The mathematician Fibonacci or Leonardo of Pisa in 1202 first published his Fibonacci sequence. In order to calculate the number of pairs of rabbits he would have at the end of a year based on their behavior of breeding, Fibonacci developed this famous sequence of numbers. Forex traders find this type of no-nonsense approach very profitable.

Mistakenly many individuals consider mathematical abstraction as frivolous; however it is rooted into real world mathematical applications. The Fibonacci sequence is useful for making us aware of and then explaining those hidden patterns around us daily.

So how is the Fibonacci sequence applicable to currency investing? Savvy investors know that there are patterns to the movements of the stock and currency markets which can be seen by studying the past behavior of investors. The market truisms “buy low, sell high” is based on an understanding of these market 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 series of numbers in which each successive number is the sum of the two previous numbers. So it goes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, and into perhaps infinity. There are a number of interrelationships held within these numbers; for instance, any given number is approximately 1.618 times the preceding number, and 1.618 happens to represent the ancient Greeks’ “golden ratio”–considered to be the supreme essence of balance (and balance is the ultimate key to successful investing).

The most common applications of the Fibonacci sequence for investment purposes are retracements and arcs.

A Fibonacci chart is made of three curved lines which represent support levels, key resistance and ranging. A trendline is first drawn between two points (generally the high and low points over a given period of time). Three curved lines are then drawn which intersect the trendline at the 38.2%, 50% and 61.8% points. Decisions about buying and selling are made at these points (i.e. – when the price of the commodity in question reaches these points).

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%.

The Fibonacci retracement is widely used by sophisticated traders to find: strategic places for transactions to be placed; target prices; and stop-losses. Other technical tools including Tirone levels, Gartley patterns, and Elliott Wave theory all make use of retracement.

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