The time axis

You can now read what a candle shows. The next step is to find when it formed. The scale at the bottom of the chart is the time axis. It shows when each candle formed. Candles are arranged in time order. Older candles appear on the left, and newer candles appear farther to the right.

The time axis cannot display a complete date below every candle because the labels would overlap. Instead, it shows selected dates or months as reference points. These labels change when you zoom the chart or display a different amount of price history.

You can view a candle's complete date on a computer. Move the cursor over the chart and place the crosshair on the candle. A date label will appear on the time axis below the crosshair. This is useful when you need an exact date.

The chart also contains candles marked A, B, and C. To estimate when a marked candle formed, look directly below it on the time axis. Find the nearest labels on both sides, then estimate where the candle sits between them. Use the crosshair if you want to confirm your estimate.