Why do traders still use lagging indicators?

Discussion in 'Technical Analysis' started by TSLexi, Feb 24, 2016.

  1. romik

    romik

    If you don't find something useful, then why participate?

    The question was asked, why use something that the OP has no value in using (kinda silly and provocative question) assuming he makes money without indicators.

    The answer is simple, some use it to help them make money and others use indicators to lose money as they are still on the learning curve.
     
    #121     Feb 28, 2016
  2. Exactly! mucho back and forth to say that some people use them and some people don't. But no trader worth their salt is going to use something based on being convinced of it by other people debating about it IMHO.
     
    #122     Feb 28, 2016
    fortydraws, dartmus and romik like this.
  3. Put softly. More like gang-banging in reality
     
    #123     Feb 28, 2016
    El OchoCinco and dartmus like this.
  4. dartmus

    dartmus

    signal.leading=correlation(independentvar[1],dependentvar,length);
    signal.lagging=correlation(independentvar,dependentvar[1],length);

    In the end the dependentvar must aways be current price after concluding all interim calculations so it's technically not feasible to b considering offsetting it's index unless your broker allows tampering with the timestamp of your trades.

    It amaze's me nearly everyone fails to recognize the value of defining lag in a way which makes it helpful rather than harmful.

    Without correctly defining lag... there can't be ***ANY*** leading indicators.
     
    #124     Feb 28, 2016
    victorycountry likes this.
  5. dartmus

    dartmus

    btw, in case it's not obvious ^^^
    the world is full of leading indicators.

    :)

    ohyeah, technical analysis!
     
    #125     Feb 28, 2016
  6. Trader13

    Trader13

    Most traders use some form of TA and most forms of TA are based on lagging indicators making this topic quite relevant to traders. Semantics and theory are the foundation for execution strategies, and are therefore very appropriate for discussion by people who want to understand the basis for their trades and not just take chart signals from a squiggly line that came with their trading platform.

    Yes, indeed it will. But I would advocate some modeling or backtesting to avoid this calamity.

    This is a discussion forum where ideas are exchanged and debated. If you are open to influence, and you know how to separate the signal from the noise, you may realize great value from these threads. Don't be cynical. Lighten up and enjoy the dialogue!
     
    #126     Feb 28, 2016
    profitlocker and dartmus like this.
  7. Ha ha...if someone needs to be told to backtest or do some modeling then...

    as for me I use TA for future and option positions in addition to studying volatility so I am not against anything presented...
     
    #127     Feb 29, 2016
    dartmus likes this.
  8. K-Pia

    K-Pia

    What can be cool, about indicators like we now them, is their capacity to filter instead of their capacity to generate signals. They can turn on / off signals. For exemple, you can filter breakout strategy to buy only if it occurs above a 200 periods moving average and sell only it's opposite. What's dangerous about TA is the tendency for the newbie to look backward instead of forward. I mean, it's two different worlds. One is about clear cut and abolished patterns and the other is about fuzzy, beings. One becomes overconfident with its overfitted and fallacious paintings to dare with success the dark and coming side. It's not because they are laggard that they don't work. We can be late to the party and still get fun.
     
    #128     Mar 1, 2016
  9. Mysteron

    Mysteron

    So you think that using a MACD to indicate the fuel level in the tank would be a good idea then?
     
    #129     Mar 1, 2016
    districttrader likes this.
  10. K-Pia

    K-Pia

    Or it's a bit like trying to forecast tomorrow temperature looking at a thermometer's derivative...
     
    #130     Mar 1, 2016