%% OK SPY bear trend\ [SH, .....makes money off downtrending SPY=liquidity leader.] QQQ bear trend; but i'll use a good uptrend on oil + gas sector/XLE. Assume you can get XLE charts, but XLE= uptrending year to date /uptrend weekly/ uptrending day chart\ downtrending hourly so good time for some profits. Fundamentals for oil = ok, long term uptrend. I glanced @ DAX\down trending bear\ SPY[S+P 500 benchmark]\downtrending bear\ so when i do that[ bear trade] its trade with downtrend , as SH + related does] My remarks do '' not'' apply to forex; [ but many of the German DaX companies do business in USa]
As @MarkBrown said: https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/what-timeframe-do-you-use-the-most.370681/#post-5705707 12 second Heikin-Ashi
He has me blocked (think the only one that does). But Hank & Arty are pseudo bars - and likely repaint. 12 seconds lol. No thanks.
In 12 second the bars type are not relevant. The question is the probability of the move direction in this price level. You can anticipate false BO and still gain some points.
%% PUT another way\ hedge fund manger noted he not paying up for head of lettuce[gap up/LOL]. Even more so \in a down trending bear market, which SPY,QQQ + ES are doing. I've paid up in real estate in a good uptrend; but that's much different than your chart; but good gap place to take profits. IF that was a good uptrend it never would have dropped that far or down past last days close price. Bear rally context= not known for being good uptrends even if profit is made on them
Long term successful traders (not gee I made money today) don't try to gain some points. Losses are inevitable. Gains have to outweigh them, more than enough, or margin calls happen, account balances drop, then end of story.
Successful traders.. They come in different shape and size. The depth of your pocket and your goals drived the type and style of your trading. Don't be so conservative... Different chefs make different meals. There is Michelin restaurants and food trucks. You can handle food in many ways. Same in the markets.
I've been trading 20+ years. How long have you been trading? Without knowing, I would bet most Michelin star restaurants have been around for 10+ years. At least. They need to make every meal perfect. Maximizing the opportunity they have earned and want to continue to earn. Success means longevity. So to use this Michelin example, what you are saying is they can make an ordinary meal (in trading ordinary profit) every so often and still hold their rating. They can't. Of course in trading profits are determined by price action and proper trade management. Fastest way to to have a declining account balance is to take profits fast.
Fast and slow is relatively to your main TF. Taking profits in 30 minutes TF after 5 minutes may be fast but under 1 minute, is not. 20 years.. WOW I really admire you.. no sarcasm! All the best for you.