Futures Charts - Rookie Question

[macattack]

If I'm studying futures charts do I want to look at trading hours only? (for example on a 5-day 15-minute chart)

Some of the charts I've looked at have this option, some do not.

 

[NihabaAshi]

Quote from macattack:

If I'm studying futures charts do I want to look at trading hours only? (for example on a 5-day 15-minute chart)

Some of the charts I've looked at have this option, some do not.

Tough question to answer considering you didn't say anything about what exactly your looking for other than looking at futures charts.

Also, your choice of regular trading hours (rth) chart or all session (includes overnight data) chart is dependent upon your strategy and goals.

Mark

 

[NihabaAshi]

Quote from macattack:

If I'm studying futures charts do I want to look at trading hours only? (for example on a 5-day 15-minute chart)

Some of the charts I've looked at have this option, some do not.

I now realized your talking about something else in comparison to my prior reply.

Seems like you've been looking at free charts offered by different data vendors.

Anyways, some futures trading instruments make very important price moves in the overnight data due to key market events.

In situations like that you definetly want to include the overnight data session info into any trade decisions you may have during regular trading hours.

Therefore, if there was not any important overnight price movement...

Ignore that particular trading session for that particular trading day especially if your a day trader.

However, if your a swing trader (holding trade positions overnight) or position trader (holding trade positions several weeks or more)...

You definetly want to include the overnight trading sessions in all your trade decisions to prevent missing critical price movements that have impact on your trades.

Mark