Market sessions
Sydney
Tokyo
London
New York
Market status
Technical

Fibonacci Retracement

Fibonacci retracements map pullback levels at 23.6%, 38.2%, 50% and 61.8% of a move, where trends often pause or reverse.

Quick answer

Fibonacci retracements mark 23.6%, 38.2%, 50% and 61.8% of a move, levels where pullbacks often pause or reverse. They work largely because enough traders watch the same numbers.

Definition

Fibonacci retracement is a technical tool that draws horizontal levels at 23.6%, 38.2%, 50% and 61.8% of a recent price move. The levels are derived from the Fibonacci sequence ratios and are used to identify where a pullback within a trend may find support or resistance. They work because enough traders watch the same levels to create self-reinforcing reactions, not because of any mathematical magic.

How It Works

  • Draw from the start to the end of a swing
  • Levels act as support in uptrends and resistance in downtrends
  • The 61.8% level is the deepest retracement a trend normally allows

Trading Tips

1

Use retracements with trend context - they are pullback levels, not standalone signals

2

A retracement that breaks the 61.8% level usually means the trend is over

3

Confluence with support/resistance or a moving average beats a bare level

Fibonacci Retracement Example

Say EUR/USD rallies from 1.0800 to 1.1000, then pulls back to 1.0876, almost exactly the 61.8% retracement, and bounces 100 pips. Enough traders watched that level to make it real: self-fulfilling geometry.

How Traders Use Fibonacci Retracement

Draw fibs from clear swing to swing and trade only the 38.2 to 61.8 zone with confirmation. Random wicks are not swings. Confluence with structure beats the level alone, every time.

Back to Glossary
Start Trading

Put Your Knowledge Into Practice

Compare regulated brokers and find the best one for your trading style.

Recommended alternative

We review this broker - here's who we recommend instead

We can only take you directly to brokers we're partnered with. This is the closest vetted alternative we've reviewed and can stand behind.

Compare every broker we rate