Rating: 
- Topics in Technical Analysis
In my opinion, the title of this book should be "Topics in Technical Analysis". This book covers some aspects of technical anaysis and each part is very wellwritten. Especially MACD is well covered than any other book in TA. A good source for intermediate and advanced readers.
Rating:
- Venerable But Misleading Advice
IMO this book's advice can prove costly.
But why not judge for yourself? For many years the author edited an investment news letter entitled Systems and Forecasts which his son now manages. Check out Hulbert's ranking of investment news letters to see how S&F has done compared to its competitors. Significantly, neither the book nor its jacket mentions the newsletter.
The accolades of othr writers on technical analysis reminds me of Arthur Koestler's old book called The Call-Girls (highly recommended and available through Amazon)about an inbred group of Academics who spend much of their time touting each others work. In this case I believe the homage is a gesture of respect to a technical anayst no longer young.
One among manny objections I have to this book it that it barely mentions that moving average indicators (like the author's MACD)
are meant for trending markets but usually don't work in trading markets- an oversight as easy to make as it can be expensive.
I have traded for over 20 years but strictly as a hobby.
Rating: - A Cornucopia for the Serious Trader
If longevity is a key to greatness, Gerald Appel has achieved it. When I got into the business in the mid-seventies, he was an admired technical analyst. His publication, Systems and Forecast, was required reading. The inventor of MACD, he has lived to see his technique used by virtually every serious investor and trader; it is included in most trading programs.
With Technical Analysis, this accomplished technician and money manager, offers a complete course in forecasting future market behaving using cyclical, trend, momentum and volume signals.
His techniques are suitable for investors of all suits - be they short-, intermediate- or long-term. Even mutual fund investors will benefit.
It is rare that a successful money manager of Appel's stature shares his secrets with the public. If you are a serious investor or trader, you can only benefit from time spent with this master and his ideas.
Rating: - 30 years of wisdom in one setting
For novices interested in technical analysis, there is so much material here it might seem overwhelming. But believe me, the effort at exploration is worth it. I've been successfully applying Appel's work since 1984, and this all-encompassing treatise was like looking over his shoulder, soaking in his 30 years of wisdom on the markets.
I was especially interested in the section on the relative strength comparing the performance of the NYSE to the NASDAQ. This area of the book alone is worth the price of admission.
Professionals in the field are likely to be familiar with most concepts in the book. But over the years, I've found many misapply the use of MACD, an excellent indicator Appel invented which has become a staple in technical analysis. All would be advised to read how Appel uses his own invention.
There's something for everyone in this book, novice and professional alike. Few have contributed more to technical studies and money management than Gerald Appel. Don't just put this on your bookshelf--read it, use it and learn from it. It will make you a better investor and trader.
Rating:
- A rehash of old stuff!
If you are familiar with this author's previous works you will find very little in this book which is new. He discussed the "new low" filter and the several variants of his original MACD indicator more than twenty years ago. MACD was then, and is now, a lagging indicator with dubious utility.
The research that the author cares to share with the book's purchaser is largely stale-dated or inaccurate. For example, where Appel discusses a non-original indicator, such as VIX, he states that it gives only long-term indications and that it has not yet been determined how to use this working tool for shorter-term indications. In fact, VIX is one of the better intermediate-term working tools - you can prove this for yourself! Go to stockcharts.com, run a weekly Sharp-chart of $VIX with a five week RSI. This 5 week RSI indicates bottoms in the weekly $SPX at readings in excess of 60, and tops in the $SPX at readings of 40 or below. Run a comparable chart for the $SPX and compare the weekly swing highs and lows with the 5 week RSI readings on the $VIX. You will find a quite good correlation! (Also, the weekly new low indicator can be used in the same manner to test for market bottoms - simply construct a 5 week RSI and see how well the market bottoms are pointed-out at readings in excess of 60.)
It is somewhat amazing to me how some authors repackage old stuff, which was only moderately useful when it was new, and sell it long after the point of diminishing returns has been passed. This is an OK book for someone just starting out in the markets - but I feel that there are many better ones available, such as by authors, John Murphy, Alexander Elder, and Van Tharp.
- Topics in Technical AnalysisIn my opinion, the title of this book should be "Topics in Technical Analysis". This book covers some aspects of technical anaysis and each part is very wellwritten. Especially MACD is well covered than any other book in TA. A good source for intermediate and advanced readers.
Rating:
- Venerable But Misleading AdviceIMO this book's advice can prove costly.
But why not judge for yourself? For many years the author edited an investment news letter entitled Systems and Forecasts which his son now manages. Check out Hulbert's ranking of investment news letters to see how S&F has done compared to its competitors. Significantly, neither the book nor its jacket mentions the newsletter.
The accolades of othr writers on technical analysis reminds me of Arthur Koestler's old book called The Call-Girls (highly recommended and available through Amazon)about an inbred group of Academics who spend much of their time touting each others work. In this case I believe the homage is a gesture of respect to a technical anayst no longer young.
One among manny objections I have to this book it that it barely mentions that moving average indicators (like the author's MACD)
are meant for trending markets but usually don't work in trading markets- an oversight as easy to make as it can be expensive.
I have traded for over 20 years but strictly as a hobby.
Rating:
- A Cornucopia for the Serious TraderIf longevity is a key to greatness, Gerald Appel has achieved it. When I got into the business in the mid-seventies, he was an admired technical analyst. His publication, Systems and Forecast, was required reading. The inventor of MACD, he has lived to see his technique used by virtually every serious investor and trader; it is included in most trading programs.
With Technical Analysis, this accomplished technician and money manager, offers a complete course in forecasting future market behaving using cyclical, trend, momentum and volume signals.
His techniques are suitable for investors of all suits - be they short-, intermediate- or long-term. Even mutual fund investors will benefit.
It is rare that a successful money manager of Appel's stature shares his secrets with the public. If you are a serious investor or trader, you can only benefit from time spent with this master and his ideas.
Rating:
- 30 years of wisdom in one settingFor novices interested in technical analysis, there is so much material here it might seem overwhelming. But believe me, the effort at exploration is worth it. I've been successfully applying Appel's work since 1984, and this all-encompassing treatise was like looking over his shoulder, soaking in his 30 years of wisdom on the markets.
I was especially interested in the section on the relative strength comparing the performance of the NYSE to the NASDAQ. This area of the book alone is worth the price of admission.
Professionals in the field are likely to be familiar with most concepts in the book. But over the years, I've found many misapply the use of MACD, an excellent indicator Appel invented which has become a staple in technical analysis. All would be advised to read how Appel uses his own invention.
There's something for everyone in this book, novice and professional alike. Few have contributed more to technical studies and money management than Gerald Appel. Don't just put this on your bookshelf--read it, use it and learn from it. It will make you a better investor and trader.
Rating:
- A rehash of old stuff!If you are familiar with this author's previous works you will find very little in this book which is new. He discussed the "new low" filter and the several variants of his original MACD indicator more than twenty years ago. MACD was then, and is now, a lagging indicator with dubious utility.
The research that the author cares to share with the book's purchaser is largely stale-dated or inaccurate. For example, where Appel discusses a non-original indicator, such as VIX, he states that it gives only long-term indications and that it has not yet been determined how to use this working tool for shorter-term indications. In fact, VIX is one of the better intermediate-term working tools - you can prove this for yourself! Go to stockcharts.com, run a weekly Sharp-chart of $VIX with a five week RSI. This 5 week RSI indicates bottoms in the weekly $SPX at readings in excess of 60, and tops in the $SPX at readings of 40 or below. Run a comparable chart for the $SPX and compare the weekly swing highs and lows with the 5 week RSI readings on the $VIX. You will find a quite good correlation! (Also, the weekly new low indicator can be used in the same manner to test for market bottoms - simply construct a 5 week RSI and see how well the market bottoms are pointed-out at readings in excess of 60.)
It is somewhat amazing to me how some authors repackage old stuff, which was only moderately useful when it was new, and sell it long after the point of diminishing returns has been passed. This is an OK book for someone just starting out in the markets - but I feel that there are many better ones available, such as by authors, John Murphy, Alexander Elder, and Van Tharp.