Zig Zag Indicator: Formula, Calculation, and How It’s Used

The indicator can lag in identifying the latest highs or lows in the market, and the most recent segment involving the current price might be redrawn. Hence, any signal it provides should be confirmed with other indicators. ZigZag is not trying to forecast the future price; it only helps to make sense of the past moves of the market.

This strategy requires the use of Stop Losses, placing them up to 40 pips depending on the trend. The same can be said about the breakout strategy based on the Zig Zag indicator, also using Stop Loss. Here, positions are opened upon the breakout of extrema and Stop Losses are set up to 15 pips higher or lower depending on whether the asset is being bought or sold. Unfortunately, there are no perfect tools in trading, and Zig Zag is no exception.

As you can see from the chart below, there’re three types of the flat pattern depending on the length of waves B and C. % change denotes the minimum price movement represented as a percentage. For this reason, a demo account with us is a great tool for investors who are looking to make a transition to leveraged trading. Since we can’t know for sure where the third wave will end, we’re going to employ candlestick chart techniques to spot a swing point in the market.

1. It is used to mark a minimum on the chart, it must be confirmed by two candles or more on the trend.
2. This feature makes it a great tool for spotting and trading most price action strategies, especially those that can be hard to spot.
3. ZigZag is not trying to forecast the future price; it only helps to make sense of the past moves of the market.
4. In general, with the Zig Zag indicator, it is possible to assess the market situation more effectively.
5. It confirms trends, spots reversals, and guides your trading decisions.

Even though the zig zag indicator is not predictive, it is still very useful. It is often used in conjunction with applications such as Elliott wave counts. Analysts can also use the historical highs and lows to draw lines to identify Fibonacci projections and retracements.

A simple zig zag indicator price action strategy that you can use in both bull and bear markets

Repeat the process, to get the moving average period 4, distinguish the color from the moving average 2.Again, repeat the process to display 30 moving average indicators. ZigZag doesn’t predict the behavior of price in the future, and only indicates considerable changes in past – for this reason in its calculation prices Close are used. Indicator https://1investing.in/ builds lines only according to actual data, the result of the graphical analysis looks like a broken trend figure on the price schedule. To define the direction of the trend, we recommend using classic tech analysis or trend indicators. Deviation sets the minimal price change necessary for the indicator to form a high/low on the chart.

What is Zig Zag Indicator: Settings and Strategies

It aids in uncovering underlying patterns and identifying crucial support and resistance levels, thereby serving as an invaluable tool in market analysis. However, it’s crucial to remember that the ZigZag indicator is a lagging tool, confirming price movements post-occurrence. Thus, it’s best utilized alongside other technical analysis instruments for forecasting and strategic planning. Advanced traders use the indicator with both Elliot Waves and Fibonacci projections in predicting likely future price movement.

How to read a ZigZag indicator?

ZigZag determines the most significant highs and lows of the price and connects them with straight lines ignoring small fluctuations. The ZigZag indicator helps traders automatically eliminate small price movements. The ZigZag feature on SharpCharts is not an indicator per se, but rather a means to filter out smaller price movements. A ZigZag set at 10 would ignore all price movements less than 10%; only price movements greater than 10% would be shown.

However, a common mistake is to interpret every movement as a significant trend. It’s important to set your parameters correctly, ensuring that minor price fluctuations don’t misguide your trading strategy. Zig Zag is a lagging technical indicator that is moving after the market, now in front of it. That means you may see zigzag indicator formula a movement almost ending, and suddenly, a Zig Zag indicator draws a line. Thus, you may consider using this indicator with other powerful technical indicators to help you spot an upcoming movement earlier. A such indicator is the Fibonacci retracement tool that helps traders to mark possible support and resistance lines.

Moreover, it helps locate “Head and Shoulders”, “Double Tops”, “Flags”, etc. The ZigZag indicator is a way of measuring price movements without unnecessary noise. It works by calculating the distance between price swings (highs and lows).

They are a chart pattern indicator for traders to consider opening a long position to seek profit from any upward trajectory. The ZigZag combination with the Elliott Wave Theory helps traders determine the positioning of each wave in the overall cycle. Traders can experiment with different percentage settings to see what gives the best results. For example, a setting of 4% may define waves more clearly than a setting of 5%. Stocks have their own patterns, so it is likely that traders will need to optimize the ZigZag indicator’s percentage setting to suit those currency pairs. The strategy using Zig Zag, Fibonacci, and MACD determines the entry point against the trend or the entry point on the reversal as precisely as possible.

There are dozens of different patterns, but they are easiest to identify using Zig Zag. The color, type, and width of lines can be changed in the algorithm settings, as well as the time frame, for which the tool will build lines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from Bridgewater State University and helps develop content strategies for financial brands.

Indicator Settings

Although the Zig Zag indicator does not predict future trends, it helps to identify potential support and resistance lines between plotted swing highs and swing lows. ZigZag lines can also reveal reversal patterns, i.e. double tops and bottoms, rising and falling wedges, and head and shoulders. The ZigZag and ZigZag (Retrace.) filter price action and do not have any predictive power. The ZigZag lines simply react when prices move a certain percentage. Chartists can apply an array of technical analysis tools to the ZigZag. Chartists can perform basic trend analysis by comparing reaction highs and lows.

Considering all the above, AdroFx is the perfect variant for anyone who doesn’t settle for less than the best. The strategy of trading based on Elliott Waves with the use of Zig Zag implies the determination of the main waves. The main waves A and C develop in the direction of the key trend with corrective movements B and D. A sell order is opened immediately after the completion of the B-C correction before the D impulse. Strategies with Elliott waves often use the Fibonacci Retracement, which allows specifying corrective movements of waves and opening trade on the formed trend.

Normally, closing prices of securities are used, and imaginary points are placed on the given chart where the price reversesby the set percentages. These points are then connected by straight lines and the required information appears. The zig zag indicator is a basic tool that analysts use to find out when a security’s trend is reversing. It is an excellent tool for any trader who follows indicators that use swing highsand swing lows. ZigZag indicator is a lagging indicator displaying highs and lows in a way that it becomes easier for traders to visualize price movements on charts. This formula-based approach allows traders to clearly see significant trends and reversals, free from the distraction of minor price shifts.

This indicator doesn’t work alone; it shines when paired with other trusty tools like Fibonacci retracements, Elliott Wave patterns, and other handy tools like stock alerts. Think of it as a reliable scout, highlighting key price points that validate the signals from these other methods. Together, they paint a more complete picture of the market landscape. Below you can see the default parameters for Zigzag in MetaTrader 4.