How to use a trading chart: chart types, timeframes, zoom and the Invvex charts

Every analysis starts with the same three choices: what kind of chart, which timeframe, and how much history you look at. This guide covers the quick charts on Invvex and the full charts in TradingView and MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

Charts · Guide 1/4 3 min read · Platform menus checked against official help: October 2026

⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Most retail accounts lose money. This content is education only, not investment advice or a recommendation.

The same prices drawn three waysLineBars (OHLC)CandlesticksOpenCloseHighLowOne barCloseOpenWickBodyOne candleA bar and a candle show the samefour prices: open, high, low, close
The same prices drawn three ways Illustrative chart: drawn data, not real prices.

Read the Invvex charts

An Invvex market chart, annotated1D1W1M6M1Y5Y+0.42% 1D3,9113,9193,9263919.46Thu 29 Oct, 14:00H 3920.68 · L 3919.413929.00Source: Yahoo Finance (GC=F, COMEX) · Last updated 14:05 · delayed123451Range buttons2Change over the range3Previous close (1D)4Hover or tap for detail5Source, update time, delay
An Invvex market chart, annotated Illustrative chart: drawn data, not real prices.
  1. Open a market page. Go to Gold, a forex pair such as EUR/USD, or a stock such as Saudi Aramco (2222). The price chart is at the top of the page.
  2. Pick a range (1). Tap 1D, 1W, 1M, 6M, 1Y or 5Y. Some pages offer fewer ranges; the gold page, for example, has 1D, 1W, 1M and 1Y.
  3. Read the change (2). Next to the buttons you see the change over the selected range. The line is green when price is above where the range started and red when it is below.
  4. Use the previous close (3). On the 1D view a dashed line marks the previous close, so you can see at a glance whether the market is up or down on the day.
  5. Hover or tap for detail (4). Move the mouse or drag a finger across the chart. A crosshair appears with the price and time at that point, plus the high (H) and low (L).
  6. Check the source and delay (5). Under the chart you see the data source, the last update time and a note that prices are delayed. Invvex charts are for a quick look. Your broker’s platform shows the live price you would actually deal at.
  7. Go further on a full chart. Invvex charts are line charts without drawing tools or indicators. For candles, drawings, indicators and alerts, open the same symbol in TradingView or in your broker’s MT5, as described below.

Choose a chart type

  1. In TradingView. Open the chart type menu in the top toolbar (its icon shows the current type) and choose Line, Bars, Candles or another type such as Heikin Ashi.
  2. In MT5. Use the Charts menu, the chart toolbar or the right-click menu on the chart to switch between bars, candlesticks and a line chart.
  3. Which one to use. Candlesticks make the open-to-close move easy to see, which is why most traders use them. A line chart of closing prices is useful for seeing the big picture without the noise of every wick.

Change the timeframe

Four 1-hour candles make one 4-hour candleFour H1 candlesOne H4 candleHigh 3,916Low 3,887Open 3,900Close 3,908H4 open = first H1 open · high = highest high · low = lowest low · close = last H1 close
Four 1-hour candles make one 4-hour candle Illustrative chart: drawn data, not real prices.
  1. What a timeframe is. Each candle covers one period: M1 is one minute, M15 fifteen minutes, H1 one hour, H4 four hours, D1 one day. A higher timeframe is built from the lower one, as the drawing shows.
  2. In TradingView. Click the interval button in the top toolbar and choose a timeframe. You can star the ones you use so they stay on the toolbar.
  3. In MT5. MT5 offers 21 timeframes, from M1 to MN (one month). Switch with the Timeframes toolbar, the Charts menu or the right-click menu on the chart.
  4. Start high, then zoom in. Look at D1 or H4 for the trend and the main levels before you look at H1 or M15 for timing. Lower timeframes show more noise.

Zoom and scroll

  1. In TradingView. Scroll the mouse wheel over the chart to zoom in or out on time and drag the chart to move back in history. Drag the price scale on the right up or down to stretch or squeeze prices; the auto-scale button at the bottom right of the price scale resets it.
  2. In MT5. Use the zoom in and zoom out buttons on the toolbar, and drag the chart to scroll back. Chart shift leaves empty space at the right edge, and autoscroll moves the chart to the latest bar when a new price arrives.
  3. If price disappears off the screen. In MT5, check whether Scale fix is turned on in the chart properties. In TradingView, turn auto-scale back on.

Common problems

The chart is empty or not moving
In MT5, check that you are connected (bottom-right of the window) and that the symbol is in Market Watch. Forex and gold do not trade at the weekend, so no new candles appear then.
Candles look squashed into a line
You are zoomed far out, or the price scale is fixed. Zoom in, or reset the scale to automatic.
Prices differ between platforms
Each broker quotes its own bid and ask, CFD prices can differ from futures or spot quotes, and Invvex prices are delayed.

Frequently asked questions

Which chart type is best for beginners?

Candlesticks. They show the same four prices as bars but are easier to read, and most lessons and platform guides use them.

Which timeframe should I trade on?

There is no best timeframe. Many beginners find H1 to D1 easier to follow than one-minute charts, which need fast decisions. Choose one that fits the time you can spend at the screen.

Can I trade from the Invvex charts?

No. Invvex is an information site. You place trades on your broker’s platform, such as MT5.

Sources (official help pages)