The Technical Analysis Course: A Winning Program for Investors and Traders, Revised Edition [Hardcover]

Thomas A. Meyers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1993

Presented in a workbook format, The Technical Analysis Course shows how to use the tools and strategies of technical analysis to uncover profitable opportunities in both the futures and stock markets. Complete with lesson, quizzes, charts and examples, the topics include: The basics of technical analysis; How to read price charts; Moving averages. oscillators and stochastics; Japanese candlesticks; Point and figure charting.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Classic, Comprehensive Introduction to Technical Analysis, Updated for Today's Wide-Open Trading Arena

Previous editions of The Technical Analysis Course: A Winning Program for Investors and Traders were big hits with investors, providing precisely what they wanted: an easy to understand overview of technical analysis. In this third edition, author Thomas A. Meyers expands his scope while keeping the focus on technical analysis just as sharp. Included in this edition are completely revised tables and charts plus new lessons on the true value of failed signals, Moving Average Convergence-Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger Bands.

Meyers leads the reader through a personalized course of study on technical analysis techniques that provides the critical tools, materials, and plans necessary to buy, sell, and trade more profitably. Written in a clear, no-nonsense style, The Technical Analysis Course lays the foundation for investors to become expert technical analysts and smarter, more successful traders.

Praise for Previous Editions of THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS COURSE

"If you are a neophyte in the markets or have a friend who is, this may be the book for you. It won't turn you into an overnight market wizard. You will, however, acquire an excellent grasp of market terminology and be a step ahead toward trading success and fortune."--Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities

"A simple introduction to this . . . widely followed art is given in the book The Technical Analysis Course."--The Wall Street Journal

Technical analysis, long considered by many experts to be the single most reliable method of forecasting market trends and timing significant turns, is an instrumental analytical tool for seizing opportunities in the stock, bond, futures, and options markets. Accurate and unemotional, it is as close as one can get to a scientific approach to investing. Yet in today's turbulent markets, where decisions have become more complex and the overwhelming flood of information more difficult to assimilate, many investors lack a complete working knowledge of this powerful technique.

The Technical Analysis Course, Third Edition, contains everything you need to know to incorporate the power of technical analysis into your own trading program. You will learn how to

• Construct charts using classic tools of technical analysis, updated to take advantage of today's trading realities
• Identify profitable chart patterns, including reversals, consolidation formations, and gaps
• Utilize key analytical tools, including trendlines and channels, support and resistance, moving averages, relative strength analysis, and volume and open interest

Advanced analysis, including a discussion of oscillators, relative strength index, stochastics, Moving Average Convergence-Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger Bands is also presented, along with point and figure and Japanese candlestick charting. Author and market veteran Thomas A. Meyers concludes by presenting a weight-of-evidence approach to technical analysis illustrated with three comprehensive real market examples.

The beauty of technical analysis is that it can be applied effectively to virtually any trading medium and investment time horizon. A technician can analyze stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, commodities, and many other forms of investments for buy and sell opportunities. And this can be done by examining tic-by-tic, intraday, daily, weekly, monthly, or any other time interval.

Those "in the know" on Wall Street realize that security prices do not move randomly; rather, they move in repetitive and identifiable patterns. Increasingly, knowledgeable investors are turning to technical analysis and using this information to gain a significant advantage over other investors.

It has been proven time and time again that the markets move in trends readily discernible to the technical analyst. The Technical Analysis Course will train you to recognize these trends, act accordingly--and dramatically increase your day-in, day-out profit potential.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Thomas A. Meyers is a recognized authority on using computers for investment research and analysis. Meyers has been quoted frequently by financial and business publications such as BusinessWeek, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and The New York Times. He is the author of more than 100 articles on the subject of investing and coauthor of the highly acclaimed Encyclopedia of Technical Market Indicators.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Probus Pub Co; Revised edition (November 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557385238
• ISBN-13: 978-1557385239
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,895,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meyers clearly explains the art of reading charts., March 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Technical Analysis Course: A Winning Program for Investors and Traders, Revised Edition (Hardcover)

If this book doesn't provide the very clearest explanations of technical analysis that is out there, it certainly is a contender for the crown. Each chapter or lesson is followed by a quiz to ensure that you've picked up the key points.

Technical analysis is used by momentum investors (traders if you prefer) to increase their chances of making successful trades. Although some investors on the net would tell you that chart reading is akin to tea-leaf reading, they'd be wrong. I'm conservative enough to combine value investing with my trading, but trading alone can be very profitable to one who takes the time to learn about charts.

The book consists of nineteen lessons:

Lesson 1 - Definition of technical analysis and its basic principles.

Lesson 2 - Chart Construction -- the types of charts, charting services, personal computer software.

Lessons 3-5: Profitable Chart Patterns

Lessons 6-10: Key Analystical Tools

Lessons 11-13: Advanced Analysis. These are especially excellent chapters since they make the "advanced" topics very accessible.

Lessons 14 and 15: Alternative Charting Methods. The lesson on Japanese Candlestick Charting is outstanding.

Lessons 16 and 17: Overall market analysis.

Lessons 18 and 19: Putting It All Together.

An investment of thirty minutes a night for three weeks will repay the investor with more tools to bring to the table to improve his investing track record.

For those who scorn (i.e., do not understand) charts, let me just offer this. Technical analysis does not, of course, double as a crystal ball. But, it can provide a significant edge.

There can be no guarantees, but I believe that this book will pay you for its cost hundreds or thousands of times over. (It has certainly repaid me. But, you've got to read the book and you've got to pull the trigger on some trades.)

Good luck. Better still, read the book and use its information for your benefit instead of relying on luck, hunch, and the free advice that is worth only its price.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, January 21, 2000

By 

Victor J. Chung (Miami, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Technical Analysis Course: A Winning Program for Investors and Traders, Revised Edition (Hardcover)

This should be your first book on Technical Analysis and a permanent reference in you library. After reading the other reviews, I only have one thing to say. This is a MUST read book if you want to trade based on Technical Analysis. Very concise, to the point explanations. No words are wasted. Very easy to read and will get you started in TA almost inmediately and with a solid base.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to technical analysis!, August 9, 1999

By 

A scientist/business person ([e-mail]) (from the midwestern U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Technical Analysis Course: A Winning Program for Investors and Traders, Revised Edition (Hardcover)

This book is obviously constructed as a brief introduction to a variety of components and theories of technical analysis of securities. Topics considered include basic principles and theory of technical analysis, basic chart construction, major reversal chart patterns, consolidation formations, gaps, trendlines and channels, support and resistance, moving averages and other topics. The material is in all cases succinct and to the point. At the end of the book is an extensive list of further reading materials, reinforcing that the text is beginning in nature and the author encourages further study. This text is an excellent way to start exploring the field of technical analysis of securities.