What is the Stochastic?
Stochastic indicators on a 1-hour chart, can provide insights into potential price reversals and overbought or oversold conditions in the market. In this article, we will explore some of the best stochastic settings for a 1-hour chart in forex trading, discussing how to optimize the parameters to suit your trading strategy and increase your chances of success. So, let’s dive in and uncover the optimal stochastic settings for your forex trading endeavors!
Best Stochastic Settings For 1 Hour Chart Strategy
Here’s a simple forex trading strategy that utilizes the stochastic oscillator with optimized settings for a 1-hour chart:
Strategy: Stochastic Swing Trading Strategy for 1-Hour Forex Chart
Indicators:
- Stochastic Oscillator: Settings – %K: 8, %D: 3, Slowing: 3
- Exponential Moving Average (EMA): 200-period
Timeframe: 1-hour chart
Entry Rules:
- Wait for the price to cross above the 200-period EMA, indicating an uptrend.
- Confirm the uptrend by checking that the Stochastic %K line (fast line) is above the %D line (slow line), and both lines are below the overbought level (typically 80).
- Look for a bullish crossover of the Stochastic lines, where the %K line crosses above the %D line.
- Enter a long trade (buy) when the above conditions are met.
Buy Signal

Here’s a buy signal using the stochastic oscillator with optimized settings for a 1-hour chart in forex, outlined in bullet points:
Buy Signal using Stochastic Oscillator for 1-Hour Forex Chart:
- Price has crossed above the 200-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), indicating an uptrend.
- Stochastic %K line (fast line) is above the %D line (slow line), confirming the uptrend momentum.
- Both Stochastic %K and %D lines are below the overbought level (typically 80), indicating no overbought conditions.
- Bullish crossover of the Stochastic lines, where the %K line crosses above the %D line.
- Enter a long trade (buy) when all the above conditions are met, indicating a potential buying opportunity.
Sell Signal

Here’s a sell signal using the stochastic oscillator with optimized settings for a 1-hour chart in forex, outlined in bullet points:
Sell Signal using Stochastic Oscillator for 1-Hour Forex Chart:
- Price has crossed below the 200-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), indicating a downtrend.
- Stochastic %K line (fast line) is below the %D line (slow line), confirming the downtrend momentum.
- Both Stochastic %K and %D lines are above the oversold level (typically 20), indicating no oversold conditions.
- Bearish crossover of the Stochastic lines, where the %K line crosses below the %D line.
- Enter a short trade (sell) when all the above conditions are met, indicating a potential selling opportunity.
Best Stochastic Settings For 1 Hour Chart Pros & Cons
Pros
Short-term trading opportunities
- The 1-hour chart is a shorter timeframe that can provide more frequent trading opportunities for traders who prefer shorter-term trading strategies.
Momentum confirmation
- Stochastic oscillator can help confirm the momentum of a trend, allowing traders to enter trades in the direction of the prevailing trend, which can increase the likelihood of trading success.
Customizable settings
- The stochastic oscillator has adjustable parameters such as %K, %D, and slowing, which can be optimized to suit a trader’s specific trading style and preferences.
Overbought/oversold conditions
- Stochastic oscillator can indicate when the market is overbought or oversold, which can help traders identify potential price reversals or corrections.
Cons
False signals
- Like any technical indicator, stochastic oscillator can generate false signals, leading to potential losses if trades are solely based on its signals. It’s important to use it in conjunction with other technical analysis tools or price action analysis for confirmation.
Lagging indicator
- Stochastic oscillator is a lagging indicator, meaning it may not provide timely signals during rapidly changing market conditions or high volatility periods.
Whipsaw movements
- Stochastic oscillator can generate whipsaw movements, where it provides conflicting signals in a short period, resulting in potential losses or confusion for traders.
Subjectivity in settings
- Determining the optimal settings for a specific currency pair or market condition may require trial and error, which can be subjective and time-consuming.
Market noise
- The 1-hour chart can be prone to market noise, and signals generated by stochastic oscillator may be less reliable in choppy or ranging markets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using stochastic oscillator with optimized settings for a 1-hour chart in forex can be a useful tool for identifying potential trading opportunities in the short-term. The customizable settings of the stochastic oscillator allow traders to tailor it to their specific trading style and preferences. It can confirm the momentum of a trend and help identify overbought/oversold conditions, providing information for making trading decisions.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that stochastic oscillator, like any technical indicator, has limitations. It may generate false signals, lag behind rapidly changing market conditions, and be subject to market noise.
Furthermore, determining the optimal settings for a specific currency pair or market condition may require trial and error, and subjectivity can be involved in the process. It’s crucial to practice proper risk management and adhere to your trading plan.
Overall, while stochastic oscillator can be a valuable tool for short-term trading on a 1-hour chart in forex, it’s important to thoroughly understand its pros and cons, and use it in combination with other analysis techniques to make informed trading decisions. Always exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and practice disciplined trading to mitigate risks and maximize potential opportunities.

Self-confessed Forex Geek spending my days researching and testing everything forex related. I have many years of experience in the forex industry having reviewed thousands of forex robots, brokers, strategies, courses and more. I share my knowledge with you for free to help you learn more about the crazy world of forex trading! Read more about me.