Pivot Points

Hi, i have looked at Pivot point levels and while i understand the levels Pivot, r1-r3 & s1-s3,
how does one read which way the pair is trending?? apart from the obvious waiting for the pair
to reach a level, how can you best predict which level it is heading for? This is mainly aimed
at daily & 4hr pivot charts.

The reason i ask is because one of the forum threads posts predictions and if i check them against pivot points they exactly match yet how do they predict which way the trend is going without one of the points being passed?? :confused:

also, for the cam levels what does the following mean?

HL2, HL1, LL1 & LL2??

  • see screenshot * Thanks


Pivot levels are derived from the High, Low, and Close of one completed time period, and are used as a reference for price action in the subsequent time period. Daily time periods are typically used.

If, in the current time period, price is above the Pivot (determined by the H, L, and C of the previous period), it is said to be in the Buy Zone. If price is below the Pivot, it is said to be in the Sell Zone. If price is in the Buy Zone, it has a small statistical probability of moving higher; if it is in the Sell Zone, it has a small statistical probability of moving lower.

Otherwise, pivot levels do not show you a trend; and they do not predict the direction of price movement.

Pivot levels, like all other markers of Support and Resistance, basically show you potential obstacles in the path of price. Price may be stopped dead in its tracks at a pivot level; or it may pause before penetrating that level; or it may blow right through that pivot level — depending on the consensus of traders as to the validity and strength of the support (or resistance) represented by that pivot level.

Regarding the “cam levels” you asked about:

Here are 3 links which will introduce you to the basics of Camarilla Pivot Levels. (If you already know the basic concept of Camarilla, then you can skip these links.)

Camarilla Equation: The Free Forex Encyclopedia

Trading Camarilla Pivots - Camarilla Equation in Forex | Forex for Beginners

The Camarilla Equation Explained | PivotBoss.com

Apparently, the original Camarilla Pivot Levels, which have been around since the late 1980’s, are based on “secret” formulas using the Open, High, Low and Close of a time period, together with some mathematical manipulations. The original “secret” formulas calculate a Pivot, plus 8 other levels designated as L1, L2, L3, L4, H1, H2, H3, and H4. The formulas are not published or sold, but you can buy signals generated by the formulas from the company that owns them.

Variants of the original “secret” formulas are floating around the internet, but the ones I’ve seen don’t even follow the format of the original. For example, several offer five L-levels and five H-levels, instead of the 4 levels of each which are generated by the original formulas. In fact, two of the links provided above refer to 10 levels: L1-L5, and H1-H5.

I guess we could call these variants “after-market Camarilla formulas”.

The LL and HL levels you asked about seem to be in this same “after-market” category; they don’t come from the original formulas.

I found these formulas on another forum, and shamelessly stole them:

HL4= (high-low)*1.1/2+close
HL3= (high-low)*1.1/4+close
HL2= (high-low)*1.1/6+close
HL1= (high-low)*1.1/12+close

LL1= close-(high-low)*1.1/12
LL2= close-(high-low)*1.1/6
LL3= close-(high-low)*1.1/4
LL4= close-(high-low)*1.1/2

I have no idea who came up with these formulas, or whether they have any value. I’m posting them here only because you asked about them. Use them at your own risk. Personally, I wouldn’t waste my time with them.

On occasion, I have used the Pivot Point Calculator on the FXStreet site, and I noticed that they offer “Camarilla” pivots, in addition to three other formulations.

Evidently, their “Camarilla” pivot levels aren’t the real thing, either. For one thing, their formulas use only H, L, and C, whereas the “original” formulas use O, H, L, and C. The formulas used by FXStreet are similar, but not identical, to the ones I stole.
Here are the FXStreet formulas; you can make your own comparison:

Pivot = ( High + Close + Low ) / 3

R1 = ((High - Low) * (1.1 / 12)) + Close
S1 = Close - ((High - Low) * (1.1 / 12))

R2 = ((High - Low) * (1.1 / 6)) + Close
S2 = Close - ((High - Low) * (1.1 / 6))

R3 = ((High - Low) * (1.1 / 4)) + Close
S3 = Close - ((High - Low) * (1.1 / 4))

M5 = (R2+R3)/2;
M4 = (R1+R2)/2;
M3 = (P+R1)/2;
M2 = (P+S1)/2;
M1 = (S1+S2)/2;
M0 = (S2+S3)/2;

Here’s a link to the FXStreet Pivot Point Calculator — Forex Pivot Point Calculator

Many thanks for the detailed explanation Clint

clint = if nothing else, you deserve an award for the best replies, are you about right now to chet in the rooms

Yeh he deserves an oscar nomination for that response!

apart from: Otherwise, pivot levels do not show you a trend; and they do not predict the direction of price movement.

the rest is waaay over my head lol! :confused:

no they dont, but they show you where the S/R where for the previous day or so, which could be an ideal indication to the trends, entray and exit points

before you do your set up, og the previous days S/R levels, plot them on ypour charts and whatch the price action, as he sais, if they break these levels wait for a confimation candle and ensure 1 or more of your indicators formm up and your in
forex wales

appologise the grammar, these i phones are hard work :slight_smile: lol