Range-Bound Trading vs. Trend Trading in Forex – What’s the Difference?

Forex trading may be a highly profitable activity if you understand what you’re dealing with and are aware of the potential risks that come with it. As a forex trader, you must first understand how the market is currently acting, whether you are a manual trader or relying on the best forex trading robots, and what is expected to occur in the future given present conditions.

Trend and range are two unique price qualities that necessitate entirely opposite mindsets and financial management strategies. However, the Forex market is well-suited to both approaches, giving profitable chances for both trend and range traders.

1. What is trend trading?

Trend trading is a trading strategy that involves analyzing an asset’s momentum in a certain direction in order to reap profits. A trend is defined as a pattern of price movement in one direction, including upwards or downwards. Higher lows in an upsurge and lower highs in a downturn are the most basic indicators of trend direction. Irrespective of how trend trading is defined, the aim is the same – get in early and stay in until the momentum reverses.

In order to identify the ideal entry position, trend traders usually trade with restrictive stops and make several confirmatory movements into the market. Short-term movements typically provide exceptional possibilities for currency traders than those who use long-term trends to decide when or whether to trade a pair.

However, when opposing short-term trends occur inside a long-term trend, it’s a challenge to trade trending currency pairings. Analyzing chart patterns may, in general, offer investors a strong indication of a consistent pattern, particularly medium and long-term trends.

When trend traders get the transaction right, the gains can be huge. This is particularly true in the forex market, where huge leverage increases earnings dramatically. The same method that generates fast gains, however, may also bring significant losses. As a consequence, many impulsive traders face margin calls and lose the majority of their speculative funds.

2. What is range-bound trading?

Whenever the price changes of a currency pair remain inside a limited trading range, FX traders call the market environment range-bound. As a result, the upper and lower price points of the currency pair are rather predictable. The price remains in a similar range, frequently approaching either the high or low point before reverting to a place somewhat inside the defined range.

Traders profit from range-bound trading by acquiring at the support trendline and trading at the resistance trendline frequently until the asset breaks out of the price channel. The notion is that the value is more probable to bounce from these levels than to break through them, putting the risk-to-reward ratio in their favor, but it’s still crucial to keep an eye out for a breakthrough or breakdown.

However, whenever currencies trade in ranges, most traders encounter a challenge: there is no clear pattern that the price follows. In practice, predicting when the price will change, in which direction, and to what extent is a near-impossible task. In such conditions, estimating when transactions should be made or withdrawn for the best outcome becomes challenging. Traders often seek moving markets since range-bound currencies provide limited return potential.

3. Factors to consider when determining a currency pair is trending or range-bound

a. Volatility

The level of volatility in two currencies can help determine whether it is trending or range-bound. If volatility is considerable, the currency pair is trending, and when volatility is moderate, markets are range-bound.

b. Average Directional Index

The ADX is a powerful tool for determining if a currency pair is trading range-bound or trending, as well as determining the intensity of the trend.

c. MACD

The MACD is a well-known momentum indicator that evaluates two different Exponential Moving Averages and depicts the result as a single line. The currency pair is trending when the line is ascending, and trading range-bound if the line is descending.

d. Bollinger Bands Review

Bollinger Bands are also widely used by forex traders as a significant indication of volatility.

Conclusion

The Forex market is ideally adapted for both techniques, whether a trader intends to profit from trends with high leverage or trade a range strategy with smaller lot sizes.