Learn how inside bars can be used to enter into profitable positions by reading market sentiment and potential price movements, and how to identify them. Adding the EMA indicator to the chart can help determine the dominant trend, as well as dynamic support and resistance points. Multiple confluences should be used to enter into positions, and backtesting can be done via Trader-Edge. An example of entering into a long position on EUR/USD is given based on an identified uptrend, a fair-value gap, and a recent swing high as the take profit target.
How to Utilize Inside Bars to Enter Profitable Positions
Introduction
Traders often experience disappointment when they enter a position with what seems like an ideal opportunity, only for it to turn against them. In many such cases, however, there are signals that could have predicted the trade’s unfavorable outcome. This article will explore how inside bars, a common candlestick pattern, can help traders avoid disappointment and enter into profitable positions. By offering insights into market sentiment and potential price movements, inside bars can provide invaluable support in predicting trends and market movement.
Understanding Inside Bars
An inside bar is a common two-candlestick pattern that can be identified through the occurrence of a smaller candlestick, known as the inside bar, between two larger candlesticks that indicate its range. Essentially, it’s a signal that the market is taking a mini pause before continuing the current trend. Sometimes it might come after an uptrend, which may indicate a bearish reversal, and sometimes it might come after a downtrend, indicating a bullish reversal.
Interpreting Inside Bars
One of the most basic ways to interpret an inside bar involves looking for it after a strong trend. For a bullish signal, the price will need to be in a downtrend, then when the bullish inside bar forms, it shows that the sellers are no longer interested in selling any further. This indicates that the sellers are no longer in control, and the price will either consolidate or move in the bullish direction. During a downtrend, when an inside bar aligns with the trend, it means that the price action briefly pauses before continuing in the downward direction.
Another way inside bars can be used is as a trend continuation signal. During a large uptrend, when an inside bar pattern occurs, aligning with the uptrend, it shows that the market is making a small pause in the upward direction. This makes it a good idea to enter into a buy position at these break points.
Another way to utilize inside bars is by examining their role in trading support and resistance levels. Often it’s challenging to know if the price will respect or breakthrough a support or resistance level. However, inside bars can help determine the outcome. A bullish inside bar formation after the price breaks through a support level indicates that the sellers are not interested in selling any longer, meaning that the sellers are no longer in control. Therefore, the support level is still valid, and there is a high likelihood of the price action moving in the bullish direction.
Avoiding False Inside Bar Breakouts
One of the biggest drawbacks of the inside bar pattern is false breakouts. Learning to avoid these and taking advantage of them is crucial to utilizing the full power of the inside bar. During a strong uptrend, when a bearish inside bar forms, it may appear as a sign of a reversal, and the trader might want to enter into a short position. However, suppose the price action indicates that there are no resistance points at that level. In that case, it’s likely that buyers are still interested in entering the markets at higher points, and the price action is still respecting the higher low structure. Thus, waiting for a better entry is a more favorable approach.
The Role of EMA in Determining Dominant Trends
The easiest and most powerful way to have multiple confluences is by using EMA as an indicator to establish dynamic support and resistance points. The EMA can be identified as the dominant trend by adding this indicator to the chart and tuning its length and color. The EMA is often a valuable tool in analyzing price actions and can help predict trends and market movements effectively.
Entering Positions with Inside Bars
The inside bar pattern provides traders with several opportunities to enter positions. In the case of euro USD on the 1-hour timeframe, we can see that a large downtrend was playing out. Still, the price made a reversal and began making higher lows. When the price reached the 50-period EMA, an inside bar formed showing a high likelihood of the uptrend resuming. The occurrence of a fair-value gap in this pattern further strengthened the bullish signal. These signs indicate a good strategy is entering into a long position once the price bounces off the EMA by placing the stop-loss at the recent swing low. For the take-profit, we can target the recent swing high and aim for a risk-to-reward ratio.
Conclusion
In conclusion, inside bars are essential indicators for traders because they provide valuable insights into market sentiment and potential price movements. With the right interpretation, traders can utilize this pattern to enter profitable positions while avoiding false breakouts. By adding the EMA indicator to establish dynamic support and resistance points, traders can accurately predict trends and market movements. Overall, inside bars can be a valuable tool in a trader’s arsenal, and mastering them can lead to better trades and higher profits.