Currency
Trading Strategy: The Doji On The Daily
Even
though day traders are more interested in a currency trading strategy
that focuses on intra-day movements, consulting the daily time frame
chart is still very important.
Why?
Because
this is the time frame often consulted by professional traders and
fund managers, some representing large institutions. Key levels of
support and resistance on the daily chart can be significant and should
be taken note of when considering charts on lower time frames.
The Doji
On The Daily
The currency
trading strategy described here takes advantage of a setup that occurs
frequently through the month on a variety of currency pairs.
After each
day is complete, preferably using GMT as the guide no matter where
you live in the world, examine the previous day's candle on the daily
chart and see whether it is the doji formation.
A doji candle
typically has a very small body. Look for a doji candle with 50 pips
or less between the high and low for the day.
You can
now focus in on this day's price action on the lower time frames. Is
the doji candle around a strategic support or resistance level? Does
it also match up with a Fibonacci retracement level such as the 50
or 62% mark on a 4 hour or 1 hour chart?
Then this
could be a reversal point and the current day's action could offer
some nice opportunities for trading.
How To
Trade The Doji On The Daily
The currency
trading strategy you choose to trade this setup will depend on your
personal trading style. Here are 3 possibilities
1. The
Breakout
If you believe
price is going to reverse at this point then set an entry order 5 pips
the other side of the high or low of the doji candle and get taken
in when price moves.
Of course,
there may be a false breakout and your stop could be taken out. That's
trading!
2. The
Re-Test
If you want
a more cautious currency trading strategy then wait for price to break
the high or low of the doji candle (you can mark the high and low on
the 1 hour chart or 15 minute chart to get a closer view of the action)
and see if the candle on the 15 minute chart closes above or below
that level.
Price could
then continue on for 20 pips or so. However, often, not always, but
often, price will come back to retest the previous level of support
or resistance before continuing on. Take advantage of this characteristic
by putting your entry order in at that level or one or two pips near
it just in case price doesn't quite reach the previous day's high or
low.
Price will
now take you in on the trade when it retraces. This method gives you
an optimum entry point and you can take your first profit early when
price reaches the new high it recently formed before re-tracing. You
might want to leave another one or two lots in the trade to take advantage
of a price run if price decides to continue on after that.
3. The
Straddle
This currency
trading strategy is for those who only want to examine the charts briefly
at the start of a new day, set their orders, walk away and let it run.
The straddle
technique involves setting an entry order 4 or 5 pips above the previous
day's high and setting another entry order 4 or 5 pips below the previous
day's low.
No stop
needs to be set as one trade will cancel the other in the event price
moves in one direction and then reverses and goes in the other.
As the doji
candle on the daily is 50 pips or less, that would be the maximum risk
in this case. Obviously you would need to have the equity to be able
to support a larger risk like this.
Now whichever
way price moves, you will get taken in. The risk of being whipsawed
out is there but the higher probability is that price will continue
on once it has broken the previous day's high or low.
Check
Daily
So if you
want to develop a variety of methods and techniques in your overall
currency trading strategy, look for the "Doji On The Daily".
It frequently offers fine trading opportunities no matter which style
you use to trade.
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