Forex – Pivot Points Calculation Rules

The presented article covers the topic of pivot points calculating. Different pivot points are the popular and simple tools of technical analysis in Forex market trading. In this article the rules for floor, Tom Demark’s, Woodies and Camarilla pivots are described. The following article will be useful for all Forex traders who wish to be more acquainted with the generic technical analysis.

The floor pivot points (the most basic and popular type of pivots) are widely used in Forex trading technical analysis. The main aim of a pivot point is to represent a primary level of support/resistance – the point at which the trend can become bearish or bullish. Levels of resistance and support (from first to third) serve as the additional points of possible trend breakouts or the trend range limits. These are the rules to calculate floor pivots:

Pivot (P) = (H + L + C) / 3
Resistance (R1) = (2 X P) – L
R2 = P + H – L
R3 = H + 2 X (P – L)
Support (S1) = (2 X P) – H
S2 = P – H + L
S3 = L – 2 X (H – P)

Tom DeMark’s pivot points are not as popular as floor pivots, but it is even simpler and can be used to determine the range for a current period trading corridor using the High, Low and Close values of the previous period and the Open value of a current period. To calculate DeMark’s pivots one can use these rules:

If Close Opencurrent Then X = 2 X H + L + C;
If Close = Opencurrent Then X = H + L + 2 X C;
New High = X / 2 – L; New Low = X / 2 – H

Another way to calculate them is Woodie’s pivot points. They are very similar to the floor ones, but are calculated giving more weight to the Close price of the previous time period. The rules to calculate Woodie’s pivot points are as follows:

Pivot (P) = (H + L + 2 X C) / 4
Resistance (R1) = (2 X P) – L
R2 = P + H – L
Support (S1) = (2 X P) – H
S2 = P – H + L

Camarilla pivots are based on the Camarilla equation method developed by Nick Scott. They are presented as a set of eight levels of support and resistance values without a middle pivot point (which is crucial for floor pivot points). The precise way of calculating these pivot points is somewhat unclear. But more important is that these pivot points can still be calculated and work for all traders. They can be used to set the stop-loss and take-profit orders to automate Forex trading. Use the following rules to calculate Camarilla pivots:

R4 = (H – L) X 1.1 / 2 + C
R3 = (H – L) X 1.1 / 4 + C
R2 = (H – L) X 1.1 / 6 + C
R1 = (H – L) X 1.1 / 12 + C
S1 = C – (H – L) X 1.1 / 12
S2 = C – (H – L) X 1.1 / 6
S3 = C – (H – L) X 1.1 / 4
S4 = C – (H – L) X 1.1 / 2