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To safeguard and forecast the performance of any security in the unseen future, traders use the miracle of technical analysis. It is a type of trading where historical data is used, and its predictability is harnessed to determine what the future holds for a particular asset. Oscillators are one such tool that is commonly used by the masses of technical traders. This training guide is here to make you profuse in the art of using the versatile tool called a Stochastic Oscillator. That is an accurate and trustworthy instrument to turn those investments into sleek profits.
Let’s start with an introduction to this tool. The Stochastic Oscillator, a.k.a, the Stochastic Indicator, track a financial asset’s momentum and defines if it is in an overbought or oversold situation. The oscillator comprises two components called the K% line and the D% line. The scale has a range of 0 to 100, and it showcases the different situations in the market by fluctuating between these 2 points. The main focus is predicting the price trend of an asset.
What is a stochastic oscillator?
A stochastic oscillator represents a trading indicator that shows overbought and oversold signals using directional momentum (the speed or velocity of price changes in the tradable instruments) based on the closing price. In addition, a stochastic oscillator identifies trend reversals using overbought and oversold price levels.
A stochastic Oscillator has a similar purpose as any other oscillator is called a leading indicator. This infers that the readings on the scale will lead to the change in existing prices by forecasting that there will be amends in the asset’s demand, supply, and price. This tool is handy; however, interpreting their results and combining them with your winning trading strategies can be a daunting task for many.
In this training guide, we will give you complete comprehensive insights into the working of the Stochastic Oscillator and the methods in which you can implement the results in your trading strategies and reap profits from your investments in the market.
What do you need to look at the Stochastic Oscillator?
Though most oscillators are created keeping in mind the needs of the market. Their layout is also similar. You cannot find any resemblance in their strong and weak points. These signals on oscillators are created to differentiate them from others, and hence reading them is also a varying task.
To read the results of the Stochastic Oscillator and helpfully interpret them, proficiency in the following subjects is essential.
- Types of Stochastic Oscillators.
- Construction of Stochastic Oscillator.
- Calculations of the Stochastic Oscillator.
- I was interpreting and understanding the signals of the Stochastic Oscillator.
Now, let’s dig deep into the topic and understand them with full consciousness.
Types of Stochastic Oscillators
Technical traders use two types of Stochastic Oscillators frequently. These two types are-
- Slow Stochastic
- Fast Stochastic
In demeanor, these two types essentially look the same. However, the working of these types is differentiated, and variations are present so that a trader calculates results for both. Based on your needs and the condition of the market. Your need for the type of Stochastic Oscillator will also fluctuate.
The Slow Stochastic Oscillator works at smoothening the signals and is relied upon by the users. On the other hand, the Fast Stochastic Oscillators are sensitive to altercations due to price trends. Hence, it is more reliable in suitable conditions.
No matter the differences between these Stochastic Oscillators types, the structural and functional components for both are the same. Therefore, the signals given out by both these types are similar in reading and interpreting the results.
Moreover, your choice can lean towards any Stochastic Oscillator in any market condition. However, the all-embracing principle implies that both types’ interpretation and incorporation in a robust trading strategy remain unvaried.
Construction of the Stochastic Oscillator
Just like the other technical trading tools, the Stochastic Oscillator also depends on patterns, charts, and historical data to pan out the prediction for future price trends. The appearance of this oscillator is similar to many others, and its components are as follows:
- The Stochastic Oscillator consists of 2 lines called K & D. Their position on the scale determines if the security is overbought or oversold. The lines can also be faster or slower, which we will discuss later in the article.
- The scale of this oscillator has a range from 0 to 100. The K & D-line fluctuates over this scale and predicts the future price action of an asset.
The lines of a Stochastic Oscillator are placed below the price chart, the periods are laid along the X-axis, and the readings go from 0 to 100 on the Y-axis. In addition, there are peaks and troughs of lines K and D that come in sync with the asset’s price action. Therefore, the position of these lines derives meaningful information for future changes in the price trends.
In conclusion, the Stochastic indicator placed below the price chart showcases the momentum of the price action of an asset. The time of both charts overlap. However, the price action chart is responsible for determining the current price, while the Stochastic Oscillator is responsible for showing the future trend in price on a scale of 1 to 100.
Stochastic Oscillator Formula
The stochastic oscillator formula shows that we need to subtract the low for the period from the current closing price, divide by the total range for the period, and multiply by 100. This is because the Stochastic Oscillator’s lines fluctuate from 0 to 100, no matter what type of indicator it is.
However, the calculations for both types along the two lines vary slightly. Hence, we need to understand the calculations for both types separately to ingest the different steps involved.
Calculations for Fast Stochastics
The three steps for calculating Fast Stochastics is are as follows:
- First, calculate K-line or %Kfast line.
- Then, calculate D-line or %Dfast line or %Kslow lines.
- Plotting K and D-line for results of Fast Stochastics
Moving forwards, here is a comprehensive explanation of all three steps.
Step 1
The K-line or the %Kfast line is an integrated part of the Stochastic Oscillator. This line is only used for plotting the K-line. However, this also forms the founding stone for Slow Stochastic lines; hence this line is essential for the whole Stochastic indicator.
Hence, the %Kfast is plotted with the help of highest highs, lowest lows of an asset’s price based on a certain length of time, and then placing each find into the following formula:
%K= 100 [(C-Lx)/(Hx-Lx)]
C= Current close price
L= Lowest price over a small period
H= Highest price over a fixed period
X= number of periods used in a calculation
Step 2
After calculating the %Kfast line, you need to calculate the %Dfast line, which is considerably easier than the first step. This line is calculated by utilizing %K for three trading sessions and then averaging it. The formula for the same is:
%Dfast ( or Kslow) = 100[(%Kfast current period+ %Kfast-1 period+%Kfast- 2 periods)/3)
%Kfast current period= %Kfast reading in the current session.
%Kfast-1 period + %Kfast reading for the last trading session.
%Kfast- 2 periods + %Kfast reading for the trading sessions before the last session
Step 3
After finding the %Kfast line and %Dfast line from the formulas provided in the steps, the last step is to plot these lines along the scale of 0 to 100, derive your conclusions from the results, and derive the accuracy of the calculation.
Slow Stochastics Calculations
Slow stochastics calculation is a little more intense process compared to fast stochastic. The reason is that there are more steps needed to be abided by in the Slow Stochastics method. These steps are as follows-
- The first step is to calculate the %Kfast line to aid the line K & D for Slow Stochastics.
- The next step is to calculate the %Dfast line or %Kslow line for Slow Stochastics.
- The third step is to calculate the D-line.
- And, the last step is to put the K & D-line on the chart for deriving results.
Now let’s see how you will follow these steps to calculate the Slow Stochastics and find beneficial avenues in the trading market.
Step 1
The first steps include calculating the %Kfast line as an auxiliary for the K & D-line. As we mentioned before, Slow Stochastics does not require you to plot the %Kfast, but it is the foundational stone for calculating the calculation of Slow Stochastics. Hence, the first step in calculating the types of Stochastics oscillator is essentially the same.
Hence, the formula to calculate the %Kfast line as mentioned above is-
%K= 100 [(C-Lx)/(Hx-Lx)}
Here,
C= Latest close
L= Lowest price in a specific period
H= Highest price in a specific period
X= number of periods that you use for a calculation
Step 2
In the second step, the importance of the D-line for Fast Stochastics is similar to the significance of the K-line in Slow Stochastics. Hence, this step is pretty the same for both types of Stochastic oscillators.
Hence, the formula that you would use here to calculate the %Kslow line or %Dfast line is:
%Dfast ( or Kslow) = 100[(%Kfast current period+ %Kfast-1 period+%Kfast- 2 periods)/3)
%Kfast current period= %Kfast reading in the current session.
%Kfast-1 period + %Kfast reading for the last trading session.
%Kfast- 2 period+ %Kfast reading for the trading sessions before the last session
Step 3
Step 3 in the calculation of Slow Stochastics is the extra step included in this type of Stochastic Oscillator, as Fast Stochastic does not require you to go through this step.
Here you calculate the %Dslow line, which is almost the same as the %Dfast line. Essentially, this is considered as the simple moving average for the %Kslow line over three trading sessions, and the formula to calculate the same is as follows-
%Dslow=100[(%Kslow current period+%Kslow-1 period+%Kslow-2 periods)/3]
Here,
%Kslow current period = This is the reading of the %Kslow for the current trading session
%Kslow -1 period = %Kslow reading for last trading session
%Kslow -2 periods = %Kslow reading for the second last reading session
Step 4
In this Slow Stochastic calculation, the %kslow calculated in Step 2 and %Dslow calculated in Step 3 are transformed into K-line and D-line, respectively. Hence, the last step is simple, where you only have to plot these lines on the scale of 0 to 100 on the chart indicating the price. With this step, your calculation for Slow Stochastic is complete, and now you can consider this chart to make trading decisions in your favor.
How to use Stochastic Oscillator?
You can use a Stochastic oscillator to generate overbought (SELL) and oversold signals (BUY) when fast and slow lines cross each other. Additionally, you can create BUY positions if prices reach a new low while a stochastic oscillator fails to get a new low or SELL positions if prices reach a new high while stochastic indicator fails to reach a new high.
A stochastic oscillator is a momentum oscillator that traces the price trend of an asset for the future. However, many people in the tech trading field seem to interchange momentum with volume, which is incorrect. Hence, first, we will get the essential ambiguity out of the way by ruling out the differences between momentum and volume and why every prudent trader also needs to know about it! This will help you in making decisions that are more suitable for making profits from trading,
In the Technical Analysis Of The Financial Markets, John Murphy defines momentum as “measuring the velocity of price changes [over two-time intervals] instead of the actual price levels themselves.” At the same time, the volume represents the number of trades, transactions, or exchanges that have occurred in a specific period. Therefore, momentum is different from volume as it is not concerned with the number of transactions or exchanges over time. Still, it is more related to an asset’s price trend and forecasting it for future opportunities.
Momentum rises invariably when a trend is at its peak or starting point. While it tends to slow down as the direction moves forwards, a reversal occurs.
In the situation of a bullish market, the price at the time of closing will coerce the high prices higher than in the previous periods. On the contrary, whatever massive or small gains you acquire tend to lose their pace once the trend reaches its peak. To comprehend this better, when the %K and %D-lines of the Stochastic Oscillator are going towards the peaks and tumble down after a certain point, it indicates the signal altering, and the prices will likely also reach their peak position soon.
As we mentioned earlier, the Stochastic Oscillator reads the range of the price of a security for a selected period on the scale of 0 to 100. This reading is called momentum.
Continue reading to find out the essential points for reading and interpreting the results of the momentum study. After these basic pointers, another subsection will cover the momentum reading of the Stochastic Oscillator in general.
Pointers to comprehend high momentum readings:
- Whenever the %K is more than 80 on the scale, it is considered as high momentum by a Stochastic Oscillator.
- It is also a sign of the persistence of the bull market where the prices are higher than the previous high prices.
- When this momentum is at its highest, the security is overbought, which is a gesture that the prices will be corrected in the upcoming price trend.
- The higher the momentum, the bigger are the modifications in the price.
Pointers to comprehend low momentum readings:
- When the %K-line is below 20, it is deemed as low momentum by the Stochastic Oscillator.
- It is a sign of the existence of the bear market, where the closing prices are lower than the previous low prices.
- If the momentum is at its lowest, it is an indication that the asset is oversold, which is also a sign of correction in the prices in the next trend.
- The lower the momentum. The smaller are the modifications in the prices.
Understanding the trading signals of the Stochastic Oscillator trading signals
In John Murphy’s Technical Analysis Of The Financial Markets, oscillators signal investors in 3 distinguished ways. These are:
- The signal of an asset being overbought or oversold when the signal line reaches the farthest point on the Y-axis. This is a sign of overextension, and there are distinct possibilities for a change in the direction of the trend.
- During these extreme positions, if there is a difference between the movement of the price and the signal line of the oscillator, it indicates an impending change in direction. The concept of change in the price direction is popularly referred to as divergence in technical trading.
- When the oscillator moves past the Y-axis, it is an indication of a new or changing trend.
If you are often interested in prompt trading, the first two pointers from the adobe table will be helpful to you. However, when the midpoint of 50% is crossed on the Stochastic Oscillator on the Y-axis, it is not as prestigious as the indicators which have set their middle at 0.
In the Stochastic Oscillator, you must focus on the four signals mentioned below to indulge in a trade that harbors profits for you. Here is what these four signals entail:
- %D-line in the upper or lower 20%: if %D-lines go beyond 80% on the scale, it is a sign that the asset is being overbought. Similarly, if the %D-line is below the 20% mark, it will point out an oversold situation.
- Second, %K (the last line) crossing %D-line (the slow line): Just like the collision of moving averages on a price chart, the collision of %K and %D-lines also have the same effect. When %K moves beyond %D, the price trend is moving towards a positive outcome and hence gives a bullish signal. On the other hand, below the %D-line, it will provide a bearish signal.
- When the %D-line rises and falls: When the %D-line moves forward, it will indicate a favorable situation for people who hold a bullish sentiment for the market. While if the %D-line falls, it hints towards a favor of bearish sentiment. When this reading moves from an extreme point on the Stochastics indicator and starts falling and rising, this implies a correction in trend shortly.
- The divergence of the %Dline and Security’s price: Divergence means a disagreement between the price trend and the actual reading of the %D-line. If this persists at a high level, this divergence will indicate a decrease in the momentum and point out the weaknesses in the trends of the prices. Hence, it is also considered as a premature sign of reversal in the future.
Divergence is the original signal that technical traders depend on to derive results through trading out of the four mentioned signals. George Lane, the inventor of the Stochastic Oscillator, stated that only one signal is most reliable. That is the existing divergence between the price of the stock you are trading for and the %D-line.
In conclusion to this part, you should remember that, like any other trading tool, a Stochastic Oscillator will present results and readings in various ways. Still, not every piece of information that you see gives you a guarantee of being accurate. Hence, you must understand the importance of qualifying the signals that have high chances of being profitable.
How can you enhance the reliability of the Stochastic Oscillator?
The Stochastic Oscillator is famous and reliable in the technical trading market. However, you cannot trust all its signals because not all of them will create favorable results. Hence, to make the indicator a part of your trading strategy, you need to understand its nitty-gritty and how you can rule out the unreliable signals generated by the oscillator.
Furthermore, you can not rely solely on the Stochastic oscillator’s signals; you must combine its results with other trading tools and instruments to ensure accuracy.
Hence, to modify the reliability of a Stochastic Oscillator, you need to understand how to eliminate the shortcomings of the indicator. Here are some commonly used ways to do the same:
- Managing and altering periods for the change sensitivity.
- Increasing and decreasing overbought/oversold. The threshold limit is 85/15.
- Merge 2 Stochastic Oscillators.
- Combining the Stochastic oscillator with other tools and indicators.
Moving forward, we will discuss how you can implement these points onto your Stochastic indicator.
Managing and altering periods for the change sensitivity
That is the easiest and most prominent method to enhance the trustworthiness of a Stochastic Oscillator. It would help if you went to the settings option; the indicator will be set to find the %K-line for 14 trading sessions. However, you might also want to tweak the indicator’s sensitivity based on your trading preferences to solidify its reliability.
Here are some foundational rules on how you can tweak the sensitivity of Stochastic Oscillators by utilizing period input:
- More sessions– few in counting, but the signal becomes more robust. The default setting for trading the %K-line is 14 sessions, and the %D-line is found out by calculating and smoothing different periods. To increase the reliability of this indicator, you need to go to the setting and increase the number of sessions for the %K-line. However, this also entails that the frequency of signal production will take a hit.
- Fewer Periods- Signals will be responsive but increase the propensity for false signals too. There is always a scenario where you will need your indicator to showcase sensitivity for price changes than what is already decided by the default settings. In such cases, you can enhance the responsiveness of stochastic signals by reducing the number of sessions by %k. For example, you would desire your indicator to be more sensitive when day trading or scalping, which has a volatile nature.
You can also take another step that includes placing the slow and fast stochastic results with each other, comparing and contrasting the sensitivity, and evaluating the reliability of the signals.
They are increasing and decreasing overbought/oversold. The threshold limit is 85/15.
According to the default settings, a Stochastic reading beyond 80% indicates an overbought situation, while a reading below the 20% mark indicates the oversold condition.
With these default settings, you can operate in the trading market quite swiftly. However, if you want to enhance the preciseness of the oversold and overbought signals, you can take another more safe outlook.
To do so, you can modify the limit for the overbought signal from 80% to 85% while reducing the movement for oversold to 15%. In this way, you will limit the threshold for the indicator and amass better results as only the signals passing your criteria will be considered.
Though this strategy is famous for improving the reliability of the Stochastic indicator, you should keep in mind that your reliability will increase. However, you also stand to miss a plethora of profitable opportunities in the market. Hence, you should be prudent and learn to pull out of this conservative approach and move towards a more sustainable system.
Merging 2 Stochastic Oscillators
The other way to increase reliability is to take the conservative approach and find the direction of trade and a more open setting where you will determine trade entries. Here is how you can do this:
- The first step is to find the direction of your trade and minimize the unfortunate chances where the market can move in the direction contrary to your needs.
- The second step is the relaxed settings for establishing the trade entries, and hence you don’t miss out on any fruitful avenues.
While this method might look easy to follow in theory, applying it to your trade practice is not an easy task, more so for day traders or people who trade in a small time frame. The reason is, when you are trading every day frequently in real-time, tweaking settings all the time will be agitating, and you might also find yourself losing out on good opportunities. Hence, to overcome this problem, you can use 2 Stochastic Oscillators setup on the trading chart to reach your trading goals.
One of these indicators can be conservative, which you can use to establish the price trend direction. The other Stochastic Oscillator will have a relaxed setting that will help find the best time to exit or enter a trade.
In this combination of 2 Stochastic Oscillators, what setting you keep depends on various factors like the class to which the asset belongs, the volatility, etc. To hit the sweet spot in this setup, you need to rely on experimentation and hit and trial methods. However, you can start with a 21-period conservative approach and an 11-period relaxed approach to meet your goals in the trading market.
Can I use Stochastic and RSI together?
Yes, you can use RSI and Stochastic Indicators together. Additionally, there is RSI Stochastic Indicator, and we wrote a review about it.
As mentioned earlier, the Stochastic Oscillator is a valuable tool if used with other instruments and indicators. Still, if you use it as the sole detector of beneficial changes in the market, it will not be as effective. Hence, your best take is to combine it with different technical tools.
Here is a list of several tools that you can use with Stochastic Oscillator and complement the same most effectively and make it more reliable.
- RSI or Relative Strength Index
- Candlestick pattern
- Support and resistance
Now, let’s discuss how these tools work and how they can be used with the Stochastic oscillator.
RSI or Relative Strength Index and Stochastic Oscillator
Like the Stochastic Oscillator, the RSI is used to establish an asset’s oversold and overbought situation in the trading market.
Even though the purpose of both these indicators is the same, the calculations and methods for determining oversold and overbought situations aren’t.
You can use the readings of RSI as a green signal for the trading signals given by the Stochastic indicator and thus increase the definitive chances of profits from a trade.
When the readings of the RSI coincide with the indications of the Stochastic indicator, you can be assured that you are making the right choice and you have a high success probability.
Candlestick Patterns and Stochastic Oscillator
Candlestick patterns are one the most commonly used forecasting tools in technical analysis. Candlesticks are of various types. However, on a higher level, everything is assimilated into two categories-
- Reversal candlestick patterns
- Continuation candlestick patterns
Now, we will discuss these patterns in detail so that you can leverage them to improve the reliability of your Stochastic indicator readings.
Reversal candlestick pattern and Stochastic Oscillator
This is candlestick pattern is handy in determining the upcoming price trend and whether there will be a reversal for the security. When the status of these patterns coincides with the readings of the overbought and oversold situation by Stochastic Oscillator, it hunts towards a strong propensity for a reversal in the trend. Hence, the Reversal Candlestick pattern acts as a verification source for doing reversal trading.
Continuation candlestick pattern
This candlestick pattern represents its function from its name only. Sticking to its name, a Continuation Candlestick pattern works to trace the continuation pattern in the market. In simple languages, it finds out if the trend will sustain or not. Hence, if you are intrigued by reversal trade by analysis through Candlestick pattern, and witness a continuation candlestick pattern, move away from that trade as it is risky.
On the other hand, if your Stochastic reading is directing you towards a trade, you can consider the continuation candlestick pattern as a confirmation sign to trade in that stock.
Support & Resistance
The Support & Reversal are the points on the price chart where the probability of a trend’s reversal is prominent. These are the indicators of supply and demand for assets or stock in the market.
For instance, when the price falls near the support point, and the market is brimming with demand, the traders will enter profusely, rising further. In the same way, when the asset’s price hits the resistance point, the traders will hurry and sell their security to gain profits and lead to a fall in prices.
Hence, if the Stochastic reading has overbought and oversold situation collide with the Resistance and Support level, it is a sign that a reversal is imminent in the market. Hence, you will be motivated to trade in reverse once you combine the results of Support and Resistance and the Stochastic indicator.
Way to trade through the Stochastic Oscillator
Now that you have comprehended the calculations, construction, types, and confluence of different tools with the Stochastic Oscillator, you have to implement them and trade in the market prudently.
The Stochastic Oscillator is compatible with different trading strategies, but the following two methods work exceptionally well.
- Overbought/Oversold trading strategy.
- Divergence trading strategy
You can easily read the oscillator’s signals, but these strategies will help you evaluate those results and make beneficial decisions. So, let’s understand these strategies one by one.
Divergence trading strategy
Divergence means the scenarios when signals from the Stochastic Oscillator or any other indicator disunite from the actual price action on the chart.
Put, if the asset’s price is rising even after a high stride. Still, the indicator differs and has shown the lines below the previous reading; this nonalignment of the current actual price and indicator is termed the divergence. Similarly, if the price goes down after still being low, but the Stochastic reading differs, it is still termed as divergence.
To sum up, divergence is the gesture the momentum in the market is weakening, and it is considered a pre-sign of reversal. Hence, it is an invaluable asset in determining reversal trades.
We will now discuss how you can use Stochastic Oscillators to define take-profit targets, trade entries, and stop-losses through this strategy.
Establishing trade entry
To find a trade entry through the Stochastic Oscillator with the Divergence trading strategy, you should understand how to determine the divergence on a price chart with the help of the oscillator.
For the Stochastic Oscillator, you will use the %D-line to determine the divergence between the actual price and the oscillator reading. For instance, when the %D of the Stochastic Oscillator is going in opposition to the price action line, it is the confirmation of DIvergence on the price chart.
To indulge in divergence trading through the Stochastic indicator, you need to look out for the following two signals:
- The bearish signal, which is prominent in the bull market. This signal appears when asset prices are at their peak, then they go low, then again come to high peaks. The %D-line dips and goes down more than the first peak. This is an indication to sell as there is the possibility of a downtrend in the market.
- The bullish signal is prominent in the bear market. When the security’s price is going low, there is a short bullish rally, and then the price goes even lower. Considered when the %D-line does a low rally and then reaches a higher low. This recommends the trade to buy as there will be an uptrend.
To follow both signals, you should wait until the oscillator signal diverges beyond the 80% resistance mark on the Y-axis or the 20% support mark on the same axis. After you spot the divergence signal, you need to wait until %D is within the boundary of regular trading, i.e., 21% to 79%, and then trade.
Leaps and bounds can further enhance the validity of your trade entry by amalgamating other trading tools like support and resistance, candlestick patterns, etc., along with the Divergence trading strategy.
Hence, technical analysis would always be beneficial to trade according to the divergence signs and other techniques to get the best results.
Establishing a stop-loss target
Divergence is considered a sure shot sign for determining the decreasing momentum and the upcoming reversal in the price action. However, the timing for the reverse is often not present or is blurry.
When the momentum is slowing down, the trend can still keep going in its direction, which can drown those traders who bet on a future reversal in trend with huge losses. Hence, risk management is an indispensable tool for any trading strategy and the divergence trading strategy.
The stop-loss points can be set up at fixed prices and not on oscillator’s reading points because the latter is present in percentage and not monetary terms. Hence, if you want to establish the stop loss points under this strategy, you need to focus on signals from tools other than the Stochastic Oscillator.
Here are examples of the tools which you can use for determining the stop loss under the Divergence strategy:
- Fibonacci retracement and extension: This tool is similar in some terms to the Support and Resistance technique. Different levels are determined with the help of Fibonacci numbers, and by the Support and Resistance, it also determines points where the possibility for reversal is the highest. Hence, based on the trade direction, you can fix the stop loss point beyond or below the Fibonacci Retracement or Extension point that cuts close to your trade entry point.
- Support and Resistance: The support and Resistance point indicates high chances of a reversal in the market. Hence, when trading in a bullish market with a divergence strategy, your stop-loss point will be below the nearest support level. While in the case of bearish trading, the stop-loss point will be above the closest resistance level.
Additionally, trailing stop loss also works efficiently to manage divergence trades for the price increase and when the asset gains more momentum in the current direction.
Establishing a profit target
You can establish your profit target in several ways through the take Divergence trading strategy.
- When taking a conservative approach towards trading, it is recommended to exit divergence trades if you want to gain after the %D-line comes to the 50% mark because the 50% mark on the Stochastic scale determines that the momentum is neutral.
- If you take an aggressive approach to trading, you need to exit the trade in the bullish market after the %D-line crosses 80% points on the Stochastic indicator.
You can also consider signals from complementing tools and techniques like Support and Resistance to establish the take profit points.
Overbought/Oversold trading strategy
This is the most commonly used trading strategy in a technical trading realm that traders rely on using the Stochastic oscillator.
As we stated before when the %D or %K-line moves beyond the 80% mark and below the 20% market, the asset is overbought and oversold. These two situations are early signs of either a reversal or correction in the trends of the price. And the overbought and oversold strategy works on this principle.
Additionally, you should keep in mind that just like the Divergence trading strategy, the overbought/oversold approach also gives out excellent results when combined with other trading methods and instruments. Hence, you always recommend using a Stochastic indicator with different strategies and making your decisions based on multiple readings.
Now, let’s find out how you can set the enter and exit point and leverage this strategy to harbor profits from trading.
Establishing trade entry
In the Overbought/Oversold strategy, you sell short or sell when the asset is overbought and trade in the bullish market when the asset is oversold.
Here is how you can enter trade under this trading strategy:
- If the %D-line goes below the 80% point, you will short-sell the security, as it indicates the market’s downtrend. For validation, you should wait until the %K-line goes below the %D-line before you trade in the market through this strategy.
- If the %D-line moves beyond the 20% mark, you should enter the long or bullish trade because it defines an uptrend. However, if you are hesitant because of the risk involved, you should wait until the %K-line crosses the %D-line.
In conclusion, this strategy works wonders when used along with other complementary trading strategies and the Divergence trading strategy. Hence, your goal is not to use this strategy in isolation and cross-check the results with additional tools for trading success.
Determining stop-loss target
When the Stochastic indicator rises beyond 80% and falls below the 80 mark, a technical trader involved in the Oversold/Overbought strategy takes a short trading position under the impression that those prices will soon fall.
On the other hand, if this situation does not occur, and the %D-line goes above 80% mark points, the trader should exit the trade to prevent losses.
In the same manner, after you do a bullish trade entry, and you don’t see any sign of reversals and the %D-line goes below 20%, it is a signal that you should exit the trade to avoid losses.
Establishing a profit target
You can follow multiple paths in the Oversold/Overbought trading strategy to set up the profit target. To achieve this objective, you can use the readings from the Stochastic indicator in isolation or combine them with the signals of other technical analyses.
Here are the two methods you can use to step up these profit levels through the combination of the Stochastic indicator and the overbought/oversold strategy.
- Irrespective of the buying or selling or buying status, you should exit the trade to accumulate profits if the %D-line reaches the 50% mark. The 50 mark is a point of neutral movement and is a good point for booking profits for risk-avoiding traders.
- If you are a trader who loves to take chances on a trade, you should exit a trade when the %D-line is near the oversold region and exit the bullish trade at the point when the %D-line is in the overbought scenario that will bring you profits.
Moreover, you can also use other technical tools to find the take profit target through this strategy. Some of these tools are:
- Pivot points
- Chart patterns
- Candlestick patterns
- Fibonacci retracement and extension levels
How to day trade with the Stochastic indicator?
Day trading has become the cherished career of many after the emergence of apps like Acorns and Robinhood and the rising popularity of apps by Fidelity and Charles Schwab.
When using oscillators for day trading, the first and foremost consideration is that you need to set the periods for a shorter span.
In the case of the Stochastic oscillator, you must set up fewer periods, majorly with five, seven, ten highs, and lows instead of the regular 14 for calculation of %K. This will trigger fluctuation in the Stochastic indicator readings and reveal more trading opportunities that might pass you by.
Furthermore, even the price chart should be set at a short measure, price changes, and intra-day, when you want to sell and buy securities on the same day.
The most practiced day trading strategy in the Stochastic Oscillator is to spot the trading signals on the weekly chart and then assess the daily chart. If this signal is still on the chart, you move to 4-hours, then hourly, and go as low as 15 mins. If you see the movement in each graph, it is a sign to enter the trade with the help of a Stochastic indicator.
Pros and Cons of Stochastic Oscillator
Even though it is a reliable tool, the Stochastic Oscillator is not immune to all drawbacks. It has its own unique set of pros and cons that every trader should know about.
Hence, to use the Stochastic Oscillator judiciously, you need to understand these advantages and disadvantages and amalgamate them into the trading strategy. So here is the list of the same.
Pros of Stochastic Oscillator
Read below to find the key areas where the Stochastic indicator excels:
- It is moderately easy to merge the Stochastic Oscillator with your trading strategy.
- The signals from the Stochastic Oscillator are easier to understand, assess and evaluate.
- Divergence signals can also be extracted from Stochastic indicators. If you express it accurately, you can acquire surety in identifying reversals.
- The stochastic indicator also helps find out the overbought and oversold situation in the market and allows traders to make prudent decisions.
Cons of Stochastic oscillator
Read below to find the areas where the Stochastic indicator faces drawbacks:
- If the market is highly fluctuating, the Stochastic indicator produces false signals.
- The Stochastic Oscillator is visually more complex as compared to other tools and indicators like RSI.
- If you only rely on the results of the Stochastic oscillator and do not combine it with other tools, you will not get authentic answers.
Conclusion
The Stochastic Oscillator is a reliable technical indicator with the primary goal of finding if a security is overbought or oversold and is prominent in the technical trading realm. Even if you are not a frequent user of this tool, it is helpful to know how to construct, calculate and implement the device into your trading strategies.
Stochastic indicators easily find out where the momentum is going and if there is a possibility of a reversal in the market. Hence, facilitating you with insights to find the troughs and peaks in the bull or bear market.
It is a great tool when combined with other technical devices and techniques. Still, one cannot voice for 200% assured results if this indicator is used without any auxiliaries to support the conclusions. Hence, you should be aware of the tools that can boost the Stochastic oscillator findings.
At last, no matter what type of trade you are interested in, research, experimentation, and exploration with the Stochastic Oscillator are the integrated parts of a successful trading session that meets your trading needs. Of course, if you are not clear about your conduct, you should consult an investment expert or broker before indulging in any capital or fundamental technical trading.
He is an expert in financial niche, long-term trading, and weekly technical levels.
The primary field of Igor's research is the application of machine learning in algorithmic trading.
Education: Computer Engineering and Ph.D. in machine learning.
Igor regularly publishes trading-related videos on the Fxigor Youtube channel.
To contact Igor write on:
igor@forex.in.rs
