J-Chart. Charting Markets into the Future. Index Futures, Forex, Stocks, Bonds.

								ATMOL eSignal IB Forex SR FXCM

EDUCATION

Introduction

Overview of Concept

Data Display

Entry & Exit Points

2 Basic Principles

Achieving Equilibrium

Breaking Equilibrium

Trend Analysis

Price Forecasting

Resonance Effect

Getting Started

Examples

FAQ

Seminars

COMMENT ABOUT J-CHART

Dr. Bill sims
From Princeton

FX
Discussion Thread

eSignal Weekly Trading Education Article

Open a FXCM trading account and get J-Chart for FREE

Official FXCM Referring Broker

NEWS

OUR PARTNERS

Online Software Guide

... move the mouse over the indicated pictures to have a quick look at the different components and functions of the J-Chart interface. For further information, click to directly jump to the chosen section. Please make sure, that your browser's Java-Script function is enabled.

Basically, the J-Chart user interface can be divided into the following 5 main components:

Parameter Settings and Function Buttons
J-Chart Window
Price Information Window
Candlestick Window
Data Window

J-Chart User Interface

1. Parameter Settings and Function Buttons

Basically, the first row of the control panel contains the minimum parameter settings for performing market analyses. After completion of these settings (Date, Sym, Interval, Filter, PreDays and Combination of PreDays) as well as after every reset, the "Reload" button has to be clicked.

Parameter Settings and Function Buttons

Date and Symbol

You can choose either the actual day with real-time market data or a historical trading day. The chosen day will be displayed on the right side of the vertical yellow line in the J-Chart window.

Use the Symbol menu to select the desired financial product (futures contracts, foreign exchange pairs, stocks, bonds, etc.). To make the search easier, you can use the SearchSym Box.

Interval (min.)

The chosen trading day starts with the vertical yellow line. Following the principle of flexible time intervals, J-Chart allows you to divide a trading day into variable periods (unit in minutes) according to your specific trading cycle. For example, if you set a value of 30 minutes (or 7 min., 17 min., 120 min.) and click the Reload button, prices will be shown in a new interval every 30 minutes (7 min., 17 min., 120 min.). The vertical grey lines show the beginning of each new interval. In every period an Open (yellow counting symbol) and Close (light-blue counting symbol) price is automatically generated.

Filter

This function regulates the amount of transferred and visible data. Especially dealing with high volume financial products, you should use the filter function (ESP, ENQ, EDJ, FX, etc.). For example, a filter value of 5 means you will reduce the horizontal size of the chart by 5 times — so it can be fitted into one window. If no filter is used (default value 1), the performance of the chart could be slowed down or you could not see the whole picture due to a shortage of RAM.

Previous Days and Combination (PreDays/Combine)

J-Chart allows you to set the historical number of days on the left side of the vertical yellow line. This function enables medium and long-term market analysis as well as price forecasts.

Basically, every historical day will be displayed in a separate daily interval (default value of 1). You can flexibly combine any number of historical days into consolidated triangles. For example, 15 historical days with a combination of 3 will result in 5 intervals. Each interval will show the combined data of 3 days into one consolidated triangle. This is J-Chart's unique function to identify and locate main support and resistance levels, longer-term equilibriums as well as saturated and unsaturated price areas.

Note for J-Chart/eSignal, J-Chart/Forex and J-Chart/IB versions: The number set in the PreDays box are calendar days and not previous trading days. Thus, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the number of visualized trading days will be smaller than the set calendar days.

Note for J-Chart/ATMOL version: The number set in the PreDays box are previous trading days. Thus, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Balance Points/Range and Combination (CombineBP/Range/Comb)

This function is J-Chart's innovative way of analyzing financial markets. It allows the combination of consecutive (daily) data intervals whose Balance Points are within a specific price distance. Choose a price distance in the drop-down menu "CombineBP". For example, if you choose a value of 600 (6 index points) for the E-mini S&P 500, each Balance Point will be compared with the following BP. If the vertical distance of the Balance Points is below 6 index points, the data of these intervals will be combined into one consolidated data interval.

Optionally, for the purpose of fine tuning you can choose a value for the maximally allowed range that would result from the data combination. Utilizing the "Range" function the data would only be combined, if the resulting range of the data combination would not exceed the set maximum level. Resultingly, this function is an additional and optional restrictive premise when searching for perfect equilibriums.

After setting a value for PreDays, a price distance (CombineBP) and eventually a range (Range), click the "Combine" button. You can apply the CombineBP/Range function with different settings 5 times consecutively whereas each data combination is based on the previous combination result. If you want to see the price data without any consolidation again, choose --- for both variables and click the Reload button.

Please note, that you cannot use J-Chart's traditional way of data combination (PreDays/Combine) at the same time when using the new CombineBP/Range function. You can just set the number of historical days in the PrevDays box, the Combine box is locked.

This function provides you with the most important method to visualize market direction and to forecast future target prices by the way of finding perfect (and saturated) equilibriums as well as support and resistance levels.

Reload

All settings (except the CombineBP/Range/Comb function) require you to click the Reload button after each reset — Date, Sym, Interval, Filter, PreDays and Combination, Replay and Scale.

Zoom (- and +)

With the Zoom-Out (-) and the Zoom-In (+) buttons the view of the chart can be adjusted to the optimal size. To get a general overview of the market situation, use the (-) button to zoom out, for a close look on the numbers use (+) to zoom in.

Display

Move the mouse across the intervals in the J-Chart window to see the price, date and time as well as (real, i.e. not affected by the filter setting) tick counts.

Clear

All lines drawn in the J-Chart, small Candlestick and K-Chart window as well as all triangles produced with the Forecasting function will be deleted in the opposite order of the drawing sequence. The last line drawn will be deleted first by clicking the Clear button one time.

Forecasting

This function is the core of J-Chart's ability to perform price forecasts. After clicking the button one time, you can click any two points (prices) in the J-Chart window in order to find the vertically symmetric mirror points (Image Points, Target Price).

The first point (Point of Origin) can be a High, Low or a Balance Point of any interval (1st click).
The second point is a Balance Point of either the same interval or of any other period, which is either higher or lower than the first point (2nd click).

If the first point (Point of Origin) was a High (and the Balance Point was lower), the resulting Image Point will be the projected Low (Target LP). If the first point was a Low (and the Balance Point was higher), the resulting Image Point will be the projected High (Target HP). Following this, if the first and the second point were both Balance Points you will get the corresponding Image Point.

Generally, the second point chosen is the horizontal axis where the first point is mirrored to the opposite side.

Message Window

The Message window shows important information about market and price movement. Most helpful is the Consolidated Balance of the day which shows the movement of market's inner force:

Actual High and Low of the day
The actual resulting range of the day
Actual Consolidated Balance of the day
BP Changed: Changes of the daily Consolidated Balance during trading hours
BP Duration: Starting time of and time spent (minutes) at each Consolidated Balance
Fibonacci-Points with points of different retracement levels

Replay

The Replay function allows you to replay and study the historical price development (market movement) in quick-motion. The value represents the speed of replay in 1/1000 of a second. For example, a value of 100 (1/10 sec.) results in a faster replay than values of 500 (1/2 sec.) or 1000 (1 sec.). After entering the desired level of replay speed, you have to click the Reload button. You can pause the replay by clicking the Pause button and continue by clicking it a second time. The replay will stop after the last historical price.

If you want to continue with your live session, you have to set the value back to 0 and click the Reload button. The maximum amount of days being replayed is 10.

This is an excellent tool to try out new strategies in fast-forward mode. Simply hit the "Pause" button to draw new target points or support/resistance lines. Once finished, hit the button again to continue the action.

SearchSym

This function allows you to easily find the desired financial product you want to analyze. By typing additional letters into the box, the corresponding products will be filtered in the Symbol menu.

BGcolor

You can change the background color from black (default) to any other color available in the drop-down menu.

Scale

You can adjust the vertical size (Y-axis, price axis) of the J-Chart by choosing different values. The default value for the E-mini S&P 500 futures contract is 50 (2 ticks) and if you want to have a chart down to perfect accuracy of numbers change the value to the scale size of 25 (1 tick). Afterwards, click the Reload button.

Please note that the calculations of the Balance Points and Image Points may vary slightly, based on your different scale settings but will do no harm in the process of price forecasting.

Market Sentiment Signal

The market sentiment signal is designed to give you a general idea about the current market situation by mainly comparing different aspects of support and resistance levels. For example, if the number, strengths etc. of support levels are very dominant in comparison to resistance levels you will see a green sentiment signal. Please note that this signal is NOT a buy or sell signal.

Market Sentiment
	Positive sentiment
	Slightly positive sentiment
	Neutral sentiment
	Slightly negative sentiment
	Negative sentiment

Important note: The sentiment signal is ONLY AVAILABLE in the J-Chart/ATMOL version.

Alarm

With its alarm function, J-Chart will raise a voice alert at one of the set price levels. In the left value box H enter a price that is higher and in the right box L one that is lower than the actual price and click the alarm button. According to your position, you can enter your target price and stop loss level. If one of the set prices is reached, you will hear the voice alert — click the Close button to stop the alarm. If parameter settings are changed and either the Reload or the Combine button is clicked, each time the alarm prices will be deleted and have to be reset again.

Please make sure that you enter a value in both boxes and that you keep a minimum distance of 2-3 ticks between the actual price and the chosen alarm prices.

Update

Click the Update button to retrieve historical tick data (displayed on the left side of the vertical yellow line in J-Chart) from eSignal's server which will be saved locally on your PC. You can choose to download up to 60 historical days from the drop down menus.

Note: Due to the huge amount of (tick) data being transferred, the download of historical data can be quite time-consuming (depending on your connection speed and the number of historical days chosen). Therefore, we recommend to perform data updates after markets closed.

Stock Split Tool

The stock split tool allows you to adjust historical stock data to any split ratio up to 10/1 (or 1/10 for a reverse split). Simply enter the split ratio of any stock (X/Y, 2/1 = 2 for 1 etc. for a regular stock split or 1/2 = 1 for 2 for a reverse stock split). Choose the Ex-date (the date the stock will begin trading at its split-adjusted price on the stock market) from the drop down menu and click the reload button. All previous days will be displayed according to the chosen split ratio.

2. J-Chart Window

J-Chart Window

In the J-Chart window you can find the following information:

Vertical yellow line: marks the beginning of the chosen trading day
Horizontal light blue line: marks the Close of the previous day (or night session)
Horizontal red line: shows the current Consolidated Balance of the session
Horizontal dark blue lines: are marking significant resistance and support levels
Green lines: triangles drawn with the Forecasting function as well as own lines
Yellow JE-symbol: opening price of a period
Light blue JE-symbol: actual price and the Close of a period

After each click on the "Reload" button, the program automatically displays the High, Low, BP and draws a symmetric grey triangle showing the current situation. Theoretically, two triangles would be possible: Low - BP - Target HP and High - BP - Target LP. However, the program only draws one triangle by mainly comparing the Close with the BP of that period. These grey triangles are used as a basic reference for further price forecasts. Please note, that the numbers next to the vertical grey lines are the High and Low of that period and do not refer to the Image (Target) Point.

In the J-Chart window (as well as in the K-Chart window) lines can be drawn. Click left mouse button and drag it. By clicking right mouse button, the user can adjust the angle of the line. By clicking the Clear button these lines can be deleted.

By moving the mouse over the different intervals, the corresponding candle in the "small" Candlestick window appears in yellow and the information is shown in the price information window above. Furthermore, the price, time and date will appear on the top left corner next to the Clear button.

Use the scrollbars on the right and bottom side of the window to move the chart into the desired direction.

If the chosen symbol has a night trading session, it is shown on the left side of the vertical yellow line. For example, you can find the night session of the E-mini S&P 500 in the interval left of the yellow line stating the time 15:30. The data of the night session is added to the regular data on the following day.

3. Price Information Window

Price Information Window

By moving the mouse across the different time intervals in the J-Chart window or by clicking the different candlesticks in the Candlestick window below, the according price information of that period will be displayed:

High, Low, Open, Close, Balance Point BP, Range, Difference between Open-Close, Change (Close-Close), Date and Time of the begin of that period.

4. Candlestick Window

Candlestick Window

The Candlestick window shows a Candlestick Chart for quick overview and comparison purposes. You can also draw trend lines. The Candlestick Chart always shows the same intervals as set in the J-Chart window. Clicking any of the candles displays the according price information of that period in the price information window above.

5. Data Window

Data Window

In this window you get information about the connection status, loading process as well as the real-time market prices.

Download the J-Chart Software Guides in the Downloads section.

Risk disclosure:

Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to invest in foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.

Home | Contact | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions