There is no need to complicate things. Simple strategies are also good. Sometimes, they are even better. You will hear it often from professional traders. And what is the simple strategy? It is the one that does not require many additional factors. It is, for example, trading based on the colors of the candles. But of course, you have to understand how to read the colors to perform any operations on the market. If you are not sure how to use the candles alone, the indicators are there to help you.
Today, I want to show you how to mix candle colors with the Bollinger Bands at Olymp Trade.
Key Takeaways🔑
| →Simple strategies can be effective in trading, such as using candle colors and Bollinger Bands. |
| →Setting a fixed profit goal and sticking to it can help manage emotions while trading. |
| →Practice is essential in mastering any trading strategy, including this one. |
Contents
How to set up the Bollinger Bands indicator on the Olymp Trade platform
To apply the strategy that uses one of the indicators, you have to know this indicator first. So let’s start by setting up the Bollinger Bands.
The Bollinger Bands indicator, the BBands in short, is very commonly used by traders. If you need some extra information about it, please read the: Bollinger Bands. What you should know about it.
Go on the Olymp Trade platform and click the indicators feature icon. You will find it in the left down corner. Then, a list of indicators will pop up. Choose the Bollinger Bands and it will be added to your chart.
Now, the default period is 20 and deviation 2. You can change them, as well as the color and the width, by clicking the pen icon on the chart.
Having the indicator set, the chart will look similar to the one provided below.
Trading with the Bollinger Bands
This trading strategy is down to searching for the areas where one of the indicator’s bands intersects the candle.
When it is the upper band and it cuts a green candle, you can assume the uptrend is coming. When the lower band crosses a red candle, you will expect the downtrend.
Look at the following chart. The lower band of the indicator crossed a red candle. I was trading 1-minute period candles and I opened a sell position lasting 5 minutes.
Advice for trading candle colors together with the Bollinger Bands
Your task is to observe the chart and wait for the upper or lower band to cross the candle. The length of the transaction will mainly depend on the period of the candles you are using.
I would recommend holding the position open for 5 minutes if you trade 1-minute interval candles.
Adding the compounding money management
I think this is a good idea to involve compounding money management here. In the first trade, you will invest around 3% of the account balance. For instance, with the account balance of $100, you will invest $3 in the beginning.
With every profitable trade, you increase the investment amount by adding the generated profit. So in the second trade, you will invest $3 plus the profit from the previous transaction. This can bring you up to almost 20% payout in just 3 winning trades.
Pros and Cons of the Candle Colors and Bollinger Bands Strategy 😊🙁
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 😊 Simple and easy to understand strategy | 🙁 May not be suitable for all market conditions |
| 😊 Can be effective with proper practice | 🙁 Requires strict discipline to follow rules |
| 😊 Combines technical analysis with price action | 🙁 Might be less effective during periods of low volatility |
| Key Elements of the Strategy | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Candle Colors | Green and red candles represent bullish and bearish price movements, respectively. |
| Bollinger Bands | A technical indicator that shows price volatility and potential trend reversals. |
| Trade Entry Signals | When the upper or lower band intersects a candle, it can signal a potential trend change. |
| Compounding Money Management | A risk management technique where the investment amount is increased by adding the profits from previous trades. |
Psychological rules to be followed
Come to the trading prepared. Set a fixed profit you are going to earn. If, like in the above example, you aim at a 20% payout, stop right after. Do not try to gain more as you can start trading with emotions and lose. Reach a target and pause.
Do not open multiple positions based on a signal from one candle. You may think if you opened one position and you were right, you could open another one very fast and win as well. But the success of this strategy lies in the exact moment you enter the trade. It has to be at the end of the candle that is crossed by the band of indicator, or right at the beginning of the following candle. Otherwise, it makes no sense.
The strategy based on the combination of the candles’ colors and the BBands indicator is quite simple. Of course, it requires a certain portion of practice, but you can make money with it in no time. Remember, there is a free demo account at Olymp Trade you can use to implement new strategies.
If you wish to share your experience regarding trading the candle colors alongside the Bollinger Bands, use the comments section.
Best of luck!
Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Can this strategy be applied to other assets besides forex?
- A: Yes, the candle colors and Bollinger Bands strategy can be applied to various assets, including stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. However, its effectiveness may vary depending on the asset and market conditions.
- Q: How can I improve my accuracy with this strategy?
- A: To improve accuracy, practice on a demo account, maintain proper risk management, and be patient while waiting for high-quality trade signals. Additionally, combine this strategy with other technical analysis tools to confirm signals.
- Q: Is this strategy suitable for beginner traders?
- A: Yes, the candle colors and Bollinger Bands strategy is relatively simple and can be suitable for beginners. However, it’s crucial to practice and gain experience before trading with real money.
- Q: What is the recommended time frame for using this strategy?
- A: This strategy can be used on various time frames. The example provided in the article uses 1-minute interval candles, but the strategy can be applied to other time frames as well. Keep in mind that the effectiveness may vary depending on the time frame chosen.
- Q: Can I use this strategy on a mobile trading platform?
- A: Yes, you can use the candle colors and Bollinger Bands strategy on mobile trading platforms, as long as the platform supports the Bollinger Bands indicator and allows you to view candlestick charts.