Dear ~~first_name~~

In this Blast! edition you can see the following, with links for an easy and speedy go-to to the relevant section below:

• ATAA National President's Update for this month, and an Executive Summary from the recent board meeting, to help keep members informed of what the board has been doing.
• The latest ATAA Website Resource Library updates for the latest month.
• Online Discussion Forums - This resource is now growing in popularity in the ATAA website (for ATAA members only - login is required).
  
• ATAA National Board Update - News from the national board of directors.
• List of all of the ATAA Chapters, SIGs and Network Groups - More opportunities for the ATAA members for networking and learning.
• An update on the Trading Expert Series (formerly known as the National Speaker Series) of online presentations - the first one back in April with Brent Penfold was very successful, and the latest one with Gary Stone recently. The next one is coming up very soon - in early September. See details below.
• The ATAA 2025 In-Person Conference update - NOTE: Early Bird Registration (with discount) expires TODAY Friday 22 August! See a further update on the upcoming 2025 in-person ATAA Conference in Melbourne, 18-19 October, 2025.
  
• Updates from the ATAA Chapters and SIGs: Included below are updates for some Chapters and SIGs, noting that the Brisbane chapter is changing meeting details soon. Information below also includes the RealTest Coders Online Workshop, and some chapters: Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane. Thank you to: Mark (Canberra) for your ongoing contributions.
  
• IFTA information update: Latest information from IFTA including details about the IFTA Conference in September.
• TECHNICAL ANALYSIS article - This month we include Part 2 of the topic addressing the question of: "What is Technical Analysis really?" Part 1 of this was included in the June edition of the Blast! 
• Detailed benefits for ATAA members. Just in case you are missing something with your membership.

1. Encouraging new member sign-ups to support ongoing membership growth;
2. Promoting registrations for the upcoming National Conference;
3. Showcasing our Trading Expert Series — with the next event on 13 September, featuring Zoe Bollinger. This series is helping to raise the ATAA’s profile across the wider trading and investing community.

• Preparations for the October ATAA National Conference are advancing well, with most speakers confirmed, sponsors on board, and marketing underway to build registrations.
• Membership dipped slightly in July after several months of growth, and the Board is developing new initiatives to support continued improvement.
• Updates were received on recent and upcoming National Speaker events, and the date of the 2025 ATA AGM was set for Wednesday 12 November.
• The Board also agreed to recognise a key conference volunteer with a registration discount and to invite members to contribute to an academic research project on trading psychology.

• Use a written trading plan and place orders manually;
• Use fully automated trading systems; 
• Trade without a written plan.

• Thursday 14 August - Melbourne Chapter Hybrid meeting:
  • Paul Ash - Technical Analysis for Investment - Chuck Hughes' Strategies.
  • Alan McKay - Trading Techniques.

• Saturday 12 July - Online "Trading Expert Series":
  • Gary Stone - Building Habits to Achieve Trading Excellence and Life-long Profitability.

• Thursday 10 July - Melbourne Chapter Hybrid meeting:
  • Alan Clement - Global Markets Quarterly Technical Outlook.
  • Karo Cornips - Using derivatives to leverage your view.

• Offensive Strategies: Discover how to harness relative strength as a potent asset management tool. Zoë will guide you through the essential parameters and components required to build a successful relative strength portfolio, adaptable to various goals and risk tolerances.
• Defensive Strategies: Learn to utilise technical indicators, such as market breadth, to design portfolios focused on capital preservation. This approach aims to help investors achieve long-term objectives while mitigating volatility.

• Expert Sessions: Gain invaluable insights from industry-leading trading specialists from both Australia and overseas over two packed days of learning.
• Actionable Strategies: Discover practical trading ideas, risk management tips, and how to leverage cutting-edge AI tools to boost your performance and profits.
• Unparalleled Networking: Connect with like-minded independent traders and industry professionals to expand your network and open new doors.
• Market Mastery: Learn strategies to navigate all market phases, especially during these uncertain times.
• Exclusive Gala Dinner: Socialise with speakers and fellow attendees in a relaxed, elegant setting.
• Premier Venue: Enjoy Melbourne’s vibrant central location, with discounted room rates available exclusively through conference registration.
  

• Free street parking is available on Gladstone Rd, Morris St, and Julia St.
• The no.196 bus from Adelaide St in the CBD stops right in front of the venue on Gladstone Rd.
• It is only a 15 minute walk from the Southbank bus and train stations.
  

• Presentations and workshops focused on Technical Analysis Education
• Guest speakers sharing trading insights
• Networking opportunities to connect with other traders
• Discussions on trading ideas, strategies, and experiences.

Robert Brain
ATAA Melb Chapter President and interim Secretary
(for the Council team: Paul Ash, Jim Haralambidis, Keith Mundy, Tony Hambling, Tony Leonard, Robert Grigg).

• Adelaide Chapter generally meets in-person on the third Wednesday of the month.
• Perth Chapter generally meets on the third Thursday of the month.
  
• Brisbane Chapter generally meets... second Saturday of the month.
• MetaStock Users SIG - Contact Jerry Bongard, jerry.bongard@ataa.asn.au
  
• RealTest Coders Workshop (sub-group of the Quant SIG) - Meets online, generally on the second Monday of each month at 8:00 pm. EST (to give members in western states a better chance of attending). SIG Coordinators: Chris Meakin and Robert Grigg.
  
  

• Technical Analysis Overview, and the diagram of the jig saw puzzle.
• Many novice traders are in search of the Holy Grail; but does it exist?
• Dow Theory - overview.
• Chart types (candles, bars, OHLC), with graphic examples.
• Chart periodicity (daily, weekly monthly, etc).
• Price Trends - uptrends, downtrends.
• Support and Resistance levels - what are they?
• Chart patterns.
• Candle patterns.

• Trend indicators (eg. moving average, MMA, ADX, regression line, P-SAR)
• Volatility indicators (eg. Bollinger Bands, Average True Range)
• Momentum indicators (eg. RSI, MACD, Stochastic, ROC (rate of change), ADX/DMI, Coppock)
• Volume indicators (eg. OBV, volume oscillator).

• Usually based on the Closing price.
• It’s common to use a Daily or Weekly period chart, but many traders and investors also use Monthly, or even intraday charts.
• Shorter term traders tend to use a smaller number of bars to calculate the MA.
• Longer term investors tend to use a larger number of bars to calculate the MA.
• Fine tune by adjusting the number of bars - experiment with it.
• Increasing the number of bars can make the MA slower and give delayed signals.
• EMA and WMA gives more importance to recent share prices.
• MA can be used as a buy/sell signal.

• Buy when the share price action is above, and stays above, a MA line.
• Sell when the share price action falls below a MA line.

• Which moving average type should we use? (ie. Simple, Exponential, Weighted, etc.).
• Which period should we use? (ie. 13 period, 21, 24, 30, 32, etc.)? 

MACD — Moving Average Convergence Divergence – A trend-following lagging indicator, the MACD is rather popular. It was developed by Gerald Appel, and is useful in trending markets, not ranging markets.  Note that some people consider the MACD a momentum indicator (oscillator).

The MACD indicator is basically a special combination of two moving averages.  It comprises two lines that appear to be moving averages (in reality they are).

Note the following with reference to the numbers in the screen shot below of the Weekly chart of BHP, where the MACD is shown in the upper pane of the chart, and the share price candles in the lower pane.

1. The MACD vertical axis is actually in dollars and cents.
2. The zero line (marked as 3) across the middle of the chart about which the indicator oscillates.
3. Fast MACD Line — Often just referred to as the MACD line, it is the solid line marked as (1) in the figure above and is actually derived from two exponential moving average values (typically 12 and 26 periods) - it is the difference between them.  Because the difference between these two moving averages is sometimes positive and sometimes negative, this indicator oscillates above and below the zero line.
4. Signal (or trigger) Line — The line marked as (2) is itself an exponential moving average of the fast line (usually a 9 period moving average).
5. The “Above” label — a potential buy signal — where the fast line crosses to Above the signal line.
6. The “Below” label — a potential sell signal — where the fast line crosses to Below the signal line.
7. The MACD Histogram can be added to the MACD pane of the chart (not shown here).
8. Note in the lower price pane that in the uptrending stock shown, there was a price increase of some 34% in 22 weeks.

There are a number of potential trading signals with the MACD, but yo need to do some research for the details.

Parabolic SAR (P-SAR) – The Parabolic SAR (Stop And Reverse) indicator was developed by J. Welles Wilder and is used to indicate the Stop-Loss price point for tomorrow's trading. With reference to the price chart, note the following:

• The P-SAR dots are placed on the chart either below or above each candle.
• For most of the chart portion displayed here, the P-SAR are positioned below the candles.  This confirms the up trend.
• As the stock rises from candle to candle, the next P-SAR value usually rises also.
• At a point of price weakness (eg. 23 July), the P-SAR has crossed to above the share price for that week.
• On this weekly chart, for the week of trading from 7 to 11 May 2007, the P-SAR point is below the candle at the value of $28.15.
• This P-SAR point says: “if the price falls to $28.15 any time next week, then sell.
• P-SAR could be considered for use for entry as well.  When the P-SAR has crossed from above the price to below, this confirms the possible entry.

• Quantitative analysis
• Cycle Analysis
• Fibonacci (ratios, extensions and retracements)
• Elliott Wave analysis
• Gann studies (of price and time).
  

• ADX/DMI
• Bollinger Bands
• ATR (Average True Range)
• Momentum
• On Balance Volume (OBV)
• Relative Strength Index (RSI)
• Money Flow, and several variations of it
• Price Rate of Change (ROC)
• Stochastics
• Volume Rate of Change
  

Happy and safe investing/trading

Robert Brain

• Learn how to protect your hard-earned capital - using wise stock selection, and money and risk management ideas;
• Invaluable education opportunities (with discounts for members);
• Huge and extensive Resource Library (access for members);
• Networking opportunities - meet with like-minded peers for trading and investing discussions;
  
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs) (only for members) - there are several;
  
• News and information;
• Online Forums;
  
• Annual ATAA Conference (discounted for members).