Divergence can be identified from the oscillating signals, the most popular of which are the MACD, Stochastic and RSI. Any of these running on your day trading chart with costs in either candlesticks or bar chart form can be employed.
Bearish Divergence
Bearish divergency exists when the price chart is reputedly bullish but the oscillator is showing a bearish trend.
In this situation a line across the highest highs of the price chart will be showing a upward trend. But a line drawn across the highest highs of the oscillating indicator will show a falling trend.
If you are in this market going long, it is time to get out. If you have got a signal to open a trade to go long, the divergence is signalling you not to do it. If you have got a signal to open a trade to go short, on the other hand, the deviation is confirming that and you can go ahead.
Bullish Divergence
Bullish deviation is the other way round. It exists when the price movement on the day trading chart is apparently downward, but the oscillator is showing a upward trend.
Here a line across the lowest lows of the price chart will show bearish (downward) movement, while a line across lowest lows of the oscillator will be moving upward.
The signal is the opposite to the previous one. The divergence is signalling that the bearish trend is coming to a close so that you can close short trades and open long trades if that fits with the other signals of your system.
Of course no system is 100 pc correct and that is applicable to using divergence in trading just the same as anything more. Financial trading is dodgy and you can lose.
However, looking for divergence in addition to your usual system could be a terribly powerful way to add to the success of your system. Enhance your profits by spotting patterns in divergence from the indicators on your day trading chart.