BullCharts provides several advanced chart types including: Point and
Figure, Gann Swing, Kagi, and Renko (to name a few) that provide a
unique picture of the price history. Specifically they examine trends
in price without respect to time.
These can be accessed from the chart type dropdown:
Fig. 1 - Accessing advanced chart types
These chart types plot data from left to right, however the time axis
does not show consistent time intervals. Rather, the charts advance in
response to events such as trend changes.
Fig. 2 - A typical Point & Figure chart
This unusual treatment of time can give insight into the behaviour of a
security, however some may find it difficult to get used to at first.
To assist in becoming familiar with these tools, BullCharts has a mode
that will allow these indicators to be presented over a conventional
bar chart.
Follow these steps:
- Create a new chart
- Change its chart type to point and figure
- Right click on the point and figure plot and select properties
- Tick "overlay price plot". The "use normal time" option will also automatically get ticked.
- You may also want to change the Box Size setting in the Parameters tab to a round number.
- Press OK
The time axis will be stretched out and the individual Point &
Figure crosses will be placed against the days on which they occurred.
This can be used to better understand how the chart works. Figure 3
shows how the three columns labelled in figure 2 were generated.
Fig. 3 - Point & Figure overlayed on price
The two options behave as follows:
"Overlay price plot" - this causes the bar chart to be drawn in
addition to the point and figure plot. You can later select this plot
and change it to candles if you like.
"Use normal time" - this prevents the point and figure from making its adjustments to the time axis.
It is possible to tick either option without the other, however they
would almost always be used together. (Specifically if you select only
the first then the price plot will appear crowded and will draw over
itself).
For more information on the creation or interpretation of individual
chart types, there is a great deal of literature available both online
and in books.
|