Pivots and Reference Levels

What are pivot points?

Pivot points are reference levels calculated from the prior trading session's high, low, and close. They mark zones where price historically reacted, providing a shared grid that many market participants watch.

Pivot levels are not predictions. They are mechanical reference points derived from previous price action.

The classic formula

Classic (floor) pivot points use three inputs from the prior completed session:

• Pivot (P) = (High + Low + Close) / 3
• R1 = 2P - Low, S1 = 2P - High
• R2 = P + (High - Low), S2 = P - (High - Low)
• R3 = High + 2(P - Low), S3 = Low - 2(High - P)

This produces one central pivot and three support/resistance levels on each side.

Session boundary: New York close

We use the New York 5pm close as the session boundary. This is the most common convention in FX because it aligns with the end of the North American trading day and avoids splitting the Asian session.

The prior session's high, low, and close are measured from one NY 5pm close to the next.

How to read pivots on the pair page

On each pair page, we show:

• Pivot gauge: a visual showing where current price sits relative to the pivot and nearest S/R levels, with pip distance.
• Pivot table: all seven levels (S3 through R3) with exact prices and pip distances from the current price.

The "nearest level" indicator shows which S/R level is closest to the current price, along with the distance in pips.

What pivots do not tell you

• They do not predict where price will go next.
• They are not trading signals.
• Price can move through multiple levels in a single session.
• Accuracy depends on the data source and session boundary used.

Pivot levels are context. Use them as reference points alongside other information, not as standalone decision tools.

Data source

Our pivot calculations use price data from our market data provider (FCS API). Levels are recalculated after each New York session close.