A common technical indicator used in currency trading is the Fibonacci retracement, based on a mathematical concept discovered by the 13th century mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci. Large price movements tend to pull back or reverse at key Fibonacci retracement levels, allowing traders to gauge support and resistance in an uptrend to buy dips. Human behavior is key to this mathematical concept, as numbers and percentages are part of nature and can be found in various aspects of it.
Understanding Fibonacci Retracements in Currency Trading
As a currency trader, you are always on the lookout for indicators that can help you chart future market trends. One such popular and widely-used technical indicator is Fibonacci retracements. This principle is based on an infinite number sequence discovered by 13th century mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci.
In this article, we will delve into the fundamentals of Fibonacci retracements and how it can help you gauge support and resistance levels in currency trading.
What are Fibonacci Retracements?
Fibonacci retracements are derived from the Fibonacci number sequence and some of their ratios. These retracement levels are essential in analyzing price fluctuations in the financial markets.
The principle behind the Fibonacci sequence is that you get two numbers, such as 1 and 2, and then add them together to get the third number in the sequence. This creates an infinite number sequence: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on.
How do Fibonacci Retracements work?
Traders who follow the Fibonacci retracement method believe that large price movements tend to pull back or reverse at key levels. The two most important Fibonacci retracement levels are 38.2% and 61.8%.
In an uptrend, traders try to buy dips as they believe that the price will continue to climb. Therefore, they estimate where the dip might end by using the Fibonacci retracement levels. Price tends to retrace 38.2% to 61.8% of the prior move before continuing in the same direction.
For instance, if the EUR/USD pair started at 1.60 and declined to 1.47, traders would draw a line from the major high at 1.60 to the end of the move at 1.47. They would then use the Fibonacci retracement levels to gauge support and resistance. In this case, the retracement ended near the 61.8% line before continuing.
Why do Fibonacci Retracements work?
The logic behind Fibonacci retracements is that human behavior is the key to this mathematical concept. The Fibonacci retracement levels are part of nature, and you can find these relationships in the human body, in Mona Lisa’s face, in a nautilus shell, and in the circumference of sunflower seeds. It is a principle that forms the basis of nature’s law.
Conclusion
Fibonacci retracements have been used in financial markets for a long time and are still popular among traders today. This technical indicator offers valuable insight into predicting upcoming market trends and gauging support and resistance levels.
As a currency trader, it’s important to understand and use Fibonacci retracements as part of your trading strategy. By using these levels, you can make informed trading decisions with greater precision and accuracy.