How to Read Forex Charts
1. What is a Forex Chart?
A forex chart shows the price movement of a currency pair over time. For Bangladeshi traders, common pairs include EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/BDT. Charts display historical data so you can predict future moves. Most brokers used by bKash and Nagad users offer three chart types: line, bar, and candlestick.
2. The Three Chart Types
Line charts: Connect closing prices with a line. Good for a quick overview. Bar charts: Show open, high, low, and close (OHLC) for each period. Candlestick charts: The most popular. Each candle shows the open, high, low, and close. Green candles mean price went up; red candles mean price went down. Bangladeshi traders prefer candlestick charts because they are visual and easy to read on mobile screens.
3. Understanding Candlestick Patterns
Individual candles tell you market sentiment. A long green candle means strong buying pressure. A long red candle means strong selling. Patterns like doji (small body) indicate indecision. Hammer (long lower wick) suggests a potential reversal. Learn 5–10 basic patterns first. Practice on TradingView or MT4 using a demo account funded with bKash.
4. Timeframes Matter
Timeframes range from 1 minute (M1) to monthly (MN). Bangladeshi beginners should start with H4 (4-hour) or daily charts. These show clearer trends and reduce false signals. Avoid M1 or M5 until you have experience. Use Bangladesh Standard Time (BST) to align with major market sessions like London open (1 PM BST) and New York open (7 PM BST).
5. Trends: Uptrend, Downtrend, and Sideways
An uptrend has higher highs and higher lows – draw a rising trendline. A downtrend has lower highs and lower lows – draw a falling trendline. Sideways (range-bound) means price moves between support and resistance. Always trade in the direction of the trend. For example, if USD/BDT is in an uptrend, look for buy signals.
6. Support and Resistance
Support is a price level where buying pressure stops a fall. Resistance is where selling pressure stops a rise. Draw horizontal lines at these levels on your chart. When price breaks resistance, it often becomes new support. Use candlestick wicks to confirm these zones. bKash and Nagad traders can use TradingView’s drawing tools for free.
7. Indicators for Beginners
Start with simple indicators: Moving Average (MA) shows average price over time. Relative Strength Index (RSI) shows overbought or oversold conditions (above 70 = overbought, below 30 = oversold). MACD shows trend strength and momentum. Use one or two indicators only – too many clutter your chart.