Today, we will tell you about Gann Swings and how they can benefit traders. As a rule, Gann distinguished 2- and 3-bar swings in his works. These swings are used to identify potential reverse points in price movements.
2-bar swing: In a 2-bar swing, you look at the highs and lows of two consecutive bars (or periods) on a price chart. If the second bar has a higher high and a higher low than the first one, it’s an upswing. Conversely, if the second bar has a lower high and a lower low than the first one, it’s considered a downswing. These swings help traders identify short-term changes in price direction. Internal bars are not taken into account.
3-bar swing: Similarly, a 3-bar swing considers the highs and lows of three consecutive bars on a price chart. To identify an upswing in a 3-bar swing, the third bar should have a higher high and higher low compared to both the first and second bars. For a downswing, the third bar should have a lower high and lower low compared to both the first and second bars. Like the 2-bar swing, the 3-bar swing helps traders identify potential reversals or continuation patterns in price movements.
Thus, you will get a zig-zag price movement pattern by connecting the swings. Example of 2-bar swings on the XAUUSD chart, H1 time frame:
Swing drawing is best done on a bar chart (not a candlestick). There are many variations of indicators for the MT terminal for Gann’s swing drawing. Still, they often show incorrect drawings in complex structures with many inside and outside bars.
The 2-bar and 3-bar swings in Gann analysis serve several purposes:
- Identifying Short-Term Trends: By analyzing consecutive bars’ highs and lows, traders can determine the direction of short-term price movements. This can help them identify trends early and potentially capitalize on them.
- Spotting Potential Reversals: These swing techniques can highlight potential turning points in the market. When a series of higher highs and higher lows (in the case of an upswing) or lower highs and lower lows (in the case of a downswing) is broken, it may indicate a reversal in price direction.
- Entry and Exit Points: Traders can use 2-bar and 3-bar swings to pinpoint entry and exit points for their trades. For example, they may enter a trade when a new swing is confirmed or exit a trade when the current swing pattern is invalidated.
- Confirmation of Other Technical Analysis Signals: These swing techniques can complement other technical analysis tools and indicators. For instance, if a swing pattern aligns with signals from moving averages or oscillators, it can provide additional confirmation for a trading decision.
- Managing Risk: By identifying swing patterns, traders can set stop-loss orders or adjust their risk management strategies accordingly. For example, they may place a stop-loss order below the previous swing’s low in an uptrend to limit potential losses if the trend reverses.
Overall, the 2-bar and 3-bar swings in Gann analysis help traders analyze short-term price movements, identify potential reversals, and make more informed trading decisions. However, like any technical analysis tool, they are not foolproof and should be used with other analysis and risk management techniques.
