Technical Indicators Tutorial

Price is the primary tool of technical analysis because it reflects everyfactor affecting the value of a market. However, price doesn't produce justtrend lines and basic chart patterns. Analysts have expanded their research farbeyond those basic elements to develop a number of technical indicators thatprovide more insight into price action than what you see on the surface. Youmay be able to see that a market is "extended" (overbought or oversold) just bylooking at a bar chart, but an indicator can put a number to it and confirmyour thinking.

First, a warning about indicators in general. Most analysts do not rely ononly one indicator but often use several indicators together to help make atrading decision because of the misleading information one indicator mightprovide. An oscillator indicator is not a trading system but only provideshelpful insights in certain market conditions.

Oscillators tend not to work well in markets that are in a strong trend.They can show a market at either an overbought or oversold reading for anextended period while the market continues to trend strongly. Another exampleof oscillators not working well is when a market trades into the upper boundaryof a congestion area on the chart and then breaks out on the upside of thecongestion area. At that point, it's likely that an oscillator would show themarket as being overbought and possibly generate a sell signal when, in fact,the market is just beginning to show its real upside power.

Strength and Sentiment Indicators

Although most technical indicators are based on price data and variousmanipulations of that data, a few are based on other market activity. Forexample, when prices make a move, how many traders are participating and whoare they? Volume and open interest are indicators that reflect some basicnumbers about how traders are driving the market, and Commitments of Tradersreports reveal the caliber of participants involved.

Volume and open interest - In and of themselves, volume and open interestdata may not be that valuable other than to indicate the liquidity of a market.But used in conjunction with price action, these numbers serve as a strengthindicator that can provide some meaningful verification about the significanceof a price move.

Volume is the number of transactions in a futures oroptions on futures contract made during a specified period of time, usually onetrading session. One buy and one sell equals a volume of one.

Open interest is the total number of futures or options onfutures contracts that have not yet been offset or fulfilled by delivery. It isan indicator of the depth or liquidity of a futures market, which influencesthe ability to buy or sell at or near a given price.

Open interest can be a little confusing. If a new buyer (a long) and newseller (a short) enter a trade, their orders are matched and open interestincreases by one. However, if a trader who has a long position sells to a newtrader who wants to initiate a long position, open interest does not change asthe number of open contracts remains the same. If a trader holding a longposition sells to a trader wanting to get rid of his existing short position,open interest decreases by one as there is one less open contract.

Volume and open interest are "secondary" technical indicators that helpconfirm other technical signals on the charts. If an upside price breakout isaccompanied by heavy volume, that is a strong signal that the market may wantto continue to move higher because it indicates more traders jumped on therising prices. On the other hand, a big upside move or a move to a new highthat is accompanied by light volume makes the move suspect and indicates a topor bottom may be near or in place. Also, if volume increases on price movesagainst the existing trend, then that trend may be nearing an end.

To validate an uptrend, volume should be heavier on up days and lighter ondown days within the trend. In a downtrend, volume should be heavier on downdays and lighter on up days. A general trading rule is that if both volume andopen interest are increasing, then the trend will probably continue in itspresent direction. If volume and open interest are declining, this can beinterpreted as a signal that the current trend may be about to end.

Changes in open interest can help a trader gauge how much new money isflowing into a market or if money is flowing out of a market, a valuableinsight in evaluating a trending market. Open interest does have seasonaltendencies - that is, it is higher at some times of the year and lower atothers in many markets. Look at the seasonal average (five-year average) ofopen interest in your analysis.

If prices are rising in an uptrend and total open interest is increasingmore than its seasonal average, it suggests new money is flowing into themarket, indicating aggressive new buying, and that is bullish. However, ifprices are rising and open interest is falling by more than its seasonalaverage, the rally is the result of holders of losing short positionsliquidating their contracts (short covering) and money is leaving the market.This is usually bearish, as the rally will likely fizzle.

Here are two more rules for open interest:

• Very high open interest at market tops can cause a steep and quick price downturn.
• Open interest that is building up during a consolidation, or "basing" period, can strengthen the price breakout when it happens.

Commitments of Traders Reports - Open interest can be takenone step further by examining the Commitments of Traders (COT) report issuedevery Friday afternoon by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

COT reports provide a breakdown of the preceding Tuesday's open interest formarkets in which 20 or more traders or hedgers hold positions equal to, orabove, reporting levels established by the CFTC.

The report breaks down open interest for large trader positions into"commercial" and "non-commercial" categories. Commercial traders are requiredto register with the CFTC by showing a related cash business for which futuresare used as a hedge. The non-commercial category is comprised of largespeculators, mainly commodity funds. The balance of open interest is qualifiedunder the "non-reportable" classification that includes both small commercialhedgers and small speculators.

To derive the net trader position for each category, subtract the shortcontracts from the long contracts. A positive result indicates a net longposition (more longs than shorts). A negative result indicates a net shortposition (more shorts than longs). The results may mean different things indifferent markets, so it usually takes some experience with COT numbers beforeyou can see their value in trading.

The most important aspect of the COT report for most traders is the changein net positions of the commercial hedgers. The premise of COT analysis is thatcommercials are the "smart money" because they have a strong record inforecasting significant market moves, have the best fundamental supply anddemand information and have the ability to move markets because of the largesize they trade. That's the side of the market where you want to be.

Some traders like to take positions opposite of what the COT report suggeststhat small traders (non-reportable positions) are doing, assuming most smallspeculative traders are usually under-capitalized and/or wrong about themarket.

Trend Indicators

Trend lines are the basic indicator of trend, but they are quite subjective,depending on the eye of the beholder. So analysts have refined technicalindicators such as moving averages or the directional movement index toquantify the data and smooth out day-to-day fluctuations to present an overallview of price direction and the trendiness of the market.

Moving Averages - Perhaps the simplest to understand andmost widely used technical indicator is a moving average, which smoothes pastdata to illustrate existing trends or situations where a trend may be ready tobegin or is about to reverse. A moving average helps you spot market directionover time rather than being caught up in short-term erratic marketfluctuations. There are three main types of moving averages:

• Simple.
  Each price point over the specified period of the moving average is given an equal weight. You just add the prices and divide by the number of prices to get an average. As each new price becomes available, the oldest price is dropped from the calculation.
• Weighted.
  More weight is given to the latest price, which is regarded as more important than older prices. If you used a three-day weighted moving average, for example, the latest price might be multiplied by 3, yesterday's price by 2 and the oldest price three days ago by 1. The sum of these figures is divided by the sum of the weighting factors - 6 in this example. This makes the moving average more responsive to current price changes.
• Exponential.
  An exponential moving average (EMA) is another form of a weighted moving average that gives more importance to the most recent prices. Instead of dropping off the oldest prices in the calculation, however, all past prices are factored into the current average. The current EMA is calculated by subtracting yesterday's EMA from today's price and then adding this result to yesterday's EMA to get today's EMA. An EMA generally produces a smoother line than other forms of moving averages, which can be an important factor in choppy market conditions.

Closing prices for a period are usually used to calculate a moving average,but you can also use the open, high or low or some combination of all of them.Moving averages are often used in crossover trading systems. A buy signaloccurs when the short- or intermediate-term averages cross from below to abovethe longer-term average. Conversely, a sell signal is issued when the short-and intermediate-term averages cross from above to below the longer-termaverage.

Another trading approach is to use the "current price" method. If thecurrent price is above the moving average, you buy. Liquidate that positionwhen the current price crosses below your selected moving average. For a shortposition, sell when the current price falls below the moving average. Liquidatethat position when the current price rises above the average.

Because the moving average changes constantly as the latest market dataarrive, many traders test different "specified" time frames before they come upwith a series of moving averages that are optimal for a particular market.

Some use combinations such as 5-day, 10-day and 20-day moving averages,taking crossovers of the shorter moving average over the longer moving averageas a trading signal. Still others use longer-term moving average lines asanother point of support or resistance.

In short, moving averages have a number of applications and are easy tounderstand, making them a clear indicator choice for many traders.

Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) - MACD is amore detailed method of using moving averages to find trading signals fromprice charts. MACD plots the difference between a longer-term exponentialmoving average and a shorter exponential moving average (the chart below uses21 days and 9 days). Then a 9-day moving average of this difference isgenerally used as a trigger line.

The MACD indicator is used in three ways:

• Crossover signals.
  When the MACD line crosses below the trigger line, it is a bearish signal; when it crosses above it, it's a bullish signal. Another crossover signal occurs when MACD crosses above or below the zero line.
• Overbought-oversold.
  If the shorter moving average pulls away from the longer moving average dramatically, it indicates the market may be coming over-extended and is due for a correction to bring the averages back together.
• Divergence.
  As with other studies, traders look at MACD to provide early signals or divergences between market prices and a technical indicator. If the MACD turns positive and makes higher lows while prices are still tanking, this could be a strong buy signal. Conversely, if the MACD makes lower highs while prices are making new highs, this could be a strong bearish divergence and a sell signal.

With its moving average base, MACD is a lagging indicator and requiresrather strong price movement to generate a signal. Therefore, it works best inmarkets that make broad moves but does perform well in choppy, congestedtrading conditions.

Directional Movement Index - The Directional MovementIndicator (DMI), also called the Directional Movement System, is used todetermine the strength of a market trend. The Average Directional Movementindex, or ADX, is part of the DMI and gauges the trendiness of the market. Whenused with the up and down Directional Indicator (DI) values - Plus DI and MinusDI - you could have a trading system.

The basic rules for a DMI system include establishing a long positionwhenever the Plus DI crosses above the Minus DI. Reverse that position -liquidate the long position and establish a short position - when the Minus DIcrosses below the Plus DI.

The ADX line (green on the chart below) is perhaps the focal point of theDMI for most traders. If the ADX line is trading above 30, then the market isin a strong trend, either up or down. ADX does not indicate the direction ofthe trend. If the ADX line is below 30, it means the trend is not a strong one.If the market is in a solid trend and scoring new highs and the ADX line showsdivergence and turns down, that is a warning signal that the market trend islosing power and a market top or bottom may be close at hand.

Volatility Indicators

Volatility shows how active a market is as reflected by the size of priceranges without specifying a price direction. An indicator such as BollingerBands reveals changes in volatility levels, which often lead changes inprices.

Bollinger Bands - Bollinger Bands are volatility curvesused to identify extreme highs or lows in relation to price. They establishtrading parameters, or bands, above and below a moving average at a set numberof standard deviations from this moving average. Both the length of the movingaverage and the number of standard deviations can be modified to fit themarket.

Traders generally use Bollinger Bands to determine overbought and oversoldzones, to confirm divergences between prices and other technical indicators andto project price targets. The wider the bands on a chart, the greater themarket volatility; the narrower the bands, the less market volatility.

Some traders use Bollinger Bands in conjunction with another indicator suchas the Relative Strength Index (RSI). If the price touches the upper band andthe RSI does not confirm the upward move (i.e. there is divergence between theindicators), a sell signal is generated. If the indicator confirms the upwardmove, no sell signal is generated - in fact, a buy signal may be indicated. Ifthe price touches the lower band and the RSI does not confirm the downwardmove, a buy signal is generated. If the indicator confirms the downward move,no buy signal is generated - in fact, a sell signal may be indicated.

Another strategy uses Bollinger Bands without another indicator. In thisapproach, a chart top occurring above the upper band followed by a top belowthe upper band generates a sell signal. Likewise, a chart bottom occurringbelow the lower band followed by a bottom above the lower band generates a buysignal.

Bollinger Bands also help determine overbought and oversold markets. Whenprices move closer to the upper band, the market is becoming overbought; as theprices move closer to the lower band, the market is becoming oversold. Pricemomentum should also be taken into account. You should always look for evidenceof price weakening or strengthening before anticipating a market reversal.

Momentum Indicators

No market can go up or down forever, and momentum indicators reflect when aprice trend may be weakening or strengthening. These indicators are usuallybased on a scale from 0 to 100 and produce "overbought" and "oversold" signals.Although these indicators do not perform well in extended trending markets, oneof their most useful applications is the concept of "divergence" - that is,prices go in one direction and the momentum indicator in another. If pricesmake a new high but the indicator makes a lower high, for example, thedivergence suggests internal weakness that could signal the end of the upmovein prices.

Stochastics - The basic premise of the stochastic indicatordeveloped by George Lane revolves around the position of the close relative tothe high or low of the day. During periods of price decreases, daily closestend to accumulate near the extreme lows of the day. During periods of priceincreases, closes tend to accumulate near the extreme highs of the day. Thestochastic study is an oscillator designed to indicate oversold and overboughtmarket conditions.

Stochastics are measured and represented by two different lines, %K and %D,and are plotted on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Readings above 80 suggest anoverbought situation; readings below 20 an oversold zone. The %K line is thefaster, more sensitive indicator while the %D line takes more time to turn.When the %K line crosses over the %D line in overbought or oversold territory,this could be an indication that a market is about to reverse course.

Some technical analysts prefer the slow stochastic rather than the normalstochastic. The slow stochastic is simply the normal stochastic smoothed via amoving average technique. The most important signal is divergence between %Dand price, which occurs when the stochastic %D line makes a series of lowerhighs while prices make a series of higher highs (see black lines on chartbelow). This signals an overbought market. An oversold market exhibits a seriesof lower lows while the %D makes a series of higher lows.

When one of the above patterns appears, you should anticipate a marketsignal. You initiate a market position when the %K crosses the %D from theright-hand side. A right-hand crossover is when the %D has bottomed or toppedand is moving higher or lower and the %K crosses the %D line. The most reliabletrades occur with divergence and when the %D is between 10 and 15 for a buysignal and between 85 and 90 for a sell signal.

Relative Strength Index (RSI) - The main purpose of theRelative Strength Index (RSI ) created by J. Welles Wilder Jr. is to measurethe market's strength or weakness. To calculate RSI, you figure out the averageof the up closes and the average of the down closes for the study period(typically 14 days), then divide the average of the up closes by the average ofthe down closes to get a relative strength figure. Then you add 1 to thatrelative strength figure, divide that sum into100 and subtract that result from100. If all that sounds complicated, remember that many analytical softwareprograms do all those calculations for you.

A high RSI reading, above 70, suggests an overbought or weakening bullmarket. Conversely, a low RSI number, below 30, implies an oversold market ordying bear market. However, blindly selling when the RSI is above 70 or buyingwhen the RSI is below 30 can be an expensive trading system. A move to thoselevels is a signal that market conditions are ripe for a market top or bottom,but it does not, in itself, indicate a top or a bottom.

Although you can use the RSI as an overbought and oversold indicator, likemany indicators, it works best when a failure swing occurs between the RSI andmarket prices. For example, the market makes new highs after a bull marketsetback but the RSI fails to exceed its previous highs.

Commodity Channel Index (CCI) - The Commodity Channel Index(CCI) was designed to detect the beginning and ending of market trends bymeasuring the distance between the market price and its moving average,providing a measurement of trend strength and/or intensity. The CCI iscalculated as the difference between the mean price of a market and the averageof the means over a chosen period. This difference is then compared with theaverage difference over the time period.

Values of +100 to -100 indicate a market with no trends. About 70%-80% ofall price fluctuations fall within +100 and -100, as measured by the index. Buyand sell signals occur only when the +100 line (buy) and the -100 (sell) arecrossed. The way this indicator works is almost the opposite of how you woulduse an oscillator (overbought/oversold) such as the Relative Strength Index(RSI) or Slow Stochastics.

To trade using CCI, establish a long position when the CCI exceeds +100.Liquidate when the index drops below +100. Your reference point for a shortposition is a value of -100. Any value less than -100 suggests a shortposition, while a rise to -85 tells you to liquidate your short position.

Percent Range - The Percent Range (%R) technical indicator,often associated with Larry Williams and called Williams %R, attempts tomeasure overbought and oversold market conditions. Like other indicators, %Ralways falls between a value of 100 and 0 and measures where the current day'sclosing price falls within the price range for a specified number of days.

The %R study is similar to the Stochastic indicator except that theStochastic has internal smoothing and %R is plotted on an upside-down scale,with 0 at the top and 100 at the bottom. A value of 0 indicates the closingprice is the same as the period high. Conversely, a value of 100 shows that theclosing price is identical to the period low. A reading above 80 indicates anoversold condition; a reading below 20 an overbought situation.

On specifying the length of the interval for the %R study, some techniciansprefer to use a value that corresponds to one-half of the normal cycle length.If you specify a small value for the length of the trading range, the study isquite volatile. Conversely, a large value smoothes the %R and generates fewertrading signals.

As with other indicators, selling just because a %R shows a market to beoverbought (or buying just because it is oversold) may take a trader out of theparticular market long before the price falls (or rises) because %R can remainin an overbought/oversold condition for a long time.

Momentum or Rate of Change - The whole group of momentumoscillators involves the analysis of the rate of price change rather than theprice level. The speed of price movement and the rate at which prices aremoving up or down provide clues to the amount of strength the bulls or bearshave at a given point in time, a key indicator regarding the viability of atrend and whether it is about to end or begin.

Momentum can be calculated by dividing the day's closing price by theclosing price X number of days ago and then multiplying the quotient by 100.The momentum study is an oscillator-type indicator to interpretoverbought/oversold situations. By determining the pace at which price isrising or falling, the indicator shows whether a current trend is gaining orlosing momentum, whether or not a market is overbought or oversold, and whetherthe trend is slowing down.

Momentum is calculated by computing the continuous difference between pricesat fixed intervals. That difference is either a positive or negative valueplotted around a zero line. When momentum is above the zero line and rising,prices are increasing at an increasing rate. If momentum is above the zero line but declining, prices are still increasing but at a decreasing rate.

The opposite is true when momentum falls below the zero line. If momentum is falling and is below the zero line, prices are decreasing at an increasing rate. With momentum below the zero line and rising, prices are still declining but at a decreasing rate.

The normal trading rule is: Buy when the momentum line crosses from below the zero line to above. Sell when the momentum line crosses from above the zero line to below. Another possibility is to establish bands at each extreme of the momentum line. Initiate or change positions when the indicator enters either of those zones. You could modify that rule to enter a position only when the indicator reaches the overbought or oversold zone and then exits that zone.

You can specify the length of the momentum indicator based on your trading needs and methods. Some technicians argue the length of the momentum indicator should equal the normal price cycle, but you can make it more or less aggressive, depending on the market or your trading style.