When it comes to security price momentum, many people will look at the general trend of a security without fully understanding the technical basis of the term. What Momentum really tells us, however, is whether the trend will continue or reverse. Without technical analysis and events like Momentum, many investors would buy high and sell low.
Understanding Momentum In some ways, Momentum is very similar to the MACD oscillator as it measures how much change a security's price has seen over a predetermined period of time. Understanding how technical analysis works on an unbiased, statistical level as well as using Momentum will allow investors to determine whether a systemic change in price is part of the normal up-and-down of the market, or if it is instead a strong bearish or bullish signal. Essentially, Momentum tells us whether a given price trend will continue or reverse.
Put another way, Momentum gives investors insight into the underlying price trend. When using technical analysis tools in this manner, investors should be able to better identify whether a particular security is overbought or oversold and make changes to their positions accordingly. Decisions like these are impossible to make when based entirely on security prices.
Calculating Momentum One of the downfalls with technical analysis is that there is a heavy mathematical component to many of the events. While this not entirely true for Momentum, investors will need to understand the basic formula required to obtain a Momentum reading. Simply, Momentum is calculated by dividing the Closing Price by the Closing price ten periods ago, and multiplying it by 100. [Close/(Close 10 time-periods ago) * 100].
Trading on Momentum When it comes to executing trades based on Momentum, the reading is quite simple to understand. Values above 0 are bullish and values below 0 are bearish. A word of caution however is that extremely higher low values might suggest a continuation of the existing trend. In the case of a sell, investors are urged to trade only if prices peak and then begin to fall and not trade before they begin to fall.
When it comes to trading on technical analysis events, investors should always use other events to confirm or refute positions they are currently considering. Never make a trade based on one technical signal. Momentum can often serve to confirm or refute other events or even the underlying price trend in a particular security.
Since Momentum and many other events triggered by technical analysis rely heavily on mathematical calculations, trading software is recommended for the individual investor. Such software can monitor many different technical trends and some of the more advanced system will make buy and sell recommendations. - 32163
Understanding Momentum In some ways, Momentum is very similar to the MACD oscillator as it measures how much change a security's price has seen over a predetermined period of time. Understanding how technical analysis works on an unbiased, statistical level as well as using Momentum will allow investors to determine whether a systemic change in price is part of the normal up-and-down of the market, or if it is instead a strong bearish or bullish signal. Essentially, Momentum tells us whether a given price trend will continue or reverse.
Put another way, Momentum gives investors insight into the underlying price trend. When using technical analysis tools in this manner, investors should be able to better identify whether a particular security is overbought or oversold and make changes to their positions accordingly. Decisions like these are impossible to make when based entirely on security prices.
Calculating Momentum One of the downfalls with technical analysis is that there is a heavy mathematical component to many of the events. While this not entirely true for Momentum, investors will need to understand the basic formula required to obtain a Momentum reading. Simply, Momentum is calculated by dividing the Closing Price by the Closing price ten periods ago, and multiplying it by 100. [Close/(Close 10 time-periods ago) * 100].
Trading on Momentum When it comes to executing trades based on Momentum, the reading is quite simple to understand. Values above 0 are bullish and values below 0 are bearish. A word of caution however is that extremely higher low values might suggest a continuation of the existing trend. In the case of a sell, investors are urged to trade only if prices peak and then begin to fall and not trade before they begin to fall.
When it comes to trading on technical analysis events, investors should always use other events to confirm or refute positions they are currently considering. Never make a trade based on one technical signal. Momentum can often serve to confirm or refute other events or even the underlying price trend in a particular security.
Since Momentum and many other events triggered by technical analysis rely heavily on mathematical calculations, trading software is recommended for the individual investor. Such software can monitor many different technical trends and some of the more advanced system will make buy and sell recommendations. - 32163
About the Author:
With more than 16 years of financial services experience, Chris believes Bond Fundsoffer tremendous opportunity in 2010. He writes that High Yield Investments provide plenty of upside in this economic climate.
