MI uses technical analysis to examine price movements, often in an attempt to identify pending trend reversals. In this respect, it differs from most trend-following applications of technical analysis. MI may trade counter to trends in markets where it sees indications of an imminent trend reversal with the potential for low risk, high reward results. An important feature of MI's software is its ability to quantify the statistical risk-reward distribution profile of a given trade. Technical analysis, as conducted on MI's proprietary analytical systems, can thus identify promising situations as well as suggesting optimal entry and exit points as well as position sizes. Technical analysis is based on the theory that the study of the commodities markets themselves provides a means of anticipating the external factors that affect the supply and demand of a particular commodity in order to react to future prices. Technical analysis operates on the theory that market prices at any given point in time reflect all known factors affecting supply and demand for a particular commodity; consequently, only a detailed analysis of, among other things, actual daily, weekly and monthly price fluctuations, volume variations and changes in open interest are of predictive value when determining the future course of price movements. Trading recommendations are generally based on computer-generated signals, mathematical measurements or a combination of such items.