Definition

1. Noun:
   • A financial professional, specifically a stock market analyst, who studies historical market data, primarily price and volume, presented in chart form to identify patterns and trends. The core methodology involves using these charts to forecast future price movements of securities (e.g., stocks, bonds, commodities).

Usage

• The term is used to describe a person whose primary job or analytical approach is technical analysis.
• It is a formal title or role within financial markets, often contrasted with a "fundamental analyst" who studies company financials and economic factors.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The technical analyst identified a "head and shoulders" pattern on the chart, suggesting the stock's price might fall.
  • While fundamental analysts look at earnings reports, a technical analyst focuses on price trends and trading volume.

Advanced Usage

• The role is sometimes colloquially referred to as a "chartist," though "technical analyst" is the more standard professional term.
• Technical analysts use tools like moving averages, relative strength index (RSI), and support/resistance levels, which are all derived from price and volume data.

Variants and Related Words

• Technical Analysis (n): The methodology itself.
• Chartist (n): A near-synonym for a technical analyst, emphasizing the use of charts.

Synonyms

• Chartist
• Market Technician

Related Phrases / Idioms

• "Reading the tape": An older phrase related to technical analysis, referring to interpreting the flow of price and volume information.

Noun

1. a stock market analyst who tries to predict market trends from graphs of recent prices of securities