A thought-provoking book. If you're interested in investment you should read it whether you bracket chartism with astrology or not. Alistair Blair makes charting make sense. You'll soon discover why chartists believe 'the trend is your friend' and why this book should be your constant companion.

Charting is a complex and sometimes derided world, but one that nonetheless commands an enormous following. Some basic knowledge of charting is essential for any keen investor, and this fully revised and updated edition of Alistair Blair's Guide to Charting is the independent, introductory overview of technical analysis for the private investor.

Written with the private investor's viewpoint in mind the book's coverage will give you all that you need to start practicing technical analysis and, unlike other books on the subject, will also interest the more sophisticated, experienced practitioner by comparing technical analysis with fundamental analysis; Examining the records of some of charting's most renowned exponents; Applying technical analysis to recent FTSE company price charts; Providing alternative interpretations of 'live' charts; Identifying both successful and failed recommendations by professional chartists.

Guide to Charting is packed with purpose-drawn charts and worked examples, and explains in detail how charting theories work. An insight into the world of charting, this text includes information on where to start, timescales, basic components of a price chart and different types of chart. It should be of interest to investors who are less than fully conversant with technical analysis.

Blair provided a balanced perspective of the use of charting. In each case, he provided real examples where the interpretation of the charting method yield the expected result, and also those that didn't.

Blair advised a fair skeptism of using charting tools independently of other investment tools.

A broad overview of the common tools is provided, and this book is recommended for anyone who's getting into charting for the first time. He provided a concise description of each and its use, and also recommended a list of readings for those who would like to get into more details.

Alistair Blair is the No Free Lunch columnist for the Investors Chronicle magazine and writes about business and investment for many other publications. In 1999, he was voted the Periodical Publishers' Association’s Business Writer of the Year. After reading PPE at Oxford and completing an MBA at Manchester Business School, Alistair gained practical experience of the City by working at Hill Samuel and Fidelity. top Reviews "A thought-provoking book. If you're interested in investment you should read it whether you bracket chartism with astrology or not." Sir Christopher Hogg, Chairman, Reuters "Alistair Blair makes charting make sense. You'll soon discover why chartists believe 'the trend is your friend' and why this book should be your constant companion." Matthew Vincent, Editor, Investors Chronicle

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