Is pivot a good indicator?
- Answer Field
-
Generally, pivot points are considered a good indicator as they provide potential support and resistance levels, aiding in predicting market movements.
BAJAJ BROKING
There’s this moment, maybe you’ve had it when you’re staring at a price chart, and nothing seems to make sense. The stock is moving, yes, but why it’s moving? Up? Down? Sideways? Honestly? No clue.
That’s when tools like pivot points come into play — not as magical predictors, but as grounding references. Kind of like those lane markers on a road. You still need to steer, but at least you’re not guessing where the pavement ends.
I started using pivot points in my own trading journey after a senior trader casually mentioned them over chai. He said, “Price reacts to these levels like magnets… you’ll see.” I did. And I haven’t stopped looking since.
So, let’s slow down and really get into this. What are pivot points? Why do they matter? And how can you use them — practically — as an intraday trader?
Think of a pivot point as the centre of gravity for price movement on any trading day.
It’s calculated using the previous day’s high, low, and close. Just those three. No fancy algorithms. No black-box stuff. And yet, from that single number — the pivot — we get a surprisingly powerful map of support and resistance levels for the day.
If the price stays above the pivot level? That’s considered bullish. Below it? Bearish vibes.
But here’s the thing — I never treat pivot points as gospel. They’re not magical. They won’t tell you when exactly to buy or sell. But they can tell you where the battle lines are drawn for the day. That alone is valuable.
Because trading — especially intraday trading — can get loud. News, indicators, price swings, FOMO. Amidst that chaos, pivot points offer stillness. Structure.
They give you predefined levels — support, resistance, entry zones — that you can refer back to. It helps take the emotions out of decisions. That’s crucial. I've found myself overtrading far less on days when I mark my pivot levels before market open.
Also, let’s not ignore how cleanly pivot points work on liquid stocks or indices. Nifty, Bank Nifty, some of the frontline F&O stocks — they respect these levels. Not always, but often enough for you to pay attention.
If maths isn’t your thing — don’t worry. This one’s simple.
Here’s the core formula:
Pivot Point (P) = (High + Low + Close) / 3
Once you have this, you can calculate support and resistance levels:
S1 = (2 × P) – High
S2 = P – (High – Low)
R1 = (2 × P) – Low
R2 = P + (High – Low)
There are more levels (S3, R3, mid-pivots if you want to go deep), but even just S1/S2/R1/R2 is enough to start making smarter trade plans.
Here’s where things get interesting.
Imagine you’re watching a stock dip toward S1 — a support level — just after market opens. Is it a sign of weakness? Or is it just the price finding its footing before bouncing?
This is where patterns and context matter. Two terms you'll come across:
Let’s say price drops to the pivot level and then sharply bounces back. That’s your cue. Maybe — maybe — the market is rejecting lower prices.
If it bounces from below the pivot, traders look to go long. If it fails from above and drops below, shorts come in. Stop loss? Just the other side of the pivot. Simple.
This is the aggressive cousin.
Instead of waiting for confirmation, you enter when the price breaks out of a pivot level with volume. Say Nifty shoots past R1 at 9:30 AM — you jump in long, expecting momentum. High risk, high reward.
But caution: these moves usually happen early. By 11:30 AM, breakout energy fizzles out. So you’ve got to be sharp.
Okay, let’s break this down into a flow:
Use a clean OHLC chart — don’t overload it with 12 indicators.
Manually or with tools — either works. Just make sure they’re visible.
Is the price gravitating toward the pivot? Bouncing off support? Testing resistance?
Don't jump the gun. Let the price react to the pivot. Bounces, breakouts — they all tell a story.
When the story starts making sense — and aligns with your risk appetite.
Honestly? Sometimes I wait the entire day and still don’t trade. And that’s okay.
Unlike moving averages or RSI, pivot points don’t shift during the day. They’re fixed. Which is oddly comforting.
You can plan your trades around them before the bell rings. And they play well with other indicators. Combine them with MACD, Bollinger Bands, or volume — suddenly your trade idea gets clearer.
I think of pivot points as the skeleton. Other indicators are the muscles. Both are needed to move, but the structure comes first.
Now, this part is fluid. Every trader I know who uses pivot points does it slightly differently. That’s the beauty — it’s not one-size-fits-all.
But here are two common styles:
Wait for price to approach a pivot level, watch it pause or reverse, then take a position in the direction of the bounce. Simple, elegant, disciplined.
Price breaks through a pivot with momentum? Enter. Use the next level (like R2 or S2) as a target. Works well during volatile sessions.
Both strategies can work — as long as you respect stop-losses. (Yes, even that 0.25% move matters intraday.)
This one’s a personal favourite.
Pivot levels are great — but when you combine them with candlestick patterns? That’s when things click. A doji at R1? Reversal alert. Hammer at S1? Possible bounce incoming.
One of my better trades this year happened when I spotted a bullish engulfing pattern forming right on the central pivot. It screamed strength. I entered. Two hours later, it hit R2.
Was it luck? Maybe. But the setup was solid.
This is the classic approach.
Mark R1, R2, S1, S2. Track how price interacts with each. Some traders use these levels for range-bound trades — buy at support, sell at resistance.
Others wait for price to break these levels and ride the trend.
No right or wrong here. You just need to decide: are you the bounce type, or the breakout type?
Here’s the truth — pivot points won’t predict the future. They’re not magical. But they do give structure to chaos, even when you find the right path to Intraday trading.
Intraday trading is hard. Fast. Emotionally draining. But tools like pivot points help you build a plan. A method. A rhythm.
And sometimes, that’s all you need.
Just don’t forget to zoom out. No matter how precise your pivot math is, the market will do what it wants. Your job is to react but not to control. Observe and then proceed with intraday trading.
Start small. Mark your levels. Observe. Learn. The pivots will be there every single day. All you have to do is trust the process and be aware of the market.
Share this article:
No result found
Generally, pivot points are considered a good indicator as they provide potential support and resistance levels, aiding in predicting market movements.
You may consider buying with a pivot point when the price reaches or bounces from a support level, indicating a potential upward movement.
The best pivot points for intraday trading typically include the central pivot point along with the first support (S1) and resistance (R1) levels.
Analyzing pivot points involves observing the price's interaction with pivot levels to identify potential support and resistance areas, aiding in trading decisions.
Pivot points in trading are calculated using the previous day’s high, low, and closing prices with the formula:
PP = (High + Low + Close) / 3.
The best pivot points for intraday trading are the primary levels, including S1, S2 for support and R1, R2 for resistance. These levels help identify ideal entry and exit points in a pivot point trading strategy. By understanding which pivot points are best for intraday, traders can make more accurate predictions on price movements within a single trading day.
Pivot points in pivot point trading provide structure and guidance, helping traders determine support and resistance levels. One major benefit is that they stay fixed throughout the day, unlike other indicators, making them reliable for planning trades. In this way, pivot point trading helps traders make informed decisions, particularly in fast-moving markets like intraday trading.
Yes, pivot points are widely used in futures and options trading. They provide useful reference levels for intraday strategies, helping traders identify support, resistance, and possible breakout zones across different asset classes.
To confirm signals from pivot points, traders often rely on momentum indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) or Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD). These tools help validate trend strength and reduce the risk of false entries.
Disclaimer :
The information on this website is provided on "AS IS" basis. Bajaj Broking (BFSL) does not warrant the accuracy of the information given herein, either expressly or impliedly, for any particular purpose and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability or suitability for any particular purpose. While BFSL strives to ensure accuracy, it does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information. Users are advised to independently verify details and stay updated with any changes.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. BFSL shall not be responsible for any consequences arising from reliance on the information provided herein and shall not be held responsible for all or any actions that may subsequently result in any loss, damage and or liability. Interest rates, fees, and charges etc., are revised from time to time, for the latest details please refer to our Pricing page.
Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this website constitutes a solicitation or offer by BFSL or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.
BFSL is acting as distributor for non-broking products/ services such as IPO, Mutual Fund, Insurance, PMS, and NPS. These are not Exchange Traded Products. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions please read the sales brochure carefully before investing.
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
For more disclaimer, check here : https://www.bajajbroking.in/disclaimer
Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading