THREE LINE BREAK CHART TECHNIQUIES

Three Line Break charts originate from Japan and were introduced to the western world by Steve Nison (a well-known authority on the Candlestick charting method). The Three Line Break charting method gets its name from the default number of line blocks typically used.

Using the closing price, a new white block is added in a new column if the previous high price is exceeded. A new black block is drawn if the close makes a new low. If there is neither a new high or low, nothing is drawn.

With a default Three Line Break, if a rally is powerful enough to form three consecutive white blocks, then the low of the last three white blocks must be exceeded before a black block is drawn. If a sell-off is powerful enough to form three consecutive black blocks, then the high of the last three black blocks must be exceeded before a white block is drawn.

To draw line break blocks, today's close is compared to the high and low of the previous block. A block is drawn only when today's close exceeds the high or low of the previous block. If today's close is higher than the top of the previous block, a new white block is drawn in the next column from the prior high to the new high price. If today's close is lower than the bottom of the previous block, a new black block is drawn in the next column from the prior low to the new low price. If the close fails to move outside the range of the previous blocks high or low, then nothing is drawn.

With the default Three Line Break chart, a downside reversal (i.e., white blocks change to black blocks) occurs when the price moves under the lowest price of the last three consecutive white blocks. A black reversal block is drawn from the bottom of the highest white block to the new price. An upside reversal (i.e., black blocks change to white blocks) occurs when the price moves above the highest price of the last three consecutive black blocks. A white reversal block is drawn from the top of the lowest black block to the new high price.

Renko Charting Technique

The Renko charting method is thought to have acquired its name from "renga" which is the Japanese word for bricks. Renko charts were introduced by Steve Nison (a well-known authority on the Candlestick charting method).

To draw Renko bricks, today's close is compared with the high and low of the previous brick (white or black). When the closing price rises above the top of the previous brick by the box size or more, one or more equal height, white bricks are drawn in the next column. If the closing price falls below the bottom of the previous brick by the box size or more, one or more equal height, black bricks are drawn in the next column. If the market moves up more than the amount required to draw one brick, but less than the amount required to draw two bricks, only one brick is drawn. For example, in a two unit Renko chart, if the base price is 100 and the market moves to 103, then one white brick is drawn from the base price of 100 to 102. The rest of the move--from 102 to 103--is not shown on the Renko chart. The same rule applies anytime the price does not fall on a box size divisor.

Basic trend reversals are signaled with the emergence of a white or black brick. A new white brick indicates the beginning of a new uptrend. A new black brick indicates the beginning of a new downtrend. Since the Renko chart is a trend following technique, there will be times when the market induces whipsaws. However, a trend following technique is intended to allow traders to ride on the major portion of the trend.

Since a Renko chart isolates the underlying trends by filtering out the minor ups and downs, Renko charts are excellent for helping determine support and resistance levels.

Point and Figure (P&F) Charts

Point & figure (P&F) charts differ from "normal" price charts in that they completely disregard the passage of time and only chart changes in prices. Rather than having price on the y-axis and time on the x-axis, P&F charts display price changes on both axes.

P&F charts display an "X" when prices rise by the "box size" and display an "O" when prices fall by the box size. Note that no Xs or Os are drawn if prices rise or fall by an amount that is less than the box size.

Each column can contain either Xs or Os, but never both. In order to change columns (e.g., from an X column to an O column), prices must reverse by the "reversal amount" multiplied by the box size. For example, if the box size is 3 points and the reversal amount is 2 boxes, then prices must reverse direction 6 points (3 times 2) in order to change columns. If you are in a column of Xs, the price must fall 6 points in order to change to a column of Os. If you are in a column of Os, the price must rise 6 points in order to change to a column of Xs. The changing of columns signifies a change in the trend of prices. Because prices must reverse direction by the reversal amount, each column in a P&F chart will have at least "reversal amount" boxes.

Gap Up and Gap Down

A gap is a change in price levels between the close and open of two consecutive days. Although most technical analysis manuals define the four types of gap patterns as Common, Breakaway, Continuation and Exhaustion, those labels are applied after the chart pattern is established. That is, the difference between any one type of gap from another is only distinguishable after the stock continues up or down in some fashion. Although those classifications are useful for a longer-term understanding of how a particular stock or sector reacts, they offer little guidance for trading.

For trading purposes, we define four basic types of gaps as follows:

Full Gap Down occurs when the opening price is less than yesterday's low

Full Gap Up occurs when the opening price is greater than yesterday's high price.

Partial Gap Up occurs when today's opening price is higher than yesterday's close, but not higher than yesterday's high.

Partial Gap Down occurs when the opening price is below yesterday's close, but not below yesterday's low.

Stochastic Oscillator

Stochastic is an oscillator that measures the position of a stock or security compared with its recent trading range indicating overbought or oversold conditions.

It displays current day price at a percentage relative to the security’s trading range (high/low) over the specified period of time.

Fast Stoc =%K =[(todays close) - (low price in period n)]/[(high price in period n)-(low price in period n)]

In a Slow Stochastic, the highs and lows are averaged over a slowing period. The default is usually 3 for slow and 1 (no slowing) for fast. The line can then be smoothed using an exponential moving average, Weighted, or simple moving average %D. Confirming Buy/sell signals can be read at intersections of the %D with the %K as well.

The Stochastic Oscillator always ranges between 0% and 100%. A reading of 0% shows that the security's close was the lowest price that the security has traded during the preceding x-time periods. A reading of 100% shows that the security's close was the highest price that the security has traded during the preceding x-time periods. When the closing price is near the top of the recent trading range (above 80%), the security is in an overbought condition and may signal for a possible correction. Oversold condition exists at a point below %20. Prices close near the top of the range during uptrends and near the bottom of the range during downtrends.

MACD - Moving Average Convergence/Divergence

This indicator uses three exponential moving averages, a short or fast average, a long or slow average and an exponential average of their difference, the last being used as a signal or trigger line. To fully understand the basics of MACD you must first understand simple moving averages. The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence indicator measures the intensity of public sentiment and is considered by Gerald Appel, its developer, to be a very good indicator signaling market entry points after a sharp decline. This indicator reveal overbought and oversold conditions and generates signals that predict trend or price reversals. It provides a sensitive measurement of the intensity of public sentiment and can be applied to the stock market, to individual stocks or to mutual funds. In some instances, it can provide advance warning of reversals allowing you to buy into weakness and sell into strength.

The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence indicator (MACD) is calculated by subtracting the value of 26-day exponential moving average from a 12-day exponential moving average. A 9-day exponential moving average (the "signal line") is automatically displayed on top of the MACD indicator line.

The basic MACD trading rule is to sell when the MACD falls below its 9-day signal line. Similarly, a buy signal occurs when the MACD rises above its signal line.