The origins of technical analysis can be traced as far back as the 18th century, to candlestick charts. Frenzied 18th century Japanese rice traders pioneered the future foundations of technical analysis, formulating a basic charting system for trading rice contracts. The founder of the system, Homma Munehisa went on to gain Japanese acclaim as an honorary samurai for his trading prestige. Time has moved on but the efficient, logical art of technical analysis continues in many forms within the modern day stock market. We take a look at just how individuals are embracing the technical mindset as part of their modern day trading activity.
The definition of technical analysis varies but a simple idea pervades most definitions, with the idea of Technical analysis reflecting a method of evaluation taking into account key features pulled from physical charting data including pricing and open interest levels, to speculate on future market trends.
When embarking on a journey into technical analysis it would be wrong to dismiss its comparative and in many ways equal yet opposite alternative, fundamental analysis. Individuals tend to collectively pool these schools of thoughts together, on the basis that through difference each theory covers wider ground. Technical analysis and fundamental analysis still retain their stand alone identity but by considering both the difference between fundamental analysis moves traders closer to a greater understanding of the technical theory.
A fundamental and technical approach can be rather different, yet both remain united in their hunt for a predictive outcome. Fundamental differs to technical in the sense that fundamental focused traders utilise global economic data, the financial stability of specific companies and factors such as geo political change. Their approach is broader, yet the technical approach is more internal focusing on existing market data tracking pricing movements and this data’s visual representation in charting form.
There is a danger that technical analysts become labeled, categorized and perhaps associated with past events and ‘old data’. This is not the case, analytical approaches are unique; a particular school of thought need not be the mantra for everyone using technical data. In fact rather than echoing the motions of the past technical analysts push the theory forward by implement future possibilities to devise potential speculation patterns.
The theory behind technical analysis is just the beginning. By reading and interpreting real time data, traders can move closer to a competent understanding of trading data and the ability to extract sound from the noise that is market movement. There are a significant amount of resources available online for interpreting charts.
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