Seasonality is a phenomenon where price undergoes similar and predictable changes around the same period within every calendar year. These changes can happen in a specific meteorological season, growing season, quarter, month, holiday period or off-peak period. Seasonality typically happens in the commodity market. For example, there is a seasonal trend in the demand for heating oil, pushing prices higher when demand increases and lower when demand decreases. There is a seasonal trend in the supply of soybeans (related to sowing, growing and harvesting), influencing price and producing patterns along the way.
Seasonality can also be found in other markets, such as stocks, indices and Forex and there are usually fundamental reasons behind it. Finding seasonal patterns and using them to predict a trend, to filter trade ideas or to identify a tradable opportunity can give a trader an edge. Please note that individual years can vary and that seasonality itself can be subject to change. Whether it is used alone or in combination with other techniques, seasonality is a useful tool in a technical trader's toolbox.
