Importance of Support and Resistance in Trading

Support and Resistance are very important to a Technical Analyst or a Trader when planning for a trade.You,as a trader or technical analyst,should never undermine the significance of these two aspects of the trading plan and you should be very clear of these two levels before you enter a trade.Support and Resistance are your entry and exit levels for a long trade and vice versa for short trade.Moreover,prior knowledge of Support and Resistance brings much needed discipline in trading which is an important step for you to become a successful trader.When you are aware of these levels,you know when to take profits in case of profitable trade and to exit the loosing trade when your stop-loss gets triggered.These levels are formed as a result of popular notion of Technical Analysis

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                                                               " History Repeats Itself "

Let us understand what is a Support and Resistance and how they are important for your trading plan;

Support Line

Support :- Support is a price level which corresponds to the demand of the security in the market.So it is the price level at which there are lots of buyers to buy that security.A stock falling to lower levels stops at a price levels which may reflect its fair value at that time and starts rising again.When the stock again falls after rising,it tends to stop at the price level where it stopped previously and buyers start emerging in anticipation of price again.When the buyers outnumber the sellers,price stops falling and either consolidates there or rebounds,thus confirming the Support for that security.

More the number of times stock rebounds from that price level,more strong the Support becomes.These levels remain in the mind of markets,so even if the stock visits that level after months or years have passed,that levels is expected to provide Support to the falling stock.

It is not that every time stock visits that levels,it will bounce back.It may or may not.If the selling pressure is too high like in situations of weak sentiment or panic,these support levels give away and the stock falls to lower price levels after piercing the Support.Break down from the Support becomes more significant when it happens with high ( more than normal average ) volumes.

Usually the support line are drawn straight horizontal lines on the charts of the security or stock.A rising Trend line made by joining the lowest points in a particular time period also act as Support and can be taken into consideration while starting a trade.

Importance of Support :- If a falling stock takes support at the Support line,traders may consider buying the stock in anticipation of price appreciation.On the other hand,if a stock breaks important Support levels,traders can short sell the stock and go short.

Resistance Line

Resistance :- Resistance is the price levels of the security or a stock which corresponds to the supply of that stock in market.It is opposite to Support.It is the price level where sellers outnumber the buyers in the market.A stock which is rising, may stop at the Resistance line and retrace back to lower level.Whenever the stock will rise towards Resistance line,sellers will start emerging,stalling the price rise.More the number of times stock retraces from Resistance,more strong the Resistance.

Whenever the momentum of price rise is strong in the stock and buyer are more aggressive than the sellers,stock will break above the Resistance line after piercing it and enters new territory which becomes new trading level for it.As in case of Support,a falling Trend line made by joining the highest points is also expected to provide good Resistance.

Importance of Resistance :- A trader who is long in trade should consider taking profit when stock reaches near the Resistance levels and also can short sell or go short at the Resistance line.Remember,shorting should be done only below Resistance line.

It is worth mentioning that after breakout from the Resistance line,this line becomes the Support for the stock and in case of breakdown from the Support line,this line becomes the new Resistance line for the stock.So it can be traded accordingly by the traders.

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