A balanced toolkit
- Trend: Moving averages
- Momentum: RSI or MACD
- Volatility: ATR or Bollinger Bands
- Levels: Fibonacci and pivot points
The indicators
| Indicator | What it shows | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Moving Average | Average price over a period | Trend direction, dynamic support |
| RSI | Momentum on a 0–100 scale | Stretched conditions, divergence |
| MACD | Difference between two moving averages | Trend momentum and shifts |
| Bollinger Bands | Volatility bands around a moving average | Ranges, volatility squeezes |
| ATR | Average range per bar | Setting stop distances and position size |
| Fibonacci retracement | Drawn levels (38.2%, 50%, 61.8%) | Pullback zones in trends |
| Ichimoku | Multi-line trend system | Trend, support/resistance and momentum together |
Combining indicators sensibly
- Avoid using several indicators that measure the same thing (e.g. RSI and Stochastic together).
- Let price levels lead; use indicators to confirm.
- Use ATR to size stops so risk stays constant across volatile and quiet markets.
Saving your setup
Save charts as templates (right-click › Template › Save Template) so you can apply the same layout to any pair — and move it to another broker's MT4 easily.
Frequently asked questions
How many indicators should I use?
Two or three that measure different things — for example trend, momentum and volatility. More usually adds noise.
How do I add a custom indicator to MT4?
Copy it into MQL4 › Indicators via File › Open Data Folder, then refresh the Navigator.
CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading these products. You should consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.