Technical analysis uses historical prices and trade volumes to try and predict future price trends. The idea is that by gauging whether a stock's price might move up or down over different time frames, you can find the best moments to capture profit.
Typically, this is done using price charts and adding indicators such as price trendlines.
Not everyone believes technical analysis works – in fact it's a hotly debated topic among investors. Still, it works often enough that it has stayed a popular tool by both day traders and long-term investors for centuries.
If you're interested in finding out more, here are a few tips to get started.
1. It's human nature
Behind all the numbers, there are people making both rational and irrational trading decisions. So how can you predict what people are going to do next?
The basis of technical analysis is that stock prices tend to move in patterns that are either cyclical or based on trends. While you can't know what investors are going to do next, we do know most of the time people respond to certain events in the same way.
For example, if a stock price rallies sharply over several days or weeks, we can expect that some people will want to cash in their profits. This is why we often see prices dip sharply after a boom, such as after a major IPO.
And when prices crash, we know that some investors will be waiting to scoop up the low prices (as we saw in March and April) resulting in a response rally – and the cycle starts again. Technical analysis can help to predict these typical behaviours by identifying price peaks or troughs.
2. Start with a price chart
Technical analysis always begins with a price chart. There are many different types of charts used by analysts, but their goal is always to map out price trends.
One of the most common charts you'll come across is the candlestick chart, named after the red and green coloured vertical bars.
The bars show the stock's opening and closing prices for the period you're viewing – often a single day. Green means the price went up and red means the price went down. The short lines called the "wicks" that appear at the top and bottom of the rectangle show the highest and lowest price ranges for that period.
Candlestick charts are useful because they show how volatile a stock's price has been over time.
From here you can start to look at other indicators and map out price trends.
3. Look at trading volumes
Trade volume is the number of buy or sell trades that are made for a stock or commodity over a given time. This typically sits at the bottom of a price chart as light grey columns or lines.
Volume is used alongside prices to determine whether a prolonged trend or a reversal is about to occur. As a general rule, higher volumes of trading are more likely to result in a prolonged price trend, either upwards or downwards.
When volume rises with prices, you might expect a long bull run. If prices are falling while volumes are going up, it indicates a prolonged correction.
However, if prices hit a new peak as volume drops, it could be a sign that the stock is losing its zeal and a sharp reversal is about to occur.
4. Understand support and resistance
Just like any other product, the demand for stocks fluctuates depending on prices. For example, when a stock's price is low, it becomes more attractive and demand for the stock goes up. When a stock price becomes too expensive, buyers will start to drop off and some people will see an opportunity to sell.
Technical analysis tries to predict these demand patterns using "support" and "resistance" trendlines on a chart. A support line indicates the lower price range where buying typically starts to pick up. A resistance line shows the higher price range where traders are expected to start selling.
Such trendlines are made by connecting prices – you just need to figure out which prices you want to connect that will help to inform you. Typically, traders connect low price points or high price points together. If the support or resistance lines stand the test of time, the more reliable it is deemed to be in the future.
Source: ASX.com.au
There are a few ways to construct your support and resistance lines, and the most well-known method is through "moving averages" (see below).
5. Identify uptrends and downtrends
The key question you're trying to answer in technical analysis is whether a stock's price is trending upwards, downwards or sideways. To work this out, traders use resistance points to map out trendlines.
At a basic level, a downward sloping line indicates there are more sellers than buyers and the correction might be a prolonged one. Some traders will take this as a sign to sell before prices dip further.
An upward sloping line means the opposite – and you might want to consider holding onto your stock for a longer period.
These lines are also used to determine the points where prices start to meet resistance and could reverse. If prices fall below this trend level, you might expect a panic sell to occur as it indicates a "black swan" event has occurred.
For example, the image below shows a trendline for the S&P/ASX200 index over several decades.
Source: ImpliedVolatility
This trendline indicates that by around the start of 2020, prices should reverse at around the 5,550 mark. Of course, the ASX200 did fall below this point in March this year and panic selling occurred as a result.
This trendline will have subsequently lost its validity and numerous new trendlines will have been made to accommodate the new market conditions.
6. Moving averages and Bollinger Bands
The moving average indicates the average price of a stock over a period of time – often weeks or months. This gives you a better idea of how the stock has been performing over longer time frames and it's commonly used to find support and resistance lines.
On a price chart, you'll often see the symbol MA followed by a number, e.g. MA200. This means the moving average shown on the chart is over a 200-day period.
There are two main ways to look at an average stock price. You can look at the simple moving average (SMA) or the exponential moving average (EMA). Both SMA and EMA average the stock's price over a specific period of time , but EMA weighs recent prices as more important than those further in the past.
These averages are used to create support and resistance lines (see point 4). For example, if a stock's price can't close the day above the moving average line, it indicates a resistance point – this is the level where more people are starting to sell than buy.
If a stock's price can't close below the moving average, we find a support point – the level where more people are beginning to buy than to sell.
Another popular way to construct support and resistance points is through Bollinger Bands. Bollinger Bands are typically 2-deviations above and below a moving average. On a chart, this appears as three lines - the moving average line and the 2 Bollinger bands above and below the moving average.
When prices regularly touch the upper Bollinger, it suggests an asset is overbought. Conversely, when prices regularly touch the lower Bollinger, it indicates the asset may be oversold.
Tesla stock Bollinger Bands example
Once you map out your support and resistance lines, trend indicators also start to appear. When stock prices fall outside of these lines, it could be a sign that a new trend is starting, such as a bull market or a correction.
7. Relative Strength Index (RSI)
Relative Strength Index is a popular indicator to work out whether a stock or other asset is overbought or oversold. It's typically shown as a line graph and might sit just below the price chart.
RSI is measured over a 14-day period on a scale of 0 - 100, with 0 being the most undersold value and 100 the most overbought. It's calculated using the asset's average gains and losses – usually over a 14-day period.
As a general rule, the 70 mark is where a stock or asset is considered to be overbought, while 30 is the level where it's thought to be undersold.
Of course, to get the most accurate results, technical analysts use all of these indicators and many, many more.
These are some of the basics, but technical analysis is a long journey that for many people never truly ends. There's still plenty more to learn and experience – enjoy the journey!
Fundamental analysis vs technical analysis
Fundamental analysis and technical analysis are two contrasting approaches used by investors to assess potential investments.
Fundamental analysis examines a company's intrinsic value by scrutinising financial statements, economic conditions, and industry trends to determine what should happen next in the market.
Conversely, technical analysis studies past market data, primarily price and volume, to forecast future price movements. It's centred on charts and statistical trends, focusing on what is actually happening in the market. Both strategies have merits, and many savvy investors use a mix of both to make well-rounded decisions.
Which trading platforms offer technical analysis charts?
TradingView is perhaps the most well-known technical analysis platform out there and you'll see many social forums referencing TradingView charts. But there are also many online brokers that offer advanced technical analysis charts alongside your physical trading. While some of these actually partner with TradingView to supply the charts, it helps to have your trading strategy, portfolio and order history all in the one spot.
Some online trading platforms that offer advanced charting features in Australia include:
IG
eToro
Tiger Brokers
CMC Invest
Bell Direct
Capital 19
CommSec
Interactive Brokers
Marketech
Moomoo
Saxo Invested
Phillip Capital
You can compare these brokers in the table below. Remember, online brokers with more advanced features tend to charge higher fees.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
FAQs
Bollinger Bands are indicators that are used to find resistance points on a price chart. Typically, Bollinger lines are 2 deviations above and below a 2-Day moving average. When prices regularly hit the upper Bollinger, it suggest the asset is overbought, and the reverse when prices hit the lower Bollinger.
In technical analysis, a pivot point is a key indicator used by traders to gauge overall market trends. It's essentially the average of the high, low, and closing prices from the previous day. This helps investors predict support or resistance levels, providing crucial insight into market movement and potential shifts.
Technical analysis is about finding price trends of specific assets including stocks, rather than finding new stocks. However you could apply technical analysis to any stock that you're interested in to help inform whether you believe the stock's price is a good buying opportunity. First, you'll need to understand how technical analysis works.
Combining fundamental and technical analysis gives you a holistic view of your investment choices. Fundamental analysis helps you understand a company's intrinsic value by examining financial statements, industry position, and macroeconomic factors. On the other hand, technical analysis uses price movements and patterns to predict future trends. A typical use case would be to use fundamental analysis to identify companies that are poised for growth and then use technical analysis to identify optimal entry and exit points for your investment.
Start with online courses from reputable providers or read in-depth books like "Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets" by John J. Murphy. Try free resources like Investopedia for fundamental concepts. Once familiar with basics like candlestick charts, moving averages, and indicators, put your knowledge into practice with paper trading. Attend webinars, join trading communities, and follow experienced traders to continually improve. Remember, it takes time and persistence to become proficient.
Kylie Purcell is the senior investments editor and analyst at Finder. She has completed a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments (RG146) and specialises in investment products including online brokers, robo-advisors, stocks and ETFs.
You've heard of CommSec but how does it stack up to the likes of IG, CMC Invest and other players in the market?
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