Basic Techniques  |  NOV 2004

Trading Currencies Using Multiple Time Frames by Kathy Lien and Patrick Dyess

Stocks & Commodities V. 22:11 (60-65): Trading Currencies Using Multiple Time Frames by Kathy Lien and Patrick Dyess When trading currencies, it’s best to get the big picture first and then use a shorter time frame to select entries and exits. With $1.5 trillion in daily turnover, the foreign exchange market is the largest market in the world. Previously, access to this market was restricted to hedge funds, large commodity trading advisors (CTAs), and institutional investors due to regulation, capital requirements, and technology. The big players have always wanted access to the market because unlike the equity markets, where liquidity is dispersed across many different stocks, the $1.5 trillion in liquidity is concentrated in four major currency pairs, so they are very liquid. This means that traders can get in and out easily, executing more than $100 million without causing a significant shift in the markets. TRADING THE TRENDS Technical analysis is the most common trading strategy used by professional forex traders because currencies rarely spend much time in tight trading ranges and tend to develop strong trends. More than 80% of forex volume is speculative in nature, so as a result, the market frequently overshoots and then corrects itself. A technically trained trader can easily identify new trends and breakouts, providing multiple opportunities to enter and exit positions. In addition, aside from trend trading, certain currencies may undergo extended periods of range trading. Traders can find ample opportunity to play the ends of ranges. In order to trade successfully on an intraday basis, it is important to be selective. You’ve heard of the trading cliché “The trend is your friend,” haven’t you? Clichés become clichés for good reason — more often than not, they’re true. This one is the tenet for trading, and its importance should not be understated. Trading with the trend while employing trailing stops allows the opportunity to capture big moves in any market.

by Kathy Lien and Patrick Dyess