Price Action Vs. Trading Indicators | The Old Battle Settled (2024)

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  • May 30, 2023
  • Optimus Futures

This article on Price Action vs Indicators is the opinion of Optimus Futures, LLC.

  • Both price action and indicators use past price data; the difference lies in how the information is processed.
  • Neither method is inherently better for beginners; the key is understanding and using the chosen tools correctly.
  • Personal preferences and how a trader uses their tools are more important than the debate between price action and indicator trading.

This article talks about the long-standing debate between price action trading and indicator trading. We’ll clear up the five most popular beliefs about Price Action vs. Trading Indicators and provide traders with a fresh look at this ongoing argument.

1. Price is Better Than Indicators

Price action traders often think their method is always better. However, price action and indicators are quite similar. Both use price info from charts like candlesticks or bar charts. Indicators just apply a formula to the same info. They don’t change what you see; they just process it differently.

When you interpret price action, you’re virtually doing the same thing mentally.

2. Indicators are Lagging – Price Action is leading

A trader who says indicators are lagging doesn’t understand their true purpose. Indicators use past price action (based on indicator settings) and show the result after applying a formula. So, indicators display outcomes from previous price action.

Similarly, traders analyzing pure price patterns, like Head and Shoulders or Cup and Handle, also look at past price action, which has already shifted from potential entry points.

Both methods use past price data and can be considered “lagging.” To reduce this lag, adjust the indicator’s time setting or analyze fewer past candlesticks. However, the less data you include, the less meaningful the analysis becomes.

3. Price Action is Simple and Better for Beginners

In trading, it’s not often that one method is better than another; it depends on how you use your tools. It’s like comparing a hammer and a screwdriver; both work well if used correctly, but neither is helpful if you don’t know how to use them.

For beginners in price action trading, it’s easy to feel lost without experience or guidance. Trading candlesticks can be complex, with factors like size, comparison to previous price action, and momentum and volatility in wicks and bodies often overlooked.

Don’t choose price action just because it seems simple; a trader unfamiliar with its nuances may misinterpret charts.

4. “Naked Trading” is Better Because Indicator Charts are Messy

Continuing from the previous point, the idea that indicator charts are messy isn’t valid. If you add too many oscillators and moving averages to a chart, it’ll get cluttered, but that’s not how indicator trading works.

Typically, traders choose one oscillator, like Stochastic, for momentum analysis, and another indicator, like Bollinger Bands, for chart studies.

Indicators offer guidance and help traders make objective decisions, with little room for subjectivity.

In contrast, price action traders using blank charts may feel lost without clear reference points, leading to emotional or impulsive actions. They can also overcrowd charts with support/resistance lines, trend lines, and candlestick components.

Upon closer examination, this argument doesn’t stand. Some traders prefer indicators for less subjectivity, while others choose price action analysis.

Can we really say that this chart…

…despite being “messy,” doesn’t provide more useful information than this?

5. Price Action is the Real Way of Trading

The last argument states that “professionals” don’t use indicators. However, it’s difficult to prove such a claim, as personal preferences play a role.

Indicators save time by focusing on specific chart aspects, like momentum, helping traders process data quickly and with less subjectivity.

It’s crucial to approach this topic with an open mind and not be overly biased. A trader should choose their tools wisely and understand the pros and cons of different methods.

There’s no right or wrong between price action and indicator trading; it depends on how a trader uses their tools for decision-making.

The Bottom Line

The debate between Price Action and Trading Indicators has been ongoing, and there are misconceptions surrounding both methods.

It’s essential for traders to approach the topic with an open mind, understand the pros and cons of each approach, and choose their tools wisely.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of either method depends on how the trader utilizes their tools to make trading decisions.

In short, performance rests on the trader and his/her use of a method and not the method itself.

For more on Price Action vs Indicators, read our Ultimate Guide to Price Action.

There is a substantial risk of loss in futures trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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Price Action Vs. Trading Indicators | The Old Battle Settled (2024)

FAQs

Price Action Vs. Trading Indicators | The Old Battle Settled? ›

Both price action

price action
Price action is a method of analysis of the basic price movements to generate trade entry and exit signals that is considered reliable while not requiring the use of indicators. It is a form of technical analysis, as it ignores the fundamental factors of a security and looks primarily at the security's price history.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Price_action_trading
and indicators use past price data; the difference lies in how the information is processed. Neither method is inherently better for beginners; the key is understanding and using the chosen tools correctly.

Is SMC better than price action? ›

Some traders may find success with SMC strategy by leveraging the power of social media sentiment, while others may prefer price action strategy for its reliance on technical analysis and historical price patterns. You can still use both and Ace your trade.

Do professional traders use price action? ›

In their toolkit for market analysis, professional traders often blend price action patterns with tools from technical analysis to inform their discretionary trading decisions.

How much accurate is price action trading? ›

Another benefit of price action trading strategies is their effectiveness. Because they are based on the movement of prices, which is a reflection of market sentiment and trends, they can provide a high level of accuracy when predicting future market movements.

Will price action stop working? ›

While it is difficult to predict the future, it is unlikely that price action trading will become completely obsolete someday. This is because price movements and patterns are based on human behavior and emotions, which are unlikely to change drastically in the near future.

Is price action trading better than indicators? ›

Price is Better Than Indicators

Price action traders often think their method is always better. However, price action and indicators are quite similar. Both use price info from charts like candlesticks or bar charts. Indicators just apply a formula to the same info.

Is SMC really profitable? ›

The answer comes down entirely to the individual. We suggest avoiding SMC if the flaws above irritate you, especially if you already know basic price action. SMC is not going to give you a special advantage over regular retail price action traders.

Which indicator is used by professional traders? ›

RSI is mostly used to help traders identify momentum, market conditions and warning signals for dangerous price movements. RSI is expressed as a figure between 0 and 100. An asset around the 70 level is often considered overbought, while an asset at or near 30 is often considered oversold.

Which price do professional traders watch the most? ›

A seasoned trader will tell you the four types of price points and that the closing price is the most important one. Successful people don't do different things, they just do things differently. Following these winning traits of winners improves an average trader's odds of success significantly.

Who is the famous price action trader? ›

But as a fact, Richard Wyckoff is one of the god fathers of Price action trading and the first trader to intensively analyse volume with price movement.

What is the best time frame for price action strategy? ›

For day trading, 15-minute charts and 30-minute charts are the offer optimal results. Day traders who use indicators in their day trading strategy can use a 15-minute or lower time frame. In the case of price action-based trading, a combination of the 15-minute and 30-minute time frames proves to be highly effective.

Who is the father of price action trading? ›

Munihisa Homma was a Japanese rice trader who lived in the city of Sakata between the years 1725 and 1803. He was born into a prominent family of rice merchants who had already acquired a significant amount of wealth by the time Homma was born.

Why don't trading indicators work? ›

Indicators don't provide signals.

They don't tell you when to buy or when to sell. They don't even tell you when something is overbought or oversold.

What are the disadvantages of price action? ›

What Are Some Limitations of Using Price Action? Price action is often subjective, and different traders may interpret the same chart or price history differently, leading to different decisions. Another limitation of price action trading is that past price action is not always a valid predictor of future outcomes.

Do professional traders use MACD? ›

MACD is a trend-following momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of a security's price. Traders use the MACD to identify entry and exit points for trades.

Is SMC a good strategy? ›

Why SMC is important in Forex trading. Smart money trading uses some of the most effective and time-tested techniques to gain valuable insights. Retail traders have been using price action technical analysis for decades, and ultimately no matter the terminology SMC uses, it is essentially a one in the same.

What is the best timeframe for SMC trading strategy? ›

The choice of timeframe in SMC trading should align with the trader's goals and strategy. Short-term traders may prefer 1-hour or 4-hour charts for quicker insights, while long-term traders might opt for daily or weekly charts to capture broader market trends influenced by institutional movements.

Is price action the best strategy? ›

Price action trading is better suited for short- to medium-term, limited-profit trades instead of long-term investments. Most traders believe that the market follows a random pattern and that there is no clear, systematic way to define a strategy that will always work.

How accurate is the smart money concept? ›

Smart money is cash invested or wagered by those considered experienced, well informed, “in the know,” or all three. There is little empirical evidence to support the notion that smart-money investments perform better than non-smart-money investments; however, such influxes of cash influence many speculation methods.

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