Strat Assistant ScreenerStrat Assistant Screener
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█ OVERVIEW
This script is intended to provide screening/scanning functionality for the strat for the time period provided in the input (Day is the default).
When added, the script provides a chart with labels separated for each type of candle (2 up, 2 down, outside, inside) as well as actionable signals (inside already provided, hammer, shooter). Trading view is limited to 40 "security/ticker/symbol" calls so only 40 at a time are available. It's best to run this on higher time frames as it will occasionally push peak trading view memory limits and throw an error. Various inputs are provided a detailed below. It's not FAST so be patient please.
█ DETAIL
Inputs
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Security/Screener Time Frame: The screener will only run for one time frame, the time frame selected and this can be changed
Actionable Wick Percentage: The percentage of the WICK to determine a hammer or a shooter. For example, the default is .75 or 75%, which means 75% of the candle must be a WICK (top wick 75% for shooter, bottom wick 75% for hammer). If you wish to be more conservative scale it down or more aggressive scale it up
Label Index Offset Factor: There are 6 separate labels that will appear at the bottom separated by this indicator. If you feel like things are too tight or too narrow you can adjust this to spread things out further, or push them closer together.
Security/SXX: The various securities that can be input to track. If you find this is a pain, you can always copy the source code, put it in the pine editor yourself, and manually modify them there. Trading view limits you to 40 securities/symbols/tickers so I've pushed the limit as far as I can with this script.
Outputs
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The screener will provide a second chart at the bottom of the primary chart with labels for the types of candles and actionable signals
Each label will be present even if no results are found.
The label will display the time frame selected toward the end of the header - Strat Assistant Screener:
Each label is colored for quick reference to indicate the various bull/bear/inside/outside "patterns"
Best Practices
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It is not fast, so please be patient and let it run.
This screener is best used as a utility a few times a day, not recommended for intraday. I will create a scaled down version of this will only 5 securities/symbols/tickers that can be used intraday.
The screener pushes the limits of training views provided memory, so you may occasionally see errors, please try a higher time frame.
The bottom chart can be scaled and moved just like the top one, play around with it to determine what works best for you. I recommend decreasing the scale and then moving it up so you can see it better.
When the time frame is changed, it will take a minute, you can verify the results by seeing the time frame change in the label - Strat Assistant Screener:
I have not played with this thoroughly intraday yet. So it may be buggy/slower.
在脚本中搜索"信达股份40周年"
Modified RSI Multi-Time Frame (HM)Effective RSI with Multi-Timeframe with Hilema - Milega(HM) concept (HM=WMA -EMA). RSI Script is included with WMA and EMA band for RSI1 and it works very simple
i) When the RSI band turns to Green its a Buy signal. Normally whenever Bearish strength weakens and move towards the Bullish area, the WMA and EMA cross each other and that tends to provide a possible trend change. A trade at crossover normally provides a very good trading oppertunity. One can combine with some other Price action if needed for double confirmation.
ii)When RSI band turns to RED its a Sell signal. As explained in the point 1 , its a vice-versa where a crossover of WMA and EMA is perfect entry to get a good swing trade. Once can combine this tool with Price action for double confirmation.
iii) Using the Multi timeframe user could able to find the trend at higher timeframe to take double confirm on the trend strength and take a perfect oppertunity to take the trade.
By default, script uses the RSI with length 14, WMA 21 and EMA 3 which perfectly working for Index in NSE. Please change as per your requirement.
Apart from the above band, RSI is not have the different levels like 20/ 40 /50/60/80
Multi-timeframes currently set as
RSI1 - Same as Chart
RSI2 - 15 Min
RSI3 - 60 Min
RSI4 - Daily
Script has enabled the option to change the values for these timeframes as per the user requirement.
These ranges can be interpreted and acts as a probable swing points based on the trend and momentum.
40-60 - Neutral Range or Sideways
20 - 60 Bearish range
40 - 70 - Bullish range
Below 20 -- Over Sold Zone
Above 80 - over Bought zone
Also, the crossovers of the WMA and EMA on the RSI gives a very good momentum towards that trend.
ADX with SignalsThis indicator basicly usind ADX ( Average Directional Index )
ADX can show us how trend is strong
ADX below 20: the market is currently not trending
ADX crosses above 20: signifies that a new trend is emerging. Traders may start placing sell or buy orders in the direction of the price movement.
ADX between 20 and 40: When the ADX is growing between 20 and 40 it is considered as a confirmation of an emerging trend. Traders should use this opportunity to buy or short sell in the trend's direction.
ADX above 40: the trend is very strong.
ADX crosses 50: the trend is extremely strong.
ADX crosses 70: a very rare occasion, which is called a “Power Trend.”
If we use ADX with DI+ and DI+ indactor can tell us to buy.
How can we calculate this all?
Directional Movement (DI) is defined as the largest part of the current period’s price range that lies outside the previous period’s price range. For each period calculate:
+DI = positive or plus DI = High - Previous High
-DI = negative or minus DI = Previous Low - Low
The smaller of the two values is reset to zero, i.e., if +DI > -DI , then -DI = 0. On an inside bar (a lower high and higher low), both +DI and -DI are negative values, so both get reset to zero as there was no directional movement for that period.
The True Range ( TR ) is calculated for each period, where:
TR = Max of ( High - Low ), ( High -PreviousClose ), ( PreviousClose - Low )
The +DI , -DI and TR are each accumulated and smoothed using a custom smoothing method proposed by Wilder. For an n period smoothing, 1/n of each period’s value is added to the total each period, similar to an exponential smoothing:
+DIt = (+DIt-1 - (+DIt-1 / n)) + (+DIt)
-DIt = (-DIt-1 - (-DIt-1 / n)) + (-DIt)
TRt = (TRt-1 - (TRt-1 / n)) + ( TRt )
Compute the positive/negative Directional Indexes, +DI and -DI , as a percentage of the True Range:
+DI = ( +DI / TR ) * 100
-DI = ( -DI / TR ) * 100
Compute the Directional Difference as the absolute value of the differences: DIdiff = | (( +DI ) - ( -DI )) |
Sum the directional indicator values: DIsum = (( +DI ) + ( -DI )) .
Calculate the Directional Movement index: DX = ( DIdiff / DIsum ) * 100 . The DX is always between 0 and 100.
Finally, apply Wilder’s smoothing technique to produce the final ADX value:
ADXt = ( ( ADXt-1 * ( n - 1) ) + DXt ) / n
When indicator tell us to buy?
If when DI+ crosses DI- and ADX is bigger than DI- indicator tell us to buy.
RSI Step Oscillator [racer8]Purpose of RSO is to identify when RSI has reached key levels. These levels are 80, 70, 60, 40, 30, and 20.
When indicator displays a bar with color...
Purple : RSI > 80
Blue : RSI > 70
Green : RSI > 60
Gray : RSI is inbetween 40 and 60.
Yellow : RSI < 40
Orange : RSI < 30
Red : RSI < 20
Hit the like button and enjoy 😁
ADX+DMI_by_BIMashed together Chris Moody's ADX thing with his DMI thing.
So you can see trend strength + direction
green-ish = uptrend-ish//red-ish = downtrend-ish
Colors can be adjusted though.
below 10 = gray, not much going on
10 - 20 = light green/light red, could be the beginning o something
20 - 40 = bright green / bright red, something is going on
above 40 = dark green, dark red, exhaustion (default is 40, can be adjusted to whatever)
RSI with Visual Buy/Sell Setup | Corrective/Impulsive IndicatorRSI with Visual Buy/Sell Setup | 40-60 Support/Resistance | Corrective/Impulsive Indicator v2.15
|| RSI - The Complete Guide PDF ||
Modified Zones with Colors for easy recognition of Price Action.
Resistance @ downtrend = 60
Support @ uptrend = 40
Over 70 = Strong Bullish Impulse
Under 30 = Strong Bearish Impulse
Uptrend : 40-80
Downtrend: 60-20
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Higher Highs in price, Lower Highs in RSI = Bearish Divergence
Lower Lows in price, Higher Lows in RSI = Bullish Divergence
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Trendlines from Higher/Lower Peaks, breakout + retest for buy/sell setups.
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There are multiple ways for using RSI, not only divergences, but it confirms the trend, possible bounce for continuation and signals for possible trend reversal.
There's more advanced use of RSI inside the book RSI: The Complete Guide
Go with the force, and follow the trend.
"The Force is more your friend than the trend"
Chop and explodeThe purpose of this script is to decipher chop zones from runs/movement/explosion
The chop is RSI movement between 40 and 60
tight chop is RSI movement between 45 and 55. There should be an explosion after RSI breaks through 60 (long) or 40 (short). Tight chop bars are colored black, a series of black bars is tight consolidation and should explode imminently. The longer the chop the longer the explosion will go for. tighter the better.
Loose chop (whip saw/yellow bars) will range between 40 and 60.
the move begins with blue bars for long and purple bars for short.
Couple it with your trading system to help stay out of chop and enter when there is movement. Use with "Simple Trender."
Best of luck in all you do. Get money.
Edge of MomentumThe script was designed for the purpose of catching the rocket portion of a move (the edge of momentum).
Long
--When RSI closes over 60, take long order 1 tick above that bar. The closed bar above RSI 60 will be colored "green" or whatever color the user chooses. (RSI > 60)
--On a long position, exit will be a closed bar below the ema (low, 10) . The closed bar below the ema will be colored "yellow." (Price < ema)
--Note: On a long position there is no need to exit when a closed bar is colored "purple." RSI is just below 60 but above 40. Pullback or chop
Short
--When RSI closes below 40, take a short order 1 tick below that bar. The closed bar below RSI 40 will be colored "red." RSI<40)
--On a short position, exit will be a closed bar above the ema (low, 10). The closed bar above the ema will be colored "purple." (Price > ema)
--Note: On a short position there is no need to exit when a closed bar is colored "yellow."
Note: You may see a series of purple and yellow bars, that is simply chop. I define chop as RSI moving between 60 and 40.
Trade should only be taken above green colored candle(long) and below red colored candle (short). No position should be taken off yellow or purple candle (chop)
Again this is designed to catch the momentum part of a move, and to help reduce some entries during chop. It is a simple systems that beginning traders can use and profit from.
Note: I don't no shit about coding scripts I just learn from reading others.
Enjoy. If you decide to use please drop me a line...suggestions/comments, etc.
Best of luck in all you do.
Money Flow Index + AlertsThis study is based on the work of TV user Beasley Savage ( ) and all credit goes to them.
Changes I've made:
1. Added a visual symbol of an overbought/oversold threshold cross in the form of a red/green circle, respectively. Sometimes it can be hard to see when a cross actually occurs, and if your scaling isn't set up properly you can get misleading visuals. This way removes all doubt. Bear in mind they aren't meant as trading signals, so DO NOT use them as such. Research the MFI if you're unsure, but I use them as an early warning and that particular market/stock is added to my watchlist.
2. Added 60/40 lines as the MFI respects these incredibly well in trends. E.g. in a solid uptrend the MFI won't go below 40, and vice versa. Use the idea of support and resistance levels on the indicator and it'll be a great help. I've coloured the zones. Strong uptrends should stay above 60, strong downtrends should stay below 40. The zone in between 40-60 I've called the transition zone. MFI often stays here in consolidation periods, and in the last leg of a cycle/trend the MFI will often drop into this zone after being above 60 or below 40. This is a great sign that you should get out and start looking to reverse your position. Hopefully it helps to spot divergences as well.
3. Added alerts based on an overbought/oversold cross. Also added an alert for when either condition is triggered, so hopefully that's useful for those struggling with low alert limits. Feel free to change the overbought/oversold levels, the alerts + crossover visual are set to adapt.
Like any indicator, don't use this one alone. It works best paired with indicators/techniques that contradict it. You'll often see a OB/OS cross, and price will continue on it's way for many weeks more. But MFI is a great tool for identifying upcoming trend changes.
Any queries please comment or PM me.
Cheers,
RJR
Average Directional Index with DI SpreadThis indicator converts conventional triple lined ADX, DI+ and DI- into two lines. First line is the
original ADX line and second line is obtained by subtracting DI- from DI+ which named DI Spread(DIS)
If ADX is greater than 20 there is a trend and if greater than 40 there is a strong trend but ADX does not tell
the trend direction
To determine trend direction, DIS can be used with ADX; Sımply; If DIS is greater than 0, it is an uptrend and If DIS
is less than 0, it is a downtrend.
To sum up;
If ADX is greater than 20 and especially greater than 40 with positive DIS value, this implies an uptrend.
If ADX is greater than 20 and especially greater than 40 with negative DIS value, this implies a downtrend.
*Because of coloration and reference levels used, this indicator is really simple and efficient to analyze trend direction.
90009If( MDI(14)>40 AND ADX(14)>40 AND PDI(14)<15 AND RSI(14)<30,1,0)
;If( MDI(14)<15 AND ADX(14)<15 AND PDI(14)>40 AND RSI(14)>70,-1,0)
CM_ADX+DMI ModMashed together Chris Moody's ADX thing with his DMI thing.
So you can see trend strength + direction
green-ish = uptrend-ish//red-ish = downtrend-ish
Colors can be adjusted though.
below 10 = gray, not much going on
10 - 20 = light green/light red, could be the beginning o something
20 - 40 = bright green / bright red, something is going on
above 40 = dark green, dark red, exhaustion (default is 40, can be adjusted to whatever)
Indicators: Volume Zone Indicator & Price Zone IndicatorVolume Zone Indicator (VZO) and Price Zone Indicator (PZO) are by Waleed Aly Khalil.
Volume Zone Indicator (VZO)
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VZO is a leading volume oscillator that evaluates volume in relation to the direction of the net price change on each bar.
A value of 40 or above shows bullish accumulation. Low values (< 40) are bearish. Near zero or between +/- 20, the market is either in consolidation or near a break out. When VZO is near +/- 60, an end to the bull/bear run should be expected soon. If that run has been opposite to the long term price trend direction, then a reversal often will occur.
Traditional way of looking at this also works:
* +/- 40 levels are overbought / oversold
* +/- 60 levels are extreme overbought / oversold
More info:
drive.google.com
Price Zone Indicator (PZO)
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PZO is interpreted the same way as VZO (same formula with "close" substituted for "volume").
Chart Markings
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In the chart above,
* The red circles indicate a run-end (or reversal) zones (VZO +/- 60).
* Blue rectangle shows the consolidation zone (VZO betwen +/- 20)
I have been trying out VZO only for a week now, but I think this has lot of potential. Give it a try, let me know what you think.
EMA Trend ScreenerThe EMA Trend Screener is a multi-symbol dashboard that quickly shows the trend direction of up to 40 cryptocurrencies (or any selected assets) based on their relationship to a chosen Exponential Moving Average (EMA).
For each symbol, the script checks whether the current price is above or below the specified EMA (default 75).
• Green = Uptrend (price above EMA)
• Red = Downtrend (price below EMA)
All results are displayed in a compact on-chart table, updating in real time for your selected timeframe.
Main benefits:
• Instantly monitor trend direction across multiple coins or markets
• Fully customizable symbol list (up to 40 assets)
• Adjustable EMA length for different trading styles
• Works on any timeframe
• Lightweight and efficient visual summary
In short:
EMA Trend Screener gives traders a fast, clean overview of which markets are trending up or down — ideal for trend following, momentum filtering, or trade selection.
Сreated with vibecoding using ChatGPT and Claude.
COT IndexTHE HIDDEN INTELLIGENCE IN FUTURES MARKETS
What if you could see what the smartest players in the futures markets are doing before the crowd catches on? While retail traders chase momentum indicators and moving averages, obsess over Japanese candlestick patterns, and debate whether the RSI should be set to fourteen or twenty-one periods, institutional players leave footprints in the sand through their mandatory reporting to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These footprints, published weekly in the Commitment of Traders reports, have been hiding in plain sight for decades, available to anyone with an internet connection, yet remarkably few traders understand how to interpret them correctly. The COT Index indicator transforms this raw institutional positioning data into actionable trading signals, bringing Wall Street intelligence to your trading screen without requiring expensive Bloomberg terminals or insider connections.
The uncomfortable truth is this: Most retail traders operate in a binary world. Long or short. Buy or sell. They apply technical analysis to individual positions, constrained by limited capital that forces them to concentrate risk in single directional bets. Meanwhile, institutional traders operate in an entirely different dimension. They manage portfolios dynamically weighted across multiple markets, adjusting exposure based on evolving market conditions, correlation shifts, and risk assessments that retail traders never see. A hedge fund might be simultaneously long gold, short oil, neutral on copper, and overweight agricultural commodities, with position sizes calibrated to volatility and portfolio Greeks. When they increase gold exposure from five percent to eight percent of portfolio allocation, this rebalancing decision reflects sophisticated analysis of opportunity cost, risk parity, and cross-market dynamics that no individual chart pattern can capture.
This portfolio reweighting activity, multiplied across hundreds of institutional participants, manifests in the aggregate positioning data published weekly by the CFTC. The Commitment of Traders report does not show individual trades or strategies. It shows the collective footprint of how actual commercial hedgers and large speculators have allocated their capital across different markets. When mining companies collectively increase forward gold sales to hedge thirty percent more production than last quarter, they are not reacting to a moving average crossover. They are making strategic allocation decisions based on production forecasts, cost structures, and price expectations derived from operational realities invisible to outside observers. This is portfolio management in action, revealed through positioning data rather than price charts.
If you want to understand how institutional capital actually flows, how sophisticated traders genuinely position themselves across market cycles, the COT report provides a rare window into that hidden world. But understand what you are getting into. This is not a tool for scalpers seeking confirmation of the next five-minute move. This is not an oscillator that flashes oversold at market bottoms with convenient precision. COT analysis operates on a timescale measured in weeks and months, revealing positioning shifts that precede major market turns but offer no precision timing. The data arrives three days stale, published only once per week, capturing strategic positioning rather than tactical entries.
If you need instant gratification, if you trade intraday moves, if you demand mechanical signals with ninety percent accuracy, close this document now. COT analysis rewards patience, position sizing discipline, and tolerance for being early. It punishes impatience, overleveraging, and the expectation that any single indicator can substitute for market understanding.
The premise is deceptively simple. Every Tuesday, large traders in futures markets must report their positions to the CFTC. By Friday afternoon, this data becomes public. Academic research spanning three decades has consistently shown that not all market participants are created equal. Some traders consistently profit while others consistently lose. Some anticipate major turning points while others chase trends into exhaustion. Bessembinder and Chan (1992) demonstrated in their seminal study that commercial hedgers, those with actual exposure to the underlying commodity or financial instrument, possess superior forecasting ability compared to speculators. Their research, published in the Journal of Finance, found statistically significant predictive power in commercial positioning, particularly at extreme levels. This finding challenged the efficient market hypothesis and opened the door to a new approach to market analysis based on positioning rather than price alone.
Think about what this means. Every week, the government publishes a report showing you exactly how the most informed market participants are positioned. Not their opinions. Not their predictions. Their actual money at risk. When agricultural producers collectively hold their largest short hedge in five years, they are not making idle speculation. They are locking in prices for crops they will harvest, informed by private knowledge of weather conditions, soil quality, inventory levels, and demand expectations invisible to outside observers. When energy companies aggressively hedge forward production at current prices, they reveal information about expected supply that no analyst report can capture. This is not technical analysis based on past prices. This is not fundamental analysis based on publicly available data. This is behavioral analysis based on how the smartest money is actually positioned, how institutions allocate capital across portfolios, and how those allocation decisions shift as market conditions evolve.
WHY SOME TRADERS KNOW MORE THAN OTHERS
Building on this foundation, Sanders, Boris and Manfredo (2004) conducted extensive research examining the behaviour patterns of different trader categories. Their work, which analyzed over a decade of COT data across multiple commodity markets, revealed a fascinating dynamic that challenges much of what retail traders are taught. Commercial hedgers consistently positioned themselves against market extremes, buying when speculators were most bearish and selling when speculators reached peak bullishness. The contrarian positioning of commercials was not random noise but rather reflected their superior information about supply and demand fundamentals. Meanwhile, large speculators, primarily hedge funds and commodity trading advisors, exhibited strong trend-following behaviour that often amplified market moves beyond fundamental values. Small traders, the retail participants, consistently entered positions late in trends, frequently near turning points, making them reliable contrary indicators.
Wang (2003) extended this research by demonstrating that the predictive power of commercial positioning varies significantly across different commodity sectors. His analysis of agricultural commodities showed particularly strong forecasting ability, with commercial net positions explaining up to fifteen percent of return variance in subsequent weeks. This finding suggests that the informational advantages of hedgers are most pronounced in markets where physical supply and demand fundamentals dominate, as opposed to purely financial markets where information asymmetries are smaller. When a corn farmer hedges six months of expected harvest, that decision incorporates private observations about rainfall patterns, crop health, pest pressure, and local storage capacity that no distant analyst can match. When an oil refinery hedges crude oil purchases and gasoline sales simultaneously, the spread relationships reveal expectations about refining margins that reflect operational realities invisible in public data.
The theoretical mechanism underlying these empirical patterns relates to information asymmetry and different participant motivations. Commercial hedgers engage in futures markets not for speculative profit but to manage business risks. An agricultural producer selling forward six months of expected harvest is not making a bet on price direction but rather locking in revenue to facilitate financial planning and ensure business viability. However, this hedging activity necessarily incorporates private information about expected supply, inventory levels, weather conditions, and demand trends that the hedger observes through their commercial operations (Irwin and Sanders, 2012). When aggregated across many participants, this private information manifests in collective positioning.
Consider a gold mining company deciding how much forward production to hedge. Management must estimate ore grades, recovery rates, production costs, equipment reliability, labor availability, and dozens of other operational variables that determine whether locking in prices at current levels makes business sense. If the industry collectively hedges more aggressively than usual, it suggests either exceptional production expectations or concern about sustaining current price levels or combination of both. Either way, this positioning reveals information unavailable to speculators analyzing price charts and economic data. The hedger sees the physical reality behind the financial abstraction.
Large speculators operate under entirely different incentives and constraints. Commodity Trading Advisors managing billions in assets typically employ systematic, trend-following strategies that respond to price momentum rather than fundamental supply and demand. When crude oil rallies from sixty dollars to seventy dollars per barrel, these systems generate buy signals. As the rally continues to eighty dollars, position sizes increase. The strategy works brilliantly during sustained trends but becomes a liability at reversals. By the time oil reaches ninety dollars, trend-following funds are maximally long, having accumulated positions progressively throughout the rally. At this point, they represent not smart money anticipating further gains but rather crowded money vulnerable to reversal. Sanders, Boris and Manfredo (2004) documented this pattern across multiple energy markets, showing that extreme speculator positioning typically marked late-stage trend exhaustion rather than early-stage trend development.
Small traders, the retail participants who fall below reporting thresholds, display the weakest forecasting ability. Wang (2003) found that small trader positioning exhibited negative correlation with subsequent returns, meaning their aggregate positioning served as a reliable contrary indicator. The explanation combines several factors. Retail traders often lack the capital reserves to weather normal market volatility, leading to premature exits from positions that would eventually prove profitable. They tend to receive information through slower channels, entering trends after mainstream media coverage when institutional participants are preparing to exit. Perhaps most importantly, they trade with emotion, buying into euphoria and selling into panic at precisely the wrong times.
At major turning points, the three groups often position opposite each other with commercials extremely bearish, large speculators extremely bullish, and small traders piling into longs at the last moment. These high-divergence environments frequently precede increased volatility and trend reversals. The insiders with business exposure quietly exit as the momentum traders hit maximum capacity and retail enthusiasm peaks. Within weeks, the reversal begins, and positions unwind in the opposite sequence.
FROM RAW DATA TO ACTIONABLE SIGNALS
The COT Index indicator operationalizes these academic findings into a practical trading tool accessible through TradingView. At its core, the indicator normalizes net positioning data onto a zero to one hundred scale, creating what we call the COT Index. This normalization is critical because absolute position sizes vary dramatically across different futures contracts and over time. A commercial trader holding fifty thousand contracts net long in crude oil might be extremely bullish by historical standards, or it might be quite neutral depending on the context of total market size and historical ranges. Raw position numbers mean nothing without context. The COT Index solves this problem by calculating where current positioning stands relative to its range over a specified lookback period, typically two hundred fifty-two weeks or approximately five years of weekly data.
The mathematical transformation follows the methodology originally popularized by legendary trader Larry Williams, though the underlying concept appears in statistical normalization techniques across many fields. For any given trader category, we calculate the highest and lowest net position values over the lookback period, establishing the historical range for that specific market and trader group. Current positioning is then expressed as a percentage of this range, where zero represents the most bearish positioning ever seen in the lookback window and one hundred represents the most bullish extreme. A reading of fifty indicates positioning exactly in the middle of the historical range, suggesting neither extreme optimism nor pessimism relative to recent history (Williams and Noseworthy, 2009).
This index-based approach allows for meaningful comparison across different markets and time periods, overcoming the scaling problems inherent in analyzing raw position data. A commercial index reading of eighty-five in gold carries the same interpretive meaning as an eighty-five reading in wheat or crude oil, even though the absolute position sizes differ by orders of magnitude. This standardization enables systematic analysis across entire futures portfolios rather than requiring market-specific expertise for each contract.
The lookback period selection involves a fundamental tradeoff between responsiveness and stability. Shorter lookback periods, perhaps one hundred twenty-six weeks or approximately two and a half years, make the index more sensitive to recent positioning changes. However, it also increases noise and produces more false signals. Longer lookback periods, perhaps five hundred weeks or approximately ten years, create smoother readings that filter short-term noise but become slower to recognize regime changes. The indicator settings allow users to adjust this parameter based on their trading timeframe, risk tolerance, and market characteristics.
UNDERSTANDING CFTC DATA STRUCTURES
The indicator supports both Legacy and Disaggregated COT report formats, reflecting the evolution of CFTC reporting standards over decades of market development. Legacy reports categorize market participants into three broad groups: commercial traders (hedgers with underlying business exposure), non-commercial traders (large speculators seeking profit without commercial interest), and non-reportable traders (small speculators below reporting thresholds). Each category brings distinct motivations and information advantages to the market (CFTC, 2020).
The Disaggregated reports, introduced in September 2009 for physical commodity markets, provide finer granularity by splitting participants into five categories (CFTC, 2009). Producer and merchant positions capture those actually producing, processing, or merchandising the physical commodity. Swap dealers represent financial intermediaries facilitating derivative transactions for clients. Managed money includes commodity trading advisors and hedge funds executing systematic or discretionary strategies. Other reportables encompasses diverse participants not fitting the main categories. Small traders remain as the fifth group, representing retail participation.
This enhanced categorization reveals nuances invisible in Legacy reports, particularly distinguishing between different types of institutional capital and their distinct behavioural patterns. The indicator automatically detects which report type is appropriate for each futures contract and adjusts the display accordingly.
Importantly, Disaggregated reports exist only for physical commodity futures. Agricultural commodities like corn, wheat, and soybeans have Disaggregated reports because clear producer, merchant, and swap dealer categories exist. Energy commodities like crude oil and natural gas similarly have well-defined commercial hedger categories. Metals including gold, silver, and copper also receive Disaggregated treatment (CFTC, 2009). However, financial futures such as equity index futures, Treasury bond futures, and currency futures remain available only in Legacy format. The CFTC has indicated no plans to extend Disaggregated reporting to financial futures due to different market structures and participant categories in these instruments (CFTC, 2020).
THE BEHAVIORAL FOUNDATION
Understanding which trader perspective to follow requires appreciation of their distinct trading styles, success rates, and psychological profiles. Commercial hedgers exhibit anticyclical behaviour rooted in their fundamental knowledge and business imperatives. When agricultural producers hedge forward sales during harvest season, they are not speculating on price direction but rather locking in revenue for crops they will harvest. Their business requires converting volatile commodity exposure into predictable cash flows to facilitate planning and ensure survival through difficult periods. Yet their aggregate positioning reveals valuable information because these hedging decisions incorporate private information about supply conditions, inventory levels, weather observations, and demand expectations that hedgers observe through their commercial operations (Bessembinder and Chan, 1992).
Consider a practical example from energy markets. Major oil companies continuously hedge portions of forward production based on price levels, operational costs, and financial planning needs. When crude oil trades at ninety dollars per barrel, they might aggressively hedge the next twelve months of production, locking in prices that provide comfortable profit margins above their extraction costs. This hedging appears as short positioning in COT reports. If oil rallies further to one hundred dollars, they hedge even more aggressively, viewing these prices as exceptional opportunities to secure revenue. Their short positioning grows increasingly extreme. To an outside observer watching only price charts, the rally suggests bullishness. But the commercial positioning reveals that the actual producers of oil find these prices attractive enough to lock in years of sales, suggesting skepticism about sustaining even higher levels. When the eventual reversal occurs and oil declines back to eighty dollars, the commercials who hedged at ninety and one hundred dollars profit while speculators who chased the rally suffer losses.
Large speculators or managed money traders operate under entirely different incentives and constraints. Their systematic, momentum-driven strategies mean they amplify existing trends rather than anticipate reversals. Trend-following systems, the most common approach among large speculators, by definition require confirmation of trend through price momentum before entering positions (Sanders, Boris and Manfredo, 2004). When crude oil rallies from sixty dollars to eighty dollars per barrel over several months, trend-following algorithms generate buy signals based on moving average crossovers, breakouts, and other momentum indicators. As the rally continues, position sizes increase according to the systematic rules.
However, this approach becomes a liability at turning points. By the time oil reaches ninety dollars after a sustained rally, trend-following funds are maximally long, having accumulated positions progressively throughout the move. At this point, their positioning does not predict continued strength. Rather, it often marks late-stage trend exhaustion. The psychological and mechanical explanation is straightforward. Trend followers by definition chase price momentum, entering positions after trends establish rather than anticipating them. Eventually, they become fully invested just as the trend nears completion, leaving no incremental buying power to sustain the rally. When the first signs of reversal appear, systematic stops trigger, creating a cascade of selling that accelerates the downturn.
Small traders consistently display the weakest track record across academic studies. Wang (2003) found that small trader positioning exhibited negative correlation with subsequent returns in his analysis across multiple commodity markets. This result means that whatever small traders collectively do, the opposite typically proves profitable. The explanation for small trader underperformance combines several factors documented in behavioral finance literature. Retail traders often lack the capital reserves to weather normal market volatility, leading to premature exits from positions that would eventually prove profitable. They tend to receive information through slower channels, learning about commodity trends through mainstream media coverage that arrives after institutional participants have already positioned. Perhaps most importantly, retail traders are more susceptible to emotional decision-making, buying into euphoria and selling into panic at precisely the wrong times (Tharp, 2008).
SETTINGS, THRESHOLDS, AND SIGNAL GENERATION
The practical implementation of the COT Index requires understanding several key features and settings that users can adjust to match their trading style, timeframe, and risk tolerance. The lookback period determines the time window for calculating historical ranges. The default setting of two hundred fifty-two bars represents approximately one year on daily charts or five years on weekly charts, balancing responsiveness with stability. Conservative traders seeking only the most extreme, highest-probability signals might extend the lookback to five hundred bars or more. Aggressive traders seeking earlier entry and willing to accept more false positives might reduce it to one hundred twenty-six bars or even less for shorter-term applications.
The bullish and bearish thresholds define signal generation levels. Default settings of eighty and twenty respectively reflect academic research suggesting meaningful information content at these extremes. Readings above eighty indicate positioning in the top quintile of the historical range, representing genuine extremes rather than temporary fluctuations. Conversely, readings below twenty occupy the bottom quintile, indicating unusually bearish positioning (Briese, 2008).
However, traders must recognize that appropriate thresholds vary by market, trader category, and personal risk tolerance. Some futures markets exhibit wider positioning swings than others due to seasonal patterns, volatility characteristics, or participant behavior. Conservative traders seeking high-probability setups with fewer signals might raise thresholds to eighty-five and fifteen. Aggressive traders willing to accept more false positives for earlier entry could lower them to seventy-five and twenty-five.
The key is maintaining meaningful differentiation between bullish, neutral, and bearish zones. The default settings of eighty and twenty create a clear three-zone structure. Readings from zero to twenty represent bearish territory where the selected trader group holds unusually bearish positions. Readings from twenty to eighty represent neutral territory where positioning falls within normal historical ranges. Readings from eighty to one hundred represent bullish territory where the selected trader group holds unusually bullish positions.
The trading perspective selection determines which participant group the indicator follows, fundamentally shaping interpretation and signal meaning. For counter-trend traders seeking reversal opportunities, monitoring commercial positioning makes intuitive sense based on the academic research discussed earlier. When commercials reach extreme bearish readings below twenty, indicating unprecedented short positioning relative to recent history, they are effectively betting against the crowd. Given their informational advantages demonstrated by Bessembinder and Chan (1992), this contrarian stance often precedes major bottoms.
Trend followers might instead monitor large speculator positioning, but with inverted logic compared to commercials. When managed money reaches extreme bullish readings above eighty, the trend may be exhausting rather than accelerating. This seeming paradox reflects their late-cycle participation documented by Sanders, Boris and Manfredo (2004). Sophisticated traders thus use speculator extremes as fade signals, entering positions opposite to speculator consensus.
Small trader monitoring serves primarily as a contrary indicator for all trading styles. Extreme small trader bullishness above seventy-five or eighty typically warns of retail FOMO at market tops. Extreme small trader bearishness below twenty or twenty-five often marks capitulation bottoms where the last weak hands have sold.
VISUALIZATION AND USER INTERFACE
The visual design incorporates multiple elements working together to facilitate decision-making and maintain situational awareness during active trading. The primary COT Index line plots in bold with adjustable line width, defaulting to two pixels for clear visibility against busy price charts. An optional glow effect, controlled by a simple toggle, adds additional visual prominence through multiple plot layers with progressively increasing transparency and width.
A twenty-one period exponential moving average overlays the index line, providing trend context for positioning changes. When the index crosses above its moving average, it signals accelerating bullish sentiment among the selected trader group regardless of whether absolute positioning is extreme. Conversely, when the index crosses below its moving average, it signals deteriorating sentiment and potentially the beginning of a reversal in positioning trends.
The EMA provides a dynamic reference line for assessing positioning momentum. When the index trades far above its EMA, positioning is not only extreme in absolute terms but also building with momentum. When the index trades far below its EMA, positioning is contracting or reversing, which may indicate weakening conviction even if absolute levels remain elevated.
The data table positioned at the top right of the chart displays eleven metrics for each trader category, transforming the indicator from a simple index calculation into an analytical dashboard providing multidimensional market intelligence. Beyond the COT Index itself, users can monitor positioning extremity, which measures how unusual current levels are compared to historical norms using statistical techniques. The extremity metric clarifies whether a reading represents the ninety-fifth or ninety-ninth percentile, with values above two standard deviations indicating genuinely exceptional positioning.
Market power quantifies each group's influence on total open interest. This metric expresses each trader category's net position as a percentage of total market open interest. A commercial entity holding forty percent of total open interest commands significantly more influence than one holding five percent, making their positioning signals more meaningful.
Momentum and rate of change metrics reveal whether positions are building or contracting, providing early warning of potential regime shifts. Position velocity measures the rate of change in positioning changes, effectively a second derivative providing even earlier insight into inflection points.
Sentiment divergence highlights disagreements between commercial and speculative positioning. This metric calculates the absolute difference between normalized commercial and large speculator index values. Wang (2003) found that these high-divergence environments frequently preceded increased volatility and reversals.
The table also displays concentration metrics when available, showing how positioning is distributed among the largest handful of traders in each category. High concentration indicates a few dominant players controlling most of the positioning, while low concentration suggests broad-based participation across many traders.
THE ALERT SYSTEM AND MONITORING
The alert system, comprising five distinct alert conditions, enables systematic monitoring of dozens of futures markets without constant screen watching. The bullish and bearish COT signal alerts trigger when the index crosses user-defined thresholds, indicating the selected trader group has reached extreme positioning worthy of attention. These alerts fire in real-time as new weekly COT data publishes, typically Friday afternoon following the Tuesday measurement date.
Extreme positioning alerts fire at ninety and ten index levels, representing the top and bottom ten percent of the historical range, warning of particularly stretched readings that historically precede reversals with high probability. When commercials reach a COT Index reading below ten, they are expressing their most bearish stance in the entire lookback period.
The data staleness alert notifies users when COT reports have not updated for more than ten days, preventing reliance on outdated information for trading decisions. Government shutdowns or federal holidays can interrupt the normal Friday publication schedule. Using stale signals while believing them current creates dangerous false confidence.
The indicator's watermark information display positioned in the bottom right corner provides essential context at a glance. This persistent display shows the symbol and timeframe, the COT report date timestamp, days since last update, and the current signal state. A trader analyzing a potential short entry in crude oil can glance at the watermark to instantly confirm positioning context without interrupting analysis flow.
LIMITATIONS AND REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Practical application requires understanding both the indicator's considerable strengths and inherent limitations. COT data inherently lags price action by three days, as Tuesday positions are not published until Friday afternoon. This delay means the indicator cannot catch rapid intraday reversals or respond to surprise news events. Traders using the COT Index for timing entries must accept this latency and focus on swing trading and position trading timeframes where three-day lags matter less than in day trading or scalping.
The weekly publication schedule similarly makes the indicator unsuitable for short-term trading strategies requiring immediate feedback. The COT Index works best for traders operating on weekly or longer timeframes, where positioning shifts measured in weeks and months align with trading horizon.
Extreme COT readings can persist far longer than typical technical indicators suggest, testing the patience and capital reserves of traders attempting to fade them. When crude oil enters a sustained bull market driven by genuine supply disruptions, commercial hedgers may maintain bearish positioning for many months as prices grind higher. A commercial COT Index reading of fifteen indicating extreme bearishness might persist for three months while prices continue rallying before finally reversing. Traders without sufficient capital and risk tolerance to weather such drawdowns will exit prematurely, precisely when the signal is about to work (Irwin and Sanders, 2012).
Position sizing discipline becomes paramount when implementing COT-based strategies. Rather than risking large percentages of capital on individual signals, successful COT traders typically allocate modest position sizes across multiple signals, allowing some to take time to mature while others work more quickly.
The indicator also cannot overcome fundamental regime changes that alter the structural drivers of markets. If gold enters a true secular bull market driven by monetary debasement, commercial hedgers may remain persistently bearish as mining companies sell forward years of production at what they perceive as favorable prices. Their positioning indicates valuation concerns from a production cost perspective, but cannot stop prices from rising if investment demand overwhelms physical supply-demand balance.
Similarly, structural changes in market participation can alter the meaning of positioning extremes. The growth of commodity index investing in the two thousands brought massive passive long-only capital into futures markets, fundamentally changing typical positioning ranges. Traders relying on COT signals without recognizing this regime change would have generated numerous false bearish signals during the commodity supercycle from 2003 to 2008.
The research foundation supporting COT analysis derives primarily from commodity markets where the commercial hedger information advantage is most pronounced. Studies specifically examining financial futures like equity indices and bonds show weaker but still present effects. Traders should calibrate expectations accordingly, recognizing that COT analysis likely works better for crude oil, natural gas, corn, and wheat than for the S&P 500, Treasury bonds, or currency futures.
Another important limitation involves the reporting threshold structure. Not all market participants appear in COT data, only those holding positions above specified minimums. In markets dominated by a few large players, concentration metrics become critical for proper interpretation. A single large trader accounting for thirty percent of commercial positioning might skew the entire category if their individual circumstances are idiosyncratic rather than representative.
GOLD FUTURES DURING A HYPOTHETICAL MARKET CYCLE
Consider a practical example using gold futures during a hypothetical but realistic market scenario that illustrates how the COT Index indicator guides trading decisions through a complete market cycle. Suppose gold has rallied from fifteen hundred to nineteen hundred dollars per ounce over six months, driven by inflation concerns following aggressive monetary expansion, geopolitical uncertainty, and sustained buying by Asian central banks for reserve diversification.
Large speculators, operating primarily trend-following strategies, have accumulated increasingly bullish positions throughout this rally. Their COT Index has climbed progressively from forty-five to eighty-five. The table display shows that large speculators now hold net long positions representing thirty-two percent of total open interest, their highest in four years. Momentum indicators show positive readings, indicating positions are still building though at a decelerating rate. Position velocity has turned negative, suggesting the pace of position building is slowing.
Meanwhile, commercial hedgers have responded to the rally by aggressively selling forward production and inventory. Their COT Index has moved inversely to price, declining from fifty-five to twenty. This bearish commercial positioning represents mining companies locking in forward sales at prices they view as attractive relative to production costs. The table shows commercials now hold net short positions representing twenty-nine percent of total open interest, their most bearish stance in five years. Concentration metrics indicate this positioning is broadly distributed across many commercial entities, suggesting the bearish stance reflects collective industry view rather than idiosyncratic positioning by a single firm.
Small traders, attracted by mainstream financial media coverage of gold's impressive rally, have recently piled into long positions. Their COT Index has jumped from forty-five to seventy-eight as retail investors chase the trend. Television financial networks feature frequent segments on gold with bullish guests. Internet forums and social media show surging retail interest. This retail enthusiasm historically marks late-stage trend development rather than early opportunity.
The COT Index indicator, configured to monitor commercial positioning from a contrarian perspective, displays a clear bearish signal given the extreme commercial short positioning. The table displays multiple confirming metrics: positioning extremity shows commercials at the ninety-sixth percentile of bearishness, market power indicates they control twenty-nine percent of open interest, and sentiment divergence registers sixty-five, indicating massive disagreement between commercial hedgers and large speculators. This divergence, the highest in three years, places the market in the historically high-risk category for reversals.
The interpretation requires nuance and consideration of context beyond just COT data. Commercials are not necessarily predicting an imminent crash. Rather, they are hedging business operations at what they collectively view as favorable price levels. However, the data reveals they have sold unusually large quantities of forward production, suggesting either exceptional production expectations for the year ahead or concern about sustaining current price levels or combination of both. Combined with extreme speculator positioning indicating a crowded long trade, and small trader enthusiasm confirming retail FOMO, the confluence suggests elevated reversal risk even if the precise timing remains uncertain.
A prudent trader analyzing this situation might take several actions based on COT Index signals. Existing long positions could be tightened with closer stop losses. Profit-taking on a portion of long exposure could lock in gains while maintaining some participation. Some traders might initiate modest short positions as portfolio hedges, sizing them appropriately for the inherent uncertainty in timing reversals. Others might simply move to the sidelines, avoiding new long entries until positioning normalizes.
The key lesson from case study analysis is that COT signals provide probabilistic edges rather than deterministic predictions. They work over many observations by identifying higher-probability configurations, not by generating perfect calls on individual trades. A fifty-five percent win rate with proper risk management produces substantial profits over time, yet still means forty-five percent of signals will be premature or wrong. Traders must embrace this probabilistic reality rather than seeking the impossible goal of perfect accuracy.
INTEGRATION WITH TRADING SYSTEMS
Integration with existing trading systems represents a natural and powerful use case for COT analysis, adding a positioning dimension to price-based technical approaches or fundamental analytical frameworks. Few traders rely exclusively on a single indicator or methodology. Rather, they build systems that synthesize multiple information sources, with each component addressing different aspects of market behavior.
Trend followers might use COT extremes as regime filters, modifying position sizing or avoiding new trend entries when positioning reaches levels historically associated with reversals. Consider a classic trend-following system based on moving average crossovers and momentum breakouts. Integration of COT analysis adds nuance. When large speculator positioning exceeds ninety or commercial positioning falls below ten, the regime filter recognizes elevated reversal risk. The system might reduce position sizing by fifty percent for new signals during these high-risk periods (Kaufman, 2013).
Mean reversion traders might require COT signal confluence before fading extended moves. When crude oil becomes technically overbought and large speculators show extreme long positioning above eighty-five, both signals confirm. If only technical indicators show extremes while positioning remains neutral, the potential short signal is rejected, avoiding fades of trends with underlying institutional support (Kaufman, 2013).
Discretionary traders can monitor the indicator as a continuous awareness tool, informing bias and position sizing without dictating mechanical entries and exits. A discretionary trader might notice commercial positioning shifting from neutral to progressively more bullish over several months. This trend informs growing positive bias even without triggering mechanical signals.
Multi-timeframe analysis represents another powerful integration approach. A trader might use daily charts for trade execution and timing while monitoring weekly COT positioning for strategic context. When both timeframes align, highest-probability opportunities emerge.
Portfolio construction for futures traders can incorporate COT signals as an additional selection criterion. Markets showing strong technical setups AND favorable COT positioning receive highest allocations. Markets with strong technicals but neutral or unfavorable positioning receive reduced allocations.
ADVANCED METRICS AND INTERPRETATION
The metrics table transforms simple positioning data into multidimensional market intelligence. Position extremity, calculated as the absolute deviation from the historical mean normalized by standard deviation, helps identify truly unusual readings versus routine fluctuations. A reading above two standard deviations indicates ninety-fifth percentile or higher extremity. Above three standard deviations indicates ninety-ninth percentile or higher, genuinely rare positioning that historically precedes major events with high probability.
Market power, expressed as a percentage of total open interest, reveals whose positioning matters most from a mechanical market impact perspective. Consider two scenarios in gold futures. In scenario one, commercials show a COT Index reading of fifteen while their market power metric shows they hold net shorts representing thirty-five percent of open interest. This is a high-confidence bearish signal. In scenario two, commercials also show a reading of fifteen, but market power shows only eight percent. While positioning is extreme relative to this category's normal range, their limited market share means less mechanical influence on price.
The rate of change and momentum metrics highlight whether positions are accelerating or decelerating, often providing earlier warnings than absolute levels alone. A COT Index reading of seventy-five with rapidly building momentum suggests continued movement toward extremes. Conversely, a reading of eighty-five with decelerating or negative momentum indicates the positioning trend is exhausting.
Position velocity measures the rate of change in positioning changes, effectively a second derivative. When velocity shifts from positive to negative, it indicates that while positioning may still be growing, the pace of growth is slowing. This deceleration often precedes actual reversal in positioning direction by several weeks.
Sentiment divergence calculates the absolute difference between normalized commercial and large speculator index values. When commercials show extreme bearish positioning at twenty while large speculators show extreme bullish positioning at eighty, the divergence reaches sixty, representing near-maximum disagreement. Wang (2003) found that these high-divergence environments frequently preceded increased volatility and reversals. The mechanism is intuitive. Extreme divergence indicates the informed hedgers and momentum-following speculators have positioned opposite each other with conviction. One group will prove correct and profit while the other proves incorrect and suffers losses. The resolution of this disagreement through price movement often involves volatility.
The table also displays concentration metrics when available. High concentration indicates a few dominant players controlling most of the positioning within a category, while low concentration suggests broad-based participation. Broad-based positioning more reliably reflects collective market intelligence and industry consensus. If mining companies globally all independently decide to hedge aggressively at similar price levels, it suggests genuine industry-wide view about price valuations rather than circumstances specific to one firm.
DATA QUALITY AND RELIABILITY
The CFTC has maintained COT reporting in various forms since the nineteen twenties, providing nearly a century of positioning data across multiple market cycles. However, data quality and reporting standards have evolved substantially over this long period. Modern electronic reporting implemented in the late nineteen nineties and early two thousands significantly improved accuracy and timeliness compared to earlier paper-based systems.
Traders should understand that COT reports capture positions as of Tuesday's close each week. Markets remain open three additional days before publication on Friday afternoon, meaning the reported data is three days stale when received. During periods of rapid market movement or major news events, this lag can be significant. The indicator addresses this limitation by including timestamp information and staleness warnings.
The three-day lag creates particular challenges during extreme volatility episodes. Flash crashes, surprise central bank interventions, geopolitical shocks, and other high-impact events can completely transform market positioning within hours. Traders must exercise judgment about whether reported positioning remains relevant given intervening events.
Reporting thresholds also mean that not all market participants appear in disaggregated COT data. Traders holding positions below specified minimums aggregate into the non-reportable or small trader category. This aggregation affects different markets differently. In highly liquid contracts like crude oil with thousands of participants, reportable traders might represent seventy to eighty percent of open interest. In thinly traded contracts with only dozens of active participants, a few large reportable positions might represent ninety-five percent of open interest.
Another data quality consideration involves trader classification into categories. The CFTC assigns traders to commercial or non-commercial categories based on reported business purpose and activities. However, this process is not perfect. Some entities engage in both commercial and speculative activities, creating ambiguity about proper classification. The transition to Disaggregated reports attempted to address some of these ambiguities by creating more granular categories.
COMPARISON WITH ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
Several alternative approaches to COT analysis exist in the trading community beyond the normalization methodology employed by this indicator. Some analysts focus on absolute position changes week-over-week rather than index-based normalization. This approach calculates the change in net positioning from one week to the next. The emphasis falls on momentum in positioning changes rather than absolute levels relative to history. This method potentially identifies regime shifts earlier but sacrifices cross-market comparability (Briese, 2008).
Other practitioners employ more complex statistical transformations including percentile rankings, z-score standardization, and machine learning classification algorithms. Ruan and Zhang (2018) demonstrated that machine learning models applied to COT data could achieve modest improvements in forecasting accuracy compared to simple threshold-based approaches. However, these gains came at the cost of interpretability and implementation complexity.
The COT Index indicator intentionally employs a relatively straightforward normalization methodology for several important reasons. First, transparency enhances user understanding and trust. Traders can verify calculations manually and develop intuitive feel for what different readings mean. Second, academic research suggests that most of the predictive power in COT data comes from extreme positioning levels rather than subtle patterns requiring complex statistical methods to detect. Third, robust methods that work consistently across many markets and time periods tend to be simpler rather than more complex, reducing the risk of overfitting to historical data. Fourth, the complexity costs of implementation matter for retail traders without programming teams or computational infrastructure.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF COT TRADING
Trading based on COT data requires psychological fortitude that differs from momentum-based approaches. Contrarian positioning signals inherently mean betting against prevailing market sentiment and recent price action. When commercials reach extreme bearish positioning, prices have typically been rising, sometimes for extended periods. The price chart looks bullish, momentum indicators confirm strength, moving averages align positively. The COT signal says bet against all of this. This psychological difficulty explains why COT analysis remains underutilized relative to trend-following methods.
Human psychology strongly predisposes us toward extrapolation and recency bias. When prices rally for months, our pattern-matching brains naturally expect continued rally. The recent price action dominates our perception, overwhelming rational analysis about positioning extremes and historical probabilities. The COT signal asking us to sell requires overriding these powerful psychological impulses.
The indicator design attempts to support the required psychological discipline through several features. Clear threshold markers and signal states reduce ambiguity about when signals trigger. When the commercial index crosses below twenty, the signal is explicit and unambiguous. The background shifts to red, the signal label displays bearish, and alerts fire. This explicitness helps traders act on signals rather than waiting for additional confirmation that may never arrive.
The metrics table provides analytical justification for contrarian positions, helping traders maintain conviction during inevitable periods of adverse price movement. When a trader enters short positions based on extreme commercial bearish positioning but prices continue rallying for several weeks, doubt naturally emerges. The table display provides reassurance. Commercial positioning remains extremely bearish. Divergence remains high. The positioning thesis remains intact even though price action has not yet confirmed.
Alert functionality ensures traders do not miss signals due to inattention while also not requiring constant monitoring that can lead to emotional decision-making. Setting alerts for COT extremes enables a healthier relationship with markets. When meaningful signals occur, alerts notify them. They can then calmly assess the situation and execute planned responses.
However, no indicator design can completely overcome the psychological difficulty of contrarian trading. Some traders simply cannot maintain short positions while prices rally. For these traders, COT analysis might be better employed as an exit signal for long positions rather than an entry signal for shorts.
Ultimately, successful COT trading requires developing comfort with probabilistic thinking rather than certainty-seeking. The signals work over many observations by identifying higher-probability configurations, not by generating perfect calls on individual trades. A fifty-five or sixty percent win rate with proper risk management produces substantial profits over years, yet still means forty to forty-five percent of signals will be premature or wrong. COT analysis provides genuine edge, but edge means probability advantage, not elimination of losing trades.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING
The indicator provides extensive built-in educational resources through its documentation, detailed tooltips, and transparent calculations. However, mastering COT analysis requires study beyond any single tool or resource. Several excellent resources provide valuable extensions of the concepts covered in this guide.
Books and practitioner-focused monographs offer accessible entry points. Stephen Briese published The Commitments of Traders Bible in two thousand eight, offering detailed breakdowns of how different markets and trader categories behave (Briese, 2008). Briese's work stands out for its empirical focus and market-specific insights. Jack Schwager includes discussion of COT analysis within the broader context of market behavior in his book Market Sense and Nonsense (Schwager, 2012). Perry Kaufman's Trading Systems and Methods represents perhaps the most rigorous practitioner-focused text on systematic trading approaches including COT analysis (Kaufman, 2013).
Academic journal articles provide the rigorous statistical foundation underlying COT analysis. The Journal of Futures Markets regularly publishes research on positioning data and its predictive properties. Bessembinder and Chan's earlier work on systematic risk, hedging pressure, and risk premiums in futures markets provides theoretical foundation (Bessembinder, 1992). Chang's examination of speculator returns provides historical context (Chang, 1985). Irwin and Sanders provide essential skeptical perspective in their two thousand twelve article (Irwin and Sanders, 2012). Wang's two thousand three article provides one of the most empirical analyses of COT data across multiple commodity markets (Wang, 2003).
Online resources extend beyond academic and book-length treatments. The CFTC website provides free access to current and historical COT reports in multiple formats. The explanatory materials section offers detailed documentation of report construction, category definitions, and historical methodology changes. Traders serious about COT analysis should read these official CFTC documents to understand exactly what they are analyzing.
Commercial COT data services such as Barchart provide enhanced visualization and analysis tools beyond raw CFTC data. TradingView's educational materials, published scripts library, and user community provide additional resources for exploring different approaches to COT analysis.
The key to mastering COT analysis lies not in finding a single definitive source but rather in building understanding through multiple perspectives and information sources. Academic research provides rigorous empirical foundation. Practitioner-focused books offer practical implementation insights. Direct engagement with data through systematic backtesting develops intuition about how positioning dynamics manifest across different market conditions.
SYNTHESIZING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
The COT Index indicator represents the synthesis of academic research, trading experience, and software engineering into a practical tool accessible to retail traders equipped with nothing more than a TradingView account and willingness to learn. What once required expensive data subscriptions, custom programming capabilities, statistical software, and institutional resources now appears as a straightforward indicator requiring only basic parameter selection and modest study to understand. This democratization of institutional-grade analysis tools represents a broader trend in financial markets over recent decades.
Yet technology and data access alone provide no edge without understanding and discipline. Markets remain relentlessly efficient at eliminating edges that become too widely known and mechanically exploited. The COT Index indicator succeeds only when users invest time learning the underlying concepts, understand the limitations and probability distributions involved, and integrate signals thoughtfully into trading plans rather than applying them mechanically.
The academic research demonstrates conclusively that institutional positioning contains genuine information about future price movements, particularly at extremes where commercial hedgers are maximally bearish or bullish relative to historical norms. This informational content is neither perfect nor deterministic but rather probabilistic, providing edge over many observations through identification of higher-probability configurations. Bessembinder and Chan's finding that commercial positioning explained modest but significant variance in future returns illustrates this probabilistic nature perfectly (Bessembinder and Chan, 1992). The effect is real and statistically significant, yet it explains perhaps ten to fifteen percent of return variance rather than most variance. Much of price movement remains unpredictable even with positioning intelligence.
The practical implication is that COT analysis works best as one component of a trading system rather than a standalone oracle. It provides the positioning dimension, revealing where the smart money has positioned and where the crowd has followed, but price action analysis provides the timing dimension. Fundamental analysis provides the catalyst dimension. Risk management provides the survival dimension. These components work together synergistically.
The indicator's design philosophy prioritizes transparency and education over black-box complexity, empowering traders to understand exactly what they are analyzing and why. Every calculation is documented and user-adjustable. The threshold markers, background coloring, tables, and clear signal states provide multiple reinforcing channels for conveying the same information.
This educational approach reflects a conviction that sustainable trading success comes from genuine understanding rather than mechanical system-following. Traders who understand why commercial positioning matters, how different trader categories behave, what positioning extremes signify, and where signals fit within probability distributions can adapt when market conditions change. Traders mechanically following black-box signals without comprehension abandon systems after normal losing streaks.
The research foundation supporting COT analysis comes primarily from commodity markets where commercial hedger informational advantages are most pronounced. Agricultural producers hedging crops know more about supply conditions than distant speculators. Energy companies hedging production know more about operating costs than financial traders. Metals miners hedging output know more about ore grades than index funds. Financial futures markets show weaker but still present effects.
The journey from reading this documentation to profitable trading based on COT analysis involves several stages that cannot be rushed. Initial reading and basic understanding represents the first stage. Historical study represents the second stage, reviewing past market cycles to observe how positioning extremes preceded major turning points. Paper trading or small-size real trading represents the third stage to experience the psychological challenges. Refinement based on results and personal psychology represents the fourth stage.
Markets will continue evolving. New participant categories will emerge. Regulatory structures will change. Technology will advance. Yet the fundamental dynamics driving COT analysis, that different market participants have different information, different motivations, and different forecasting abilities that manifest in their positioning, will persist as long as futures markets exist. While specific thresholds or optimal parameters may shift over time, the core logic remains sound and adaptable.
The trader equipped with this indicator, understanding of the theory and evidence behind COT analysis, realistic expectations about probability rather than certainty, discipline to maintain positions through adverse volatility, and patience to allow signals time to develop possesses genuine edge in markets. The edge is not enormous, markets cannot allow large persistent inefficiencies without arbitraging them away, but it is real, measurable, and exploitable by those willing to invest in learning and disciplined application.
REFERENCES
Bessembinder, H. (1992) Systematic risk, hedging pressure, and risk premiums in futures markets, Review of Financial Studies, 5(4), pp. 637-667.
Bessembinder, H. and Chan, K. (1992) The profitability of technical trading rules in the Asian stock markets, Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 3(2-3), pp. 257-284.
Briese, S. (2008) The Commitments of Traders Bible: How to Profit from Insider Market Intelligence. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Chang, E.C. (1985) Returns to speculators and the theory of normal backwardation, Journal of Finance, 40(1), pp. 193-208.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) (2009) Explanatory Notes: Disaggregated Commitments of Traders Report. Available at: www.cftc.gov (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) (2020) Commitments of Traders: About the Report. Available at: www.cftc.gov (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
Irwin, S.H. and Sanders, D.R. (2012) Testing the Masters Hypothesis in commodity futures markets, Energy Economics, 34(1), pp. 256-269.
Kaufman, P.J. (2013) Trading Systems and Methods. 5th edn. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Ruan, Y. and Zhang, Y. (2018) Forecasting commodity futures prices using machine learning: Evidence from the Chinese commodity futures market, Applied Economics Letters, 25(12), pp. 845-849.
Sanders, D.R., Boris, K. and Manfredo, M. (2004) Hedgers, funds, and small speculators in the energy futures markets: an analysis of the CFTC's Commitments of Traders reports, Energy Economics, 26(3), pp. 425-445.
Schwager, J.D. (2012) Market Sense and Nonsense: How the Markets Really Work and How They Don't. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Tharp, V.K. (2008) Super Trader: Make Consistent Profits in Good and Bad Markets. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Wang, C. (2003) The behavior and performance of major types of futures traders, Journal of Futures Markets, 23(1), pp. 1-31.
Williams, L.R. and Noseworthy, M. (2009) The Right Stock at the Right Time: Prospering in the Coming Good Years. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
FURTHER READING
For traders seeking to deepen their understanding of COT analysis and futures market positioning beyond this documentation, the following resources provide valuable extensions:
Academic Journal Articles:
Fishe, R.P.H. and Smith, A. (2012) Do speculators drive commodity prices away from supply and demand fundamentals?, Journal of Commodity Markets, 1(1), pp. 1-16.
Haigh, M.S., Hranaiova, J. and Overdahl, J.A. (2007) Hedge funds, volatility, and liquidity provision in energy futures markets, Journal of Alternative Investments, 9(4), pp. 10-38.
Kocagil, A.E. (1997) Does futures speculation stabilize spot prices? Evidence from metals markets, Applied Financial Economics, 7(1), pp. 115-125.
Sanders, D.R. and Irwin, S.H. (2011) The impact of index funds in commodity futures markets: A systems approach, Journal of Alternative Investments, 14(1), pp. 40-49.
Books and Practitioner Resources:
Murphy, J.J. (1999) Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Guide to Trading Methods and Applications. New York: New York Institute of Finance.
Pring, M.J. (2002) Technical Analysis Explained: The Investor's Guide to Spotting Investment Trends and Turning Points. 4th edn. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Federal Reserve and Research Institution Publications:
Federal Reserve Banks regularly publish working papers examining commodity markets, futures positioning, and price discovery mechanisms. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City maintain active research programs in this area.
Online Resources:
The CFTC website provides free access to current and historical COT reports, explanatory materials, and regulatory documentation.
Barchart offers enhanced COT data visualization and screening tools.
TradingView's community library contains numerous published scripts and educational materials exploring different approaches to positioning analysis.
TriAnchor Elastic Reversion US Market SPY and QQQ adaptedSummary in one paragraph
Mean-reversion strategy for liquid ETFs, index futures, large-cap equities, and major crypto on intraday to daily timeframes. It waits for three anchored VWAP stretches to become statistically extreme, aligns with bar-shape and breadth, and fades the move. Originality comes from fusing daily, weekly, and monthly AVWAP distances into a single ATR-normalized energy percentile, then gating with a robust Z-score and a session-safe gap filter.
Scope and intent
• Markets: SPY QQQ IWM NDX large caps liquid futures liquid crypto
• Timeframes: 5 min to 1 day
• Default demo: SPY on 60 min
• Purpose: fade stretched moves only when multi-anchor context and breadth agree
• Limits: strategy uses standard candles for signals and orders only
Originality and usefulness
• Unique fusion: tri-anchor AVWAP energy percentile plus robust Z of close plus shape-in-range gate plus breadth Z of SPY QQQ IWM
• Failure mode addressed: chasing extended moves and fading during index-wide thrusts
• Testability: each component is an input and visible in orders list via L and S tags
• Portable yardstick: distances are ATR-normalized so thresholds transfer across symbols
• Open source: method and implementation are disclosed for community review
Method overview in plain language
Base measures
• Range basis: ATR(length = atr_len) as the normalization unit
• Return basis: not used directly; we use rank statistics for stability
Components
• Tri-Anchor Energy: squared distances of price from daily, weekly, monthly AVWAPs, each divided by ATR, then summed and ranked to a percentile over base_len
• Robust Z of Close: median and MAD based Z to avoid outliers
• Shape Gate: position of close inside bar range to require capitulation for longs and exhaustion for shorts
• Breadth Gate: average robust Z of SPY QQQ IWM to avoid fading when the tape is one-sided
• Gap Shock: skip signals after large session gaps
Fusion rule
• All required gates must be true: Energy ≥ energy_trig_prc, |Robust Z| ≥ z_trig, Shape satisfied, Breadth confirmed, Gap filter clear
Signal rule
• Long: energy extreme, Z negative beyond threshold, close near bar low, breadth Z ≤ −breadth_z_ok
• Short: energy extreme, Z positive beyond threshold, close near bar high, breadth Z ≥ +breadth_z_ok
What you will see on the chart
• Standard strategy arrows for entries and exits
• Optional short-side brackets: ATR stop and ATR take profit if enabled
Inputs with guidance
Setup
• Base length: window for percentile ranks and medians. Typical 40 to 80. Longer smooths, shorter reacts.
• ATR length: normalization unit. Typical 10 to 20. Higher reduces noise.
• VWAP band stdev: volatility bands for anchors. Typical 2.0 to 4.0.
• Robust Z window: 40 to 100. Larger for stability.
• Robust Z entry magnitude: 1.2 to 2.2. Higher means stronger extremes only.
• Energy percentile trigger: 90 to 99.5. Higher limits signals to rare stretches.
• Bar close in range gate long: 0.05 to 0.25. Larger requires deeper capitulation for longs.
Regime and Breadth
• Use breadth gate: on when trading indices or broad ETFs.
• Breadth Z confirm magnitude: 0.8 to 1.8. Higher avoids fighting thrusts.
• Gap shock percent: 1.0 to 5.0. Larger allows more gaps to trade.
Risk — Short only
• Enable short SL TP: on to bracket shorts.
• Short ATR stop mult: 1.0 to 3.0.
• Short ATR take profit mult: 1.0 to 6.0.
Properties visible in this publication
• Initial capital: 25000USD
• Default order size: Percent of total equity 3%
• Pyramiding: 0
• Commission: 0.03 percent
• Slippage: 5 ticks
• Process orders on close: OFF
• Bar magnifier: OFF
• Recalculate after order is filled: OFF
• Calc on every tick: OFF
• request.security lookahead off where used
Realism and responsible publication
• No performance claims. Past results never guarantee future outcomes
• Fills and slippage vary by venue
• Shapes can move during bar formation and settle on close
• Standard candles only for strategies
Honest limitations and failure modes
• Economic releases or very thin liquidity can overwhelm mean-reversion logic
• Heavy gap regimes may require larger gap filter or TR-based tuning
• Very quiet regimes reduce signal contrast; extend windows or raise thresholds
Open source reuse and credits
• None
Strategy notice
Orders are simulated by TradingView on standard candles. request.security uses lookahead off where applicable. Non-standard charts are not supported for execution.
Entries and exits
• Entry logic: as in Signal rule above
• Exit logic: short side optional ATR stop and ATR take profit via brackets; long side closes on opposite setup
• Risk model: ATR-based brackets on shorts when enabled
• Tie handling: stop first when both could be touched inside one bar
Dataset and sample size
• Test across your visible history. For robust inference prefer 100 plus trades.
Buying Climax + Spring [Darwinian]Buying Climax + Spring Indicator
Overview
Advanced Wyckoff-based indicator that identifies potential market reversals through **Buying Climax** patterns (exhaustion tops) and **Spring** patterns (accumulation bottoms). Designed for traders seeking high-probability reversal signals with strict uptrend validation.
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Method
🔴 Buying Climax Detection
Identifies exhaustion patterns at market tops using multi-condition analysis:
**Base Buying Climax (Red Triangle)**
- Volume spike > 1.8x average
- Range expansion > 1.8x average
- New 20-bar high reached
- Close finishes in lower 30% of bar range
- **Strict uptrend validation**: Price must be 30%+ above 20-day low
**Enhanced Buying Climax (Maroon Triangle)**
- All Base BC conditions PLUS:
- Gap up from previous high
- Intraday fade (close < open and below midpoint)
- **Higher confidence reversal signal**
🟢 Wyckoff Spring Detection
Identifies accumulation patterns at support levels:
- Price breaks below recent pivot low (false breakdown)
- Close recovers above pivot level (rejection)
- Occurs at trading range low
- Optional volume confirmation (1.5x+ average)
- Limited to 3 attempts per pivot (prevents over-signaling)
✅ Uptrend Validation Filter
**Four-condition composite filter** prevents false signals in sideways/downtrending markets:
1. Close-to-close rise ≥ 5% over lookback period
2. Price structure: Close > MA(10) > MA(20)
3. Swing low significantly below current price
4. **Primary requirement**: Current high ≥ 30% above 20-day low
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Input Tuning Guide
Buying Climax Settings:
**Volume & Range Thresholds**
- `Volume Spike Threshold`: Default 1.8x
- Lower (1.5x) = More signals, more noise
- Higher (2.0-2.5x) = Fewer but stronger exhaustion signals
- `Range Spike Threshold`: Default 1.8x
- Adjust parallel to volume threshold
- Higher values = extreme volatility required
**Pattern Detection**
- `New High Lookback`: Default 20 bars
- Shorter (10-15) = Recent highs only
- Longer (30-50) = Major breakout detection
- `Close Off High Fraction`: Default 0.3 (30%)
- Lower (0.2) = Stricter rejection requirement
- Higher (0.4-0.5) = Allow weaker intraday fades
- `Gap Threshold`: Default 0.002 (0.2%)
- Increase (0.005-0.01) for stocks with wider spreads
- Decrease (0.001) for tight-spread instruments
- `Confirmation Window`: Default 5 bars
- Shorter (3) = Faster confirmation, more false positives
- Longer (7-10) = Wait for deeper automatic reaction
Uptrend Filter Settings
**Critical for Signal Quality**
- `Minimum Rise from 20-day Low`: Default 0.30 (30%)
- **Most important parameter**
- Lower (0.20-0.25) = More signals in moderate uptrends
- Higher (0.40-0.50) = Only extreme parabolic moves
- `Pole Lookback`: Default 30 bars
- Shorter (20) = Recent momentum focus
- Longer (40-50) = Longer-term trend validation
- `Minimum Rise % for Pole`: Default 0.05 (5%)
- Adjust based on market volatility
- Higher in strong bull markets (7-10%)
Wyckoff Spring Settings
- `Pivot Length`: Default 6 bars
- Shorter (3-4) = More frequent pivots, more signals
- Longer (8-10) = Major support/resistance only
- `Volume Threshold`: Default 1.5x
- Higher (1.8-2.0x) = Stronger conviction required
- Disable volume requirement for low-volume stocks
- `Trading Range Period`: Default 20 bars
- Match to consolidation timeframe being traded
- Shorter (10-15) for intraday patterns
- Longer (30-40) for weekly consolidations
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Recommended Workflow
1. **Start with defaults** on daily timeframe
2. **Adjust uptrend filter** first (30% rise parameter)
- Too many signals? Increase to 35-40%
- Too few? Decrease to 25%
3. **Fine-tune volume/range multipliers** based on instrument volatility
4. **Enable alerts** for real-time monitoring:
- Base BC → Initial warning
- Enhanced BC → High-priority reversal
- Confirmed BC (AR) → Strong follow-through
- Spring → Accumulation opportunity
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Alert System
- **Base Buying Climax**: Standard exhaustion pattern detected
- **Enhanced BC (Gap+Fade)**: Higher confidence reversal setup
- **Confirmed BC (AR)**: Automatic reaction validated (price drops below BC midline)
- **Wyckoff Spring**: Accumulation pattern at support
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Best Practices
- Combine with support/resistance analysis
- Watch for BC clusters (multiple timeframes)
- Spring patterns work best after Buying Climax distribution
- Backtest parameters on your specific instruments
- Higher timeframes (daily/weekly) = higher reliability
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Technical Notes
- Built with Pine Script v6
- No repainting (signals finalize on bar close)
- Minimal CPU usage (optimized calculations)
- Works on all timeframes and instruments
- Overlay indicator (displays on price chart)
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*Indicator follows classical Wyckoff methodology with modern volatility filters*
Index of Civilization DevelopmentIndex of Civilization Development Indicator
This Pine Script (version 6) creates a custom technical indicator for TradingView, titled Index of Civilization Development. It generates a composite index by averaging normalized stock market performances from a selection of global country indices. The normalization is relative to each index's 100-period simple moving average (SMA), scaled to a percentage (100% baseline). This allows for a comparable "development" or performance metric across diverse markets, potentially highlighting trends in global economic or "civilizational" progress based on equity markets.The indicator plots as a single line in a separate pane (non-overlay) and is designed to handle up to 40 symbols to respect TradingView's request.security() call limits.Key FeaturesComposite Index Calculation: Fetches the previous bar's close (close ) and its 100-period SMA for each selected symbol.
Normalizes each: (close / SMA(100)) * 100.
Averages the valid normalizations (ignores invalid/NA data) to produce a single "Index (%)" value.
Symbol Selection Modes:Top N Countries: Selects from a predefined list of the top 50 global stock indices (by market cap/importance, e.g., SPX for USA, SHCOMP for China). Options: Top 5, 15, 25, or 50.
Democratic Countries: ~38 symbols from democracies (e.g., SPX, NI225, NIFTY; based on democracy indices ≥6/10, including flawed/parliamentary systems).
Dictatorships: ~12 symbols from authoritarian/hybrid regimes (e.g., SHCOMP, TASI, IMOEX; scores <6/10).
Customization:Line color (default: blue).
Line width (1-5, default: 2).
Line style: Solid line (default), Stepline, or Circles.
Data Handling:Uses request.security() with lookahead enabled for real-time accuracy, gaps off, and invalid symbol ignoring.
Runs calculations on every bar, with max_bars_back=2000 for historical depth.
Arrays are populated only on the first bar (barstate.isfirst) for efficiency.
Predefined Symbol Lists (Examples)Top 50: SPX (USA), SHCOMP (China), NI225 (Japan), ..., BAX (Bahrain).
Democratic: Focuses on free-market democracies like USA, Japan, UK, Canada, EU nations, Australia, etc.
Dictatorships: Authoritarian markets like China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, etc.
Usage TipsAdd to any chart (e.g., daily/weekly timeframe) to view the composite line.
Ideal for macro analysis: Compare democratic vs. authoritarian performance, or track "top world" equity health.
Potential Limitations: Relies on TradingView's symbol availability; some exotic indices (e.g., KWSEIDX) may fail if not supported. The 40-symbol cap prevents errors.
Interpretation: Values >100 indicate above-trend performance; <100 suggest underperformance relative to recent averages.
This script blends financial data with geopolitical categorization for a unique "civilization index" perspective on global markets. For modifications, ensure symbol tickers match TradingView's format.
Luxy Momentum, Trend, Bias and Breakout Indicators V7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This is Version 7 (V7) - the latest and most optimized release. If you are using any older versions (V6, V5, V4, V3, etc.), it is highly recommended to replace them with V7.
Why This Indicator is Different
Who Should Use This
Core Components Overview
The UT Bot Trading System
Understanding the Market Bias Table
Candlestick Pattern Recognition
Visual Tools and Features
How to Use the Indicator
Performance and Optimization
FAQ
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### CREDITS & ATTRIBUTION
This indicator implements proven trading concepts using entirely original code developed specifically for this project.
### CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS
• UT Bot ATR Trailing System
- Original concept by @QuantNomad: (search "UT-Bot-Strategy"
- Our version is a complete reimplementation with significant enhancements:
- Volume-weighted momentum adjustment
- Composite stop loss from multiple S/R layers
- Multi-filter confirmation system (swing, %, 2-bar, ZLSMA)
- Full integration with multi-timeframe bias table
- Visual audit trail with freeze-on-touch
- NOTE: No code was copied - this is a complete reimplementation with enhancements.
• Standard Technical Indicators (Public Domain Formulas):
- Supertrend: ATR-based trend calculation with custom gradient fills
- MACD: Gerald Appel's formula with separation filters
- RSI: J. Welles Wilder's formula with pullback zone logic
- ADX/DMI: Custom trend strength formula inspired by Wilder's directional movement concept, reimplemented with volume weighting and efficiency metrics
- ZLSMA: Zero-lag formula enhanced with Hull MA and momentum prediction
### Custom Implementations
- Trend Strength: Inspired by Wilder's ADX concept but using volume-weighted pressure calculation and efficiency metrics (not traditional +DI/-DI smoothing)
- All code implementations are original
### ORIGINAL FEATURES (70%+ of codebase)
- Multi-Timeframe Bias Table with live updates
- Risk Management System (R-multiple TPs, freeze-on-touch)
- Opening Range Breakout tracker with session management
- Composite Stop Loss calculator using 6+ S/R layers
- Performance optimization system (caching, conditional calcs)
- VIX Fear Index integration
- Previous Day High/Low auto-detection
- Candlestick pattern recognition with interactive tooltips
- Smart label and visual management
- All UI/UX design and table architecture
### DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
**AI Assistance:** This indicator was developed over 2+ months with AI assistance (ChatGPT/Claude) used for:
- Writing Pine Script code based on design specifications
- Optimizing performance and fixing bugs
- Ensuring Pine Script v6 compliance
- Generating documentation
**Author's Role:** All trading concepts, system design, feature selection, integration logic, and strategic decisions are original work by the author. The AI was a coding tool, not the system designer.
**Transparency:** We believe in full disclosure - this project demonstrates how AI can be used as a powerful development tool while maintaining creative and strategic ownership.
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1. WHY THIS INDICATOR IS DIFFERENT
Most traders use multiple separate indicators on their charts, leading to cluttered screens, conflicting signals, and analysis paralysis. The Suite solves this by integrating proven technical tools into a single, cohesive system.
Key Advantages:
All-in-One Design: Instead of loading 5-10 separate indicators, you get everything in one optimized script. This reduces chart clutter and improves TradingView performance.
Multi-Timeframe Bias Table: Unlike standard indicators that only show the current timeframe, the Bias Table aggregates trend signals across multiple timeframes simultaneously. See at a glance whether 1m, 5m, 15m, 1h are aligned bullish or bearish - no more switching between charts.
Smart Confirmations: The indicator doesn't just give signals - it shows you WHY. Every entry has multiple layers of confirmation (MA cross, MACD momentum, ADX strength, RSI pullback, volume, etc.) that you can toggle on/off.
Dynamic Stop Loss System: Instead of static ATR stops, the SL is calculated from multiple support/resistance layers: UT trailing line, Supertrend, VWAP, swing structure, and MA levels. This creates more intelligent, price-action-aware stops.
R-Multiple Take Profits: Built-in TP system calculates targets based on your initial risk (1R, 1.5R, 2R, 3R). Lines freeze when touched with visual checkmarks, giving you a clean audit trail of partial exits.
Educational Tooltips Everywhere: Every single input has detailed tooltips explaining what it does, typical values, and how it impacts trading. You're not guessing - you're learning as you configure.
Performance Optimized: Smart caching, conditional calculations, and modular design mean the indicator runs fast despite having 15+ features. Turn off what you don't use for even better performance.
No Repainting: All signals respect bar close. Alerts fire correctly. What you see in history is what you would have gotten in real-time.
What Makes It Unique:
Integrated UT Bot + Bias Table: No other indicator combines UT Bot's ATR trailing system with a live multi-timeframe dashboard. You get precision entries with macro trend context.
Candlestick Pattern Recognition with Interactive Tooltips: Patterns aren't just marked - hover over any emoji for a full explanation of what the pattern means and how to trade it.
Opening Range Breakout Tracker: Built-in ORB system for intraday traders with customizable session times and real-time status updates in the Bias Table.
Previous Day High/Low Auto-Detection: Automatically plots PDH/PDL on intraday charts with theme-aware colors. Updates daily without manual input.
Dynamic Row Labels in Bias Table: The table shows your actual settings (e.g., "EMA 10 > SMA 20") not generic labels. You know exactly what's being evaluated.
Modular Filter System: Instead of forcing a fixed methodology, the indicator lets you build your own strategy. Start with just UT Bot, add filters one at a time, test what works for your style.
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2. WHO WHOULD USE THIS
Designed For:
Intermediate to Advanced Traders: You understand basic technical analysis (MAs, RSI, MACD) and want to combine multiple confirmations efficiently. This isn't a "one-click profit" system - it's a professional toolkit.
Multi-Timeframe Traders: If you trade one asset but check multiple timeframes for confirmation (e.g., enter on 5m after checking 15m and 1h alignment), the Bias Table will save you hours every week.
Trend Followers: The indicator excels at identifying and following trends using UT Bot, Supertrend, and MA systems. If you trade breakouts and pullbacks in trending markets, this is built for you.
Intraday and Swing Traders: Works equally well on 5m-1h charts (day trading) and 4h-D charts (swing trading). Scalpers can use it too with appropriate settings adjustments.
Discretionary Traders: This isn't a black-box system. You see all the components, understand the logic, and make final decisions. Perfect for traders who want tools, not automation.
Works Across All Markets:
Stocks (US, international)
Cryptocurrency (24/7 markets supported)
Forex pairs
Indices (SPY, QQQ, etc.)
Commodities
NOT Ideal For :
Complete Beginners: If you don't know what a moving average or RSI is, start with basics first. This indicator assumes foundational knowledge.
Algo Traders Seeking Black Box: This is discretionary. Signals require context and confirmation. Not suitable for blind automated execution.
Mean-Reversion Only Traders: The indicator is trend-following at its core. While VWAP bands support mean-reversion, the primary methodology is trend continuation.
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3. CORE COMPONENTS OVERVIEW
The indicator combines these proven systems:
Trend Analysis:
Moving Averages: Four customizable MAs (Fast, Medium, Medium-Long, Long) with six types to choose from (EMA, SMA, WMA, VWMA, RMA, HMA). Mix and match for your style.
Supertrend: ATR-based trend indicator with unique gradient fill showing trend strength. One-sided ribbon visualization makes it easier to see momentum building or fading.
ZLSMA : Zero-lag linear-regression smoothed moving average. Reduces lag compared to traditional MAs while maintaining smooth curves.
Momentum & Filters:
MACD: Standard MACD with separation filter to avoid weak crossovers.
RSI: Pullback zone detection - only enter longs when RSI is in your defined "buy zone" and shorts in "sell zone".
ADX/DMI: Trend strength measurement with directional filter. Ensures you only trade when there's actual momentum.
Volume Filter: Relative volume confirmation - require above-average volume for entries.
Donchian Breakout: Optional channel breakout requirement.
Signal Systems:
UT Bot: The primary signal generator. ATR trailing stop that adapts to volatility and gives clear entry/exit points.
Base Signals: MA cross system with all the above filters applied. More conservative than UT Bot alone.
Market Bias Table: Multi-timeframe dashboard showing trend alignment across 7 timeframes plus macro bias (3-day, weekly, monthly, quarterly, VIX).
Candlestick Patterns: Six major reversal patterns auto-detected with interactive tooltips.
ORB Tracker: Opening range high/low with breakout status (intraday only).
PDH/PDL: Previous day levels plotted automatically on intraday charts.
VWAP + Bands : Session-anchored VWAP with up to three standard deviation band pairs.
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4. THE UT BOT TRADING SYSTEM
The UT Bot is the heart of the indicator's signal generation. It's an advanced ATR trailing stop that adapts to market volatility.
Why UT Bot is Superior to Fixed Stops:
Traditional ATR stops use a fixed multiplier (e.g., "stop = entry - 2×ATR"). UT Bot is smarter:
It TRAILS the stop as price moves in your favor
It WIDENS during high volatility to avoid premature stops
It TIGHTENS during consolidation to lock in profits
It FLIPS when price breaks the trailing line, signaling reversals
Visual Elements You'll See:
Orange Trailing Line: The actual UT stop level that adapts bar-by-bar
Buy/Sell Labels: Aqua triangle (long) or orange triangle (short) when the line flips
ENTRY Line: Horizontal line at your entry price (optional, can be turned off)
Suggested Stop Loss: A composite SL calculated from multiple support/resistance layers:
- UT trailing line
- Supertrend level
- VWAP
- Swing structure (recent lows/highs)
- Long-term MA (200)
- ATR-based floor
Take Profit Lines: TP1, TP1.5, TP2, TP3 based on R-multiples. When price touches a TP, it's marked with a checkmark and the line freezes for audit trail purposes.
Status Messages: "SL Touched ❌" or "SL Frozen" when the trade leg completes.
How UT Bot Differs from Other ATR Systems:
Multiple Filters Available: You can require 2-bar confirmation, minimum % price change, swing structure alignment, or ZLSMA directional filter. Most UT implementations have none of these.
Smart SL Calculation: Instead of just using the UT line as your stop, the indicator suggests a better SL based on actual support/resistance. This prevents getting stopped out by wicks while keeping risk controlled.
Visual Audit Trail: All SL/TP lines freeze when touched with clear markers. You can review your trades weeks later and see exactly where entries, stops, and targets were.
Performance Options: "Draw UT visuals only on bar close" lets you reduce rendering load without affecting logic or alerts - critical for slower machines or 1m charts.
Trading Logic:
UT Bot flips direction (Buy or Sell signal appears)
Check Bias Table for multi-timeframe confirmation
Optional: Wait for Base signal or candlestick pattern
Enter at signal bar close or next bar open
Place stop at "Suggested Stop Loss" line
Scale out at TP levels (TP1, TP2, TP3)
Exit remaining position on opposite UT signal or stop hit
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5. UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET BIAS TABLE
This is the indicator's unique multi-timeframe intelligence layer. Instead of looking at one chart at a time, the table aggregates signals across seven timeframes plus macro trend bias.
Why Multi-Timeframe Analysis Matters:
Professional traders check higher and lower timeframes for context:
Is the 1h uptrend aligning with my 5m entry?
Are all short-term timeframes bullish or just one?
Is the daily trend supportive or fighting me?
Doing this manually means opening multiple charts, checking each indicator, and making mental notes. The Bias Table does it automatically in one glance.
Table Structure:
Header Row:
On intraday charts: 1m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 1h, 2h, 4h (toggle which ones you want)
On daily+ charts: D, W, M (automatic)
Green dot next to title = live updating
Headline Rows - Macro Bias:
These show broad market direction over longer periods:
3 Day Bias: Trend over last 3 trading sessions (uses 1h data)
Weekly Bias: Trend over last 5 trading sessions (uses 4h data)
Monthly Bias: Trend over last 30 daily bars
Quarterly Bias: Trend over last 13 weekly bars
VIX Fear Index: Market regime based on VIX level - bullish when low, bearish when high
Opening Range Breakout: Status of price vs. session open range (intraday only)
These rows show text: "BULLISH", "BEARISH", or "NEUTRAL"
Indicator Rows - Technical Signals:
These evaluate your configured indicators across all active timeframes:
Fast MA > Medium MA (shows your actual MA settings, e.g., "EMA 10 > SMA 20")
Price > Long MA (e.g., "Price > SMA 200")
Price > VWAP
MACD > Signal
Supertrend (up/down/neutral)
ZLSMA Rising
RSI In Zone
ADX ≥ Minimum
These rows show emojis: GREEB (bullish), RED (bearish), GRAY/YELLOW (neutral/NA)
AVG Column:
Shows percentage of active timeframes that are bullish for that row. This is the KEY metric:
AVG > 70% = strong multi-timeframe bullish alignment
AVG 40-60% = mixed/choppy, no clear trend
AVG < 30% = strong multi-timeframe bearish alignment
How to Use the Table:
For a long trade:
Check AVG column - want to see > 60% ideally
Check headline bias rows - want to see BULLISH, not BEARISH
Check VIX row - bullish market regime preferred
Check ORB row (intraday) - want ABOVE for longs
Scan indicator rows - more green = better confirmation
For a short trade:
Check AVG column - want to see < 40% ideally
Check headline bias rows - want to see BEARISH, not BULLISH
Check VIX row - bearish market regime preferred
Check ORB row (intraday) - want BELOW for shorts
Scan indicator rows - more red = better confirmation
When AVG is 40-60%:
Market is choppy, mixed signals. Either stay out or reduce position size significantly. These are low-probability environments.
Unique Features:
Dynamic Labels: Row names show your actual settings (e.g., "EMA 10 > SMA 20" not generic "Fast > Slow"). You know exactly what's being evaluated.
Customizable Rows: Turn off rows you don't care about. Only show what matters to your strategy.
Customizable Timeframes: On intraday charts, disable 1m or 4h if you don't trade them. Reduces calculation load by 20-40%.
Automatic HTF Handling: On Daily/Weekly/Monthly charts, the table automatically switches to D/W/M columns. No configuration needed.
Performance Smart: "Hide BIAS table on 1D or above" option completely skips all table calculations on higher timeframes if you only trade intraday.
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6. CANDLESTICK PATTERN RECOGNITION
The indicator automatically detects six major reversal patterns and marks them with emojis at the relevant bars.
Why These Six Patterns:
These are the most statistically significant reversal patterns according to trading literature:
High win rate when appearing at support/resistance
Clear visual structure (not subjective)
Work across all timeframes and assets
Studied extensively by institutions
The Patterns:
Bullish Patterns (appear at bottoms):
Bullish Engulfing: Green candle completely engulfs prior red candle's body. Strong reversal signal.
Hammer: Small body with long lower wick (at least 2× body size). Shows rejection of lower prices by buyers.
Morning Star: Three-candle pattern (large red → small indecision → large green). Very strong bottom reversal.
Bearish Patterns (appear at tops):
Bearish Engulfing: Red candle completely engulfs prior green candle's body. Strong reversal signal.
Shooting Star: Small body with long upper wick (at least 2× body size). Shows rejection of higher prices by sellers.
Evening Star: Three-candle pattern (large green → small indecision → large red). Very strong top reversal.
Interactive Tooltips:
Unlike most pattern indicators that just draw shapes, this one is educational:
Hover your mouse over any pattern emoji
A tooltip appears explaining: what the pattern is, what it means, when it's most reliable, and how to trade it
No need to memorize - learn as you trade
Noise Filter:
"Min candle body % to filter noise" setting prevents false signals:
Patterns require minimum body size relative to price
Filters out tiny candles that don't represent real buying/selling pressure
Adjust based on asset volatility (higher % for crypto, lower for low-volatility stocks)
How to Trade Patterns:
Patterns are NOT standalone entry signals. Use them as:
Confirmation: UT Bot gives signal + pattern appears = stronger entry
Reversal Warning: In a trade, opposite pattern appears = consider tightening stop or taking profit
Support/Resistance Validation: Pattern at key level (PDH, VWAP, MA 200) = level is being respected
Best combined with:
UT Bot or Base signal in same direction
Bias Table alignment (AVG > 60% or < 40%)
Appearance at obvious support/resistance
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7. VISUAL TOOLS AND FEATURES
VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price):
Session-anchored VWAP with standard deviation bands. Shows institutional "fair value" for the trading session.
Anchor Options: Session, Day, Week, Month, Quarter, Year. Choose based on your trading timeframe.
Bands: Up to three pairs (X1, X2, X3) showing statistical deviation. Price at outer bands often reverses.
Auto-Hide on HTF: VWAP hides on Daily/Weekly/Monthly charts automatically unless you enable anchored mode.
Use VWAP as:
Directional bias (above = bullish, below = bearish)
Mean reversion levels (outer bands)
Support/resistance (the VWAP line itself)
Previous Day High/Low:
Automatically plots yesterday's high and low on intraday charts:
Updates at start of each new trading day
Theme-aware colors (dark text for light charts, light text for dark charts)
Hidden automatically on Daily/Weekly/Monthly charts
These levels are critical for intraday traders - institutions watch them closely as support/resistance.
Opening Range Breakout (ORB):
Tracks the high/low of the first 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes of the trading session:
Customizable session times (preset for NYSE, LSE, TSE, or custom)
Shows current breakout status in Bias Table row (ABOVE, BELOW, INSIDE, BUILDING)
Intraday only - auto-disabled on Daily+ charts
ORB is a classic day trading strategy - breakout above opening range often leads to continuation.
Extra Labels:
Change from Open %: Shows how far price has moved from session open (intraday) or daily open (HTF). Green if positive, red if negative.
ADX Badge: Small label at bottom of last bar showing current ADX value. Green when above your minimum threshold, red when below.
RSI Badge: Small label at top of last bar showing current RSI value with zone status (buy zone, sell zone, or neutral).
These labels provide quick at-a-glance confirmation without needing separate indicator windows.
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8. HOW TO USE THE INDICATOR
Step 1: Add to Chart
Load the indicator on your chosen asset and timeframe
First time: Everything is enabled by default - the chart will look busy
Don't panic - you'll turn off what you don't need
Step 2: Start Simple
Turn OFF everything except:
UT Bot labels (keep these ON)
Bias Table (keep this ON)
Moving Averages (Fast and Medium only)
Suggested Stop Loss and Take Profits
Hide everything else initially. Get comfortable with the basic UT Bot + Bias Table workflow first.
Step 3: Learn the Core Workflow
UT Bot gives a Buy or Sell signal
Check Bias Table AVG column - do you have multi-timeframe alignment?
If yes, enter the trade
Place stop at Suggested Stop Loss line
Scale out at TP levels
Exit on opposite UT signal
Trade this simple system for a week. Get a feel for signal frequency and win rate with your settings.
Step 4: Add Filters Gradually
If you're getting too many losing signals (whipsaws in choppy markets), add filters one at a time:
Try: "Require 2-Bar Trend Confirmation" - wait for 2 bars to confirm direction
Try: ADX filter with minimum threshold - only trade when trend strength is sufficient
Try: RSI pullback filter - only enter on pullbacks, not chasing
Try: Volume filter - require above-average volume
Add one filter, test for a week, evaluate. Repeat.
Step 5: Enable Advanced Features (Optional)
Once you're profitable with the core system, add:
Supertrend for additional trend confirmation
Candlestick patterns for reversal warnings
VWAP for institutional anchor reference
ORB for intraday breakout context
ZLSMA for low-lag trend following
Step 6: Optimize Settings
Every setting has a detailed tooltip explaining what it does and typical values. Hover over any input to read:
What the parameter controls
How it impacts trading
Suggested ranges for scalping, day trading, and swing trading
Start with defaults, then adjust based on your results and style.
Step 7: Set Up Alerts
Right-click chart → Add Alert → Condition: "Luxy Momentum v6" → Choose:
"UT Bot — Buy" for long entries
"UT Bot — Sell" for short entries
"Base Long/Short" for filtered MA cross signals
Optionally enable "Send real-time alert() on UT flip" in settings for immediate notifications.
Common Workflow Variations:
Conservative Trader:
UT signal + Base signal + Candlestick pattern + Bias AVG > 70%
Enter only at major support/resistance
Wider UT sensitivity, multiple filters
Aggressive Trader:
UT signal + Bias AVG > 60%
Enter immediately, no waiting
Tighter UT sensitivity, minimal filters
Swing Trader:
Focus on Daily/Weekly Bias alignment
Ignore intraday noise
Use ORB and PDH/PDL less (or not at all)
Wider stops, patient approach
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9. PERFORMANCE AND OPTIMIZATION
The indicator is optimized for speed, but with 15+ features running simultaneously, chart load time can add up. Here's how to keep it fast:
Biggest Performance Gains:
Disable Unused Timeframes: In "Time Frames" settings, turn OFF any timeframe you don't actively trade. Each disabled TF saves 10-15% calculation time. If you only day trade 5m, 15m, 1h, disable 1m, 2h, 4h.
Hide Bias Table on Daily+: If you only trade intraday, enable "Hide BIAS table on 1D or above". This skips ALL table calculations on higher timeframes.
Draw UT Visuals Only on Bar Close: Reduces intrabar rendering of SL/TP/Entry lines. Has ZERO impact on logic or alerts - purely visual optimization.
Additional Optimizations:
Turn off VWAP bands if you don't use them
Disable candlestick patterns if you don't trade them
Turn off Supertrend fill if you find it distracting (keep the line)
Reduce "Limit to 10 bars" for SL/TP lines to minimize line objects
Performance Features Built-In:
Smart Caching: Higher timeframe data (3-day bias, weekly bias, etc.) updates once per day, not every bar
Conditional Calculations: Volume filter only calculates when enabled. Swing filter only runs when enabled. Nothing computes if turned off.
Modular Design: Every component is independent. Turn off what you don't need without breaking other features.
Typical Load Times:
5m chart, all features ON, 7 timeframes: ~2-3 seconds
5m chart, core features only, 3 timeframes: ~1 second
1m chart, all features: ~4-5 seconds (many bars to calculate)
If loading takes longer, you likely have too many indicators on the chart total (not just this one).
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10. FAQ
Q: How is this different from standard UT Bot indicators?
A: Standard UT Bot (originally by @QuantNomad) is just the ATR trailing line and flip signals. This implementation adds:
- Volume weighting and momentum adjustment to the trailing calculation
- Multiple confirmation filters (swing, %, 2-bar, ZLSMA)
- Smart composite stop loss system from multiple S/R layers
- R-multiple take profit system with freeze-on-touch
- Integration with multi-timeframe Bias Table
- Visual audit trail with checkmarks
Q: Can I use this for automated trading?
A: The indicator is designed for discretionary trading. While it has clear signals and alerts, it's not a mechanical system. Context and judgment are required.
Q: Does it repaint?
A: No. All signals respect bar close. UT Bot logic runs intrabar but signals only trigger on confirmed bars. Alerts fire correctly with no lookahead.
Q: Do I need to use all the features?
A: Absolutely not. The indicator is modular. Many profitable traders use just UT Bot + Bias Table + Moving Averages. Start simple, add complexity only if needed.
Q: How do I know which settings to use?
A: Every single input has a detailed tooltip. Hover over any setting to see:
What it does
How it affects trading
Typical values for scalping, day trading, swing trading
Start with defaults, adjust gradually based on results.
Q: Can I use this on crypto 24/7 markets?
A: Yes. ORB will not work (no defined session), but everything else functions normally. Use "Day" anchor for VWAP instead of "Session".
Q: The Bias Table is blank or not showing.
A: Check:
"Show Table" is ON
Table position isn't overlapping another indicator's table (change position)
At least one row is enabled
"Hide BIAS table on 1D or above" is OFF (if on Daily+ chart)
Q: Why are candlestick patterns not appearing?
A: Patterns are relatively rare by design - they only appear at genuine reversal points. Check:
Pattern toggles are ON
"Min candle body %" isn't too high (try 0.05-0.10)
You're looking at a chart with actual reversals (not strong trending market)
Q: UT Bot is too sensitive/not sensitive enough.
A: Adjust "Sensitivity (Key×ATR)". Lower number = tighter stop, more signals. Higher number = wider stop, fewer signals. Read the tooltip for guidance.
Q: Can I get alerts for the Bias Table?
A: The Bias Table is a dashboard for visual analysis, not a signal generator. Set alerts on UT Bot or Base signals, then manually check Bias Table for confirmation.
Q: Does this work on stocks with low volume?
A: Yes, but turn OFF the volume filter. Low volume stocks will never meet relative volume requirements.
Q: How often should I check the Bias Table?
A: Before every entry. It takes 2 seconds to glance at the AVG column and headline rows. This one check can save you from fighting the trend.
Q: What if UT signal and Base signal disagree?
A: UT Bot is more aggressive (ATR trailing). Base signals are more conservative (MA cross + filters). If they disagree, either:
Wait for both to align (safest)
Take the UT signal but with smaller size (aggressive)
Skip the trade (conservative)
There's no "right" answer - depends on your risk tolerance.
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FINAL NOTES
The indicator gives you an edge. How you use that edge determines results.
For questions, feedback, or support, comment on the indicator page or message the author.
Happy Trading!
RSI Core Analysis EngineHI traders
This tool employs a higher-sensitivity RSI than conventional settings to capture market shifts earlier.
When the Ultra Fast RSI (UF) approaches upper or lower extremes, short-term profit-taking or pullbacks tend to occur, and a crossover between UF and the Composite RSI can serve as a signal of a regime change.
However, in strong trends the RSI can remain pinned for extended periods, so combine it with ADX, volume, and volatility measures to improve accuracy.
While early detection is an advantage, it also increases noise. This tool uses a four-stage confirmation process (DMI/ADX → MACD/Stochastics/RSI acceleration → five-layer alignment) and quality/confidence scores to filter for higher-expectancy setups.
It will not be effective in every market condition. Use it with predefined stop-losses and prudent position sizing.
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Strongly recommended preset (because the indicator packs many features):
Step 1 — Inputs tab
Center Level: 50
OB1: 60, OB2: 70, OB3: 95
OS1: 40, OS2: 30, OS3: 5
Step 2 — Style tab
✅ Ultra Fast RSI — Thickest
✖ Fast RSI
✖ Medium RSI
✖ Standard RSI
✖ Slow RSI
✅ Composite RSI — Thickest
✅ Stage Indicator
✖ RSI Velocity
✖ RSI Acceleration
✅ Quality Score
✅ Bullish Cross
✅ Bearish Cross
✅ Strong Signal Background
Levels:
・✅ Center 50 — Thickest
・✅ OB1 60, OB2 70, OB3 95 (thicker)
・✅ OS1 40, OS2 30, OS3 5 (thicker)
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thats enough
have a nice trade
Stochastic Enhanced [DCAUT]█ Stochastic Enhanced
📊 ORIGINALITY & INNOVATION
The Stochastic Enhanced indicator builds upon George Lane's classic momentum oscillator (developed in the late 1950s) by providing comprehensive smoothing algorithm flexibility. While traditional implementations limit users to Simple Moving Average (SMA) smoothing, this enhanced version offers 21 advanced smoothing algorithms, allowing traders to optimize the indicator's characteristics for different market conditions and trading styles.
Key Improvements:
Extended from single SMA smoothing to 21 professional-grade algorithms including adaptive filters (KAMA, FRAMA), zero-lag methods (ZLEMA, T3), and advanced digital filters (Kalman, Laguerre)
Maintains backward compatibility with traditional Stochastic calculations through SMA default setting
Unified smoothing algorithm applies to both %K and %D lines for consistent signal processing characteristics
Enhanced visual feedback with clear color distinction and background fill highlighting for intuitive signal recognition
Comprehensive alert system covering crossovers and zone entries for systematic trade management
Differentiation from Traditional Stochastic:
Traditional Stochastic indicators use fixed SMA smoothing, which introduces consistent lag regardless of market volatility. This enhanced version addresses the limitation by offering adaptive algorithms that adjust to market conditions (KAMA, FRAMA), reduce lag without sacrificing smoothness (ZLEMA, T3, HMA), or provide superior noise filtering (Kalman Filter, Laguerre filters). The flexibility helps traders balance responsiveness and stability according to their specific needs.
📐 MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATION
Core Stochastic Calculation:
The Stochastic Oscillator measures the position of the current close relative to the high-low range over a specified period:
Step 1: Raw %K Calculation
%K_raw = 100 × (Close - Lowest Low) / (Highest High - Lowest Low)
Where:
Close = Current closing price
Lowest Low = Lowest low over the %K Length period
Highest High = Highest high over the %K Length period
Result ranges from 0 (close at period low) to 100 (close at period high)
Step 2: Smoothed %K Calculation
%K = MA(%K_raw, K Smoothing Period, MA Type)
Where:
MA = Selected moving average algorithm (SMA, EMA, etc.)
K Smoothing = 1 for Fast Stochastic, 3+ for Slow Stochastic
Traditional Fast Stochastic uses %K_raw directly without smoothing
Step 3: Signal Line %D Calculation
%D = MA(%K, D Smoothing Period, MA Type)
Where:
%D acts as a signal line and moving average of %K
D Smoothing typically set to 3 periods in traditional implementations
Both %K and %D use the same MA algorithm for consistent behavior
Available Smoothing Algorithms (21 Options):
Standard Moving Averages:
SMA (Simple): Equal-weighted average, traditional default, consistent lag characteristics
EMA (Exponential): Recent price emphasis, faster response to changes, exponential decay weighting
RMA (Rolling/Wilder's): Smoothed average used in RSI, less reactive than EMA
WMA (Weighted): Linear weighting favoring recent data, moderate responsiveness
VWMA (Volume-Weighted): Incorporates volume data, reflects market participation intensity
Advanced Moving Averages:
HMA (Hull): Reduced lag with smoothness, uses weighted moving averages and square root period
ALMA (Arnaud Legoux): Gaussian distribution weighting, minimal lag with good noise reduction
LSMA (Least Squares): Linear regression based, fits trend line to data points
DEMA (Double Exponential): Reduced lag compared to EMA, uses double smoothing technique
TEMA (Triple Exponential): Further lag reduction, triple smoothing with lag compensation
ZLEMA (Zero-Lag Exponential): Lag elimination attempt using error correction, very responsive
TMA (Triangular): Double-smoothed SMA, very smooth but slower response
Adaptive & Intelligent Filters:
T3 (Tilson T3): Six-pass exponential smoothing with volume factor adjustment, excellent smoothness
FRAMA (Fractal Adaptive): Adapts to market fractal dimension, faster in trends, slower in ranges
KAMA (Kaufman Adaptive): Efficiency ratio based adaptation, responds to volatility changes
McGinley Dynamic: Self-adjusting mechanism following price more accurately, reduced whipsaws
Kalman Filter: Optimal estimation algorithm from aerospace engineering, dynamic noise filtering
Advanced Digital Filters:
Ultimate Smoother: Advanced digital filter design, superior noise rejection with minimal lag
Laguerre Filter: Time-domain filter with N-order implementation, adjustable lag characteristics
Laguerre Binomial Filter: 6-pole Laguerre filter, extremely smooth output for long-term analysis
Super Smoother: Butterworth filter implementation, removes high-frequency noise effectively
📊 COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAL ANALYSIS
Absolute Level Interpretation (%K Line):
%K Above 80: Overbought condition, price near period high, potential reversal or pullback zone, caution for new long entries
%K in 70-80 Range: Strong upward momentum, bullish trend confirmation, uptrend likely continuing
%K in 50-70 Range: Moderate bullish momentum, neutral to positive outlook, consolidation or mild uptrend
%K in 30-50 Range: Moderate bearish momentum, neutral to negative outlook, consolidation or mild downtrend
%K in 20-30 Range: Strong downward momentum, bearish trend confirmation, downtrend likely continuing
%K Below 20: Oversold condition, price near period low, potential bounce or reversal zone, caution for new short entries
Crossover Signal Analysis:
%K Crosses Above %D (Bullish Cross): Momentum shifting bullish, faster line overtakes slower signal, consider long entry especially in oversold zone, strongest when occurring below 20 level
%K Crosses Below %D (Bearish Cross): Momentum shifting bearish, faster line falls below slower signal, consider short entry especially in overbought zone, strongest when occurring above 80 level
Crossover in Midrange (40-60): Less reliable signals, often in choppy sideways markets, require additional confirmation from trend or volume analysis
Multiple Failed Crosses: Indicates ranging market or choppy conditions, reduce position sizes or avoid trading until clear directional move
Advanced Divergence Patterns (%K Line vs Price):
Bullish Divergence: Price makes lower low while %K makes higher low, indicates weakening bearish momentum, potential trend reversal upward, more reliable when %K in oversold zone
Bearish Divergence: Price makes higher high while %K makes lower high, indicates weakening bullish momentum, potential trend reversal downward, more reliable when %K in overbought zone
Hidden Bullish Divergence: Price makes higher low while %K makes lower low, indicates trend continuation in uptrend, bullish trend strength confirmation
Hidden Bearish Divergence: Price makes lower high while %K makes higher high, indicates trend continuation in downtrend, bearish trend strength confirmation
Momentum Strength Analysis (%K Line Slope):
Steep %K Slope: Rapid momentum change, strong directional conviction, potential for extended moves but also increased reversal risk
Gradual %K Slope: Steady momentum development, sustainable trends more likely, lower probability of sharp reversals
Flat or Horizontal %K: Momentum stalling, potential reversal or consolidation ahead, wait for directional break before committing
%K Oscillation Within Range: Indicates ranging market, sideways price action, better suited for range-trading strategies than trend following
🎯 STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS
Mean Reversion Strategy (Range-Bound Markets):
Identify ranging market conditions using price action or Bollinger Bands
Wait for Stochastic to reach extreme zones (above 80 for overbought, below 20 for oversold)
Enter counter-trend position when %K crosses %D in extreme zone (sell on bearish cross above 80, buy on bullish cross below 20)
Set profit targets near opposite extreme or midline (50 level)
Use tight stop-loss above recent swing high/low to protect against breakout scenarios
Exit when Stochastic reaches opposite extreme or %K crosses %D in opposite direction
Trend Following with Momentum Confirmation:
Identify primary trend direction using higher timeframe analysis or moving averages
Wait for Stochastic pullback to oversold zone (<20) in uptrend or overbought zone (>80) in downtrend
Enter in trend direction when %K crosses %D confirming momentum shift (bullish cross in uptrend, bearish cross in downtrend)
Use wider stops to accommodate normal trend volatility
Add to position on subsequent pullbacks showing similar Stochastic pattern
Exit when Stochastic shows opposite extreme with failed cross or bearish/bullish divergence
Divergence-Based Reversal Strategy:
Scan for divergence between price and Stochastic at swing highs/lows
Confirm divergence with at least two price pivots showing divergent Stochastic readings
Wait for %K to cross %D in direction of anticipated reversal as entry trigger
Enter position in divergence direction with stop beyond recent swing extreme
Target profit at key support/resistance levels or Fibonacci retracements
Scale out as Stochastic reaches opposite extreme zone
Multi-Timeframe Momentum Alignment:
Analyze Stochastic on higher timeframe (4H or Daily) for primary trend bias
Switch to lower timeframe (1H or 15M) for precise entry timing
Only take trades where lower timeframe Stochastic signal aligns with higher timeframe momentum direction
Higher timeframe Stochastic in bullish zone (>50) = only take long entries on lower timeframe
Higher timeframe Stochastic in bearish zone (<50) = only take short entries on lower timeframe
Exit when lower timeframe shows counter-signal or higher timeframe momentum reverses
Zone Transition Strategy:
Monitor Stochastic for transitions between zones (oversold to neutral, neutral to overbought, etc.)
Enter long when Stochastic crosses above 20 (exiting oversold), signaling momentum shift from bearish to neutral/bullish
Enter short when Stochastic crosses below 80 (exiting overbought), signaling momentum shift from bullish to neutral/bearish
Use zone midpoint (50) as dynamic support/resistance for position management
Trail stops as Stochastic advances through favorable zones
Exit when Stochastic fails to maintain momentum and reverses back into prior zone
📋 DETAILED PARAMETER CONFIGURATION
%K Length (Default: 14):
Lower Values (5-9): Highly sensitive to price changes, generates more frequent signals, increased false signals in choppy markets, suitable for very short-term trading and scalping
Standard Values (10-14): Balanced sensitivity and reliability, traditional default (14) widely used,适合 swing trading and intraday strategies
Higher Values (15-21): Reduced sensitivity, smoother oscillations, fewer but potentially more reliable signals, better for position trading and lower timeframe noise reduction
Very High Values (21+): Slow response, long-term momentum measurement, fewer trading signals, suitable for weekly or monthly analysis
%K Smoothing (Default: 3):
Value 1: Fast Stochastic, uses raw %K calculation without additional smoothing, most responsive to price changes, generates earliest signals with higher noise
Value 3: Slow Stochastic (default), traditional smoothing level, reduces false signals while maintaining good responsiveness, widely accepted standard
Values 5-7: Very slow response, extremely smooth oscillations, significantly reduced whipsaws but delayed entry/exit timing
Recommendation: Default value 3 suits most trading scenarios, active short-term traders may use 1, conservative long-term positions use 5+
%D Smoothing (Default: 3):
Lower Values (1-2): Signal line closely follows %K, frequent crossover signals, useful for active trading but requires strict filtering
Standard Value (3): Traditional setting providing balanced signal line behavior, optimal for most trading applications
Higher Values (4-7): Smoother signal line, fewer crossover signals, reduced whipsaws but slower confirmation, better for trend trading
Very High Values (8+): Signal line becomes slow-moving reference, crossovers rare and highly significant, suitable for long-term position changes only
Smoothing Type Algorithm Selection:
For Trending Markets:
ZLEMA, DEMA, TEMA: Reduced lag for faster trend entry, quick response to momentum shifts, suitable for strong directional moves
HMA, ALMA: Good balance of smoothness and responsiveness, effective for clean trend following without excessive noise
EMA: Classic choice for trending markets, faster than SMA while maintaining reasonable stability
For Ranging/Choppy Markets:
Kalman Filter, Super Smoother: Superior noise filtering, reduces false signals in sideways action, helps identify genuine reversal points
Laguerre Filters: Smooth oscillations with adjustable lag, excellent for mean reversion strategies in ranges
T3, TMA: Very smooth output, filters out market noise effectively, clearer extreme zone identification
For Adaptive Market Conditions:
KAMA: Automatically adjusts to market efficiency, fast in trends and slow in congestion, reduces whipsaws during transitions
FRAMA: Adapts to fractal market structure, responsive during directional moves, conservative during uncertainty
McGinley Dynamic: Self-adjusting smoothing, follows price naturally, minimizes lag in trending markets while filtering noise in ranges
For Conservative Long-Term Analysis:
SMA: Traditional choice, predictable behavior, widely understood characteristics
RMA (Wilder's): Smooth oscillations, reduced sensitivity to outliers, consistent behavior across market conditions
Laguerre Binomial Filter: Extremely smooth output, ideal for weekly/monthly timeframe analysis, eliminates short-term noise completely
Source Selection:
Close (Default): Standard choice using closing prices, most common and widely tested
HLC3 or OHLC4: Incorporates more price information, reduces impact of sudden spikes or gaps, smoother oscillator behavior
HL2: Midpoint of high-low range, emphasizes intrabar volatility, useful for markets with wide intraday ranges
Custom Source: Can use other indicators as input (e.g., Heikin Ashi close, smoothed price), creates derivative momentum indicators
📈 PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS & COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
Responsiveness Characteristics:
Traditional SMA-Based Stochastic:
Fixed lag regardless of market conditions, consistent delay of approximately (K Smoothing + D Smoothing) / 2 periods
Equal treatment of trending and ranging markets, no adaptation to volatility changes
Predictable behavior but suboptimal in varying market regimes
Enhanced Version with Adaptive Algorithms:
KAMA and FRAMA reduce lag by up to 40-60% in strong trends compared to SMA while maintaining similar smoothness in ranges
ZLEMA and T3 provide near-zero lag characteristics for early entry signals with acceptable noise levels
Kalman Filter and Super Smoother offer superior noise rejection, reducing false signals in choppy conditions by estimations of 30-50% compared to SMA
Performance improvements vary by algorithm selection and market conditions
Signal Quality Improvements:
Adaptive algorithms help reduce whipsaw trades in ranging markets by adjusting sensitivity dynamically
Advanced filters (Kalman, Laguerre, Super Smoother) provide clearer extreme zone readings for mean reversion strategies
Zero-lag methods (ZLEMA, DEMA, TEMA) generate earlier crossover signals in trending markets for improved entry timing
Smoother algorithms (T3, Laguerre Binomial) reduce false extreme zone touches for more reliable overbought/oversold signals
Comparison with Standard Implementations:
Versus Basic Stochastic: Enhanced version offers 21 smoothing options versus single SMA, allowing optimization for specific market characteristics and trading styles
Versus RSI: Stochastic provides range-bound measurement (0-100) with clear extreme zones, RSI measures momentum speed, Stochastic offers clearer visual overbought/oversold identification
Versus MACD: Stochastic bounded oscillator suitable for mean reversion, MACD unbounded indicator better for trend strength, Stochastic excels in range-bound and oscillating markets
Versus CCI: Stochastic has fixed bounds (0-100) for consistent interpretation, CCI unbounded with variable extremes, Stochastic provides more standardized extreme readings across different instruments
Flexibility Advantages:
Single indicator adaptable to multiple strategies through algorithm selection rather than requiring different indicator variants
Ability to optimize smoothing characteristics for specific instruments (e.g., smoother for crypto volatility, faster for forex trends)
Multi-timeframe analysis with consistent algorithm across timeframes for coherent momentum picture
Backtesting capability with algorithm as optimization parameter for strategy development
Limitations and Considerations:
Increased complexity from multiple algorithm choices may lead to over-optimization if parameters are curve-fitted to historical data
Adaptive algorithms (KAMA, FRAMA) have adjustment periods during market regime changes where signals may be less reliable
Zero-lag algorithms sacrifice some smoothness for responsiveness, potentially increasing noise sensitivity in very choppy conditions
Performance characteristics vary significantly across algorithms, requiring understanding and testing before live implementation
Like all oscillators, Stochastic can remain in extreme zones for extended periods during strong trends, generating premature reversal signals
USAGE NOTES
This indicator is designed for technical analysis and educational purposes to provide traders with enhanced flexibility in momentum analysis. The Stochastic Oscillator has limitations and should not be used as the sole basis for trading decisions.
Important Considerations:
Algorithm performance varies with market conditions - no single smoothing method is optimal for all scenarios
Extreme zone signals (overbought/oversold) indicate potential reversal areas but not guaranteed turning points, especially in strong trends
Crossover signals may generate false entries during sideways choppy markets regardless of smoothing algorithm
Divergence patterns require confirmation from price action or additional indicators before trading
Past indicator characteristics and backtested results do not guarantee future performance
Always combine Stochastic analysis with proper risk management, position sizing, and multi-indicator confirmation
Test selected algorithm on historical data of specific instrument and timeframe before live trading
Market regime changes may require algorithm adjustment for optimal performance
The enhanced smoothing options are intended to provide tools for optimizing the indicator's behavior to match individual trading styles and market characteristics, not to create a perfect predictive tool. Responsible usage includes understanding the mathematical properties of selected algorithms and their appropriate application contexts.
Relative Strength index 2xRelative Strength Index 2×
The RSI*2 by AZly is an advanced dual-RSI indicator that allows traders to analyze momentum from two distinct perspectives — short-term and medium-term — on a single chart. It combines RSI precision with multi-timeframe flexibility, giving a clear view of both immediate and underlying momentum trends.
⚙️ How It Works
This indicator calculates and plots two fully independent RSI lines, each with customizable settings:
RSI 1 (Main RSI) : Captures medium-term momentum, ideal for trend and context.
RSI 2 (Fast RSI) : Reacts quickly to short-term moves, identifying overbought and oversold conditions.
Both RSIs include:
Custom timeframe, source, and smoothing method (SMA, EMA, WMA, VWMA, HMA, SMMA).
Gradient zones to visualize momentum strength and reversals.
Adjustable levels and colors for clear chart presentation.
📘 Andrew Cardwell Zones (RSI 1)
RSI 1 uses Andrew Cardwell’s “range rules” to distinguish bullish and bearish momentum phases:
Bullish Range: RSI holds between 40–80, finding support around 40–45.
Bearish Range: RSI stays between 20–60, with rallies capped near 55–60.
A breakout from one range into another often signals a trend phase transition — marking potential trend beginnings or endings.
⚡ Overbought/Oversold Zones (RSI 2)
RSI 2 is designed for fast reactions and reversal detection:
95–100: Extreme overbought zone — potential exhaustion and short setup.
5–0: Extreme oversold zone — potential exhaustion and long setup.
Crossing these levels highlights short-term momentum exhaustion , often preceding pullbacks or strong price reversals.
💡 Why It’s Better
Compared to traditional RSI indicators, this version provides superior control and insight:
Dual independent RSIs with separate timeframes and smoothing.
Cardwell-style range recognition for better context of trend strength.
Extreme bands for fast RSI 2 to time entries with precision.
Dynamic gradient zones for intuitive visual interpretation.
Multi-timeframe flexibility that adapts to any trading style.
🎯 Trading Concepts
Trend Confirmation:
RSI 1 above 50 (bullish range) confirms uptrend bias; below 50 (bearish range) confirms downtrend.
Reversal Setup:
RSI 2 hitting extreme zones (above 95 or below 5) while RSI 1 stays steady often signals exhaustion and reversal setups.
Divergence Confirmation:
When RSI 2 diverges from price and RSI 1 supports the direction, it strengthens reversal probability.
Range Transition:
A shift in RSI 1’s range (from bearish to bullish or vice versa) confirms a major change in market structure.
🕒 Trade Timing (Entry Ideas)
Timing is one of the indicator’s strongest features.
Wait for RSI 2 to reach an extreme zone (above 95 or below 5).
Then confirm the direction with RSI 1 — trades are most effective when RSI 1’s range aligns with the anticipated move.
Buy Setup:
RSI 1 in bullish range + RSI 2 rebounds upward from the 5 zone.
Sell Setup:
RSI 1 in bearish range + RSI 2 turns down from the 95 zone.
Best Timing:
Enter when RSI 2 crosses back inside the 10–90 range in the same direction as RSI 1’s trend.
This captures momentum just as it resumes — avoiding early or late entries.
🔷 M & W Patterns (RSI 2)
RSI 2 also reveals short-term exhaustion structures:
“ M ” Formation: Two RSI peaks near 95–100 — bearish reversal setup.
“ W ” Formation: Two RSI troughs near 0–5 — bullish reversal setup.
These shapes often appear before price reversals, offering early momentum clues.
⚠️ Important Trading Guidance
It is strongly recommended not to trade against the prevailing trend or attempt to pick exact tops or bottoms. The indicator works best when used in alignment with trend direction. Counter-trend entries carry higher risk and lower probability.
📊 Recommended Use
Ideal for momentum traders, scalpers, and multi-timeframe analysts seeking precise timing and context. Works on all markets — forex, crypto, stocks, indexes, and commodities.
Algo Trading Signals - Buy/Sell System# 📊 Algo Trading Signals - Dynamic Buy/Sell System
## 🎯 Overview
**Algo Trading Signals** is a sophisticated intraday trading indicator designed for algorithmic traders and active day traders. This system generates precise buy and sell signals based on a dynamic box breakout strategy with intelligent position management, add-on entries, and automatic target adjustment.
The indicator creates a reference price box during a specified time window (default: 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM IST) and generates high-probability signals when price breaks out of this range with confirmation.
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## ✨ Key Features
### 📍 **Smart Signal Generation**
- **Primary Entry Signals**: Clear buy/sell signals on confirmed breakouts above/below the reference box
- **Confirmation Bars**: Reduces false signals by requiring multiple bar confirmation before entry
- **Cooldown System**: Prevents overtrading with configurable cooldown periods between trades
- **Add-On Positions**: Automatically identifies optimal pullback entries for scaling into positions
### 📦 **Dynamic Reference Box**
- Creates a high/low range during your chosen time window
- Automatically updates after each successful trade
- Visual box display with color-coded boundaries (red=resistance, green=support)
- Mid-level reference line for market structure analysis
### 🎯 **Intelligent Position Management**
- **Automatic Target Calculation**: Sets profit targets based on average move distance
- **Add-On System**: Up to 3 additional entries on optimal pullbacks
- **Position Tracking**: Monitors active trades and remaining add-on capacity
- **Auto Box Shift**: Adjusts reference box after target hits for continued trading
### 📊 **Visual Clarity**
- **Color-Coded Labels**:
- 🟢 Green for BUY signals
- 🔴 Red for SELL signals
- 🔵 Blue for ADD-ON buys
- 🟠 Orange for ADD-ON sells
- ✓ Yellow for Target hits
- **TP Level Lines**: Dotted lines showing current profit targets
- **Hover Tooltips**: Detailed information on entry prices, targets, and add-on numbers
### 📈 **Real-Time Statistics**
Live performance dashboard showing:
- Total buy and sell signals generated
- Number of add-on positions taken
- Take profit hits achieved
- Current trade status (LONG/SHORT/None)
- Cooldown timer status
### 🔔 **Comprehensive Alerts**
Built-in alert conditions for:
- Primary buy entry signals
- Primary sell entry signals
- Add-on buy positions
- Add-on sell positions
- Buy take profit hits
- Sell take profit hits
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## 🛠️ Configuration Options
### **Time Settings**
- **Box Start Hour/Minute**: Define when to begin tracking the reference range
- **Box End Hour/Minute**: Define when to lock the reference box
- **Default**: 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM (IST) - Perfect for Indian market opening range
### **Trade Settings**
- **Target Points (TP)**: Average move distance for profit targets (default: 40 points)
- **Breakout Confirmation Bars**: Number of bars to confirm breakout (default: 2)
- **Cooldown After Trade**: Bars to wait after closing position (default: 3)
- **Add-On Distance Points**: Minimum pullback for add-on entry (default: 40 points)
- **Max Add-On Positions**: Maximum additional positions allowed (default: 3)
### **Display Options**
- Toggle buy/sell signal labels
- Show/hide trading box visualization
- Show/hide TP level lines
- Show/hide statistics table
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## 💡 How It Works
### **Phase 1: Box Formation (9:15 AM - 9:45 AM)**
The indicator tracks the high and low prices during your specified time window to create a reference box representing the opening range.
### **Phase 2: Breakout Detection**
After the box is locked, the system monitors for:
- **Bullish Breakout**: Price closes above box high for confirmation bars
- **Bearish Breakout**: Price closes below box low for confirmation bars
### **Phase 3: Signal Generation**
When confirmation requirements are met:
- Entry signal is generated with clear visual label
- Target price is calculated (Entry ± Target Points)
- Position tracking activates
- Cooldown timer starts
### **Phase 4: Position Management**
During active trade:
- **Add-On Logic**: If price pulls back by specified distance but stays within favorable range, additional entry signal fires
- **Target Monitoring**: Continuously checks if price reaches TP level
- **Box Adjustment**: After TP hit, box automatically shifts to new range for next opportunity
### **Phase 5: Trade Exit & Reset**
On target hit:
- Position closes with TP marker
- Statistics update
- Box repositions for next setup
- Cooldown activates
- System ready for next signal
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## 📌 Best Use Cases
### **Ideal For:**
- ✅ Intraday breakout trading strategies
- ✅ Algorithmic trading systems (via alerts/webhooks)
- ✅ Opening range breakout (ORB) strategies
- ✅ Index futures (Nifty, Bank Nifty, Sensex)
- ✅ High-liquidity stocks with clear ranges
- ✅ Automated trading bots
- ✅ Scalping and day trading
### **Markets:**
- Indian Stock Market (NSE/BSE)
- Futures & Options
- Forex pairs
- Cryptocurrency (adjust timing for 24/7 markets)
- Global indices
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## ⚙️ Integration with Algo Trading
This indicator is **algo-ready** and can be integrated with automated trading systems:
1. **TradingView Alerts**: Set up alert conditions for each signal type
2. **Webhook Integration**: Connect alerts to trading platforms via webhooks
3. **API Automation**: Use with brokers supporting TradingView integration (Zerodha, Upstox, Interactive Brokers, etc.)
4. **Signal Data Access**: All signals are plotted for external data retrieval
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## 📖 Quick Start Guide
1. **Add Indicator**: Apply to your chart (works best on 1-5 minute timeframes)
2. **Configure Time Window**: Set your desired box formation period
3. **Adjust Parameters**: Tune confirmation bars, targets, and add-on settings to your trading style
4. **Set Alerts**: Create alert conditions for automated notifications
5. **Backtest**: Review historical signals to validate strategy performance
6. **Go Live**: Enable alerts and start receiving real-time trading signals
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## ⚠️ Risk Disclaimer
This indicator is a **tool for analysis** and does not guarantee profits. Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Always:
- Use proper position sizing
- Implement stop losses (not included in this indicator)
- Test thoroughly before live trading
- Understand market conditions
- Never risk more than you can afford to lose
- Consider your risk tolerance and trading experience
**Past performance does not indicate future results.**
## 🔄 Version History
**v1.0** - Initial Release
- Dynamic box formation system
- Confirmed breakout signals
- Add-on position management
- Visual signal labels and statistics
- Comprehensive alert system
- Auto-adjusting target boxes
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## 📞 Support & Feedback
If you find this indicator helpful:
- ⭐ Please leave a like/favorite
- 💬 Share your feedback in comments
- 📊 Share your results and improvements
- 🤝 Suggest features for future updates
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## 🏷️ Tags
`breakout` `daytrading` `signals` `algo` `automated` `intraday` `ORB` `opening-range` `buy-sell` `scalping` `futures` `nifty` `banknifty` `algorithmic` `box-strategy`
*Remember: The best indicator is combined with proper risk management and trading discipline.* Use it at your own rist, not as financial advie
