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Leonardo of Pisa, better known to us today as Fibonacci first introduced what we call the Fibonacci sequence to the west in his 1202 book Liber Abaci (the sequence was already known in Indian mathematics). He stumbled upon this sequence while attempting to estimate how many rabbits he would be able to breed in one year based on his knowledge of their breeding habits. This mathematical model is used by Forex traders today.

Leonardo of Pisa, better known to us today as Fibonacci first introduced what we call the Fibonacci sequence to the west in his 1202 book Liber Abaci (the sequence was already known in Indian mathematics). He stumbled upon this sequence while attempting to estimate how many rabbits he would be able to breed in one year based on his knowledge of their breeding habits. This mathematical model is used by Forex traders today.

While many think of the Fibonacci sequence as a mathematical abstraction, it is grounded in a real world application. The Fibonacci sequence can be used to predict patterns which would not otherwise be apparent.

It works really well while investing. Why? Well, based on the mass behavior of investors there are various hidden patterns in the stock market. Perceptive investors know this. Investment aphorisms such as "The best time to buy is when there's blood in the streets" and "Buy low and sell high" work well. However, they also relate to understanding the investment markets hidden patterns.

The reason that investment market patterns are so well hidden is because "up close" they cannot be seen. Day to day, hour to hour fluctuations in the investment markets cannot be predicted with any accuracy. But certain overall trends that extend over longer periods of time definitely can be. And savvy investors, including Forex traders, have successfully been using Fibonacci's number sequence to take advantage and make big profits.

The Fibonacci sequence is a string of numbers with each number being the sum of the two numbers which preceded it. For example, one such string would be 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21 and so on. These numbers are related in several ways. Any given number in a Fibonacci sequence is about 1.618 of its predecessor - the "golden ratio" of the Greek mathematicians.

The most common applications of the Fibonacci sequence for investment purposes are retracements and arcs.

A Fibonacci chart is made of three curved lines which represent support levels, key resistance and ranging. A trendline is first drawn between two points (generally the high and low points over a given period of time). Three curved lines are then drawn which intersect the trendline at the 38.2%, 50% and 61.8% points. Decisions about buying and selling are made at these points (i.e. - when the price of the commodity in question reaches these points).

Now, a retracement, in investing, refers to a reversal in the movement of a stock's price--a reversal which is enough to counter the stock's prevailing trend. Advanced successful investors pay intense attention to retracement possibilities and patterns. The Fibonacci retracement analyzes the likelihood that a financial asset's price will see a larger than average retracement and then come to support or resistance at the key Fibonacci levels before it then continues on in its original direction. A trendline is drawn between two extreme points; then, its vertical distance is divided by the key Fibonacci ratios of 23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, and 100%.

Multitudes of high-level traders gain with the Fibonacci retracement method. It aids them in finding the most strategic placement of transactions, their target prices and stop-losses. Gartley patterns, Tirone levels and the Elliott Wave theory are other technical tools that make use of retracement.

The reason that the Fibonacci sequence is used in investing is simple: it works! Forex traders in particular in particular seem to find it useful in making profitable trades.