Chart Indicators

Instructions

Use the Indicators tool in Chart Settings to apply the following chart indicators:

Accumulation/Distribution Line: This indicator attempts to quantify the flow of money into and out of a given stock. In theory, knowing this money/volume flow may help you to recognize an upcoming move in the stock price.

Accumulation Swing Index: The Accumulation Swing Index is a cumulative total of the Swing Index and attempts to show the phantom line which represents the “real market,” which theoretically occurs among the open, high, low and close prices. Since the Accumulation Swing Index attempts to show the "real market," it closely resembles the prices themselves. This allows you to use classic support/resistance analysis on the Index itself.

Adaptive Moving Average: An Adaptive Moving Average (AMA) is one more moving average overlay, just like EMA. It changes its sensitivity to price fluctuations. The Adaptive Moving Average becomes more sensitive during periods when price is moving in a certain direction and becomes less sensitive to price movement when price is volatile.

ADX/DMI Indicator: Measures directional trends and strength of trends.

ADXR: Quantifies a momentum change in the Average Directional Index (ADX).

Aroon Oscillator Indicator: A trend-following indicator that uses aspects of the Aroon indicator (see "Aroon Up/Down") to gauge the strength of a current trend and the likelihood that it will continue. The Aroon oscillator is calculated by subtracting Aroon down from Aroon up. Readings above zero indicate that an uptrend is present, while readings below zero indicate that a downtrend is present.

Aroon Up/Down Indicator: Aroon up” and “Aroon down” are the two components that comprise the Aroon indicator. Assuming that a financial instrument is trending up when a stock is trading near the high of its range, Aroon up is used to measure the strength of the uptrend, while Aroon down is used to measure the strength of the downtrend. A cross above the zero line may suggest the beginning of a new uptrend. Conversely, a cross below zero could indicate the start of a downtrend. Readings near zero suggest that a security may be trending sideways and that this period of consolidation may continue.

Average True Range Indicator: The Average True Range indicator is used to determine the volatility of the market. The idea is to replace the high-low interval for the given period, as the high-low does not take into consideration gaps and limit moves. You set the period when you create the study.

The True Range is the largest of:

  • The difference between the current maximum and minimum (high - low)
  • The difference between the previous closing price and the current maximum
  • The difference between the previous closing price and the current minimum

The Average True Range is a simple moving average of the true range values.

Bollinger Bands: Bollinger Bands measure volatility by plotting a series of three bands. The middle band represents the moving average (SMA or WMA or EMA). The upper band is a set number of standard deviations higher than the middle band (generally 2), and the lower band is a set number of standard deviations (generally 2) lower than the middle band. You set the distance of standard deviation when you create the study.

Bollinger Band Width Indicator: Bollinger Band Width is derived from Bollinger Bands and measures the percent difference between the upper and lower bands. It decreases as Bollinger Bands narrow and increases as Bollinger Bands widen. Because Bollinger Bands are based on the standard deviation, falling Band Width reflects decreasing volatility and rising Band Width reflects increasing volatility.

Chaikin Money Flow Oscillator: The Chaikin Money Flow Oscillator is calculated using the Accumulation/Distribution Line. It takes the cumulative total of the Accumulation/Distribution values for 21 periods (or X number of periods if you elect to change this value) divided by the cumulative total of volume for 21 (or X) periods.

Chaikin Oscillator: The Chaikin Oscillator compares the money flow to the price action of an issue, which allows the user to recognize tops and bottoms in short cycles.

Chaikin Volatility Indicator: Shows the difference between two moving averages of a volume-weighted accumulation-distribution line. Comparing the spread between a security's high and low price quantifies volatility as a widening of the range between the high and the low price. An increase in the Volatility Indicator over a relatively short time period may indicate that a bottom is near. A decrease in volatility over a longer time period may indicate an approaching top. It is recommended to use the Chaikin Volatility in conjunction with a moving average system or price envelope.

Chande Momentum Oscillator: A technical momentum indicator that is created by calculating the difference between the sum of all recent gains and the sum of all recent losses and then dividing the result by the sum of all price movement over the period. This oscillator is similar to other momentum indicators such as the Relative Strength Index and the Stochastic Oscillator because it is range bounded (+100 and -100).

Chande Volatility Index Dynamic Average (VIDYA): A moving average that automatically adjusts its speed based on market volatility. The absolute value of a 9-period Chande Momentum Oscillator is used for the volatility index.

Commodity Channel Indicator (CCI): The CCI price momentum indicator is designed to identify cyclical turns in commodities pricing, and represents the position of the current price relative to the average of the price over a specified period.

Departure Chart: One of the oldest technical studies, the Departure Chart measures the difference between two moving averages of price; one short and one long. Its primary use is as a trend identification tool, but it may also be used to identify overbought and oversold conditions as well. Default periods are 10 and 20.

Detrended Price Oscillator: This oscillator strips out price trends in an effort to estimate the length of price cycles from peak to peak, or trough to trough. Unlike other oscillators, such as the Stochastic or MACD, detrended price is not a momentum indicator. It highlights peaks and troughs in price, which are used to estimate entry and exit points in line with the historical cycle.

Directional Movement Index: Designed to help you see whether or not an instrument is currently trending.

Donchian Channels Indicator: A simple trend-following breakout system, this moving average indicator that plots the highest high and lowest low over the last period time intervals. The signals derived from this system are based on the following basic rules:

  • When the price closes below the Donchian Channel, sell short and liquidate long positions.
  • When the price closes above the Donchian Channel, buy long and cover short positions.

Donchian Channel Width: The width of Donchian Channels is a useful indicator for seeing the volatility of a market price. If a price is stable the Donchian channel will be relatively narrow. If the price fluctuates a lot the Donchian channel will be wider.

This indicator is designed to detect trends: low values of the indicator signify that the price is moving sideways, while increasing values signify the start of a new trend.

Double Exponential Moving Average (DEMA): Based on both a single exponential moving average (EMA) and a double EMA, the DEMA is a fast-acting moving average that is more responsive to market changes than a traditional moving average. It was developed in an attempt to create a calculation that eliminated some of the lag associated with traditional moving averages.

Ease of Movement Indicator: A technical momentum indicator that can help illustrate the relationship between the rate of a financial instrument's price change and its volume. This indicator attempts to identify the amount of volume required to move prices. Generally a value greater than zero is an indication that the stock is being accumulated (bought) and negative values are used to signal increased selling pressure. A high positive value appears when prices move upward on low volume. Strong negative numbers indicate that price is moving downward on low volume.

Envelope: SMA/WMA/EMA Envelopes plot a band composed of two moving averages, one which is shifting upwards, the other shifting downwards, to help define a stock's upper and lower boundaries.

Exponential Moving Average: The exponential moving average gives more weight to the latest prices and includes all of the price data in the life of the instrument.

Fast Stochastic Oscillator: The stochastic oscillator provides information about the location of a current close in relation to the period's high and low. It ranges between 0% and 100%. A reading of 0% indicates that the close was the lowest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods. A reading of 100% indicates that the close was the highest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods.

This version of the Stochastic Oscillator does not include the Period of slow average. The fast stochastic may be more sensitive to changes in the price of the underlying than the slow version.

Force Index: The Force Index is an indicator that uses price and volume to assess the power behind a move or identify possible turning points. The Force Index combines all three "essential elements" of a stock's price movement (direction, extent and volume) as an oscillator that fluctuates in positive and negative territory as the balance of power shifts. The Force Index can be used to reinforce the overall trend, identify playable corrections or foreshadow reversals with divergences.

High Low Bands: These two bands are generated from the triangular moving averages (calculated from the underlying price) and sandwich the underlying price. The triangular moving average is, in turn, shifted up and down by a fixed percentage. The bands are wave-lines formed by shifting the triangular moving average by some specific percentage on both the sides. Triangular moving averages are smooth in nature, which is why High Low bands tend to be more responsive to price fluctuations. They are most effective when it comes to trending markets, and may generate signals in trending markets. These bands, similar to all other indicators, fail in sideways or choppy markets.

Historical Volatility Ratio: The Historical Volatility Ratio is the percentage of short to long average historical volatility. When a market's short volatility declines below a certain percentage of its long volatility, it may be an indication that an explosive move is imminent.

Hull Moving Average: The Hull moving average indicator improves on smoothing price fluctuations, and also accounts for price lag. It does this by using the square root of a given period instead of the actual period itself.

Intraday Intensity Index Indicator: A technical indicator that approximates the volume of trading for a specified security in a given day. It is designed to help track the activity of institutional block traders and is calculated by subtracting the day's high and low from double the closing price, divided by the volume and multiplied by the difference between the high and the low.

Intraday Intensity%: Also known at the Money Flow %, calculated as: Intraday Intensity% = Intraday Intensity/Sum(Volume, x) * 100%

Where Intraday Intensity = (2 * close - H - L) / (H - L) * volume and x = period of sum, by default = 21

Intraday VWAP (Volume-Weighted Average Price): This study tracks VWAP throughout the one-day period. VWAP=[sum (Volume_bar_i * Typical_price_i)]/sum(volume_bar_i) where i is the intraday bar number. If we use a 1 min daily bar chart, the calculation is made from the first minute with i=[1;N] where N is the last bar number of the chart, Typical_price_i = VWAP_on_bar_price_i => This is the VWAP we currently store and volume_bar_i is the volume for the bar i. If no volume is available for the product (i.e. for IND, CASH and CMDY), use 1 as volume for each bar.

Keltner Channel: The Keltner Channel indicator is sensitive to volatility, and plots an "envelope" of two bands above and below the middle line, which represents a 20-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA). The upper and lower bands define the area inside of which the price should generally fall. The price crossing or floating towards these lines could indicate a trading opportunity.

Lane's Stochastic Oscillator: The stochastic oscillator provides information about the location of a current close in relation to the period's high and low. It ranges between 0% and 100%. A reading of 0% indicates that the close was the lowest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods. A reading of 100% indicates that the close was the highest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods.

Least Squares Moving Average: Sometimes called an End Point Moving Average, this indicator is based on a linear regression, but goes one step further by estimating what would happen if the regression line continued. Least Squares Moving Average is used mainly as a crossover signal with another moving average or with itself.

Linear Regression Curve: This indicator plots a line that best fits the prices specified over a user-defined time period. The Linear Regression Curve is used mainly to identify trend direction and is sometimes used to generate buy and sell signals.

Linear Regression R-Squared: An indicator used to determine the strength of the dominant market trend. It is typically used with other indicators such as Linear Regression Slope. The Slope indicates the overall market trend (positive or negative) and the R-Squared indicates the strength.

Linear Regression Slope: A common statistical technique used to identify the strength and direction of a dominant market trend. The Linear Regression Slope is a centered oscillator type of indicator similar to momentum indicators. As indicated by its name, it "oscillates" or fluctuates above and below a central line drawn at 0. In general, the momentum is positive when the slope is above 0 and negative when it is below 0. It can be used to measure the strength or weakness and direction of the momentum.

MACD: This is a trend-following dynamic indicator that shows the correlation between two moving averages, generally a 26-period and 12-period SMA or WMA or EMA. You can modify the period length when you create the study. To help illustrate opportunity, a 9-period EMA "signal line" is plotted on top of the MACD.

Mass Index: This indicator examines the range between high and low stock prices over a specific period of time. It suggests that a reversal of the current trend will likely take place when the range widens beyond a certain point and then contracts.

Momentum: The Momentum is the difference between the current point (price or something else) and the point N periods ago. Momentum is calculated as a ratio of today’s price to the price several (N) periods ago.

Moving Standard Deviation: Standard deviation is a statistical term that provides a good indication of volatility. It measures how widely values (for example, closing prices) are dispersed from the average. Dispersion is the difference between the actual value (closing price) and the average value (mean closing price). The larger the difference between the closing prices and the average price, the higher the standard deviation will be and the higher the volatility. The nearer the closing prices are to the average price, the lower the standard deviation and the lower the volatility.

Negative Volume Index: This indicator relies on changes in a security’s volume to identify when so-called “smart money” (i.e. institutions, funds and professional traders) is driving the current trend. The Negative Volume Index suggests that unsophisticated investors buy and sell primarily on high-volume days, while shrewd investors are more likely to trade on low-volume days. Often when volume drops, price drops. If a stock’s price increases despite a decrease in volume, technical analysts consider this a positive sign. They use the negative volume index to help identify bull and bear markets.

On Balance Volume: The concept behind the OBV indicator is: volume precedes price. OBV is a simple indicator that adds a period's volume when the close is up and subtracts the period's volume when the close is down. A cumulative total of the volume additions and subtractions forms the OBV line.

Parabolic SAR: For use in trending markets, parabolic SAR uses a trailing stop and reverse method to help determine good exit and entry points.

Percent B Indicator: %B quantifies a security's price relative to the upper and lower Bollinger Band. There are six basic relationship levels:

  • %B equals one when the price is at the upper band.
  • %B equals zero when the price is at the lower band.
  • %B is greater than one when the price is above the upper band.
  • %B is less than zero when the price is below the lower band.
  • %B is greater than .50 when the price is above the middle band (20-day SMA).
  • %B is less than .50 when the price is below the middle band (20-day SMA).

The default setting for %B is based on the default setting for Bollinger Bands (20,2). The bands are set two standard deviations above and below the 20-day simple moving average, which is also the middle band. The security price used is the closing price or the last trade.

Percentage Price Oscillator: A momentum oscillator for price. Shows the difference between two moving averages as a percentage of the larger moving average.

Positive Volume Index (PVI): An indicator used in technical analysis that is based on days where trading volume has significantly increased from the previous day. The Positive Volume Index (PVI) assumes that uninformed investors dominate the action on days with substantial trading volume, while the "smart money" - consisting of institutions, funds and professional traders - is more active on relatively quiet days with below-average trading volume.

As the PVI only takes into consideration days when trading volume is higher compared with the previous period, if the PVI is up, it implies that price is appreciating on rising volume, while a lower PVI implies that price is declining on rising volume.

Price Oscillator: Shows the difference between two moving averages, in points. Unlike MACD which always uses the 12- and 26-day moving averages, Price Oscillator can use any two user-specified values.

Price Volume Trend Indicator: Price Volume Trend is a variation of On Balance Volume. It's a horizontal histogram that overlays the chart and helps determines the strength of trends and warn of reversals.

Rate of Change: ROC is a refined version of Momentum. The readings fluctuate as percentages around the zero line. You set the number of periods when you create the study.

Relative Strength: The RSI indicator is for overbought/oversold conditions. It goes up when the market is strong, and down when the market is weak, and oscillates between 0 -100.

Relative Volatility Index: The Relative Volatility Index (RVI) is similar to the Relative Strength Index (RSI) index. Both measure the direction of volatility, but RVI uses the standard deviation of price changes in its calculations, while RSI uses the absolute price changes. The RVI is best used as a confirmation indicator to other momentum and/or trend-following indicators.

Simple Moving Average: The simple moving average sums the prices (you can choose from the closing price, the VWAP time-weighted price or the high/low/close average price) for a specific number of data points and divides by that number.

Slow Stochastic Oscillator: The stochastic oscillator provides information about the location of a current close in relation to the period's high and low. It ranges between 0% and 100%. A reading of 0% indicates that the close was the lowest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods. A reading of 100% indicates that the close was the highest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods.

This version of the Stochastic Oscillator does not include the Period of fast average and tends to be less sensitive to changes in the price of the underlying than the fast version.

Stochastic RSI Indicator: The stochastic oscillator provides information about the location of a current close in relation to the period's high and low. It ranges between 0% and 100%. A reading of 0% indicates that the close was the lowest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods. A reading of 100% indicates that the close was the highest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods. The RSI version of this indicator in essence applies the stochastic calculation to the Relative Strength Indicator (RSI).

Stochastic Oscillator: The stochastic oscillator provides information about the location of a current close in relation to the period's high and low. It ranges between 0% and 100%. A reading of 0% indicates that the close was the lowest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods. A reading of 100% indicates that the close was the highest price at which the security traded during the preceding x number of time periods.

Swing Index: The Swing Index tries to determine the real strength and direction of the market by comparing the relationships between the high, low and close prices of a stock.

Triangular Moving Average (TMA): The Triangular Moving Average is basically a double-smoothed Simple Moving Average that gives more weight to the middle section of the data interval. The TMA has a significant lag to current prices and is not well-suited to fast moving markets.

Triple Exponential Moving Average (TEMA): A technical indicator used for smoothing price and other data. It is a composite of a single exponential moving average, a double exponential moving average and a triple exponential moving average.

The TEMA smooths price fluctuations and filters out volatility, thereby making it easier to identify trends with little lag. It is a useful tool in identifying strong, long lasting trends, but may be of limited use in range-bound markets with short term fluctuations.

TRIX Indicator: TRIX is a momentum oscillator that displays the percent rate of change of a triple exponentially smoothed moving average. TRIX is designed to filter out insignificant price movements with its triple smoothing. TRIX generates signals similar to MACD, and a signal line can be applied to look for signal line crossovers. A directional bias can be determined with the absolute level. Bullish and bearish divergences can be used to anticipate reversals.

Typical Price Indicator: Typical price, calculated as (High Low Close)/3, is a useful filter for moving average systems.

Ultimate Oscillator: The Ultimate Oscillator combines the price action for three different time frames. You set the observations periods 1, 2, and 3 when you create the study.

Volume * Price Momentum Oscillator (PMO): A price and volume momentum oscillator. Traders might consider buying when the VPMO rises above zero and selling when it falls below.

Weighted Moving Average: The weighted moving average gives each data point a weight proportionate to its number in the sequence and divides by the sum of its weights. The calculation for a 3-bar weighted moving average is:

(1 x price_1) + (2 x price_2) + (3 x price_3)/6, where 6 is the sum of the weights (1 + 2 + 3).

Wilder's Moving Average: Also called Wilder's Smoothed Moving Average, this indicator is similar to the Exponential Moving Average. Compared to other moving averages, Wilders MA responds more slowly to price changes, where an n-period Wilder MA gives similar values to a 2n- period EMA. For example, a 14-period EMA has almost the same values as a 7-period Wilder MA.

Williams Oscillator: The Williams Percent Range (%R) indicator identifies the overbought/oversold levels. The scale extends from 0 to -100.

 

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