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📊 Analysis and information · Beginner · 12 min read · Lesson 19 of 42 · Free with an account

Technical analysis for beginners: trends, support and resistance, candlesticks and indicators

Technical analysis studies price charts to find where buyers and sellers are likely to act. It does not predict the future. It helps you find trades where the possible reward is larger than the risk, and tells you where your idea is wrong.

Reading a candlestick chart

Each candle shows four prices for one period: open, high, low and close. A green (or white) candle closed higher than it opened; a red (or black) one closed lower. The thin lines (wicks) show the high and low.

  • A long lower wick at a low price shows buyers pushed back strongly.
  • A big candle closing near its high shows strong buying.
  • Small candles with long wicks on both sides show indecision.
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Questions people ask

Does technical analysis really work?

It works as a framework for planning trades and managing risk. No pattern works every time, so results depend on testing, risk control and discipline.

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Educational content only, not financial, investment or tax advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money. Look up any term in the trading glossary.