Product Description

John J. Murphy has now updated his landmark bestseller Technical Analysis of the Futures Markets, to include all of the financial markets.

"If one could read only one book on technical analysis, this should be the one." --Knight-Ridder Financial Products and News (on the first edition, Technical Analysis of the Futures Markets, 0-13-898008-X)

This outstanding reference has already taught thousands of traders the concepts of technical analysis and their application in the futures and stock markets. Covering the latest developments in computer technology, technical tools, and indicators, the second edition features new material on candlestick charting, intermarket relationships, stocks and stock rotation, plus state-of-the-art examples and figures. From how to read charts to understanding indicators and the crucial role technical analysis plays in investing, readers gain a thorough and accessible overview of the field of technical analysis, with a special emphasis on futures markets. Revised and expanded for the demands of today's financial world, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in tracking and analyzing market behavior.

"One way to get started in technical analysis is to read a good book on the subject. One of my favorites is Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications by John J. Murphy. It's an easy read." Ralph J. Acampora, CMT, Managing Director, Prudential Securities Inc.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12848 in Books
• Published on: 1999-01-04
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.71" h x 7.46" w x 9.60" l, 2.87 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 576 pages

About the Author
John J. Murphy is President of MURPHYMORRIS, Inc., a producer of interactive educational products for technical analysis. A former technical analyst for CNBC and director of Merrill Lynch's Technical Analysis Futures Division, he is the author of The Visual Investor and Intermarket Technical Analysis.

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Customer Reviews

An excellent reference - well worth the investment
It is entirely possible to spend more time reading trading books than doing any actual trading. This is one of the few books that will remain on my bookshelf and I highly recommend it FOR WHAT IT IS INTENDED - an excellent reference on technical analysis (TA).

What I was looking for was something to provide clear, concise descriptions on various technical indicators across all types - trend analysis, price patterns, candles, oscillators, etc. And Murphy not only does this well, but his work provides enough information that I do not see the need for another book on TA on my bookshelf, even though I know that other very good books are available (e.g. Pring). But this one is enough for me. It is well organized and indexed so that I can rapidly look up something while I am setting up trades and get the basic info that I need.

One surprise was how well written the book was and how much I enjoyed reading it. I expected a dry reference book but instead found an excellent and engaging read, perhaps with the exception of the chapter on point and figure which was not up to the rest of the book. (If you are completely new to TA, you might find it less entertaining, but in comparison to the dry tome that I expected when the monster-sized book arrived, Murphy is remarkable in his ability to convert most TA topics and examples into 'normal' English.) He also is not a proponent or zealot about any one indicator type, which I appreciate. He does a good job of describing each within the context of its value without trying to convert anyone to any specific indicator. As I do not believe in magic bullets in trading, I appreciate his straightforward approach.

Let me also note what this book is NOT so that you do not buy it for the wrong reasons:

a) As you should gather from the above, this is not a trading system. Murphy will not tell you which indicators to use most or in which combinations to produce the best results. He will provide insight into many indicators and classes of indicators but he is NOT trying to convince you to use any specific indicator in any specific way. So he doesn't try to convince you of WHAT to use, just helps you understand WHEN, WHY and HOW each indicator type is used by various traders.

b) Also, this is NOT intended to be the complete, in depth statement on any of the topics covered. For example, his section on Candlestick formations is simple, clear and includes many examples, but it is undoubtedly not the same as picking up Nison's works on Candlesticks. Similarly, you can find many books dedicated to Elliot Waves, Fibonaccis and other topics. Murphy provides the basics, but do not expect as thorough an explanation or justification as a dedicated book would provide. Then again, expect a dedicated book to try and convince you why its particular system or method is so much better than any other, something that Murphey will not try to do to you!

c) Finally, this book is NOT intended to convert people who do not accept TA into believers. Frankly, it is much easier to get most people to accept that `fundamental analysis' affects a stock's value and price, but it is harder for most to understand and accept that simply analyzing the stock's price and related indicators can predict future moves. Murphy's opening chapters include some simple basic background on TA, but verbal explanations have limited value in convincing a pure `fundamentalist' that properly used technical analysis works. The only way to break down this barrier, IMO, is simply to learn and use various indicators for a while to begin seeing how predictive they can be. Murphy does not try to convert - he simply provides a learning reference. From there, anyone using TA needs to practice to become proficient.

So, in summary, I highly recommend buying this book for what it is intended to be - a reference book on technical analysis. It does this job excellently.

Technically speaking, one should buy this book
Investing isn't easy. Investing profitably is even harder. As a result, investors are always looking for that `angle', that `edge' that will help them realize more consistent profits.

In the past 2 decades, many on Wall Street have come to believe that technical analysis of stock charts is one of those tools. Having worked in the financial services markets since 1987, I do believe that technical analysis can be a helpful tool. And if you are looking for a definitive source of TA, then look no further.

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets by John Murphy covers all the basic aspects of TA: philosophy, chart construction, fundamental vs. technical analysis, trends, major technical pattern recognition, moving averages, oscillators, times cycles, computer trading systems and much more. He also covers different methods of charting, including bar, point and figure and candlestick (be aware that most of the analysis techniques he presents apply to bar charting, not PnF or candlestick).

What I like most about the book is that it written clearly, simply and logically. It uses many graphical examples that SHOWS the reader what to look for. It does not rage on about the merits of TA (which many investors feel is complete hooey) but how to apply basic (and sophisticated) TA techniques. I use TA frequently in my business and find that it helps me manage my client's portfolios more effectively, especially when it comes to SELLING a position, whether to lock-in gains or limit losses.

If you are a TA convert, or if you have an interest in learning more about it, this book is a useful guide and should be purchased. Today, it remains one of the few investment reference books that I keep in my office.

Bible of Technical Analysis.
This is by far one of the best sources on Technical Analysis that one
can be lucky enough to find. Mr. Murphy has a clear and simple way of
conveying the subject to us.

The book starts off with the
Philosophy behind Technical Trading, Dow Theory, chart construction,
then moves onto the basic concepts of Trend, and General Patterns,
Moving Averages, Oscillators, Japanese Candlesticks, Time Cycles,
Money Management, and eventually leads onto a Checklist.

What I
like about Mr. Murphy is his way of showing and proving a point. Let
me digress here to show you what I mean: Say you had a daughter and
wanted to show her how to figure out the area of an Isosceles
triangle. Well, you could tell her to memorize that it is
base*height/2. Or if you really wanted her to learn it thoroughly you
can show her how to draw a parallel line to the height, then join the
ends to make a nice rectangle. Then to compute the area of a rectangle
just multiply the two sides, one being the height, the other being
half the base. She will then "derive" this and
"understand" how they got the formula. You see, then she can
compute the area under a hexagon or a tetrahedron or any complex
object.

Well, Mr. Murphy will show us the same way and
"derive" for us concepts such as how a resistance line later
becomes a support line! The reson for this is so amusing that after
one reads about it we just go "wow..."" Now I understand why
this occurs". You will see how Trend is the most important
concept in this field, how some indicators are trend following and why
at other times we need other indicators for sideway markets. You will
see how a Moving Average is nothing but a dynamically updated
trendline. You will see examples of all kinds of charts, indicators,
and explanations. Everything is derived and it is this derivation that
makes this book stand out.

Chapter 16 is an important one to pay
attention to called "Money Management and Trading
Tactics". You see, the tactic behind every action has a great
significance in its outsome. I'd say this is half the game, knowing
how much to devote to a trade and what to risk and how much to
risk. If we lose the "base money", which is the money we use
to trade, then the game will be over, so we better be careful about
what percentage to use for a trade and what to do with the profits
and/or losses. You need to make rules and stick to them that suits
your style, here's when the discipline saves you.

I used to make
fun of Technical Analysis and did not believe in it, but after having
read this book and seeing it live in action, I think this is the only
way to signal important events that are about to happen, and the best
thing about it is that the chart reading that applies to a 10 year or
a 1 year charts, also applies to the intra-day charts! This is good
for everybody from day traders to the people who do this for a second
income. You can go on to your daily life, check that things are in
order at night and all indicators are in place and know that your
portfolio is in order and on track! ....

Good Luck! Steve.

Product Description

A simple, straightforward guide to the fundamentals of technical analysis

For active traders and investors who don't understand the complicated art of technical analysis, this commonsense resource covers all the bases. Explaining the basic principles of analysis and showing how to implement them, Technical Analysis For Dummies dumps the confusing jargon and unreadable charts for basic explanations and practical guidance. In no time at all, readers will see how to make better trading decisions.

Barbara Rockefeller (Stamford, CT) is one of the foremost authorities on technical analysis and founder of Rockefeller Treasury Services.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15422 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780764540448
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

From the Back Cover
The tools to perform your own analysis -- and beat the market

Study the data, measure your risk, and win in the market!

Sick of losing in the market? Tired of relying on other people’s investment advice? Don’t worry! Technical Analysis For Dummies is the smart way to get on a winning track. This straightforward, non-intimidating guide explains the principles of technical analysis and provides tools you need to develop guidelines you can trust -- your own.

Praise for Technical Analysis For Dummies

"Barbara Rockefeller shows that technical analysis works without math and formulas. Her back-to-basics approach is practical and comprehensive . . . This is a great way to learn technical analysis, or a valuable review of how we should trade."
-- Perry Kaufman, author of "Trading Systems and Methods" and "A Short Course in Technical Trading"

"This book is written in a clear, concise, no-nonsense style with lots of common-sense ideas . . ."
-- Martin J. Pring, President of pring.com, Editor Intermarket Review

Discover how to:

• Identify the trends
• Improve your timing
• Never take a big loss again
• Plan the trade from start to finish
• Treat trading and investing as a business
• Learn when to sell

About the Author
Barbara Rockefeller is one of the world’s foremost authorities on technical analysis and is the author of two newsletters and three popular books, including CNBC 24/7 Trading: Around the Clock, Around the World and The Global Trader.

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Customer Reviews

THE Book to Start With If You Want to Really Learn Technical Analysis
Fortunately for me, this was one of the first books that I bought when I began learning technical analysis. This is probably the best book I own which touches on virtually every aspect of the subject. It is clearly written, and you can certainly read it even if you know nothing. Beleive me, we have all been there. And technical analysis can seem overwhelming when you begin.
My copy of this book is worn, is thoroughly underlined, and I have marked the most important pages. I still refer to it. If you want to get your money's worth, believe me, you should buy this book!

Great Manual to The Markets
If you want to learn how to read the markets BUY THIS BOOK! I have been in the financial markets since '93 and have read dozens of books on technical analysis; I just wish this one was out ten years ago- because I would have saved myself a ton of time.

This book is so simple to understand yet extremely insightful, I call it the "manual to the markets", because its methodologies are explained in detail and applicable to ALL markets. I trade currencies and now use a lot of Barbara's techniques. My favorite chapter is chapter 11 "Transforming Channels into Forecasts".

If you are like me and need to know what the market is trying to tell you then this book is for you. A lot of books out there are heavy on math and light on descriptive illustration this one is the opposite, I cannot stress how easy this book is to digest...If you're a veteran or a newbie to the markets you'll be quite pleased with this one.

Comprehensive Yet Concise
Ms Rockefeller has accomplished a difficult task. Take a broad topic and cover it in a comprehensive and concise manner. The author is a true professional and it shines through out her book from cover to cover. I have a small library of books on technical analysis. However, this is one book I pick up to re-read again and again. She gives a sense of realistic expectations one can rely upon technical analysis for and how to integrate the discipline into one's trading plan. The pros and con's of each aspect of technical analysis is discussed and highlighted. The material flows logically in clear easy to understand manner. This is an indication of an author who truly understands and has practiced the craft and communicates it effectively. I whole heartedly recommend this book.

Product Description

Chart Patterns gives traders the first step toward applying charting, one of the oldest and most widely used tools in the market. Once a trader learns to recognize the patterns in charts,charting becomes a truly powerful technical analysis tool. Flags, head-and-shoulder patterns, double bottoms, and more are detailed to help the trader know when a breakout is coming or when a trend is continuing. The Bloomberg Market Essentials: Technical Analysis series covers the key elements of technical analysis tools, bringing traders quickly up to speed on each method—what it is, how it works, and how to use it.

"Price is a fact. And price leaves patterns. This wonderful book will give the reader insights into what investors are really doing by identifying and following their buying and selling patterns. Learn about the pioneers who identified these patterns and where they typically form during a stock's normal life-cycle."—Ralph J. Acampora, CMT, Director, Altaira Wealth Management, S.A.

"Kamich's Chart Patterns is the perfect resource for those not yet using candlesticks, and for those who are. Whether you use Nison candlesticks or bar charts, the tactics and strategies you use in the market should be clear, and Kamich does a great job of detailing these. While candlesticks (if properly used) excel at giving reversals, they do not give price targets. And using price patterns is a prime way we determine targets for our clients."—Steve Nison, CMT, President, Candlestick.com, and author of Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques

"Chart Patterns takes us through the thought process an analyst or trader should use. Kamich looks at myriad patterns, illustrating how they work, when they work, how to use them, and what to do when they don’t work. Any serious student of trading and investing will benefit from this methodical study of chart patterns."—Philip J. Roth, CMT, Chief Technical Market Analyst, Miller Tabak & Co, LLC

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47027 in Books
• Published on: 2009-12-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781576603000
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

About the Author
Bruce M. Kamich is Vice President at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney's Technical Analysis Group and coauthors their flagship publication the Daily Technical Market Letter. He also teaches technical analysis to various Morgan Stanley Smith Barney trading desks. He is an adjunct professor at Baruch College and has also taught at Rutgers University, as well as being a guest lecturer on many other campuses. He has twice served as president of the Market Technician's Association (MTA) and is currently president of the MTA Educational Foundation. Kamich is also the author of How Technical Analyisis Works (NYIF/Prentice Hall Press, 2002).

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Customer Reviews

An Excellent Contribution to the Field
This is a well written, edited, and organized book on a subject close to advanced investors and active traders. The author focuses on the principal chart patterns that, having stood the test of time, predominate, and whose analysis can be rewarding. It is not an encyclopedia of chart patterns.

The author documents some of the historical background surrounding the use of chart patterns, an element that shows the author's indepth level of research in this subject. Each pattern is described and explained with excellent examples, and references are provided for those interested in further study.

The book is not the heavy, lengthy tome that often characterizes this subject. The writing is first class adding to its educational value and distinguishing it from the hard reading that often marks technical analysis. It is an excellent source to have in one's library.

Great, but just not the first book.
I have read 4 books now on basic chart pattern interpretation(Magee's book included) and this book is definitely a good one. I like reading books that I already know about just so I can see someone else view of teaching. This book is a current view on an old topic. The author brings to light a few things about the old chart patterns that some books have not included, mainly because of the age of the other books, times change and sometimes technical analysis changes with it.

I am currently in the search for the perfect first book to recommend to friends who want to learn to make money like me, I have yet to find that perfect first book. And this one just didn't make the grade. This is on my list of second book to read, as it is definitely better than most beginner books I have read. But when I think of a beginner book I tend to think of questions to be answered like, "What is an OHLC chart?," or, "How do you draw a trend line?" A little lesson, some chartists believe that you should draw a trend line from close-to-close and others believe that you draw from range-to-range, the author obviously follows the range way, most chartists these days do. These are just some very basic questions that were not answered in this book. The author seems to jump right into subjects like he is talking to someone who has read some of the older books(Which I have) and so for me this was a very pleasant read, I did walk away with a little bit better view on classic chart patterns than I had before(Don't discount experience, books can't do it all, but don't discount books either).

So the search continues...

Just reproduction of old stuff
I did not find anything new than what is already available in the market.
For short term investors I would recommend "24 Essential Lessions" by Bill O' Neil. Bloomberg Press does not seem to produce quality materials.

Product Description

Recommended for professional certification by the Market Technician's Association, this is the Original - and Still Number One - Technical Analysis Answer Book. "Technical Analysis Explained, 4th Edition", is today's best resource for making smarter, more informed investment decisions. This straight-talking guidebook details how individual investors can forecast price movements with the same accuracy as Wall Street's most highly paid professionals, and provides all the information you will need to both understand and implement the time-honored, profit-driven tools of technical analysis.Completely revised and updated for the technologies and trading styles of 21st century markets, it features: technical indicators to predict and profit from regularly occurring market turning points; psychological strategies for intuitively knowing where investors will seek profits - and arriving there first!; and, methods to increase your forecasting accuracy, using today's most advanced trading techniques.Critical acclaim for previous editions include: "One of the best books on technical analysis to come out since Edwards and Magee's classic text in 1948...Belongs on the shelf of every serious trader and technical analyst. " - "Futures". "..."Technical Analysis Explained" [is] widely regarded as the standard work for this generation of chartists." - "Forbes".Traders and investors are creatures of habit who react - and often overreact - in predictable ways to rising or falling stock prices, breaking business news, and cyclical financial reports. Technical analysis is the art of observing how investors have regularly responded to events in the past and using that knowledge to accurately forecast how they will respond in the future. Traders can then take advantage of that knowledge to buy when prices are near their bottoms and sell when prices are close to their highs. Since its original publication in 1980, and through two updated editions, Martin Pring's "Technical Analysis Explained" has showed tens of thousands of investors, including many professionals, how to increase their trading and investing profits by understanding, interpreting, and forecasting movements in markets and individual stocks.Incorporating up-to-the-minute trading tools and technologies with the book's long-successful techniques and strategies, this comprehensively revised fourth edition provides new chapters on: candlesticks and one- and two-bar price reversals, especially valuable for intraday and swing traders; expanded material on momentum - including brand new interpretive techniques from the Directional Movement System and Chaunde Momentum Oscillator to the Relative Momentum Index and the Parabolic; expanded material on volume, with greater emphasis on volume momentum along with new indicators such as the Demand Index and Chaikin Money Flow; relative strength, an increasingly important and until now underappreciated arm of technical analysis; application of technical analysis to contrary opinion theory, expanding the book's coverage of the psychological aspects of trading and investing. Technical analysis is a tool, nothing more, yet few tools carry its potential for dramatically increasing a user's trading success and long-term wealth. Let Martin Pring's landmark "Technical Analysis Explained" provide you with a step-by-step program for incorporating technical analysis into your overall trading strategy and increasing your predictive accuracy and potential profit with every trade you make.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47677 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 560 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780071381932
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

From the Back Cover
Recommended for professional certification by the Market Technician's Association

The Original­­and Still Number One­­Technical Analysis Answer Book

Technical Analysis Explained, 4th Edition, is today's best resource for making smarter, more informed investment decisions. This straight-talking guidebook details how individual investors can forecast price movements with the same accuracy as Wall Street's most highly paid professionals, and provides all the information you will need to both understand and implement the time-honored, profit-driven tools of technical analysis.

Completely revised and updated for the technologies and trading styles of 21st century markets, it features:

• Technical indicators to predict and profit from regularly occurring market turning points
• Psychological strategies for intuitively knowing where investors will seek profits­­and arriving there first!
• Methods to increase your forecasting accuracy, using today's most advanced trading techniques

Critical Acclaim for Previous Editions:

"One of the best books on technical analysis to come out since Edwards and Magee's classic text in 1948.... Belongs on the shelf of every serious trader and technical analyst."

­­Futures

"...Technical Analysis Explained [is] widely regarded as the standard work for this generation of chartists."
­­Forbes

Traders and investors are creatures of habit who react­­and often overreact­­in predictable ways to rising or falling stock prices, breaking business news, and cyclical financial reports. Technical analysis is the art of observing how investors have regularly responded to events in the past and using that knowledge to accurately forecast how they will respond in the future. Traders can then take advantage of that knowledge to buy when prices are near their bottoms and sell when prices are close to their highs.

Since its original publication in 1980, and through two updated editions, Martin Pring's Technical Analysis Explained has showed tens of thousands of investors, including many professionals, how to increase their trading and investing profits by understanding, interpreting, and forecasting movements in markets and individual stocks. Incorporating up-to-the-minute trading tools and technologies with the book's long-successful techniques and strategies, this comprehensively revised fourth edition provides new chapters on:

• Candlesticks and one- and two-bar price reversals, especially valuable for intraday and swing traders
• Expanded material on momentum­­including brand new interpretive techniques from the Directional Movement System and Chaunde Momentum Oscillator to the Relative Momentum Index and the Parabolic
• Expanded material on volume, with greater emphasis on volume momentum along with new indicators such as the Demand Index and Chaikin Money Flow
• Relative strength, an increasingly important and until now underappreciated arm of technical analysis
• Application of technical analysis to contrary opinion theory, expanding the book's coverage of the psychological aspects of trading and investing

Technical analysis is a tool, nothing more, yet few tools carry its potential for dramatically increasing a user's trading success and long-term wealth. Let Martin Pring's landmark Technical Analysis Explained provide you with a step-by-step program for incorporating technical analysis into your overall trading strategy and increasing your predictive accuracy and potential profit with every trade you make.

About the Author

Martin J. Pring is the highly respected president of Pring Research (www.pring.com), editor of the newsletter The Intermarket Review, and one of today's most influential thought leaders in the world of technical analysis. The author of McGraw-Hill's Martin Pring on Technical Analysis series, Pring has written more than a dozen trading books and has contributed to Barron's and other national publications. He was awarded the Jack Frost Memorial Award from the Canadian Technical Analysts Society.

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Customer Reviews

There is wisdom in there, if you can find it
This text is well known and required by the MTA for its CMT program. Its author is well studied and an expert at technical analysis and has a good historical approach. HOWEVER, his writing style is horrid. I am a fully licensed securities professional and have done technical analysis for a considerable amount of time. Even when I know what he is trying to say I personally find it almost impossible to understand some of his paragraphs. Throw in some typographical errors and some paragraphs are too obtuse to bother trying to decipher. Further, the charts in this book are not the best. They are all so compressed his examples are difficult to find and seldom marked. Its hard to find the early part of a year when the whole year is about an tenth of an inch. Buy this book if you have to or if you can read his style easily that you see in the sample provided. If not there are equally good books on the same subject out there.

Good reference; poorly edited
Though the book is detailed and fairly comprehensive, the poor editing mars the quality of the book. Even the acknowledgement page contains 4 typos. That is a certain embarrassment. It is difficult to overcome the initial impression of sloppy editing and the book seems to have been rushed to meet some deadlines.

If you can get past the editorial issues, the book is a good collection of almost any interesting technical indicator that is available. While this book cannot be a substitute for the classic book by Murphy on technical investing, it is still a good resource for any investor. Of specific interest to the reader who is already aware of the technical investing (and a Murphy fan), the sections on "psychological strategies" is an interesting read. Other than that the book presents information from a huge variety of sources that has anything to do with indicators and oscillators. If you want to invest in only 1 book on technical investing, the book by Murphy is a better bet, with its better organization, editing and use of examples. This book, however, is a welcome addition, and not necessarily a must-have.

Comprehensive - but oh, the typos!
This book has become one of the classics for the beginning technical analyst, and is one of the two texts set for the first level of the Chartered Technical Analyst exam. I'm working my way through it, but I've found myself as frustrated as informed. Certainly you will find some information about almost every technical indicator that you will hear about in the press or on the web, but the attempt to be comprehensive means that the treatment of many issues is cursory at best.
Worst of all, though, is the almost total absence of editing in the first half of the book. Some random examples - the RSI formula is misstated, the text refer to charts that don't exist, charts are mislabelled (e.g a Microsoft chart labelled as WalMart). One important table has the column headings offset by one column. The accompanying workbook suffers from the same problem (e.g reversing answers to multiple choice questions). And to add insult to injury, the book is falling apart! Martin Pring's contributions to technical analysis is unquestioned - unfortunately the poor editing and presentation of this expensive book does poor service to his reputation.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #245686 in Books
• Published on: 2002-12-03
• Released on: 2002-11-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.04" h x 6.24" w x 9.34" l, 1.35 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780735202702
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Customer Reviews

How to execute
Being in the business and a professional technical analyst, I have read many books on the subject, but "How Technical Analysis Works" is truly unique. If you are looking for black and white explanations of technical definitions, indicators, patterns, etc, this is probably not the book for you. However, if you want to learn how to use all of the tools at a technical analysts disposal in the real world, this is your book. There are enough books out there describing how to calculate a stochastic or RSI indicator, Mr. Kamich instead takes his many years of experience and explains how you should use these indicators in real-time. A distinctive feature of this book is his emphasis on thinking outside the box - almost challenging the reader to open his/her mind. This is highlighted by the examples (especially the chart patterns) he includes with his text. The chart examples he has chosen are not the picture perfect examples that rarely happen in real-time, but the type of patterns that challenge you to visualize scenarios that you may not have noticed at first glance. Although Bruce goes into great details in his explanations, this is an easy read that you will really enjoy. For those of you looking for an advantage over your fellow market participants (who isn't, especially in this market environment!), pick up "How Technical Analysis Works" - it is well worth the investment.

Excellent book, but not perfect
This is an excellent book for beginners and intermediate traders. It explains TA in a deep but simple way. The real value of this book (for me) is that it explains what is happening, who is buying and who is selling during chart patterns. It also explains how to trade each pattern.

After reading this book i feel much more calm and confident about what is actually happening on the markets. I can now have my own ideas of market movements, despite news, newsletters and other bloated sources of information. This book will serve as a reference for years to come.

The section on chart patterns is deep and complete. It contains all needed informations, but keeping a focus on price action.

The section on indicators covers (well) the most common ones. I would have liked more indicators.

Solid Advice for Chartsists, Technicians of All Levels
Barron's named this book one of the best of the year - and for good reason. "How TA Works" is a friendly and easy-to-read (but not *too* simple) guide to charting and technical analysis. Instead of focusing on a single methodology, this book provides an arsenel of tools and explains how they're used for market timing, stock selection, and risk management.

Many of the studies and tools used in the book can be used for free or little $ at TA sites like Prophet ..., the source for charts in the book. It's definitely a good idea to learn from this book while trying it out with the online charts at the same time. That way, you can see how different studies, for example, work on different stocks.

Also, comparing the price to other books in this genre, "How TA Works" is a very good value. Highly recommended, the market not withstanding...

Product Description

Everything investors need to know to understand, utilize, and profit from the basic tools of technical analysis

Technical analysis (TA) doesn't have to be difficult or intimidating. In fact, many TA tools are remarkably simple to use and have helped millions of individual investors dramatically improve their results.

The Investor's Guide to Technical Analysis provides investors with practical strategies, cut-to-the-chase explanations, and detailed introductions to the basic tools and concepts of technical analysis.

More than just an overview of technical analysis, this results-based book shows investors how to apply the most efficient and reliable TA tools to their investment programs and greatly increase both their confidence and their results. Straightforward examples and descriptions show investors of every type how to:

• Understand market cycles and their value in choosing optimal buy and sell points
• Identify and make use of basic indicators as well as sentiment indicators
• Use trend lines to accurately track market movement

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #522131 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From the Back Cover

Everything You Need to Know to Increase Your Investing Profits, and Cut Your Losses, Using the Easy-to-Understand Tools of Technical Analysis

Praise for The Investor's Guide to Technical Analysis:

"Curt Renz's review of the common patterns seen throughout financial markets gives you that spark of insight that is so necessary to investment success."

--Robert R. Prechter, President, Elliott Wave

"Curt Renz has triumphed in this indispensable guide to technical analysis. His talent for making complicated technical concepts easy to understand is amazing."

--Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst, Alaron Trading

"Curt Renz, one of the giants of financial television, teaches the investor how to 'read the market's mind' through technical analysis."

--Bernie Schaeffer, Chairman and CEO, Schaeffer's Investment Research, Inc.

"Curt Renz's closely reasoned and well-illustrated book plus clear examples belongs in the collection of every trader and investor."

--Robert Stovall, CFA, Managing Director, Wood Asset Management, Inc.

"Curt has written the definitive introduction to technical analysis, with clear explanations of sometimes difficult concepts in layman's language and easy-to-understand chart examples. I use it in my own analysis every day."

--Michael Murphy, CFA, Editor, Technology Investing, Founder, California Technology Stock Letter

About the Author

Curt Renz is the market analyst for WebFN, a widely followed financial news service. He also anchors and produces an evening business telecast distributed by Weigel Broadcasting.

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Customer Reviews

Easy Read - Clear Graphics
Finally, an easy to read book for a novice like me, one who has been hoping to understand how the stock market really operates. I've tried and failed to wade through more ponderous tomes full of what to my mind is mumbo jumbo. The early chapters of this book nicely brought me up to speed on many marketplace basics, including the effects of human psychology. The clearly drawn charts made it easy for me to visualize the way that human behavior repeats itself in the market. I always appreciated the way Curt Renz demystified the stock market each day on his TV show. Now, in one place, he has tied together for me many of his keen insights. I now feel better prepared to tackle those more advanced texts. Although, if Curt would write a sequel, I'll wait for that instead.

A Truly Excellent Primer
I am new to technical analysis. I really appreciate the way Mr. Renz gently walked me through the process in his marvelous primer. Now it all makes perfect sense to me. His beautiful diagrams quickly burned the key patterns into my mind. It's really great the way he pointed out common investor mistakes and misconceptions. Mr. Renz's explanation of why technical analysis works was a real eye opener. I was one of those he described as running with the dumb money. Now I know how the smart crowd operates!

Thorough coverage of subject matter
This book is mostly an introduction to technical analysis, but it has strengths that go beyond a basic-level text. The logic of technical analysis is explained in very clear language, and there are many, many practical examples that every reader will relate to. The simplicity of the charts in the exhibits is also a positive. Some books recently have added so much minutia to simple stock charts that the basic message has been confused or lost. Curt Renz does not make this mistake. He sticks with the essential messages of charts, and he give readers several clues to deriving those messages.

James Bittman
Senior Instructor
The CBOE's Options Institute

Product Description

Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques, 2nd Edition, provides an in-depth explanation of candlestick plotting and analysis, conveying to the reader, in easy-to-understand language, the author’s years of practical experience in this increasingly popular and dynamic approach to market analysis. It includes hundreds of examples that span the equity, futures, fixed-income, and foreign exchange markets and shows how candlestick charting techniques can be used in almost any market. It has been thoroughly updated to include:

* New techniques and strategies
* The author’s concept of the Convergence (when a series of signals converge at one zone, thus increasing the chances for a market turn from that area)

This new edition broadens the book’s focus and all new updated charts, and information on several new areas such as day trading and how candlestick charting can be used to improve returns and help decrease market risk.

It includes everything from the basics, such as constructing the candlesticks and learning the patterns, to advanced topics, such as the rules of multiple technical techniques.

Whether you are new to candlestick charts or a seasoned pro-the reward will be immediate and long lasting.

Review
Quote from the first edition of "Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques": "It's hard to be too effusive about the quality of Nison's work. This is clearly one of the best investment books ever written."Bruce Babcock, Jr., Editor-in-Chief, "Commodity Traders Consumers Report"

From the Publisher
“An exciting and valuable addition to the literature of technical analysis… this ancient Japanese technique is available to American traders in a comprehensive, well-written, and understandable format.”

John Murphy, President

JJM Technical Advisors, Inc. and

Author of Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets

It’s hard not to be too effusive about the quality of Nison’s work… reading [his book] was a pleasure. This is clearly one of the best investment books ever written…. We strongly recommend this book, which has already become an investment classic.

Bruce Babcock, Jr. Editor-in-Chief, Commodity Trades Consumer Report

From the Inside Flap
Charting techniques used by the Japanese for over 100 years are explained for today’s traders and investors in:

JAPANESE CANDLESTICK CHARTING TECHNIQUES, SECOND EDITION: A Contemporary Guide to the Ancient Investment Techniques of the Far East

Steve Nison

Completely informative and global in its outlook, Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques, Second Edition provides an in-depth explanation of candlestick plotting and analysis. This exciting book exposes the reader to the practical applications Steve Nison gained from years of study and research in this now popular and dynamic area. Today, almost all charting packages include candle charts.

This book contains hundreds of examples that show how candlestick techniques can be used in all of today’s markets. Through such patterns as the “dark-cloud cover” and “hanging-man lines,” traders will discover how candlestick techniques provide unique market insights. They will discover see how candles will provide early reversal signals, improve timing entering and exiting markets and can be merged with classic Western charting techniques.

This totally updated revision focuses on the needs of today’s traders and investors with:

* All new charts including more intra-day markets
* New candlestick charting techniques
* More focus on active trading for swing, on-line and day traders
* New Western techniques in combination with candles
* A greater spotlight on capital preservation.

Candle charts are older than bar charts, older than point-and-figure charts, but were completely unknown in the West – until Steve Nison introduced them through his articles, seminars, and his books.

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Customer Reviews

The best for Candlesticks - the BEST and I know
I have a few books on candlesticks. I bought others which were cheaper, even though many reviews pointed towards Nisons' work. Note that in Australia, we are talking about $35 (other books) compared to $150 (Nison's book) ... so anyway, after buying many others, and looking all over the 'net for info. on Candlesticks, I ran into Nisons' book in a shop, looked through it and had to have it.

It has a LOT LOT LOT more depth than the others. There is more to candlesticks (or any price movement analysis) than just a bunch of patterns, names, formations ... the other books are far far too brief. I cannot emphasise this enough.

Look at all the other reviews for this book, many many good words said.

It is very readable, very clear, the examples are excellent, but most valuable are the insights for all the patterns ... that other books simply do not have.

Sure, it costs a bit more than the other candlestick books, but hey, how much money are you trading? Does an extra 30 or 50 bucks make that much difference for the extra insight you will gain?

This is not just the best ~Candlestick~ book, but it is a very very good TA book as well. Candlesticks are, after all, just a way of plotting price movements.

Note that, in searching the web for info. on TA and investing, this book came up time and time again as ~highly~ recommended. Now I pass that recommendation on.

Note also Nison has another book, "Beyond Candlesticks", and while I think that this is also a good book, get this one first and learn it all, the second book concentrates more on a few "Advanced" techniques, I don't know if they are so much advanced as they are just a few more techniques + brushing over what is in the first book. Get this first book, because it has more depth on the essentials that you need to know. Get the other book later, don't try and save money by jumping to the second one in the hope it will make the first obsolete, don't try and save money by getting a cheaper candlestick book, don't brush this stuff off thinking you've learnt all the candlestick stuff just by seeing a couple of patterns and names.

I also highly recommend Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets, this is recently updated and so incredibly good.

Beginner trader: will help you a lot, a very good investment, but also look to the book recommended above.

Intermediate: what are you doing? making a profit? get the book. Not making a profit? get the book, or get out of trading.

Advanced: why don't you have it? it should be on everyone's bookshelf, have you no pride? can't you afford it?

This is one of those trading books you cannot afford not to have. I don't give that rating to many other trading books.

Good luck!

Oh, and it is enjoyable to read.

Excellent resource for understanding candlestick charts.
If you have heard of candlesticks but know nothing about them, look no further, this is THE book for you. In beautiful form and style, Steve Nison brings you into the world of Japanese candlestick charts and patterns. First giving you a fascinating history of the birth of the futures markets in Japan. Armed with that knowledge, Mr. Nison delves into the "psychology" behind the patterns that develope in the chart. He provides a thorough explaination of each pattern, down to it's historic name, and what to anticipate when the pattern unfolds. There is also a large part of the book devoted to using candlestick charts with various indicators i.e., stochastics, moving averages, relative strength, etc. You name it, he's got it. Actual charts are provided to visually enhance Steve Nison's explainations. Not only does he tell, but he showes you using various markets from coffee futures to the S&P market. This book is a must addition to the library of any trader who relies on technical analysis, from the beginer to the master.

A reference for any trader
Whether you are a short or long term trader, this book is a must have. Once you read this book, you will want to use no other charting method but candlesticks. More important than teaching very common chart patterns, you come away with a good understanding of what each type of candlestick is telling you about the psychology of the market you are studying. Although his clear illustrated examples use mostly futures, these methods definitely apply to equities as well. You will no longer fear shorting a stock when you can clearly see the "dark cloud cover" on strong volume. If you want to know more about technical charting and have money for only one book, this is it.

Product Description

A common denominator among most new traders is that, within six months of launching their new pursuit, they are out of money and out of trading. High-Probability Trading softens the impact of this "trader's tuition," detailing a comprehensive program for weathering those perilous first months and becoming a profitable trader.

This no-nonsense book takes a uniquely blunt look at the realities of trading. Filled with real-life examples and intended for use by both short- and long-term traders, it explores each aspect of successful trading.

From the Back Cover
"The Goal Is to Teach All Traders to Think with the Mindset of a Successful Trader..."

While successful trading requires tremendous skill and knowledge, it begins and ends with mindset. What do exceptional traders think when they purchase a quality stock and the price immediately plummets? How do they keep one bad trade from destroying their confidence--and bankroll? What do they know that the rest of us don't?

"Some trades are not worth the risk and should never be done."

High Probability Trading shows you how to trade only when the odds are in your favor. From descriptions of the software and equipment an exceptional trader needs to high probability signals that either a top or bottom has been reached, it is today's most complete guidebook to thinking like an exceptional trader--every day, on every trade.

"It's not how good you are at one individual thing, but it's the culmination of every aspect of trading that makes one successful."

Before he became a successful trader, Marcel Link spent years wading from one system to the next, using trial and error to figure out what worked, what didn't, and why. In High Probability Trading, Link reveals the steps he took to become a consistent, patient, and winning trader--by learning what to watch for, what to watch out for, and what to do to make each trade a high probability trade.

"Why do a select few traders repeatedly make money while the masses lose? What do bad traders do that good traders avoid, and what do winning traders do that is different? Throughout this book I will detail how successful traders behave differently and consistently make money by making high probability trades and avoiding common pitfalls..."--From the preface

Within 6 months of beginning their careers full of promise and hope, most traders are literally out of money and out of trading. High Probability Trading reduces the likelihood that you will have to pay this "traders' tuition," by detailing a market-proven program for weathering those first few months and becoming a profitable trader from the beginning.

Combining a uniquely blunt look at the realities of trading with examples, charts, and case studies detailing actual hits and misses of both short- and long-term traders, this straightforward guidebook discusses:

• The 10 consistent attributes of a successful trader, and how to make them work for you
• Strategies for controlling emotions in the heat of trading battle
• Technical analysis methods for identifying trends, breakouts, reversals, and more
• Market-tested signals for consistently improving the timing of entry and exit points
• How to "trade the news"--and understand when the market has already discounted it
• Learning how to get out of a bad trade before it can hurt you

The best traders enter the markets only when the odds are in their favor. High Probability Trading shows you how to know the difference between low and high probability situations, and only trade the latter. It goes far beyond simply pointing out the weaknesses and blind spots that hinder most traders to explaining how those defects can be understood, overcome, and turned to each trader's advantage.

While it is a cliché, it is also true that there are no bad traders, only bad trades. Let High Probability Trading show you how to weed the bad trades from your trading day by helping you see them before they occur. Packed with charts, trading tips, and questions traders should be asking themselves, plus real examples of traders in every market situation, this powerful book will first give you the knowledge and tools you need to tame the markets and then show you how to meld them seamlessly into a customized trading program--one that will help you join the ranks of elite traders and increase your probability of success on every trade.

About the Author

Marcel Link has been trading professionally since 1991. He is the founder of linkfutures.com and is a TradeStation consultant. Linkfutures.com serves the trading community with daily commentary on the markets, along with insights into technical analysis, training, marketing, and other information that can be vital to traders. Link can be reached for questions or comments at marcel@linkfutures.com.

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Customer Reviews

This book ties everything together
I've read some of the reviews (or should I say criticisms) of this book. They write that it's for beginners, there are just a couple of setups, and the obligatory discipline "cut your losses" warning chapter. I think people are missing the big picture.

If you want a detailed book about technical analysis, with lots of explanations, setups, etc. etc., there's "Technical Analysis Explained" by Martin J. Pring, or you can buy something by Jack Schwager or John Murphy.

If you want a book about building and testing a trading system, there's "Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom" by Van K. Tharp.

If you want a self-help book about discipline / psychology, there are a lot of those, some in the investment section, some in the psychology section.

If you want a book about day-trading, there are a ton of those as well.

The thing I like about this book is that everything is there in one place. At the end of each chapter, the author gives you pointers on what to do and what to avoid doing to reinforce your memory of the principles. The book is written in a very readable style. I got this book about three weeks ago, and by applying some of the principles I learned from the book, I made two profitable trades (which I would not have normally made) and avoided making a trade which I normally would have made. This trade would have been a loser. As a result of reading this book, I made and saved enough money in the last three weeks to buy ten copies of this book. Isn't that why we read these books???

solid
This is probably one of the most realistic books on what it takes to trade professionally. The author starts by correctly stating how difficult it is to trade successfully. He gives a time frame of 3 to 5 years, although he states it took him seven years to be consistently successful (he refers to himself as a slow learner).

He also discusses unrealistic expectations of beginning traders, who typically open accounts of $10,000 to $25,000, and expect to make a living trading such accounts. The author notes that the best fund managers on Wall Street, who can consistently return 35-40 percent, command salaries in the seven and eight figures. Even if a beginner could produce such returns their first year (extremely unlikely), could they live on 40 percent of $10,000? When Wall Street investment firms want to hire a trader, they go to the best business schools, recruit the top graduates, pay them maybe over $200,000 their first year just to sit in training classes for months. They tell these trainees they do not expect them to make any money for at least two years, and these are individuals who have access to some of the most experienced traders on Wall Street. When they do finally start trading, they are closely watched and given only modest amounts to trade. Would you be surprised to know that the average professional trader is successful on only approximately 50% of their trades? With some futures trading systems, it is closer to 30 percent. This is why taking losses quickly is the single most important aspect of successful trading.

The book also covers the basics of trading systems, including indicators, stops and exits, typical trading system characteristics, backtesting and system writing.

While he also touches on trading psychology, this is the weakest part of the book, and is mostly biased towards his own hurdles, which were taking too large a position in too many different markets. He refers to this as "overtrading", although I would define overtrading differently. For those looking for a book on trading psychology, try Mark Douglas' books, such as "The Disciplined Trader", and "Trading in the Zone".

Finally, the book is interspersed with anecdotes about real trades and traders, which are invaluable about how not to trade, and are often hilarious. One example, the author stated he once held positions in 15 different futures markets at one time on a $5000 account, although this seems impossible, if one was to meet the margin requirements of each market.

Yes, most of the information is more useful to the novice trader but one neeeds a basic comprehensive understanding of trading to get the most benefit. On the flipside, since it is so inclusive, the book could serve as an excellent refresher for the seasoned trader. That trader might even come across a concept long forgotten and be able to turn it into a profitable strategy.

HPT has become my primer. I come back to it every few months to review sections that I feel weak in. I recommend this book to everyone who asks me for that "one book" that can get them a head start in learning to trade.

Great job Mr. Link! I eagerly await your next contribution to the world of trading literature.

In Schwager on Futures: Technical Analysis, legendary market analyst Jack D. Schwager examines technical analysis in-depth, exploring what works and doesn't work in the real world of trading. Now, in the Study Guide to Accompany Technical Analysis, Thomas Bierovic, a highly renowned instructor, joined by Steven Turner and Jack Schwager, offers a class in the technical material presented in Technical Analysis.

The Study Guide is clearly organized parallel with Technical Analysis. Chapter by chapter, it provides questions and problems that help you practice applying the principles in the book, plus brief chapter summaries to reinforce major points. Answers are in the back, so you can check your work.

What better way to test your knowledge than by running through a series of questions and problems? Trading system development is enhanced once you are certain you understand the underlying indicators. Working through the Study Guide lets you test your aptitude before using the indicators to trade real-time. With the Study Guide, Technical Analysis will be an even more valuable trading companion and reference.

The latest book in the Schwager on Futures series, written in the highly-informative yet non-technical style for which the bestselling author is famous. Contains the most complete and in-depth presentation of technical analysis available. Features a synthesis of market analysis along with practical trading considerations.

From the Inside Flap
Schwager on Futures Technical Analysis Jack Schwager is one of the most important and visible figures in the futures industry today. His Market Wizards and The New Market Wizards are two of the bestselling finance titles of all time. Now, in the latest volume in the Schwager on Futures series, Technical Analysis, Schwager has created the most comprehensive guide ever for using technical analysis for futures trading. What makes Technical Analysis unique, besides its in-depth coverage, is that it is written from a trader’s perspective. Schwager doesn’t merely cover the subject, he explores what works and doesn’t work in the real world of trading.

• Contains a comprehensive guide to chart analysis written with a particular focus on trading applications
• Includes a separate 200+ page section illustrating the use of chart analysis in the real world
• Details and illustrates several original trading systems
• Includes a self-contained primer on cyclical analysis
• Describes popular oscillators, the pitfalls in their common use, and guidelines to their successful application in trading
• Explains the concept and use of "continuous futures"and compares 10-year continuous futures charts with conventional nearest futures charts for all major U.S. futures markets
• Contains a section on trading strategy and philosophy, including over 100 trading tips

Hundreds of charts, tables, and examples illustrate key points throughout, while the text is written in the informative, insightful, and nontechnical style that has made Jack Schwager one of the most highly regarded and bestselling investment authors ever. This invaluable book by one of the world’s foremost authorities is destined to become the premier industry guide on technical analysis for many years to come.

From the Back Cover
In Schwager on Futures: Technical Analysis, legendary market analyst Jack D. Schwager examines technical analysis in-depth, exploring what works and doesn't work in the real world of trading. Now, in the Study Guide to Accompany Technical Analysis, Thomas Bierovic, a highly renowned instructor, joined by Steven Turner and Jack Schwager, offers a class in the technical material presented in Technical Analysis.

The Study Guide is clearly organized parallel with Technical Analysis. Chapter by chapter, it provides questions and problems that help you practice applying the principles in the book, plus brief chapter summaries to reinforce major points. Answers are in the back, so you can check your work.

What better way to test your knowledge than by running through a series of questions and problems? Trading system development is enhanced once you are certain you understand the underlying indicators. Working through the Study Guide lets you test your aptitude before using the indicators to trade real-time. With the Study Guide, Technical Analysis will be an even more valuable trading companion and reference.