What technique to use and graphs?

Ya, if your planning on holding the stock for a short amount of time then you should be looking at a shorter chart view. If you're going to hold it indefinitely look at as long a time frame as possible. For the short term views, in order to get a fair idea of what it will do, I would suggest looking at a chart that is 3 or 4 times the length that you are planning on holding the stock. E.G. if you plan to be in and out in a week look at a 1 month chart.

The charts are more a less a guideline, and not an exact science. You need to look at both the long term and short term trends to get an answer.

My worst trades had been looking short term without knowing the bigger picture. How do you get it? Look at 2 to 4 year in weekly. THEN and only then, can you have perspective on what's happening year to date. Zooming in to 6 months will help you determin if you are in a valley or at a peak. THis is a lousy analogy, but imagine how hard it would be to drive down the highway looking through bincolars at the front of your car. You actually need very little information about what's directly in front of you. You need a LOT of information as to what is far ahead of you. To anticipate what is going to happen with a stock, you need TREND information. You have to see that on a much larger scale. 2 - 4 year with Bollinger bands will give you a good indication of where it is headed. Of course, if you are day trading, other rules apply, but you don't start there, without knowin the basics.

Playing on chart trends is risky without understanding the financial data and the price foundations of a stock. Charts are only reliable for certain short term trades because they give you some insight as to when to buy and sell. Supplement chart information with your own research about the stock and its demand. Don't rely on Charts too long because stock patterns eventually change, and that could leave you stranded. Always plan your escape just as well as you plan your entrance.