I
was often asked the question: what is the best time frame for a swing
trader?
Truly,
the best swing trading time frame
is
relative to each trader. However, most
beginner swing traders only use the daily chart. Nevertheless, as those new swing
traders begin to gain more experience, they abandon the daily chart, and switch to
the weekly
chart. Truly, it is better to be a weekly chart swing trader.
Furthermore, a
professional swing trader should be able to swing trade on any time
frame higher or equal to the daily chart. Moreover, the key to a successful swing
trading is to know how to combine the top-down trading method, and trading
triangle. A swing trader should endeavour to master the different times frame
trading method. Surely, by mastering the top-down trading method, a swing trader
can compete with more experience technical traders in the financial markets without
losing his shirt.
What
Is Your preferred Swing Trading
Time
Frame.
Without
doubt it has to be the monthly chart. My first preference before the
weekly
chart is the monthly chart. One may say that: so you do not swing trade on the daily
chart? Surely, I do, but I like to use moving averages on the daily chart in conjunction
with the monthly
chart key levels.
One
can also argue that there is no such thing like best swing trading
time frame, but
only one own best swing trading time frame.
Yes,
it all comes down to what time frame one is using more
successfully.
So
I will argue that one should try various higher time frame until one.
identifies
the
most reliable and profitable time frame.
One
should
always remember the
first two important things for a profitable swing
trading are the top-down trading method and trading triangle.
Why
Am
I More Of A Monthly
Chart Swing
Trader?
I
like the monthly chart because it helps to check on the daily and
yearly charts swing
traders. Indeed, the signal time frame for the monthly chart is the daily chart. So there
is a high chance when the monthly chart swing trading signal is activated on the daily
chart, some daily chart swing traders will use that signal as a swing trading set-up.
Furthermore, the monthly chart is also the signal time frame for the yearly chart traders.
In every case, if my monthly chart trading set-up coincides with the yearly chart position
traders' signal, they too will be getting ready to enter a position trade. Both yearly and
daily charts technical swing traders are effectively helping the monthly chart swing traders.
Therefore, those are few reasons why I prefer the monthly chart. Nevertheless, that does
not make the monthly chart the only best time frame for swing trading.
Do
You Only
Swing
Trade The
Monthly
Chart?
Not
all. I can swing trade on the daily, weekly, quarterly and yearly
charts.
Once,
one has mastered the different times frame trading, one is free to
select one own
best swing trading time frame. It is all down to your trading style, and what is working
best for you after testing various swing trading strategies on
different times frame.
Should
One Swing Trade On The Daily Chart?
Yes,
but one must always connect the daily chart to the higher time frames
(preferably
the monthly chart) by using daily moving averages, and higher times frame' key levels
and channels. We will be talking about how to connect the daily chart to the higher time
frames on YouTube or in another article.
Reason
why many swing traders do fail
1/
The first reason is because they think it is easy to swing trade, but
the reality is far from
it. As a swing trader, one must master how to combine the top-down trading and trading
triangle.
It
is not
as
easy as many may think.
2/
The second reason is because most new swing traders do not give
themselves enough
time to master how to swing trade.
Give
yourself enough
time
to learn how to combine different times frame
trading
and trading
triangle. For one trader, it may take up to six months, but another swing trader may take nine
months, a year or more. The question is are you ready? Have you mastered swing trading like
a pro?
If
not, do not be discouraged. Continue to improve steadily.
3/
The third reason is that many
traders are truly day traders, but they believe
that
they could
do better as a swing trader.
Are
you
a
typical day trader or swing trader? Do you make more better trading
decisions when
day trading than swing trading? Those are the
questions one should honestly answer.
4/
The fourth
reason is because many times a new swing will repeat the same old
swing trading
errors without knowing or doing anything about it. Are you in that situation? Start doing
something about it.
Always
review every trade, and most importantly, the losing ones. Note down
the
mistakes, and
find out the best way to fix them. Upgrade your ability to swing trade bit by bit by handling past
weaknesses.
Apart
from those
reasons,
one should
also learn
how to set stop-loss correctly
as a swing trader
or use put and call options for swing trading. Also be sure there is enough money to fund the swing
trade. Take the correct step to manage your swing trades. Do not place too many swing trades at
once if you are still learning. Like a
farmer
checks
the seasons before he
sows a
seed, align your swing trading strategy with the
market environment.
Other
Weird Swing Trading
Times
Frame
Professional
swing traders that dislike the daily chart use instead 2-day or 3-day
charts. The
TC-2000 trading software allows swing traders to use
2-day and 3-day chart.
Other
swing traders also use 2-week or 3-week chart instead of the weekly
chart.
Those
who do not want to use the monthly chart use 4-week chart because a
normal monthly
chart may be formed of five weeks (week as five days
week instead of seven).
What Usually Happens?
A
typical swing trader usually begins
to swing trade on the daily chart because he does not yet
grasp the multiple view points chart analysis ( or chart analysis from different angles). Therefore,
he is happy with the daily chart for now. However, as he or she is understanding more what swing
trading like a pro is all about, he begins to check the weekly chart though he is still using the daily
chart swing trading set-ups. He is maturing like a child that is growing without noticing it. During
that learning curve, his eyes start opening more widely, he can see clearly and spot better trading
opportunities on the weekly chart. Consequently, he or she will say something like this: I would
rather use the weekly chart instead of daily. From now on, he will be looking for swing trading
set-ups on the weekly chart. Then one day, he wonders what is a top down trading method. He
thought it would be amazing to connect multiple or different times frame. In the end, he switches
to the monthly chart because he can now connect the monthly, daily and hourly chart like a
professional trader. Now the sky is the limit, nothing can stop him or her any more. He is turning into
a fully fledged swing trader, and
he knows it.
The final thing that one will find is that it does not matter whether one is using daily, weekly or monthly
chart for swing trading purposes, but how one is timing the financial markets by combining different
times frame trading method and trading triangle.
After
all, one question
remains.
What
is your best swing trading time frame and why?