A Systematic Approach to
Technical Analysis - Part I

Print this 1-Minute chart as an example or open your charting program and plot the following indicators. If you do not already have one, a colored printer is a valuable asset for a trader. The best value and least cost per copy are in those with a separate ink cartridge for black, red, green and yellow.

All of these indicators are shown on the example chart in the same order as they are listed here. These are the indicators we use most frequently.

MACD Histogram

3-10 Price Oscillator and 16-Period Simple Moving Average (SMA) - the moving average is the smoother of the two lines.

ADX - Black
+ DI - Blue
- DI - Red

Moving Averages:

1-Min Moving Average - Red
3-Min Moving Average - Blue
5-Min Moving Average - Black
15-Min Moving Average - Green
30-Min Moving Average - Dark Red
60-Min Moving Average - Light Blue
120-Min Moving Average - Gray

Additionally moving averages will usually have the shortest time period closest to price.

Bollinger Bands - Red (surrounds price)

Volume - Blue bars at the bottom of the chart

Print the Daily Insights text. Example commentary taken from our Real-time Signals service.

Print the Intra Day Tracking Chart. This chart can also be used during your regular trading day. View each indicator in turn and mark its characteristics (rising, falling, flat, etc.) on the Intraday Trading Chart. (Print a master copy and then run additional copies at a nearby copy center such as Kinkos)