BTC Futures BasisShows various basis percentages in a table and plots historical basis. Also has an alert function for backwardation events. Useful for tracking bullish/bearish sentiment in BTC futures markets.
*Currently displays March and June futures for the following exchanges: Bitmex, Binance, Deribit, Okex, and FTX
Also displays CME Continuous Next Contract. All of the symbols are customizable.
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Market-wide backwardation usually occurs during a heavy sell-off (such as a liquidation cascade).
**For getting alerts of backwardation events, I recommend creating an alert on the 1 minute chart with the condition "Any alert() function call". Alert level is customizable as well.
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*NOTE!! : Futures contracts expire (obviously), so the contract symbols will need to be updated periodically. I will try to keep them updated going into the future.
**NOTE2!! : The alert() function does not track the CME contract. This is to avoid false triggers.
Tìm kiếm tập lệnh với "Table"
SPY Sub-Sector Daily Money Flow TableThis calculates the dollar volume per candlestick (2nd row) and cumulative (3rd row) of the entire trading day for each subsector of the SPY.
The 'Total' column is the total of all the subsectors combined. It is calculated separately from SPY volume.
The money flow is calculated with (open+close)/2 which means different timeframes yield different results and won't be especially accurate day-by-day. This is useful to quickly see rotation and possible divergences.
Enjoy!
PreMarketStatsThe idea is to catch pre market information (or other relevant data), that basically consists of a single number, in a table instead of using a plot that takes up space in the chart. In this example, I added pre market volume and pre market change in %. Where the second one is as well available in the details tab of the stock, it is not available if this tab is closed or during replays.
[CLX][#01] Animation - Price Ticker (Marquee)This indicator displays a classic animated price ticker overlaid on the user’s current chart. It is possible to fully customize it or to select one of the predefined styles.
A detailed description will follow in the next few days.
Used Pinescript technics:
- varip (view/animation)
- tulip instance (config/codestructur)
- table (view/position)
By the way, for me, one of the coolest animated effects is by Duyck
We hope you enjoy it! 🎉
CRYPTOLINX - jango_blockchained 😊👍
Disclaimer:
Trading success is all about following your trading strategy and the indicators should fit within your trading strategy, and not to be traded upon solely.
The script is for informational and educational purposes only. Use of the script does not constitute professional and/or financial advice. You alone have the sole responsibility of evaluating the script output and risks associated with the use of the script. In exchange for using the script, you agree not to hold dgtrd TradingView user liable for any possible claim for damages arising from any decision you make based on use of the script.
Probability TableThe script is inspired by user NickbarComb, I suggested checking out his Price Convergence script.
Basically, this script plots a table containing the probability of the current candle closing either higher or lower based on user-define past period.
Hope that it will be helpful.
MTF Price/Volume % [Anan]Hello friends,
This is a multi-timeframe table with these features:
Display price change percentage compared with the last timeframe candle close.
Display price change percentage compared with the last timeframe candle close MA.
Displays change percentage compared with the last timeframe candle volume.
Displays change percentage compared with the last timeframe candle volume MA.
Change type/length of MA for Price/Volume.
Full control of Panel position and size.
Full control of displaying any row or column.
Average Daily Range TableThis is the last script to complete Vladimir Poltoratskiy's setup found in his books.
Poltoratskiy argues that you should not take any fractal corridors higher than 50% of the Average Daily Range. To be honest, even 40% is a lot, because then, your target will be 160% ADR away from your entry and one "fracture" just can't be enough to predict moves this big.
I chose a table to visually represent the indicator because it doesn't change its value during the day. It takes far less room on the chart.
There are also two simple moving averages. You may use the as an indicator if the relative volatility as of late is extremely low and in that case, perhaps, expect an increase in the coming days. They are applied to the Average Daily Range, not one day range!
PAC newThis indicator will alert you when a candle goes above or below the price action channel (PAC) but only on the first or second candle after a colour change in candle.
When price is above the price action channel that is a bullish sign, when price is below the PAC that is a bearish sign.
The idea is that a sudden change in price is a cause to investigate further price action moving in that direction so the indicator aims to identify reversal
Scalping strategy that works on 5 min chart and aims to gain 10 pips. Do not act on every signal. Further investigation is required, for example by looking at RSI oversolf and overbought levels. For example, at an oversold area, a buy signal is more valid
Table: Forex Central Bank Interest RatesThis tool shows CB Interest Rates for USD, JPY, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, NZD, AUD - basically all the majors.
Use override and input your own value if it is changed and I haven't updated the script yet.
Month/Month Percentage % Change, Historical; Seasonal TendencyTable of monthly % changes in Average Price over the last 10 years (or the 10 yrs prior to input year).
Useful for gauging seasonal tendencies of an asset; backtesting monthly volatility and bullish/bearish tendency.
~~User Inputs~~
Choose measure of average: sma(close), sma(ohlc4), vwap(close), vwma(close).
Show last 10yrs, with 10yr average % change, or to just show single year.
Chose input year; with the indicator auto calculating the prior 10 years.
Choose color for labels and size for labels; choose +Ve value color and -Ve value color.
Set 'Daily bars in month': 21 for Forex/Commodities/Indices; 30 for Crypto.
Set precision: decimal places
~~notes~~
-designed for use on Daily timeframe (tradingview is buggy on monthly timeframe calculations, and less precise on weekly timeframe calculations).
-where Current month of year has not occurred yet, will print 9yr average.
-calculates the average change of displayed month compared to the previous month: i.e. Jan22 value represents whole of Jan22 compared to whole of Dec21.
-table displays on the chart over the input year; so for ES, with 2010 selected; shows values from 2001-2010, displaying across 2010-2011 on the chart.
-plots on seperate right hand side scale, so can be shrunk and dragged vertically.
-thanks to @gabx11 for the suggestion which inspired me to write this
Koalafied Risk ManagementTables and labels/lines showing trade levels and risk/reward. Use to manage trade risk compared to portfolio size.
Initial design optimised for tickers denominated against USD.
Multi-Session High/Low Trackertable that shows rth eth and full weekly range high and low with range difference from high and low
Table ATH and DayQuotes in the middle of a chartJust important things at a glance ..
AlltimeHigh and Daily High/Low
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.
Bitcoin Fair Price Calculator [bitcoinfairprice.com]1. Purpose of the scriptLong-term Bitcoin valuation based on historical time (days since Genesis block)
Fair Price = theoretically “fair” price according to power law.
Bottom Price = lower support (historically ~58% below Fair Price).
Daily display as on the website – without external access.
Buy/sell signals in case of strong overvaluation/undervaluation.
2. Mathematical model (original formula)pinescript
Bottom Price = Fair Price × 0.42
→ Corresponds historically to ~58% below Fair Price.
Days since Genesis block are calculated automatically per bar.
3. What is displayed in the chart?
Fair Price Average power law line (“fair price”) Blue
Bottom Price Lower support (“floor”) Green
Power Law Corridor Filled area between 0.1× and 2.5× Fair Price Light blue (transparent)
Table (top right) Daily values as on the website Black with white text
Label (for >20% deviation) Shows current prices + percentage Red (overvalued) / Green (undervalued)
4. Recommended use Timeframe
Recommendation Weekly / Monthly Best long-term signals
Daily Good balance
Log scale Be sure to activate! (Right-click on Y-axis → “Logarithmic scale”)
9. Strategy tips (based on the model)
Price near bottom --> Buy / accumulate
Price > 2.5× fair price --> Sell part of position / caution
Price between fair & bottom --> Strong buy zone
Deviation < -20% --> HODL signal
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Universal Ratio Trend Matrix [InvestorUnknown]The Universal Ratio Trend Matrix is designed for trend analysis on asset/asset ratios, supporting up to 40 different assets. Its primary purpose is to help identify which assets are outperforming others within a selection, providing a broad overview of market trends through a matrix of ratios. The indicator automatically expands the matrix based on the number of assets chosen, simplifying the process of comparing multiple assets in terms of performance.
Key features include the ability to choose from a narrow selection of indicators to perform the ratio trend analysis, allowing users to apply well-defined metrics to their comparison.
Drawback: Due to the computational intensity involved in calculating ratios across many assets, the indicator has a limitation related to loading speed. TradingView has time limits for calculations, and for users on the basic (free) plan, this could result in frequent errors due to exceeded time limits. To use the indicator effectively, users with any paid plans should run it on timeframes higher than 8h (the lowest timeframe on which it managed to load with 40 assets), as lower timeframes may not reliably load.
Indicators:
RSI_raw: Simple function to calculate the Relative Strength Index (RSI) of a source (asset price).
RSI_sma: Calculates RSI followed by a Simple Moving Average (SMA).
RSI_ema: Calculates RSI followed by an Exponential Moving Average (EMA).
CCI: Calculates the Commodity Channel Index (CCI).
Fisher: Implements the Fisher Transform to normalize prices.
Utility Functions:
f_remove_exchange_name: Strips the exchange name from asset tickers (e.g., "INDEX:BTCUSD" to "BTCUSD").
f_remove_exchange_name(simple string name) =>
string parts = str.split(name, ":")
string result = array.size(parts) > 1 ? array.get(parts, 1) : name
result
f_get_price: Retrieves the closing price of a given asset ticker using request.security().
f_constant_src: Checks if the source data is constant by comparing multiple consecutive values.
Inputs:
General settings allow users to select the number of tickers for analysis (used_assets) and choose the trend indicator (RSI, CCI, Fisher, etc.).
Table settings customize how trend scores are displayed in terms of text size, header visibility, highlighting options, and top-performing asset identification.
The script includes inputs for up to 40 assets, allowing the user to select various cryptocurrencies (e.g., BTCUSD, ETHUSD, SOLUSD) or other assets for trend analysis.
Price Arrays:
Price values for each asset are stored in variables (price_a1 to price_a40) initialized as na. These prices are updated only for the number of assets specified by the user (used_assets).
Trend scores for each asset are stored in separate arrays
// declare price variables as "na"
var float price_a1 = na, var float price_a2 = na, var float price_a3 = na, var float price_a4 = na, var float price_a5 = na
var float price_a6 = na, var float price_a7 = na, var float price_a8 = na, var float price_a9 = na, var float price_a10 = na
var float price_a11 = na, var float price_a12 = na, var float price_a13 = na, var float price_a14 = na, var float price_a15 = na
var float price_a16 = na, var float price_a17 = na, var float price_a18 = na, var float price_a19 = na, var float price_a20 = na
var float price_a21 = na, var float price_a22 = na, var float price_a23 = na, var float price_a24 = na, var float price_a25 = na
var float price_a26 = na, var float price_a27 = na, var float price_a28 = na, var float price_a29 = na, var float price_a30 = na
var float price_a31 = na, var float price_a32 = na, var float price_a33 = na, var float price_a34 = na, var float price_a35 = na
var float price_a36 = na, var float price_a37 = na, var float price_a38 = na, var float price_a39 = na, var float price_a40 = na
// create "empty" arrays to store trend scores
var a1_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a2_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a3_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a4_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a5_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a6_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a7_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a8_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a9_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a10_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a11_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a12_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a13_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a14_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a15_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a16_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a17_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a18_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a19_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a20_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a21_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a22_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a23_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a24_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a25_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a26_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a27_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a28_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a29_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a30_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a31_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a32_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a33_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a34_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a35_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a36_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
var a37_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a38_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a39_array = array.new_int(40, 0), var a40_array = array.new_int(40, 0)
f_get_price(simple string ticker) =>
request.security(ticker, "", close)
// Prices for each USED asset
f_get_asset_price(asset_number, ticker) =>
if (used_assets >= asset_number)
f_get_price(ticker)
else
na
// overwrite empty variables with the prices if "used_assets" is greater or equal to the asset number
if barstate.isconfirmed // use barstate.isconfirmed to avoid "na prices" and calculation errors that result in empty cells in the table
price_a1 := f_get_asset_price(1, asset1), price_a2 := f_get_asset_price(2, asset2), price_a3 := f_get_asset_price(3, asset3), price_a4 := f_get_asset_price(4, asset4)
price_a5 := f_get_asset_price(5, asset5), price_a6 := f_get_asset_price(6, asset6), price_a7 := f_get_asset_price(7, asset7), price_a8 := f_get_asset_price(8, asset8)
price_a9 := f_get_asset_price(9, asset9), price_a10 := f_get_asset_price(10, asset10), price_a11 := f_get_asset_price(11, asset11), price_a12 := f_get_asset_price(12, asset12)
price_a13 := f_get_asset_price(13, asset13), price_a14 := f_get_asset_price(14, asset14), price_a15 := f_get_asset_price(15, asset15), price_a16 := f_get_asset_price(16, asset16)
price_a17 := f_get_asset_price(17, asset17), price_a18 := f_get_asset_price(18, asset18), price_a19 := f_get_asset_price(19, asset19), price_a20 := f_get_asset_price(20, asset20)
price_a21 := f_get_asset_price(21, asset21), price_a22 := f_get_asset_price(22, asset22), price_a23 := f_get_asset_price(23, asset23), price_a24 := f_get_asset_price(24, asset24)
price_a25 := f_get_asset_price(25, asset25), price_a26 := f_get_asset_price(26, asset26), price_a27 := f_get_asset_price(27, asset27), price_a28 := f_get_asset_price(28, asset28)
price_a29 := f_get_asset_price(29, asset29), price_a30 := f_get_asset_price(30, asset30), price_a31 := f_get_asset_price(31, asset31), price_a32 := f_get_asset_price(32, asset32)
price_a33 := f_get_asset_price(33, asset33), price_a34 := f_get_asset_price(34, asset34), price_a35 := f_get_asset_price(35, asset35), price_a36 := f_get_asset_price(36, asset36)
price_a37 := f_get_asset_price(37, asset37), price_a38 := f_get_asset_price(38, asset38), price_a39 := f_get_asset_price(39, asset39), price_a40 := f_get_asset_price(40, asset40)
Universal Indicator Calculation (f_calc_score):
This function allows switching between different trend indicators (RSI, CCI, Fisher) for flexibility.
It uses a switch-case structure to calculate the indicator score, where a positive trend is denoted by 1 and a negative trend by 0. Each indicator has its own logic to determine whether the asset is trending up or down.
// use switch to allow "universality" in indicator selection
f_calc_score(source, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2) =>
int score = na
if (not f_constant_src(source)) and source > 0.0 // Skip if you are using the same assets for ratio (for example BTC/BTC)
x = switch trend_indicator
"RSI (Raw)" => RSI_raw(source, int_1)
"RSI (SMA)" => RSI_sma(source, int_1, int_2)
"RSI (EMA)" => RSI_ema(source, int_1, int_2)
"CCI" => CCI(source, int_1)
"Fisher" => Fisher(source, int_1)
y = switch trend_indicator
"RSI (Raw)" => x > 50 ? 1 : 0
"RSI (SMA)" => x > 50 ? 1 : 0
"RSI (EMA)" => x > 50 ? 1 : 0
"CCI" => x > 0 ? 1 : 0
"Fisher" => x > x ? 1 : 0
score := y
else
score := 0
score
Array Setting Function (f_array_set):
This function populates an array with scores calculated for each asset based on a base price (p_base) divided by the prices of the individual assets.
It processes multiple assets (up to 40), calling the f_calc_score function for each.
// function to set values into the arrays
f_array_set(a_array, p_base) =>
array.set(a_array, 0, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a1, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 1, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a2, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 2, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a3, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 3, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a4, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 4, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a5, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 5, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a6, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 6, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a7, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 7, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a8, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 8, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a9, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 9, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a10, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 10, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a11, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 11, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a12, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 12, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a13, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 13, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a14, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 14, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a15, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 15, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a16, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 16, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a17, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 17, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a18, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 18, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a19, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 19, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a20, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 20, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a21, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 21, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a22, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 22, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a23, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 23, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a24, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 24, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a25, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 25, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a26, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 26, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a27, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 27, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a28, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 28, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a29, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 29, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a30, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 30, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a31, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 31, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a32, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 32, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a33, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 33, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a34, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 34, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a35, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 35, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a36, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 36, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a37, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 37, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a38, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 38, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a39, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
array.set(a_array, 39, f_calc_score(p_base / price_a40, trend_indicator, int_1, int_2))
a_array
Conditional Array Setting (f_arrayset):
This function checks if the number of used assets is greater than or equal to a specified number before populating the arrays.
// only set values into arrays for USED assets
f_arrayset(asset_number, a_array, p_base) =>
if (used_assets >= asset_number)
f_array_set(a_array, p_base)
else
na
Main Logic
The main logic initializes arrays to store scores for each asset. Each array corresponds to one asset's performance score.
Setting Trend Values: The code calls f_arrayset for each asset, populating the respective arrays with calculated scores based on the asset prices.
Combining Arrays: A combined_array is created to hold all the scores from individual asset arrays. This array facilitates further analysis, allowing for an overview of the performance scores of all assets at once.
// create a combined array (work-around since pinescript doesn't support having array of arrays)
var combined_array = array.new_int(40 * 40, 0)
if barstate.islast
for i = 0 to 39
array.set(combined_array, i, array.get(a1_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 1), array.get(a2_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 2), array.get(a3_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 3), array.get(a4_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 4), array.get(a5_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 5), array.get(a6_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 6), array.get(a7_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 7), array.get(a8_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 8), array.get(a9_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 9), array.get(a10_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 10), array.get(a11_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 11), array.get(a12_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 12), array.get(a13_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 13), array.get(a14_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 14), array.get(a15_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 15), array.get(a16_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 16), array.get(a17_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 17), array.get(a18_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 18), array.get(a19_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 19), array.get(a20_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 20), array.get(a21_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 21), array.get(a22_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 22), array.get(a23_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 23), array.get(a24_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 24), array.get(a25_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 25), array.get(a26_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 26), array.get(a27_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 27), array.get(a28_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 28), array.get(a29_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 29), array.get(a30_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 30), array.get(a31_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 31), array.get(a32_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 32), array.get(a33_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 33), array.get(a34_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 34), array.get(a35_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 35), array.get(a36_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 36), array.get(a37_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 37), array.get(a38_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 38), array.get(a39_array, i))
array.set(combined_array, i + (40 * 39), array.get(a40_array, i))
Calculating Sums: A separate array_sums is created to store the total score for each asset by summing the values of their respective score arrays. This allows for easy comparison of overall performance.
Ranking Assets: The final part of the code ranks the assets based on their total scores stored in array_sums. It assigns a rank to each asset, where the asset with the highest score receives the highest rank.
// create array for asset RANK based on array.sum
var ranks = array.new_int(used_assets, 0)
// for loop that calculates the rank of each asset
if barstate.islast
for i = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
int rank = 1
for x = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
if i != x
if array.get(array_sums, i) < array.get(array_sums, x)
rank := rank + 1
array.set(ranks, i, rank)
Dynamic Table Creation
Initialization: The table is initialized with a base structure that includes headers for asset names, scores, and ranks. The headers are set to remain constant, ensuring clarity for users as they interpret the displayed data.
Data Population: As scores are calculated for each asset, the corresponding values are dynamically inserted into the table. This is achieved through a loop that iterates over the scores and ranks stored in the combined_array and array_sums, respectively.
Automatic Extending Mechanism
Variable Asset Count: The code checks the number of assets defined by the user. Instead of hardcoding the number of rows in the table, it uses a variable to determine the extent of the data that needs to be displayed. This allows the table to expand or contract based on the number of assets being analyzed.
Dynamic Row Generation: Within the loop that populates the table, the code appends new rows for each asset based on the current asset count. The structure of each row includes the asset name, its score, and its rank, ensuring that the table remains consistent regardless of how many assets are involved.
// Automatically extending table based on the number of used assets
var table table = table.new(position.bottom_center, 50, 50, color.new(color.black, 100), color.white, 3, color.white, 1)
if barstate.islast
if not hide_head
table.cell(table, 0, 0, "Universal Ratio Trend Matrix", text_color = color.white, bgcolor = #010c3b, text_size = fontSize)
table.merge_cells(table, 0, 0, used_assets + 3, 0)
if not hide_inps
table.cell(table, 0, 1,
text = "Inputs: You are using " + str.tostring(trend_indicator) + ", which takes: " + str.tostring(f_get_input(trend_indicator)),
text_color = color.white, text_size = fontSize), table.merge_cells(table, 0, 1, used_assets + 3, 1)
table.cell(table, 0, 2, "Assets", text_color = color.white, text_size = fontSize, bgcolor = #010c3b)
for x = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
table.cell(table, x + 1, 2, text = str.tostring(array.get(assets, x)), text_color = color.white, bgcolor = #010c3b, text_size = fontSize)
table.cell(table, 0, x + 3, text = str.tostring(array.get(assets, x)), text_color = color.white, bgcolor = f_asset_col(array.get(ranks, x)), text_size = fontSize)
for r = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
for c = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
table.cell(table, c + 1, r + 3, text = str.tostring(array.get(combined_array, c + (r * 40))),
text_color = hl_type == "Text" ? f_get_col(array.get(combined_array, c + (r * 40))) : color.white, text_size = fontSize,
bgcolor = hl_type == "Background" ? f_get_col(array.get(combined_array, c + (r * 40))) : na)
for x = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
table.cell(table, x + 1, x + 3, "", bgcolor = #010c3b)
table.cell(table, used_assets + 1, 2, "", bgcolor = #010c3b)
for x = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
table.cell(table, used_assets + 1, x + 3, "==>", text_color = color.white)
table.cell(table, used_assets + 2, 2, "SUM", text_color = color.white, text_size = fontSize, bgcolor = #010c3b)
table.cell(table, used_assets + 3, 2, "RANK", text_color = color.white, text_size = fontSize, bgcolor = #010c3b)
for x = 0 to (used_assets - 1)
table.cell(table, used_assets + 2, x + 3,
text = str.tostring(array.get(array_sums, x)),
text_color = color.white, text_size = fontSize,
bgcolor = f_highlight_sum(array.get(array_sums, x), array.get(ranks, x)))
table.cell(table, used_assets + 3, x + 3,
text = str.tostring(array.get(ranks, x)),
text_color = color.white, text_size = fontSize,
bgcolor = f_highlight_rank(array.get(ranks, x)))
Markov Chain [3D] | FractalystWhat exactly is a Markov Chain?
This indicator uses a Markov Chain model to analyze, quantify, and visualize the transitions between market regimes (Bull, Bear, Neutral) on your chart. It dynamically detects these regimes in real-time, calculates transition probabilities, and displays them as animated 3D spheres and arrows, giving traders intuitive insight into current and future market conditions.
How does a Markov Chain work, and how should I read this spheres-and-arrows diagram?
Think of three weather modes: Sunny, Rainy, Cloudy.
Each sphere is one mode. The loop on a sphere means “stay the same next step” (e.g., Sunny again tomorrow).
The arrows leaving a sphere show where things usually go next if they change (e.g., Sunny moving to Cloudy).
Some paths matter more than others. A more prominent loop means the current mode tends to persist. A more prominent outgoing arrow means a change to that destination is the usual next step.
Direction isn’t symmetric: moving Sunny→Cloudy can behave differently than Cloudy→Sunny.
Now relabel the spheres to markets: Bull, Bear, Neutral.
Spheres: market regimes (uptrend, downtrend, range).
Self‑loop: tendency for the current regime to continue on the next bar.
Arrows: the most common next regime if a switch happens.
How to read: Start at the sphere that matches current bar state. If the loop stands out, expect continuation. If one outgoing path stands out, that switch is the typical next step. Opposite directions can differ (Bear→Neutral doesn’t have to match Neutral→Bear).
What states and transitions are shown?
The three market states visualized are:
Bullish (Bull): Upward or strong-market regime.
Bearish (Bear): Downward or weak-market regime.
Neutral: Sideways or range-bound regime.
Bidirectional animated arrows and probability labels show how likely the market is to move from one regime to another (e.g., Bull → Bear or Neutral → Bull).
How does the regime detection system work?
You can use either built-in price returns (based on adaptive Z-score normalization) or supply three custom indicators (such as volume, oscillators, etc.).
Values are statistically normalized (Z-scored) over a configurable lookback period.
The normalized outputs are classified into Bull, Bear, or Neutral zones.
If using three indicators, their regime signals are averaged and smoothed for robustness.
How are transition probabilities calculated?
On every confirmed bar, the algorithm tracks the sequence of detected market states, then builds a rolling window of transitions.
The code maintains a transition count matrix for all regime pairs (e.g., Bull → Bear).
Transition probabilities are extracted for each possible state change using Laplace smoothing for numerical stability, and frequently updated in real-time.
What is unique about the visualization?
3D animated spheres represent each regime and change visually when active.
Animated, bidirectional arrows reveal transition probabilities and allow you to see both dominant and less likely regime flows.
Particles (moving dots) animate along the arrows, enhancing the perception of regime flow direction and speed.
All elements dynamically update with each new price bar, providing a live market map in an intuitive, engaging format.
Can I use custom indicators for regime classification?
Yes! Enable the "Custom Indicators" switch and select any three chart series as inputs. These will be normalized and combined (each with equal weight), broadening the regime classification beyond just price-based movement.
What does the “Lookback Period” control?
Lookback Period (default: 100) sets how much historical data builds the probability matrix. Shorter periods adapt faster to regime changes but may be noisier. Longer periods are more stable but slower to adapt.
How is this different from a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)?
It sets the window for both regime detection and probability calculations. Lower values make the system more reactive, but potentially noisier. Higher values smooth estimates and make the system more robust.
How is this Markov Chain different from a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)?
Markov Chain (as here): All market regimes (Bull, Bear, Neutral) are directly observable on the chart. The transition matrix is built from actual detected regimes, keeping the model simple and interpretable.
Hidden Markov Model: The actual regimes are unobservable ("hidden") and must be inferred from market output or indicator "emissions" using statistical learning algorithms. HMMs are more complex, can capture more subtle structure, but are harder to visualize and require additional machine learning steps for training.
A standard Markov Chain models transitions between observable states using a simple transition matrix, while a Hidden Markov Model assumes the true states are hidden (latent) and must be inferred from observable “emissions” like price or volume data. In practical terms, a Markov Chain is transparent and easier to implement and interpret; an HMM is more expressive but requires statistical inference to estimate hidden states from data.
Markov Chain: states are observable; you directly count or estimate transition probabilities between visible states. This makes it simpler, faster, and easier to validate and tune.
HMM: states are hidden; you only observe emissions generated by those latent states. Learning involves machine learning/statistical algorithms (commonly Baum–Welch/EM for training and Viterbi for decoding) to infer both the transition dynamics and the most likely hidden state sequence from data.
How does the indicator avoid “repainting” or look-ahead bias?
All regime changes and matrix updates happen only on confirmed (closed) bars, so no future data is leaked, ensuring reliable real-time operation.
Are there practical tuning tips?
Tune the Lookback Period for your asset/timeframe: shorter for fast markets, longer for stability.
Use custom indicators if your asset has unique regime drivers.
Watch for rapid changes in transition probabilities as early warning of a possible regime shift.
Who is this indicator for?
Quants and quantitative researchers exploring probabilistic market modeling, especially those interested in regime-switching dynamics and Markov models.
Programmers and system developers who need a probabilistic regime filter for systematic and algorithmic backtesting:
The Markov Chain indicator is ideally suited for programmatic integration via its bias output (1 = Bull, 0 = Neutral, -1 = Bear).
Although the visualization is engaging, the core output is designed for automated, rules-based workflows—not for discretionary/manual trading decisions.
Developers can connect the indicator’s output directly to their Pine Script logic (using input.source()), allowing rapid and robust backtesting of regime-based strategies.
It acts as a plug-and-play regime filter: simply plug the bias output into your entry/exit logic, and you have a scientifically robust, probabilistically-derived signal for filtering, timing, position sizing, or risk regimes.
The MC's output is intentionally "trinary" (1/0/-1), focusing on clear regime states for unambiguous decision-making in code. If you require nuanced, multi-probability or soft-label state vectors, consider expanding the indicator or stacking it with a probability-weighted logic layer in your scripting.
Because it avoids subjectivity, this approach is optimal for systematic quants, algo developers building backtested, repeatable strategies based on probabilistic regime analysis.
What's the mathematical foundation behind this?
The mathematical foundation behind this Markov Chain indicator—and probabilistic regime detection in finance—draws from two principal models: the (standard) Markov Chain and the Hidden Markov Model (HMM).
How to use this indicator programmatically?
The Markov Chain indicator automatically exports a bias value (+1 for Bullish, -1 for Bearish, 0 for Neutral) as a plot visible in the Data Window. This allows you to integrate its regime signal into your own scripts and strategies for backtesting, automation, or live trading.
Step-by-Step Integration with Pine Script (input.source)
Add the Markov Chain indicator to your chart.
This must be done first, since your custom script will "pull" the bias signal from the indicator's plot.
In your strategy, create an input using input.source()
Example:
//@version=5
strategy("MC Bias Strategy Example")
mcBias = input.source(close, "MC Bias Source")
After saving, go to your script’s settings. For the “MC Bias Source” input, select the plot/output of the Markov Chain indicator (typically its bias plot).
Use the bias in your trading logic
Example (long only on Bull, flat otherwise):
if mcBias == 1
strategy.entry("Long", strategy.long)
else
strategy.close("Long")
For more advanced workflows, combine mcBias with additional filters or trailing stops.
How does this work behind-the-scenes?
TradingView’s input.source() lets you use any plot from another indicator as a real-time, “live” data feed in your own script (source).
The selected bias signal is available to your Pine code as a variable, enabling logical decisions based on regime (trend-following, mean-reversion, etc.).
This enables powerful strategy modularity : decouple regime detection from entry/exit logic, allowing fast experimentation without rewriting core signal code.
Integrating 45+ Indicators with Your Markov Chain — How & Why
The Enhanced Custom Indicators Export script exports a massive suite of over 45 technical indicators—ranging from classic momentum (RSI, MACD, Stochastic, etc.) to trend, volume, volatility, and oscillator tools—all pre-calculated, centered/scaled, and available as plots.
// Enhanced Custom Indicators Export - 45 Technical Indicators
// Comprehensive technical analysis suite for advanced market regime detection
//@version=6
indicator('Enhanced Custom Indicators Export | Fractalyst', shorttitle='Enhanced CI Export', overlay=false, scale=scale.right, max_labels_count=500, max_lines_count=500)
// |----- Input Parameters -----| //
momentum_group = "Momentum Indicators"
trend_group = "Trend Indicators"
volume_group = "Volume Indicators"
volatility_group = "Volatility Indicators"
oscillator_group = "Oscillator Indicators"
display_group = "Display Settings"
// Common lengths
length_14 = input.int(14, "Standard Length (14)", minval=1, maxval=100, group=momentum_group)
length_20 = input.int(20, "Medium Length (20)", minval=1, maxval=200, group=trend_group)
length_50 = input.int(50, "Long Length (50)", minval=1, maxval=200, group=trend_group)
// Display options
show_table = input.bool(true, "Show Values Table", group=display_group)
table_size = input.string("Small", "Table Size", options= , group=display_group)
// |----- MOMENTUM INDICATORS (15 indicators) -----| //
// 1. RSI (Relative Strength Index)
rsi_14 = ta.rsi(close, length_14)
rsi_centered = rsi_14 - 50
// 2. Stochastic Oscillator
stoch_k = ta.stoch(close, high, low, length_14)
stoch_d = ta.sma(stoch_k, 3)
stoch_centered = stoch_k - 50
// 3. Williams %R
williams_r = ta.stoch(close, high, low, length_14) - 100
// 4. MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)
= ta.macd(close, 12, 26, 9)
// 5. Momentum (Rate of Change)
momentum = ta.mom(close, length_14)
momentum_pct = (momentum / close ) * 100
// 6. Rate of Change (ROC)
roc = ta.roc(close, length_14)
// 7. Commodity Channel Index (CCI)
cci = ta.cci(close, length_20)
// 8. Money Flow Index (MFI)
mfi = ta.mfi(close, length_14)
mfi_centered = mfi - 50
// 9. Awesome Oscillator (AO)
ao = ta.sma(hl2, 5) - ta.sma(hl2, 34)
// 10. Accelerator Oscillator (AC)
ac = ao - ta.sma(ao, 5)
// 11. Chande Momentum Oscillator (CMO)
cmo = ta.cmo(close, length_14)
// 12. Detrended Price Oscillator (DPO)
dpo = close - ta.sma(close, length_20)
// 13. Price Oscillator (PPO)
ppo = ta.sma(close, 12) - ta.sma(close, 26)
ppo_pct = (ppo / ta.sma(close, 26)) * 100
// 14. TRIX
trix_ema1 = ta.ema(close, length_14)
trix_ema2 = ta.ema(trix_ema1, length_14)
trix_ema3 = ta.ema(trix_ema2, length_14)
trix = ta.roc(trix_ema3, 1) * 10000
// 15. Klinger Oscillator
klinger = ta.ema(volume * (high + low + close) / 3, 34) - ta.ema(volume * (high + low + close) / 3, 55)
// 16. Fisher Transform
fisher_hl2 = 0.5 * (hl2 - ta.lowest(hl2, 10)) / (ta.highest(hl2, 10) - ta.lowest(hl2, 10)) - 0.25
fisher = 0.5 * math.log((1 + fisher_hl2) / (1 - fisher_hl2))
// 17. Stochastic RSI
stoch_rsi = ta.stoch(rsi_14, rsi_14, rsi_14, length_14)
stoch_rsi_centered = stoch_rsi - 50
// 18. Relative Vigor Index (RVI)
rvi_num = ta.swma(close - open)
rvi_den = ta.swma(high - low)
rvi = rvi_den != 0 ? rvi_num / rvi_den : 0
// 19. Balance of Power (BOP)
bop = (close - open) / (high - low)
// |----- TREND INDICATORS (10 indicators) -----| //
// 20. Simple Moving Average Momentum
sma_20 = ta.sma(close, length_20)
sma_momentum = ((close - sma_20) / sma_20) * 100
// 21. Exponential Moving Average Momentum
ema_20 = ta.ema(close, length_20)
ema_momentum = ((close - ema_20) / ema_20) * 100
// 22. Parabolic SAR
sar = ta.sar(0.02, 0.02, 0.2)
sar_trend = close > sar ? 1 : -1
// 23. Linear Regression Slope
lr_slope = ta.linreg(close, length_20, 0) - ta.linreg(close, length_20, 1)
// 24. Moving Average Convergence (MAC)
mac = ta.sma(close, 10) - ta.sma(close, 30)
// 25. Trend Intensity Index (TII)
tii_sum = 0.0
for i = 1 to length_20
tii_sum += close > close ? 1 : 0
tii = (tii_sum / length_20) * 100
// 26. Ichimoku Cloud Components
ichimoku_tenkan = (ta.highest(high, 9) + ta.lowest(low, 9)) / 2
ichimoku_kijun = (ta.highest(high, 26) + ta.lowest(low, 26)) / 2
ichimoku_signal = ichimoku_tenkan > ichimoku_kijun ? 1 : -1
// 27. MESA Adaptive Moving Average (MAMA)
mama_alpha = 2.0 / (length_20 + 1)
mama = ta.ema(close, length_20)
mama_momentum = ((close - mama) / mama) * 100
// 28. Zero Lag Exponential Moving Average (ZLEMA)
zlema_lag = math.round((length_20 - 1) / 2)
zlema_data = close + (close - close )
zlema = ta.ema(zlema_data, length_20)
zlema_momentum = ((close - zlema) / zlema) * 100
// |----- VOLUME INDICATORS (6 indicators) -----| //
// 29. On-Balance Volume (OBV)
obv = ta.obv
// 30. Volume Rate of Change (VROC)
vroc = ta.roc(volume, length_14)
// 31. Price Volume Trend (PVT)
pvt = ta.pvt
// 32. Negative Volume Index (NVI)
nvi = 0.0
nvi := volume < volume ? nvi + ((close - close ) / close ) * nvi : nvi
// 33. Positive Volume Index (PVI)
pvi = 0.0
pvi := volume > volume ? pvi + ((close - close ) / close ) * pvi : pvi
// 34. Volume Oscillator
vol_osc = ta.sma(volume, 5) - ta.sma(volume, 10)
// 35. Ease of Movement (EOM)
eom_distance = high - low
eom_box_height = volume / 1000000
eom = eom_box_height != 0 ? eom_distance / eom_box_height : 0
eom_sma = ta.sma(eom, length_14)
// 36. Force Index
force_index = volume * (close - close )
force_index_sma = ta.sma(force_index, length_14)
// |----- VOLATILITY INDICATORS (10 indicators) -----| //
// 37. Average True Range (ATR)
atr = ta.atr(length_14)
atr_pct = (atr / close) * 100
// 38. Bollinger Bands Position
bb_basis = ta.sma(close, length_20)
bb_dev = 2.0 * ta.stdev(close, length_20)
bb_upper = bb_basis + bb_dev
bb_lower = bb_basis - bb_dev
bb_position = bb_dev != 0 ? (close - bb_basis) / bb_dev : 0
bb_width = bb_dev != 0 ? (bb_upper - bb_lower) / bb_basis * 100 : 0
// 39. Keltner Channels Position
kc_basis = ta.ema(close, length_20)
kc_range = ta.ema(ta.tr, length_20)
kc_upper = kc_basis + (2.0 * kc_range)
kc_lower = kc_basis - (2.0 * kc_range)
kc_position = kc_range != 0 ? (close - kc_basis) / kc_range : 0
// 40. Donchian Channels Position
dc_upper = ta.highest(high, length_20)
dc_lower = ta.lowest(low, length_20)
dc_basis = (dc_upper + dc_lower) / 2
dc_position = (dc_upper - dc_lower) != 0 ? (close - dc_basis) / (dc_upper - dc_lower) : 0
// 41. Standard Deviation
std_dev = ta.stdev(close, length_20)
std_dev_pct = (std_dev / close) * 100
// 42. Relative Volatility Index (RVI)
rvi_up = ta.stdev(close > close ? close : 0, length_14)
rvi_down = ta.stdev(close < close ? close : 0, length_14)
rvi_total = rvi_up + rvi_down
rvi_volatility = rvi_total != 0 ? (rvi_up / rvi_total) * 100 : 50
// 43. Historical Volatility
hv_returns = math.log(close / close )
hv = ta.stdev(hv_returns, length_20) * math.sqrt(252) * 100
// 44. Garman-Klass Volatility
gk_vol = math.log(high/low) * math.log(high/low) - (2*math.log(2)-1) * math.log(close/open) * math.log(close/open)
gk_volatility = math.sqrt(ta.sma(gk_vol, length_20)) * 100
// 45. Parkinson Volatility
park_vol = math.log(high/low) * math.log(high/low)
parkinson = math.sqrt(ta.sma(park_vol, length_20) / (4 * math.log(2))) * 100
// 46. Rogers-Satchell Volatility
rs_vol = math.log(high/close) * math.log(high/open) + math.log(low/close) * math.log(low/open)
rogers_satchell = math.sqrt(ta.sma(rs_vol, length_20)) * 100
// |----- OSCILLATOR INDICATORS (5 indicators) -----| //
// 47. Elder Ray Index
elder_bull = high - ta.ema(close, 13)
elder_bear = low - ta.ema(close, 13)
elder_power = elder_bull + elder_bear
// 48. Schaff Trend Cycle (STC)
stc_macd = ta.ema(close, 23) - ta.ema(close, 50)
stc_k = ta.stoch(stc_macd, stc_macd, stc_macd, 10)
stc_d = ta.ema(stc_k, 3)
stc = ta.stoch(stc_d, stc_d, stc_d, 10)
// 49. Coppock Curve
coppock_roc1 = ta.roc(close, 14)
coppock_roc2 = ta.roc(close, 11)
coppock = ta.wma(coppock_roc1 + coppock_roc2, 10)
// 50. Know Sure Thing (KST)
kst_roc1 = ta.roc(close, 10)
kst_roc2 = ta.roc(close, 15)
kst_roc3 = ta.roc(close, 20)
kst_roc4 = ta.roc(close, 30)
kst = ta.sma(kst_roc1, 10) + 2*ta.sma(kst_roc2, 10) + 3*ta.sma(kst_roc3, 10) + 4*ta.sma(kst_roc4, 15)
// 51. Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO)
ppo_line = ((ta.ema(close, 12) - ta.ema(close, 26)) / ta.ema(close, 26)) * 100
ppo_signal = ta.ema(ppo_line, 9)
ppo_histogram = ppo_line - ppo_signal
// |----- PLOT MAIN INDICATORS -----| //
// Plot key momentum indicators
plot(rsi_centered, title="01_RSI_Centered", color=color.purple, linewidth=1)
plot(stoch_centered, title="02_Stoch_Centered", color=color.blue, linewidth=1)
plot(williams_r, title="03_Williams_R", color=color.red, linewidth=1)
plot(macd_histogram, title="04_MACD_Histogram", color=color.orange, linewidth=1)
plot(cci, title="05_CCI", color=color.green, linewidth=1)
// Plot trend indicators
plot(sma_momentum, title="06_SMA_Momentum", color=color.navy, linewidth=1)
plot(ema_momentum, title="07_EMA_Momentum", color=color.maroon, linewidth=1)
plot(sar_trend, title="08_SAR_Trend", color=color.teal, linewidth=1)
plot(lr_slope, title="09_LR_Slope", color=color.lime, linewidth=1)
plot(mac, title="10_MAC", color=color.fuchsia, linewidth=1)
// Plot volatility indicators
plot(atr_pct, title="11_ATR_Pct", color=color.yellow, linewidth=1)
plot(bb_position, title="12_BB_Position", color=color.aqua, linewidth=1)
plot(kc_position, title="13_KC_Position", color=color.olive, linewidth=1)
plot(std_dev_pct, title="14_StdDev_Pct", color=color.silver, linewidth=1)
plot(bb_width, title="15_BB_Width", color=color.gray, linewidth=1)
// Plot volume indicators
plot(vroc, title="16_VROC", color=color.blue, linewidth=1)
plot(eom_sma, title="17_EOM", color=color.red, linewidth=1)
plot(vol_osc, title="18_Vol_Osc", color=color.green, linewidth=1)
plot(force_index_sma, title="19_Force_Index", color=color.orange, linewidth=1)
plot(obv, title="20_OBV", color=color.purple, linewidth=1)
// Plot additional oscillators
plot(ao, title="21_Awesome_Osc", color=color.navy, linewidth=1)
plot(cmo, title="22_CMO", color=color.maroon, linewidth=1)
plot(dpo, title="23_DPO", color=color.teal, linewidth=1)
plot(trix, title="24_TRIX", color=color.lime, linewidth=1)
plot(fisher, title="25_Fisher", color=color.fuchsia, linewidth=1)
// Plot more momentum indicators
plot(mfi_centered, title="26_MFI_Centered", color=color.yellow, linewidth=1)
plot(ac, title="27_AC", color=color.aqua, linewidth=1)
plot(ppo_pct, title="28_PPO_Pct", color=color.olive, linewidth=1)
plot(stoch_rsi_centered, title="29_StochRSI_Centered", color=color.silver, linewidth=1)
plot(klinger, title="30_Klinger", color=color.gray, linewidth=1)
// Plot trend continuation
plot(tii, title="31_TII", color=color.blue, linewidth=1)
plot(ichimoku_signal, title="32_Ichimoku_Signal", color=color.red, linewidth=1)
plot(mama_momentum, title="33_MAMA_Momentum", color=color.green, linewidth=1)
plot(zlema_momentum, title="34_ZLEMA_Momentum", color=color.orange, linewidth=1)
plot(bop, title="35_BOP", color=color.purple, linewidth=1)
// Plot volume continuation
plot(nvi, title="36_NVI", color=color.navy, linewidth=1)
plot(pvi, title="37_PVI", color=color.maroon, linewidth=1)
plot(momentum_pct, title="38_Momentum_Pct", color=color.teal, linewidth=1)
plot(roc, title="39_ROC", color=color.lime, linewidth=1)
plot(rvi, title="40_RVI", color=color.fuchsia, linewidth=1)
// Plot volatility continuation
plot(dc_position, title="41_DC_Position", color=color.yellow, linewidth=1)
plot(rvi_volatility, title="42_RVI_Volatility", color=color.aqua, linewidth=1)
plot(hv, title="43_Historical_Vol", color=color.olive, linewidth=1)
plot(gk_volatility, title="44_GK_Volatility", color=color.silver, linewidth=1)
plot(parkinson, title="45_Parkinson_Vol", color=color.gray, linewidth=1)
// Plot final oscillators
plot(rogers_satchell, title="46_RS_Volatility", color=color.blue, linewidth=1)
plot(elder_power, title="47_Elder_Power", color=color.red, linewidth=1)
plot(stc, title="48_STC", color=color.green, linewidth=1)
plot(coppock, title="49_Coppock", color=color.orange, linewidth=1)
plot(kst, title="50_KST", color=color.purple, linewidth=1)
// Plot final indicators
plot(ppo_histogram, title="51_PPO_Histogram", color=color.navy, linewidth=1)
plot(pvt, title="52_PVT", color=color.maroon, linewidth=1)
// |----- Reference Lines -----| //
hline(0, "Zero Line", color=color.gray, linestyle=hline.style_dashed, linewidth=1)
hline(50, "Midline", color=color.gray, linestyle=hline.style_dotted, linewidth=1)
hline(-50, "Lower Midline", color=color.gray, linestyle=hline.style_dotted, linewidth=1)
hline(25, "Upper Threshold", color=color.gray, linestyle=hline.style_dotted, linewidth=1)
hline(-25, "Lower Threshold", color=color.gray, linestyle=hline.style_dotted, linewidth=1)
// |----- Enhanced Information Table -----| //
if show_table and barstate.islast
table_position = position.top_right
table_text_size = table_size == "Tiny" ? size.tiny : table_size == "Small" ? size.small : size.normal
var table info_table = table.new(table_position, 3, 18, bgcolor=color.new(color.white, 85), border_width=1, border_color=color.gray)
// Headers
table.cell(info_table, 0, 0, 'Category', text_color=color.black, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.blue, 70))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 0, 'Indicator', text_color=color.black, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.blue, 70))
table.cell(info_table, 2, 0, 'Value', text_color=color.black, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.blue, 70))
// Key Momentum Indicators
table.cell(info_table, 0, 1, 'MOMENTUM', text_color=color.purple, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.purple, 90))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 1, 'RSI Centered', text_color=color.purple, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 1, str.tostring(rsi_centered, '0.00'), text_color=color.purple, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 2, '', text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 2, 'Stoch Centered', text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 2, str.tostring(stoch_centered, '0.00'), text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 3, '', text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 3, 'Williams %R', text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 3, str.tostring(williams_r, '0.00'), text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 4, '', text_color=color.orange, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 4, 'MACD Histogram', text_color=color.orange, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 4, str.tostring(macd_histogram, '0.000'), text_color=color.orange, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 5, '', text_color=color.green, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 5, 'CCI', text_color=color.green, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 5, str.tostring(cci, '0.00'), text_color=color.green, text_size=table_text_size)
// Key Trend Indicators
table.cell(info_table, 0, 6, 'TREND', text_color=color.navy, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.navy, 90))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 6, 'SMA Momentum %', text_color=color.navy, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 6, str.tostring(sma_momentum, '0.00'), text_color=color.navy, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 7, '', text_color=color.maroon, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 7, 'EMA Momentum %', text_color=color.maroon, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 7, str.tostring(ema_momentum, '0.00'), text_color=color.maroon, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 8, '', text_color=color.teal, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 8, 'SAR Trend', text_color=color.teal, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 8, str.tostring(sar_trend, '0'), text_color=color.teal, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 9, '', text_color=color.lime, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 9, 'Linear Regression', text_color=color.lime, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 9, str.tostring(lr_slope, '0.000'), text_color=color.lime, text_size=table_text_size)
// Key Volatility Indicators
table.cell(info_table, 0, 10, 'VOLATILITY', text_color=color.yellow, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.yellow, 90))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 10, 'ATR %', text_color=color.yellow, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 10, str.tostring(atr_pct, '0.00'), text_color=color.yellow, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 11, '', text_color=color.aqua, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 11, 'BB Position', text_color=color.aqua, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 11, str.tostring(bb_position, '0.00'), text_color=color.aqua, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 12, '', text_color=color.olive, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 12, 'KC Position', text_color=color.olive, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 12, str.tostring(kc_position, '0.00'), text_color=color.olive, text_size=table_text_size)
// Key Volume Indicators
table.cell(info_table, 0, 13, 'VOLUME', text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.blue, 90))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 13, 'Volume ROC', text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 13, str.tostring(vroc, '0.00'), text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 14, '', text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 14, 'EOM', text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 14, str.tostring(eom_sma, '0.000'), text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
// Key Oscillators
table.cell(info_table, 0, 15, 'OSCILLATORS', text_color=color.purple, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.purple, 90))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 15, 'Awesome Osc', text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 15, str.tostring(ao, '0.000'), text_color=color.blue, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 0, 16, '', text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 1, 16, 'Fisher Transform', text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
table.cell(info_table, 2, 16, str.tostring(fisher, '0.000'), text_color=color.red, text_size=table_text_size)
// Summary Statistics
table.cell(info_table, 0, 17, 'SUMMARY', text_color=color.black, text_size=table_text_size, bgcolor=color.new(color.gray, 70))
table.cell(info_table, 1, 17, 'Total Indicators: 52', text_color=color.black, text_size=table_text_size)
regime_color = rsi_centered > 10 ? color.green : rsi_centered < -10 ? color.red : color.gray
regime_text = rsi_centered > 10 ? "BULLISH" : rsi_centered < -10 ? "BEARISH" : "NEUTRAL"
table.cell(info_table, 2, 17, regime_text, text_color=regime_color, text_size=table_text_size)
This makes it the perfect “indicator backbone” for quantitative and systematic traders who want to prototype, combine, and test new regime detection models—especially in combination with the Markov Chain indicator.
How to use this script with the Markov Chain for research and backtesting:
Add the Enhanced Indicator Export to your chart.
Every calculated indicator is available as an individual data stream.
Connect the indicator(s) you want as custom input(s) to the Markov Chain’s “Custom Indicators” option.
In the Markov Chain indicator’s settings, turn ON the custom indicator mode.
For each of the three custom indicator inputs, select the exported plot from the Enhanced Export script—the menu lists all 45+ signals by name.
This creates a powerful, modular regime-detection engine where you can mix-and-match momentum, trend, volume, or custom combinations for advanced filtering.
Backtest regime logic directly.
Once you’ve connected your chosen indicators, the Markov Chain script performs regime detection (Bull/Neutral/Bear) based on your selected features—not just price returns.
The regime detection is robust, automatically normalized (using Z-score), and outputs bias (1, -1, 0) for plug-and-play integration.
Export the regime bias for programmatic use.
As described above, use input.source() in your Pine Script strategy or system and link the bias output.
You can now filter signals, control trade direction/size, or design pairs-trading that respect true, indicator-driven market regimes.
With this framework, you’re not limited to static or simplistic regime filters. You can rigorously define, test, and refine what “market regime” means for your strategies—using the technical features that matter most to you.
Optimize your signal generation by backtesting across a universe of meaningful indicator blends.
Enhance risk management with objective, real-time regime boundaries.
Accelerate your research: iterate quickly, swap indicator components, and see results with minimal code changes.
Automate multi-asset or pairs-trading by integrating regime context directly into strategy logic.
Add both scripts to your chart, connect your preferred features, and start investigating your best regime-based trades—entirely within the TradingView ecosystem.
References & Further Reading
Ang, A., & Bekaert, G. (2002). “Regime Switches in Interest Rates.” Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, 20(2), 163–182.
Hamilton, J. D. (1989). “A New Approach to the Economic Analysis of Nonstationary Time Series and the Business Cycle.” Econometrica, 57(2), 357–384.
Markov, A. A. (1906). "Extension of the Limit Theorems of Probability Theory to a Sum of Variables Connected in a Chain." The Notes of the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg.
Guidolin, M., & Timmermann, A. (2007). “Asset Allocation under Multivariate Regime Switching.” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 31(11), 3503–3544.
Murphy, J. J. (1999). Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets. New York Institute of Finance.
Brock, W., Lakonishok, J., & LeBaron, B. (1992). “Simple Technical Trading Rules and the Stochastic Properties of Stock Returns.” Journal of Finance, 47(5), 1731–1764.
Zucchini, W., MacDonald, I. L., & Langrock, R. (2017). Hidden Markov Models for Time Series: An Introduction Using R (2nd ed.). Chapman and Hall/CRC.
On Quantitative Finance and Markov Models:
Lo, A. W., & Hasanhodzic, J. (2009). The Heretics of Finance: Conversations with Leading Practitioners of Technical Analysis. Bloomberg Press.
Patterson, S. (2016). The Man Who Solved the Market: How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution. Penguin Press.
TradingView Pine Script Documentation: www.tradingview.com
TradingView Blog: “Use an Input From Another Indicator With Your Strategy” www.tradingview.com
GeeksforGeeks: “What is the Difference Between Markov Chains and Hidden Markov Models?” www.geeksforgeeks.org
What makes this indicator original and unique?
- On‑chart, real‑time Markov. The chain is drawn directly on your chart. You see the current regime, its tendency to stay (self‑loop), and the usual next step (arrows) as bars confirm.
- Source‑agnostic by design. The engine runs on any series you select via input.source() — price, your own oscillator, a composite score, anything you compute in the script.
- Automatic normalization + regime mapping. Different inputs live on different scales. The script standardizes your chosen source and maps it into clear regimes (e.g., Bull / Bear / Neutral) without you micromanaging thresholds each time.
- Rolling, bar‑by‑bar learning. Transition tendencies are computed from a rolling window of confirmed bars. What you see is exactly what the market did in that window.
- Fast experimentation. Switch the source, adjust the window, and the Markov view updates instantly. It’s a rapid way to test ideas and feel regime persistence/switch behavior.
Integrate your own signals (using input.source())
- In settings, choose the Source . This is powered by input.source() .
- Feed it price, an indicator you compute inside the script, or a custom composite series.
- The script will automatically normalize that series and process it through the Markov engine, mapping it to regimes and updating the on‑chart spheres/arrows in real time.
Credits:
Deep gratitude to @RicardoSantos for both the foundational Markov chain processing engine and inspiring open-source contributions, which made advanced probabilistic market modeling accessible to the TradingView community.
Special thanks to @Alien_Algorithms for the innovative and visually stunning 3D sphere logic that powers the indicator’s animated, regime-based visualization.
Disclaimer
This tool summarizes recent behavior. It is not financial advice and not a guarantee of future results.
Bar Index & TimeLibrary to convert a bar index to a timestamp and vice versa.
Utilizes runtime memory to store the 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 and 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎_𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 values of every bar on the chart (and optional future bars), with the ability of storing additional custom values for every chart bar.
█ PREFACE
This library aims to tackle some problems that pine coders (from beginners to advanced) often come across, such as:
I'm trying to draw an object with a 𝚋𝚊𝚛_𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡 that is more than 10,000 bars into the past, but this causes my script to fail. How can I convert the 𝚋𝚊𝚛_𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡 to a UNIX time so that I can draw visuals using xloc.bar_time ?
I have a diagonal line drawing and I want to get the "y" value at a specific time, but line.get_price() only accepts a bar index value. How can I convert the timestamp into a bar index value so that I can still use this function?
I want to get a previous 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 value that occurred at a specific timestamp. How can I convert the timestamp into a historical offset so that I can use 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 ?
I want to reference a very old value for a variable. How can I access a previous value that is older than the maximum historical buffer size of 𝚟𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 ?
This library can solve the above problems (and many more) with the addition of a few lines of code, rather than requiring the coder to refactor their script to accommodate the limitations.
█ OVERVIEW
The core functionality provided is conversion between xloc.bar_index and xloc.bar_time values.
The main component of the library is the 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object, created via the 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊() function which basically stores the 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 and 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎_𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 of every bar on the chart, and there are 3 more overloads to this function that allow collecting and storing additional data. Once a 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object is created, use any of the exported methods:
Methods to convert a UNIX timestamp into a bar index or bar offset:
𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚃𝚘𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡(), 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝙽𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝙾𝚏𝙱𝚊𝚛𝚜𝙱𝚊𝚌𝚔()
Methods to retrieve the stored data for a bar index:
𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝙰𝚝𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡(), 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝙲𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝙰𝚝𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡(), 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚎𝙰𝚝𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡(), 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝙰𝚕𝚕𝚅𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜𝙰𝚝𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡()
Methods to retrieve the stored data at a number of bars back (i.e., historical offset):
𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎(), 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝙲𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎(), 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚎()
Methods to retrieve all the data points from the earliest bar (or latest bar) stored in memory, which can be useful for debugging purposes:
𝚐𝚎𝚝𝙴𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚍𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊(), 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝙻𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚍𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊()
Note: the library's strong suit is referencing data from very old bars in the past, which is especially useful for scripts that perform its necessary calculations only on the last bar.
█ USAGE
Step 1
Import the library. Replace with the latest available version number for this library.
//@version=6
indicator("Usage")
import n00btraders/ChartData/
Step 2
Create a 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object to collect data on every bar. Do not declare as `var` or `varip`.
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData() // call on every bar to accumulate the necessary data
Step 3
Call any method(s) on the 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object. Do not modify its fields directly.
if barstate.islast
int firstBarTime = chartData.timeAtBarIndex(0)
int lastBarTime = chartData.time(0)
log.info("First `time`: " + str.format_time(firstBarTime) + ", Last `time`: " + str.format_time(lastBarTime))
█ EXAMPLES
• Collect Future Times
The overloaded 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊() functions that accept a 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚜𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 argument can additionally store time values for up to 500 bars into the future.
//@version=6
indicator("Example `collectChartData(barsForward)`")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData(barsForward = 500)
var rectangle = box.new(na, na, na, na, xloc = xloc.bar_time, force_overlay = true)
if barstate.islast
int futureTime = chartData.timeAtBarIndex(bar_index + 100)
int lastBarTime = time
box.set_lefttop(rectangle, lastBarTime, open)
box.set_rightbottom(rectangle, futureTime, close)
box.set_text(rectangle, "Extending box 100 bars to the right. Time: " + str.format_time(futureTime))
• Collect Custom Data
The overloaded 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊() functions that accept a 𝚟𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜 argument can additionally store custom user-specified values for every bar on the chart.
//@version=6
indicator("Example `collectChartData(variables)`")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
var map variables = map.new()
variables.put("open", open)
variables.put("close", close)
variables.put("open-close midpoint", (open + close) / 2)
variables.put("boolean", open > close ? 1 : 0)
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData(variables = variables)
var fgColor = chart.fg_color
var table1 = table.new(position.top_right, 2, 9, color(na), fgColor, 1, fgColor, 1, true)
var table2 = table.new(position.bottom_right, 2, 9, color(na), fgColor, 1, fgColor, 1, true)
if barstate.isfirst
table.cell(table1, 0, 0, "ChartData.value()", text_color = fgColor)
table.cell(table2, 0, 0, "open ", text_color = fgColor)
table.merge_cells(table1, 0, 0, 1, 0)
table.merge_cells(table2, 0, 0, 1, 0)
for i = 1 to 8
table.cell(table1, 0, i, text_color = fgColor, text_halign = text.align_left, text_font_family = font.family_monospace)
table.cell(table2, 0, i, text_color = fgColor, text_halign = text.align_left, text_font_family = font.family_monospace)
table.cell(table1, 1, i, text_color = fgColor)
table.cell(table2, 1, i, text_color = fgColor)
if barstate.islast
for i = 1 to 8
float open1 = chartData.value("open", 5000 * i)
float open2 = i < 3 ? open : -1
table.cell_set_text(table1, 0, i, "chartData.value(\"open\", " + str.tostring(5000 * i) + "): ")
table.cell_set_text(table2, 0, i, "open : ")
table.cell_set_text(table1, 1, i, str.tostring(open1))
table.cell_set_text(table2, 1, i, open2 >= 0 ? str.tostring(open2) : "Error")
• xloc.bar_index → xloc.bar_time
The 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 value (or 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎_𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 value) can be retrieved for any bar index that is stored in memory by the 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object.
//@version=6
indicator("Example `timeAtBarIndex()`")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData()
if barstate.islast
int start = bar_index - 15000
int end = bar_index - 100
// line.new(start, close, end, close) // !ERROR - `start` value is too far from current bar index
start := chartData.timeAtBarIndex(start)
end := chartData.timeAtBarIndex(end)
line.new(start, close, end, close, xloc.bar_time, width = 10)
• xloc.bar_time → xloc.bar_index
Use 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚃𝚘𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡() to find the bar that a timestamp belongs to.
If the timestamp falls in between the close of one bar and the open of the next bar,
the 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚙 parameter can be used to determine which bar to choose:
𝚂𝚗𝚊𝚙.𝙻𝙴𝙵𝚃 - prefer to choose the leftmost bar (typically used for closing times)
𝚂𝚗𝚊𝚙.𝚁𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 - prefer to choose the rightmost bar (typically used for opening times)
𝚂𝚗𝚊𝚙.𝙳𝙴𝙵𝙰𝚄𝙻𝚃 (or 𝚗𝚊) - copies the same behavior as xloc.bar_time uses for drawing objects
//@version=6
indicator("Example `timestampToBarIndex()`")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
startTimeInput = input.time(timestamp("01 Aug 2025 08:30 -0500"), "Session Start Time")
endTimeInput = input.time(timestamp("01 Aug 2025 15:15 -0500"), "Session End Time")
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData()
if barstate.islastconfirmedhistory
int startBarIndex = chartData.timestampToBarIndex(startTimeInput, ChartData.Snap.RIGHT)
int endBarIndex = chartData.timestampToBarIndex(endTimeInput, ChartData.Snap.LEFT)
line1 = line.new(startBarIndex, 0, startBarIndex, 1, extend = extend.both, color = color.new(color.green, 60), force_overlay = true)
line2 = line.new(endBarIndex, 0, endBarIndex, 1, extend = extend.both, color = color.new(color.green, 60), force_overlay = true)
linefill.new(line1, line2, color.new(color.green, 90))
// using Snap.DEFAULT to show that it is equivalent to drawing lines using `xloc.bar_time` (i.e., it aligns to the same bars)
startBarIndex := chartData.timestampToBarIndex(startTimeInput)
endBarIndex := chartData.timestampToBarIndex(endTimeInput)
line.new(startBarIndex, 0, startBarIndex, 1, extend = extend.both, color = color.yellow, width = 3)
line.new(endBarIndex, 0, endBarIndex, 1, extend = extend.both, color = color.yellow, width = 3)
line.new(startTimeInput, 0, startTimeInput, 1, xloc.bar_time, extend.both, color.new(color.blue, 85), width = 11)
line.new(endTimeInput, 0, endTimeInput, 1, xloc.bar_time, extend.both, color.new(color.blue, 85), width = 11)
• Get Price of Line at Timestamp
The pine script built-in function line.get_price() requires working with bar index values. To get the price of a line in terms of a timestamp, convert the timestamp into a bar index or offset.
//@version=6
indicator("Example `line.get_price()` at timestamp")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
lineStartInput = input.time(timestamp("01 Aug 2025 08:30 -0500"), "Line Start")
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData()
var diagonal = line.new(na, na, na, na, force_overlay = true)
if time <= lineStartInput
line.set_xy1(diagonal, bar_index, open)
if barstate.islastconfirmedhistory
line.set_xy2(diagonal, bar_index, close)
if barstate.islast
int timeOneWeekAgo = timenow - (7 * timeframe.in_seconds("1D") * 1000)
// Note: could also use `timetampToBarIndex(timeOneWeekAgo, Snap.DEFAULT)` and pass the value directly to `line.get_price()`
int barsOneWeekAgo = chartData.getNumberOfBarsBack(timeOneWeekAgo)
float price = line.get_price(diagonal, bar_index - barsOneWeekAgo)
string formatString = "Time 1 week ago: {0,number,#}\n - Equivalent to {1} bars ago\n\n𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎.𝚐𝚎𝚝_𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚎(): {2,number,#.##}"
string labelText = str.format(formatString, timeOneWeekAgo, barsOneWeekAgo, price)
label.new(timeOneWeekAgo, price, labelText, xloc.bar_time, style = label.style_label_lower_right, size = 16, textalign = text.align_left, force_overlay = true)
█ RUNTIME ERROR MESSAGES
This library's functions will generate a custom runtime error message in the following cases:
𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊() is not called consecutively, or is called more than once on a single bar
Invalid 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚜𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 argument in the 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊() function
Invalid 𝚟𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜 argument in the 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊() function
Invalid 𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚑 argument in any of the functions that accept a number of bars back
Note: there is no runtime error generated for an invalid 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚙 or 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡 argument in any of the functions. Instead, the functions will assign 𝚗𝚊 to the returned values.
Any other runtime errors are due to incorrect usage of the library.
█ NOTES
• Function Descriptions
The library source code uses Markdown for the exported functions. Hover over a function/method call in the Pine Editor to display formatted, detailed information about the function/method.
//@version=6
indicator("Demo Function Tooltip")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData()
int barIndex = chartData.timestampToBarIndex(timenow)
log.info(str.tostring(barIndex))
• Historical vs. Realtime Behavior
Under the hood, the data collector for this library is declared as `var`. Because of this, the 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object will always reflect the latest available data on realtime updates. Any data that is recorded for historical bars will remain unchanged throughout the execution of a script.
//@version=6
indicator("Demo Realtime Behavior")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
var map variables = map.new()
variables.put("open", open)
variables.put("close", close)
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
if barstate.isrealtime
varip float initialOpen = open
varip float initialClose = close
varip int updateCount = 0
updateCount += 1
float latestOpen = open
float latestClose = close
float recordedOpen = chartData.valueAtBarIndex("open", bar_index)
float recordedClose = chartData.valueAtBarIndex("close", bar_index)
string formatString = "# of updates: {0}\n\n𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 at update #1: {1,number,#.##}\n𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 at update #1: {2,number,#.##}\n\n"
+ "𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 at update #{0}: {3,number,#.##}\n𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 at update #{0}: {4,number,#.##}\n\n"
+ "𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 stored in memory: {5,number,#.##}\n𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 stored in memory: {6,number,#.##}"
string labelText = str.format(formatString, updateCount, initialOpen, initialClose, latestOpen, latestClose, recordedOpen, recordedClose)
label.new(bar_index, close, labelText, style = label.style_label_left, force_overlay = true)
• Collecting Chart Data for Other Contexts
If your use case requires collecting chart data from another context, avoid directly retrieving the 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 object as this may exceed memory limits .
//@version=6
indicator("Demo Return Calculated Results")
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
timeInput = input.time(timestamp("01 Sep 2025 08:30 -0500"), "Time")
var int oneMinuteBarsAgo = na
// !ERROR - Memory Limits Exceeded
// chartDataArray = request.security_lower_tf(syminfo.tickerid, "1", ChartData.collectChartData())
// oneMinuteBarsAgo := chartDataArray.last().getNumberOfBarsBack(timeInput)
// function that returns calculated results (a single integer value instead of an entire `ChartData` object)
getNumberOfBarsBack() =>
chartData = ChartData.collectChartData()
chartData.getNumberOfBarsBack(timeInput)
calculatedResultsArray = request.security_lower_tf(syminfo.tickerid, "1", getNumberOfBarsBack())
oneMinuteBarsAgo := calculatedResultsArray.size() > 0 ? calculatedResultsArray.last() : na
if barstate.islast
string labelText = str.format("The selected timestamp occurs 1-minute bars ago", oneMinuteBarsAgo)
label.new(bar_index, hl2, labelText, style = label.style_label_left, size = 16, force_overlay = true)
• Memory Usage
The library's convenience and ease of use comes at the cost of increased usage of computational resources. For simple scripts, using this library will likely not cause any issues with exceeding memory limits. But for large and complex scripts, you can reduce memory issues by specifying a lower 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚌_𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚜_𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 amount in the indicator() or strategy() declaration statement.
//@version=6
// !ERROR - Memory Limits Exceeded using the default number of bars available (~20,000 bars for Premium plans)
//indicator("Demo `calc_bars_count` parameter")
// Reduce number of bars using `calc_bars_count` parameter
indicator("Demo `calc_bars_count` parameter", calc_bars_count = 15000)
import n00btraders/ChartData/1
map variables = map.new()
variables.put("open", open)
variables.put("close", close)
variables.put("weekofyear", weekofyear)
variables.put("dayofmonth", dayofmonth)
variables.put("hour", hour)
variables.put("minute", minute)
variables.put("second", second)
// simulate large memory usage
chartData0 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData1 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData2 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData3 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData4 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData5 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData6 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData7 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData8 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
chartData9 = ChartData.collectChartData(variables)
log.info(str.tostring(chartData0.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData1.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData2.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData3.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData4.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData5.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData6.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData7.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData8.time(0)))
log.info(str.tostring(chartData9.time(0)))
if barstate.islast
result = table.new(position.middle_right, 1, 1, force_overlay = true)
table.cell(result, 0, 0, "Script Execution Successful ✅", text_size = 40)
█ EXPORTED ENUMS
Snap
Behavior for determining the bar that a timestamp belongs to.
Fields:
LEFT : Snap to the leftmost bar.
RIGHT : Snap to the rightmost bar.
DEFAULT : Default `xloc.bar_time` behavior.
Note: this enum is used for the 𝚜𝚗𝚊𝚙 parameter of 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚃𝚘𝙱𝚊𝚛𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡().
█ EXPORTED TYPES
Note: users of the library do not need to worry about directly accessing the fields of these types; all computations are done through method calls on an object of the 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝙳𝚊𝚝𝚊 type.
Variable
Represents a user-specified variable that can be tracked on every chart bar.
Fields:
name (series string) : Unique identifier for the variable.
values (array) : The array of stored values (one value per chart bar).
ChartData
Represents data for all bars on a chart.
Fields:
bars (series int) : Current number of bars on the chart.
timeValues (array) : The `time` values of all chart (and future) bars.
timeCloseValues (array) : The `time_close` values of all chart (and future) bars.
variables (array) : Additional custom values to track on all chart bars.
█ EXPORTED FUNCTIONS
collectChartData()
Collects and tracks the `time` and `time_close` value of every bar on the chart.
Returns: `ChartData` object to convert between `xloc.bar_index` and `xloc.bar_time`.
collectChartData(barsForward)
Collects and tracks the `time` and `time_close` value of every bar on the chart as well as a specified number of future bars.
Parameters:
barsForward (simple int) : Number of future bars to collect data for.
Returns: `ChartData` object to convert between `xloc.bar_index` and `xloc.bar_time`.
collectChartData(variables)
Collects and tracks the `time` and `time_close` value of every bar on the chart. Additionally, tracks a custom set of variables for every chart bar.
Parameters:
variables (simple map) : Custom values to collect on every chart bar.
Returns: `ChartData` object to convert between `xloc.bar_index` and `xloc.bar_time`.
collectChartData(barsForward, variables)
Collects and tracks the `time` and `time_close` value of every bar on the chart as well as a specified number of future bars. Additionally, tracks a custom set of variables for every chart bar.
Parameters:
barsForward (simple int) : Number of future bars to collect data for.
variables (simple map) : Custom values to collect on every chart bar.
Returns: `ChartData` object to convert between `xloc.bar_index` and `xloc.bar_time`.
█ EXPORTED METHODS
method timestampToBarIndex(chartData, timestamp, snap)
Converts a UNIX timestamp to a bar index.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
timestamp (series int) : A UNIX time.
snap (series Snap) : A `Snap` enum value.
Returns: A bar index, or `na` if unable to find the appropriate bar index.
method getNumberOfBarsBack(chartData, timestamp)
Converts a UNIX timestamp to a history-referencing length (i.e., number of bars back).
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
timestamp (series int) : A UNIX time.
Returns: A bar offset, or `na` if unable to find a valid number of bars back.
method timeAtBarIndex(chartData, barIndex)
Retrieves the `time` value for the specified bar index.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
barIndex (int) : The bar index.
Returns: The `time` value, or `na` if there is no `time` stored for the bar index.
method time(chartData, length)
Retrieves the `time` value of the bar that is `length` bars back relative to the latest bar.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
length (series int) : Number of bars back.
Returns: The `time` value `length` bars ago, or `na` if there is no `time` stored for that bar.
method timeCloseAtBarIndex(chartData, barIndex)
Retrieves the `time_close` value for the specified bar index.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
barIndex (series int) : The bar index.
Returns: The `time_close` value, or `na` if there is no `time_close` stored for the bar index.
method timeClose(chartData, length)
Retrieves the `time_close` value of the bar that is `length` bars back from the latest bar.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
length (series int) : Number of bars back.
Returns: The `time_close` value `length` bars ago, or `na` if there is none stored.
method valueAtBarIndex(chartData, name, barIndex)
Retrieves the value of a custom variable for the specified bar index.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
name (series string) : The variable name.
barIndex (series int) : The bar index.
Returns: The value of the variable, or `na` if that variable is not stored for the bar index.
method value(chartData, name, length)
Retrieves a variable value of the bar that is `length` bars back relative to the latest bar.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
name (series string) : The variable name.
length (series int) : Number of bars back.
Returns: The value `length` bars ago, or `na` if that variable is not stored for the bar index.
method getAllVariablesAtBarIndex(chartData, barIndex)
Retrieves all custom variables for the specified bar index.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
barIndex (series int) : The bar index.
Returns: Map of all custom variables that are stored for the specified bar index.
method getEarliestStoredData(chartData)
Gets all values from the earliest bar data that is currently stored in memory.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
Returns: A tuple:
method getLatestStoredData(chartData, futureData)
Gets all values from the latest bar data that is currently stored in memory.
Namespace types: ChartData
Parameters:
chartData (series ChartData) : The `ChartData` object.
futureData (series bool) : Whether to include the future data that is stored in memory.
Returns: A tuple:
Intrabar Efficiency Ratio█ OVERVIEW
This indicator displays a directional variant of Perry Kaufman's Efficiency Ratio, designed to gauge the "efficiency" of intrabar price movement by comparing the sum of movements of the lower timeframe bars composing a chart bar with the respective bar's movement on an average basis.
█ CONCEPTS
Efficiency Ratio (ER)
Efficiency Ratio was first introduced by Perry Kaufman in his 1995 book, titled "Smarter Trading". It is the ratio of absolute price change to the sum of absolute changes on each bar over a period. This tells us how strong the period's trend is relative to the underlying noise. Simply put, it's a measure of price movement efficiency. This ratio is the modulator utilized in Kaufman's Adaptive Moving Average (KAMA), which is essentially an Exponential Moving Average (EMA) that adapts its responsiveness to movement efficiency.
ER's output is bounded between 0 and 1. A value of 0 indicates that the starting price equals the ending price for the period, which suggests that price movement was maximally inefficient. A value of 1 indicates that price had travelled no more than the distance between the starting price and the ending price for the period, which suggests that price movement was maximally efficient. A value between 0 and 1 indicates that price had travelled a distance greater than the distance between the starting price and the ending price for the period. In other words, some degree of noise was present which resulted in reduced efficiency over the period.
As an example, let's say that the price of an asset had moved from $15 to $14 by the end of a period, but the sum of absolute changes for each bar of data was $4. ER would be calculated like so:
ER = abs(14 - 15)/4 = 0.25
This suggests that the trend was only 25% efficient over the period, as the total distanced travelled by price was four times what was required to achieve the change over the period.
Intrabars
Intrabars are chart bars at a lower timeframe than the chart's. Each 1H chart bar of a 24x7 market will, for example, usually contain 60 intrabars at the LTF of 1min, provided there was market activity during each minute of the hour. Mining information from intrabars can be useful in that it offers traders visibility on the activity inside a chart bar.
Lower timeframes (LTFs)
A lower timeframe is a timeframe that is smaller than the chart's timeframe. This script determines which LTF to use by examining the chart's timeframe. The LTF determines how many intrabars are examined for each chart bar; the lower the timeframe, the more intrabars are analyzed, but fewer chart bars can display indicator information because there is a limit to the total number of intrabars that can be analyzed.
Intrabar precision
The precision of calculations increases with the number of intrabars analyzed for each chart bar. As there is a 100K limit to the number of intrabars that can be analyzed by a script, a trade-off occurs between the number of intrabars analyzed per chart bar and the chart bars for which calculations are possible.
Intrabar Efficiency Ratio (IER)
Intrabar Efficiency Ratio applies the concept of ER on an intrabar level. Rather than comparing the overall change to the sum of bar changes for the current chart's timeframe over a period, IER compares single bar changes for the current chart's timeframe to the sum of absolute intrabar changes, then applies smoothing to the result. This gives an indication of how efficient changes are on the current chart's timeframe for each bar of data relative to LTF bar changes on an average basis. Unlike the standard ER calculation, we've opted to preserve directional information by not taking the absolute value of overall change, thus allowing it to be utilized as a momentum oscillator. However, by taking the absolute value of this oscillator, it could potentially serve as a replacement for ER in the design of adaptive moving averages.
Since this indicator preserves directional information, IER can be regarded as similar to the Chande Momentum Oscillator (CMO) , which was presented in 1994 by Tushar Chande in "The New Technical Trader". Both CMO and ER essentially measure the same relationship between trend and noise. CMO simply differs in scale, and considers the direction of overall changes.
█ FEATURES
Display
Three different display types are included within the script:
• Line : Displays the middle length MA of the IER as a line .
Color for this display can be customized via the "Line" portion of the "Visuals" section in the script settings.
• Candles : Displays the non-smooth IER and two moving averages of different lengths as candles .
The `open` and `close` of the candle are the longest and shortest length MAs of the IER respectively.
The `high` and `low` of the candle are the max and min of the IER, longest length MA of the IER, and shortest length MA of the IER respectively.
Colors for this display can be customized via the "Candles" portion of the "Visuals" section in the script settings.
• Circles : Displays three MAs of the IER as circles .
The color of each plot depends on the percent rank of the respective MA over the previous 100 bars.
Different colors are triggered when ranks are below 10%, between 10% and 50%, between 50% and 90%, and above 90%.
Colors for this display can be customized via the "Circles" portion of the "Visuals" section in the script settings.
With either display type, an optional information box can be displayed. This box shows the LTF that the script is using, the average number of lower timeframe bars per chart bar, and the number of chart bars that contain LTF data.
Specifying intrabar precision
Ten options are included in the script to control the number of intrabars used per chart bar for calculations. The greater the number of intrabars per chart bar, the fewer chart bars can be analyzed.
The first five options allow users to specify the approximate amount of chart bars to be covered:
• Least Precise (Most chart bars) : Covers all chart bars by dividing the current timeframe by four.
This ensures the highest level of intrabar precision while achieving complete coverage for the dataset.
• Less Precise (Some chart bars) & More Precise (Less chart bars) : These options calculate a stepped LTF in relation to the current chart's timeframe.
• Very precise (2min intrabars) : Uses the second highest quantity of intrabars possible with the 2min LTF.
• Most precise (1min intrabars) : Uses the maximum quantity of intrabars possible with the 1min LTF.
The stepped lower timeframe for "Less Precise" and "More Precise" options is calculated from the current chart's timeframe as follows:
Chart Timeframe Lower Timeframe
Less Precise More Precise
< 1hr 1min 1min
< 1D 15min 1min
< 1W 2hr 30min
> 1W 1D 60min
The last five options allow users to specify an approximate fixed number of intrabars to analyze per chart bar. The available choices are 12, 24, 50, 100, and 250. The script will calculate the LTF which most closely approximates the specified number of intrabars per chart bar. Keep in mind that due to factors such as the length of a ticker's sessions and rounding of the LTF, it is not always possible to produce the exact number specified. However, the script will do its best to get as close to the value as possible.
Specifying MA type
Seven MA types are included in the script for different averaging effects:
• Simple
• Exponential
• Wilder (RMA)
• Weighted
• Volume-Weighted
• Arnaud Legoux with `offset` and `sigma` set to 0.85 and 6 respectively.
• Hull
Weighting
This script includes the option to weight IER values based on the percent rank of absolute price changes on the current chart's timeframe over a specified period, which can be enabled by checking the "Weigh using relative close changes" option in the script settings. This places reduced emphasis on IER values from smaller changes, which may help to reduce noise in the output.
█ FOR Pine Script™ CODERS
• This script imports the recently published lower_ltf library for calculating intrabar statistics and the optimal lower timeframe in relation to the current chart's timeframe.
• This script uses the recently released request.security_lower_tf() Pine Script™ function discussed in this blog post .
It works differently from the usual request.security() in that it can only be used on LTFs, and it returns an array containing one value per intrabar.
This makes it much easier for programmers to access intrabar information.
• This script implements a new recommended best practice for tables which works faster and reduces memory consumption.
Using this new method, tables are declared only once with var , as usual. Then, on the first bar only, we use table.cell() to populate the table.
Finally, table.set_*() functions are used to update attributes of table cells on the last bar of the dataset.
This greatly reduces the resources required to render tables.
Look first. Then leap.
lower_tf█ OVERVIEW
This library is a Pine programmer’s tool containing functions to help those who use the request.security_lower_tf() function. Its `ltf()` function helps translate user inputs into a lower timeframe string usable with request.security_lower_tf() . Another function, `ltfStats()`, accumulates statistics on processed chart bars and intrabars.
█ CONCEPTS
Chart bars
Chart bars , as referred to in our publications, are bars that occur at the current chart timeframe, as opposed to those that occur at a timeframe that is higher or lower than that of the chart view.
Intrabars
Intrabars are chart bars at a lower timeframe than the chart's. Each 1H chart bar of a 24x7 market will, for example, usually contain 60 intrabars at the LTF of 1min, provided there was market activity during each minute of the hour. Mining information from intrabars can be useful in that it offers traders visibility on the activity inside a chart bar.
Lower timeframes (LTFs)
A lower timeframe is a timeframe that is smaller than the chart's timeframe. This framework exemplifies how authors can determine which LTF to use by examining the chart's timeframe. The LTF determines how many intrabars are examined for each chart bar; the lower the timeframe, the more intrabars are analyzed.
Intrabar precision
The precision of calculations increases with the number of intrabars analyzed for each chart bar. As there is a 100K limit to the number of intrabars that can be analyzed by a script, a trade-off occurs between the number of intrabars analyzed per chart bar and the chart bars for which calculations are possible.
█ `ltf()`
This function returns a timeframe string usable with request.security_lower_tf() . It calculates the returned timeframe by taking into account a user selection between eight different calculation modes and the chart's timeframe. You send it the user's selection, along with the text corresponding to the eight choices from which the user has chosen, and the function returns a corresponding LTF string.
Because the function processes strings and doesn't require recalculation on each bar, using var to declare the variable to which its result is assigned will execute the function only once on bar zero and speed up your script:
var string ltfString = ltf(ltfModeInput, LTF1, LTF2, LTF3, LTF4, LTF5, LTF6, LTF7, LTF8)
The eight choices users can select from are of two types: the first four allow a selection from the desired amount of chart bars to be covered, the last four are choices of a fixed number of intrabars to be analyzed per chart bar. Our example code shows how to structure your input call and then make the call to `ltf()`. By changing the text associated with the `LTF1` to `LTF8` constants, you can tailor it to your preferences while preserving the functionality of `ltf()` because you will be sending those string constants as the function's arguments so it can determine the user's selection. The association between each `LTFx` constant and its calculation mode is fixed, so the order of the arguments is important when you call `ltf()`.
These are the first four modes and the `LTFx` constants corresponding to each:
Covering most chart bars (least precise) — LTF1
Covers all chart bars. This is accomplished by dividing the current timeframe in seconds by 4 and converting that number back to a string in timeframe.period format using secondsToTfString() . Due to the fact that, on premium subscriptions, the typical historical bar count is between 20-25k bars, dividing the timeframe by 4 ensures the highest level of intrabar precision possible while achieving complete coverage for the entire dataset with the maximum allowed 100K intrabars.
Covering some chart bars (less precise) — LTF2
Covering less chart bars (more precise) — LTF3
These levels offer a stepped LTF in relation to the chart timeframe with slightly more, or slightly less precision. The stepped lower timeframe tiers are calculated from the chart timeframe as follows:
Chart Timeframe Lower Timeframe
Less Precise More Precise
< 1hr 1min 1min
< 1D 15min 1min
< 1W 2hr 30min
> 1W 1D 60min
Covering the least chart bars (most precise) — LTF4
Analyzes the maximum quantity of intrabars possible by using the 1min LTF, which also allows the least amount of chart bars to be covered.
The last four modes allow the user to specify a fixed number of intrabars to analyze per chart bar. Users can choose from 12, 24, 50 or 100 intrabars, respectively corresponding to the `LTF5`, `LTF6`, `LTF7` and `LTF8` constants. The value is a target; the function will do its best to come up with a LTF producing the required number of intrabars. Because of considerations such as the length of a ticker's session, rounding of the LTF to the closest allowable timeframe, or the lowest allowable timeframe of 1min intrabars, it is often impossible for the function to find a LTF producing the exact number of intrabars. Requesting 100 intrabars on a 60min chart, for example, can only produce 60 1min intrabars. Higher chart timeframes, tickers with high liquidity or 24x7 markets will produce optimal results.
█ `ltfStats()`
`ltfStats()` returns statistics that will be useful to programmers using intrabar inspection. By analyzing the arrays returned by request.security_lower_tf() in can determine:
• intrabarsInChartBar : The number of intrabars analyzed for each chart bar.
• chartBarsCovered : The number of chart bars where intrabar information is available.
• avgIntrabars : The average number of intrabars analyzed per chart bar. Events like holidays, market activity, or reduced hours sessions can cause the number of intrabars to vary, bar to bar.
The function must be called on each bar to produce reliable results.
█ DEMONSTRATION CODE
Our example code shows how to provide users with an input from which they can select a LTF calculation mode. If you use this library's functions, feel free to reuse our input setup code, including the tooltip providing users with explanations on how it works for them.
We make a simple call to request.security_lower_tf() to fetch the close values of intrabars, but we do not use those values. We simply send the returned array to `ltfStats()` and then plot in the indicator's pane the number of intrabars examined on each bar and its average. We also display an information box showing the user's selection of the LTF calculation mode, the resulting LTF calculated by `ltf()` and some statistics.
█ NOTES
• As in several of our recent publications, this script uses secondsToTfString() to produce a timeframe string in timeframe.period format from a timeframe expressed in seconds.
• The script utilizes display.data_window and display.status_line to restrict the display of certain plots.
These new built-ins allow coders to fine-tune where a script’s plot values are displayed.
• We implement a new recommended best practice for tables which works faster and reduces memory consumption.
Using this new method, tables are declared only once with var , as usual. Then, on bar zero only, we use table.cell() calls to populate the table.
Finally, table.set_*() functions are used to update attributes of table cells on the last bar of the dataset.
This greatly reduces the resources required to render tables. We encourage all Pine Script™ programmers to do the same.
Look first. Then leap.
█ FUNCTIONS
The library contains the following functions:
ltf(userSelection, choice1, choice2, choice3, choice4, choice5, choice6, choice7, choice8)
Selects a LTF from the chart's TF, depending on the `userSelection` input string.
Parameters:
userSelection : (simple string) User-selected input string which must be one of the `choicex` arguments.
choice1 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "Least precise, covering most chart bars".
choice2 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "Less precise, covering some chart bars".
choice3 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "More precise, covering less chart bars".
choice4 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "Most precise, 1min intrabars".
choice5 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "~12 intrabars per chart bar".
choice6 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "~24 intrabars per chart bar".
choice7 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "~50 intrabars per chart bar".
choice8 : (simple string) Input selection corresponding to "~100 intrabars per chart bar".
Returns: (simple string) A timeframe string to be used with `request.security_lower_tf()`.
ltfStats()
Returns statistics about analyzed intrabars and chart bars covered by calls to `request.security_lower_tf()`.
Parameters:
intrabarValues : (float [ ]) The ID of a float array containing values fetched by a call to `request.security_lower_tf()`.
Returns: A 3-element tuple: [ (series int) intrabarsInChartBar, (series int) chartBarsCovered, (series float) avgIntrabars ].
Super PerformanceThe "Super Performance" script is a custom indicator written in Pine Script (version 6) for use on the TradingView platform. Its main purpose is to visually compare the performance of a selected stock or index against a benchmark index (default: NIFTYMIDSML400) over various timeframes, and to display sector-wise performance rankings in a clear, tabular format.
Key Features:
Customizable Display:
Users can toggle between dark and light color themes, enable or disable extended data columns, and choose between a compact "Mini Mode" or a full-featured table view. Table positions and sizes are also configurable for both stock and sector tables.
Performance Calculation:
The script calculates percentage price changes for the selected stock and the benchmark index over multiple periods: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 200 days. It then checks if the stock is outperforming the index for each period.
Conviction Score:
For each period where the stock outperforms the index, a "conviction score" is incremented. This score is mapped to qualitative labels such as "Super solid," "Solid," "Good," etc., and is color-coded for quick visual interpretation.
Sector Performance Table:
The script tracks 19 sector indices (e.g., REALTY, IT, PHARMA, AUTO, ENERGY) and calculates their performance over 1, 5, 10, 20, and 60-day periods. It then ranks the top 5 performing sectors for each timeframe and displays them in a sector performance table.
Visual Output:
Two tables are constructed:
Stock Performance Table: Shows the stock's returns, index returns, outperformance markers (✔/✖), and the difference for each period, along with the overall conviction score.
Sector Performance Table: Ranks and displays the top 5 sectors for each timeframe, with color-coded performance values for easy comparison.
Seasonality DOW CombinedOverall Purpose
This script analyzes historical daily returns based on two specific criteria:
Month of the year (January through December)
Day of the week (Sunday through Saturday)
It summarizes and visually displays the average historical performance of the selected asset by these criteria over multiple years.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. Initial Settings:
Defines minimum year (i_year_start) from which data analysis will start.
Ensures the user is using a daily timeframe, otherwise prompts an error.
Sets basic display preferences like text size and color schemes.
2. Data Collection and Variables:
Initializes matrices to store and aggregate returns data:
month_data_ and month_agg_: store monthly performance.
dow_data_ and dow_agg_: store day-of-week performance.
COUNT tracks total number of occurrences, and COUNT_POSITIVE tracks positive-return occurrences.
3. Return Calculation:
Calculates daily percentage change (chg_pct_) in price:
chg_pct_ = close / close - 1
Ensures it captures this data only for the specified years (year >= i_year_start).
4. Monthly Performance Calculation:
Each daily return is grouped by month:
matrix.set updates total returns per month.
The script tracks:
Monthly cumulative returns
Number of occurrences (how many days recorded per month)
Positive occurrences (days with positive returns)
5. Day-of-Week Performance Calculation:
Similarly, daily returns are also grouped by day-of-the-week (Sunday to Saturday):
Daily return values are summed per weekday.
The script tracks:
Cumulative returns per weekday
Number of occurrences per weekday
Positive occurrences per weekday
6. Visual Display (Tables):
The script creates two visual tables:
Left Table: Monthly Performance.
Right Table: Day-of-the-Week Performance.
For each table, it shows:
Yearly data for each month/day.
Summaries at the bottom:
SUM row: Shows total accumulated returns over all selected years for each month/day.
+ive row: Shows percentage (%) of times the month/day had positive returns, along with a tooltip displaying positive occurrences vs total occurrences.
Cells are color-coded:
Green for positive returns.
Red for negative returns.
Gray for neutral/no change.
7. Interpreting the Tables:
Monthly Table (left side):
Helps identify seasonal patterns (e.g., historically bullish/bearish months).
Day-of-Week Table (right side):
Helps detect recurring weekday patterns (e.g., historically bullish Mondays or bearish Fridays).
Practical Use:
Traders use this to:
Identify patterns based on historical data.
Inform trading strategies, e.g., avoiding historically bearish days/months or leveraging historically bullish periods.
Example Interpretation:
If the table shows consistently green (positive) for March and April, historically the asset tends to perform well during spring. Similarly, if the "Friday" column is often red, historically Fridays are bearish for this asset.
ATR Bands with ATR Cross + InfoTableOverview
This Pine Script™ indicator is designed to enhance traders' ability to analyze market volatility, trend direction, and position sizing directly on their TradingView charts. By plotting Average True Range (ATR) bands anchored at the OHLC4 price, displaying crossover labels, and providing a comprehensive information table, this tool offers a multifaceted approach to technical analysis.
Key Features:
ATR Bands Anchored at OHLC4: Visual representation of short-term and long-term volatility bands centered around the average price.
OHLC4 Dotted Line: A dotted line representing the average of Open, High, Low, and Close prices.
ATR Cross Labels: Visual cues indicating when short-term volatility exceeds long-term volatility and vice versa.
Information Table: Displays real-time data on market volatility, calculated position size based on risk parameters, and trend direction relative to the 20-period Smoothed Moving Average (SMMA).
Purpose
The primary purpose of this indicator is to:
Assess Market Volatility: By comparing short-term and long-term ATR values, traders can gauge the current volatility environment.
Determine Optimal Position Sizing: A calculated position size based on user-defined risk parameters helps in effective risk management.
Identify Trend Direction: Comparing the current price to the 20-period SMMA assists in determining the prevailing market trend.
Enhance Decision-Making: Visual cues and real-time data enable traders to make informed trading decisions with greater confidence.
How It Works
1. ATR Bands Anchored at OHLC4
Average True Range (ATR) Calculations
Short-Term ATR (SA): Calculated over a 9-period using ta.atr(9).
Long-Term ATR (LA): Calculated over a 21-period using ta.atr(21).
Plotting the Bands
OHLC4 Dotted Line: Plotted using small circles to simulate a dotted line due to Pine Script limitations.
ATR(9) Bands: Plotted in blue with semi-transparent shading.
ATR(21) Bands: Plotted in orange with semi-transparent shading.
Overlap: Bands can overlap, providing visual insights into changes in volatility.
2. ATR Cross Labels
Crossover Detection:
SA > LA: Indicates increasing short-term volatility.
Detected using ta.crossover(SA, LA).
A green upward label "SA>LA" is plotted below the bar.
SA < LA: Indicates decreasing short-term volatility.
Detected using ta.crossunder(SA, LA).
A red downward label "SA LA, then the market is considered volatile.
Display: Shows "Yes" or "No" based on the comparison.
b. Position Size Calculation
Risk Total Amount: User-defined input representing the total capital at risk.
Risk per 1 Stock: User-defined input representing the risk associated with one unit of the asset.
Purpose: Helps traders determine the appropriate position size based on their risk tolerance and current market volatility.
c. Is Price > 20 SMMA?
SMMA Calculation:
Calculated using a 20-period Smoothed Moving Average with ta.rma(close, 20).
Logic: If the current close price is above the SMMA, the trend is considered upward.
Display: Shows "Yes" or "No" based on the comparison.
How to Use
Step 1: Add the Indicator to Your Chart
Copy the Script: Copy the entire Pine Script code into the TradingView Pine Editor.
Save and Apply: Save the script and click "Add to Chart."
Step 2: Configure Inputs
Risk Parameters: Adjust the "Risk Total Amount" and "Risk per 1 Stock" in the indicator settings to match your personal risk management strategy.
Step 3: Interpret the Visuals
ATR Bands
Width of Bands: Wider bands indicate higher volatility; narrower bands indicate lower volatility.
Band Overlap: Pay attention to areas where the blue and orange bands diverge or converge.
OHLC4 Dotted Line
Serves as a central reference point for the ATR bands.
Helps visualize the average price around which volatility is measured.
ATR Cross Labels
"SA>LA" Label:
Indicates short-term volatility is increasing relative to long-term volatility.
May signal potential breakout or trend acceleration.
"SA 20 SMMA?
Use this to confirm trend direction before entering or exiting trades.
Practical Example
Imagine you are analyzing a stock and notice the following:
ATR(9) Crosses Above ATR(21):
A green "SA>LA" label appears.
The info table shows "Yes" for "Is ATR-based price volatile."
Position Size:
Based on your risk parameters, the position size is calculated.
Price Above 20 SMMA:
The info table shows "Yes" for "Is price > 20 SMMA."
Interpretation:
The market is experiencing increasing short-term volatility.
The trend is upward, as the price is above the 20 SMMA.
You may consider entering a long position, using the calculated position size to manage risk.
Customization
Colors and Transparency:
Adjust the colors of the bands and labels to suit your preferences.
Risk Parameters:
Modify the default values for risk amounts in the inputs.
Moving Average Period:
Change the SMMA period if desired.
Limitations and Considerations
Lagging Indicators: ATR and SMMA are lagging indicators and may not predict future price movements.
Market Conditions: The effectiveness of this indicator may vary across different assets and market conditions.
Risk of Overfitting: Relying solely on this indicator without considering other factors may lead to suboptimal trading decisions.
Conclusion
This indicator combines essential elements of technical analysis to provide a comprehensive tool for traders. By visualizing ATR bands anchored at the OHLC4, indicating volatility crossovers, and providing real-time data on position sizing and trend direction, it aids in making informed trading decisions.
Whether you're a novice trader looking to understand market volatility or an experienced trader seeking to refine your strategy, this indicator offers valuable insights directly on your TradingView charts.
Code Summary
The script is written in Pine Script™ version 5 and includes:
Calculations for OHLC4, ATRs, Bands, SMMA:
Uses built-in functions like ta.atr() and ta.rma() for calculations.
Plotting Functions:
plotshape() for the OHLC4 dotted line.
plot() and fill() for the ATR bands.
Crossover Detection:
ta.crossover() and ta.crossunder() for detecting ATR crosses.
Labeling Crossovers:
label.new() to place informative labels on the chart.
Information Table Creation:
table.new() to create the table.
table.cell() to populate it with data.
Acknowledgments
ATR and SMMA Concepts: Built upon standard technical analysis concepts widely used in trading.
Pine Script™: Leveraged the capabilities of Pine Script™ version 5 for advanced charting and analysis.
Note: Always test any indicator thoroughly and consider combining it with other forms of analysis before making trading decisions. Trading involves risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Happy Trading!
