To Learn Technical Analysis Means Understanding the Inside Bar

Many investors who are just learning technical analysis will make short-term investment decisions based on reliable, longer-term patterns such as the head and shoulders top discussed elsewhere in this series. The difficulty with such a strategy is that short-term trades based on long-term patterns will typically not yield the desired gains.

A short-term pattern that many investors will rely on is the inside bar pattern. This pattern indicates a possible reversal of the current trend. For example, if the trend has been down and the inside bar appears at the end of such a trend, then there is a possibility that the trend will reverse and head up.

Identifying an Inside Bar

For investors who are learning technical analysis, identifying the inside bar might be a little more difficult. It involves a taller bar one day, followed a smaller bar the next. The smaller bar consists of a trading range within the preceding day\’s taller bar.

Confirm The Pattern

When it comes to using the inside bar to commit to a trade, investors should seek additional confirmation through additional analysis. This step is often overlooked when investors start learning technical analysis. Other analysis includes fundamental data for the security, sector and market, as well as technical data such as support and resistance levels and momentum.

In terms of the inside bar itself, investors will find greater reliability when they discover the bar that follows a sharper inbound trend. As well, the wider the first bar and shorter the following bar, the better as this indicates the stronger momentum has ended, and the possibility for a more dramatic turn.

And lastly, the volume level should be lower for the second bar than for the first, as this hints at a better balance.

When people are learning technical analysis, it is often forgotten no single indicator or pattern should be used by itself when making a trade decision. Other analysis is required. For investors who prefer to know when to buy and sell, there is software available that will do exctly that.

Chris Blanchet has more than 16 years of experience as a Financial Advisor. As the Fund Advisor for Mutual Fund Site, he was instrumental in helping people determine Where To Invest

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