Momentum Trading: Tutorial, Strategies & Review

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What Is Momentum Trading?

Momentum trading is a financial market strategy approach that capitalises on big and fast moves in the underlying price of a security.  Traders will look to buy securities when they are rising and sell them when they are falling.

In essence, momentum is the speed at which market values are changing in an asset.

Momentum readings can be further classified into two distinct categories: Absolute Momentum and Relative Momentum.

Absolute Momentum
Market behaviour in the price of an asset is based on its relationship to past performances using historical time sequences.

Relative momentum
Market behaviours in the prices of individual securities are compared with one another (showing relative strength that differentiates between strong-performing assets and weak-performing securities).

How Is Momentum Calculated?

First, traders must understand what the word “momentum” actually means in practical terms.  For these purposes, a straightforward definition of the concept can be interpreted as follows:

Momentum = Underlying Trend Strength

Let’s consider market price activity using three different examples:

Positive Momentum

In our first example, we can see a market showing positive price momentum. In this case, the asset is consistently holding above its 200-period exponential moving average (EMA) while its trend continues moving higher.

Negative Momentum

In our second example, we can see a market showing negative momentum.  In this case, the asset consistently holds below the 200-period EMA while it continues moving lower.

No Directional Momentum

In our third example, we can see a market with no clear directional momentum.  In this case, the asset price consistently oscillates above and below its 200-period EMA.  Prices are trading in an erratic fashion (while moving sideways) and there is no significant trend dictating the value of the asset.

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Momentum Trading Indicators

There are many indicators that can be used to judge the momentum of an asset. Some of the best momentum indicators are:

• RSI
• Stochastic
• ADX
• CCI
• MACD

With these indicators in mind, let’s look at some of the strategies you can use for momentum trading.

Momentum Trading Strategies

Strategy 1

What is needed:

• ADX
• 200 period moving average
• Daily chart

The Average Directional Index (ADX) is a popular trading tool that is used to determine the trend momentum of an asset.

As the ADX level rises, it indicates a strengthening trend. In other words, the trend might be bullish or it might be bearish  — all we know is that the underlying trend is gaining strength.

To the left of the price chart, we can see that the EURGBP price begins moving higher.

As the ADX value rises towards 100, we can see that the underlying trend is also strengthening.

In this example, the ADX strengthens as the EURGBP price moves above the 200-period moving average. This essentially gives us two independent pieces of evidence that suggest strength is building in the underlying price trend.

How to enter a position:

• Wait for the ADX to trend higher
• Wait until price breaks the 200-day moving average

Once you have entered your long position your stop-loss should be placed under the most recent swing in price, while your target is 2x that. Giving you a 2:1 profit ratio.

Strategy 2

Another strategy traders can use is to spot divergences in price action.

What you will need for this strategy is:

• RSI
• Four-hour chart

Divergence is when price trends in one direction, but the indicator (in this case the RSI) starts to trend in the opposite direction.

In the example shown above, we can see that the S&P 500 price is rallying to reach record highs. However, we can also see that the RSI indicator is making lower highs, signalling divergence.

So, to enter a position we would look for:

• Price trending in one direction
• RSI Trends lower
• Enter in the direction of the RSI (in the above case this would be a sell position)

Similar to the first strategy the stop-loss would go above or below the recent swing in price, while the take-profit target will be the next key level, that is at least 2x our stop.

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Advantages & Disadvantages Of Momentum Trading

There are some fantastic aspects to momentum trading that can help you to make quick profits. However, there are also negative aspects as well.

So let’s take a look at both sides:

Advantages:

• Big profits in a short period – fast moves as momentum builds.
• Great for day trading – As profits can be taken quickly, you can take short term trades (although it can also be used on longer timeframes as shown in the strategies above).
• Take advantage of the volatility – you can capitalise when markets surge in one direction.

Disadvantages:

• Can take up a lot of time – As moves are usually fast, you need to constantly monitor your charts
• Potential for quick losses – With the potential for fast profits also comes the potential for fast losses.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to momentum trading.

But, while that is obviously a good thing, it is still vital to backtest every strategy and understand the risks. It takes a lot of discipline to master risk management, as fast profits also mean the potential for fast losses, so it is vital you reduce risks.

However, if used correctly, it can certainly result in impressive returns.