I started off using fundamental analysis (FA) and value-investing. Then I spent the next twenty years using technical analysis (TA).
I am more a technical analysis now. I trade currencies, equities to commodities, globally across multiple markets. I am a mid-term global macro trader. Notable traders who might have similar style include George Soros, Stan Druckenmiller, Jessie Livermore, Bruce Kovner.
Each FA and TA has it's pros-and-cons. There is no perfect system. Under certain market conditions, certain methods have advantages over others. And when the market condition changes, the method may lose it's advantages.
Hence, I am a believer that if you really want to be well versed in gaining in financials, it is better if you know fundamental analysis and technical analysis. And you can even practice both concurrently, or at different times.
Under technical analysis trading, you can further subdivide them to several other categories:
1. Holding Period: Very Short Term (within a day), A few days, A few weeks to a few months.
2. Range Trading or Directional Trading
3. Mean Reversion or Breakouts
4. Trend Following or Counter-Trend
5. System-based or Discretionary
Each method has it's pros-and-cons; strengths under certain market conditions. And also certain style suits certain people's personality better. In the end, what counts is that you are making net profits, consistently over the long-term.
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