Site icon Aximdaily

How to Use Bollinger Bands Indicator in Forex Trading

How to Use Bollinger Bands Indicator in Forex Trading

Bollinger Bands Indicator is the most reliable and powerful technical analysis tool used by traders to help make informed decisions in the Forex market. They are flexible, visually intuitive, and among the most effective forex indicators available to traders. Simply put, Bollinger Bands are perfect for identifying sharp, short-term price movements and potential entry and exit points for trading. This article explains how to trade forex efficiently using Bollinger Bands Indicator. 

Forex Trading with Bollinger Bands Indicator: Key Takeaways 
Forex traders can benefit from Bollinger Bands Indicator in a number of ways:

1. Identifying trends: Bollinger Bands helps forex traders identify the direction and strength of a trend by showing the relative highs and lows of price action. 

2. Gauging volatility: Bollinger Bands are dynamic indicators that adjust to market volatility, so traders can use them to gauge market volatility. 

3. Identifying breakout opportunities: Bollinger Bands show when price action reaches the upper or lower bound of the bands, which helps traders identify potential breakout opportunities. 

4. Setting stop-loss and take-profit orders: Bollinger Bands indicate relative levels of support and resistance, which traders can use to determine appropriate stop-loss and take-profit orders. 

Overall, Bollinger Bands Indicator are a versatile and effective tool that can be used in a variety of ways to help traders make informed decisions in the Forex market.

What Are Bollinger Bands? 

Bollinger Bands are a popular technical indicator used by traders to identify potential support and resistance levels in a trading market. The indicator forms a channel around the price movements of an asset to assist traders in determining a trend’s direction, tracking potential reversals, and assessing volatility.  

Invented in 1983 by financial analyst John Bollinger, this indicator is commonly used to gauge market volatility and identify “overbought” or “oversold” situations. Basically, this essential tool tells traders whether the market is in a quiet phase (sideways trend) or whether the market is fluctuating (upward or downward trend).  

A quiet market will result in a contracting band, while a fluctuating market will result in an expanding band. Here is a chart that will help you understand the bands better. 

You’ll notice how the bands come together when the price is quiet and spread apart when it moves up. This indicator is used by traders and technical analysts in all market types, including forex. 


How to use Bollinger Bands effectively?

Bollinger Bands are most commonly interpreted as measures of highness and lowness. There are three key points to remember about this indicator: 

Upper band – An upper band indicates a level that is statistically high or expensive 

Lower Band – The lower band represents a level that is statistically low or inexpensive 

Volatility – The volatility of the market is reflected in Bollinger Bandwidth 

In Forex trading, Bollinger Bands have a default setting of (20,2) – where 20 represents the SMA and 2 represents the number of standard deviations between the upper and lower bands. 

It is important to pay attention to the price action near the edges of the bands when we use trading bands. Technical analysts can be confident that there is resistance (upper boundary) or support (bottom boundary) based on trading near the outer bands, but this alone does not provide relevant buy or sell signals; it indicates whether a price is high or low, based on a relative basis. 

How to Calculate Bollinger Bands? 

Bollinger Bands consist of 3 simple calculations. Here is the Bollinger Bands formula.:

Middle Band: This is the first or middle Bollinger Band, which is a moving average of the closing price. For example, to calculate a 20-period moving average, the closing price for 20 consecutive days must be added up and divided by 20. 

Middle Band = 20-period moving average 

Upper Band: Located at the top of the chart, this band is the upper Bollinger Band. The upper band is calculated by adding Standard Deviations to the Moving Average of the Close. For example, the upper band formula would be MOV20+(2*20Standard Deviation of Close). 

Upper Band = 20-period moving average + (2 x standard deviation) 

Lower Band: The lower Bollinger Band is the third line. Lower bands are calculated by subtracting Standard Deviations from Moving Averages of Closes. For example, the lower band formula would be MOV20-(2*20Standard Deviation of Close). 

Lower Band = 20-period moving average - (2 x standard deviation) 

A Bollinger Band can be applied to nearly any financial market or security. It is recommended for forex beginners to use the band settings by default. As the number of periods involved increases, the number of standard deviations used must increase as well. Two and a half standard deviations are a good selection at 50 periods, whereas one and a half standard deviations are quite adequate at 10 periods. 


What is a Bollinger Bands Squeeze? 

A Bollinger Squeeze refers to a condition that occurs when the bands (a technical analysis indicator) narrow significantly. It usually occurs when the market is consolidating, or moving within a narrow range, and can be a sign that a breakout is about to occur. 

A Bollinger Squeeze often signals a reversal or breakout in trends, as it signifies that the market is preparing to make significant moves and is building up energy. It can be a good time for traders to pay extra attention to the market when bands squeeze so that they can take advantage of any breakout opportunities. 

The Bollinger Bands Indicator can be identified by traders by looking for a period when the bands are significantly narrower than they have been in the past. It may indicate that the market is about to make a significant move, and traders should adjust their strategies accordingly. 


What is a Bollinger Bands Bounce? 

This is an indicator that displays the price action of a currency pair after it bounces off a Bollinger Band (an indicator used in technical analysis). When the market reverses direction or breaks out of a trading range, it can indicate a market reversal. 

Trading a Bollinger Bounce requires traders to look for a situation where price action touches one of the Bollinger Bands and bounces off of it. In this case, a bounce from the lower band suggests a potential buying opportunity, while a bounce from the upper band suggests a potential selling opportunity. 

A Bollinger Bounce can be confirmed using Bollinger Bands in conjunction with other technical indicators, such as the Moving Average or the Relative Strength Index. 


How Are Bollinger Bands Used in Forex Trading? 

In the Forex market, Bollinger Bands Indicator is used to identify potential trading opportunities. In this case, price action is visualized as a set of bands based on the idea that prices tend to stay within a certain range. 

How to Use Bollinger Bands Indicator in Forex Trading

To trade Forex using Bollinger Bands, traders typically look for situations where one of the bands is at or near the price action. The upper band, for example, may indicate that the price has been overbought and may represent a good selling opportunity. Conversely, if the price is at the lower band, it is likely to be oversold and is a good opportunity to buy. 

The Bollinger Bands can also be used in conjunction with other technical analysis tools, such as the Moving Average or the Relative Strength Index, to create more sophisticated trading strategies. For traders looking to make informed decisions in the Forex market, Bollinger Bands can be an invaluable tool, whether used on their own or as part of a larger strategy. 

How To Trade Forex with Bollinger Bands 

Trading the forex markets with Bollinger Bands Indicator involves several different techniques. Popular choices include: 

1. Trading the Forex Trend 

The Bollinger Bands indicator is an excellent tool for identifying trends in Forex trading. Here’s how you can do this: 

  1. Add Bands to your chart: Just like any technical indicator, Bollinger Bands must be added to the chart before they can be used. By selecting Bollinger Bands from the list of available indicators, you can add them to your chart using most charting platforms. 
  1. Identify the trend: Analyze the price action relative to bands to determine if there is a trend. The price may be in an uptrend if it consistently hovers above the upper band. The price may be in a downtrend if it is consistently close to the lower band. 
  1. Confirm the trend: Confirm the Bollinger Bands trend by using other technical indicators. For example, the Moving Average may be used to confirm uptrends or downtrends. 
  1. Trade in the direction of the trend: Following the identification and confirmation of the trend, you can buy if the trend is upward and sell if it is downward. 
  1. Set stop-loss and take-profit orders: Make use of bands to determine appropriate stop-loss and take-profit orders. For example, if you’re buying, you might set a stop-loss just below the lower Bollinger Band, and if you’re selling, you might set it just above the upper Bollinger Band. 

For traders looking to trade the direction of trends in the Forex market, Bollinger Bands will often prove to be an invaluable tool. 

2. Measuring Forex Volatility 

Bollinger Bands Indicator is an effective way to gauge volatility in the Forex market. Here’s how to do it: 

  1. Add Bollinger Bands to your chart: Just as you would add any other technical indicator, you must first add Bollinger Bands to your trading chart. You can do this simply by selecting them from the list of available indicators on most charting platforms. 
  1. Observe the width of the bands: Bollinger Bands indicate market volatility by their width. The wider the bands, the more volatile the market, and the narrower the bands, the less volatile the market. 
  1. Trade based on volatility: Bollinger Bands provide an indication of volatility that can guide your trading decisions. For example, in periods of high volatility, you might choose to trade more aggressively, while in periods of low volatility, you might choose to be more cautious. 
  1. Use other technical indicators to confirm volatility: Bollinger Bands can be combined with other technical indicators, such as the Average True Range or Chaikin Volatility Index, to confirm market volatility. 

For traders who are looking to gauge volatility in the Forex market and make informed trading decisions, Bollinger Bands Indicator may prove useful. 

3. Identifying Potential Breakouts 

Using Bollinger Bands Indicator in Forex trading can help pinpoint potential breakout opportunities. Here are some steps you can take: 

  1. Add Bollinger Bands to your chart: You can easily add Bollinger Bands to your chart by selecting them from the list of available indicators on most charting platforms. 
  1. Look for price action at or near the bands: When the price action is at or near one of the bands, it may be ready to break out of its current range. If the price is at the upper band, it may be ready to break out to the upside. If the price is at the lower band, it may be ready to break out to the downside. 
  1. Confirm the breakout: Using other technical indicators will help you confirm the breakout. For example, the Moving Average or the Relative Strength Index can be used to confirm a breakout. 
  1. Enter the trade: Following the identification and confirmation of a potential breakout opportunity, you can enter the trade by buying or selling. 

Forex traders can use Bollinger Bands to identify breakout opportunities in the market. You should, however, set appropriate stop-loss and take-profit orders to avoid financial losses. 


Which indicators work best with Bollinger Bands?

A Bollinger Bands Indicator can be used in conjunction with other technical indicators to create more sophisticated trading strategies. Here are a few ways in which this indicator can be used with other indicators: 

Bollinger Bands and RSI Indicator 

With Bollinger Bands Indicator, you have a very flexible and adaptable trading tool at your disposal. A trend’s relative strength can be confirmed by combining Bollinger Bands with other indicators, such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI). 

The RSI is a momentum indicator that measures how many days an instrument has closed up versus down over time. Overbuying is typically expected when the RSI reaches a value of 70 or higher, whereas oversold securities are expected at a value of below 30. 

For example, when an instrument reaches the upper band of a Bollinger Band price channel and the RSI is 70+, you could conclude that it is overbought, and you would sell it. If the RSI is above 30 and the price chart shows trading in the lower Bollinger Band, then the RSI indicates the downtrend may continue despite what the Bollinger Bands suggest. A sell may be considered if the RSI is high enough. 

Bollinger and MACD Indicator

Generally, MACD indicates whether an instrument has become overbought or oversold and, therefore, whether a trend is about to reverse. Divergences are one of the most popular trading strategies that utilize the MACD’s power.  

Prices may soon adjust when you see new highs in the instrument’s price but not on the MACD, indicating the momentum behind higher prices is waning. 


Top Bollinger Bands signals and strategies 

While traders may develop their own trading strategies considering these indicators’ advantages, some of the most widely used Bollinger Bands strategies include the following. 

1. Walking the Bands (also known as Riding the Bands) 

Bollinger claims that moving above or below the bands are not signals, but rather tags. Strength is shown by a move to the upper band, while weakness is shown by a sharp move to the lower band. As a strong uptrend continues, prices can “walk the band” with many touches. An upper band can only be exceeded by a pretty strong price movement. It is common for prices to never reach the lower band during a strong uptrend, just as a strong uptrend produces numerous upper-band tags. 

2. Double Bottom or W-Bottoms 

W-bottoms or double bottoms are formed when prices fall, then rise, then fall again near the previous low, then rise again. 

A double bottom can be identified by looking for a price that has reached the lower band and waiting to see where it will descend next. An upward move near the middle band, followed by a second low inside the lower band, indicates that the price is poised for an upward move, suggesting a buying opportunity. 

In the absence of the Bollinger Band, the currency price may appear to be trending downward on the second low, especially if the second low is lower than the first low. This indicator, however, may indicate a possible uptrend if the currency price has reached its second low. 

3. The classic M tops 

An M-Top can be compared to a double top in its most basic form. There is, however, a difference between reaction highs. It is possible for the first high to be higher or lower than the second high. Whenever an instrument is making new highs, Bollinger recommends looking for signs of non-confirmation.  

Similar to the W-bottom, this is the reverse. The non-confirmation process involves three steps. To begin with, an instrument forges a reaction at a high level above the upper band. Second, the middle band is pulling back. Third, the prices move above the previous high, but they don’t reach the upper band. There is a warning sign here.  

When the second reaction high fails to reach the upper band, it can be indicative of waning momentum. The final confirmation comes when the support breaks or the bearish indicator signals. 

4. Reversals with Bollinger Bands 

Reversals with Bollinger Bands occur when a financial instrument’s price moves in a reverse direction after touching one of the bands. The market may be changing direction or breaking out of a trading range when this happens. 

Traders can identify reversals with Bollinger Bands by watching for situations where the price hits one band and bounces off it. If the price action touches the upper Bollinger Band and then bounces off it, this can be a potential selling opportunity and a sign of a trend reversal. A price action that touches the lower Bollinger Band and then bounces off of it can indicate a trend reversal and a potential buying opportunity. 

In conjunction with other technical indicators, such as the Moving Average and Relative Strength Index, Bollinger Bands can be used by traders to confirm potential reversals and increase their chances of success. 

The importance of combining Bollinger Bands with other indicators 

For even more depth and insight, consider combining Bollinger Bands with volume indicators. Since Bollinger Bands are a pure price indicator, they might not help much without volume indicators. The bottom line is that no indicator will guarantee you’ll get in at the bottom or out at the top every time. It is possible, however, to make better trading decisions when bands are combined with other indicators, such as chart pattern recognition tools. 


Limitations With Bollinger Bands Indicator

While Bollinger Bands Indicator is considered a popular technical analysis tool, like any tool, they have its own limitations too. Some of the limitations of Bollinger Bands Indicator include: 

In the aggregate, Bollinger bands can’t be considered a perfect indicator; instead, they are used as a tool. In fact, they don’t produce reliable information all of the time, so traders must apply band settings that are most effective for the assets they are trading.


Learn Top Forex Trading Techniques For Free

While online Forex trading offers plenty of opportunities to make significant profits, there may be a lot of confusion about where to start. If you are enthusiastic about learning forex trading, make sure to gain proper knowledge.

AximTrade takes you through a comprehensive learn forex guide led by professional traders to help you understand the foreign exchange market. The course was developed using the experiences and knowledge of successful traders to help to join their elite group. The course is entirely free, and the curriculum is accessible for a lifetime. 


Forex Trading with Bollinger Bands – FAQ

What are Bollinger Bands in Forex Trading?

Bollinger Bands are a type of technical indicator used in Forex trading to measure price volatility. They consist of a moving average and two standard deviation lines plotted at a set number of standard deviations above and below the moving average.

How do Bollinger Bands work in Forex Trading?

Bollinger Bands work by using standard deviation to provide a relative definition of high and low. If the market is volatile, the bands will widen (move further away from the moving average), and if the market is stable, the bands will narrow (move closer to the moving average). This allows traders to identify potential buy and sell opportunities in the market.

Are Bollinger Bands leading or lagging?

Bollinger Bands are a lagging indicator because they are based on past price action, rather than predicting future price movements. The bands are plotted two standard deviations away from a moving average, typically the 20-day moving average, and are used to indicate overbought and oversold levels. Because the bands are based on historical prices, they can only provide insight into the past and not the future.

What time frame is best for Bollinger Bands?

The time frame that is best for Bollinger Bands can vary depending on the individual trader or investor’s goals and trading style. However, Bollinger Bands are typically used on daily or weekly charts to analyze long-term trends and price action. Short-term traders may also use Bollinger Bands on intraday charts, such as 5-minute or 15-minute charts, to identify short-term overbought or oversold levels.

Is Bollinger Band good for intraday?

Bollinger Bands are not necessarily the “best” for intraday trading, but they can be a useful tool for some traders. The bands can help traders identify overbought and oversold levels, and can provide insight into volatility and price trends. When combined with other technical indicators, Bollinger Bands can provide a more comprehensive picture of market conditions, and help traders make informed trading decisions.

What are the drawbacks of Bollinger Bands in Forex Trading?

The main drawback of Bollinger Bands in Forex trading is that they are a lagging indicator, meaning they are based on past price action and may not always provide timely signals for current market conditions. Additionally, Bollinger Bands alone do not provide a complete trading strategy and should be used in conjunction with other indicators and analysis techniques.


Exit mobile version