Technical Analysis Complete Guide for Forex Trading 2025

Master chart reading, indicators, and patterns to predict price movements

Updated January 202530 min readTechnical Analysis

What is Technical Analysis?

Technical analysis is the study of price charts and market data to predict future price movements. Unlike fundamental analysis, which focuses on economic factors, technical analysis believes that all market information is already reflected in the price.

📊
Price Action
📈
Trend Analysis
🎯
Entry/Exit Points

Three Core Principles of Technical Analysis

1Market discounts everything: All information is reflected in price
2Price moves in trends: Trends tend to continue until broken
3History repeats: Past patterns tend to repeat in the future

Essential Chart Types

📊 Candlestick Charts

Most popular chart type showing open, high, low, and close prices in each time period.

Best for: Pattern recognition, price action analysis

📈 Line Charts

Simple chart connecting closing prices, useful for identifying overall trends.

Best for: Trend identification, support/resistance levels

📊 Bar Charts

Vertical bars showing high, low, open, and close prices for each period.

Best for: Detailed price analysis, traditional charting

Essential Technical Indicators

Moving Averages

Smooth price action to identify trends

Types:

  • Simple MA
  • Exponential MA
  • Weighted MA

Best For:

Trend identification and support/resistance

Recommended Settings:

20, 50, 200 periods

Support and Resistance Levels

📈 Support Levels

Price levels where buying pressure typically emerges, preventing further decline.

How to Identify:

  • Previous swing lows
  • Round numbers (1.1000, 1.2000)
  • Moving averages
  • Fibonacci retracements

📉 Resistance Levels

Price levels where selling pressure typically emerges, preventing further advance.

How to Identify:

  • Previous swing highs
  • Round numbers
  • Moving averages
  • Fibonacci extensions

💡 Pro Tips for Support/Resistance

  • The more times a level is tested, the stronger it becomes
  • Support becomes resistance when broken, and vice versa
  • Volume confirmation makes levels more reliable
  • Use multiple timeframes to identify key levels

Essential Chart Patterns

Head and Shoulders

ReversalHigh

Three peaks with middle peak higher than others

Double Top/Bottom

ReversalHigh

Two peaks/troughs at similar levels

Triangles

ContinuationMedium

Converging trend lines forming triangle

Flags and Pennants

ContinuationMedium

Brief consolidation after strong move

Trend Analysis: The Foundation of Technical Analysis

📈
Uptrend
Higher highs and higher lows
📉
Downtrend
Lower highs and lower lows
➡️
Sideways
Horizontal price movement

🎯 Trend Trading Rules

✅ Do's:

  • • Trade in the direction of the trend
  • • Use multiple timeframes
  • • Wait for pullbacks to enter
  • • Set stops below support/resistance

❌ Don'ts:

  • • Don't fight the trend
  • • Don't ignore higher timeframes
  • • Don't chase breakouts
  • • Don't use tight stops in trends

Multiple Timeframe Analysis

📊 Long-term (Daily/Weekly)

Use for overall trend direction and major support/resistance levels.

Best for: Trend identification, position sizing, major levels

📈 Medium-term (4H/1H)

Use for swing trading setups and intermediate trend analysis.

Best for: Entry timing, swing patterns, confirmation

⚡ Short-term (15M/5M)

Use for precise entry/exit points and day trading setups.

Best for: Exact entries, scalping, quick profits

Common Technical Analysis Mistakes

1. Over-analyzing Charts

Problem: Using too many indicators that give conflicting signals

Solution: Stick to 2-3 complementary indicators maximum

2. Ignoring Market Context

Problem: Not considering overall market conditions and news

Solution: Always check economic calendar and market sentiment

3. Forcing Patterns

Problem: Seeing patterns that aren't really there

Solution: Be objective and wait for clear, confirmed patterns

4. Wrong Timeframe

Problem: Using inappropriate timeframes for trading style

Solution: Match timeframes to your trading strategy and goals

Technical Analysis Checklist

✅ Before Every Trade:

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