A game-theory mechanism which is subject to a payoff matrix similar to that of a prisoner’s dilemma. Tit for tat was introduced by Robert Axelrod, who developed a strategy where each participant in an iterated prisoner’s dilemma will follow a course of action which is consistent with their opponent’s previous turn. For example, if provoked, a player will subsequently respond with retaliation, but if they are not provoked, the player will subsequently cooperate. Tit-for-tat strategies are based on the concepts of retaliation and altruism. When faced with a prisoner’s dilemma-like scenario, an individual will cooperate when the other member has an immediate history of cooperating and will default when the counterparty previously defaulted. This concept is often applied to economics and biology.
A series of three sequentially higher horizontal lines used to identify possible areas of support and resistance for the price of an asset. The position of the center line is plotted by calculating the difference between the highest high and the lowest low for the asset price over a period of time and dividing it by 2. The top and bottom line are drawn 1/3 and 2/3 of the difference, respectively, between the same high and low that are used to calculate the center line. The use of Tirone levels is similar to that of Fibonacci retracement, and both are interpreted in the same way. They both determine the position of the lines by using a percentage of the difference between a high and a low. Both Tirone levels and Fibonacci retracement use 50% as one of the possible support/resistance levels.
A metaphor for a long-term market trend. The ocean metaphors for market trends were coined by one of the market's first technical analysts, Robert Rhea. Tides are often referred to in the context of triple screen trading. Using this system, a trader uses a longer-term chart, or market tide, as the basis for trading decisions. For instance if a trader plans to trade daily he or she would examine the weekly moving average convergence divergence (MACD) histogram, as its slope provides indication of the market tide.
In technical analysis, the bearish or bullish thrusting line serves as a continuation indicator, adding evidence that a stock will continue its current price trend. The visual depiction of this pricing trend using candlestick graphs shows the second day of trading closing the opposite direction of the first, but failing to break through the midpoint of the real body (the range between the opening and closing prices). The thrusting line is considered a weak confirmation of a directional trend, and should not be the lone basis for a decision in technical analysis. It should be further confirmed in subsequent days with additional bearish or bullish signals.
A price move back toward the entry level of a security that has broken beyond the barrier of a price pattern or trendline. The retreat toward the level of the breakout is not uncommon and is used by many traders to confirm the validity of the new momentum. Notice how the price in the chart below retests the neckline of the head and shoulders pattern before continuing its move higher. The move back toward the level of a breakout may be alarming and it causes many to panic and close their position because they think the pattern is not valid. This retest of the breakout level isn't all that bad and is quite common. The successful bounce off the support or resistance actually helps strengthen the pattern and its suggested new direction because it shows that the supply/demand factors of the asset have shifted.
A bullish candlestick pattern that is used to predict the reversal of the current downtrend. This pattern consists of three consecutive long-bodied candlesticks that have closed higher than the previous day, with each session's open occurring within the body of the previous candle. These long-bodied candlesticks are a sign of the change in investor sentiment and are used by traders to confirm a shift in momentum. This pattern may form after a period of consolidation, which is still a valid sign of a move higher, but it is not as desirable as it would be if it were found at the end of a prolonged downtrend.
A bearish candlestick pattern that is used to predict the reversal of the current uptrend. This pattern consists of three consecutive long-bodied candlesticks that have closed lower than the previous day with each session's open occurring within the body of the previous candle. As you can see from the chart above, the three black crows pattern is a sign of the bulls' lack of conviction in the current uptrend. This pattern is used to predict the top of an uptrend, but traders will want to confirm this signal with other technical indicators to confirm that the momentum is actually changing.
A line that is drawn over pivot highs or under pivot lows to show the prevailing direction of price. Trendlines are a visual representation of support and resistance in any time frame. Trendlines are used to show direction and speed of price. Trendlines also describe patterns during periods of price contraction.