Trading Stocks

So how does a new trader begin to understand the basics of the current market trend? First, try with these few basic guidelines that hold true at any experience level. Moving averages are always a good guide to use to help you establish the current trend. Are the 20 and 40 rising or falling? Are we above or below the 200? Is the 20 above the 40? Is the 40 above the 200? Are we in a pattern of higher highs and higher lows or are they starting to even off showing the potential for a base to form?

Many traders like to be market "gurus" and nail every twist and turn in the market. But a wiser choice is to follow a plan, play proven strategies, and always keep a close eye on what the market has done to help you determine your best course of action in the future.

Pattern Cycles: Breakouts

Significant declines evolve into long bottoms characterized by failed rallies and retesting of prior lows. As new accumulation slowly shakes out the last crowd of losers, a stock's character changes. Prices push toward the top of key resistance. Short-term relative strength improves and the chart exhibits a series of bullish price bars with closing ticks near their highs. Finally the issue begins a steady march through the wall marked with past failures.

Stocks must overcome gravity to enter new uptrends. Value players build bases but can't supply the critical force needed to fuel rallies. Fortunately, the momentum crowd arrives just in time to fill this chore. As a stock slowly rises above resistance, greed rings a loud bell and these growth players jump in all at the same time.

The appearance of a sharp breakout gap has tremendous buy power. But the skilled trader should remain cautious when the move lacks heavy volume. Bursts of enthusiastic buying must draw wide attention that ignites further price expansion. When strong volume fails to appear, the gap may fill quickly and trap the emotional longs. Non-gapping, high volume surges provide a comfortable price floor similar to gaps. But support can be less dependable, forcing a stock to swing into a new range rather than rise quickly.

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