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The Basics of Technical Indicators
Using eSignal's Fibonacci Retracement Tool
By Raghee Horner, Founder / Lead Trader of EZ2TradeSoftware.com*
Fibonacci levels are a staple in my trading, intraday and end-of-day. After I identify the major and minor trendlines and recent minor lows and highs, I draw my Fibonacci levels using one of two tools:
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Fibonacci Retracement |
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Fibonacci Extension |
Unfortunately, Fibonacci levels are a cause of confusion for far too many
traders. Either they don't know how to draw them, or they
don't know what to do with them once they have drawn them.
If you think of Fibonacci levels as support and resistance,
you have taken a huge step forward in simplifying their active
role in your charts.
So let's discuss Fibonacci retracements. Drawing them can be
very easy once you understand the role of minor highs and
lows because it is from these highs and lows that you will
draw your retracement.

Minor lows and highs are simply points at which prices change direction.
A minor high is established when the current high has a lower
high before and after it. A minor low, then, is established
when the current low has a higher low before and after it.
(Please see "Using Minor Lows and Minor Highs to Pinpoint Reversals" on the eSignal Learning website.)
It is these highs and lows that will give us a guideline as to
where to begin drawing the starting and ending points of the
Fibonacci retracement. We are looking for the "last
major move," which is typically the most recent rally
or sell-off. Fibonacci retracements are used to measure the
bounce or pull-back from the "last major move."
The subsequent chart is an example of a Fibonacci retracement
in the Eurodollar FX market. The starting point where the
Fibonacci tool begins is marked with an "A" and
the ending point with a "B". The subsequent levels
that are calculated are the retracement levels. The levels
represent potential reversal areas. Think of them as support
and resistance because that's what they truly are.
As you can see: The .786 level at 1.24745 was indeed support
and prices reversed. In this example, the best way
to use these Fibonacci retracements is to assume that any
of the levels could be where prices find support and that
we should pay extra attention to them.

What we now have is a series of predictable "alert levels" where, instead of having to randomly guess at what point we should set stop loss orders or profit targets, we can pinpoint what these levels are and implement them into our trading
plan before even placing an order.
Risk-to-reward ratios can be planned with levels that have a basis in price action
Trendline breakouts can be confirmed with Fibonacci price levels
Entries and exits can be measured within an established trend
This is how easy it is to use eSignal's Fibonacci retracement tool,
yet the real-world applications are powerful and accurate.
When learning how to draw Fibonacci retracement levels, traders
often have questions as to where to draw the levels.
I hope I have addressed those questions effectively here.
However, there are also issues of when to draw new
levels when price action has established new minor highs and lows.
With eSignal Formula Script (EFS) studies, you can automate Fibonacci
levels. So, now, instead of fighting with whether the levels
you used are correct or whether you must draw new ones, you
can let EFS studies handle it for you. (eSignal users can
go to eSignal File Share on esignalcentral.com and click on
the link under "Editor's Picks" [EFS
Database] to find, not just Fibonacci levels, but other
useful EFS files for use in their eSignal charts.)
I encourage all eSignal users to understand just how powerful
the EFS studies can be. Learn to use these automated tools
and make them a regular part of your charting analysis.
Raghee Horner is an experienced trader with more than 15 years in the
markets. She has taught her brand of technical analysis and
charting strategies to students all over the world and is an
internationally known author, emphasizing charting and price
action. Website: www.EZ2TradeSoftware.com
*Reprinted (and modified) with permission from Raghee Horner
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