Which of the following is NOT monitored by a technical analyst?

A technical analyst primarily focuses on the analysis of price movements and trading volume to forecast future price trends in the financial markets. They rely heavily on chart patterns, historical price data, and various technical indicators derived from this price information to make trading decisions.

Market trends are crucial for a technical analyst, as they evaluate prevailing directions in price movement—whether upward, downward, or sideways—to determine potential buy or sell opportunities. Price movements are the central aspect of technical analysis; they analyze how the price of an asset changes over time and use this information to make predictions about future price behavior. Additionally, the volume of trades is pivotal in confirming trends and assessing the strength of price movements; it helps analysts understand the intensity of buying or selling activity associated with those price movements.

In contrast, dividend payout ratios pertain to fundamental analysis, which evaluates a company’s financial health and performance based on its earnings, dividends, and overall financial metrics. This information is more relevant to investors interested in the intrinsic value of a company and its dividend-paying capacity rather than price action and market sentiment, which are the primary focus of technical analysis. Therefore, dividend payout ratios would not typically be monitored by a technical analyst.