I started this thread on ADVFN, but have received no posts, rather confirming that everyone's left. If you'll forgive me from copying here, I'd like to find out if there are any "Techies" here, and perhaps even any who use MetaStock?
My UK silver sub will expire in due course, so a decision on spending the money here is under consideration.
I thought it pertinent to ask whether Technical Analysts (with a longer time-scale than day-trading) believe the (UK) market is changing from "Trading Prices" to "Trending Prices". This is fundamental to many investors who use TA indicators as an aid.
Leading indicators are used in Trading Markets: Stochastic Oscillators and other "overbought/oversold" indicators.
Lagging indicators are used in Trending Markets: Moving Averages, MACD, etc.
Some of the indicators that may help determine the answer are: Chande Momentum Oscillator and MESA Sine Wave.
The influential private investor Peter Temple announced in the FT yesterday (Saturday) that he was close to fully invested, and this might be taken as an indicator that the fundamentalists believe the market has changed. Others have commented on the momentum entering the market.
I believe we are seeing the signs of a change to "trending", comments please.

As mentioned by Fundamentalist, you'll find most of the TA traders in the traders room, although some will venture over here from time to time!

I'm not an experienced chartist but I think the answer has to be YES.

I think the uptrend started in late March. But the low on the 30th June this year signalled the first major low from which most other major lows have been consecutively higher. The way the FTSE has retraced to the trend line and bounced up has been uncanny. Only during July and Augiust did the FTSE break the trend line but has since returned above it, finding support at the trend line again, both in September and October.

The 'return line' across the peaks has also held good, turning the FTSE back atleast 8 times since June.

If I knew how to post a chart I would.

But again I think the answer is yes. How long for? I haven't a clue but it should meet resistance around 4950ish. Hope that helps

'Is the UK market is changing from "Trading Prices" to "Trending Prices".'

What timeframe are you talking about? However in any timeframe the reality is the same - if you see higher highs & higher lows it's trending higher so buy it. If it's vice versa sell it - that's all you need to know about TA - just keep looking for the same patterns to unfold and trade them when they confirm, the only other crucial elements to trading are money management & discipline.

Thanks for the replies, I suspected many of the ADVFN names may have found homes over here. Is the "silver" equivalent service reliable?
I take a longer time frame for this "trading/trending" question. The FTSE-100 was in downtrend from 2000 to early 2003, with the usual 33% retracement to end 2003. I called a broadening consolidation pattern from then, and was unwise enough to call it dead with the late October breakdown. Should have known not to open my mouth, as it's subsequently broken up strongly from the broadening formation. You may now see the importance of calling a change to a trending market, when one can "buy and leave", or play the retracements across trend channels (when they're clearly established) using your favourite trending indicators.
Shares I've been buying for their individual breakouts or otherwise attractive charts include: DDT, TTG, JSG, BVIT, SPX.

glentimon,

I take your point about the longer time frame but you have to go back to May 1995 to see the FTSE at the levels it was in March last year. It has been up (with a lot of sideways) ever since.

I suppose you have to hang your hat at some stage otherwise you miss the boat and look back wishfully with harry hindsight.