Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis

Reading what the chart is actually doing. Real charts, not idealised diagrams.

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Featured Guide
Bear Flag Pattern: How to Trade the Bearish Continuation
Technical Analysis

Bear Flag Pattern: How to Trade the Bearish Continuation

The bear flag pattern across gold, Bitcoin, and Forex: how to spot the flagpole, flag, and breakdown, and why it only pays in a real downtrend.

alex-rivers alex-rivers · · 18 min read
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About Technical Analysis

This is about reading what the chart is actually doing. Each guide takes a pattern apart: what it represents in order flow, when it fails, how higher-timeframe context kills or confirms the read. Annotations are on real charts, not idealised diagrams. Failure modes sit next to the textbook wins because both happen. Every pattern ties back to a live trade where reading it right mattered.

What you'll get
  • Patterns with annotated examples
  • Failure modes documented
  • Multi-timeframe confirmation logic
Written by active traders — not finance journalists
Alex Rivers
Alex Rivers
Momentum Trader & Technical Analyst
 James Hartwell
James Hartwell
Forex Analyst & Senior Trader
 Nina Carr
Nina Carr
Quant Researcher & Systems Builder

More in Technical Analysis

52 guides
Commitment of Traders: How to Read the COT Report Technical Analysis
· 19 min read

Commitment of Traders: How to Read the COT Report

The Commitment of Traders report shows who holds what in a market. How to read the COT report and its three positioning signals across gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin.
Fibonacci Extension: The 161.8% Target That Pays on Gold Technical Analysis
· 23 min read

Fibonacci Extension: The 161.8% Target That Pays on Gold

A Fibonacci extension projects price targets past a move. We built the 161.8% target on eight years of daily gold data: where it pays, and where the target misses.
Heikin Ashi Strategy: Three Setups That Paid on Gold Technical Analysis
· 34 min read

Heikin Ashi Strategy: Three Setups That Paid on Gold

Heikin Ashi smooths price so trends stand out. On eight years of gold data, three setups paid, led by a doji reversal at a 3.4 profit factor.
Inside Bar Pattern: The Coil That Pays When Volume Backs the Breakout Technical Analysis
· 37 min read

Inside Bar Pattern: The Coil That Pays When Volume Backs the Breakout

The inside bar pattern is a two-candle pause you trade on the breakout of the mother bar. Unlike most single-candle setups the raw version already pays on trending markets, and one filter lifts every one of them: heavy volume on the breakout. On silver it pushed the profit factor to 4.77. Real charts, real numbers, and why the short side fails.
Pin Bar Pattern: The Rejection Candle That Only Pays With the Trend Technical Analysis
· 31 min read

Pin Bar Pattern: The Rejection Candle That Only Pays With the Trend

The pin bar is a single rejection candle, and on its own it is a coin flip. We ran it across eight years of gold, oil, silver and Bitcoin, and one filter changed everything: trade the pin with a trending market and it pays, fade the trend and it dies. Real charts, real numbers, the bullish and bearish pin explained.
CCI Indicator: The Reversion Trap and the Pullback That Pays Technical Analysis
· 26 min read

CCI Indicator: The Reversion Trap and the Pullback That Pays

We tested the CCI indicator across eight years on gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin. The commodity channel index reversion play is a coin flip; the trend-pullback pays, and it pays most in a calm market. Real numbers, real charts.
Money Flow Index: Where the Volume Edge Is Real, and Where It Isn't Technical Analysis
· 28 min read

Money Flow Index: Where the Volume Edge Is Real, and Where It Isn't

We tested the Money Flow Index across eight years on gold, silver, Bitcoin and EUR/USD. The MFI money-flow pullback pays, and the volume edge is genuine where the volume is real. Full numbers, real charts.
Supertrend Indicator: The Setting Nobody Tells You About Technical Analysis
· 26 min read

Supertrend Indicator: The Setting Nobody Tells You About

The Supertrend indicator is a trend-riding trailing stop. Over eight years its flip earned a 2.05 to 2.87 profit factor on gold, silver and Bitcoin. The twist: volume hurts it, a calm market is the real edge.
Morning Star Candlestick: How to Spot and Trade It Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Morning Star Candlestick: How to Spot and Trade It

Learn to identify and trade the morning star candlestick pattern with entry rules, stop placement, and real forex examples from an 8-year FX desk trader.
Renko Charts Explained: How to Read and Trade Them Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Renko Charts Explained: How to Read and Trade Them

Learn how renko charts work, how to set brick size using ATR, and a backtested breakout strategy that filters out market noise.
Donchian Channel: How It Works and Breakout Strategy Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Donchian Channel: How It Works and Breakout Strategy

How the Donchian Channel indicator works, which settings perform best, and how to build a systematic breakout strategy — with backtested results on EUR/USD and BTC.
Parabolic SAR: How It Works, Settings, and Strategy Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Parabolic SAR: How It Works, Settings, and Strategy

Learn how to use Parabolic SAR for trend direction and trailing stops. Settings guide, ADX filter strategy, and backtested results on EUR/USD and XAU/USD.
Keltner Channel Explained: Trend and Breakout Trading Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Keltner Channel Explained: Trend and Breakout Trading

What the Keltner Channel is, how ATR-based bands work, and how to trade breakouts, trend walks, and squeezes with this volatility indicator.
Shooting Star Candlestick Pattern Explained Technical Analysis
· 14 min read

Shooting Star Candlestick Pattern Explained

The shooting star candlestick signals bearish reversals at market tops. Learn the exact pattern rules, confirmation method, and trade setups from an FX desk trader.
Market Profile Trading: How to Read TPO Charts Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

Market Profile Trading: How to Read TPO Charts

Learn to read market profile TPO charts, identify value areas and POC, and use institutional structure to improve your day trading entry timing.
Volume Profile Trading: POC, Value Area, and HVN/LVN Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Volume Profile Trading: POC, Value Area, and HVN/LVN

Learn how to use volume profile in trading, read POC, value area, and high/low volume nodes to spot key price levels where institutions trade.
Harmonic Patterns: Gartley, Bat, Butterfly & Crab Explained Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Harmonic Patterns: Gartley, Bat, Butterfly & Crab Explained

Learn harmonic patterns with exact Fibonacci ratios. Gartley, Bat, Butterfly, Crab, and Cypher patterns with real EUR/USD and GBP/USD entry examples.
Ascending Triangle Pattern: Which of the Three Actually Pays Technical Analysis
· 19 min read

Ascending Triangle Pattern: Which of the Three Actually Pays

The ascending, descending, and symmetrical triangle patterns, tested across eight years of gold, the euro, the pound, and six years of Bitcoin. The three types have very different odds: the ascending triangle led the test on gold, winning 71 percent of trades, the symmetrical triangle was the steady workhorse, and the descending triangle lost money in markets that trended up. Real trades, real numbers, and a clear rule for which break to take.
Heikin Ashi Candles: How to Read and Trade Them Technical Analysis
· 15 min read

Heikin Ashi Candles: How to Read and Trade Them

Heikin Ashi candles filter market noise and reveal trend direction more clearly than standard candlesticks. Learn how to read signals and trade them.
Hammer Candlestick: Pattern, Rules, and Trade Entries Technical Analysis
· 12 min read

Hammer Candlestick: Pattern, Rules, and Trade Entries

Learn the hammer candlestick, inverted hammer, and hanging man. Recognition rules, entry timing, stop placement, and what actually works in live trading.
Triple Top and Triple Bottom Patterns Explained Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

Triple Top and Triple Bottom Patterns Explained

Learn how to trade triple top and triple bottom chart patterns — formation, volume rules, entry and stop placement with real forex examples.
Inverse Head and Shoulders Pattern Explained Technical Analysis
· 17 min read

Inverse Head and Shoulders Pattern Explained

How to trade the inverse head and shoulders pattern: neckline entry rules, stop placement, and measured move targets from a forex desk trader.
Doji Candlestick: Types, Meaning, and How to Trade Them Technical Analysis
· 15 min read

Doji Candlestick: Types, Meaning, and How to Trade Them

Learn how to read doji candlestick patterns in forex and crypto. Covers all types: standard, gravestone, dragonfly, and long-legged, with entry rules.
MACD Divergence: How to Spot and Trade It Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

MACD Divergence: How to Spot and Trade It

How to identify regular and hidden MACD divergence with real trade results. Entry rules, stop placement, and confirmation signals from live BTC and EUR/USD setups.
Pivot Points Trading: How to Use Them for Daily Setups Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Pivot Points Trading: How to Use Them for Daily Setups

Learn pivot point types, calculation formulas, and how to trade S/R levels with standard, Fibonacci, and Camarilla pivots. Includes entry rules and stop placement.
Engulfing Candle: Bullish & Bearish Patterns Explained Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

Engulfing Candle: Bullish & Bearish Patterns Explained

Learn what an engulfing candle is, how bullish and bearish patterns work, and how to trade them with real win rate data from 14 months of live trading.
Bullish Divergence: How to Spot and Trade It Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Bullish Divergence: How to Spot and Trade It

Bullish divergence signals weakening selling pressure before price reverses. Learn to spot regular, bearish, and hidden divergence across RSI, MACD, and Stochastic.
Ichimoku Cloud: The Trend Engine and the Setups That Pay Technical Analysis
· 28 min read

Ichimoku Cloud: The Trend Engine and the Setups That Pay

The Ichimoku Cloud is a trend engine. Built and run on years of gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin data, its longs paid and its shorts mostly didn't. The setups, the filter, real charts.
Rising Wedge Pattern: Where the Breakout Pays and Where It Doesn't Technical Analysis
· 20 min read

Rising Wedge Pattern: Where the Breakout Pays and Where It Doesn't

The rising wedge pattern and the falling wedge pattern, tested across eight years of gold, the euro, the pound, and six years of Bitcoin. Wedges form on every one of those markets, but only a few breakouts actually pay: the falling wedge on gold and the rising wedge on Bitcoin led the test, the euro's wedges lost, and the pound was too thin to trust. Real trades, real numbers, and a clear rule for which breakouts to take.
Best Indicators for Day Trading (Tested Ranking) Technical Analysis
· 10 min read

Best Indicators for Day Trading (Tested Ranking)

The top day trading indicators ranked by backtested results. RSI, VWAP, MACD, ATR, and EMAs — when to use each and how to combine them.
Elliott Wave Theory: A Practical Trading Guide Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

Elliott Wave Theory: A Practical Trading Guide

Elliott Wave Theory explains how markets move in repeating 5-wave cycles. Learn the rules, how to count waves, and how to apply them in your trading.
Wyckoff Accumulation and Distribution Explained Technical Analysis
· 17 min read

Wyckoff Accumulation and Distribution Explained

Learn Wyckoff accumulation and distribution: spot the 5 phases and time your entry before the markup or markdown begins.
Cup and Handle Pattern: The Markets and Timeframe That Make It Pay Technical Analysis
· 23 min read

Cup and Handle Pattern: The Markets and Timeframe That Make It Pay

The cup and handle pattern, tested across eight years of gold, the pound, the euro, and Bitcoin. The finding: it pays where a market trends. On the daily chart gold returned a 3.46 profit factor and GBP/USD a 2.73, both above 50 percent wins. On the rangebound euro and on Bitcoin it lost. Real trades, real numbers, and the rules for where it actually works.
Bull Flag Pattern: Where the Volume Rule Helps and Where It Lies Technical Analysis
· 24 min read

Bull Flag Pattern: Where the Volume Rule Helps and Where It Lies

The bull flag and bear flag patterns, tested across eight years of gold, the euro, the pound, and Bitcoin. The daily bull flag paid on every market, but the famous advice to wait for a volume surge on the breakout helped on Bitcoin and quietly destroyed the edge on gold. Real trades, real numbers, and the rule for which confirmation to trust.
Stochastic Settings: Best Parameters for Every Timeframe Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

Stochastic Settings: Best Parameters for Every Timeframe

Best stochastic oscillator settings for scalping, day trading and swing trading, with real results from live FX account tests.
Death Cross and Golden Cross: What the Data Actually Shows Technical Analysis
· 27 min read

Death Cross and Golden Cross: What the Data Actually Shows

The death cross and golden cross explained, then backtested: which side of the 50/200 moving average crossover actually pays, on gold and forex, and the filter that fixes it.
EMA vs SMA: Which Moving Average Actually Works? Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

EMA vs SMA: Which Moving Average Actually Works?

EMA reacts faster to recent price moves; SMA smooths out noise. Which to use for trending markets, swing setups, and trend filters, with live results.
Exponential Moving Average (EMA) Explained Technical Analysis
· 12 min read

Exponential Moving Average (EMA) Explained

How the exponential moving average works, best EMA settings by timeframe, and a live trading strategy with 71% win rate from a real EUR/USD account.
Bollinger Bands Explained: What the Data Says They Are Worth Technical Analysis
· 24 min read

Bollinger Bands Explained: What the Data Says They Are Worth

Bollinger Bands explained in plain terms: the squeeze, the bands, walking the band, and the best settings. Then eight years of gold and EUR/USD data on what each read is actually worth.
RSI Divergence Strategy: The High Win Rate Trap Technical Analysis
· 30 min read

RSI Divergence Strategy: The High Win Rate Trap

We tested the RSI divergence strategy across eight years on gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin. It wins often but barely breaks even, and collapses out-of-sample. The real RSI edge is the trend-pullback, with the numbers to prove it.
RSI Trading Strategy: 4 Setups That Actually Work Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

RSI Trading Strategy: 4 Setups That Actually Work

4 proven RSI trading strategies with entry rules, stop placement, and real win rates from 6 months of live testing on BTC and EUR/USD.
Backtesting Trading Strategies: A Complete Guide Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Backtesting Trading Strategies: A Complete Guide

Learn how to backtest a trading strategy step by step: tools, key metrics, and the mistakes that kill 73% of strategies before they go live.
Fundamental Analysis vs Technical Analysis Technical Analysis
· 12 min read

Fundamental Analysis vs Technical Analysis

What's the real difference? An FX desk veteran explains how fundamental and technical analysis work, and which approach actually makes money in forex and crypto.
Fibonacci Trading: How to Use Retracement Levels Technical Analysis
· 12 min read

Fibonacci Trading: How to Use Retracement Levels

Learn how Fibonacci retracement levels work in forex and crypto trading. Real EUR/USD setups, entry rules, and which levels actually matter.
Support and Resistance Trading: A Complete Guide Technical Analysis
· 12 min read

Support and Resistance Trading: A Complete Guide

Learn how to identify support and resistance levels and trade them. Real forex desk examples, entry signals, stop placement, and multi-timeframe tips.
Trading Patterns: The 8 That Actually Work Technical Analysis
· 20 min read

Trading Patterns: The 8 That Actually Work

Learn the 8 most reliable trading patterns, how to read them across timeframes, and why most pattern trades fail, tested across 4 years of EUR/USD data.
Bullish Chart Patterns: Which Ones Actually Work Technical Analysis
· 13 min read

Bullish Chart Patterns: Which Ones Actually Work

7 bullish chart patterns with real win rates from an 8-year FX desk: how to spot entries, set stops, and filter out the false breakouts.
12 Most Reliable Candlestick Patterns for Trading in 2026 Technical Analysis
· 11 min read

12 Most Reliable Candlestick Patterns for Trading in 2026

The 12 candlestick patterns that actually produce consistent results in forex and crypto: exact entry rules, stop placement, and real chart examples for each formation.
Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet: Quick Reference for Traders Technical Analysis
· 9 min read

Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet: Quick Reference for Traders

Complete chart patterns cheat sheet: all major reversal and continuation patterns, entry rules, and targets in one reference. Bookmark this before your next trade.
Chart Patterns Guide 2026 — 8 Key Formations with Entry Rules & Examples Technical Analysis
· 18 min read

Chart Patterns Guide 2026 — 8 Key Formations with Entry Rules & Examples

Learn to trade 8 chart patterns: flags, triangles, H&S, double top/bottom, and wedges. EUR/USD entry triggers, stop placement, and measured targets. 68% backtested win rate.
Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns: Where They Pay Technical Analysis
· 30 min read

Double Top and Double Bottom Chart Patterns: Where They Pay

Double top and double bottom chart patterns are reversal bets, so they pay where a market actually turns. On oil they worked both ways; on gold the double bottom paid (and survived out-of-sample at 3.67) but the double top failed against the bull run. Real charts, real numbers, and the one regime rule that decides it.
Head and Shoulders Chart Pattern: The Method That Turns It Into a Tradeable Edge Technical Analysis
· 20 min read

Head and Shoulders Chart Pattern: The Method That Turns It Into a Tradeable Edge

The head and shoulders chart pattern, tested across eight years of gold, Bitcoin and EUR/USD. The raw pattern is a coin flip. Add three confirmations, volume, the 200-EMA regime and RSI at the head, and the same pattern turns into a 70-plus percent method. Real trades, real numbers, the rules you can copy.

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