To answer your question directly as to what I look at when making a reversal decision. While your reversal on your chart would not be a reversal for me as I mentioned in a previous post it would be a point at which I would go long if i had not already taken a long position. That was explained in my earlier post of your chart.So, as the image suggest, i went short 10 DAX CFDs.An hour or so later i reversed and another hour later made it even.I hate reversal as it can always go the opposite direction and whipsaw you.Normally, i just exit.But in that case, i was looking nothing at but my guts.
What do you guys normally look at to make that reversal decision?
View attachment 186838
But, do I see a reversal on your chart and if so how would I trade it?
When I am looking at a potential reversal and whether to trade it or not I like to see a strong break of a previous trend (bull or bear) then some attempt at a test of the trends extreme that was made before the break. Then I will look for an entry on resumption of the reversal attempt.
The reason: many reversals fail and end up just be some sideways action as a range. Period. However, that can still be profitable for a scalp. But to get more profit you have to wait for a BO of the sideways action. And the more bars in the sideways action when the BO of that action occurs it could go in either direction so i would be gauging the pressures within the sideways action to determine probable BO direction of that sideways action. If I already had a position on I might choose to just take profits if the sideways move is prolonging or shows weakness for my position.
At times reversals fail completely and the original trend resumes (i.e. they end up being just a PB followed by a resumption of the original previous trend). That is why I like to see a reversal attempt followed by a test (an attempt to make the reversal attempt fail) then a resumption of the reversal at which point I look for an entry. Keep in mind 80% of reversal attempts do fail.
As said, sometimes reversals will go into some sort of sideways action (range or triangle..etc) followed by a BO of that sideways action and a resumption of the reversal direction. That is what happened on your chart. There was a reversal attempt. A test. A resumption of the reversal that ended up going into a sideway PA (triangle) followed by a BO of that triangle and the reversal continues trending.
Here is your chart again explaining where I see a reversal and how I would trade it. Forgive my detail in my explanation but I am putting the detail in there for any trader new to trading that has no idea what I am talking about. My explanation may fail in terms of a new trader ubderstanding it but if he/she will meditate upon it cognitive clarity should come. Maybe! ROFL.
Last edited: