Analysis

Technical Analysis: Definition

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Simple Definition

Using price charts and patterns to predict where a stock will go next.

Why It Matters

Technical analysis ignores company fundamentals and focuses purely on price and volume patterns. Traders look for patterns like 'head and shoulders,' moving average crossovers, and support/resistance levels. Many academics say it's barely better than coin-flipping, but millions of traders swear by it. At minimum, understanding technicals helps you know what other traders are watching.

Key Points

  • Based on the idea that price history repeats and all information is already reflected in the price
  • Common tools: moving averages, RSI (relative strength index), MACD, Bollinger Bands
  • Short-term traders use it more; long-term investors often ignore it and focus on fundamentals

Related Terms

Common Questions

Using price charts and patterns to predict where a stock will go next. Technical analysis ignores company fundamentals and focuses purely on price and volume patterns. Traders look for patterns like 'head and shoulders,' moving average crossovers, and support/resistance levels.

Technical analysis ignores company fundamentals and focuses purely on price and volume patterns. Traders look for patterns like 'head and shoulders,' moving average crossovers, and support/resistance levels. Many academics say it's barely better than coin-flipping, but millions of traders swear by it. At minimum, understanding technicals helps you know what other traders are watching.

Based on the idea that price history repeats and all information is already reflected in the price

Common tools: moving averages, RSI (relative strength index), MACD, Bollinger Bands

Short-term traders use it more; long-term investors often ignore it and focus on fundamentals