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Identification through technical analysis: A study of charting and UK non-professional investors

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  • Roscoe, Philip
  • Howorth, Carole

Abstract

The usefulness of technical analysis, or charting, has been questioned because it flies in the face of the 'random walk' and tests present conflicting results. We examine chartists' decision-making techniques and derive a taxonomy of charting strategies based on investors' market ontologies and calculative strategies. This distinguishes between trend-seekers and pattern-seekers, and trading as a system or an art. We argue that interpretative activity plays a more important role than previously thought and suggest that charting's main appeal for users lies in its power as a heuristic device regardless of its effectiveness at generating returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Roscoe, Philip & Howorth, Carole, 2009. "Identification through technical analysis: A study of charting and UK non-professional investors," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 206-221, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:aosoci:v:34:y:2009:i:2:p:206-221
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    3. Vassili Joannides & Nicolas Berland & D. T. Wickramasinghe, 2010. "Post-Hofstede diversity/cultural studies: what contributions to accounting knowledge?," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-00676570, HAL.
    4. Lukasz Prorokowski, 2011. "Trading strategies of individual investors in times of financial crisis," Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 3(1), pages 34-50, April.
    5. Ha Che-Ngoc & Nga Do-Thi & Thao Nguyen-Trang, 2023. "Profitability of Ichimoku-Based Trading Rule in Vietnam Stock Market in the Context of the COVID-19 Outbreak," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 62(4), pages 1781-1799, December.
    6. Vassili Joannides & Nicolas Berland & D. T. Wickramasinghe, 2010. "Post-Hofstede diversity/cultural studies: what contributions to accounting knowledge?," Post-Print hal-00676570, HAL.
    7. Marie Caussimont & David Carassus, 2015. "L’audit financier en contexte territorial : vers un audit de performance de la gestion locale ?," Post-Print hal-02141946, HAL.
    8. Ebert, Sebastian & Hilpert, Christian, 2019. "Skewness preference and the popularity of technical analysis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    9. Vassili Joannides & Nicolas Berland & Danture Wickramasinghe, 2010. "Post-Hofstede diversity/cultural studies: what contributions to accounting knowledge?," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-01661685, HAL.
    10. Tai Vo-Van & Ha Che-Ngoc & Nghiep Le-Dai & Thao Nguyen-Trang, 2022. "A New Strategy for Short-Term Stock Investment Using Bayesian Approach," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 59(2), pages 887-911, February.
    11. Jin, Xiaoye, 2021. "What do we know about the popularity of technical analysis in foreign exchange markets? A skewness preference perspective," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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