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Understanding the Concepts of Support & Resistance in Futures Trading

August 6, 2020 by Daniels Trading| Tips & Strategies

When it comes to technical futures trading, support and resistance is a key concept to understand. Whether you’re applying trend, reversal, or reversion-to-the-mean strategies, support and resistance can be an integral part of your methodology. In this blog post, we’ll break down the ins and outs of how this concept works in the live market.

Futures Trading 101: What Are Support and Resistance Levels (S&Rs)?

Support and resistance levels (S&Rs) are individual price points that may or may not constrict price action. When a market reaches defined S&Rs—in theory—price action will either become compressed or exhausted or reverse course. This information can be useful when determining market entry points, as well as when fine-tuning stop loss and profit target locations.

S&Rs come in two basic types:

  • Support: Support levels are technical indicators present beneath a market’s current price. They are viewed as obstacles to bearish price action and possible catalysts for fresh bids.
  • Resistance: Resistance levels are technical indicators situated above evolving price action. Subsequently, resistance levels hinder bullish moves and are viewed as areas attractive to sellers.

Like all things in futures trading, S&Rs aren’t foolproof. Although a support or resistance level may prove valid, order flow ultimately dictates the effectiveness of the indicator. If enough buys or sells hit the market at once, no support or resistance level can withstand the onslaught.

Support and resistance levels are common indicators used in technical analysis,  but do you know why? Watch our On-Demand webinar, Support & Resistance: Why  They Work When They Work to learn more.

In addition, it’s important to respect the immediate area surrounding each support or resistance level. For instance, if you have topside resistance set up in WTI crude oil at $40.00, the exact price point isn’t necessarily the line in the sand. It’s possible that sellers may step in at $39.94 or $40.04, stalling bullish momentum. However, this doesn’t mean that the resistance level didn’t work―with S&Rs, seeking 100 percent precision is often a frustrating endeavor.

S&Rs in Action

As noted above, S&Rs have countless applications to reversal, trend, and reversion futures trading strategies. In fact, many technical traders refer to them exclusively when deciphering market entry and exit points. Here are a few ways in which S&Rs are used:

  • Reversal: A reversal strategy is one in which the trader attempts to locate a point at which a prevailing trend will change its direction. Moving averages are S&Rs commonly used for completing this task. Popular moving averages—such as the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day—are frequently referenced in reversal strategies. When a price breaks through a desired moving average, a new long or short position may be taken in anticipation of the market changing course.
  • Trend: In futures trading, it can be lucrative to get in on a directional move in asset pricing. One way that traders do this is by entering an existing trend from a Fibonacci retracement level. Upon price pulling back from a periodic extreme to a 38 percent, 50 percent, or 62 percent retracement level, a trend-following position is taken―a buy from bullish support or sell from bearish resistance.
  • Reversion to the mean: In range-bound markets, reversion-to-the-mean strategies are particularly effective. Reversion traders look to trade price action from an established high or low and take profits when price returns to a periodic average. S&Rs derived from Bollinger Bands or pivot points excel in these types of strategies because they provide entry points that complement the slow market conditions.

One of the key benefits of S&Rs is that they are easily combined with other fundamentals and technicals. Momentum oscillators, such as stochastics or moving average convergence/divergence (MACD), are especially useful. When price reaches a defined support or resistance, a trader may employ oscillators to determine overbought or oversold conditions. By doing so, the trader can make an educated guess about whether a market has reached a bottom or a top or is likely to extend a prevailing trend.

Getting Started with Support and Resistance Levels

If you’re interested in becoming a practitioner of technical futures trading strategies, then S&Rs are worth investigating. A great way to kick off your career as a market technician is to check out Daniels Trading’s free e-book 10 Rules for Technical Futures Trading.

Ready to think like a technical trader? Download our free guide to learn how to  identify chart formations and take action when the time is right.

Filed Under: Tips & Strategies

About Daniels Trading

Daniels Trading is an independent futures brokerage firm located in the heart of Chicago’s financial district. Established by renowned commodity trader Andy Daniels in 1995, Daniels Trading is built on a culture of trust committed to the firm’s mission of Independence, Objectivity and Reliability.

Risk Disclosure

THIS MATERIAL IS CONVEYED AS A SOLICITATION FOR ENTERING INTO A DERIVATIVES TRANSACTION.

THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN PREPARED BY A DANIELS TRADING BROKER WHO PROVIDES RESEARCH MARKET COMMENTARY AND TRADE RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF HIS OR HER SOLICITATION FOR ACCOUNTS AND SOLICITATION FOR TRADES; HOWEVER, DANIELS TRADING DOES NOT MAINTAIN A RESEARCH DEPARTMENT AS DEFINED IN CFTC RULE 1.71. DANIELS TRADING, ITS PRINCIPALS, BROKERS AND EMPLOYEES MAY TRADE IN DERIVATIVES FOR THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS. DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS (SUCH AS RISK TOLERANCE, MARGIN REQUIREMENTS, TRADING OBJECTIVES, SHORT TERM VS. LONG TERM STRATEGIES, TECHNICAL VS. FUNDAMENTAL MARKET ANALYSIS, AND OTHER FACTORS) SUCH TRADING MAY RESULT IN THE INITIATION OR LIQUIDATION OF POSITIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OR CONTRARY TO THE OPINIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED THEREIN.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING FUTURES CONTRACTS OR COMMODITY OPTIONS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL, AND THEREFORE INVESTORS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE RISKS INVOLVED IN TAKING LEVERAGED POSITIONS AND MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH INVESTMENTS AND FOR THEIR RESULTS.

TRADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROFIT/LOSS CALCULATIONS MAY NOT INCLUDE COMMISSIONS AND FEES. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR BROKER FOR DETAILS BASED ON YOUR TRADING ARRANGEMENT AND COMMISSION SETUP.

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. YOU SHOULD READ THE "RISK DISCLOSURE" WEBPAGE ACCESSED AT WWW.DANIELSTRADING.COM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOMEPAGE. DANIELS TRADING IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH NOR DOES IT ENDORSE ANY TRADING SYSTEM, NEWSLETTER OR OTHER SIMILAR SERVICE. DANIELS TRADING DOES NOT GUARANTEE OR VERIFY ANY PERFORMANCE CLAIMS MADE BY SUCH SYSTEMS OR SERVICE.

GLOBAL ASSET ADVISORS, LLC (“GAA”) (DBA: DANIELS TRADING, TOP THIRD AG MARKETING AND FUTURES ONLINE) IS AN INTRODUCING BROKER TO GAIN CAPITAL GROUP, LLC (GCG) A FUTURES COMMISSION MERCHANT AND RETAIL FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALER. GAA AND GCG ARE WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF STONEX GROUP INC. (NASDAQ:SNEX) THE ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY.

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Risk Disclosure

THIS MATERIAL IS CONVEYED AS A SOLICITATION FOR ENTERING INTO A DERIVATIVES TRANSACTION.

THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN PREPARED BY A DANIELS TRADING BROKER WHO PROVIDES RESEARCH MARKET COMMENTARY AND TRADE RECOMMENDATIONS AS PART OF HIS OR HER SOLICITATION FOR ACCOUNTS AND SOLICITATION FOR TRADES; HOWEVER, DANIELS TRADING DOES NOT MAINTAIN A RESEARCH DEPARTMENT AS DEFINED IN CFTC RULE 1.71. DANIELS TRADING, ITS PRINCIPALS, BROKERS AND EMPLOYEES MAY TRADE IN DERIVATIVES FOR THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS. DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS (SUCH AS RISK TOLERANCE, MARGIN REQUIREMENTS, TRADING OBJECTIVES, SHORT TERM VS. LONG TERM STRATEGIES, TECHNICAL VS. FUNDAMENTAL MARKET ANALYSIS, AND OTHER FACTORS) SUCH TRADING MAY RESULT IN THE INITIATION OR LIQUIDATION OF POSITIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OR CONTRARY TO THE OPINIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED THEREIN.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING FUTURES CONTRACTS OR COMMODITY OPTIONS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL, AND THEREFORE INVESTORS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE RISKS INVOLVED IN TAKING LEVERAGED POSITIONS AND MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH INVESTMENTS AND FOR THEIR RESULTS.

TRADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROFIT/LOSS CALCULATIONS MAY NOT INCLUDE COMMISSIONS AND FEES. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR BROKER FOR DETAILS BASED ON YOUR TRADING ARRANGEMENT AND COMMISSION SETUP.

YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. YOU SHOULD READ THE "RISK DISCLOSURE" WEBPAGE ACCESSED AT WWW.DANIELSTRADING.COM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOMEPAGE. DANIELS TRADING IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH NOR DOES IT ENDORSE ANY TRADING SYSTEM, NEWSLETTER OR OTHER SIMILAR SERVICE. DANIELS TRADING DOES NOT GUARANTEE OR VERIFY ANY PERFORMANCE CLAIMS MADE BY SUCH SYSTEMS OR SERVICE.

GLOBAL ASSET ADVISORS, LLC (“GAA”) (DBA: DANIELS TRADING, TOP THIRD AG MARKETING AND FUTURES ONLINE) IS AN INTRODUCING BROKER TO GAIN CAPITAL GROUP, LLC (GCG) A FUTURES COMMISSION MERCHANT AND RETAIL FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALER. GAA AND GCG ARE WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF STONEX GROUP INC. (NASDAQ:SNEX) THE ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY.

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