After a strong counter trend move, as long as the longer term trend remains intact, looking for opportunities to “buy the dip” and “sell the rally” can be a solid trading strategy.

When identifying a pair that is in an uptrend, the concept of buying the dip can be put to good use.  The idea is that as the pair continues to move higher, invariably there will be pullbacks/retracements/dips that occur.  When those take place, the trader is presented with an opportunity to enter the trade – buy on a dip – in the direction of the trend at a more favorable price.

Take a look at the historical 4 hour chart of the AUDUSD below for a visual on this concept…

Buying the Dip in an Uptrend

To time our entry into the trade, an oscillator can be used so we can enter when bearish (downside) momentum shifts to bullish (upside) momentum.  In this case we chose Slow Stochastics.  (Note the timing of the entry with the Slow Stochastics crossover to the upside in the circles.)  When the buying on dips a stop can be placed below the lowest candle or wick that occurred during the retracement or dip.  In this case, we also have a valid ascending trendline (black line) that can be used for stop placement below the trendline.

In a downtrend, the process would be reversed.  Take a look at the historical 1 hour chart of the USDCAD below…

Selling the Rally in a Downtrend

To time our entry into this trade, we can enter when bullish (upside) momentum shifts to bearish (downside) momentum.  Again we chose Slow Stochastics.  (Note the timing of the entry with the Slow Stochastics crossover to the downside in the circles.)  When selling on rallies a stop can be placed above the highest candle or wick that occurred during the retracement or rally.  In this case we again have a valid descending trendline that can be used for stop placement above the trendline.

All the best and good trading,

Richard Krivo

RKrivoFX@gmail.com

@RKrivoFX