Learn about Fibonacci trading strategy, and Fibonacci retracement

Leonardo Pisano, nicknamed Fibonacci, was an Italian mathematician born in Pisa in the year 1170. His father worked at a trading post on the Mediterranean, and the young Leonardo traveled extensively in pursuit of his mathematics studies.

In his book, published in 1202, he helped popularize the Hindi-Arabic numerical system in Europe, and set forth a now famous numerical series which is named after him. In the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, each number is the sum of the two prior numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610 and so on extending to infinity. Each number is approximately 1.618 times greater than the preceding number.

So what does a 13th century mathematician have to do with my next investment?

More than you think.

The Golden Ratio

This figure 1.618 is called Phi or the Golden Ratio and mysteriously appears frequently in the natural world, architecture, fine art and biology.
This ratio has been observed in Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, rose petals, shells, tree branches, human faces, ancient Greek vases, and even the spiral galaxies of outer space.

Thank you for the history lesson, but what does all of this has to do with trading?

Apparently, the rules of nature don't skip the financial markets

Why is Fibonacci analysis so popular in trading?

The Fibonacci numerical sequence has been translated into an investment strategy, allowing you to see the beauty of nature in financial charts.
Fibonacci levels provide objective price reference points and thus remove subjectivity (when used correctly), and make more informed decisions.

Ok, I get it. Now how can I get to see this beauty?

You start by applying the Fibonacci Retracement

What is a 'Fibonacci Retracement'?

The Fibonacci retracement is a very popular tool used by many technical traders to help identify strategic places for transactions to be placed, target prices or stop losses.
According to this strategy, after a significant price movement up or down occurs, the new support and resistance levels can be found using a simple mathematical formula.

Further rates »

It better be simple… I'm not so good at math

All you need is a simple calculator

Fibonacci Levels in the Financial Markets

Fibonacci retracements in the context of trading, are not numbers in a sequence, but a representation of the mathematical relationships between numbers in it:

The 61.8% 'golden' Fibonacci ratio comes from dividing a number in the series by the number that follows it. For example, 89/144 = 0.6180.
The 38.2% ratio is generated by dividing a number in the Fibonacci series by the number two places to its right. For example: 89/233 = 0.3819.
The 23.6% ratio is derived from dividing a number in the Fibonacci series by the number three places to the right. For example: 89/377 = 0.2360.
Fibonacci retracement levels are applied by marking the ratios of 23.6%, 38.2%, 61.8% horizontally between the high and low points on a chart, in order to produce a grid. These horizontal lines are used to identify possible price reversal points.

Fibonacci Levels in the Financial Markets

Difference between Fibonacci retracements and extensions

Fibonacci retracement levels can be used to forecast potential areas of support or resistance, at which time traders can enter the market trying to catch the initial trend when it resumes its course.
Fibonacci extensions can compliment this strategy by giving traders Fibonacci based profit targets.
Fibonacci extensions consist of levels drawn beyond the standard 100% level and can be used by traders to project areas that make good potential exits for their trades in the direction of the trend. The major Fibonacci extension levels are 161.8%, 261.8% and 423.6%.

Fibonacci Trading Strategies (and other complimentary technical tools)

While using Fibonacci levels are, in our view, extremely important, on their own they are not always reliable – just like any other form of technical analysis.
By combining Fibonacci with other technical tools, we can increase our chances of success.
You can look for convergence of a Fibonacci level (especially the 61.8 or 78.6 per cent retracements, or the 161.8 or 261.8 extensions) with other support/resistance lines, trend lines, major highs/lows and the 50 or 200 day moving averages.
In Head and Shoulders, for example, which is a major reversal pattern, the right shoulder sometimes converges with the 61.8 or 78.6 Fibonacci retracement level, thus providing an ideal entry point.

Fibonacci Mistakes To Avoid

There are common mistakes traders make when applying Fibonacci retracements to market charts:

Stay consistent
Using a candlestick chart, consistent Fibonacci reference points will measure the closing high to the closing low. Mixing the points would mean measuring from the closing high to the day’s lowest point.
Zoom out
Inexperienced traders often measure significant moves in a stock’s price in the short term, while ignoring the long term. A stock may appear to be trending down over the period of an hour, but in reality has been trending upward over several days.
The basket and eggs
Relying on Fibonacci alone is a mistake. Use additional tools like Elliott Wave to verify the Fibonacci results and help find a good trade.
Less is less
Don’t use Fibonacci over short intervals, as the market is volatile. Applying Fibonacci retracement over a short timeframe yields less reliable retracement levels. As is true with any statistical study, more data leads to better analysis.

Relation between Fibonacci and Elliott Wave

After years of analyzing his ‘waves’, Elliott concluded that the Fibonacci series was the basis of his Wave principle. Fibonacci numbers appear again and again in Elliott wave structures - from motive waves (1, 3, 5) to the far more complex patterns. It’s interesting to note that Elliott had no idea that the Fibonacci sequence appeared in his model of the market and – in fact – claimed he had never even heard of the Fibonacci series when he originally developed his model.

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