How to Use Bollinger Bands Indicator in Forex Trading

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 trends direction, tracking potential reversals, and assessing volatility.  

Invented in 1983 by financial analyst John Bollinger, Bollinger Bands Indicator are 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 Bollinger Bands better. 

Youll notice how the bands come together when the price is quiet and spread apart when it moves up. Bollinger Bands Indicator are used by traders and technical analysts in all market types, including forex. 

How do Bollinger Bands Indicator Work？ 

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

When a market is more volatile, Bollinger Bands widen 

When a market is less volatile, the bands are narrower 

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: 

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 Bollinger 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 Bollinger 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 Bollinger 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 Squeeze？ 

A Bollinger Squeeze refers to a condition that occurs when the Bollinger 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 Bollinger 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 Bollinger 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 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 Bollinger Band suggests a potential buying opportunity, while a bounce from the upper Bollinger 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. 

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. Heres how you can do this: 

Add Bollinger 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. 

Identify the trend: Analyze the price action relative to Bollinger 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. 

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. 

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. 

Set stop-loss and take-profit orders: Make use of Bollinger 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. Heres how to do it: 

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 add Bollinger Bands to your chart simply by selecting them from the list of available indicators on most charting platforms. 

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. 

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. 

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: 

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. 

Look for price action at or near the bands: When the price action is at or near one of the Bollinger 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. 

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. 

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. 

Best Technical Indicators to use 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 Bollinger Bands 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 trends 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 

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 MACDs power.  

Prices may soon adjust when you see new highs in the instruments 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 Bollinger Bands 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. Bollinger Bands, 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 dont 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 instruments 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 youll get in at the bottom or out at the top every time. It is possible, however, to make better trading decisions when Bollinger 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 their own limitations too. Some of the limitations of Bollinger Bands Indicator include: 

The first problem with Bollinger bands is that they are just one indicator. Rather than using them as a standalone trading system, Bollinger recommends pairing them with two or three other uncorrelated indicators. 

Use Bollinger bands according to established guidelines, and adjust the indicator settings so that they apply to the asset you are trading. Change the settings so you can see the effect Bollinger bands had on historical charts. 

You can change the Bollinger Band settings or not use them at all if you find that they arent helping you. Sometimes, even while trading the same instrument, the ideal Bollinger band setting may change from market to market. 

While the indicator may seem to be working well once it has been set up, it may still produce false signals from time to time. Low volatility will cause the bands to contract, especially if the price is moving sideways. When this occurs, both upper and lower bands are likely to be broken. These arent necessarily reversal signals. Since the narrow bands are closer to the price, they are more likely to be touched. 

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.

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Disclaimer: This post is from Aximdaily and it is considered a marketing publication and does not constitute investment advice or research. Its content represents the general views of our editors and does not consider individual readers personal circumstances, investment experience, or current financial situation.