Are Indicators Killing Your Trading Edge?

[Rachid El Jaafari]

Everyone talks about indicators like they’re magic… but the truth? Most ‘famous’ indicators are just lagging signals.
Price action beats them 9 times out of 10. Who actually trades without indicators and survives?

[Ryan L Johnson]

rachid el jaafari:
Everyone talks about indicators like they’re magic… but the truth? Most ‘famous’ indicators are just lagging signals.
Price action beats them 9 times out of 10. Who actually trades without indicators and survives?

There are some who say that bars on a chart are an indicator, in and of themselves.

[Alexandr Saprykin]

rachid el jaafari:
Who actually trades without indicators and survives?

Those who have inside information

[Mehrdad Shoghi]

rachid el jaafari:
Everyone talks about indicators like they’re magic… but the truth? Most ‘famous’ indicators are just lagging signals.
Price action beats them 9 times out of 10. Who actually trades without indicators and survives?

I trade without indicators. My edge is data, context, and pure price action—no lag, no decoration. Price is the signal.

[Ilias Saoudi]

Everyone has a unique approach in trading as long as it works for you you are fine 

[Kulvinder Singh]

i think without leging issue indicator helpfull for one mind strategy , but if we changed our strategy everyday it will give loss always 

[Lee Breeze]

I just got into reducing indicators.

I only use PDC/PDH/PDL/PWH/PWL lines, ATR and Demarker - I mainly use the PA on the levels and the other two for confirmation

[Jim Simons]

We can use faster momentum oscillators like the RSI, Stochastic, or Williams %R. They are not leading indicators, but they are the fastest of the lagging tools.

But i think

Mehrdad Shoghi #:
I trade without indicators. My edge is data, context, and pure price action—no lag, no decoration. Price is the signal.

is a very good way

[Ryan L Johnson]

Ilias Saoudi #:
Everyone has a unique approach in trading as long as it works for you you are fine 

Well said. That is the most important thing--that your own strategy works for you.

Based on my experience:

1. Regardless of the strategy deployed, accurate statistical testing and reporting determines long term profitability.
2. Japanese Candlesticks are an indicator (as opposed to a mere ticker tape). Therefore, all other bar types are indicators too.
3. Fixed objects on a chart such as trendlines are indicators as well.
4. News events plotted on, or factored into, a chart are an indicator.
5. An EA that generates signals in lieu of auto trading is an indicator.
6. Any data that can be quantified/measured can be fed into an indicator.
7. Emotion/instinct is not data and therefore, cannot be scientifically tested.

[Enrique Dangeroux]

rachid el jaafari:
Everyone talks about indicators like they’re magic… but the truth? Most ‘famous’ indicators are just lagging signals.
Price action beats them 9 times out of 10. Who actually trades without indicators and survives?

What about the "wait till candle close" mantra in price action? 

[Ryan L Johnson]

Enrique Dangeroux #:
What about the "wait till candle close" mantra in price action? 

Trading on bar close is actually really beneficial for accurate statistical testing and reporting. It eliminates need to analyze all of the ticks within the current bar.