Understanding Indicators and Analysis of Stocks Trading 

Stock markets fluctuate, and if you plan on trading, you need to understand multiple technical indicators and how to analyze them properly. Below is a list of indicators that every trader should know about. 

Indicators and Analysis for Stocks Trading and Investments 

Technical indicators consider a stock’s historical price and volume, and use calculations based on this data. Some of the most popular indicators include: 

Trend Indicators 

Trending market conditions are important to analyze because you can learn to trade in a trend direction. Using the simple moving average (SMA), you can determine if a trend is up or down based on a positive or negative curve, respectively. 

You can also use what is known as the exponential moving average (EMA) as an indicator, and it’s most common to buy: 

• During a dip that is close to the EMA 
• When the price is less than the EMA 

Additionally, you’ll need to learn about the average directional movement index and other measurements to master trend indicators. 

Volume Indicators 

Volume has a few general rules to follow, such as: 

• Trend direction strengthens when volume increases 
• Trend direction falls on declining volumes 
• Peak highs during exceptionally high volumes are often a point of reversal 

On balance volume (OBV) is a very important measurement that shows buying and selling pressure. The OBV remains important because when peaks aren’t made, the trend that the stock is on is likely to fall or at least flatten. 

Positive and negative divergence can be determined when you focus on volume indicators.  

However, there is also the money flow index, which shows the amount of money that goes into and out of an asset during a specific period of time. If the index is in the 20 or below territory, this is an indicator of the stock being overloaded. 

Adversely, the stock is overbought when levels reach 80 or above. 

You’ll also want to learn about accumulation and distribution, as they’re key indicators tied to volume. 

Momentum Indicators 

Momentum alerts you to a stock’s trend strength. When you analyze momentum indicators, you’ll look for: 

• Rate of change 
• Oscillation 

For example, rapid price increases can lead to strong momentum for a stock. When learning this key indicator, you’ll also want to spend time learning about the average directional index, MACD and relative strength index. 

Volatility Indicators 

Volatility considers the price change for a stock for a specific period of time. If you purchase a stock with low volatility, the price doesn’t change much. In this case, you may want to buy and hold the stock for the long term.  

However, if you’re a day trader, you can leverage volatility to buy low and sell high. 

If you use indicators and analysis in your stock trading, you’ll have greater insights into a stock and whether you should buy or sell it. There’s a lot to digest, and you’ll need to learn how to read charts properly. However, it’s important for anyone who is stock trading to understand these fundamentals before trading stocks. 

It will take time to master these indicators, but knowing what they are will help you conduct your first stock analysis with greater accuracy.