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Momentum Oscillators (2): Examination of Some Common Uses

16 August, 2010 (17:58) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

In this article we are going to look at some common uses of momentum oscillator, specifically the Rate-of-Change (ROC) oscillator. The use of Relative Strength Index (RSI) is similar and will not be disccused here. As in the case for moving average, we will try to examine each case by “translating” the statement into English and then see if they make sense at all.

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Momentum Oscillators (1): Basic Definition

13 August, 2010 (14:28) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

In order to succeed in any investment or trading, be it buying a security or opening a restaurant or having a share in a local ice-cream store, you have to know exactly what you are doing instead of simply relying in a number of a set of numbers.

In this article we are going to look at the momentum oscillators. My belief has always been that in order to use an indicator/oscillator properly, you need to truly understand what it is and how it is computed and what it means practically (and that is different from how to use it magically). You cannot use any indicator as a magic tool as in buying or selling if the momentum is above or below a certain value.  There is no such magic number. Each tool must be used with proper understanding.

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Moving Average (5): Graphically Speaking

28 July, 2010 (21:15) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

Before we leave moving average (at least for a while), I would like to show you graphs of some moving averages and discuss a little of how to interprete them correctly. The price data is generated by computer so it looks nicely increasing, decreasing or changing direction. I am hoping by using these nice charts we are able to see clearly what is really going on in moving average charting.

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Moving Average (4): Can You Predict Future?

25 July, 2010 (01:24) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

This is a 6 month daily chart of a stock. It is recent (up to yesterday). The 15 day 30 days moving averages are also shown in the chart. The vertical grids show months starting from Feb. 2010. There are a couple of nice crossovers… as nice as those usually shown in textbooks or articles promoting the use of moving averages. My question for you is as simple as this: do you think we should buy or sell now?

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Moving Average (3): A Reasonable Usage

24 July, 2010 (15:02) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

If you have read any of my posts on moving average, you know I dislike or discourage the use of moving average in making decisions. In this post I will discuss a use of moving average which I consider reasonable because it is using moving average (a chart of past data) to get a feel of what has happened in the past. This is certain more reasonable that using the past to blindly predict future.

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Moving Average (2): Common Usages and Misconceptions

23 July, 2010 (01:05) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

In my previous post I talked about the logical fallacy of using moving average. Basically it goes like this: if it rains, the ground gets wet. A wrong conclusion is made if one says if the ground is wet, it is raining or it must have rained. In using moving average, the fallacy is even worse as one often says “if the ground is wet, it is going to rain….”

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Moving Average (1): Knowing It and Its Fallacies

21 July, 2010 (00:18) | Technical Analysis | By: Dave

I will start my first blog on moving average, which I think it is a much abused and misused indicator. If you have read anything on moving average, you must have noticed that most authors tell you that it is a lagging indicator, i.e. it only tells you what has happened in the past. Yet most author will then describe, usually in the same article, how moving average can be use to predict future!

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