Tag Archives: Technical Analysis

Shooting Star Candlestick for Shoppers Drug Mart

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A shooting star candlestick developed on the daily candlestick chart which can be compared to a caution light.

It shows that the rally could not be maintained.  The stock opened at $40.82, above the close for the previous day’s bullish white candlestick, which was a strong opening.  But the bulls could not maintain the push  as the stock rallied to a high of $41.59 where there was selling pressure and the stock closed at $40.87: this was not a good day for the bulls.

Candlestick Analysis - shooting star candlestick for Shoppers Drug Mart

3-Month Daily Candlestick Chart

The trend is the most important concept in technical analysis. The intermediate trend (3 weeks to 3 months) is sideways and the near-term trend (within the last 3 weeks) is up. What we are trying to establish in this analysis is the likelihood of the near-term trend continuing upwards. Today, there is a hint of caution which you can see pictorially in the shooting star candlestick pattern.

Another important concept in technical analysis is support and resistance. On Monday, Shoppers Drug Mart closed above resistance at $40. This has been resistance for the last four months. The $40 price point reverses rolls and is now support for this stock. A close below $40 would be very negative for the near-term trend for Shoppers.

85.2% gain in the TSX since March, 2009

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Technical analysis gives you a snapshot of the S&P/TSX composite.

It has been a good run, and now is the time to closely monitor the candlestick charts and confirming indicators for a top reversal pattern.

Technical Analysis - 2 year weekly annotated candlestick chart for the TSX showing trend lines, piercing patterns, tweezers bottom, bullish engulfing pattern and the mighty hammer.

2-Year Weekly Candlestick Chart for the TSX

This is an excellent article from the National Post covering the fundamental valuation metrics for different markets: Did I miss the rally?

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Note: This analysis is for educational purposes so you can learn to trade online using candlestick charts. Please conduct your own analysis or consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions.

The chart snippets are from BigCharts.com which I recommend and have used for fifteen years.

Copyright © TradeOnline.ca All rights reserved 

Can Pfizer break resistance at $20?

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The most important point in technical analysis is to determine the trend.

The intermediate and near-term trend for Pfizer (PFE) is up.  This drug stock had a very good move last week as indicated by the tall bullish white candlestick.  Also, the volume was above average: the volume is the fuel that drives a stock higher. Any upward price movement on low volume is suspect. If the stock can break resistance at $20, the next target price will be $22.

Pfizer, including other drug stocks, has underperformed the Dow over the last couple of years.  Pfizer has a decent yield of  4.15% and a solid cash flow. Now, traders are buying this orphan.

Pfizer - 2-year weekly candlestick chart with a bullish white candlestick and resistance at $20

Pfizer - 2-Year Weekly

Suncor – Shooting star candlestick

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The intermediate trend (three weeks to three months) for Suncor is up.

But the shooting star candlestick is a warning signal: it is like a yellow light indicating caution. I do not want to see a close below $40 which is a support level. The next major support point would then be $35.

Technical analysis for Suncor listed on the TSX - shooting star candlestick

Suncor - 2-Year Weekly Chart

Shoppers Drug Mart – Bullish white candlestick

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Bullish white candlestick for Shoppers Drug Mart

Daily Chart - (SC)

There was a bullish white candlestick for Shoppers Drug Mart (SC) on Friday, February 4.

It opened at $37.15 which was above the support level of $37.00.  The stock traded to a high of $39.13 and closed at $38.77 which was a gain of 4.18% for the day. The tall white candlestick is the graphical representation of that price action.

Please customize and then reference the full-size chart from Bigcharts.com for a better overall view of the trend.  Shoppers has been trading sideways since October so a break above the $40.00 resistance level would be a significant event.

Read the Globe and Mail article,  Shoppers Drug Mart’s quest for an elixir, for some current background information.

Note: You must take a couple of minutes to customize Bigcharts.com so that the links to the charts open with the indicators used in this site.

Note: This analysis is for educational purposes. Please conduct your own analysis or consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions

The chart snippets are from BigCharts.com which I recommend and have used for fifteen years.

Copyright © TradeOnline.ca All rights reserved

Shaven head white candlestick for the TSX

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Candlestick Charts: Shaven head candlestick or the TSX

TSX Daily Candlestick Chart - Feb 1, 2011

Technical analysis, using candlestick charts, allows you to gain a quick snapshot of the price action without bogging down in the details.

Today (Tuesday), the TSX opened above Monday’s close and high for that day. The high is indicated by the shadow on Monday’s candlestick.  So, we had a very nice opening to start Tuesday trading: the opening is the rudder for the trading day.

Then the market continued to trade higher and closed at 13,712 which was very close to the high of 13,714. Anytime a stock or index closes near the high of the day, that is a very good closing. It is called a shaven head white candlestick because there is no shadow.

Another important principle to discuss regarding technical analysis is the reversal of resistance to support.  Yes, when resistance is penetrated with a close above that level, that resistance level (13,500) reverses rolls and now becomes support.

Reference the full sized 6-month Bigchart for the TSX,

TSX in a consolidation pattern – Jan 25, 2011

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Technical Analysis - TSX Daily Chart - Support Levels

TSX Daily Chart - Jan 26, 2011

Technical analysis gives you an objective view of the market.

The TSX  is in a consolidation range between 13,200 and 13,500.  The snippet to the right is taken from this customized chart for Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

I would consider a break below 13,200 a reason to liquidate some long positions.

Major support is at 13,000 and a break through this level could see a retracement to the  12,500  level.

TSX broke 13,500 at miday – will it hold?

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13,500 is an area of major resistance for TSX.

TSX Chart

TSX At Midday on Jan 18, 2011

It broke this level at midday. Will it hold above this level today, and how will it react tomorrow at the open? These are important questions as one decides to commit more money to the market.

The chart at the right is a snippet of the daily candlestick chart for the TSX.  The red line is the 40-day moving average, the blue line is the 20-day moving average and the yellow line is the 10-day moving average.  I use these three averages on the 6-month and 1-year charts with daily candlesticks. Each candlestick represents a day of price action.

Update: Market Close

The TSX is in good shape at this stage as the market closed at 13,559 near the high of the day:

  • The price is above all three short-term moving averages — 10-day, 20-day and 40-day.
  • The 10-day moving average has not crossed below the 20-day average.
  • The market closed on a nice white candlestick — opened low and closed on a high.

An important aspect of support and resistance is whenever resistance is penetrated — 13,500 in this case — it reverses its role and now becomes support.  So, is 13,500 a new  support level for the TSX?  Yes, it is now support but the level has not been tested and the level has only been broken for one day.

Where will the market open tomorrow?