Technical analysis · Beginner

Pivot Points

A 1-minute lesson from the MarketPro academy, one of 26 in technical analysis.

Last reviewed 15 September 2026 by the MarketPro research desk · Editorial policy

Short answer

Pivot points are a set of horizontal levels calculated from the previous session's high, low, and close, used to anticipate where support and resistance might appear in the current session. The calculation produces a central pivot level plus a series of support (S1, S2, S3) and resistance (R1, R2, R3) levels above and below it.

Pivot points are a set of horizontal levels calculated from the previous session's high, low, and close, used to anticipate where support and resistance might appear in the current session.

The calculation produces a central pivot level plus a series of support (S1, S2, S3) and resistance (R1, R2, R3) levels above and below it. Because the formula is purely mathematical, the same inputs always produce the same levels, which makes them widely watched across many participants.

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Central pivot: Price trading above the pivot for the session is often read as a mildly bullish bias, and below it as mildly bearish.
Support/resistance tiers: The S1/R1 levels are watched as the first likely reaction zones, with S2/S3 and R2/R3 as levels for larger moves.
Session-based: Pivots are typically recalculated daily (or weekly/monthly for longer-term views), so they are most relevant to shorter-timeframe trading.

Because so many market participants track the same pivot formula, these levels can become somewhat self-reinforcing, but they are still just reference points and price can pass through them without reacting at all.

Lesson 17 of 26 in Technical analysis

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Written and reviewed by the MarketPro research desk

MarketPro is a trading-signal and trading-education app operated by Harajuku Holdings LTD (Cyprus). Our signal desk publishes and tracks every trade idea in-app, and every page here is checked against the app's live behaviour before publishing. Last reviewed 15 September 2026. How we produce signals and content · About MarketPro

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