Table of Contents
From the Publisher
Meet Mark Larson
Introduction
Chapter 1: Technical Indicators 101
Power of Parameters
Two Main Types of Technical Indicators
The Leading Role That Volume Plays
Chapter Summary
Chapter 2: Moving Averages
Moving Averages Examined
Two Main Types of Moving Averages
Moving Average Time Target: 3 Days
Laws of Supply and Demand
Chapter Summary
Chapter 3: Balance of Power (BOP)
Bullish BOP
Bearish BOP
BOP Divergence
Chapter Summary
Chapter 4: Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD)
MACD in Detail
Chapter Summary
Chapter 5: Price Rate of Change (PRC)
Chapter Summary
Chapter 6: Time-Segmented Volume (TSV)
Chapter Summary
Chapter 7: Relative Strength Index and Time-Segmented Volume (RSI TSV)
RSI Alone Does Not Make a Great Indicator
Chapter Summary
Chapter 8: Inertia
Chapter Summary
Chapter 9: Average True Range (ATR)
Setting:
Past ATR:
Current ATR:
Chapter Summary
Chapter 10: Stock Scans with Six Important Indicators
Chapter Summary
Chapter 11: Three Investment Strategies that Work in Any Market
Chapter Summary
Conclusion
Trading Resources Guide
Copyright © 2007 by Mark Larson
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
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From the Publisher
The editors at Marketplace Books have always kept a steady goal in mind, and that is to present actionable information on stock trading in the most straight-forward, practical medium available. Sometimes this involves a book, sometimes a newsletter, a DVD, or an online course program. What we’ve learned from the many products we’ve developed over the years is that a cross-medium approach is the most effective way to offer the greatest possible value to our readers.
So an idea was born. This innovative book and DVD set is one of the first in a series that combines a full course book derived from the actual presentation itself. Our idea grew out of a simple question. Students of stock trading spend a great deal of their own money attending lectures and trade shows. After all the travel, effort, and expense, that student will still have to assimilate a host of often complex theories and strategies. Sometimes he or she may want to ask a question or dig deeper into an issue, but they hold back; maybe because they still don’t know enough about the bigger picture or maybe they don’t even know some of the basic terminology. They may buy the DVD, but still. . .a lecture in itself is not a comprehensive learning tool and a person may still need yet another lecture or host of trial and error book purchases to master the subject.
So the question was: Does the average student of trading get enough out of an individual session to effectively carry their studies home and master a subject? The answer was a resounding no! Most attendees get bits and pieces of the message out of a long and expensive lineage of lectures, with critical details hopefully captured in page after page of scribbled notes. For those who are gifted with a photographic memory and vast organizational skills, the visual lecture is just fine, but for the rest of us, the combination of the written word and a visual demonstration is the golden ticket to the mastery of any subject.
A comprehensive approach to learning is the course you are about to embark upon. We’ve taken Mark Larson’s original lecture and extracted his core content into an easy to read and understand course book. You’ll be able to pour over every word of Larson’s groundbreaking presentation, taking in each important point in a step by step, layer by layer process. All of this is possible because our editors have developed this title in classic textbook form. We’ve organized and highlighted the key points, added case studies, glossaries, key terms, and even an index so you can go to the information you need when you need it most.
Let’s face it, stock trading in any medium takes years to master. It takes time to be able to follow charts and pick out the indicators that mark the wins you’ll need to succeed. And beyond the mathematical details and back-tested chart patterns, every presenter has three very basic premises for every student trader; they are to control your emotions, stay close to your trading plan, and do your homework. It’s so important to know the full picture of the profession because it could either make you rich or put you in line for that second night job.
This DVD course book package is meant to give you all the visual and written reinforcement you need to study, memorize, document, and master your subject once and for all. We think this is a truly unique approach to realizing the full potential of our Traders’ Library DVDs.
As always, we wish you the greatest success.
To access the streaming video that comes with this book, please register at www.wiley.com/go/wileytradingvideo.
Meet Mark Larson
Mark Larson is a seasoned trader, weekly writer for www.incometrader.com, and educator who has been actively trading the markets since 1998. His courses on technical analysis and the use of technical indicators are sought after by many traders. His simple trading skills have helped thousands of investors of all types make money during an up, down, or sideways market.
His best selling DVD courses include 12 Simple Indicators That Really Work, and his best selling books include Technical Charting for Profits and Trade Stocks Online. With the use of technical indicators, Mark was able to warn investors of the last bear market correction that occurred in 2000, and again warns investors to be careful of the next up and coming correction. One of Mark’s coined phrases has always been that the “key to success is knowing when to buy and when to sell,” which can only be done with the use of technical indicators.
Mark is the founder of Rolling Along Investments and an instructor for Investools. He travels throughout the country teaching others how to become independent investors by using both technical indicators and options. He attributes most of his skills and success to his very successful mentors Mike D. Coval and Stacy G. Acevedo.
Introduction
Consider the following short statement from author Mark Larson:
“Then came April 2000, when the bull decided to quit running and appeared to give in to the bear as we began a true stock market correction, one that many investors never experienced before.
This wasn’t just a short-term monthly correction; it truly was a bearish correction that would stay with us for many months. This bearish correction created big problems for thousands and thousands of investors who didn’t have the right mindset and knowledge of what to do or how to react.”
Larson had just finished writing the book Technical Charting for Profits that contained this statement in April 2000. It was released in January 2001. The market then continued lower by about 50% before stopping in March 2003 and moving higher as the Dow Jones broke through the previous high of about 12,500 and reached 13,600 by mid June of 2007. Now the question is will it go higher or lower? Only technical indicators will tell us that! Read on and find out which technical indicators are Mark’s favorites now.
The purpose of Larson’s text is to help you understand the power of technical indicators and the right parameters. There are over 200 different types of technical indicators out there, and he shows you a list of the ones that are most commonly used. As you read, Larson asks that you keep this important point in mind.