Too Many Indicators?

Discussion in 'Technical Analysis' started by Gorgano, May 27, 2014.

  1. robertw

    robertw

    If you have a style of trading that is objective rather than discretionary, isn't then the question how to translate it into code rather than looking for off-the-shelf indicators to do the job?

    If, on the other hand, your method is discretionary in the sense that it involves some form of subjective judgement or anticipation that can't be translated into code, then no indicators whatsoever will do what you are looking for.

    The fact that you are looking for "confirmation" seems to indicate that the latter is the case. If your method works, why look for confirmation?
     
    #11     May 28, 2014
  2. handle123: All I have on my charts now is BB and volume

    +1 plus one more indicator.
     
    #12     May 28, 2014
  3. dbphoenix

    dbphoenix

    All I have on mine is price. :)

    If one understands price movement, indicators will be of no help.

    If one doesn't understand price movement, indicators will be of no help.
     
    #13     May 28, 2014
  4. kut2k2

    kut2k2

    You needn't start from scratch. Start with an indicator you already like and that you feel shows some promise. Then ask yourself "Can this indicator be improved and if so, how do I do it?". You'd be amazed at how often you can do something. The most important thing is to open your mind to ideas beyond what you read in trading books.
     
    #14     May 28, 2014
  5. Handle123

    Handle123

    Would you agree if one doesn't understand Price and half way decent ideas of why price moves, Price is of no value either. I like playing poker once in awhile, I was told if you can't spot the sucker at the table, I am that guy, I think that phrase goes well for trading, if one can't spot the obvious on Price patterns, their account will be lowered.

    I have always enjoyed your posts dbphoenix.
     
    #15     May 28, 2014
  6. lotto

    lotto

    Excellent!
     
    #16     May 28, 2014
  7. lotto

    lotto

    Excellent!

    Agree completely.

    I do think that if one knows, as SIUYA said, what it is one would like for the indicators to indicate, that one could find a way to utilize indicators in ways some might consider to be helpful. For example, I know some who use a retrace to a moving average as an indication that it is time to start looking for signs that a potential with-trend entry might be develop. I would not go so far as to say indicators are necessary in any case, but I would not dismiss their use out of hand. As you note, if one does not understand price movement, then indicators or not, nothing will lead that person to profitability other than dumb blind luck which wouldn't last very long anyway.
     
    #17     May 28, 2014

  8. I disagree that you use no indicators. TL's are simply a form of "moving avg's", and as such are indicators.
     
    #18     May 28, 2014
  9. dbphoenix

    dbphoenix

    By that definition, price itself is an indicator. However, "indicator" is generally defined as something obtained from mathematical manipulation, something that requires a "setting". Trendlines, however, are just that: they track trend. All one needs is the ability to distinguish between up and down. No math required.
     
    #19     May 28, 2014
  10. Raw data, and raw data alone is price itself. You chose candles/bars of a specific TF of your liking then draw lines connecting the bottoms and tops of those candles/bars of your liking. That's mathematical manipulation of the data, or said another way an "indicator".

    Why don't you connect your lines to the tick price, rather than 5 mins or whatever of captured ticks??
     
    #20     May 28, 2014