Q: I'm using SharpCharts and establishing my default settings with the indicators I prefer, but I'd like to use different settings for mutual funds as opposed to stocks. Do you have any suggestions for me?

A: Unfortunately, we currently only allow one set of "default" SharpCharts settings.

However...

Our "Favorites" list can give you 95% of what you are looking for. Here's how:

1. Create a chart for your stocks, with all of the settings that you want. Then save it into your favorites list, using the "Add this chart to your Favorites list" link in the "Customizations" section.
2. Now create a chart for your mutual funds with whatever different settings you want, and save it also.

Currently, you can save up to 20 different charts this way. That may be all you need. The rest of this message assumes that you want to look at a large number of stocks and mutual funds that exceed the 20 chart limit. (NOTE: This limit no longer exists - Chip).

To look at any number of stocks with your "stocks" settings:

• Use the "Favorites" dropdown to pull up the chart you saved in Step 1.
• Type a new stock symbol into the "Enter Ticker" box and press the "Update Chart" button. NOTE: Do NOT type symbols into the "Enter a symbol to chart" box at the top of the page! That box would reload your default settings.
• Repeat.

To look at any number of mutual funds with your "mutual fund" settings:

• Use the "Favorites" dropdown to pull up the chart you saved in Step 2
• Type a new mutual fund symbol into the "Enter Ticker" box and press the "Update Chart" button. NOTE: Do NOT type symbols into the "Enter a symbol to chart" box at the top of the page! That box would reload your default settings.
• Repeat.

Essentially, this technique changes the "Your Favorites" list into a list of up to twenty "templates" for your charting needs.

Chip Anderson

Q: On my pc when I view a candlestick chart, I notice that some candles on a down day ( close lower than the open ) are shaded in black. My normal color default for down days is red. Does the black candlestick represent something else ? Thank you.

A: Coloring candlesticks is actually more complicated that you might first think, and many charting tools do it incorrectly. The color of the candlestick shows the relationship of the current closing price to the previous candle's closing price. As you mentioned, whether the candle is filled or not is determined by the relationship of the current opening price to the current closing price. This subtle difference means that "oxymoronic" candlesticks can occur when the opening price is significantly different from the previous day's close. I often use such candlesticks as a warning sign for possible trend reversals, since they tend to occur at extreme peaks or troughs.

Chip Anderson