Bollinger Band Strategies
A Bollinger Band is a technical indicator developed by John Bollinger in the 1980s that has since become a widely-used method for analyzing market trends and volatility. In this article, we will discuss the basics of Bollinger Bands and explore some popular strategies for using them to make trading decisions. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trader, understanding Bollinger Bands can help you to improve your trading strategies and increase your chances of success in the markets.
What Are Bollinger Bands?
The Bollinger Bands indicator defines when the price of an asset is high or low on a relative basis. Bollinger Bands consist of three lines: a line in the middle, and an upper band and a lower band that are each a certain number of standard deviations away from the moving average.
The middle line in Bollinger Bands is typically a moving average, with the most commonly used period being 20 days. This can be a simple moving average (SMA) or an exponential moving average (EMA), depending on the trader’s preference. The upper and lower bands are then typically set at a certain number of standard deviations away from the moving average, with two standard deviations being the most commonly used value.
The purpose of Bollinger Bands is to provide a visual representation of the volatility of a financial instrument over time. When the price of the instrument is within the bands, it is considered to be trading within a normal range of volatility. When the price moves outside of the bands, it is considered to be either overbought (if it moves above the upper band) or oversold (if it moves below the lower band).
Traders use Bollinger Bands in a variety of ways, such as identifying potential trend reversals or setting stop-loss orders and take-profit targets. The effectiveness of Bollinger Bands ultimately depends on the trader’s individual trading strategy and the specific market conditions they are trading in.
It is important to note that traders should use Bollinger Bands in combination with other indicators, chart patterns, and more to make trading decisions because tags (or touches) of the lower or upper bands are not signals in and of themselves to buy or sell. Additionally, the bands do not act as support or resistance levels.
Bollinger Band Strategies
There are many different strategies that traders use with Bollinger Bands. Here are a few examples:
Momentum strategy
The momentum strategy is based on John Bollinger’s traditional way of using Bollinger Bands. First, remember that Bollinger Bands define when a price is high or low on a relative basis. When a price is relatively high or low, it can be a signal of momentum to the upside or downside respectively.
To implement this strategy, traders would buy when the price is “relatively high” and touches or breaks above the upper band, especially if it is preceded by a bullish chart pattern such as a double bottom (or W bottom). If this strategy is successful, the price can “walk the upper band” to the upside. Traders would sell at resistance levels or if there are any bearish signals including negative price action, support breaking, etc.
On the other hand, traders would sell when the price is “relatively low” and touches or breaks below the lower band, especially if it is preceded by a bearish chart pattern such as a double top (or M top) or three pushes to high. If this strategy is successful, the price can “walk the lower band” to the downside. Traders would cover at support levels or if there are any bullish signals including positive price action, resistance breaking, etc.
As with any trading strategy, traders should look for entry points where there is a relatively small amount of risk, a larger potential (ideally 2:1 or better), and the odds of success are in their favor. It is important to set a stop-loss order if the price pulls back from the direction of the momentum.
Mean reversion strategy
The Bollinger Band mean reversion strategy is based on the idea that prices tend to revert to their mean, which is represented by the middle line of the Bollinger Bands. When prices move too far away from the mean, it’s believed that they will eventually come back to it.
To implement the strategy, traders would typically wait for the price to move outside the upper or lower Bollinger Bands. When this happens, it’s considered an overbought or oversold condition, respectively. Traders would then look for a reversal back towards the middle line, which represents the mean.
One common approach to trading mean reversion using Bollinger Bands is to wait for the price to close back inside the Bollinger Bands before entering a trade. This helps to confirm that the reversal is actually taking place and reduces the risk of entering a trade too early.
Squeeze strategy
The Bollinger Band squeeze strategy is used by traders to identify potential breakout opportunities in a range-bound market. The Bollinger Bands represent the volatility of the asset being traded and the trend and the contraction of the Bollinger Bands indicates a decrease in volatility. Traders use this signal to identify potential breakouts, as a decreasing volatility is often followed by a sharp increase in volatility.
To implement the strategy, traders would look for a contraction in the Bollinger Bands and wait for the price to break out of the bands. They would enter a long position if the price breaks above the upper Bollinger Band or a short position if the price breaks below the lower Bollinger Band. To manage risk, they would set a stop-loss order on the opposite side of the breakout.
Double Bollinger Band strategy
The double Bollinger Bands strategy uses two sets of Bollinger Bands: one with a standard deviation of 1 and the other with a standard deviation of 2. The idea is that the wider Bollinger Bands (with a standard deviation of 2) will capture the major trend movements, while the narrower Bollinger Bands (with a standard deviation of 1) will help filter out false signals and provide confirmation of trend changes.
In this strategy, when the price is between the upper two lines (buy zone), it’s considered an uptrend, and when the price is between the lower two lines (sell zone), it’s considered a downtrend. When the price is between the inner lines (i.e., the narrower Bollinger Bands with a standard deviation of 1), it’s considered neutral.
To implement the strategy, in an uptrend, traders would look for buying opportunities when the price pulls back to the lower band of the buy zone. In a downtrend, traders would look for selling opportunities when the price rallies to the upper band of the sell zone. When the market is neutral, traders can look for breakouts or wait for a trend to emerge. It’s important to use additional technical analysis tools to confirm entries.
Bollinger Band Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of using Bollinger Bands:
Pros:
- Easy to use: Bollinger Bands are easy to understand and can be used by traders of all levels.
- Provides a clear visual representation of price action: Bollinger Bands can help traders identify trends, volatility, and potential reversals in the market.
- Can be used in combination with other technical indicators: Bollinger Bands can be used in combination with other technical indicators to confirm trading signals.
- Widely used: Bollinger Bands are widely used by traders and are supported by most charting platforms.
Cons:
- Not always accurate: Like all technical indicators, Bollinger Bands are not always accurate and can produce false signals. Additionally, it’s important to remember that tags (or touches) of the band are not signals in and of themselves.
- Lagging indicator: Bollinger Bands are a lagging indicator and may not provide timely signals for fast-moving markets.
- Can be subjective: Traders may interpret Bollinger Bands differently, leading to subjective trading decisions.
- Doesn’t work in all market conditions: Bollinger Bands may not be effective in choppy or sideways markets where there is little price movement.
Bollinger Bands can be a useful tool for traders, but they should be used in combination with other technical analysis tools and with proper risk management techniques. Traders should also be aware of the limitations of Bollinger Bands and not rely solely on them for making trading decisions.
Example scanners and strategies that use Bollinger Band
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, Bollinger Bands are a powerful technical analysis tool that can help traders identify potential trading opportunities in the financial markets. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, understanding the basics of Bollinger Bands and their application in various trading strategies can improve your trading decisions. By incorporating Bollinger Bands into your trading strategies, you can gain a deeper understanding of market trends and volatility, potentially improving your overall success in the markets.
