How to calculate and set targets using Pivot points

Calculating Pivot points

To calculate Pivot points, you use the open, high, low and close price for the previous price period.

Since forex is a 24 hour market, most traders use the New York closing time of 4:00 pm EST as the previous days close.

We shall need at least three-point levels to calculate the pivot points.

First of all, you need to first calculate the standard pivot Points (PP)

Pivot point (pp) = (High +Low +Close)/3

The calculate the first level of support and resistance

First resistance level ( R1) = (2*pp) -Low

First support (S1)  =   (2*PP)- High

The Second level of support and resistance

Second resistance (R2) = PP + (High – Low)

Second support line (S2) = PP –  ( High _ Low)

The third level of support and resistance

3^rd resistance (R3) = High + 2(PP-Low)

3^rd support (S3)  = Low – 2(High-PP)

Pivot points as profit targets.

To choose a profit target requires you to prepare in advance. First, you need to know how much risk you are prepared to take and how much reward you expect to get.

As price tests support and resistance levels, it tests its high and low prices. Traders are always ready to buy at low prices and sell at high prices maximizing their profits.

The traditional way of setting profit targets using pivot points, is by taking the next pivot level as your immediate target/exit.

For example, if price was at a pivot resistance zone and you have sold the bounce off the level, then the immediate pivot level support will be your target and vice versa.

On the other hand, if the price breaks through resistance, this means you will buy expecting price to continue rising. In this case, you will set your profit target on the next immediate pivot level resistance.

We will discuss more on how to trade these breakouts and bounces using pivots in our next lesson.

 Example on how to set targes using Pivot Points

But now lets look at the GBPUSD chart below and see where the targets would be set;

From our chart above, you can clearly see the immediate pivot levels set as targets.

The first buy (Buy 1), this was a bounce on the pivot level support (Monthly S1).  The target for this trade was the immediate pivot level resistance, Target 1( Monthly Pivot).

Buy 2 on a resistance break( monthly pivot). Target was the immediate next pivot resistance, Target 2 (Monthly R1).

Sell 1 was triggered by bounce off pivot resistance(Monthly R1). And the target was the the immediate pivot support level zone, Sell target (Monthly Pivot) etc

In the next lesson, we shall go deeper at how to trade break outs and ranging markets using pivots. ust click next lesson.