Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Can You Make More Money Using Fibonacci Formula?

By Richard U. Olson

Leonardo of Pisa, better known to us today as Fibonacci first introduced what we call the Fibonacci sequence to the west in his 1202 book Liber Abaci (the sequence was already known in Indian mathematics). He stumbled upon this sequence while attempting to estimate how many rabbits he would be able to breed in one year based on his knowledge of their breeding habits. This mathematical model is used by Forex traders today.

While many think of the Fibonacci sequence as a mathematical abstraction, it is grounded in a real world application. The Fibonacci sequence can be used to predict patterns which would not otherwise be apparent.

How can this be applied to investing? Very astute investors understand that there are hidden patterns in the stock market--based on the mass of investors' behavior. "Buy low and sell high" and "The best time to buy is when there's blood in the streets" are but two investment aphorisms that not only work, but also come from understanding hidden patterns of the investment markets.

Hidden patterns of investment marketing cannot be seen up close. There is no accurate sense in trying to predict the hourly or daily fluctuations of investment markets. However, overall extended trends very well can be. Increased profits are taken advantage of when investors and Forex traders confidently use the number sequence of Fibonacci to reach their gains.

The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers in which each successive number is the sum of the two previous numbers. So it goes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, and into perhaps infinity. There are a number of interrelationships held within these numbers; for instance, any given number is approximately 1.618 times the preceding number, and 1.618 happens to represent the ancient Greeks' "golden ratio"--considered to be the supreme essence of balance (and balance is the ultimate key to successful investing).

Of all the Fibonacci series the two applications in wide spread use by Forex traders and investors are arcs and retracements.

Fibonacci chart technique involves three curved lines drawn for anticipating key resistance and supporting various levels as well as areas of ranging. First drawn is an invisible trendline between the two points of high and low for particular period of time. Next, three intersecting curves are drawn overlapping the trendline at the levels of 38.2, 50, and 61.8 percent according to Fibonacci. When the price of the asset crosses through these key levels, decisions of transaction are made.

Now, a retracement, in investing, refers to a reversal in the movement of a stock's price--a reversal which is enough to counter the stock's prevailing trend. Advanced successful investors pay intense attention to retracement possibilities and patterns. The Fibonacci retracement analyzes the likelihood that a financial asset's price will see a larger than average retracement and then come to support or resistance at the key Fibonacci levels before it then continues on in its original direction. A trendline is drawn between two extreme points; then, its vertical distance is divided by the key Fibonacci ratios of 23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, and 100%.

Traders use Fibonacci retracements to determine strategic points for placing their transactions, target prices and stop-loss points. There are other tools which use retracement techniques, chief among them Elliott Wave Theory, Gartley patterns and Tirone levels.

The "Fibonacci formula" is used in investing for the simple reason that it works. Forex traders especially seem to find huge success from using it.

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