Vortex Trend Tracker

3 thg 7, 2019

Though it may sound complex, the Vortex Indicator is essentially an uptrend line and a downtrend line. The vortex indicator can be used for a variety of purposes, including tracking the strength of trends, identifying/anticipating reversals, and generating entry/exit signals. It’s calculation is shown in the open-source code below.

To reduce the number of whipsaws produced by the indicator, we used an Exponential Moving Average of vmPlus and vmNegative values with a default length of 10. Decreasing this length will result in a more responsive vortex at the cost of more whipsaws and false signals.

The chart shows the absolute value of the difference between the uptrend and downtrend line displayed as the main histogram.

If the uptrend line is greater than the downtrend (thus indicating positive movement), then the histogram bars will be either light green or dark green. If the uptrend line has just now crossed the downtrend line, then the bar will be dark green. Bars will also be dark green when the uptrend line is greater than the downtrend line and the uptrend line is increasing. This means the trend is increasing in strength still. If the uptrend line is greater than the downtrend line, but is decreasing, then the bars will be light green. This means that the upwards trend is losing strength.

If the downtrend line is greater than the uptrend line, then there is a negative trend occurring and the bars will be either red or light red. If the downtrend line has just crossed over the uptrend line or is increasing in value, then the bar will be red. If the downtrend line is greater than the uptrend line, but is decreasing in value, then the bars will be light red (meaning the downtrend is weakening).

One way to trade using this vortex is to enter a long position when the bar color changes from red to light red. This would mean that the downtrend is decreasing in strength and an upwards reversal is likely to occur soon. Then, traders can exit their long position when the bars change from dark green to light green. When that color change occurs it means that the uptrend is running out of steam and price is unlikely to continue its upwards climb.

Traders can also choose to have the uptrend and downtrend lines plotted as well in the input menu. This may make it easier to visualize the Vortex and its usefulness in identifying reversals.