The Magic of Bollinger Bands

Bollinger bands are probably one of the most important indicators ever developed for measuring price action volatility.

You can use Bollinger bands as a very accurate indicator within any time frame.

The indicator has many uses and can provide the smart trader with some extremely profitable entry and exit signals.

There are a few variations on how to use Bollinger bands depending on market conditions.

The major 3 signals from Bollinger bands are these:

• The squeeze
• The expansion
• 2.0 STDV close

Of course these variations are often referred to by different titles and names but the overall concept is the same.

Measuring the Value of Over-sold or Over bought Securities

As a volatility measure, Bollinger band limits basically indicate whether an individual stock is over bought or over-sold.  However, they do not in and of themselves indicate a buy or sell signal. 

Bollinger bands are actually indicators as to the volatility of a particular security. As a result, for trading purposes, one would want to look at the activity of trading within the bands in conjunction with another tool, such as the Relative Strength Indicator, to properly undertake investment decisions.

Historically, when a price movement has been identified originating at one of the Bollinger limits, it will more likely than not continue at least to the opposite limit band.

Bollinger bands are in essence a graphic representation of the volatility that exists in the market for any particular stock. As such, they allow the investor the possibility to identify periods where opportunities for the undertaking of successful positions can arise.

When used in conjunction with other indicators, the knowledge and use of Bollinger bands can greatly improve any individuals trading performance. 

Bollinger Bands and Trading

Bollinger bands is without a doubt one of the greatest tools ever created to aid the astute trader with his entries and exits.

The reaction of an upper or lower band to approaching price provides the active trader with a tale tale sign of what will likely take place over the next few bars or more.

This reaction provides valuable insight into whether or not this will be just a few bars or quite a few bars.

Likewise the upper bands "personality" during this time is also very telling.

A

B

 In example A above notice how the lower band responds to price as it approaches.

Look at example B as price approaches.

Once continues a small trend while the other pierces and reverts to the mean.

This reaction to approaching price is just the beginning of what Bollinger bands will tell you.

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