Multi-timeframe analysis (MTA) is the practice of examining the same asset on several timeframes before placing a trade. The guiding principle: trade in the direction of the higher-timeframe trend and enter on lower timeframes for precision.

The three-timeframe framework: - Primary (macro) timeframe: Defines the dominant trend. Common choices: weekly or daily chart. You only take trades in this direction. - Intermediate timeframe: 4-hour or 1-hour. Shows the current swing within the macro trend. Helps identify the current phase (impulse vs. pullback). - Entry timeframe: 15-min or 5-min. Provides precise entry signals — reversals, breakouts, or pattern completions within the macro structure.

Why it works: Markets are fractal — patterns repeat across timeframes. A breakout on the 5-min chart carries far more weight when it aligns with a support level on the weekly chart.