The Wyckoff method has become popular among traders due to its ability to analyze trend structure and market phases in greater depth. In this article, we will review the basic concepts of the Wyckoff method and share tips on how to use this approach for competent money management and successful trading.
Introduction to the Wyckoff Method
The Wyckoff Method is based on the different phases of the trend and the market. Here are the main phases:
- Downtrend
- Accumulation - the downtrend slows down and the price starts to move sideways. During this phase, it is difficult to know if the trend has ended.
- Sprint - a false breakdown to the downside, after which a trader may assume that the downward trend will no longer continue.
- Markup - a new uptrend starts on a breakout from the accumulation zone.
- Distribution - the uptrend slows down and enters the distribution phase. This is where the big players start to lock in profits and prepare for a new trend.
- Sprinting - a good opportunity for new short positions if the big players are planning a downtrend.
- Markdown - a drop in price after the distribution phase is over.
Although markets do not always follow this pattern, knowing these phases allows traders to better understand market structure and manage capital depending on the trend phase.
Institutional buying and selling
The major market participants are the big players: central banks, hedge funds, big banks and governments. They cannot instantly enter a position, so the process of building a position takes time. This most often occurs in the accumulation and allocation phases.
Traders are advised not to enter trades during the accumulation and distribution phases, but to wait for a breakdown or pullback. More often than not, retail traders enter the trend too late and miss profitable entry points. Waiting for a breakdown or pullback allows you to open positions closer to the moments when the big players are active.
Study 1: Retest
One of the most effective entry points is a retest of a breakdown. In the example below, price makes a false downside breakout and then retraces back to the breakout level. This provides an excellent buying opportunity at a relatively low level.
Before the breakout of the accumulation zone, price may form a small pullback, indicating the strength of the sellers. This pattern is a confirmation to traders that sellers are still in control of the market. Such structures precede many successful breakouts and can serve as an additional factor for decision making.
Study 2: Hairpin Spring
Sometimes a spring appears as a single long shadow, or hairpin. For successful trading, it is important for such a spring to take out previous lows, confirming a false breakout.
The example shows how after such shadows formed, the price started to rise, creating strong buying pressure. This pattern also highlights why stop losses set at breakeven levels are often vulnerable to pullbacks.
Study 3: Unconventional accumulation and distribution
Not all accumulation and distribution phases will be perfect horizontal sideways. For example, after a slow downtrend, price may stabilize and begin to rise, signaling the end of a weak trend.
Utilizing coincidence factors increases confidence in the upcoming trend. The more confirming signals, the more confidence in the success of the trade. After a breakdown, the market often returns to the level, forming a retest pattern - this is an important point worth studying.
Study 4: Wyckoff and Divergences
Divergences are a great tool for analyzing trends and the Weikoff distribution phase. A divergence shows that the current trend is losing strength. For example, if the RSI indicator shows a divergence in the distribution phase, it may indicate that the strength of the uptrend is declining.
In this scenario, the distribution phase coincided with a divergence in the RSI, indicating a weakening uptrend. Smaller price waves and difficulty in reaching new highs confirmed the beginning of the bearish phase.
Study 5: Spring and Bollinger Bands
Bollinger bands are great for identifying significant spring patterns. When price breaks outside of the Bollinger Bands, it indicates a significant event. In cases where price breaks through the outer boundaries, traders should pay attention as this could indicate a potential trend reversal.
A strong outlier through the Bollinger Bands often indicates a high chance of a reversal if other factors also support the trend analysis.
While Wyckoff's method alone may not produce perfect signals, it provides a solid foundation for chart analysis. Using these concepts will help traders understand market trends and effectively manage capital by making informed and sound trades