There are three kinds of mathematically distinct moving averages: Simple MA; Linearly Weighted MA; and Exponentially Smoothed. The latter choice is the preferred one because it assigns greater weight for the most recent data, and considers data in the entire life of the instrument.
Fundamentals Affecting the US Dollar

Types Of Charts

A chart or graph is a type of information graphic or graphic organizer that represents tabular numeric data and/or functions.
Charts are often used to make it easier to understand large quantities of data and the relationship between different parts of the data.
Certain types of charts are more useful for presenting a given data set than others.
The charts are one of the main interests at Sigma.
Charts are a statistically noticeably technical analysis tool for a trader that wants to carry out successful trading.
Currency charts bring clearly a single period of time and that period could range from one minute to one month to several years.

To open a new Forex chart:

• Through the menu options File > New Chart.
• Right-click the Market Watch window, then select the Chart Window options
• Clicking on "New Chart button" on the toolbar
• Or press the Ctrl + W key combination