Sounds like you’ve got a good quality-first approach on the fundamentals. Over the long term you’d hope that shines through, even if the timing isn’t always perfect.
For timing, I mainly use the 50SMA/20EMA (as its a bit quicker than SMA) for entries, then the 10/20EMA plus support levels when thinking about taking profits or cutting as protecting gains is key for me.
Relative strength is a big one too — I want to see early signs of stock outperforming the market/sector, not just moving with it.
On volume, I look at 10-day vs 3-month volume and pay particular attention if a day's trading is above the 20-day average. OBV/PVT are good shouts though I've never used them myself, but I’ll add them to the OnlyCharts roadmap.
AB Dynamics looks interesting, though a bit bigger and slower than my usual sub-£50m focus. I’ll look at covering it in a future Stock in Focus with charts too.
“Fundamentals tell me what I might want to buy. Charts help me decide when to buy it” … spot on!
Thank you for a great article. Fits perfectly with my approach. Most investors in the UK, it seems to me, take a value approach and don’t pay much attention on the ‘when to buy’ (and ‘when to sell’) question.
I use the same indicators as the one you mentioned: price daily & weekly, 10/20/50/200 SMAs, relative strength ranking, Donchian 52w high & low and Volume (incl 10/21 day MA). I also like to see ATRs - useful for trailing stops though the 20/50 dMA works too.
I was wondering why the world would need another charting package but I currently have to subscribe to Stockopedia, TradingView and MarketInOut to get everything I need. I use Stocko for StockReports, RNS, screening using Q & M StockRanks and portfolio tracking. The charts are awful and I have pestered them to do something about it but they are not interested (even an API to TradingView would be better than what they offer currently!). So I am forced to use TradingView for charts, which is fine but I resent paying for it. I use MarketInOut for tracking markets (FTSE indices etc) and like the fact that it includes indicators such as volume, NH-NL, advance vs decline etc. I also dabbled with the back-testing.
I also looked at TradeZilla and similar trade tracking tools but they are too US-focused so I have invested a lot of time developing my own trade tracking tools to monitor KPIs like win rate, average in, average loss, expectancy etc
Bottom line is that it would great to have a UK-focused tool that bought all this together (or at least the charting element).
When to sell, too! — they’ve saved me a few times.
I use Stocko for fundamentals, but I’ve not managed to find any charting software tailored specifically to what I want. There’s too much on the screen, or they are geared towards day traders. LSE and ADVN charts are too simple and it’s impossible to work through all the ads.
What I’d really like is one simple calm place with big beautiful charts, where I can log in daily, see the same indicators and layers every day, and make a quick decision: wait, hold, buy, sell or take some profits.
For me, the repeatable process is the key. Same timeframes, same indicators, same routine. Over time, you’ll start to recognise similar patterns.
So I’d see it less as a full-blown charting package and more like an execution cockpit: UK-focused, distraction-free, simple enough for someone who doesn’t know much TA to make an informed decision based on the chart within 60 seconds, but built on the tools that have served me well.
I’ll look at adding the indicators you use too, while making sure it stays elegantly simple.
When it launches, I’ll drop you an email. I’d really value your feedback! Thank you.
Thanks for your great articles, much appreciated that you share your philosophy. For charting I am increasingly looking to use charting as a key way of managing my portfolio (which I am trying to cut as I hold far too many stocks). I always filter for what I consider as sound fundamentals, profit, debt, turnover & cash balance. I also like to see strong ROCE, ROE and ROA. There are plenty of stocks that fit these criteria but I have not read the chart and so have invested in too many 'good' companies that are in price decline. I am slowly learning that good metrics are only part of the bigger picture so I now use charting and particularly look at price compared to the 25 and 50EMA's. I want to see price above these and the EMA's upwardly trending. I also look at the on balance volume (OBV) although in Trading view I use PVT (Price, volume, trend). I would like to use volume but I'm not confident in it's use as yet. My charting is always done on a daily timeframe. One example of one that fits most of my criteria (fails on the price to 50 EMA as yet) is AB Dynamics (ADBP). Keep up the good work on your substack.
Thanks @Geebee.
Sounds like you’ve got a good quality-first approach on the fundamentals. Over the long term you’d hope that shines through, even if the timing isn’t always perfect.
For timing, I mainly use the 50SMA/20EMA (as its a bit quicker than SMA) for entries, then the 10/20EMA plus support levels when thinking about taking profits or cutting as protecting gains is key for me.
Relative strength is a big one too — I want to see early signs of stock outperforming the market/sector, not just moving with it.
On volume, I look at 10-day vs 3-month volume and pay particular attention if a day's trading is above the 20-day average. OBV/PVT are good shouts though I've never used them myself, but I’ll add them to the OnlyCharts roadmap.
AB Dynamics looks interesting, though a bit bigger and slower than my usual sub-£50m focus. I’ll look at covering it in a future Stock in Focus with charts too.
Thanks for your support!
“Fundamentals tell me what I might want to buy. Charts help me decide when to buy it” … spot on!
Thank you for a great article. Fits perfectly with my approach. Most investors in the UK, it seems to me, take a value approach and don’t pay much attention on the ‘when to buy’ (and ‘when to sell’) question.
I use the same indicators as the one you mentioned: price daily & weekly, 10/20/50/200 SMAs, relative strength ranking, Donchian 52w high & low and Volume (incl 10/21 day MA). I also like to see ATRs - useful for trailing stops though the 20/50 dMA works too.
I was wondering why the world would need another charting package but I currently have to subscribe to Stockopedia, TradingView and MarketInOut to get everything I need. I use Stocko for StockReports, RNS, screening using Q & M StockRanks and portfolio tracking. The charts are awful and I have pestered them to do something about it but they are not interested (even an API to TradingView would be better than what they offer currently!). So I am forced to use TradingView for charts, which is fine but I resent paying for it. I use MarketInOut for tracking markets (FTSE indices etc) and like the fact that it includes indicators such as volume, NH-NL, advance vs decline etc. I also dabbled with the back-testing.
I also looked at TradeZilla and similar trade tracking tools but they are too US-focused so I have invested a lot of time developing my own trade tracking tools to monitor KPIs like win rate, average in, average loss, expectancy etc
Bottom line is that it would great to have a UK-focused tool that bought all this together (or at least the charting element).
So I’m keen to find out more!
When to sell, too! — they’ve saved me a few times.
I use Stocko for fundamentals, but I’ve not managed to find any charting software tailored specifically to what I want. There’s too much on the screen, or they are geared towards day traders. LSE and ADVN charts are too simple and it’s impossible to work through all the ads.
What I’d really like is one simple calm place with big beautiful charts, where I can log in daily, see the same indicators and layers every day, and make a quick decision: wait, hold, buy, sell or take some profits.
For me, the repeatable process is the key. Same timeframes, same indicators, same routine. Over time, you’ll start to recognise similar patterns.
So I’d see it less as a full-blown charting package and more like an execution cockpit: UK-focused, distraction-free, simple enough for someone who doesn’t know much TA to make an informed decision based on the chart within 60 seconds, but built on the tools that have served me well.
I’ll look at adding the indicators you use too, while making sure it stays elegantly simple.
When it launches, I’ll drop you an email. I’d really value your feedback! Thank you.
Sounds good. Thank you!
OnlyCharts looks great, looking forward to trying it out!
Wait until you see the charts — they’ll be the most beautiful you’ve ever seen!
Thanks for your great articles, much appreciated that you share your philosophy. For charting I am increasingly looking to use charting as a key way of managing my portfolio (which I am trying to cut as I hold far too many stocks). I always filter for what I consider as sound fundamentals, profit, debt, turnover & cash balance. I also like to see strong ROCE, ROE and ROA. There are plenty of stocks that fit these criteria but I have not read the chart and so have invested in too many 'good' companies that are in price decline. I am slowly learning that good metrics are only part of the bigger picture so I now use charting and particularly look at price compared to the 25 and 50EMA's. I want to see price above these and the EMA's upwardly trending. I also look at the on balance volume (OBV) although in Trading view I use PVT (Price, volume, trend). I would like to use volume but I'm not confident in it's use as yet. My charting is always done on a daily timeframe. One example of one that fits most of my criteria (fails on the price to 50 EMA as yet) is AB Dynamics (ADBP). Keep up the good work on your substack.