Lots of investors don't know the basics of chart-reading and are leaving money on the table as a consequence. Don't be lazy. Here's Charting 101 in a few paragraphs: 1. Open chart 2. Turn on volume 3. Turn on 9/21 ema and 50/100/200 sma If you are focusing on swing-trading and/or investing, the purpose of the daily chart is for your entries primarily. For your exits, you should focus on the weekly chart. Your entries should be as flat against the short-term moving averages (9/21ema) as possible. Offensive buys off the daily chart, conservative buys off the weekly chart. Generally speaking, seeing a lot of buy volume is good & seeing a lot of sell volume is bad. But if there is high volume and price barely moves, that can be a bad thing. Highest volume ever is always worth noting. For swing trades, do not get faked out by daily 21ema forfeits on otherwise extremely strong or parabolic stocks. Look to the weekly 9ema and ask yourself if you can stomach a drop to the weekly 21ema. If you can't, then the weekly 9ema is the stop for your position. And so on. For multi-year term positions/investments, you only need to be worried if you see a severe monthly breakdown. Long-term buys on quality names at the 200sma tend to have excellent multi-year return. Remember, the chart is a tool and not a bible. Simple rules. Simple charting. No need for rocket science.