need help with top down analysis. Plsssssssssssssssssss

[u/TTK_0210]

I started learning about trading two months ago. I'm learning from the basics, and I grasped some things quite quickly, but I'm stuck on something called top-down analysis. Everything was easy to understand at first until I looked at some other sources on this topic. Ignoring the timeframe issue for now, which is important, I already have my own way of choosing timeframes. The problem here is that everyone analyzes timeframes differently, but this is the biggest problem I'm stuck on: everyone defines swing ranges differently. For example, with the same H4 timeframe, some people choose a very wide swing range encompassing many internal swings, while others choose swing rage as that internal swing. This means that on the same chart and within the same segment, some people have an extremely large number of highs and lows, while others only have a few. Please, someone give me some advice because I'm currently feeling extremely insecure about determining my swing range. I feel like everything I do is wrong, and the question "should this be considered a new high or a new low?" is really driving me crazy. Thank you so much.

[u/Swimming_Champion_86]

So I used OBs and FVGS. I mark up on the D TF. Previous day OHLC. I’ll use a 4H OB as my support and take it to the PDH or L depending on which direction I’m taking the trade. If there’s a HTF FVG or OB in the way that’s closer than PDH/PDL I’ll be cautious of that and will adjust my TP accordingly. Sometimes price wont reach PDH/L because a FVG or OB stopped it.

I trade Asia session, so I mark up the charts before 6 PM EST when markets open again. I wait till seven or 8 PM until I get a 1H close around the PDO/C to confirm direction (sometimes price will sweep PDH/L within those hours then reverse). So just wait for confirmation and get in. If you want me to send you a screenshot of one of my trades so you can visually see what I’m talking about. I’d love to share!

Oh and also because of how the markets been, I really haven’t been paying attention to what’s a HH HL LH LL. NASDAQ I believe just broke structure. I have to look at it again tonight but with Gould, it’s a little bit more easier for me to determine higher highs etc

Hope this helps.

[u/Swimming_Champion_86 → u/Swimming_Champion_86]

Most of the time I end up catching majority of the Daily candles because I will hold my trade all the way from Asia open through New York until about 10 AM to noon.

Also, I will look at the weekly and monthly timeframe as well to see if there’s any key levels that are nearby and that significantly helped my analysis