Mastering Futures Trading Indicators Thinkorswim for Success

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Thinkorswim is a powerful platform that allows traders to access a wide range of futures trading indicators. These indicators can help traders make informed decisions and increase their chances of success.

To master futures trading indicators thinkorswim, it's essential to understand how to use them effectively. Thinkorswim offers a variety of indicators, including moving averages, relative strength index (RSI), and Bollinger Bands.

A well-placed moving average can help traders identify trends and predict future price movements. Thinkorswim's moving average indicator can be customized to suit different trading strategies.

RSI is a momentum indicator that measures the magnitude of recent price changes to determine overbought or oversold conditions. Thinkorswim's RSI indicator can be used to identify potential reversals and confirm trading signals.

What Are Futures Trading Indicators?

Thinkorswim indicators are a must-have for futures traders, providing data-driven insights to make informed decisions.

Thinkorswim indicators help traders analyze various aspects of trading, including price, volume, and volatility, giving you an edge in the market.

These indicators are not just lines on a chart, but essential tools for making smart trades and minimizing risks.

They can be customized using thinkscript, making them adaptable to different trading styles.

Thinkorswim indicators are a game-changer for traders, providing the information needed to maximize potential gains.

Types of Indicators

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Thinkorswim offers a vast array of indicators that can be categorized into different types, each serving a unique purpose.

The platform provides indicators such as support and resistance lines, Fibonacci retracements, and channels, which can be found under various tabs on the site.

These indicators can be adjusted to fit your trading objectives, whether you're into stocks, ETFs, or SPX.

For traders in specific regions like Canada or Australia, thinkorswim offers localized support and resources.

Members have access to a wealth of videos and posts that enhance their trading experience.

Adx and Adxr

The ADX and ADXR indicators are a powerful duo for measuring trend strength. A high ADX value indicates a strong trend.

These indicators are often used in combination with other tools like Moving Averages or Bollinger Bands to confirm trend strength and direction. I've found that using ADX and ADXR with Moving Averages can help identify potential trend reversals.

A low ADX value suggests a weak trend, which can be a sign that the market is consolidating or about to change direction. This knowledge can be invaluable for traders looking to time their entries and exits.

ADX and ADXR are useful for traders of all levels, from beginners to experienced professionals.

Also as a Momentum Indicator?

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The RSI indicator can be used as a momentum indicator, but you need to formulate specific and quantified trading rules.

While it's not the most conventional use of the RSI, it's definitely possible with the right approach.

The key is to understand that the RSI is primarily a measure of overbought and oversold conditions, but it can also be used to gauge the strength of a trend.

You'll need to develop a clear set of criteria for when to buy or sell based on the RSI's momentum signals.

This might involve setting specific levels for the RSI to cross above or below, or using it in conjunction with other indicators to confirm trading decisions.

The RSI's ability to identify momentum shifts can be a valuable tool in your trading arsenal, but it requires careful consideration and testing to get right.

Technical Analysis

Technical analysis is a crucial aspect of futures trading, and thinkorswim offers a wealth of tools to help you navigate it.

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Technical indicators like Moving Averages, MACD, and RSI provide traders with insights into market trends, momentum, and volatility, making them essential tools for any serious trader.

These indicators can be customized using thinkscript to suit your trading style, whether you're focused on business securities or dabbling in SPX and ETFs.

Moving Averages can help identify trends and potential reversals, while MACD can indicate the strength and direction of a trend.

RSI, or Relative Strength Index, is a popular indicator used to analyze market conditions and identify potential trading opportunities.

High volume often indicates strong investor interest and can be a sign of an impending trend reversal or continuation, making volume indicators a valuable tool in combination with price charts and other technical indicators.

The platform's support page is a treasure trove of studies and tutorials that guide you every step of the way, ensuring you can customize and monitor the performance of these indicators as you gain more experience.

Customization and Alerts

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Thinkorswim offers extensive customization options to tailor your trading environment. You can swap out the pre-populated symbols with your desired futures contracts by clicking on the watchlist panel and typing in the symbol of the futures contract you want to monitor.

The platform allows you to modify the arrangement of panes, including the number and size, by clicking on the layout button at the top right corner of each pane. This lets you resize and move the panes according to your preferences.

To incorporate additional panes, such as news feeds or extra charts, just click on the "+" button at the top of the interface and select the type of pane you want to add. This can be a game-changer for traders who want to stay on top of market news and trends.

Custom thinkscripts are user-defined indicators created using the thinkscript language, allowing traders to create their own indicators tailored to their specific needs and trading strategies. These indicators can be used to provide alerts based on signals being generated.

To enable or disable alerts from your indicator, follow these steps:

  1. Apply the indicator to your chart.
  2. Open the Customizing window.
  3. Locate the Alerts Settings.
  4. Enable or Disable the alert.

Custom Thinkscripts

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Custom Thinkscripts allow traders to create their own indicators, tailored to their specific needs and trading strategies. These user-defined indicators are created using the thinkscript language.

Trading isn't rocket science, it's a skill you build and work on like any other. That's why thinkorswim indicators are a valuable tool for any trader.

Custom Thinkscripts aren't a silver bullet for your trading plan, but they can be a powerful addition to your trading arsenal. They can help you stay one step ahead of the market.

Thinkorswim offers custom Thinkscripts, giving traders the ability to create their own indicators. This is a great way to personalize your trading strategy and stay focused on your goals.

Trading is a battlefield, and the more knowledge you have, the better prepared you'll be. By learning how to create custom Thinkscripts, you'll be better equipped to handle the challenges of trading.

Trade Tracking

Trade tracking is a breeze with this platform. The "Trade" button at the top of the list allows us to place trades and keep track of our open trades.

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We can see our open positions in real-time, which is super helpful for staying on top of things. The "Dashboard" button in the 6th position lets us quickly place trades and view the tick value and initial margin requirement for the futures contract.

A glance at the trade button shows us that our position is open, and we can close it by clicking the position at the bottom of the window and creating a closing order. This makes it easy to manage our trades and stay organized.

Customize Your Workspace

Thinkorswim offers extensive customization options to tailor your trading environment.

You can swap out pre-populated symbols with your desired futures contracts by clicking on the watchlist panel and typing in the symbol of the futures contract you want to monitor.

For example, enter the "/ES” symbol for the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract.

You can modify the arrangement of panes, including the number and size, by clicking on the layout button at the top right corner of each pane.

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This allows you to resize and move the panes according to your preferences.

To incorporate additional panes, such as news feeds or extra charts, just click on the "+” button at the top of the interface and select the type of pane you want to add.

You can add a new watchlist to the Thinkorswim futures trading interface by customizing the platform.

Cost

Thinkorswim charges a usage fee of $2.25 per futures contract per side, plus mandatory exchange and regulatory fees.

You'll also pay the same futures trading commission online or via a broker.

Alerts

Alerts can be a game-changer for traders, providing timely reminders of key market events.

To customize alerts in ThinkOrSwim, you'll need to apply the indicator to your chart first. This is a crucial step, as alerts are tied to specific indicators.

Next, open the Customizing window to access the alerts settings. This is where the magic happens, and you can enable or disable alerts with just a few clicks.

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Thinkorswim indicators have an ability to provide alerts based on signals being generated, but these can be a nuisance if you're not interested in an audible reminder. Luckily, these can be easily enabled or disabled.

If you're looking to disable alerts, follow these steps:

  1. Apply the indicator to your chart.
  2. Open the Customizing window.
  3. Locate the Alerts Settings.
  4. Enable or Disable the alert.

Strategies and Time Frames

The RSI trading strategy is a simple yet effective way to trade futures, and understanding its time frames is crucial for success. A 2-day RSI strategy can perform just as well as "buy and hold" from 1993 until November 2020, with an investment compounded to 861,000.

Shorter time frames seem to work best for the RSI, with two and three days producing the best results. However, the best time frame for RSI strategy is daily bars, but it ultimately depends on the properties of the markets you are trading.

You can combine different time frames with the RSI strategy to enter positions in the underlying trend of the instrument. For example, you can use a longer RSI to determine the longer trend while entering on short-term pullbacks.

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Here are some common RSI time frames to consider:

Benefits of

Thinkorswim is a powerful trading platform that offers numerous benefits for futures traders. Its advanced analysis tools, including charts, indicators and drawing tools, help traders make better decisions based on market trends and futures price movements.

The platform provides various order types, such as market, limit, stop and conditional orders, which lets traders execute their strategies more effectively. This flexibility is a game-changer for traders who need to adapt to changing market conditions.

Thinkorswim's interface is also intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for both novice and experienced traders. This user-friendly design is a major advantage for traders who are new to the platform.

Extensive customization options are available, allowing traders to set up their trading environment according to their preferences. By tailoring their platform to their needs, traders can stay focused and avoid distractions.

Real-time market data is provided, allowing traders to access the latest pricing information to make timely trading decisions. This feature is essential for traders who need to act quickly in response to market changes.

Strategies and Time Frames

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A mean reversion trading system can be created using the Relative Strength Index (RSI) to pinpoint when a security is oversold or overbought. The RSI oscillates between 0 and 100, making it a useful tool for identifying extreme price movements.

The RSI can be used in various time frames, but the best time frame for an RSI strategy is daily bars, according to our research. However, it's essential to note that the best time frame depends on the properties of the markets you're trading.

You can combine different time frames with the RSI strategy to improve its performance. For example, using a longer RSI to determine the longer trend while entering on short-term pullbacks can be an effective approach.

Here are some common RSI time frames and their characteristics:

It's worth noting that the choice between RSI 14 and RSI 21 depends on your trading style, preferences, and the timeframe you're analyzing. RSI 14 may provide more sensitive and quicker signals, while RSI 21 may smooth out the fluctuations and offer signals that are more reliable for longer-term trends.

Ultimately, the best RSI time frame and strategy will depend on your specific trading goals and the markets you're trading. It's essential to backtest different time frames and strategies to find what works best for you.

Price Rate of Change Strategy

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The Price Rate of Change Strategy is a popular way to measure price momentum. Traders often use it to identify trends and potential reversals.

The Rate of Change (ROC) indicator is one of the most commonly used momentum indicators. It's often referred to as the momentum indicator.

The ROC indicator measures the percentage change in price over a specific period. This helps traders gauge the speed and direction of price movements.

Traders often look for ways to measure the price momentum. The ROC indicator can be used to identify overbought and oversold conditions.

By analyzing the ROC indicator, traders can gain insights into the market's sentiment and potential price movements. This can help them make more informed trading decisions.

Using Strategies Effectively

A simple RSI strategy can perform well, even compared to "buy and hold", but it's essential to factor in commissions, slippage, and taxes. This strategy buys when the RSI crosses below 15 and sells when it exceeds 85.

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The key to success lies in finding the sweet spot, and research indicates that shorter time frames work best for the RSI on stocks. A two-day RSI strategy outperforms a ten-day RSI strategy, spending about the same amount of time in the market.

Combining different time frames can also be effective, but it's crucial to balance exposure and drawdowns. A strategy that combines a long-term RSI with a short-term RSI can perform well, but it's not always better than a single-RSI formula.

Common Pitfalls

Using strategies effectively can be a challenge, and it's essential to be aware of common pitfalls that can hinder your progress. One common issue is having your browser set to automatically open media files, which can cause confusion when trying to install a TOS indicator.

TOS files can look like video or audio files to your computer, so make sure to check your browser settings to avoid this issue. I've seen this happen to many people, and it's always a good idea to double-check your settings.

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To avoid errors, don't try to open the file directly. Instead, import it directly from TOS. This will save you time and frustration in the long run.

If you're experiencing issues with downloading the indicator, try downloading it directly from the Simpler Trading website. This will ensure that you get the correct file and avoid any potential errors.

Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:

  • Browsers set to automatically open media files
  • Trying to open the file directly instead of importing it from TOS
  • Downloading the indicator multiple times and deleting the original copy
  • Having issues with the download link in an email

Using Strategies Effectively

A simple RSI strategy can perform well, but it's essential to factor in commissions, slippage, and taxes. The strategy buys when the RSI crosses below 15 and sells when it exceeds 85, resulting in a 100,000 investment compounded to 861,000.

Combining different time frames can be done with the RSI strategy, but it's crucial to define a trend. This can be achieved by using a longer RSI to determine the longer trend while entering on short-term pullbacks.

The sweet spot for the RSI is found in shorter time frames, with the best results coming from two and three days. However, you need to work with backtesting yourself to find out what works and what doesn't.

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The best way to use RSI strategies is in combination with other tools, such as volume, indicators, or relative performance to other stocks or assets. This can improve the strategy and make it more effective.

Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind when using RSI strategies:

  • Use shorter time frames for better results.
  • Combine RSI with other tools for improved performance.
  • Backtest your strategy to find the sweet spot.
  • Factor in commissions, slippage, and taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best indicator for futures trading?

For futures trading, the MACD (Moving Average Convergence/Divergence) is a top indicator to consider, as it's a trend-following momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of a price. This powerful tool can help traders make informed decisions and stay ahead of market trends.

How to look up futures on thinkorswim?

To search for a futures contract on thinkorswim, simply type the symbol in the search bar on the thinkorswim web platform. You can access the platform through schwab.com or trade.thinkorswim.com.

Can I trade futures with $100?

Yes, you can start trading futures with as little as $100, but this is just the beginning of your expenses to consider. Funding your account is only one part of creating a budget for your trading business.

Sheldon Kuphal

Writer

Sheldon Kuphal is a seasoned writer with a keen insight into the world of high net worth individuals and their financial endeavors. With a strong background in researching and analyzing complex financial topics, Sheldon has established himself as a trusted voice in the industry. His areas of expertise include Family Offices, Investment Management, and Private Wealth Management, where he has written extensively on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices.

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