Noticias del mercado & perspectivas
Anticípate a los mercados con perspectivas de expertos, noticias y análisis técnico para guiar tus decisiones de trading.
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.
USD was firmer on Thursday, largely due to a rally in treasury yields with the DXY tracking the 10 year yield higher to a peak of 102.470 after bouncing off the psychological 102 support level. US data was mixed with Unemployment claims and current account figures coming in worse than expected, but this was offset by a beat in Existing home sales. There was a selection of Fed speakers, with the Chair Powell headlining.
Little new was revealed with Chair Powell re-iterating the FOMC broadly feels it will be appropriate to raise rates again this year which surprised no-one. GBP was volatile after the BoE somewhat surprised markets with a larger than expected 50bp hike, going into the meeting a 25bp was the favoured outcome by economists, but a 50bp was partially priced in so not a totally unexpected move from the BoE. The bank also maintained guidance further tightening would be required if there was more evidence of persistent inflation.
Post decision GBPUSD hit a high of 1.2838 in a knee jerk reaction before reversing the move and eventually hitting lows of 1.2728 in similar price action we saw after Wednesdays hotter than expected CPI figure. GBP price action is indicating the market feels further hawkish re-pricing of BoE action is limited, with fears that the current projected path will lead to recession in the UK weighing on the Pound and Cable will struggle to breach the major resistance at 1.28. CHF was lower vs the USD after seeing weakness in the aftermath of the SNB rate decision where the SNB hiked by 25bps disappointing some market participants who were looking for a 50bp move.
The SNB did note however that additional rate hikes will be necessary. After an initial spike lower to test the 0.8900 support zone, USDCH reversed course, hitting a high of 0.8973 before finding some selling. JPY was the G10 underperformer with USDJPY printing a fresh 2023 high of 143.22 after breaching the key 142.50 level, with a CPI report coming up today, another close above this level could see a technical continuance to test the 145 level.
Recent Fed speak has also raised the issue that US treasury yields are likely to continue to rally, increasing the rate differential between US10Y and JGBs which will also be a major tailwind to get the pair to 145, which is where the BoJ's November USDJPY intervention was launched. Todays calendar of major risk events below:
A raging US equity market fuelled by soft data, a drop in treasury yields and blowout earnings from NVDA (which saw its stock price hit an all-time high) saw risk-on trading through Wednesdays session. USD was choppy on Wednesday with an initial rally in DXY, which saw it briefly pierce the major resistance at 103.60, dramatically reversing course on big misses in US Manufacturing and Services PMIs which showed the US economy contracting faster than forecast. DXY hovering just above lows of 103.30 at the close after the earlier rally (driven by EUR weakness after their own PMIs disappointed) saw a high of 103.980.
AUD and NZD were among G10 outperformers, with AUD benefitting more from the risk-on sentiment outperforming the NZD to see AUDNZD hit a 10 day high of 1.0846. Rallies in iron ore and gold prices also helping the AUD. AUDUSD continued its bounce from the 0.6400 support level to highs of 0.6482, the next key level is the big figure at 0.6500 which until recently had been major support and now likely to be the next resistance level and certainly a key level to watch.
GBP was the G10 underperformer as dire PMI readings saw the Sterling Bears in charge. Services and Manufacturing figures all sharply declined, slipping into contractionary territory. GBPUSD printed a low of 1.2616 after the figures after hitting a high of 1.2717 earlier in the session.
GBPUSD did bounce back to regain the key 1.2700 level in the US session though, recouping most of its losses on positive risk sentiment and the USD slide on its own weak PMI figures. JPY outperformed with tumbling US treasury yields saw rate differentials tighten, taking the pressure off the USDJPY. USDJPY crashed below the key “intervention” level at 145 after printing an earlier high of 145.89.
The Yen was also supported by a beat in Japanese PMI data. The next big data point for Yen watchers will be the Tokyo CPI figure released tomorrow, with the 145 level key to the next move in USDJPY. Gold blasted higher in Wednesday’s session, blowing through the 1902 resistance level and not finding any real selling until 1920, the high set back on 11 th of August.
A weak USD and more importantly catering US Treasury Yields lending a big tailwind to the precious metal. In today’s economic announcements, not much in the way of tier one releases with Jackson Hole looming on Friday. US unemployment claims being the headline.
Global markets were buffeted by a risk-off catalysts in Tuesdays session. Weak Chinese trade data, hawkish Fed-speak and a Moody’s downgrade of US regional banks saw stocks and yields tumble FX Markets USD was firmer Tuesday in a session that was firmly risk-off following the Chinese trade data and Moody’s downgrade. Later in the session we also had the Fed’s Harker who said barring any "alarming" new data by mid-September he believed "we may be at the point where we can be patient and hold rates steady", dashing traders hops of a Fed pivot anytime soon.
DXY printed a high of 102.800, falling just short of the July 3rd high of 102.84 where it found resistance just under the round 103 figure and it’s June/July trendline. Risk sensitive AUD and NZD were the G10 underperformers, with NZD performing mildly worse than its AUD counterpart. Both NZD and AUD were weighed on by the aforementioned risk-off tone and dismal Chinese trade data.
AUDUSD hit a low of 0.6497, briefly breaking the major support at the 0.65 big figure before finding some bids, 0.6500 looking to be a key level. NZDUSD bottomed out at 0.6035 ahead of the closely watched New Zealand inflationary forecasts today. EUR, CAD, and GBP were all weaker to varying degrees against the USD due to the risk-averse trading conditions and the general USD strength as opposed to anything currency specific.
USDCAD traded up to 1.3501 until paring gains as a rally in crude oil lent the CAD some support. EUR saw little reaction to the ECB June Consumer Inflation Expectations survey which downgraded the 12-month and 3-year inflation forecasts. EURUSD losing hold of the psychological 1.10 handle, hitting a low of 1.0930 before recovering modestly.
JPY weakened with USDJPY continuing its march to the 145 “intervention” zone. JPY’s haven demand offset by BoJ doubts after Japanese wage data suggested the BoJ has less scope to reduce its easy policies. USDJPY trading to a high of 143.49, testing its August highs.
Today’s calendar:
US equity markets snapped a record-breaking run of up sessions in Thursdays trading, with the Dow Jones looking set to close in the green for a 14 th straight session (for the first time since the Dow’s inception), before seeing a sell-off on rising yields after a report that the BoJ is looking to tweak their YCC at their meeting today. FX Markets USD bounced back from its post-FOMC weakness with the Dollar supported by rising US Treasury yields after beats in US GDP and employment data and the aforementioned hawkish report regarding the BoJ. US 10yr yields surged over the 4% level, an area recently that has marked the top in yields.
With Powell stressing that the Fed would be “data dependent” going forward as to rate increases the hot US data saw traders shifting hawkishly on rates, this saw the US Dollar Index surge through the 101 level, hitting 2-week highs and looking to test the major resistance at 102. Todays PCE Index figure will be another piece in the Fed puzzle, and is likely to move the USD and yields on it’s release. EUR pushed higher early in the session until the ECB meeting where the market took comments from President Lagarde as dovish, seeing EURUSD hit a low of 1.0967, breaking through the support at 1.10, holding below with 1.10 now looking like resistance..
The ECB did hike rates 25bp as expected but it was Lagarde’s comments that she does not believe that more work needs to be done, given the current data, implying future meetings could be a hike or a hold, that saw EUR moving. Later today, some key German inflation figures will be released, EUR volatility should be expected. JPY saw big gains on Thursday, with USDJPY sliding from highs of 141.31 to hit a low of 138.75 after reports in Nikkei that the BoJ are to discuss a YCC tweak at today’s pivotal monetary policy meeting.
Noted however, similar rumours have been reported on in the recent past, so really nothing new. The overreaction in JPY shows how jittery FX traders are going into today’s meeting, it is likely we’ll see some big moves in the Yen in today’s session as well, whichever way the BoJ goes. Calendar:
USD was mostly firmer in Tuesday’s session as a mixed equity markets saw some slight risk-off conditions. Also support USD was rates markets shifting hawkishly (September meeting now pricing a 16% chance of a hike) ahead of Jackson Hole and Fed Chair Powell speaking on Friday. Fed member Barkin spoke but added little new, as he noted consumer spending and economic strength make it possible the US economy could reaccelerate before inflation cools.
DXY hit a high of 103.710, pushing slightly above July and last week’s high and resistance area after testing support at 103.00 earlier in the session. EUR and GBP were both lower against the USD to varying degrees, EUR was the G10 underperformer with EURUSD hitting a low of 1.0834 and EURGBP testing the bottom of its recent range and major support at 0.8500. Both EUR and GBP traders have key PMI figures to navigate today, with readings in manufacturing and services for both currencies.
AUD, NZD and JPY were all firmer against the USD, with NZD outperforming, seeing AUDNZD dip below the psychological 1.0800 level briefly. Both NZDUSD and AUDUSD managed to hold their major support levels at 0.5900 and 0.6400 respectively. With Kiwi and Aussie traders having NZ retail sales and Australian flash PMIs to look forward to today.
USDJPY dropped 146.00, trading in a range between 146.39-145.50 ahead of Japan’s preliminary PMIs, JPY supported by a double top and forming in USDJPY. Despite overall USD strength, with some help from a soured risk sentiment, XAUUSD attempted to retake the 1902 resistance/support level. The move however was strongly rebuked as sellers entered the market at that key level, holding XAUUSD in its 2-week range.
Todays Calendar:
USD was marginally lower in Tuesdays session, trading in a tight range amid thin newsflow and market participants awaiting the key June CPI reading released later today. After breaking the psychological 102 level in Mondays session, DXY tested a re-entry into the range but found the previous support at 102 acting as stiff resistance, seeing DXY finish at the session lows around 101.65. NZD was the G10 underperformer with NZDUSD hitting a low of 0.6168 where it found support at Mondays lows as the currency traded defensively ahead of the RBNZ rate decision today.
Futures markets are expecting rates will be held at 5.5%, confirming the RBNZ as being the first developed Central Bank to reach the end of its tightening cycle. AUD was marginally firmer against the USD, after initially struggling in tandem with the Kiwi before later reversing losses on a USD pull-back. AUDNZD moving higher, back above the mid-price of it’s 2023 range.
Safe-havens, JPY and CHF, saw gains despite risk-on equity markets on some defensive positioning ahead of big data releases later in the week. USDCHF retraced from a peak of 0.8863 to a low of 0.8791 with the cross pair hitting its lowest level since January 2021. USDJPY traded between 141.46-140.17, continuing its strong down move after testing the 145 “intervention” zone last week.
USDJPY appears one of those most at risk of any upside surprises in the US CPI data given its sharp decline over recent sessions. GBPUSD saw gains with Cable breaking it’s 1.2850 resistance level, surpassing 1.2900 to a peak of 1.2934, its highest level in over a year. A strong UK Labour market figure saw futures markets re-price a 50bp hike as the favoured outcome of the BoE policy meeting on August 3 rd, driving gains in the Pound.
EUR was flat with EURUSD just about clawing back above 1.10 at the US session end amid a USD pullback, with EURUSD trading in a narrow range despite a weak German ZEW survey. CAD saw slight gains against the USD, bolstered by the continued upward momentum in crude oil with WTI crude settling at 10-week highs and seeing USDCAD break its 4h trendline. CAD traders have the BoC rate decision later today to look forward to, where after a five-month ‘pause’, the consensus looks for rates to be lifted by 25bps for the second straight meeting, taking its key rate to 5.00%