Priority review
- Priority Review
Priority Review is a crucial concept in financial markets, particularly for traders engaging in day trading, swing trading, and position trading. It represents a proactive approach to analyzing potential trades, focusing on identifying high-probability setups *before* market open or significant news releases. This article details the principles of Priority Review, its benefits, implementation, and integration with other trading techniques. It is designed for beginners, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of this powerful trading methodology.
What is Priority Review?
At its core, Priority Review is a pre-market (or pre-event) analysis process. Instead of reacting to market movements as they happen, traders employing Priority Review dedicate time *before* trading begins to meticulously scan markets, identify key levels, and formulate potential trading plans. It's about being prepared, rather than being caught off guard.
Think of it like a chef *mise en place* – everything in its place. Before cooking, a chef prepares all ingredients, tools, and recipes. Priority Review does the same for trading. It’s not about predicting the future, but about understanding possible scenarios and having a plan for each.
This differs vastly from reactive trading, where decisions are made impulsively based on current price action. Reactive trading often leads to emotional decisions and increased risk. Priority Review aims to minimize emotion and maximize the probability of success by building a framework *before* the chaos of live trading begins.
Why Use Priority Review?
The benefits of incorporating Priority Review into your trading routine are substantial:
- Reduced Emotional Trading: Having a pre-defined plan reduces the temptation to make impulsive decisions driven by fear or greed.
- Improved Risk Management: Identifying key support and resistance levels *beforehand* allows for precise stop-loss placement, limiting potential losses.
- Enhanced Trade Selection: Priority Review helps filter out low-probability setups, focusing attention on trades with a higher likelihood of success. This aligns with the principle of selective trading.
- Time Efficiency: Although it requires dedicated time upfront, Priority Review can save time during live trading by streamlining decision-making.
- Increased Confidence: Knowing you’ve thoroughly analyzed the market fosters confidence in your trading decisions.
- Capitalizing on Market Open Gaps: Priority Review is particularly effective in identifying and trading gaps that occur when markets open, allowing traders to potentially profit from initial price movements. Understanding gap trading is crucial here.
- Preparation for News Events: Major economic news releases (like GDP, employment data, or interest rate decisions) can cause significant market volatility. Priority Review prepares traders for these events by identifying potential price targets and scenarios. See also economic calendar analysis.
Implementing Priority Review: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here's a detailed breakdown of how to implement Priority Review, suitable for beginners.
Step 1: Market Scanning
Begin by scanning the markets you trade. This involves looking at a variety of instruments – stocks, forex pairs, commodities, cryptocurrencies – to identify potential opportunities. Focus on instruments you are already familiar with and understand.
- Forex: Scan major currency pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, USD/CAD, USD/CHF) and potentially some minor pairs. Use a currency strength meter ([1](https://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=855977)) to identify dominant currencies.
- Stocks: Focus on stocks within your chosen sectors. Use stock screeners ([2](https://finance.yahoo.com/screener)) to filter stocks based on specific criteria (volume, price change, etc.).
- Commodities: Monitor key commodities like Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, and Natural Gas. ([3](https://www.investing.com/commodities/))
- Cryptocurrencies: Scan major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and others. ([4](https://coinmarketcap.com/))
Step 2: Identifying Key Levels
This is the most crucial step. Identify significant support and resistance levels on a multi-timeframe analysis.
- Higher Timeframes (Daily/Weekly): Look for long-term support and resistance levels. These levels represent areas where price has previously reversed direction. Understanding support and resistance is fundamental.
- Intermediate Timeframes (4-Hour/Daily): Refine the levels identified on the higher timeframes. Look for confluence – where multiple indicators or levels converge.
- Lower Timeframes (1-Hour/15-Minute): Identify short-term support and resistance levels that may act as entry or exit points.
Tools to help identify key levels:
- Pivot Points: ([5](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pivotpoints.asp)) Calculated based on the previous day's high, low, and close, pivot points can act as potential support and resistance levels.
- Fibonacci Retracements: ([6](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fibonacciretracement.asp)) Used to identify potential retracement levels within a trend.
- Moving Averages: ([7](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/movingaverage.asp)) Can act as dynamic support and resistance levels. Consider using the 50, 100, and 200-period moving averages.
- Trendlines: ([8](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trendline.asp)) Connects a series of highs or lows to identify the direction of a trend.
- Volume Profile: ([9](https://www.tradingview.com/support/solutions/articles/115000845388-understanding-volume-profile)) Shows the amount of trading activity at different price levels.
Step 3: Analyzing Market Structure
Determine the prevailing market structure. Is the market trending, ranging, or consolidating?
- Trending Markets: Look for higher highs and higher lows (uptrend) or lower highs and lower lows (downtrend). Utilize trend following strategies.
- Ranging Markets: Price oscillates between defined support and resistance levels. Consider range trading strategies.
- Consolidating Markets: Price moves sideways in a tight range, often preceding a breakout. Look for breakout patterns ([10](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/breakout.asp)).
Step 4: Considering Fundamental Factors
While Priority Review focuses heavily on technical analysis, it's essential to consider fundamental factors that may influence price action.
- Economic Calendar: ([11](https://www.forexfactory.com/calendar)) Be aware of upcoming economic news releases that could impact your chosen markets.
- Company News (Stocks): Stay informed about earnings reports, product launches, and other company-specific news.
- Geopolitical Events: Global events can significantly influence market sentiment.
- Sentiment Analysis: ([12](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sentimentanalysis.asp)) Gauge overall market sentiment (bullish or bearish).
Step 5: Formulating Trading Plans
Based on your analysis, formulate specific trading plans for potential setups. Each plan should include:
- Entry Point: Where you will enter the trade.
- Stop-Loss Level: Where you will exit the trade if it moves against you. Crucial for risk management.
- Take-Profit Level: Where you will exit the trade if it moves in your favor.
- Risk-Reward Ratio: Ensure the potential reward justifies the risk. Aim for a risk-reward ratio of at least 1:2.
- Position Sizing: Determine how much capital to allocate to the trade. Use a consistent position sizing strategy ([13](https://www.babypips.com/learn/forex/position-sizing)).
- Rationale: A clear explanation of *why* you are taking the trade.
Step 6: Review and Refine
Before the market opens, review all your trading plans. Are they logical and consistent with your overall trading strategy? Refine them as needed.
Integrating Priority Review with Other Trading Techniques
Priority Review isn't a standalone strategy; it's a preparatory process that can enhance the effectiveness of other trading techniques.
- Price Action Trading: Priority Review identifies key levels that can be used to confirm price action signals (e.g., candlestick patterns). See candlestick patterns explained.
- Technical Indicators: Use Priority Review to identify potential setups and then confirm them with technical indicators like the MACD, RSI, and Stochastic Oscillator.
- Elliott Wave Theory: ([14](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/elliottwavetheory.asp)) Priority Review can help identify potential wave counts and trading opportunities within the Elliott Wave framework.
- Ichimoku Cloud: ([15](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ichimoku-cloud.asp)) Use Priority Review to identify key levels and then analyze them in relation to the Ichimoku Cloud.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Analysis Paralysis: Spending too much time analyzing and missing opportunities. Set a time limit for your Priority Review session.
- Ignoring Fundamental Factors: Focusing solely on technical analysis and neglecting important economic news or events.
- Trading Against the Trend: Taking trades that go against the prevailing market trend.
- Poor Risk Management: Failing to set appropriate stop-loss levels or position sizes.
- Overcomplicating Things: Using too many indicators or techniques. Keep it simple and focused.
Conclusion
Priority Review is a powerful tool that can significantly improve your trading performance. By dedicating time to analyze markets *before* trading begins, you can reduce emotional trading, improve risk management, and increase the probability of success. Remember to practice consistently and adapt your approach as you gain experience. Mastering Priority Review takes time and dedication, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Combine it with a solid understanding of trading psychology for optimal results.
Backtesting your Priority Review setups is highly recommended.
Trading Plan development is integral to successful implementation.
Risk Management must always be a priority.
Market Analysis forms the foundation of Priority Review.
Candlestick Analysis can further refine entry points.
Technical Indicators can provide confirmation.
Trading Strategies can be enhanced by Priority Review.
Day Trading Strategies benefit from pre-market preparation.
Swing Trading Strategies are improved with identified key levels.
Position Trading requires long-term level identification.
Forex Trading benefits from economic calendar awareness.
Stock Trading needs company-specific news analysis.
Cryptocurrency Trading requires understanding market volatility.
Gap Trading is heavily influenced by Priority Review.
Economic Calendar Analysis is crucial for event-driven trading.
Support and Resistance are the building blocks of Priority Review.
Trend Following Strategies rely on identified trends.
Range Trading Strategies require defined boundaries.
Breakout Strategies benefit from consolidation analysis.
Pivot Points provide potential levels.
Fibonacci Retracements identify retracement areas.
Moving Averages act as dynamic support/resistance.
Trendlines visualize trend direction.
Volume Profile reveals trading activity.
Currency Strength Meter identifies dominant currencies.
Stock Screeners filter stocks based on criteria.
Risk-Reward Ratio optimization is essential.
Position Sizing determines capital allocation.
Trading Psychology influences decision-making.
Backtesting validates strategy effectiveness.
Trading Plan provides a framework for execution.
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