Trader Lab · Charts
Chart basics, read price without indicator overload
Candlesticks show open, high, low and close for a chosen timeframe. Higher timeframes smooth noise; lower ones show more detail and whipsaw. Indicators are optional, start by seeing trend vs range.
75%+ of retail investor accounts lose money trading CFDs.
Anatomy of a candle
The body spans open to close. Wicks mark high and low. Colour conventions differ (some use green/red, others white/black). The story is the same: where price travelled in that bar.
Timeframes
M1: M15 for very short detail; H1: H4 for intraday structure; D1: W1 for broader context. Switching timeframes can change what “the trend” looks like, define your working timeframe before judging a setup.
Trend vs range (simple)
Uptrends print higher highs and higher lows; downtrends the opposite. Ranges oscillate between support and resistance. Mis-labelling a range as a breakout is a common loss pattern, still not a signal service.
Keep tools light at first
One clean chart, one timeframe, and a written rule set beat ten indicators you do not understand. Practise on demo, then explore platform feature guides on this site.
FAQ
Which timeframe is best?
The one that matches how often you can watch the market. There is no magic timeframe.
Do I need paid indicators?
No. Price and volume (where available) are enough to learn structure.