Leonardo of Pisa, better known to us today as Fibonacci first introduced what we call the Fibonacci sequence to the west in his 1202 book Liber Abaci (the sequence was already known in Indian mathematics). He stumbled upon this sequence while attempting to estimate how many rabbits he would be able to breed in one year based on his knowledge of their breeding habits. This mathematical model is used by Forex traders today.

So you see, what many people mistakenly take as a mere mathematical abstraction, just “fooling around” with numbers, is rooted in very real-world applied mathematics. To state things very basically, the Fibonacci sequence can be used to detect and describe otherwise hidden patterns in the world around us.

It works really well while investing. Why? Well, based on the mass behavior of investors there are various hidden patterns in the stock market. Perceptive investors know this. Investment aphorisms such as “The best time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets” and “Buy low and sell high” work well. However, they also relate to understanding the investment markets hidden patterns.

These patterns cannot be seen by a day to day observation of market conditions, but reveal themselves when you step back and take a look at the big picture. Short term fluctuations in the market are nearly impossible to accurately forecast. However, the trends which occur over time most certainly are predictable. Investors of all stripes, including Forex traders have used the Fibonacci sequence to plan their investments and make large profits in the currency exchange markets.

The Fibonacci sequence is a string of numbers with each number being the sum of the two numbers which preceded it. For example, one such string would be 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21 and so on. These numbers are related in several ways. Any given number in a Fibonacci sequence is about 1.618 of its predecessor – the “golden ratio” of the Greek mathematicians.

Of all the Fibonacci series the two applications in wide spread use by Forex traders and investors are arcs and retracements.

Fibonacci chart technique involves three curved lines drawn for anticipating key resistance and supporting various levels as well as areas of ranging. First drawn is an invisible trendline between the two points of high and low for particular period of time. Next, three intersecting curves are drawn overlapping the trendline at the levels of 38.2, 50, and 61.8 percent according to Fibonacci. When the price of the asset crosses through these key levels, decisions of transaction are made.

Now, a retracement, in investing, refers to a reversal in the movement of a stock’s price–a reversal which is enough to counter the stock’s prevailing trend. Advanced successful investors pay intense attention to retracement possibilities and patterns. The Fibonacci retracement analyzes the likelihood that a financial asset’s price will see a larger than average retracement and then come to support or resistance at the key Fibonacci levels before it then continues on in its original direction. A trendline is drawn between two extreme points; then, its vertical distance is divided by the key Fibonacci ratios of 23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, and 100%.

Multitudes of high-level traders gain with the Fibonacci retracement method. It aids them in finding the most strategic placement of transactions, their target prices and stop-losses. Gartley patterns, Tirone levels and the Elliott Wave theory are other technical tools that make use of retracement.

The Fibonacci formula simply works and is useful while investing. Forex traders worldwide are finding it successful while using it.