Practicality of Fibonacci Retracements

Discussion in 'Technical Analysis' started by Raul641, Mar 13, 2007.

Fibonacci retracements...

  1. Excellent! One of my favorite tools.

    40 vote(s)
    30.8%
  2. They're useful sometimes.

    38 vote(s)
    29.2%
  3. Tea Leaves!

    43 vote(s)
    33.1%
  4. What's a Fibonacci retracement?

    9 vote(s)
    6.9%
  1. I wonder if there is any correlation to that and why there will be no more pit traders in 10 years?

    Humans have human quirks and idiosyncrasies . . . markets just oscillate.
     
    #31     Mar 14, 2007
  2. jessop

    jessop

    382 means something to me - but this was backed up by two separate 'confluence' reasons to go Long in the ES
     
    #32     Mar 14, 2007
  3. The reason they work is because of the psychology involved and all the different people involved. These ratios are a part of every person because they exist in the universe. They are part of the universal truth of everything. We use them because it is the natural order of things...like breathing
     
    #33     Mar 14, 2007
  4. bjohn

    bjohn

    I know it seems weird, but there is something called chaos theory. You can't just dismiss something as nonsense just because you don't fully understand it.
     
    #34     Mar 14, 2007
  5. Chaos theory? -- nice non sequitur.
     
    #35     Mar 14, 2007
  6. You took me too literally. Price stops "close" to Fib levels sometimes; other times it blasts through them; other times it meanders through them; other times it blast through and then meanders back across, etc.

    As far as its role in nature, this is overblown, too.

    http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_06_04.html
     
    #36     Mar 14, 2007
  7. Raul, how do you view the 50% retracement?... what goes through your head when the stock, or contract reaches that point?
     
    #37     Mar 14, 2007
  8. Raul641

    Raul641

    Cashmoney -

    This is precisely what I'm trying to figure out - how to view retracements at a given level and in a given situation. On some charts, at some points, 50% (or any other Fib level) seems to be highly significant. In other situations, a given level seems to have no bearing on price action.

    Right now, I can't see any way to distinguish the two, except retroactively, so I started this thread looking for some insight. I haven't read much about Fibonacci levels specifically, I've only seen them in charting packages and heard other traders talking about them.

    Does anyone else have pointers to good books or articles on the subject that introduce someone with no prior knowledge to the topic of Fibonacci retracements?

    Thanks for all the replies so far, it's a very interesting discussion..

    Cheers,
    R
     
    #38     Mar 14, 2007
  9. MKTrader

    MKTrader

    Actually, 50% isn't a Fibonacci level. Just a popular retracement that's been added to most Fibonacci tools. I believe W.D. Gann first talked about it.

    As for which levels, I don't know any secrets, but the I alluded to confirmations in my earlier post. If there's a reversal chart/candlestick pattern, if the long-term trend is in your favor, if there's divergence with momentum indicators, etc., then it's always a plus. Also, the main levels seem to be 38% and 61%. The 23.6% doesn't seem as important. If you get into the Gartley type patterns, then there are other levels to watch as well.

     
    #39     Mar 15, 2007
  10. Raul, Trader's Press has some books on the subject. I do not work for them, but I have purchased books from them.

    My offer still stands for anyone on this board. I will discuss what I have learned about Fibs. No strings attached. If you leave your number in my mail box i will call you. US and Canada only
    Ron
     
    #40     Mar 15, 2007