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Multi-Timeframe (MTF) analysis is not just about checking the trend on the daily before trading on the hourly; ideally, it involves examining and aligning context, structure, and timing so that every trade is placed with purpose.
When done correctly, MTF analysis can filter market noise, may help with timing of entry, and assist you in trading with the trending “tide,” not against it.
Why Multi-Timeframe Analysis Matters
Every setup exists within a larger market story, and that story may often define the probability of a successful trade outcome.
Single-timeframe trading leads to the trading equivalent of tunnel vision, where the series of candles in front of you dominate your thinking, even though the broader trend might be shifting.
The most common reason traders may struggle is a false confidence based on a belief they are applying MTF analysis, but in truth, it’s often an ad-hoc, glance, not a structured process.
When signals conflict, doubt creeps in, and traders hesitate, entering too late or exiting too early.
A systematic MTF process restores clarity, allowing you to execute with more conviction and consistency, potentially offering improved trading outcomes and providing some objective evidence as to how well your system is working.
Building Your Timeframe Hierarchy
Like many effective trading approaches, the foundation of a good MTF framework lies in simplicity. The more complex an approach, the less likely it is to be followed fully and the more likely it may impede a potential opportunity.
Three timeframes are usually enough to capture the full picture without cluttering up your chart’s technical picture with enough information to avoid potential contradiction in action.
Each timeframe tells a different part of the story — you want the whole book, not just a single chapter.
Scalpers might work on H1-M15-M5, while longer-term traders might prefer H4-H1-H15.
The key is consistency in approach to build a critical mass of trades that can provide evidence for evaluation.
When all three timeframes align, the probability of at least an initial move in your desired direction may increase.
An MTF breakout will attract traders whose preference for primary timeframe may be M15 AND hourly, AND 4-hourly, so increasing potential momentum in the move simply because more traders are looking at the same breakout than if it occurred on a single timeframe only.
Applying MTF Analysis
A robust system is built on clear, unambiguous statements within your trading plan.
Ideally, you should define what each timeframe contributes to your decision-making process:
- Trend confirmed
- Structure validated
- Entry trigger aligned
- Risk parameters clear
When you enter on a lower timeframe, you are gaining some conviction from the higher one. Use the lower timeframe for fine-tuning and risk control, but if the higher timeframe flips direction, your bias must flip too.
Your original trading idea can be questioned and a decision made accordingly as to whether it is a good decision to stay in the trade or, as a minimum action, trail a stop loss to lock in any gains made to date.
Putting MTF into Action
So, if the goal is to embed MTF logic into your trade decisions, some step-by-step guidance may be useful on how to make this happen
1. Define Your Timeframe Stack
Decide which three timeframes form your trading style-aligned approach.
The key here is that as a starting point, you must “plant your flag” in one set, stick to it and measure to see how well or otherwise it works.
Through doing this, you can refine based on evidence in the future.
One tip I have heard some traders suggest is that the middle timeframe should be at least two times your primary timeframe, and the slowest timeframe at least four times.
2. Build and Use a Checklist
Codify your MTF logic into a repeatable routine of questions to ask, particularly in the early stages of implementing this as you develop your new habit.
Your checklist might include:
- Is the higher-timeframe trend aligned?
- Is the structure supportive?
- Do I have a valid trigger?
- Is risk clearly defined?
This turns MTF from a concept into a practical set of steps that are clear and easy to action.
3. Consider Integrating MTF Into Open Trade Management
MTF isn’t just for entries; it can also be used as part of your exit decision-making.
If your higher timeframe begins showing early signs of reversal, that’s a prompt to exit altogether, scale out through a partial close or tighten stops.
By managing trades through the same multi-timeframe approach that you used to enter, you maintain logical consistency across the entire lifecycle of the trade.
Final Action
Start small. Choose one instrument, one timeframe set, and one strategy to apply it to.
Observe the clarity it adds to your decisions and outcomes. Once you see a positive impact, you have evidence that it may be worth rolling out across other trading strategies you use in your portfolio.
Final Thought
Multi-Timeframe Analysis is not a trading strategy on its own. It is a worthwhile consideration in ALL strategies.
It offers a wider lens through which you see the market’s true structure and potential strength of conviction.
Through aligning context, structure, and execution, you move from chasing an individual group of candles to trading with a more robust support for a decision.
On Monday, Citigroup raised its target price for the Irish multinational conglomerate, Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI), from $58 to $61 a share. On Tuesday, Johnson Controls announced its latest financial results for its fiscal fourth 2023. Let’s see how it performed.
Company overview Founded: 1885 Headquarters: Cork, Ireland Number of employees: 102,000 (2022) Industry: Conglomerate Key people: George Oliver (Chairman, CEO) The results Johnson Controls reported revenue of $6.906 billion for the quarter (up by 3% year-over-year), which missed analyst estimate of $7.099 billion. Earnings per share (EPS) also fell short of estimates at $1.05 per share (up by 6% year-over-year) vs. $1.095 per share expected. CEO commentary "Our fiscal 2023 results, highlighted by strong sales growth and margin expansion, further validate that our strategy of providing solutions that make buildings smarter, healthier, and more sustainable continues to gain momentum," George Oliver, CEO of Johnson Controls said in a letter to investors. "We made significant progress during the year advancing our service strategy, enabled by digital, and we continue to see strong order momentum and record backlog entering our new fiscal year," Oliver added.
Stock reaction The stock was down by over 6% during the trading day on Tuesday, trading at $52.63 a share. Stock performance 1 month: -0.58% 3 months: -9.06% Year-to-date: -18.54% 1 year: -21.70% Johnson Controls International stock price targets Citigroup: $61 Oppenheimer: $66 UBS Group: $74 Wells Fargo: $62 HSBC: $69 Morgan Stanley: $70 Barclays: $64 JP Morgan: $72 Deutsche Bank: $65 Mizuho: $78 Bank of America: $72 Johnson Controls International plc is the 507th largest company in the world with a market cap of $35.89 billion. You can trade Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, ASX, LSE and DE with GO Markets as a Share CFD.
GO Markets now offers pre-market and after-market trading on popular US Share CFDs. Trade the pre-market session: 4:00am to 9:30am, normal session, and after-market session: 4:00pm to 8:00pm, Eastern Standard Time. Why trade during extended hours?
Volatility never sleeps. Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: Johnson Controls International plc, TradingView, MarketWatch, MarketBeat, CompaniesMarketCap
FX traders have some tier one data releases to look forward to today, including the last major central bank meeting in the form of the Bank of Japan. RBA monetary policy minutes and Canadian CPI also having market moving potential. AUDUSD The Aussie was modestly in the green in Monday’s session after initial strength that saw it outperform G10 rivals in the European morning faded later in the session.
AUDUSD supported by further PBoC liquidity and a firmer Yuan fix early on. A mixed risk sentiment in the US session saw it hit resistance at the 4-monthth highs of 0.6735 and reversing course to a low of 0.6690. RBA minutes released at 11:30 AEDT have the potential to see an RBA pushback against the market’s view that rates have definitely peaked, lending a tailwind to the Aussie.
USDCAD USDCAD edged higher in Monday’s session but held near its four month lows, rising oil prices amid heightened Red Sea tensions tempering losses in CAD with traders awaiting today’s CPI inflation data. Economists expect the Canadian CPI to show inflation slowing to an annual rate of 2.9% in November from 3.1% in October. The Bank of Canada has left the door open to further rate hikes, so this reading will be a pivotal one to test that narrative.
USDJPY The much anticipated Bank of Japan could see some big swings in JPY as investors look for clues as to when the central bank foresees the end to its easy money policies. Bank officials have recently pushed back against rate hike expectations for this meeting. But with traders pricing in the end of negative rates in January, the language at this meeting will be key for the short-term performance of the yen.
A hawkish surprise could push USDJPY towards the 140 handle, an unchanged message could bring the cross back up to the 145 level.
USD bounced back to start the first full week of December after a horror run in November where the Dollar Index (DXY) fell around 3%. DXY breaking through the 200 Day SMA resistance and printing a high of 103.850. Sour risk sentiment and higher treasury yields (particularly in the short end) helping DXY erase the Powell inspired drop on Friday.
With the Fed having entered their blackout period ahead of next week’s FOMC meeting (meaning no Fed member jawboning) data this week will take on extra importance with USD traders particularly watching Services PMI data today and the NFP jobs report on Friday. AUD and NZD were the G10 underperformers, a strong USD and a broad risk-off backdrop the main drivers rather than anything specific to the currencies. AUDUSD was looking to test the 0.67 resistance early in the session before reversing course to test the support at 0.66 before finding some buyers.
Aussie traders have the December RBA meeting to navigate, with the Central Bank widely expected (95% chance according to futures) to keep rates unchanged. What AUD trader will be watching is for any change of language in the accompanying statement with regards to futures hikes, will the RBA leave the door ajar, wide open or shut it completely? Expect some volatility in the AUD as traders race to work that part out at announcement time.
Wednesdays FOMC meeting was always going to be about whether we’d see a hawkish pushback against market expectations of a dovish Fed in 2024, or a validation of those expectations, from the market reaction to the meeting, traders decided the latter is the conclusion. Rates were kept on hold at 5.35%-5.5% as expected but the updated dot plot and the language of the accompanying statement and Powell presser confirmed what most market participants were predicting, US rates have peaked, and multiple rate cuts are coming next year. This saw the USD dump along with yields with the US Dollar Index (DXY) blowing through its 200-day SMA (where it had been finding support) closing at session lows of 102.77.
The next minor support to the downside being the November swing low of 102.46. The Yen was a particular beneficiary of the dump in US yields which saw the rate differential between the US and JP 10 Year tighten significantly. USDJPY dropping to a 142 handle as it played catch up to the yields and now testing a key support level around its 200-day SMA and December lows.
Gold surged over 30 USD an ounce as a falling Dollar and yields emboldened the bulls. XAUUSD retaking the psychological 2000 USD an ounce level after finding strong support at the October Lows – December high 50% Fib level. A retest of the major resistance at 2070 could be on the cards, and is a key level to watch for gold traders.
Central bank action continues today with both the SNB and BoE scheduled to release their latest rate decisions.
American wholesale chain, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 after the closing bell in the US on Thursday. Company overview Founded: September 15, 1983 Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, United States Number of employees: 316,000 (2023) Industry: Retail Key people: Hamilton E. James (Chairman), W.
Craig Jelinek (President and CEO) The results Costco reported total revenue of $57.799 billion for the quarter, which narrowly beat Wall Street analyst estimate of $57.785 billion. Revenue was up by 6% from the same period a year prior. Earnings per share (EPS) reported at $3.58 per share (up by 16.61% year-over-year), above $3.411 per share expected.
The company announced a cash dividend of $15 per share to all shareholders of the stock as of close of business on 28/12/2023. Stock reaction Shares of Costco were down by 1.75% on Thursday at $630.78 a share. The stock was down by around 1% in the after-hours as Wall Street digested the latest results from the company.
Stock performance 1 month: +9.48% 3 months: +12.16% Year-to-date: +38.76% 1 year: +36.54% Costco stock price targets Oppenheimer: $675 Evercore ISI: $650 Stifel: $615 Truist Financial: $619 Telsey Advisory Group: $625 JP Morgan: $605 Wells Fargo: $525 Loop Capital: $630 Deutsche Bank: $652 Morgan Stanley: $585 Bank of America: $610 Costco Wholesale Corporation is the 29th largest company in the world with a market cap of $281.37 billion. You can trade Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, ASX, LSE and DE with GO Markets as a Share CFD. GO Markets now offers pre-market and after-market trading on popular US Share CFDs.
Trade the pre-market session: 4:00am to 9:30am, normal session, and after-market session: 4:00pm to 8:00pm, Eastern Standard Time. Why trade during extended hours? Volatility never sleeps.
Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: Costco Wholesale Corporation, TradingView, MarketWatch, MarketBeat, CompaniesMarketCap
US technology giant and one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), announced fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023 results after the market close in the US on Thursday. Company overview Founded: 1961 Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States Number of employees: 20,000 (2023) Industry: Semiconductor, computer software Key people: Henry Samueli (Chairman), Hock Tan (President and CEO) The results Broadcom reported revenue of $9.295 billion (up by 4% year-over-year) vs. $9.277 billion estimate. Earnings per share (EPS) also topped analyst estimates for the quarter at $11.06 per share vs. $10.96 per share expected.
Net revenue reached $35.819 bill for the full fiscal 2023, up by 8% from the year prior. EPS reached $32.94 per share, an increase of 24.31% year-over-year. CEO commentary "Broadcom's fiscal year 2023 revenue grew 8% year-over-year to a record $35.8 billion, driven by investments in accelerators and network connectivity for AI by hyperscalers," President and CEO of Broadcom, Hock Tan, highlighted the reasons for the successful year for the company. "The acquisition of VMware is transformational.
In fiscal year 2024 we expect semiconductor to sustain its mid to high single digit revenue growth rate, with the contribution of VMware driving consolidated revenue to $50 billion, and adjusted EBITDA to $30 billion," Tan concluded. Stock reaction Shares of Broadcom ended the day up by 2.06% on Thursday at $922.26 a share before the latest results were announced. The stock dipped by around 1% in the after-hours trading.
Stock performance 1 month: +0.32% 3 months: +6.69% Year-to-date: +63.53% 1 year: +72.16% Broadcom stock price targets Rosenblatt Securities: $1000 Oppenheimer: $1100 Susquehanna: $1100 KeyCorp: $1200 Evercore ISI: $1050 Truist Financial: $995 Benchmark: $950 TD Cowen: $900 Wells Fargo: $900 Mizuho: $960 Deutsche Bank: $950 Broadcom Inc. is the 20th largest company in the world with a market cap of $378.07 billion. You can trade Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, ASX, LSE and DE with GO Markets as a Share CFD. GO Markets now offers pre-market and after-market trading on popular US Share CFDs.
Trade the pre-market session: 4:00am to 9:30am, normal session, and after-market session: 4:00pm to 8:00pm, Eastern Standard Time. Why trade during extended hours? Volatility never sleeps.
Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: Broadcom Inc., TradingView, MarketWatch, MarketBeat, Benzinga, CompaniesMarketCap