This is most likely a very simple question but I wanted to make sure I’m not missing anything
How do you identify trends? Please be as in depth as possible
Thank you!
Try this.
You will learn a lot just by going through the school.
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Set a daily chart to show prices as candlesticks or bars over 1 month. Add a 13 day moving average. If prices have been steadily rising and making new highs, and the 13MA is sloping upwards, that’s an uptrend: e.g. USD/CAD.
Or use 2 MA’s, 20 and 50. If the 20 and price are above the 50 and the 50 is sloping upwards, that’s an uptrend. See USD/CAD over the last 3 months.
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The school is so long and complicated. I am a new trader and had the same question.
If you think the school is long and complicated, I advise you to forget all thoughts of trading forex and find something else
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How to identify the trend, this is a good question because as a trader will getting profit if they can drive the trend, but actually not easy to identify the trend exactly, trend market is very dynamic, but with more experience and patience to learning, with time hence you can learn more about the trend.
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Thank you all!
So using moving averages and looking at the upward/downward trend of a candlestick chart will be sufficient?
Anything else?
Trends are the simplest chart pattern, so rising price and rising MA and a short MA above a longer MA pretty much all you need. Additional features you can look for will depend on your strategy. Some of these will be vital, some more important than others, some would be things you’d like to see rather than things you must see. Some features I don’t really use to decide entries or stops or position sizes, they are just for comparing trends on different charts to find the better opportunity.
e.g. -
short-term MA slope?
intermediate-term MA slope?
long-term MA slope?
MA’s in short-long sequence?
price above MA’s?
how many weekly closes above MA? - in recent sequence? in last 3 months?
how many weekly bars totally above MA? - in recent sequence? in last 3 months?
how many weekly closes higher than prior weekly close?
how many weekly bars overlap with current weekly bar?
etc. etc.
You might also look for price % rise in last 3 months, price escaping upwards from congestion or support, or rising trend-lines, or bullish continuation patterns, 3 higher swing highs with 4 higher swing lows etc. etc. The entry signals are too numerous to list, and not really important anyway unless you’re keen to avoid entering at a new high.
Three principles I think should be part of any trend-following strategy in particular -
- the trend should be visible on the screen from the other side of the room
- once you see your ideal set-up, don’t delay, get in
- don’t forget to check if the other pairs with the same currencies of interest are following the same price direction.
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This is not rocket science just draw a line along the path of candles. that’s the trend if its not going horizontal you have a slope.
Want to know in which direction momentum is going do the same above and below.
Now you have a movie.
The parent rules until the child grows up and strikes out on its own, trends start at the bottom.
Its the KISS principle.
Aww. 
But, I found the school really interesting! Hmm. 
Maybe you could try demo trading and using what you learn from the school at the same time (especially the patterns and indicators)? 
I guess that way, things will be more interesting for you too!
pips school+ demo trading = complete preparation as a newbie.
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You have to be kidding! If you find the school too long and complicated then get out of trading before you give the market all your money. It is a harsh truth that not all professions are suitable for all. If you lack the patience, discipline, nous and interest to work methodically through the school then you will fail at trading.
ST
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@tommor , funny you mention this! I do this on occasion as well! Should probably do it more often.
It’s easy to get lost in the chart from 24 inches away. It’s the forest from the trees kind of thing.
Stepping back, 8, 10, 12, feet, it can look completely different, like the first earthrise the Apollo astronauts saw!
This can give you a completely different perspective on the Forex chart.
KC
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You have to do it. Some type of learning. If not, hit the slot parlor with a bucket of change. 
I think if you really give the baby Pips School a shot you will find it very understandable. I think they’ve done an excellent job of breaking it down piece by piece.
Understand that the lessons are not one-and-done. The tests are simply to confirm your understanding of the topic. How well you do only matters to you and your forex account.
Going through the babypips school is not a competition. It’s a journey.
Good luck in your decision,
KC
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Hi CuriousPips
The easiest way I find to identify the trend of a market is simply using price.
If a market is making higher highs and higher lows it is in an up trend
Alternatively, if a market is making lower highs and lower lows it is in a down trend
A sideways trending market tends to do neither - just trades in a range - hope this helps
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Trends are good when these trends are reliable. If you want to take rational decisions, then at first you must understand which market trends are good and which trends are not so significant to give emphasize. And to take the benefits of market behavior you can also take the help of various good forex signals and indicators.
Thanks for the advice. I"ll do what I can. I was only overwhelmed by courses. I think I can manage this anyways.
Based on my trading chart & position of support/resistant levels.
No mate, it’s not complicated. BabyPips School is the most useful course. Besides, learning is a long term process. So, I guess you need to prepare yourself.