Quote from Avi 8:
Yes, but does that mean Mr. Hershey actually uses them?
When Jack began trading, he used charts
hand drawn on Butcher Paper. Having seen these charts, I can tell you what Jack used - Price, Volume, Channels & Gaussians. Jack added the MACD and Stochastic Indicators in the late 1990's (around November 1997) in an effort to assist people in 'seeing' the information Jack could 'see' in a Price Bar. DOM, Tic Charts (or OTR) came along more recently (2003 if memory serves), and again, Jack added these 'finer tools' hoping to assist in the transference process. While it is important to note that the DOM did not make it into the arsenal of tools until 2003, the
information provided by the tool itself simply displays Price (and or Volume) in a different 'way' than a Normal Price Bar displays. Eighty Percent of the time Jack traded (meaning 40 of Jack's 50 years of trading experience), he did
not use any Indicators. Not until the advent of Qcharts did Jack add the MACD and The Stochastics.
Easyrider used the MACD and Stochastic Indicator to grow a $5000 USD account into over $200,000 USD in just under 2 years. Clearly, some people do find value in their use (as is evident by easyrider's success). However, a major downside to using the indicators exists on any 'gap day' - especially when the market gaps by a significant amount. When such an environment occurs, the 'gap' is 'baked into the cake' (so to speak) for a period of time - thereby rendering the indicators useless. In addition, Indicators
do lag - by their very design.
One can perform a very simple drill in order to 'see' whether the addition of the MACD and The Stochastic Indicator might prove useful to one's
individual trading. Simply, enter a trade (using a simulator) when The Stochastic 5-2-3 cross the 50% line in one direction. Exit when the Stochastic 5-2-3 crosses back in the opposite direction. One could even use the 'trigger' from the YM to trade the ES. One needs to perform this drill
live - and not using static hindsight charts.
Anyone expecting 'the Holy Grail' from adding these indicators should review easyrider's posts.
Again,
some people
may find value in adding these Indicators to there charts. Many, will simply find them distracting. Should people wish to discuss their use here, I have no objection. However, I encourage a review of the older threads (linked from page one of this journal)
first as this has
all been discussed
many times before.
Good trading to you all.
- Spydertrader