The Nature of Trends - Strategies and Concepts for Successful Investing and Trading

Today's market participants have a myriad of tools at their disposal. Yet 80% to 90% of traders still fail to achieve their financial goals.

The Nature of Trends draws on the latest developments in neurology, psychology, game theory and complexity theory to construct a written trading plan with an edge. The book’s step-by-step approach will assist traders in their quest for investing or trading success.

The Nature of Trends provides a template for a successful trading plan: It assists the trader to answer questions such as:

• What are the conditions for low-risk entry?
• What is the trend of my time frame?
• Once in a trade, how can I risk be managed?

Trading or investing is a probability game, requiring tools that will swing the probabilities in the trader's favor. A technical trader's best chance for long-term success lies in identifying the path of least resistance (trend) of his time frame. These key ideas of trend and time frame are essential for profit. Barros Swings, introduced in this book, provide a means to determine visually both the trend, and the time frame of (or changes in) that trend.

The Nature of Trends also examines other unique tools (for example, the MIDAS tool) that provide low-risk trade entry by indicating the level at which an entry may be safely effected.

This practical guide to identifying trends and determining their likelihood of continuing or changing is an essential tool for traders looking to increase their probability of achieving their financial goals.

"The Nature of Trends by Ray Barros is one of the finest introductions to trading I've yet encountered. Clearly and concisely, Ray lays out principles for assessing and trading markets, emphasizing congestion ranges, trends, and the interplay of these across time frames. Examples and charts bring the ideas to life, emphasizing practical application of ideas ranging from market profile to wave patterns. This is a book not only to be studied, but savored."
—Brett N. Steenbarger, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Author, The Psychology of Trading and Enhancing Trader Performance

"After spending over a decade in the financial services industry, particularly focused on technical analysis, I have seen many traders over-complicate what should be a straight forward pursuit. The Nature of Trends by Ray Barros will bring you back to the most fundamental (and often forgotten) rules of trading, which is to identify the trend and then trade within it. I would recommend that every serious trader read this book at least once a year as adopting the simple strategies in this book can help you to flow with the market instead of fighting against it."
—Mathew Verdouw
Managing Director
Market Analyst Software

"The Nature of Trends by Ray Barros is a book for serious traders. A trader always searches for information, but the serious ones search for in-depth knowledge which can only be found in Ray's book.
—Rickey Cheung
Author, The Trading Edge, How to Trade Like a Winner

"In The Nature of Trends, the author reveals valuable concepts for profiting from a clearer understanding of market structure and the probable duration of tradable trends. There's no fluff, filler, or old rehashed ideas in this refreshing volume on market dynamics. Novice and advanced trader alike will benefit from this comprehensive and enlightening study."
—Don Schellenberg
Senior Market Strategist
NextView Pte. Ltd.

"Identifying and monitoring trends in the market is a key skill in any successful trading campaign. Ray's in-depth analysis and insights make The Nature of Trends a must read for those who are taking trading seriously."
—Geoffrey Sawyer
General Manager
CMC Markets Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Trend identification is such a difficult art. Some think a simple moving average is enough, others use complex formulas, some just eye ball the charts. Barros instead uses his own system, based on disregarding irrelevant price info (such as a false new low), and instead looking for signs of an aging trend that is start to have new force pushed behind it. His objective isn't to pick the exact bottom, instead its to wait and see how a trend develops according to his wave system, then make a high probability entry point at a solid junction where he can manage his risk v reward. This type of thinking for trend changes and identification is far superior to the standard MA crossover type systems that exist, because it takes into account pressure that both the sellers and buyer are applying to the price movements.

His ideas and formulas do take some time to process on any trend, so don't think its a book written for those who want a simplistic solution. The great part about this book is you can truly build a workable system with its ideas alone. A lot of other books leave out key information, letting the reader seek out the missing pieces. Barros does no such thing, he gives you everything you need (so long as you can understand it) to build a solid long/intermediate term trading system.

One disappointment for me was the lack of info on day trading or very short term trades. I'm sure this was not by accident, Barros seems to know a lot about the day time frame and I'm sure he'll release another book with the day time frame perspective. It would have been nice to have a chapter on day time frame trends, but oh well.

If you're a technical trader and can't seem to find those good entry points, this is a good book for you. If your entries are fine, but you'd like a good exit strategy for long term positions, this is a good book for you. If you have just read some beginning TA books, and wish to move to the next level, this is an excellent book for you. If you want someone to explain market theories in relation to market fundamentals, probably look elsewhere. This book is more about a method you take on faith as working.