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S&P 500 Pivots

Another positive day for the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, and the Dow as they all traded into positive terrority on the day after of the FOMC announcement. Currently all the major indexes are broke through their natural resistance levels: Dow 11,000. Nasdaq 2500, and S&P 500 1200.

After strong economic earnings and jobless claims falling to 448,000 pushed the indexes higher. The S&P 500 Index is still below Wednesday’s previous high of 1211. Breaking this level would represent a significant upward dash to the 52 week high of 1220.

Friday is the last day in April so expect some end of the month activity with various economic numbers expect. GDP numbers will give us the momentum of the market going into the first quarter of 2010. The market is mostly likely to be weak after the April 15th tax deadline. Since the S&P 500 is back below the natural support level of 1200 – the daily chart may indicate the beginnings of a trend change as we reach the ‘Sell in May’ prophecy. However the daily trend remains quite strong.

The market volatility index fell to 18.44 after nearing the 200 moving average on the daily chart. It reached the 52 week low of 15.23.

Summary of Pivot Levels:

1220: 52 Week High

1211: Wednesday’s Previous High

1203: Friday’s Primary Pivot Level

1200: Natural Support

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For traders, one concept that is hard to figure out is the concept of support and resistance.   This may happen because you rarely notice support and resistance until you actually encounter it, and still without using multiple timeframes it can be hard to recognize what is actually happening . 

There’s a lot of effort that goes into making use of technical analysis training to find out in the market where support and resistance levels are.   A variety of tools have been put to use, including moving averages, trend lines, candlesticks, and retracement levels .

Some work, some do not , and more irritating, some work some of the time but not always .   Figuring out when an indicator or tool will work is information that is worth a lot .

Many people find their efforts have shortcomings due to just using one tool , and try to apply it to a single timeframe , and try to apply it under all circumstances .   You reap better results when various tools, optimized for a particular condition of the market , are employed in a well-thought-out and highly organized program that takes into consideration trends and congestion.  Technical analysis training shows that going further towards accurateness when applied to various timeframes at the same time will accrue and various results are considered .

Top results occur when a comprehensive theory of market action is employed that can help the trader understand what the market is doing right now , why it’s currently doing it , what is probably going to happen in the near future , and to give traders a look at what levels of support and resistance may be that can be monitored in real time as the market steps forward .

Does it sound difficult?  Possibly, but it has been accomplished in a number of major technical analysis systems .

Here’s a look at a few definitions .

Support happens to be something that is below price , and this force can push prices back up from where they fell when it is encountered . Support involves buyers that are in the market but waiting to move until the price gets to a certain point , or of position holders that are short and forced to purchase if the market begins going against them .   This group of buyers that flock around a particular price that cause support to actually support prices.

Something above price is resistance, and it is a force that when encountered pushes price back down into the range from where it came . This includes those sellers waiting to make a move until prices hit a certain point , or of long position holders who may be forced to sell if the market runs against them . 

Both resistance and support can be easily identified with conventional technical analysis such as a 10 period moving average . Or it can be represented using a more evolved system taught in technical analysis training like Drummond Geometry .

A higher level of tool use is used in this method to create higher time period overlays of support and resistance areas onto a daily chart from the monthly and weekly charts . These more developed methods provide traders with more support when making decisions to buy or sell . With this method you will see that the support and resistance areas are projected into the future , so traders can be prepared as the market goes on.

Peter Markham is a Forex and financial futures trader with 30 years practical experience in the markets. He received his education in Sydney and Los Angeles and has been a trading consultant worldwide. He has written widely on Technical Analysis training. Among many possible technical analysis courses Peter recommends http://www.drummondgeometry.com for an original and productive trading approach.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/day-trading-articles/technical-analysis-training-support-and-resistance-explained-1750252.html

Having a stock market trading software is critical to being a successful stock trader. I’m not talking about your online retail trading platform or even direct access trading platform. I’m talking about a mathematical stock trading calculator that can help you pin point the key support and resistance levels on equities and options. Having a stock market trading system is really the key to not getting whipped around in the stock market volatility. (Just imagine you decided to short Baidu Ticker: BIDU after the Iranian cyber attack, the stock gapped up $60/share the next day, many puts went worthless)

The SMF Stock Market Trading System is really like nothing out there. Not only do they have a stock market trading software designed to help pin point entries and exits, but it automatically calculates the stop loss orders and at what price you will need to protect your position. We know there is a strong desire in the retail trading and investing community to learn stock options trading strategies in bullish, bearish and sideways markets. That is why we empower SMF Pro Trading School Students to utilize our proprietary options trading software which is designed to keep you one step ahead of the market maker on price moves.

As we see a return of stock market volatility this last options expiration 1-15-2010 we the stats below, the need for a stock market trading software and options trading system will be key to navigate these difficult markets.

Dow 10,609.65 -100.90 -0.94%

Nasdaq 2,287.99 -28.75 -1.24%

S&P 500 1,136.03 -12.43 -1.08%

Oil 78.00 -1.39 -1.75%

Gold 1,130.10 -12.50 -1.09%

VOLATILITY S&P 500 17.91 0.28 (1.59%)

CBOE NASDAQ 100 Voltility 0.53 (2.91%)

CBOE OEX Implied Volatility 0.53 (3.20%)

At SMF we believe it is critical to have a long term trading plan in place and we teach traders how to adapt to all markets and spot trading opportunities in any market. Trading is a battle and the people that trade in these markets take people’s money in the option pits, this week being a perfect example. Be sure to watch all our live videos as we brought you trading coverage throughout the week.

Visit the SMF Pro Trading School to learn more about stock trading.Learn how to trade options

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/day-trading-articles/stock-market-trading-software-the-smf-stock-market-trading-system-is-excellent-for-position-trading-swing-trading-and-stock-option-trading-strategy-1731379.html

I think the most important fact, yes I said fact, regarding pivots points is they are a prediction of future support and resistance levels.  The key word in the previous sentence is “prediction” and traders should keep that in mind when trading pivot point systems.  I have always been conflicted as to why pivot points (PP) become important throughout the course of the day.  Most traders begin their day by plotting pivot points onto their chart.  With so many people using similar formulas to plot PP it is little surprise that the market stops at the calculated support and resistance levels.  Do the support levels and resistance levels occur because everyone is using a similar system or are they part of the natural function of the market?

It doesn’t matter.

As a trader I am only interested in what the market does, not why it exhibits certain tendencies.  I realize that is a bit of an obtuse answer, but it is one I have learned to live with comfortably.  Of course, it is often discussed among traders and each day trader has his opinion, but to trade the markets it is not necessarily important why this phenomena occurs.

On the other hand, some days the market pays absolutely no attention to pivot points and goes along its merry way without stopping at any particular point on the chart.  More often than not, though, the market will stop at the pivot points, or pause , or reverse right at the plotted lines.  My point is a simple one; pivots are very useful, except when they are not useful.  Whether the market will adhere to the predicted support and resistance is something that you must glean from watching the price action for a bit.  I typically don’t initiate my first trade of the day based on pivot points.

The formula for calculating the days support, resistance, and pivot point is as follows:

R2 = P + (H – L) = P + (R1 – S1)R1 = (P x 2) – LP = (H + L + C) / 3S1 = (P x 2) – HS2 = P – (H – L) = P – (R1 – S1)

S=support levelsR=resistance levelsH=hiL=lowC=close

As you might have surmised, the formula plots five lines on your trading chart.  These lines are commonly referred to as S1, S2, PP, R1, and R2.  S1 and R1 are the first lines of potential support/resistance on your chart.  The pivot point is the primary line of support and/or resistance.

Most traders have their own set-up to trade pivots, and I have three that are favorites of mine.  One is a break out through a resistance/support level.

Break outs often time occur when the market is in a consolidating mode and forms a horizontal channel, with the price banging off the top and bottom of the channel, especially if the channel is on a support/resistance line, as is often the case..  After this price action continues for two, maybe three cycles, I will set a sell a point below the channel and a buy a point above the channel. (I am referring to the ES contract here)  Generally the price action will break out of the channel and continue in the direction of the break out and you pick up the trade as it blasts through the channel parameters.  This is a pretty good strategy and can be very profitable.

Breakdowns are also a great way to use your pivots.  This trade is especially good if the market has been hitting a support/resistance line and stopping.  As the price action approaches the support/resistance line, I will set a buy one point below the line in hopes of picking up the trade as it pierces the line.  This trade can be a bit dodgy, especially if the market has been bouncing off the lines all day because the earlier bounces were usually followed a move in the other direction.  Your hope is that the move does not go through the line a bit (as it often does), pick up your trade and change directions.  Again, here you can set your order lower, maybe 1.5 points below the line if you are uncomfortable.

Finally, you trade the pullbacks from R and S.  Let’s say the market pierces S1 and heads straight to S2 and stops and reverses.  Often times the change in direction will go straight to S1 again, retracing it’s move down in the opposite direction.  Once it reaches S1 I will set a trade 1 point below S1.  More often than not, the trade will hit S1 and reverse field to the short side, and if it continues upward you stayed out of the trade by virtue of setting your sell 1 point below S1.  This probably my favorite pivot point trade, and comes with a higher degree of safety than most.  Of course, no specific trade works every time.  If I am stopped out twice on a pivot point trade, I forget pivot points for the rest of the day.

In summary, we learned that pivot points are predictors of future activity.  Further, as predictors they may or may not be effective on a given day of trading.  Your power of observation is key to understanding the effectiveness of a pivot point every trading day.  We reviewed three basic trades that I use; the breakout, breakdown and pullback.  If you learn to combine your trades with an oscillator or a tick chart, you will develop and even higher degree of activity in your trading.  Remember to check yourself when trading pivot points, never trade without stop-loss orders in place.

I endorse a state of the art trading program for beginners at Trading Concepts, Inc It’s an awesome product that will have you well on your way to success. Plus, it has a money back guarantee…you have nothing to lose and thousands to gain.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/day-trading-articles/how-to-trade-pivot-points-1710591.html