Confirmation is a term used in technical analysis, which refers to the use of additional indicators to support a trend suggested by a primary indicator. This article explores what confirmation means in trading, how it works, and some potential pitfalls to avoid. We’ll also discuss the importance of trade confirmations and how traders can use them to make more informed trading decisions.

Understanding Confirmation in Trading

Confirmation is an essential concept in technical analysis, which is the study of past market data to identify trends and predict future price movements. Technical indicators are tools that traders use to analyze the market and identify potential trading opportunities. However, every indicator is flawed, and traders often rely on multiple indicators to confirm a trade signal before making a decision.

Types of Technical Indicators

Technical indicators fall into four broad categories: trend, momentum, volatility, and volume. Trend indicators help traders identify the direction of a market trend. Momentum indicators measure the rate of change in a market’s price movements. Volatility indicators measure the degree of price variability in a market. Volume indicators measure the strength of buying and selling activity in a market.

How Confirmation Works in Trading

When seeking confirmation for a trade signal provided by one indicator, it’s usually best to look at an indicator from a different category. This helps avoid counting the same or similar inputs multiple times, which can create the illusion of confirmation when little new information has been considered. For example, if a trader is using a moving average to identify a trend, they may also look to a volume indicator to confirm that the trend is valid.

Divergence and Confirmation Bias

Divergence occurs when different indicators send conflicting signals. If a trader receives conflicting signals, they need to be aware of divergence and should rely on more than one indicator for trade confirmation. Instead, they should look for confirmation from multiple indicators across different categories.

Confirmation bias is a potential pitfall that traders should be aware of when seeking confirmation for a trade signal. Confirmation bias occurs when a trader selectively seeks out information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignores information that contradicts their beliefs. This can lead to the overestimation of the accuracy of a trade signal and result in costly mistakes.

Importance of Trade Confirmations

In securities trading, confirmation can also refer to the written acknowledgment of a completed trade. Brokers typically send a confirmation within one week of the trade’s completion. Confirmations provide details such as the date, price, commission, fees, and settlement terms of the trade. Traders should carefully review confirmations to ensure that they accurately reflect the details of the trade.

How Traders Can Use Trade Confirmations

Traders can use trade confirmations to make more informed trading decisions. By reviewing the details of a completed trade, traders can identify any errors or discrepancies and take corrective action. They can also use trade confirmations to track their trading performance, identify patterns, and make adjustments to their trading strategies.

Conclusion

Confirmation is a critical concept in trading, which refers to the use of additional indicators to support a trend suggested by a primary indicator. Traders should seek confirmation from multiple indicators across different categories to increase their confidence in a trade signal. They should also be aware of divergence and confirmation bias and carefully review trade confirmations to ensure accuracy. With these precautions in mind, traders can use confirmation to help make more informed trading decisions.