Tuesday, July 24, 2007

What is technical analysis?

Technical analysis is all about studying stock price graphs and a few momentum oscillators derived thereof. It must be understood that technical studies are based entirely on prices and do not include balance sheets, P&L accounts (fundamental analysis), the assumption being that the markets are efficient and all possible price sensitive information is built into the price graph of a security / index.

Therefore, technical analysis supports the efficient market theory as against the "random walk theory" which supports the belief that stocks can be bought / sold on random events like flipping a coin!!! Technical analysis is more dynamic as compared to fundamental analysis based on one simple argument - fundamental analysts depend on corporate events like quarterly results and special announcements like earnings guidance and policy changes in operations to generate a buy / sell recommendation.

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