Tag: Trend Identification

  • Ichimoku – The Little-Known Japanese Indicator

    Ichimoku, also known as the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo, is a Japanese technical indicator that is little-known outside of Japan. It is a comprehensive indicator that provides a lot of information in one chart and can be used to identify trends, support and resistance levels, and even generate trading signals.

    The Ichimoku indicator was developed in the 1930s by a Japanese journalist named Goichi Hosoda. The indicator is composed of five lines, each with a specific purpose: the Tenkan-sen, Kijun-sen, Senkou Span A, Senkou Span B, and the Chikou Span.

    The Tenkan-sen, also known as the conversion line, is a moving average of the highest high and the lowest low over the past nine periods. It is used to identify short-term trends and can also be used to generate buy and sell signals.

    The Kijun-sen, also known as the base line, is a moving average of the highest high and the lowest low over the past 26 periods. It is used to identify medium-term trends and can also be used to generate buy and sell signals.

    The Senkou Span A, also known as the leading span A, is the midpoint between the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen. It is plotted 26 periods ahead and forms one of the boundaries of the “Ichimoku cloud.”

    The Senkou Span B, also known as the leading span B, is the midpoint between the highest high and the lowest low over the past 52 periods. It is plotted 26 periods ahead and forms the other boundary of the “Ichimoku cloud.”

    The Chikou Span, also known as the lagging span, is the current closing price plotted 26 periods behind. It is used to confirm trends and can also be used to generate buy and sell signals.

    The “Ichimoku cloud,” also known as the Kumo, is the area between the Senkou Span A and Senkou Span B lines. It is shaded to indicate a bullish or bearish trend. When the price is above the cloud, it is considered bullish and when the price is below the cloud, it is considered bearish.

    The Ichimoku indicator can be used in a variety of ways, but one of the most popular ways is to use it to identify trends. When the price is above the cloud, it is considered bullish and when the price is below the cloud, it is considered bearish. It is also possible to use Ichimoku to identify support and resistance levels by looking at the positions of the various lines.

    Another way to use the Ichimoku indicator is to generate trading signals. One of the most popular signals is the “golden cross,” which occurs when the Tenkan-sen crosses above the Kijun-sen. This is considered a bullish signal and can indicate that it is a good time to buy. On the other hand, a “death cross,” which occurs when the Tenkan-sen crosses below the Kijun-sen, is considered a bearish signal and can indicate that it is a good time to sell.

    Ichimoku is a comprehensive indicator that provides a lot of information in one chart. It can be used to identify trends, support and resistance levels, and even generate trading signals. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Ichimoku indicator should be used in conjunction with other forms of analysis, such as fundamental analysis and other technical indicators, in order to make more informed trading decisions.

    It’s also worth noting that the Ichimoku indicator is not commonly used in the Western world and may not be supported by all charting software. However, for traders who are interested in using this indicator, specialized software can be found to support it.

  • Do You Know About These Different Japanese Charting Types?

    Renko and Heikin-Ashi are both charting techniques that originated in Japan and are used to analyze financial markets. These techniques are used by traders and investors to identify trends, support and resistance levels, and to make more informed trading decisions. In this post, we will take a closer look at Renko and Heikin-Ashi charts, how they are created, and how they can be used in trading.

    Renko charts are a type of chart that is created by placing a brick in the next column once a fixed price change has occurred. The bricks are always the same size and the chart does not take into account the time element. This makes Renko charts particularly useful for identifying trends and support and resistance levels. Renko charts are known for their simplicity and are easy to read, making them a popular choice among traders.

    The construction of Renko charts is quite simple. The first step is to determine the brick size, which is the price change that will trigger the creation of a new brick. Once the brick size is determined, the chart will be created by placing a new brick in the next column once the price has moved by the specified brick size. The bricks can be either red or green, depending on whether the price has risen or fallen.

    One of the benefits of Renko charts is that they do not take into account the time element. This means that the chart will not be affected by the volatility of the market, which can be useful in identifying trends and support and resistance levels. In addition, Renko charts are known for their ability to filter out noise and provide a clearer picture of the market.

    Heikin-Ashi is a type of chart that is similar to a cand chart, but the method of calculation is different. Heikin-Ashi charts are calculated by taking the average of the open, high, low, and close of the previous period and plotting the result. This creates a chart that is smoother than a traditional cand chart and is useful for identifying trends and support and resistance levels.

    Heikin-Ashi charts are created by taking the average of the open, high, low, and close of the previous period. The open is the average of the open and close of the previous period, the high is the maximum of the high, low and close of the previous period, the low is the minimum of the high, low and close of the previous period, and the close is the average of the open, high, low and close of the current period.

    The main advantage of Heikin-Ashi charts is that they provide a smoother representation of the market, making it easier to identify trends and support and resistance levels. Heikin-Ashi charts are also known for their ability to filter out noise and provide a clearer picture of the market.

    Heikin-Ashi charts are also useful for identifying trends, as they provide a clearer representation of the market than traditional cand charts. In addition, Heikin-Ashi charts are useful for identifying support and resistance levels, as they provide a clearer representation of the market than traditional cand charts.

    Both Renko and Heikin-Ashi charts are popular in Japan and are used by traders and investors to analyze financial markets. They are particularly useful for identifying trends and support and resistance levels. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these charts should be used in conjunction with other forms of analysis, such as technical indicators and fundamental analysis.

    Renko and Heikin-Ashi charts have their own unique features, and it’s up to each trader to decide which one they prefer to use. It’s also worth to note that both of these charting techniques are not commonly used in the Western world, and may not be supported by all charting software. Therefore, traders who are interested in using these charting techniques may need to find specialized software that supports them.

    It’s also important to note that Renko and Heikin-Ashi charts should not be the only tool used in a trader’s arsenal. These charts are best used in combination with other forms of analysis, such as technical indicators and fundamental analysis. This can help to provide a more complete picture of the market and can improve the accuracy of trading decisions.

    In conclusion, Renko and Heikin-Ashi charts are both charting techniques that originated in Japan and are used to analyze financial markets. They are particularly useful for identifying trends and support and resistance levels, and can help traders make more informed trading decisions. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these charts should be used in conjunction with other forms of analysis, such as technical indicators and fundamental analysis. And also it is worth noting that these charts are not commonly used in the Western world, and may not be supported by all charting software.