Support and resistance levels

Support and resistance levels are used in many FOREX trading strategies. 'Support' refers to the price level that is repeatedly seen as the bottom – when the price reaches this level it tends to rise. Resistance levels are upper prices that the currency rarely trades beyond. Support and resistance levels contain price movements for a period of time.

When currency prices break through support or resistance levels, the prices are expected to continue in that direction. For example, if the price rises above the previous resistance level, it is seen as bullish – the price should continue to rise.

To find support and resistance levels, price charts need to be analyzed for unbroken support and resistance levels. Charts can be analyzed in any time frame; however longer time frames establish more important support/resistance levels. Traders can use support/resistance levels to determine when to enter or exit a transaction.

Moving averages are another common tool in FOREX strategies. The simple moving average (SMA) shows the average price in a given period of time over a specified period of time. Moving averages serve to eliminate short term price fluctuations giving a clearer picture of price movements. FOREX traders can plot a SMA to determine when prices have a tendency to rise or fall. If prices cross above the SMA they have a tendency to keep on rising. Conversely, prices below the SMA have a tendency to continue their downward motion.