Best Stochastic Settings for 4 Hour Chart

Table of Contents

What is the Stochastic?

Stochastic is a technical indicator used by forex traders to identify potential trend reversals and overbought or oversold conditions in the market. It is a momentum oscillator that compares the closing price of a currency pair to its price range over a certain period of time. The stochastic indicator is based on the idea that as prices trend higher, closing prices tend to be closer to the upper end of the price range, while in a downtrend, closing prices tend to be closer to the lower end of the price range. By measuring the distance between the closing price and the price range, the stochastic oscillator can give traders insights into whether a currency pair is overbought or oversold, and whether a reversal may be imminent.

What is the Best Stochastic Settings for 4 Hour Chart?

The stochastic oscillator is a widely used technical indicator in forex trading that tries helps traders identify potential market reversals and overbought or oversold conditions. While there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to setting up the stochastic oscillator, the best settings for a 4-hour chart may vary depending on a trader’s trading style, risk tolerance, and market conditions. Generally, traders may want to use a longer time period when analyzing a higher timeframe chart like the 4-hour chart, as shorter time periods can generate more false signals. A common setting for the stochastic oscillator on a 4-hour chart is 14, 3, 3, which means that the indicator is calculating the %K and %D lines based on the last 14 price bars, using a 3-period simple moving average for smoothing. However, traders may also experiment with settings such as 21, 9, 9 or 10, 6, 6, depending on their preference and market conditions. Ultimately, finding the best stochastic settings for a 4-hour chart requires experimentation and testing to determine what works best for an individual trader’s unique trading strategy and goals.

Best Stochastic Settings for 4 Hour Chart Strategy

Here’s a possible trading strategy using the stochastic oscillator with the best settings for a 4-hour chart:

Set up the stochastic oscillator with the recommended settings of 14, 3, 3, or any other settings that work best for your trading style.
Identify the trend direction on the 4-hour chart by using other technical analysis tools such as moving averages or trend lines.
Wait for the stochastic oscillator to generate a signal that the market is overbought or oversold. This occurs when the %K line crosses above or below the %D line and the oscillator is above 80 or below 20, respectively.
Place a buy or sell order once the signal is confirmed and the market trend is in your favor.

Buy Signal

Here are the details of a possible buy signal using the best stochastic settings for a 4-hour chart:

Wait for the stochastic oscillator to cross below the oversold level of 20 and then move back above it.
Confirm the stochastic signal by looking for technical analysis to show a bullish trend, such as an uptrend on the chart, a bullish candlestick pattern, or a bullish divergence.
Enter a buy order at the market price or at a retracement level if the market is in an uptrend.

Sell Signal

Here are the details of a possible sell signal using the best stochastic settings for a 4-hour chart:

Wait for the stochastic oscillator to cross above the overbought level of 80 and then move back below it.
Confirm the stochastic signal by looking for technical analysis to show a bearish trend, such as a downtrend on the chart, a bearish candlestick pattern, or a bearish divergence.
Enter a sell order at the market price or at a retracement level if the market is in a downtrend.

Best Stochastic Settings for 4 Hour Chart Pros & Cons

Pros

Helps identify potential market reversals and overbought or oversold conditions.
Works well on higher timeframe charts like the 4-hour chart, as it provides more reliable signals than on shorter timeframes.
Offers a clear visual representation of market momentum and can help traders make informed trading decisions.

Cons

Can generate false signals in choppy or sideways markets, leading to loses if the trader acts on these signals.
May lag behind price action, causing traders to enter trades too late or exit too early.
Requires some skill and experience to interpret correctly, and traders may need to experiment with different settings to find what works best for them.
Should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as fundamental analysis and market sentiment also play a role in forex trading.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the stochastic oscillator with the best settings for a 4-hour chart can be a valuable tool for forex traders to identify potential market reversals and overbought or oversold conditions. However, it also has some limitations, such as generating false signals in choppy or sideways markets and lagging behind price action. Traders should use it as part of a comprehensive trading strategy that includes fundamental analysis and proper risk management techniques.

The Forex Geek

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.