Trading Indicators Explained – What Are Trading Indicators?

Trading indicators are mathematical calculations based on the price, volume, or open interest of a security or contract. By transforming data on a chart in a way that highlights potential patterns, trends, and volatility, indicators provide valuable insights into how a security is performing and where it might be heading. Used extensively in technical analysis, these tools help traders make informed decisions by providing clues about market sentiment and potential price movements.

The beauty of trading indicators lies in their versatility. They can be applied across various time frames and can be used in both trending and range-bound markets. Whether it’s a simple moving average that offers a clear view of price trends over a specified period, or a complex oscillator that helps identify overbought or oversold conditions, trading indicators can equip traders with a robust framework for rigorous market analysis.

This article dives deep into the different types of trading indicators, explaining how they work, how they can be interpreted, and most importantly, how they can be integrated into a coherent trading strategy to improve decision-making processes.

You will also find a list of many common (and some not so common) trading indicators with a brief explanation and links to more detailed information about each indicator.

Why Trade Stocks Using Trading Indicators?

Using trading indicators offers a quantifiable way of navigating the markets through mathematical calculations that can bring objectivity to trading decisions. Unlike subjective chart analysis, which relies heavily on personal judgment and interpretation, indicators provide a quantitative foundation for assessing market behaviour.

This shift from a subjective to an objective viewpoint reduces emotional biases, allowing traders to make more informed and disciplined decisions. Indicators can be used to transform raw market data into actionable insights, presenting trends, momentum, volatility, and volume in a structured format that can be analysed and applied consistently across different trading scenarios.

Indicators are categorised into various types, each designed to measure a specific aspect of market behaviour that might be elusive through mere visual inspection of charts. For instance:

• Trend indicators like moving averages help identify the direction and stability of market trends
• Momentum indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) assess the speed and change of price movements, signaling potential reversal points
• Volume indicators provide insights into the strength behind price movements, enhancing the reliability of other signals.

This diversity allows traders to combine different types of indicators to form a comprehensive analysis toolkit, enhancing their ability to respond to changing market conditions effectively.

Using trading indicators as part of a well-defined trading strategy helps to standardize how decisions are made. When properly backtested and integrated into a complete trading system, these indicators can significantly improve trading results.

Types of Trading Indicators

Trend Indicators

These indicators help traders identify the direction and strength of a market trend by smoothing out price data over a period. Common trend indicators include moving averages, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), and the Directional Movement Index (DMI). They are useful for helping traders determine whether to enter or exit positions based on the persistence or potential end of a trend.

Momentum Indicators

Momentum indicators measure the speed or rate of price change, helping traders identify the strength behind price movements. Tools like the Relative Strength Index (RSI), Stochastic Oscillator, and Rate of Change (ROC) are popular momentum indicators that can signal overbought or oversold conditions, potentially indicating reversal points or confirming the strength of a trend.

Oscillators

Oscillators are typically bounded within a range (usually 0-100) and are used to discover short-term overbought or oversold conditions. They fluctuate above and below a central line or between set levels and include tools such as the Stochastics, and the Commodity Channel Index (CCI). Oscillators are particularly useful in non-trending markets where they help identify tops and bottoms related to price retracements.

Volatility Indicators

These indicators measure the rate of price movements, regardless of direction. Volatility indicators like Bollinger Bands, Average True Range (ATR), and the VIX (Volatility Index) provide insights into the market’s stability and the magnitude of price fluctuations, helping traders adjust their strategies in different market conditions.

Volume Indicators

Volume indicators use volume data to confirm the strength of a trend or suggest about its weakness. They include tools such as the On-Balance Volume (OBV), Volume Rate of Change, and Accumulation/Distribution Line. These indicators can be helpful for validating price movements, as many traders believe changes in volume often precede changes in price (though this should be validated through backtesting).

Pivot Point Indicators

Pivot points are used to determine critical support and resistance levels. They are calculated using the high, low, and closing prices of the previous trading session. Pivot point indicators are widely used for range trading and breakout strategies as they help forecast potential market turns and breakouts.

Breadth Indicators

Breadth indicators are used to analyse how broadly the current market trend is across the whole market. Typically used in stock trading where broadly support trends with many stocks exhibiting the trend are considered to be stronger than narrow breadth trends supported by a small number of stocks.

Sentiment Indicators

These indicators gauge the prevailing sentiment in the market, often derived from the behavior of certain market participants. Examples include the Bull/Bear Ratio, the AAII Sentiment Survey, and the Put/Call Ratio. Sentiment indicators are useful for contrarian investors looking to measure the potential exhaustion of a trend or a reversal.

Cycle Indicators

Cycle indicators identify repeating patterns in the market that are driven by rhythmic forces, such as seasons, elections, or economic cycles. Examples include the Hurst Cycles and Elliott Wave Theory. These indicators can help forecast the timing of market cycles and potential turning points (though I believe many of them to be spurious and traders should thoroughly backtest these trading indicators before using them).

Custom/Proprietary Indicators

These are unique indicators developed by individual traders or institutions that are not widely available in trading software. They might be based on traditional indicator formulas but customized to fit specific trading strategies or markets. Custom indicators are often used to gain an edge in the market by implementing a unique analytical approach not readily visible through conventional indicators.

Best Trading Indicators

Traders often embark on a quest to find the ‘best trading indicators’ with the hope that these tools will unlock the secrets to market success and consistent profits. However, the reality is that there is no single “best” trading indicator that can guarantee success in the markets. Each indicator serves a specific function, whether it’s identifying trends, momentum, volatility, or market strength, and has its limitations. Expecting one indicator to manage the entire trading lifecycle is a common mistake that can lead to disappointment and suboptimal trading results.

Trading indicators are best utilized as components of a comprehensive trading system. A robust system incorporates multiple indicators that complement each other and cover different aspects of market analysis. This holistic approach helps to confirm signals and reduce the likelihood of false positives, which are common when relying on a single indicator. Moreover, every trading system must be thoroughly backtested to validate its effectiveness across various market conditions. Backtesting helps traders understand the historical performance of a system and assess its potential edge before risking real capital. It is crucial for verifying that the system provides a consistent advantage, known as the ‘edge,’ which can sustain profitability over time.

Ultimately, traders should focus on developing and refining a trading system that integrates various indicators harmoniously rather than seeking a mythical best indicator. By understanding that no indicator is infallible and each contributes a piece to the overall puzzle, traders can create more reliable and resilient trading strategies.

Remember, the goal of using indicators should be to inform and enhance your trading decisions within the framework of a tested and proven system, ensuring that each trade aligns with a strategic, backtested approach. This mindset shift from seeking the best single indicator to employing a system of indicators is essential for long-term success in trading.

How To Use Trading Indicators Profitably

Trading indicators are powerful tools that, when used correctly, can significantly enhance a trader’s ability to make profitable decisions. However, one common challenge faced by traders, especially those who rely on technical analysis, is the inconsistency and potential confusion caused by conflicting indicator signals. This issue often stems from the subjective interpretation of the indicators themselves, where personal bias and emotional trading can lead to poor decision-making. To circumvent these pitfalls, traders should shift from using trading indicators in isolation or subjectively, to integrating them into a comprehensive and systematic trading strategy.

A systematic approach involves the use of technical indicators as components within a structured trading system that is governed by a clear set of rules. This system should specify when to enter and exit trades, how much capital to risk, and how to manage ongoing trades. The advantage of such a system is that it removes much of the subjectivity and emotional aspects from trading decisions. To develop a reliable system, one should select a few key indicators that complement each other without overcomplicating the decision process. For instance, one might combine a trend indicator with a momentum indicator and a volume indicator to validate signals. The key is consistency in application, allowing the trader to rely on objective criteria for trading decisions.

Crucially, once a trading system has been established, it must be rigorously backtested using historical market data. Backtesting helps to evaluate the effectiveness and profitability of the trading strategy and its underlying indicators across different market conditions. This process not only helps in refining the trading rules but also in validating the system’s reliability and the trader’s confidence in it.

It’s essential that the backtesting is thorough and includes out-of-sample tests to avoid curve-fitting and to ensure that the system is robust. This methodical approach to using trading indicators can significantly increase the likelihood of sustained profitability in trading.

Common Trading Indicators

Trend Indicators

Trend indicators help traders identify the direction and strength of a market trend by smoothing out price data over a period.

Moving Average (MA)

Averages the price data to create a smooth line that helps identify the trend direction. It is lagging, meaning it reacts to past price movements.

Exponential Moving Average (EMA)

Similar to MA but gives more weight to recent data, making it more responsive to new price changes.

Adaptive Moving Average

Modifies its sensitivity based on the stock’s volatility, becoming more sensitive during periods of high volatility and less sensitive during low volatility.

Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)

A trend-following momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of a security’s price. It is used to spot changes in strength, direction, momentum, and duration of a trend.

Parabolic SAR

Provides potential reversals in the market price direction. It appears as dots above or below the price, indicating potential “stop and reverse” points.

Average Directional Index (ADX)

Measures the strength of a trend but does not indicate its direction. Values above 25 generally indicate a strong trend.

Ichimoku Cloud

Offers a comprehensive look at resistance, support, trend direction, momentum, and trade signals by combining five lines plotted on a chart.

Hull Moving Average (HMA)

An extremely fast and smooth moving average that almost eliminates lag altogether and enhances smoothing, useful for identifying trend changes quickly.

Linear Regression Indicator

Provides a statistical way to predict future prices based on past price movements, displayed as a straight line.

Heiken Ashi

A type of candlestick chart that shares some characteristics with standard candlestick charts but smooths out fluctuations in data and helps to identify trends more easily.

Super Trend

A trend following indicator that is overlaid on a price chart. It uses the average true range to determine trend direction and reversals.

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Momentum Indicators

Momentum indicators measure the speed or rate of price change, helping traders identify the strength behind price movements.

Commodity Channel Index (CCI)

An oscillator used to identify cyclical trends in a security by measuring the variation of its price from its statistical mean, helping to identify overbought or oversold conditions.

Rate of Change (ROC)

Displays the percentage change in price between the current price and the price a certain number of periods ago, highlighting momentum by measuring the rate at which prices are changing.

Williams %R

A momentum indicator that measures overbought or oversold levels in relation to the highest high and lowest low over a specific period, typically 14 days.

Awesome Oscillator

Calculates the difference between a 34-period and a 5-period simple moving averages, constructed using the midpoints of the bars (high+low)/2, and helps to determine market momentum.

Klinger Oscillator

Combines prices movements with volume to form a trend-following indicator that signals potential reversals based on divergence with the price.

Momentum Indicator

Measures the rate of rise or fall in security prices to determine the strength of price trends at a given moment.

True Strength Index (TSI)

A momentum oscillator based on double smoothing of price changes, it provides signals about bullish and bearish trends and is often plotted with a signal line to generate trading signals.

Elder’s Force Index

Uses price and volume to measure the power behind a price movement, combining the three essential elements to measure the amount of force (or energy) in the market.

Guppy Multiple Moving Average (GMMA)

The Guppy Multiple Moving Average (GMMA) is a technical indicator developed by Daryl Guppy that is designed to identify changes in trends, strengths, and consolidation periods in the market. It utilizes two separate sets of moving averages (MAs); one set contains six short-term MAs to capture the sentiment and activity of short-term traders, and the other set includes six long-term MAs to reflect the longer-term sentiment and trend sustainability. By analyzing the interaction between these two groups of MAs—particularly how they expand, contract, and intertwine—traders can discern potential bullish or bearish trends and make strategic trading decisions based on these insights.

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Oscillators

Oscillators are typically bounded within a range (usually 0-100) and are used to discover short-term overbought or oversold conditions.

Relative Strength Index (RSI)

A momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements, typically over a 14-day period, indicating overbought or oversold conditions when readings are above 70 or below 30, respectively.

Stochastic Oscillator

Compares a particular closing price of a security to a range of its prices over a certain period of time, with the sensitivity of the oscillator to market movements adjustable by changing that time period or taking a moving average of the result.

Detrended Price Oscillator (DPO)

Removes longer-term trends to more easily identify cycles in the shorter term through the use of a displaced moving average, helping traders to spot price peaks and troughs.

Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO)

Shows the percentage difference between two moving averages, typically identifying convergence, divergence, and crossovers similar to the MACD but more adaptable to different securities due to its percentage format.

Trix

A momentum oscillator that shows the rate of change of a triple exponentially smoothed moving average, designed to filter out insignificant price movements with its focus on eliminating market noise.

Vortex Indicator

Measures the start of new trends and attempts to capture trend reversals and continuations through a pair of oscillators that compare the recent highs and lows to previous price data, indicating the movement’s strength.

Schaff Trend Cycle

Combines elements of both trend and cycle indicators to provide a more stable and smooth indicator, commonly used to generate buy and sell signals based on stochastic overbought or oversold levels.

Stochastic RSI

An oscillator that applies the Stochastic formula to a set of Relative Strength Index (RSI) values rather than price data, amplifying the sensitivity and generating more frequent signals based on RSI levels.

Fisher Transform

Transforms prices into a Gaussian normal distribution to highlight when prices have reached an extremum, making turning points in the market clearer and more actionable.

Market Facilitation Index (MFI)

Analyzes and evaluates the price movements and volume, aiming to determine the efficiency of the price movement by showing how the price change correlates with volume.

Squeeze Momentum Indicator

Identifies periods of market volatility contraction followed by volatility expansion, signaling potential breakout opportunities when the market is transitioning from a period of low volatility to conditions of high volatility.

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Volatility Indicators

Volatility indicators measure the rate of price movements, regardless of direction.

Average True Range (ATR)

Measures market volatility by decomposing the entire range of an asset price for that period, helping traders to understand the volatility of a security to adjust trading strategies or to set stop-loss orders.

Bollinger Bands

Consists of a middle band being a moving average, flanked by two standard deviation lines which expand and contract based on the volatility of the market, signaling overbought or oversold conditions when prices touch or break these bands.

Keltner Channels

A volatility-based trading indicator that includes three bands: an upper, middle, and lower band, with the middle band typically being an exponential moving average and the upper and lower bands based on the average true range (ATR), providing trend direction and momentum.

Donchian Channels

Formed by taking the highest high and the lowest low of the last ‘n’ periods, they can determine the breakout points for a stock, signaling a new trend when price breaches the channel’s high or low.

Volatility Chaikin

An oscillator that measures volatility, not price, and it tends to rise during market bottoms and decline during market tops, providing a different insight compared to other price-based indicators.

Standard Deviation

A statistical measure of market volatility, showing how much the price of an asset varies from its average price, thus indicating the degree of price movement or dispersion over a set period.

Envelopes

Consist of two moving averages that are calculated above and below a set midpoint or base moving average by a specified percentage, providing boundaries for price movement and potential overbought or oversold conditions.

Gann HiLo Activator

A simple trend-following indicator which helps to determine the short-term direction of the market by plotting a line based on previous highs and lows and signaling trading opportunities accordingly.

Volatility Stop

A type of stop-loss order that adjusts according to the volatility of the market, with a greater level of price movement resulting in a wider stop, and less volatility allowing for a tighter stop, optimizing the balance between risk and reward.

Chandelier Exit

A volatility-based indicator that sets a trailing stop-loss based on the average true range (ATR) from the highest high or lowest low since the entry of the trade, allowing traders to let their profits run while protecting them from reversals.

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Volume Indicators

Volume indicators use volume data to confirm the strength of a trend or suggest about its weakness.

Volume

The trading indicator “Volume” measures the number of shares or contracts traded in a security or market during a given period. It is one of the oldest and most basic indicators used by traders and analysts to confirm trends and chart patterns.

A high volume often indicates a high level of interest in a security, suggesting strong buying or selling pressure, which can signal the continuation of a current trend or the start of a new one. Conversely, low volume may indicate a lack of interest and typically accompanies price movements that are less likely to be sustained.

By comparing volume levels over time, traders can infer potential price movements and make more informed trading decisions.

On-Balance Volume (OBV)

Uses volume flow to predict changes in stock price, accumulating volume on up days and subtracting on down days, helping to confirm price trends or foreshadow reversals when price and OBV diverge.

Volume Rate of Change

Highlights the increasing or decreasing volumes by comparing the current volume to the volume a certain number of periods ago, indicating the strength of a trend or confirming a trading range.

Accumulation/Distribution Line

A volume-based indicator designed to measure the cumulative flow of money into and out of a security, indicating potential buy or sell signals through divergences with the asset price.

Money Flow Index (MFI)

Often termed as the volume-weighted RSI, this indicator combines price and volume to identify overbought or oversold conditions in an asset by analyzing the inflows and outflows of money from a security.

Chaikin Money Flow (CMF)

Combines price and volume to assess the flow of money into or out of a stock over a specific period, with values above zero suggesting buying pressure (accumulation) and values below zero indicating selling pressure (distribution).

Volume Oscillator

Shows the relationship between two moving averages of volume, typically to identify major moves in the market by spotting divergences where increasing volume confirms a trend and decreasing volume signals a weak move.

Price Volume Trend (PVT)

Integrates volume and price data to help identify the direction of price trends through changes in its line, which moves up or down based on a percentage of volume multiplied by the change in price.

Demand Index

Combines price and volume in a unique formula to project future price changes, with rising demand index values indicating buying pressure and the possibility of price increases.

Ease of Movement

Measures the relationship between price change and volume to indicate how effortlessly a stock price moves higher or lower, with a high value indicating that the stock is moving upward with little resistance.

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Pivot Point Indicators

Pivot points are used to determine critical support and resistance levels to help you decide if a trend has changed or is continuing.

Pivot Points

A technical analysis tool used to determine potential support and resistance levels. They are calculated using the high, low, and closing prices from the previous trading session and are used to predict the range of trading for the current session.

Fibonacci Retracements

These are horizontal lines that indicate where support and resistance are likely to occur. They are based on Fibonacci numbers and are used to predict how far prices may retrace a completed move.

Camarilla Pivot Points

Developed by Nick Scott in 1989, these pivot points are a set of eight levels that resemble support and resistance values for a current trend. They are more refined and used for intraday trading to predict price movement.

Fibonacci Extensions

These are used to identify potential reversal points (support and resistance) following a retracement. They are derived from Fibonacci number sequences and extend beyond the standard 100% level.

Woodie’s Pivot Points

Developed by Ken Wood, they are a variation of pivot points that give more weight to the closing price of the previous period. They are popular for short-term trading strategies.

Demark Pivot Points

Introduced by Tom Demark, these are another variation of pivot points, focusing more on the close and open of the previous period to provide more accurate predictions for professional traders.

Fibonacci Fans

Lines created by drawing a trendline through two extreme points and then dividing the vertical distance by the key Fibonacci ratios to generate diagonal support and resistance levels.

Fibonacci Arcs

Based on Fibonacci retracements, and drawn as half circles that extend out from a trendline, they are used to anticipate reversals in price directions.

Floor Trader Pivots

Traditional pivot points derived from the average of the high, low, and close from the trading session of the previous day, used by floor traders to set key levels to watch during the day.

Fibonacci Time Zones

These are a series of vertical lines based on Fibonacci sequences that are used to predict the timing of significant price movements.

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Breadth Indicators

Breadth indicators are used to analyse how broadly the current market trend is across the whole market. Typically used in stock trading where broadly support trends with many stocks exhibiting the trend are considered to be stronger than narrow breadth trends supported by a small number of stocks.

Advance/Decline Line (A/D Line)

A stock market technical indicator used to measure the number of individual stocks advancing versus those declining. It provides insight into market strength and breadth by plotting the cumulative sum of the daily differences between the number of advancers and decliners.

McClellan Oscillator

A market breadth indicator that assesses the breadth of a stock market advance or decline. It is calculated using the exponential moving average of the difference between the number of advancing and declining issues on the New York Stock Exchange.

McClellan Summation Index

An extension of the McClellan Oscillator. While the oscillator indicates short-term outlooks, the Summation Index provides a longer-term perspective. It is a running total of the McClellan Oscillator values, helping to identify major market movements.

High-Low Index

Measures the breadth of market strength by comparing the number of stocks hitting new 52-week highs with those reaching new 52-week lows. This indicator helps to identify the underlying strength or weakness of a market.

Arms Index (TRIN)

Developed by Richard Arms, the index is a short-term trading tool that measures market breadth by comparing the ratio of advancing stocks to declining stocks with the ratio of volume traded in advancing to declining stocks.

Bull/Bear Ratio

Utilized in sentiment analysis, this ratio compares the number of bullish indicators to bearish indicators. It helps to gauge the sentiment in the market, indicating whether more traders are bullish or bearish.

New Highs/New Lows

This indicator tracks the number of stocks reaching new 52-week highs versus those falling to new 52-week lows, offering insights into market momentum and potential reversals.

Percentage of Stocks Above Moving Average

This measures the percentage of stocks in an index that are trading above a specific moving average, commonly used to assess the overall health of a market.

Stocks Above 50-day Moving Average

A specific version of the above indicator, this measures how many stocks are trading above their 50-day moving average, helping traders understand short to medium-term market trends.

Market Breadth

A general term that refers to techniques used to analyze the overall direction of the market by comparing the number of companies advancing to those declining. Market breadth indicators are essential for confirming broader market trends and potential reversals.

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Sentiment Indicators

Sentiment indicators gauge the prevailing sentiment in the market, often derived from the behaviour of certain market participants.

Put/Call Ratio

A popular sentiment indicator that measures the trading volume of put options versus call options. A high ratio indicates a bearish sentiment, as more traders are buying puts rather than calls, while a low ratio suggests bullish sentiment.

VIX (Volatility Index)

Commonly known as the “fear index,” the VIX measures the stock market‘s expectation of volatility based on S&P 500 index options. It is used to gauge market risk, fear, and stress before they take hold of the market.

Bullish Percent Index

This indicator shows the percentage of stocks in an index that are showing bullish patterns based on point and figure charts. It helps investors gauge overall market sentiment and identify potential reversals.

Commitment of Traders (COT)

Released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, this report provides a breakdown of the open interest in commodity markets, categorizing it by trader type (commercial, non-commercial, and non-reportable), indicating market trends.

Market Vane

Often used as a market sentiment gauge, this indicator assesses the bullishness or bearishness of market professionals through various surveys, helping to predict shifts in market trends.

Insider Activity

Tracks stock buying and selling by company executives, directors, and other insiders. High buying activity can signal confidence in the company’s future, while extensive selling might indicate potential problems or a perceived peak in the stock’s value.

Short Interest Ratio

Also known as the short ratio, it measures the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. It is used to understand market sentiment toward a specific stock or the market as a whole.

Implied Volatility

Derived from an option’s price, implied volatility indicates the market’s view of the likelihood of changes in a given security’s price. Higher implied volatility reflects greater expected fluctuations (in either direction) in stock prices.

AAII Sentiment Survey

Conducted by the American Association of Individual Investors, this survey measures the percentage of individual investors who are bullish, bearish, or neutral on the stock market for the next six months, providing insight into investor sentiment.

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Cycle Indicators

Cycle indicators identify repeating patterns in the market that are driven by rhythmic forces, such as seasons, elections, or economic cycles.

Elliott Wave Indicator

Utilizes the Elliott Wave Principle to identify repetitive wave patterns in financial markets, suggesting future price movements by understanding trader psychology manifested in waves.

Schaff Trend Cycle

A cyclical oscillator that combines the common elements of different trending and oscillating indicators, aiming to improve the timing of trend changes by indicating buy and sell points in cycles.

Detrended Price Oscillator (DPO)

Removes trends from price data to help identify cycles more clearly and forecast potential reversal points by comparing past prices to a displaced moving average.

Gann Fan

Based on the theories of W.D. Gann, this tool draws lines at different angles from a significant peak or trough to show potential support and resistance areas based on time and price movements.

Cycle Lines

A charting tool that draws vertical lines at equal intervals to help identify cycles or repeating patterns in market movements, suggesting potential turning points based on time cycles.

Time Cycles

Refers to the concept that markets have cyclical patterns influenced by time, where certain market events tend to repeat at regular intervals, helping traders anticipate future movements.

Fibonacci Cycles

Uses Fibonacci time sequences to predict the duration of trends and reversals, applying Fibonacci calculations not just to price movements but to timing, which can guide the placement of trades relative to cyclical market patterns.

Wolfe Waves

A trading pattern used to predict natural rhythm reversals in a stock price based on a series of five waves that form a characteristic shape, useful for pinpointing balance points and price targets.

Hurst Cycles

Based on the research of J.M. Hurst, these cycles are a form of analysis that considers long-term price cycles as a means to forecast future price movements in financial markets.

Sinewave Indicator

Often used in cyclic analysis, this indicator helps in identifying the rhythmic oscillation patterns in stock prices, aiding traders in determining trend continuations or reversals based on the sine wave theory.

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Custom/Proprietary Indicators

Market Profile

A statistical tool that breaks down and organizes the trading activity of securities based on price and volume over a specified time period. It provides a graphical representation of how time, price, and volume intersect to form a distribution pattern that can help traders identify key price levels and market trends.

Darvas Box

Developed by Nicolas Darvas, a dancer turned legendary trader, the Darvas Box theory uses a method of drawing boxes around stock prices to indicate new highs and lows. Traders use these boxes to determine breakout points, as a new box formation can signal the continuation of a trend or an imminent reversal.

Vortex Indicator

Introduced by Etienne Botes and Douglas Siepman, this indicator consists of two lines that capture positive and negative trend movements. It is used to identify the start of new trends and to spot trend continuities or reversals through crossovers of these lines.

Range Expansion Index

This volatility indicator focuses on price changes relative to previous price changes, aiming to identify the start of a new trend or predict trend endings. It is particularly useful for confirming the strength of market moves during periods of high volatility.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Trading Indicators