Getting started with SFX Screener

SFX Screener helps you shortlist forex pairs that match a strategy right now. It’s best used as a fast workflow: shortlist in the table → confirm on a chart in Magic Terminal → execute with a clear risk plan.

Written By Roman N

Last updated 3 months ago

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What the Screener is and isn’t

The screener is a shortlisting tool. It helps you narrow “too many pairs” down to a few candidates that match a preset’s logic.

It is not a guaranteed buy/sell signal. Always do a chart check (structure + level + invalidation) before you execute.

The 60‑second loop (Screener → Magic Terminal)

  1. Choose a screener preset (your strategy lens).

  2. Scan the table for “mostly matching” rows.

  3. Open Screener info (ⓘ) and follow the Playbook to validate your best rows fast.

  4. Open the chart in Magic Terminal and confirm:

    • structure (trend vs range)

    • trigger (retest/turn/breakout behavior)

    • invalidation (the level that proves you’re wrong)

  5. Execute only when you have a defined plan (SL + TP/management).

Which Screener should I use today?

Trend Continuation is the default directional option. It’s built to find markets where trend conditions are more likely than chop, then asks you to confirm retest behavior on the chart.

Oversold Rebound is for stretched pullbacks. It shortlists “rebound is plausible” candidates, but requires you to wait for stabilization cues and a clean invalidation level.

Volatility Expansion is for squeezes and breakout days. It highlights compression/expansion events, but you must avoid chasing and respect snapback risk.

Helix Pattern Validation is a confirmation layer for pattern alerts. It helps you spend chart time only on patterns with better context, location, and momentum evidence.

Timeframe versions (Community vs Premium)

SFX presets usually have a Community base version (fast scanning) and sometimes a Premium multi‑timeframe version (cleaner context and timing).

Typical patterns you’ll see:

  • Base (Community): one main setup timeframe (often 1H or 4H).

  • Premium (multi‑TF): a higher timeframe for context (often 1D or 4H) + a setup timeframe (4H) + a timing timeframe (1H).

How to pick:

  • If you’re new, start with the Community version so you learn the “story” faster.

  • If your results feel noisy or whippy, use the Premium version when available so the higher timeframe filters more noise.

  • Always treat the in‑app Playbook (Screener info) for your selected version as the source of truth.

Beginner guardrails (Forex)

  • Start with majors/liquid crosses. Exotics often have wider spreads and less predictable behavior.

  • Respect market hours. FX is 24/5; weekend gaps can invalidate a setup.

  • Avoid over‑leverage. Size by risk (where you’re wrong), not by conviction.

  • Watch spread widening. It often happens around session opens and high‑impact news.

  • News can override signals. For CPI/NFP/central bank events, either stand down or reduce risk and demand stricter confirmation.

What’s on the screen

  • Change Screener: pick a preset (Community) or one you saved (My).

  • Screener info (ⓘ): opens Screener details with the goal + Playbook checklist.

  • User guide / Take tour: quick help if you’re new.

  • Venue / data feed (Exchange): choose where your prices come from (spreads/quotes can differ).

  • Refresh: manually update the view (it can also auto-update).

  • Labels toggle: shows quick category pills next to values (faster scanning).

  • Columns menu: choose which indicators you want visible in the table.

  • Filters row: the active rules for the current screener (what gets included/excluded).

  • Results table: each row is a pair; each indicator is shown as a column (hover cells for explanations).

Key concepts

  • Preset / Template: the strategy lens you pick (rebound / continuation / expansion / pattern validation).

  • Filters: rules that narrow the list. Tighten = fewer results; relax = more ideas.

  • Indicators: the signals shown as columns (trend, momentum, regime, volatility, etc.).

  • Labels: quick categories next to values (e.g., Trending/Choppy, Oversold/Neutral). Great for scanning — still confirm with tooltips.

  • Timeframes:

    • 1H / 4H / 1D are indicator timeframes.

    • 24h / 7d are rolling windows for price-change stats.

  • Playbook: the checklist in Screener details that tells you what “good” looks like and why it matters.

  • Invalidation: the price/structure level that proves your idea is wrong (your “I’m out” line).

Your first shortlist (Forex)

Start with Trend Continuation as a simple first-day exercise.

Instead of relying on exchange volume, use a “quality + activity” scan:

  • prefer clear direction (EMA 200 trend pill + consensus alignment)

  • avoid deep chop (high CHOP / weak ADX)

  • demand reasonable volatility (ATR % not too low)

  • avoid late entries (extreme RSI / “too hot” day)

The goal is a “clean story”, not a perfect row: direction → regime → confirmation → timing → your risk plan.

When a row looks clean, open the chart in Magic Terminal, mark your invalidation level, then execute only after your trigger is confirmed (retest hold / stabilization / breakout follow-through).

How to read a row (simple order)

  1. **Direction** (EMA 200 Trend / SGM Consensus)

  2. **Regime** (CHOP / ADX)

  3. **Location** (BB Score / SGM Bands Score when present)

  4. **Timing** (RSI / MACD Hist / Stochastic)

  5. **Risk realism** (ATR % + a chart-based invalidation level)

Saving a screener

Use the header actions menu (▾) to Save, Save as…, or New. Saving is useful when you’ve made changes you want to keep as a personal screener.

Tips

  • If you get 0 results, loosen one guardrail at a time (CHOP/ADX first).

  • Use labels to scan, then hover cells for the tooltip before you decide.

  • The screener is for shortlisting; the chart is for decisions.

Screener Glossary

Term

Meaning

Pair

A forex instrument like EURUSD (base/quote).

Pip

A small unit of FX movement (pip value varies by pair; know your pip risk before sizing).

Spread

The difference between bid and ask; wider spreads increase execution cost and can affect stops.

Session

Trading “windows” (Asia/London/NY). Behavior and spreads can change at session opens.

Rollover / swap

Overnight financing/rollover effects on held positions (varies by venue/broker).

Playbook

The checklist inside Screener details that explains how to validate rows for a preset.

Invalidation

The level that proves your idea is wrong; your stop should respect it.

Indicators (Forex-relevant subset)

Timeframe-based indicators appear as 1H / 4H / 1D versions in the Columns menu.

Indicator

What it tells you

Practical use in SFX Screener

Current Price

The latest price for the pair.

Quick sanity check for whether a setup is already extended vs your intended entry zone.

Price Change % (24h)

% move over the last 24 hours.

“What’s moving now” signal; use it to avoid dead markets and avoid chasing extremes.

Price Change % (7d)

% move over the last 7 days.

Context for trend vs pullback; helps tell “one-day spike” from a broader move.

Vol 24h in USD

Venue-reported traded volume over the last 24 hours (if available).

Secondary activity signal; in FX this can be venue-dependent, so don’t use it as your only gate.

Vol 24h CHG %

Volume change vs a baseline (if available).

Participation hint; treat as supportive context rather than a hard rule for FX.

52W High / 52W Low

Highest/lowest price over the last 52 weeks.

Long-horizon context; useful for “near extremes” awareness.

SMA 200 Trend (1H/4H/1D), EMA 200 Trend (1H/4H/1D)

Long-term bias vs the 200 MA/EMA (Bullish/Neutral/Bearish + recent cross states).

Direction gate: align with the pill when possible; countertrend trades need stricter confirmation.

SGM Consensus (1H/4H/1D)

A 5-level summary (Strong Buy → Strong Sell) of multiple signals.

Fast alignment check; treat it like ranking, not a guarantee.

SGM Bands Upper / Lower / Score (1H/4H/1D)

Proprietary band levels (Upper/Lower) and a zone score (Overbought/Neutral/Oversold).

Location and range planning; helps avoid entering at the wrong edge of a range.

Upper BB / Middle BB / Lower BB (1H/4H/1D)

Bollinger Band levels (volatility envelope).

Stretch vs mean context and potential support/resistance zones around the band levels.

Upper KC / Middle KC / Lower KC (1H/4H/1D)

Keltner Channel levels (ATR-based volatility envelope).

Volatility-aware range context; useful when comparing with BB for squeeze conditions.

BB Score (1H/4H/1D)

Band positioning / squeeze state (Squeeze/Overbought/Neutral/Oversold).

Core “location + regime” signal for Rebound and Expansion workflows.

RSI (14) (1H/4H/1D)

Momentum/overheat oscillator.

Timing guardrail; helps avoid late entries and weak bounces.

RSI Divergence (1H/4H/1D), Wavetrend Divergence (1H/4H/1D)

Divergence type: Reg Bull/Hid Bull/Reg Bear/Hid Bear (detected recently).

Turn evidence; use as confirmation, not a standalone entry signal.

Wavetrend (1H/4H/1D)

Momentum oscillator used for turning points.

Useful for “momentum is rotating” confirmation near zones.

MACD / MACD Signal / MACD Hist (1H/4H/1D)

Trend/momentum relationship and histogram strength.

Confirms follow-through and helps spot early momentum improvement (hist often turns first).

SMA (50) / SMA (200) (1H/4H/1D), EMA (50) / EMA (200) (1H/4H/1D)

Moving average levels.

Common dynamic levels used as retest zones, targets, and invalidation anchors.

Stochastic (1H/4H/1D)

Momentum oscillator (overbought/oversold style).

Timing helper for rebounds and pattern validation when combined with structure.

ADX (1H/4H/1D)

Trend strength proxy.

Helps decide if continuation logic is appropriate; low ADX often means range/noise.

ATR % (1H/4H/1D)

Volatility estimate as a percent.

Risk realism: position sizing and stop distance feasibility.

CHOP (1H/4H/1D)

Regime helper: trending vs choppy/sideways.

“Should I trend-trade or stand down?” hint; high CHOP increases whipsaws.

SGM News Sentiment

News sentiment bucket (Positive/Neutral/Negative).

Context awareness; not a precise timing signal.

Where to go next

Reminder: This guide is educational and not financial advice. Use your own risk management.