Triple Differential Moving Average BraidThe Triple Differential Moving Average Braid weaves together three distinct layers of moving averages—short-term, medium-term, and long-term—providing a structured view of market trends across multiple time horizons. It is an integrated construct optimized exclusively for the 1D timeframe. For multi-timeframe analysis and/or trading the lower 1h and 15m charts, it pairs well the Granular Daily Moving Average Ribbon ... adjust the visibility settings accordingly.
Unlike traditional moving average indicators that use a single moving average crossover, this braid-style system incorporates both SMAs and EMAs. The dual-layer approach offers stability and responsiveness, allowing traders to detect trend shifts with greater confidence.
Users can, of course, specify their own color scheme. The indicator consists of three layered moving average pairs. These are named per their default colors:
1. Silver Thread – Tracks immediate price momentum.
2. Royal Guard – Captures market structure and developing trends.
3. Golden Section – Defines major market cycles and overall trend direction.
Each layer is color-coded and dynamically shaded based on whether the faster-moving average is above or below its slower counterpart, providing a visual representation of market strength and trend alignment.
🧵 Silver Thread
The Silver Thread is the fastest-moving layer, comprising the 21D SMA and a 21D EMA. The choice of 21 is intentional, as it corresponds to approximately one full month of trading days in a 5-day-per-week market and is also a Fibonacci number, reinforcing its use in technical analysis.
· The 21D SMA smooths out recent price action, offering a baseline for short-term structure.
· The 21D EMA reacts more quickly to price changes, highlighting shifts in momentum.
· When the SMA is above the EMA, price action remains stable.
· When the SMA falls below the EMA, short-term momentum weakens.
The Silver Thread is a leading indicator within the system, often flipping direction before the medium- and long-term layers follow suit. If the Silver Thread shifts bearish while the Royal Guard remains bullish, this can signal a temporary pullback rather than a full trend reversal.
👑 Royal Guard
The Royal Guard provides a broader perspective on market momentum by using a 50D EMA and a 200D EMA. EMAs prioritize recent price data, making this layer faster-reacting than the Golden Section while still offering a level of stability.
· When the 50D EMA is above the 200D EMA, the market is in a confirmed uptrend.
· When the 50D EMA crosses below the 200D EMA, momentum has shifted bearish.
This layer confirms medium-term trend structure and reacts more quickly to price changes than traditional SMAs, making it especially useful for trend-following traders who need faster confirmation than the Golden Section provides.
If the Silver Thread flips bearish while the Royal Guard remains bullish, traders may be seeing a momentary dip in an otherwise intact uptrend. Conversely, if both the Silver Thread and Royal Guard shift bearish, this suggests a deeper pullback or possible trend reversal.
📜 Golden Section
The Golden Section is the slowest and most stable layer of the system, utilizing a 50D SMA and a 200D SMA—a classic combination used by long-term traders and institutions.
· When the 50D SMA is above the 200D SMA the market is in a strong, sustained uptrend.
· When the 50D SMA falls below the 200D SMA the market is structurally bearish.
Because SMAs give equal weight to past price data, this layer moves slowly and deliberately, ensuring that false breakouts or temporary swings do not distort the bigger picture.
Traders can use the Golden Section to confirm major market trends—when all three layers are bullish, the market is strongly trending upward. If the Golden Section remains bullish while the Royal Guard turns bearish, this may indicate a medium-term correction within a larger uptrend rather than a full reversal.
🎯 Swing Trade Setups
Swing traders can benefit from the multi-layered approach of this indicator by aligning their trades with the overall market structure while capturing short-term momentum shifts.
· Bullish: Look for Silver Thread and Royal Guard alignment before entering. If the Silver Thread flips bullish first, anticipate a momentum shift. If the Royal Guard follows, this confirms a strong medium-term move.
· Bearish: If the Silver Thread turns bearish first, it may signal an upcoming reversal. Waiting for the Royal Guard to follow adds confirmation.
· Confirmation: If the Golden Section remains bullish, a pullback may be an opportunity to enter a trend continuation trade rather than exit prematurely.
🚨 Momentum Shifts
· If the Silver Thread flips bearish but the Royal Guard remains bullish, traders may opt to buy the dip rather than exit their positions.
· If both the Silver Thread and Royal Guard turn bearish, traders should exercise caution, as this suggests a more significant correction.
· When all three layers align in the same direction the market is in a strong trending phase, making swing trades higher probability.
⚠️ Risk Management
· A narrowing of the shaded areas suggests trend exhaustion—consider tightening stop losses.
· When the Golden Section remains bullish, but the other two layers weaken, potential support zones to enter or re-enter positions.
· If all three layers flip bearish, this may indicate a larger trend reversal, prompting an exit from long positions and/or consideration of short setups.
The Triple Differential Moving Average Braid is layered, structured tool for trend analysis, offering insights across multiple timeframes without requiring traders to manually compare different moving averages. It provides a powerful and intuitive way to read the market. Swing traders, trend-followers, and position traders alike can use it to align their trades with dominant market trends, time pullbacks, and anticipate momentum shifts.
By understanding how these three moving average layers interact, traders gain a deeper, more holistic perspective of market structure—one that adapts to both momentum-driven opportunities and longer-term trend positioning.
Tìm kiếm tập lệnh với "market structure"
VMDM - Volume, Momentum & Divergence Master [BullByte]VMDM - Volume, Momentum and Divergence Master
Educational Multi-Layer Market Structure Analysis System
Multi-factor divergence engine that scores RSI momentum, volume pressure, and institutional footprints into one non-repainting confluence rating (0-100).
WHAT THIS INDICATOR IS
VMDM is an educational indicator designed to teach traders how to recognize high-probability reversal and continuation patterns by analyzing four independent market dimensions simultaneously. Instead of relying on a single indicator that may produce frequent false signals, VMDM creates a confluence-based scoring system that weights multiple confirmation factors, helping you understand which setups have stronger technical backing and which are lower quality.
This is NOT a trading system or signal generator. It is a learning tool that visualizes complex market structure concepts in an accessible format for both coders and non-coders.
THE PROBLEM IT SOLVES
Most traders face these common challenges:
Challenge 1 - Indicator Overload: Running RSI, volume analysis, and divergence detection separately creates chart clutter and conflicting signals. You waste time cross-referencing multiple windows trying to determine if all factors align.
Challenge 2 - False Divergences: Standard divergence indicators trigger on every minor pivot, creating noise. Many divergences fail because they lack supporting evidence from volume or market structure.
Challenge 3 - Missed Context: A bullish RSI divergence means nothing if it occurs during weak volume or in the middle of strong distribution. Context determines quality.
Challenge 4 - Repainting Confusion: Many divergence scripts repaint, showing perfect historical signals that never actually triggered in real-time, leading to false confidence.
Challenge 5 - Institutional Pattern Recognition: Absorption zones, stop hunts, and exhaustion patterns are taught in trading education but difficult to identify systematically without manual analysis.
VMDM addresses all five challenges by combining complementary analytical layers into one transparent, non-repainting, confluence-weighted system with visual clarity.
WHY THIS SPECIFIC COMBINATION - MASHUP JUSTIFICATION
This indicator is NOT a random mashup of popular indicators. Each of the four layers serves a specific analytical purpose and together they create a complete market structure assessment framework.
THE FOUR ANALYTICAL LAYERS
LAYER 1 - RSI MOMENTUM DIVERGENCE (Trend Exhaustion Detection)
Purpose: Identifies when price momentum is weakening before price itself reverses.
Why RSI: The Relative Strength Index measures momentum on a bounded 0-100 scale, making divergence detection mathematically consistent across all assets and timeframes. Unlike raw price oscillators, RSI normalizes momentum regardless of volatility regime.
How It Contributes: Divergence between price pivots and RSI pivots reveals early momentum exhaustion. A lower price low with a higher RSI low (bullish regular divergence) signals sellers are losing strength even as price makes new lows. This is the PRIMARY signal generator in VMDM.
Limitation If Used Alone: RSI divergence by itself produces many false signals because momentum can remain weak during continued trends. It needs confirmation from volume and structural evidence.
LAYER 2 - VOLUME PRESSURE ANALYSIS (Buying vs Selling Intensity)
Purpose: Quantifies whether the current bar's volume reflects buying pressure or selling pressure based on where price closed within the bar's range.
Methodology: Instead of just measuring volume size, VMDM calculates WHERE in the bar range the close occurred. A close near the high on high volume indicates strong buying absorption. A close near the low indicates selling pressure. The calculation accounts for wick size (wicks reduce pressure quality) and uses percentile ranking over a lookback period to normalize pressure strength on a 0-100 scale.
Formula Concept:
Buy Pressure = Volume × (Close - Low) / (High - Low) × Wick Quality Factor
Sell Pressure = Volume × (High - Close) / (High - Low) × Wick Quality Factor
Net Pressure = Buy Pressure - Sell Pressure
Pressure Strength = Percentile Rank of Net Pressure over lookback period
Why Percentile Ranking: Absolute volume varies by asset and session. Percentile ranking makes 85th percentile pressure on low-volume crypto comparable to 85th percentile pressure on high-volume forex.
How It Contributes: When a bullish divergence occurs at a pivot low AND pressure strength is above 60 (strong buying), this adds 25 confluence points. It confirms that the divergence is occurring during actual accumulation, not just weak selling.
Limitation If Used Alone: Pressure analysis shows current bar intensity but cannot identify trend exhaustion or reversal timing. High buying pressure can exist during a strong uptrend with no reversal imminent.
LAYER 3 - BEHAVIORAL FOOTPRINT PATTERNS (Volume Anomaly Detection)
CRITICAL DISCLAIMER: The terms "institutional footprint," "absorption," "stop hunt," and "exhaustion" used in this indicator are EDUCATIONAL LABELS for specific price and volume behavioral patterns. These patterns are detected through technical analysis of publicly available price, volume, and bar structure data. This indicator does NOT have access to actual institutional order flow, market maker data, broker stop-loss locations, or any non-public data source. These pattern names are used because they are common terminology in trading education to describe these technical behaviors. The analysis is interpretive and based on observable price action, not privileged information.
Purpose: Detect volume anomalies and price patterns that historically correlate with potential reversal zones or trend continuation failure.
Pattern Type 1 - Absorption (Labeled as "ACCUMULATION" or "DISTRIBUTION")
Detection Criteria: Volume is more than 2x the moving average AND bar range is less than 50 percent of the average bar range.
Interpretation: High volume compressed into a tight range suggests large participants are absorbing supply (accumulation) or distribution (distribution) without allowing price to move significantly. This often precedes directional moves once absorption completes.
Visual: Colored box zone highlighting the absorption area.
Pattern Type 2 - Stop Hunt (Labeled as "BULL HUNT" or "BEAR HUNT")
Detection Criteria: Price penetrates a recent 10-bar high or low by a small margin (0.2 percent), then closes back inside the range on above-average volume (1.5x+).
Interpretation: Price briefly spikes beyond recent structure (likely triggering stop losses placed just beyond obvious levels) then reverses. This is a classic false breakout pattern often seen before reversals.
Visual: Label at the wick extreme showing hunt direction.
Pattern Type 3 - Exhaustion (Labeled as "SELL EXHAUST" or "BUY EXHAUST")
Detection Criteria: Lower wick is more than 2.5x the body size with volume above 1.8x average and RSI below 35 (sell exhaustion), OR upper wick more than 2.5x body size with volume above 1.8x average and RSI above 65 (buy exhaustion).
Interpretation: Large wicks with high volume and extreme RSI suggest aggressive buying or selling was met with equally aggressive rejection. This exhaustion often marks short-term extremes.
Visual: Label showing exhaustion type.
How These Contribute: When a divergence forms at a pivot AND one of these behavioral patterns is active, the confluence score increases by 20 points. This confirms the divergence is occurring during structural anomaly activity, not just normal price flow.
Limitation If Used Alone: These patterns can occur mid-trend and do not indicate direction without momentum context. Absorption in a strong uptrend may just be continuation accumulation.
LAYER 4 - CONFLUENCE SCORING MATRIX (Quality Weighting System)
Purpose: Translate all detected conditions into a single 0-100 quality score so you can objectively compare setups.
Scoring Breakdown:
Divergence Present: +30 points (primary signal)
Pressure Confirmation: +25 points (volume supports direction)
Behavioral Footprint Active: +20 points (structural anomaly present)
RSI Extreme: +15 points (RSI below 30 or above 70 at pivot)
Volume Spike: +10 points (current volume above 1.5x average)
Maximum Possible Score: 100 points
Why These Weights: The weights reflect reliability hierarchy based on backtesting observation. Divergence is the core signal (30 points), but without volume confirmation (25 points) many fail. Behavioral patterns add meaningful context (20 points). RSI extremes and volume spikes are secondary confirmations (15 and 10 points).
Quality Tiers:
90-100: TEXTBOOK (all factors aligned)
75-89: HIGH QUALITY (strong confluence)
60-74: VALID (meets minimum threshold)
Below 60: DEVELOPING (not displayed unless threshold lowered)
How It Contributes: The confluence score allows you to filter noise. You can set your minimum quality threshold in settings. Higher thresholds (75+) show fewer but higher-quality patterns. Lower thresholds (50-60) show more patterns but include lower-confidence setups. This teaches you to distinguish strong setups from weak ones.
Limitation: Confluence scoring is historical observation-based, not predictive guarantee. A 95-point setup can still fail. The score represents technical alignment, not future certainty.
WHY THIS COMBINATION WORKS TOGETHER
Each layer addresses a limitation in the others:
RSI Divergence identifies WHEN momentum is exhausting (timing)
Volume Pressure confirms WHETHER the exhaustion is accompanied by opposite-side accumulation (confirmation)
Behavioral Footprint shows IF structural anomalies support the reversal hypothesis (context)
Confluence Scoring weights ALL factors into an objective quality metric (filtering)
Using only RSI divergence gives you timing without confirmation. Using only volume pressure gives you intensity without directional context. Using only pattern detection gives you anomalies without trend exhaustion context. Using all four together creates a complete analytical framework where each layer compensates for the others' weaknesses.
This is not a mashup for the sake of combining indicators. It is a structured analytical system where each component has a defined role in a multi-dimensional market assessment process.
HOW TO READ THE INDICATOR - VISUAL ELEMENTS GUIDE
VMDM displays up to five visual layer types. You can enable or disable each layer independently in settings under "Visual Layers."
VISUAL LAYER 1 - MARKET STRUCTURE (Pivot Points and Lines)
What You See:
Small labels at swing highs and lows marked "PH" (Pivot High) and "PL" (Pivot Low) with horizontal dashed lines extending right from each pivot.
What It Means:
These are CONFIRMED pivots, not real-time. A pivot low appears AFTER the required right-side confirmation bars pass (default 3 bars). This creates a delay but prevents repainting. The pivot only appears once it is mathematically confirmed.
The horizontal lines represent support (from pivot lows) and resistance (from pivot highs) levels where price previously found significant rejection.
Color Coding:
Green label and line: Pivot Low (potential support)
Red label and line: Pivot High (potential resistance)
How To Use:
These pivots are the foundation for divergence detection. Divergence is only calculated between confirmed pivots, ensuring all signals are non-repainting. The lines help you see historical structure levels.
VISUAL LAYER 2 - PRESSURE ZONES (Background Color)
What You See:
Subtle background color shading on bars - light green or light red tint.
What It Means:
This visualizes volume pressure strength in real-time.
Color Coding:
Light Green Background: Pressure Strength above 70 (strong buying pressure - price closing near highs on volume)
Light Red Background: Pressure Strength below 30 (strong selling pressure - price closing near lows on volume)
No Color: Neutral pressure (pressure between 30-70)
How To Use:
When a bullish divergence pattern appears during green pressure zones, it suggests the divergence is forming during accumulation. When a bearish divergence appears during red zones, distribution is occurring. Pressure zones help you filter divergences - those forming in supportive pressure environments have higher probability.
VISUAL LAYER 3 - DIVERGENCE LINES (Dotted Connectors)
What You See:
Dotted lines connecting two pivot points (either two pivot lows or two pivot highs).
What It Means:
A divergence has been detected between those two pivots. The line connects the price pivots where RSI showed opposite behavior.
Color Coding:
Bright Green Line: Bullish divergence (regular or hidden)
Bright Red Line: Bearish divergence (regular or hidden)
How To Use:
The divergence line appears ONLY after the second pivot is confirmed (delayed by right-side confirmation bars). This is intentional to prevent repainting. When you see the line appear, it means:
For Bullish Regular Divergence:
Price made a lower low (second pivot lower than first)
RSI made a higher low (RSI at second pivot higher than first)
Interpretation: Downtrend losing momentum
For Bullish Hidden Divergence:
Price made a higher low (second pivot higher than first)
RSI made a lower low (RSI at second pivot lower than first)
Interpretation: Uptrend continuation likely (pullback within uptrend)
For Bearish Regular Divergence:
Price made a higher high (second pivot higher than first)
RSI made a lower high (RSI at second pivot lower than first)
Interpretation: Uptrend losing momentum
For Bearish Hidden Divergence:
Price made a lower high (second pivot lower than first)
RSI made a higher high (RSI at second pivot higher than first)
Interpretation: Downtrend continuation likely (bounce within downtrend)
If "Show Consolidated Analysis Label" is disabled, a small label will appear on the divergence line showing the divergence type abbreviation.
VISUAL LAYER 4 - BEHAVIORAL FOOTPRINT MARKERS
What You See:
Boxes, labels, and markers at specific bars showing pattern detection.
ABSORPTION ZONES (Boxes):
Colored rectangular boxes spanning one or more bars.
Purple Box: Accumulation absorption zone (high volume, tight range, bullish close)
Red Box: Distribution absorption zone (high volume, tight range, bearish close)
If absorption continues for multiple consecutive bars, the box extends and a counter appears in the label showing how many bars the absorption lasted.
What It Means: Large volume is being absorbed without significant price movement. This often precedes directional breakouts once the absorption phase completes.
STOP HUNT MARKERS (Labels):
Small labels below or above wicks labeled "BULL HUNT" or "BEAR HUNT" (may show bar count if consecutive).
What It Means:
BULL HUNT : Price spiked below recent lows then reversed back up on volume - likely triggered sell stops before reversing
BEAR HUNT : Price spiked above recent highs then reversed back down on volume - likely triggered buy stops before reversing
EXHAUSTION MARKERS (Labels):
Labels showing "SELL EXHAUST" or "BUY EXHAUST."
What It Means:
SELL EXHAUST : Large lower wick with high volume and low RSI - aggressive selling met with strong rejection
BUY EXHAUST : Large upper wick with high volume and high RSI - aggressive buying met with strong rejection
How To Use:
These markers help you identify WHERE structural anomalies occurred. When a divergence signal appears AT THE SAME TIME as one of these patterns, the confluence score increases. You are looking for alignment - divergence + behavioral pattern + pressure confirmation = high-quality setup.
VISUAL LAYER 5 - CONSOLIDATED ANALYSIS LABEL (Main Pattern Signal)
What You See:
A large label appearing at pivot points (or in real-time mode, at current bar) containing full pattern analysis.
Label Appearance:
Depending on your "Use Compact Label Format" setting:
COMPACT MODE (Single Line):
Example: "BULLISH REGULAR | Q:HIGH QUALITY C:82"
Breakdown:
BULLISH REGULAR: Divergence type detected
Q:HIGH QUALITY: Pattern quality tier
C:82: Confluence score (82 out of 100)
FULL MODE (Multi-Line Detailed):
Example:
PATTERN DETECTED
-------------------
BULLISH REGULAR
Quality: HIGH QUALITY
Price: Lower Low
Momentum: Higher Low
Signal: Weakening Downtrend
CONFLUENCE: 82/100
-------------------
Divergence: 30
Pressure: 25
Institutional: 20
RSI Extreme: 0
Volume: 10
Breakdown:
Top section: Pattern type and quality
Middle section: Divergence explanation (what price did vs what RSI did)
Bottom section: Confluence score with itemized breakdown showing which factors contributed
Label Position:
In Confirmed modes: Label appears AT the pivot point (delayed by confirmation bars)
In Real-time mode: Label appears at current bar as conditions develop
Label Color:
Gold: Textbook quality (90+ confluence)
Green: High quality (75-89 confluence)
Blue: Valid quality (60-74 confluence)
How To Use:
This is your primary decision-making label. When it appears:
Check the divergence type (regular divergences are reversal signals, hidden divergences are continuation signals)
Review the quality tier (textbook and high quality have better historical win rates)
Examine the confluence breakdown to see which factors are present and which are missing
Look at the chart context (trend, support/resistance, timeframe)
Use this information to assess whether the setup aligns with your strategy
The label does NOT tell you to buy or sell. It tells you a technical pattern has formed and provides the quality assessment. Your trading decision must incorporate risk management, market context, and your strategy rules.
UNDERSTANDING THE THREE DETECTION MODES
VMDM offers three signal detection modes in settings to accommodate different trading styles and learning objectives.
MODE 1: "Confluence Only (Real-Time)"
How It Works: Displays signals AS THEY DEVELOP on the current bar without waiting for pivot confirmation. The system calculates confluence score from pressure, volume, RSI extremes, and behavioral patterns. Divergence signals are NOT required in this mode.
Delay: ZERO - signals appear immediately.
Use Case: Real-time scanning for high-confluence zones without divergence requirement. Useful for intraday traders who want immediate alerts when multiple factors align.
Tradeoff: More frequent signals but includes setups without confirmed divergence. Higher false signal rate. Signals can change as the bar develops (not repainting in historical bars, but current bar updates).
Visual Behavior: Labels appear at the current bar. No divergence lines unless divergence happens to be present.
MODE 2: "Divergence + Confluence (Confirmed)" - DEFAULT RECOMMENDED
How It Works: Full system engagement. Signals appear ONLY when:
A pivot is confirmed (requires right-side confirmation bars to pass)
Divergence is detected between current pivot and previous pivot
Total confluence score meets or exceeds your minimum threshold
Delay: Equal to your "Pivot Right Bars" setting (default 3 bars). This means signals appear 3 bars AFTER the actual pivot formed.
Use Case: Highest-quality, non-repainting signals for swing traders and learners who want to study confirmed pattern completion.
Tradeoff: Delayed signals. You will not receive the signal until confirmation occurs. In fast-moving markets, price may have already moved significantly by the time the signal appears.
Visual Behavior: Labels appear at the historical pivot location (in the past). Divergence lines connect the two pivots. This is the most educational mode because it shows completed, confirmed patterns.
Non-Repainting Guarantee: Yes. Once a signal appears, it never disappears or changes.
MODE 3: "Divergence + Confluence (Relaxed)"
How It Works: Same as Confirmed mode but with adaptive thresholds. If confluence is very high (10 points above threshold), the signal may appear even if some factors are weak. If divergence is present but confluence is slightly below threshold (within 10 points), it may still appear.
Delay: Same as Confirmed mode (right-side confirmation bars).
Use Case: Slightly more signals than Confirmed mode for traders willing to accept near-threshold setups.
Tradeoff: More signals but lower average quality than Confirmed mode.
Visual Behavior: Same as Confirmed mode.
DASHBOARD GUIDE - READING THE METRICS
The dashboard appears in the corner of your chart (position selectable in settings) and provides real-time market state analysis.
You can choose between four dashboard detail levels in settings: Off, Compact, Optimized (default), Full.
DASHBOARD ROW EXPLANATIONS
ROW 1 - Header Information
Left: Current symbol and timeframe
Center: "VMDM "
Right: Version number
ROW 2 - Mode and Delay
Shows which detection mode you are using and the signal delay.
Example: "CONFIRMED | Delay: 3 bars"
This reminds you that signals in confirmed mode appear 3 bars after the pivot forms.
ROW 3 - Market Regime
Format: "TREND UP HV" or "RANGING NV"
First Part - Trend State:
TREND UP: 20 EMA above 50 EMA with strong separation
TREND DOWN: 20 EMA below 50 EMA with strong separation
RANGING: EMAs close together, low trend strength
TRANSITION: Between trending and ranging states
Second Part - Volatility State:
HV: High Volatility (current ATR more than 1.3x the 50-bar average ATR)
NV: Normal Volatility (current ATR between 0.7x and 1.3x average)
LV: Low Volatility (current ATR less than 0.7x average)
Third Column: Volatility ratio (example: "1.45x" means current ATR is 1.45 times normal)
How To Use: Regime context helps you interpret signals. Reversal divergences are more reliable in ranging or transitional regimes. Continuation divergences (hidden) are more reliable in trending regimes. High volatility means wider stops may be needed.
ROW 4 - Pressure
Shows current volume pressure state.
Format: "BUYING | ██████████░░░░░░░░░"
States:
BUYING : Pressure strength above 60 (closes near highs)
SELLING : Pressure strength below 40 (closes near lows)
NEUTRAL : Pressure strength between 40-60
Bar Visualization: Each block represents 10 percentile points. A full bar (10 filled blocks) = 100th percentile pressure.
Color: Green for buying, red for selling, gray for neutral.
How To Use: When pressure aligns with divergence direction (bullish divergence during buying pressure), confluence is stronger.
ROW 5 - Volume and RSI
Format: "1.8x | RSI 68 | OB"
First Value: Current volume ratio (1.8x = volume is 1.8 times the moving average)
Second Value: Current RSI reading
Third Value: RSI state
OB: Overbought (RSI above 70)
OS: Oversold (RSI below 30)
Blank: Neutral RSI
How To Use: Volume spikes (above 1.5x) during divergence formation add confluence. RSI extremes at pivots add confluence.
ROW 6 - Behavioral Footprint
Format: "BULL HUNT | 2 bars"
Shows the most recent behavioral pattern detected and how long ago.
States:
ACCUMULATION / DISTRIBUTION: Absorption detected
BULL HUNT / BEAR HUNT: Stop hunt detected
SELL EXHAUST / BUY EXHAUST: Exhaustion detected
SCANNING: No recent pattern
NOW: Pattern is active on current bar
How To Use: When footprint activity is recent (within 50 bars) or active now, it adds context to divergence signals forming in that area.
ROW 7 - Current Pattern
Shows the divergence type currently detected (if any).
Examples: "BULLISH REGULAR", "BEARISH HIDDEN", "Scanning..."
Quality: Shows pattern quality (TEXTBOOK, HIGH QUALITY, VALID)
How To Use: This tells you what type of signal is active. Regular divergences are reversal setups. Hidden divergences are continuation setups.
ROW 8 - Session Summary
Format: "14 events | A3 H8 E3"
First Value: Total institutional events this session
Breakdown:
A: Absorption events
H: Stop hunt events
E: Exhaustion events
How To Use: High event counts suggest an active, volatile session with frequent structural anomalies. Low counts suggest quiet, orderly price action.
ROW 9 - Confluence Score (Optimized/Full mode only)
Format: "78/100 | ████████░░"
Shows current real-time confluence score even if no pattern is confirmed yet.
How To Use: Watch this in real-time to see how close you are to pattern formation. When it exceeds your threshold and divergence forms, a signal will appear (after confirmation delay).
ROW 10 - Patterns Studied (Optimized/Full mode only)
Format: "47 patterns | 12 bars ago"
First Value: Total confirmed patterns detected since chart loaded
Second Value: How many bars since the last confirmed pattern appeared
How To Use: Helps you understand pattern frequency on your selected symbol and timeframe. If many bars have passed since last pattern, market may be trending without reversal opportunities.
ROW 11 - Bull/Bear Ratio (Optimized/Full mode only)
Format: "28:19 | BULL"
Shows count of bullish vs bearish patterns detected.
Balance:
BULL: More bullish patterns detected (suggests market has had more bullish reversals/continuations)
BEAR: More bearish patterns detected
BAL: Equal counts
How To Use: Extreme imbalances can indicate directional bias in the studied period. A heavily bullish ratio in a downtrend might suggest frequent failed rallies (bearish continuation). Context matters.
ROW 12 - Volume Ratio Detail (Optimized/Full mode only)
Shows current volume vs average volume in absolute terms.
Example: "1.4x | 45230 / 32300"
How To Use: Confirms whether current activity is above or below normal.
ROW 13 - Last Institutional Event (Full mode only)
Shows the most recent institutional pattern type and how many bars ago it occurred.
Example: "DISTRIBUTION | 23 bars"
How To Use: Tracks recency of last anomaly for context.
SETTINGS GUIDE - EVERY PARAMETER EXPLAINED
PERFORMANCE SECTION
Enable All Visuals (Master Toggle)
Default: ON
What It Does: Master kill switch for ALL visual elements (labels, lines, boxes, background colors, dashboard). When OFF, only plot outputs remain (invisible unless you open data window).
When To Change: Turn OFF on mobile devices, 1-second charts, or slow computers to improve performance. You can still receive alerts even with visuals disabled.
Impact: Dramatic performance improvement when OFF, but you lose all visual feedback.
Maximum Object History
Default: 50 | Range: 10-100
What It Does: Limits how many of each object type (labels, lines, boxes) are kept in memory. Older objects beyond this limit are deleted.
When To Change: Lower to 20-30 on fast timeframes (1-minute charts) to prevent slowdown. Increase to 100 on daily charts if you want more historical pattern visibility.
Impact: Lower values = better performance but less historical visibility. Higher values = more history visible but potential slowdown on fast timeframes.
Alert Cooldown (Bars)
Default: 5 | Range: 1-50
What It Does: Minimum number of bars that must pass before another alert of the same type can fire. Prevents alert spam when multiple patterns form in quick succession.
When To Change: Increase to 20+ on 1-minute charts to reduce noise. Decrease to 1-2 on daily charts if you want every pattern alerted.
Impact: Higher cooldown = fewer alerts. Lower cooldown = more alerts.
USER EXPERIENCE SECTION
Show Enhanced Tooltips
Default: ON
What It Does: Enables detailed hover-over tooltips on labels and visual elements.
When To Change: Turn OFF if you encounter Pine Script compilation errors related to tooltip arguments (rare, platform-specific issue).
Impact: Minimal. Just adds helpful hover text.
MARKET STRUCTURE DETECTION SECTION
Pivot Left Bars
Default: 3 | Range: 2-10
What It Does: Number of bars to the LEFT of the center bar that must be higher (for pivot low) or lower (for pivot high) than the center bar for a pivot to be valid.
Example: With value 3, a pivot low requires the center bar's low to be lower than the 3 bars to its left.
When To Change:
Increase to 5-7 on noisy timeframes (1-minute charts) to filter insignificant pivots
Decrease to 2 on slow timeframes (daily charts) to catch more pivots
Impact: Higher values = fewer, more significant pivots = fewer signals. Lower values = more frequent pivots = more signals but more noise.
Pivot Right Bars
Default: 3 | Range: 2-10
What It Does: Number of bars to the RIGHT of the center bar that must pass for confirmation. This creates the non-repainting delay.
Example: With value 3, a pivot is confirmed 3 bars AFTER it forms.
When To Change:
Increase to 5-7 for slower, more confirmed signals (better for swing trading)
Decrease to 2 for faster signals (better for intraday, but still non-repainting)
Impact: Higher values = longer delay but more reliable confirmation. Lower values = faster signals but less confirmation. This setting directly controls your signal delay in Confirmed and Relaxed modes.
Minimum Confluence Score
Default: 60 | Range: 40-95
What It Does: The threshold score required for a pattern to be displayed. Patterns with confluence scores below this threshold are not shown.
When To Change:
Increase to 75+ if you only want high-quality textbook setups (fewer signals)
Decrease to 50-55 if you want to see more developing patterns (more signals, lower average quality)
Impact: This is your primary signal filter. Higher threshold = fewer, higher-quality signals. Lower threshold = more signals but includes weaker setups. Recommended starting point is 60-65.
TECHNICAL PERIODS SECTION
RSI Period
Default: 14 | Range: 5-50
What It Does: Lookback period for RSI calculation.
When To Change:
Decrease to 9-10 for faster, more sensitive RSI that detects shorter-term momentum changes
Increase to 21-28 for slower, smoother RSI that filters noise
Impact: Lower values make RSI more volatile (more frequent extremes and divergences). Higher values make RSI smoother (fewer but more significant divergences). 14 is industry standard.
Volume Moving Average Period
Default: 20 | Range: 10-200
What It Does: Lookback period for calculating average volume. Current volume is compared to this average to determine volume ratio.
When To Change:
Decrease to 10-14 for shorter-term volume comparison (more sensitive to recent volume changes)
Increase to 50-100 for longer-term volume comparison (smoother, less sensitive)
Impact: Lower values make volume ratio more volatile. Higher values make it more stable. 20 is standard.
ATR Period
Default: 14 | Range: 5-100
What It Does: Lookback period for Average True Range calculation used for volatility measurement and label positioning.
When To Change: Rarely needs adjustment. Use 7-10 for faster volatility response, 21-28 for slower.
Impact: Affects volatility ratio calculation and visual label spacing. Minimal impact on signals.
Pressure Percentile Lookback
Default: 50 | Range: 10-300
What It Does: Lookback period for calculating volume pressure percentile ranking. Your current pressure is ranked against the pressure of the last X bars.
When To Change:
Decrease to 20-30 for shorter-term pressure context (more responsive to recent changes)
Increase to 100-200 for longer-term pressure context (smoother rankings)
Impact: Lower values make pressure strength more sensitive to recent bars. Higher values provide more stable, long-term pressure assessment. Capped at 300 for performance reasons.
SIGNAL DETECTION SECTION
Signal Detection Mode
Default: "Divergence + Confluence (Confirmed)"
Options:
Confluence Only (Real-time)
Divergence + Confluence (Confirmed)
Divergence + Confluence (Relaxed)
What It Does: Selects which detection logic mode to use (see "Understanding The Three Detection Modes" section above).
When To Change: Use Confirmed for learning and non-repainting signals. Use Real-time for live scanning without divergence requirement. Use Relaxed for slightly more signals than Confirmed.
Impact: Fundamentally changes when and how signals appear.
VISUAL LAYERS SECTION
All toggles default to ON. Each controls visibility of one visual layer:
Show Market Structure: Pivot markers and support/resistance lines
Show Pressure Zones: Background color shading
Show Divergence Lines: Dotted lines connecting pivots
Show Institutional Footprint Markers: Absorption boxes, hunt labels, exhaustion labels
Show Consolidated Analysis Label: Main pattern detection label
Use Compact Label Format
Default: OFF
What It Does: Switches consolidated label between single-line compact format and multi-line detailed format.
When To Change: Turn ON if you find full labels too large or distracting.
Impact: Visual clarity vs. information density tradeoff.
DASHBOARD SECTION
Dashboard Mode
Default: "Optimized"
Options: Off, Compact, Optimized, Full
What It Does: Controls how much information the dashboard displays.
Off: No dashboard
Compact: 8 rows (essential metrics only)
Optimized: 12 rows (recommended balance)
Full: 13 rows (every available metric)
Dashboard Position
Default: "Top Right"
Options: Top Right, Top Left, Bottom Right, Bottom Left
What It Does: Screen corner where dashboard appears.
HOW TO USE VMDM - PRACTICAL WORKFLOW
STEP 1 - INITIAL SETUP
Add VMDM to your chart
Select your detection mode (Confirmed recommended for learning)
Set your minimum confluence score (start with 60-65)
Adjust pivot parameters if needed (default 3/3 is good for most timeframes)
Enable the visual layers you want to see
STEP 2 - CHART ANALYSIS
Let the indicator load and analyze historical data
Review the patterns that appear historically
Examine the confluence scores - notice which patterns had higher scores
Observe which patterns occurred during supportive pressure zones
Notice the divergence line connections - understand what price vs RSI did
STEP 3 - PATTERN RECOGNITION LEARNING
When a consolidated analysis label appears:
Read the divergence type (regular or hidden, bullish or bearish)
Check the quality tier (textbook, high quality, or valid)
Review the confluence breakdown - which factors contributed
Look at the chart context - where is price relative to structure, trend, etc.
Observe the behavioral footprint markers nearby - do they support the pattern
STEP 4 - REAL-TIME MONITORING
Watch the dashboard for real-time regime and pressure state
Monitor the current confluence score in the dashboard
When it approaches your threshold, be alert for potential pattern formation
When a new pattern appears (after confirmation delay), evaluate it using the workflow above
Use your trading strategy rules to decide if the setup aligns with your criteria
STEP 5 - POST-PATTERN OBSERVATION
After a pattern appears:
Mark the level on your chart
Observe what price does after the pattern completes
Did price respect the reversal/continuation signal
What was the confluence score of patterns that worked vs. those that failed
Learn which quality tiers and confluence levels produce better results on your specific symbol and timeframe
RECOMMENDED TIMEFRAMES AND ASSET CLASSES
VMDM is timeframe-agnostic and works on any asset with volume data. However, optimal performance varies:
BEST TIMEFRAMES
15-Minute to 1-Hour: Ideal balance of signal frequency and reliability. Pivot confirmation delay is acceptable. Sufficient volume data for pressure analysis.
4-Hour to Daily: Excellent for swing trading. Very high-quality signals. Lower frequency but higher significance. Recommended for learning because patterns are clearer.
1-Minute to 5-Minute: Works but requires adjustment. Increase pivot bars to 5-7 for filtering. Decrease max object history to 30 for performance. Expect more noise.
Weekly/Monthly: Works but very infrequent signals. Increase confluence threshold to 70+ to ensure only major patterns appear.
BEST ASSET CLASSES
Forex Majors: Excellent volume data and clear trends. Pressure analysis works well.
Crypto (Major Pairs): Good volume data. High volatility makes divergences more pronounced. Works very well.
Stock Indices (SPY, QQQ, etc.): Excellent. Clean price action and reliable volume.
Individual Stocks: Works well on high-volume stocks. Low-volume stocks may produce unreliable pressure readings.
Commodities (Gold, Oil, etc.): Works well. Clear trends and reactions.
WHAT THIS INDICATOR CANNOT DO - LIMITATIONS
LIMITATION 1 - It Does Not Predict The Future
VMDM identifies when technical conditions align historically associated with potential reversals or continuations. It does not predict what will happen next. A textbook 95-confluence pattern can still fail if fundamental events, news, or larger timeframe structure override the setup.
LIMITATION 2 - Confirmation Delay Means You Miss Early Entry
In Confirmed and Relaxed modes, the non-repainting design means you receive signals AFTER the pivot is confirmed. Price may have already moved significantly by the time you receive the signal. This is the tradeoff for non-repainting reliability. You can use Real-time mode for faster signals but sacrifice divergence confirmation.
LIMITATION 3 - It Does Not Tell You Position Sizing or Risk Management
VMDM provides technical pattern analysis. It does not calculate stop loss levels, take profit targets, or position sizing. You must apply your own risk management rules. Never risk more than you can afford to lose based on a technical signal.
LIMITATION 4 - Volume Pressure Analysis Requires Reliable Volume Data
On assets with thin volume or unreliable volume reporting, pressure analysis may be inaccurate. Stick to major liquid assets with consistent volume data.
LIMITATION 5 - It Cannot Detect Fundamental Events
VMDM is purely technical. It cannot predict earnings reports, central bank decisions, geopolitical events, or other fundamental catalysts that can override technical patterns.
LIMITATION 6 - Divergence Requires Two Pivots
The indicator cannot detect divergence until at least two pivots of the same type have formed. In strong trends without pullbacks, you may go long periods without signals.
LIMITATION 7 - Institutional Pattern Names Are Interpretive
The behavioral footprint patterns are named using common trading education terminology, but they are detected through technical analysis, not actual institutional data access. The patterns are interpretations based on price and volume behavior.
CONCEPT FOUNDATION - WHY THIS APPROACH WORKS
MARKET PRINCIPLE 1 - Momentum Divergence Precedes Price Reversal
Price is the final output of market forces, but momentum (the rate of change in those forces) shifts first. When price makes a new low but the momentum behind that move is weaker (higher RSI low), it signals that sellers are losing strength even though they temporarily pushed price lower. This precedes reversal. This is a fundamental principle in technical analysis taught by Charles Dow, widely observed in market behavior.
MARKET PRINCIPLE 2 - Volume Reveals Conviction
Price can move on low volume (low conviction) or high volume (high conviction). When price makes a new low on declining volume while RSI shows improving momentum, it suggests the new low is not confirmed by participant conviction. Adding volume pressure analysis to momentum divergence adds a confirmation layer that filters false divergences.
MARKET PRINCIPLE 3 - Anomalies Mark Structural Extremes
When volume spikes significantly but range contracts (absorption), or when price spikes beyond structure then reverses (stop hunt), or when aggressive moves are met with large-wick rejection (exhaustion), these anomalies often mark short-term extremes. Combining these structural observations with momentum analysis creates context.
MARKET PRINCIPLE 4 - Confluence Improves Probability
No single technical factor is reliable in isolation. RSI divergence alone fails frequently. Volume analysis alone cannot time entries. Combining multiple independent factors into a weighted system increases the probability that observed patterns have structural significance rather than random noise.
THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE
By visualizing all four layers simultaneously and breaking down the confluence scoring transparently, VMDM teaches you to think in terms of multi-dimensional analysis rather than single-indicator reliance. Over time, you will learn to recognize these patterns manually and understand which combinations produce better results on your traded assets.
INSTITUTIONAL TERMINOLOGY - IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION
This indicator uses the following terms that are common in trading education:
Institutional Footprint
Absorption (Accumulation / Distribution)
Stop Hunt
Exhaustion
CRITICAL DISCLAIMER:
These terms are EDUCATIONAL LABELS for specific price action and volume behavior patterns detected through technical analysis of publicly available chart data (open, high, low, close, volume). This indicator does NOT have access to:
Actual institutional order flow or order book data
Market maker positions or intentions
Broker stop-loss databases
Non-public trading data
Proprietary institutional information
The patterns labeled as "institutional footprint" are interpretations based on observable price and volume behavior that educational trading literature often associates with potential large-participant activity. The detection is algorithmic pattern recognition, not privileged data access.
When this indicator identifies "absorption," it means it detected high volume within a small range - a condition that MAY indicate large orders being filled but is not confirmation of actual institutional participation.
When it identifies a "stop hunt," it means price briefly penetrated a structural level then reversed - a pattern that MAY have triggered stop losses but is not confirmation that stops were specifically targeted.
When it identifies "exhaustion," it means high volume with large rejection wicks - a pattern that MAY indicate aggressive participation meeting strong opposition but is not confirmation of institutional involvement.
These are technical analysis interpretations, not factual statements about market participant identity or intent.
DISCLAIMER AND RISK WARNING
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY
This indicator is designed as an educational tool to help traders learn to recognize technical patterns, understand multi-factor analysis, and practice systematic market observation. It is NOT a trading system, signal service, or financial advice.
NO PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
Past pattern behavior does not guarantee future results. A pattern that historically preceded price movement in one direction may fail in the future due to changing market conditions, fundamental events, or random variance. Confluence scores reflect historical technical alignment, not future certainty.
TRADING INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK
Trading financial instruments involves substantial risk of loss. You can lose more than your initial investment. Never trade with money you cannot afford to lose. Always use proper risk management including stop losses, position sizing, and portfolio diversification.
NO PREDICTIVE CLAIMS
This indicator does NOT predict future price movement. It identifies when technical conditions align in patterns that historically have been associated with potential reversals or continuations. Market behavior is probabilistic, not deterministic.
BACKTESTING LIMITATIONS
If you backtest trading strategies using this indicator, ensure you account for:
Realistic commission costs
Realistic slippage (difference between signal price and actual fill price)
Sufficient sample size (minimum 100 trades for statistical relevance)
Reasonable position sizing (risking no more than 1-2 percent of account per trade)
The confirmation delay inherent in the indicator (you cannot enter at the exact pivot in Confirmed mode)
Backtests that do not account for these factors will produce unrealistic results.
AUTHOR LIABILITY
The author (BullByte) is not responsible for any trading losses incurred using this indicator. By using this indicator, you acknowledge that all trading decisions are your sole responsibility and that you understand the risks involved.
NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE
Nothing in this indicator, its code, its description, or its visual outputs constitutes financial, investment, or trading advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why do signals appear in the past, not at the current bar
A: In Confirmed and Relaxed modes, signals appear at confirmed pivots, which requires waiting for right-side confirmation bars (default 3). This creates a delay but prevents repainting. Use Real-time mode if you want current-bar signals without pivot confirmation.
Q: Can I use this for automated trading
A: You can create alert-based automation, but understand that Confirmed mode signals appear AFTER the pivot with delay, so your entry will not be at the pivot price. Real-time mode signals can change as the current bar develops. Automation requires careful consideration of these factors.
Q: How do I know which confluence score to use
A: Start with 60. Observe which patterns work on your symbol/timeframe. If too many false signals, increase to 70-75. If too few signals, decrease to 55. Quality vs. quantity tradeoff.
Q: Do regular divergences mean I should enter a reversal trade immediately
A: No. Regular divergences indicate momentum exhaustion, which is a WARNING sign that trend may reverse, not a confirmation that it will. Use confluence score, market context, support/resistance, and your strategy rules to make entry decisions. Many divergences fail.
Q: What's the difference between regular and hidden divergence
A: Regular divergence = price and momentum move in opposite directions at extremes = potential reversal signal. Hidden divergence = price and momentum move in opposite directions during pullbacks = potential continuation signal. Hidden divergence suggests the pullback is just a correction within the larger trend.
Q: Why does the pressure zone color sometimes conflict with the divergence direction
A: Pressure is real-time current bar analysis. Divergence is confirmed pivot analysis from the past. They measure different things at different times. A bullish divergence confirmed 3 bars ago might appear during current selling pressure. This is normal.
Q: Can I use this on stocks without volume data
A: No. Volume is required for pressure analysis and behavioral pattern detection. Use only on assets with reliable volume reporting.
Q: How often should I expect signals
A: Depends on timeframe and settings. Daily charts might produce 5-10 signals per month. 1-hour charts might produce 20-30. 15-minute charts might produce 50-100. Adjust confluence threshold to control frequency.
Q: Can I modify the code
A: Yes, this is open source. You can modify for personal use. If you publish a modified version, please credit the original and ensure your publication meets TradingView guidelines.
Q: What if I disagree with a pattern's confluence score
A: The scoring weights are based on general observations and may not suit your specific strategy or asset. You can modify the code to adjust weights if you have data-driven reasons to do so.
Final Notes
VMDM - Volume, Momentum and Divergence Master is an educational multi-layer market analysis system designed to teach systematic pattern recognition through transparent, confluence-weighted signal detection. By combining RSI momentum divergence, volume pressure quantification, behavioral footprint pattern recognition, and quality scoring into a unified framework, it provides a comprehensive learning environment for understanding market structure.
Use this tool to develop your analytical skills, understand how multiple technical factors interact, and learn to distinguish high-quality setups from noise. Remember that technical analysis is probabilistic, not predictive. No indicator replaces proper education, risk management, and trading discipline.
Trade responsibly. Learn continuously. Risk only what you can afford to lose.
-BullByte
Relative Strength index 2xRelative Strength Index 2×
The RSI*2 by AZly is an advanced dual-RSI indicator that allows traders to analyze momentum from two distinct perspectives — short-term and medium-term — on a single chart. It combines RSI precision with multi-timeframe flexibility, giving a clear view of both immediate and underlying momentum trends.
⚙️ How It Works
This indicator calculates and plots two fully independent RSI lines, each with customizable settings:
RSI 1 (Main RSI) : Captures medium-term momentum, ideal for trend and context.
RSI 2 (Fast RSI) : Reacts quickly to short-term moves, identifying overbought and oversold conditions.
Both RSIs include:
Custom timeframe, source, and smoothing method (SMA, EMA, WMA, VWMA, HMA, SMMA).
Gradient zones to visualize momentum strength and reversals.
Adjustable levels and colors for clear chart presentation.
📘 Andrew Cardwell Zones (RSI 1)
RSI 1 uses Andrew Cardwell’s “range rules” to distinguish bullish and bearish momentum phases:
Bullish Range: RSI holds between 40–80, finding support around 40–45.
Bearish Range: RSI stays between 20–60, with rallies capped near 55–60.
A breakout from one range into another often signals a trend phase transition — marking potential trend beginnings or endings.
⚡ Overbought/Oversold Zones (RSI 2)
RSI 2 is designed for fast reactions and reversal detection:
95–100: Extreme overbought zone — potential exhaustion and short setup.
5–0: Extreme oversold zone — potential exhaustion and long setup.
Crossing these levels highlights short-term momentum exhaustion , often preceding pullbacks or strong price reversals.
💡 Why It’s Better
Compared to traditional RSI indicators, this version provides superior control and insight:
Dual independent RSIs with separate timeframes and smoothing.
Cardwell-style range recognition for better context of trend strength.
Extreme bands for fast RSI 2 to time entries with precision.
Dynamic gradient zones for intuitive visual interpretation.
Multi-timeframe flexibility that adapts to any trading style.
🎯 Trading Concepts
Trend Confirmation:
RSI 1 above 50 (bullish range) confirms uptrend bias; below 50 (bearish range) confirms downtrend.
Reversal Setup:
RSI 2 hitting extreme zones (above 95 or below 5) while RSI 1 stays steady often signals exhaustion and reversal setups.
Divergence Confirmation:
When RSI 2 diverges from price and RSI 1 supports the direction, it strengthens reversal probability.
Range Transition:
A shift in RSI 1’s range (from bearish to bullish or vice versa) confirms a major change in market structure.
🕒 Trade Timing (Entry Ideas)
Timing is one of the indicator’s strongest features.
Wait for RSI 2 to reach an extreme zone (above 95 or below 5).
Then confirm the direction with RSI 1 — trades are most effective when RSI 1’s range aligns with the anticipated move.
Buy Setup:
RSI 1 in bullish range + RSI 2 rebounds upward from the 5 zone.
Sell Setup:
RSI 1 in bearish range + RSI 2 turns down from the 95 zone.
Best Timing:
Enter when RSI 2 crosses back inside the 10–90 range in the same direction as RSI 1’s trend.
This captures momentum just as it resumes — avoiding early or late entries.
🔷 M & W Patterns (RSI 2)
RSI 2 also reveals short-term exhaustion structures:
“ M ” Formation: Two RSI peaks near 95–100 — bearish reversal setup.
“ W ” Formation: Two RSI troughs near 0–5 — bullish reversal setup.
These shapes often appear before price reversals, offering early momentum clues.
⚠️ Important Trading Guidance
It is strongly recommended not to trade against the prevailing trend or attempt to pick exact tops or bottoms. The indicator works best when used in alignment with trend direction. Counter-trend entries carry higher risk and lower probability.
📊 Recommended Use
Ideal for momentum traders, scalpers, and multi-timeframe analysts seeking precise timing and context. Works on all markets — forex, crypto, stocks, indexes, and commodities.
Multi Timeframe BOS & rBOSThis is the same Multi-Timeframe Break of Structure and Market Structure Shift posted by Lenny_Kiruthu. However, the only difference is the naming of Market Structure Shift to rBOS (Break of Structure Reverse). To me, they are all break of structures when previous peaks or valleys are violated. The only difference is in sequence. Once a sequence of BOS reverses, then a new sequence begins. To me, this simplifies the various terminology incorporated by different systems such as ICT or SMT which adds unnecessary complexity.
eT
Langlands-Operadic Möbius Vortex (LOMV)Langlands-Operadic Möbius Vortex (LOMV)
Where Pure Mathematics Meets Market Reality
A Revolutionary Synthesis of Number Theory, Category Theory, and Market Dynamics
🎓 THEORETICAL FOUNDATION
The Langlands-Operadic Möbius Vortex represents a groundbreaking fusion of three profound mathematical frameworks that have never before been combined for market analysis:
The Langlands Program: Harmonic Analysis in Markets
Developed by Robert Langlands (Fields Medal recipient), the Langlands Program creates bridges between number theory, algebraic geometry, and harmonic analysis. In our indicator:
L-Function Implementation:
- Utilizes the Möbius function μ(n) for weighted price analysis
- Applies Riemann zeta function convergence principles
- Calculates quantum harmonic resonance between -2 and +2
- Measures deep mathematical patterns invisible to traditional analysis
The L-Function core calculation employs:
L_sum = Σ(return_val × μ(n) × n^(-s))
Where s is the critical strip parameter (0.5-2.5), controlling mathematical precision and signal smoothness.
Operadic Composition Theory: Multi-Strategy Democracy
Category theory and operads provide the mathematical framework for composing multiple trading strategies into a unified signal. This isn't simple averaging - it's mathematical composition using:
Strategy Composition Arity (2-5 strategies):
- Momentum analysis via RSI transformation
- Mean reversion through Bollinger Band mathematics
- Order Flow Polarity Index (revolutionary T3-smoothed volume analysis)
- Trend detection using Directional Movement
- Higher timeframe momentum confirmation
Agreement Threshold System: Democratic voting where strategies must reach consensus before signal generation. This prevents false signals during market uncertainty.
Möbius Function: Number Theory in Action
The Möbius function μ(n) forms the mathematical backbone:
- μ(n) = 1 if n is a square-free positive integer with even number of prime factors
- μ(n) = -1 if n is a square-free positive integer with odd number of prime factors
- μ(n) = 0 if n has a squared prime factor
This creates oscillating weights that reveal hidden market periodicities and harmonic structures.
🔧 COMPREHENSIVE INPUT SYSTEM
Langlands Program Parameters
Modular Level N (5-50, default 30):
Primary lookback for quantum harmonic analysis. Optimized by timeframe:
- Scalping (1-5min): 15-25
- Day Trading (15min-1H): 25-35
- Swing Trading (4H-1D): 35-50
- Asset-specific: Crypto 15-25, Stocks 30-40, Forex 35-45
L-Function Critical Strip (0.5-2.5, default 1.5):
Controls Riemann zeta convergence precision:
- Higher values: More stable, smoother signals
- Lower values: More reactive, catches quick moves
- High frequency: 0.8-1.2, Medium: 1.3-1.7, Low: 1.8-2.3
Frobenius Trace Period (5-50, default 21):
Galois representation lookback for price-volume correlation:
- Measures harmonic relationships in market flows
- Scalping: 8-15, Day Trading: 18-25, Swing: 25-40
HTF Multi-Scale Analysis:
Higher timeframe context prevents trading against major trends:
- Provides market bias and filters signals
- Improves win rates by 15-25% through trend alignment
Operadic Composition Parameters
Strategy Composition Arity (2-5, default 4):
Number of algorithms composed for final signal:
- Conservative: 4-5 strategies (higher confidence)
- Moderate: 3-4 strategies (balanced approach)
- Aggressive: 2-3 strategies (more frequent signals)
Category Agreement Threshold (2-5, default 3):
Democratic voting minimum for signal generation:
- Higher agreement: Fewer but higher quality signals
- Lower agreement: More signals, potential false positives
Swiss-Cheese Mixing (0.1-0.5, default 0.382):
Golden ratio φ⁻¹ based blending of trend factors:
- 0.382 is φ⁻¹, optimal for natural market fractals
- Higher values: Stronger trend following
- Lower values: More contrarian signals
OFPI Configuration:
- OFPI Length (5-30, default 14): Order Flow calculation period
- T3 Smoothing (3-10, default 5): Advanced exponential smoothing
- T3 Volume Factor (0.5-1.0, default 0.7): Smoothing aggressiveness control
Unified Scoring System
Component Weights (sum ≈ 1.0):
- L-Function Weight (0.1-0.5, default 0.3): Mathematical harmony emphasis
- Galois Rank Weight (0.1-0.5, default 0.2): Market structure complexity
- Operadic Weight (0.1-0.5, default 0.3): Multi-strategy consensus
- Correspondence Weight (0.1-0.5, default 0.2): Theory-practice alignment
Signal Threshold (0.5-10.0, default 5.0):
Quality filter producing:
- 8.0+: EXCEPTIONAL signals only
- 6.0-7.9: STRONG signals
- 4.0-5.9: MODERATE signals
- 2.0-3.9: WEAK signals
🎨 ADVANCED VISUAL SYSTEM
Multi-Dimensional Quantum Aura Bands
Five-layer resonance field showing market energy:
- Colors: Theme-matched gradients (Quantum purple, Holographic cyan, etc.)
- Expansion: Dynamic based on score intensity and volatility
- Function: Multi-timeframe support/resistance zones
Morphism Flow Portals
Category theory visualization showing market topology:
- Green/Cyan Portals: Bullish mathematical flow
- Red/Orange Portals: Bearish mathematical flow
- Size/Intensity: Proportional to signal strength
- Recursion Depth (1-8): Nested patterns for flow evolution
Fractal Grid System
Dynamic support/resistance with projected L-Scores:
- Multiple Timeframes: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50-period highs/lows
- Smart Spacing: Prevents level overlap using ATR-based minimum distance
- Projections: Estimated signal scores when price reaches levels
- Usage: Precise entry/exit timing with mathematical confirmation
Wick Pressure Analysis
Rejection level prediction using candle mathematics:
- Upper Wicks: Selling pressure zones (purple/red lines)
- Lower Wicks: Buying pressure zones (purple/green lines)
- Glow Intensity (1-8): Visual emphasis and line reach
- Application: Confluence with fractal grid creates high-probability zones
Regime Intensity Heatmap
Background coloring showing market energy:
- Black/Dark: Low activity, range-bound markets
- Purple Glow: Building momentum and trend development
- Bright Purple: High activity, strong directional moves
- Calculation: Combines trend, momentum, volatility, and score intensity
Six Professional Themes
- Quantum: Purple/violet for general trading and mathematical focus
- Holographic: Cyan/magenta optimized for cryptocurrency markets
- Crystalline: Blue/turquoise for conservative, stability-focused trading
- Plasma: Gold/magenta for high-energy volatility trading
- Cosmic Neon: Bright neon colors for maximum visibility and aggressive trading
📊 INSTITUTIONAL-GRADE DASHBOARD
Unified AI Score Section
- Total Score (-10 to +10): Primary decision metric
- >5: Strong bullish signals
- <-5: Strong bearish signals
- Quality ratings: EXCEPTIONAL > STRONG > MODERATE > WEAK
- Component Analysis: Individual L-Function, Galois, Operadic, and Correspondence contributions
Order Flow Analysis
Revolutionary OFPI integration:
- OFPI Value (-100% to +100%): Real buying vs selling pressure
- Visual Gauge: Horizontal bar chart showing flow intensity
- Momentum Status: SHIFTING, ACCELERATING, STRONG, MODERATE, or WEAK
- Trading Application: Flow shifts often precede major moves
Signal Performance Tracking
- Win Rate Monitoring: Real-time success percentage with emoji indicators
- Signal Count: Total signals generated for frequency analysis
- Current Position: LONG, SHORT, or NONE with P&L tracking
- Volatility Regime: HIGH, MEDIUM, or LOW classification
Market Structure Analysis
- Möbius Field Strength: Mathematical field oscillation intensity
- CHAOTIC: High complexity, use wider stops
- STRONG: Active field, normal position sizing
- MODERATE: Balanced conditions
- WEAK: Low activity, consider smaller positions
- HTF Trend: Higher timeframe bias (BULL/BEAR/NEUTRAL)
- Strategy Agreement: Multi-algorithm consensus level
Position Management
When in trades, displays:
- Entry Price: Original signal price
- Current P&L: Real-time percentage with risk level assessment
- Duration: Bars in trade for timing analysis
- Risk Level: HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW based on current exposure
🚀 SIGNAL GENERATION LOGIC
Balanced Long/Short Architecture
The indicator generates signals through multiple convergent pathways:
Long Entry Conditions:
- Score threshold breach with algorithmic agreement
- Strong bullish order flow (OFPI > 0.15) with positive composite signal
- Bullish pattern recognition with mathematical confirmation
- HTF trend alignment with momentum shifting
- Extreme bullish OFPI (>0.3) with any positive score
Short Entry Conditions:
- Score threshold breach with bearish agreement
- Strong bearish order flow (OFPI < -0.15) with negative composite signal
- Bearish pattern recognition with mathematical confirmation
- HTF trend alignment with momentum shifting
- Extreme bearish OFPI (<-0.3) with any negative score
Exit Logic:
- Score deterioration below continuation threshold
- Signal quality degradation
- Opposing order flow acceleration
- 10-bar minimum between signals prevents overtrading
⚙️ OPTIMIZATION GUIDELINES
Asset-Specific Settings
Cryptocurrency Trading:
- Modular Level: 15-25 (capture volatility)
- L-Function Precision: 0.8-1.3 (reactive to price swings)
- OFPI Length: 10-20 (fast correlation shifts)
- Cascade Levels: 5-7, Theme: Holographic
Stock Index Trading:
- Modular Level: 25-35 (balanced trending)
- L-Function Precision: 1.5-1.8 (stable patterns)
- OFPI Length: 14-20 (standard correlation)
- Cascade Levels: 4-5, Theme: Quantum
Forex Trading:
- Modular Level: 35-45 (smooth trends)
- L-Function Precision: 1.6-2.1 (high smoothing)
- OFPI Length: 18-25 (disable volume amplification)
- Cascade Levels: 3-4, Theme: Crystalline
Timeframe Optimization
Scalping (1-5 minute charts):
- Reduce all lookback parameters by 30-40%
- Increase L-Function precision for noise reduction
- Enable all visual elements for maximum information
- Use Small dashboard to save screen space
Day Trading (15 minute - 1 hour):
- Use default parameters as starting point
- Adjust based on market volatility
- Normal dashboard provides optimal information density
- Focus on OFPI momentum shifts for entries
Swing Trading (4 hour - Daily):
- Increase lookback parameters by 30-50%
- Higher L-Function precision for stability
- Large dashboard for comprehensive analysis
- Emphasize HTF trend alignment
🏆 ADVANCED TRADING STRATEGIES
The Mathematical Confluence Method
1. Wait for Fractal Grid level approach
2. Confirm with projected L-Score > threshold
3. Verify OFPI alignment with direction
4. Enter on portal signal with quality ≥ STRONG
5. Exit on score deterioration or opposing flow
The Regime Trading System
1. Monitor Aether Flow background intensity
2. Trade aggressively during bright purple periods
3. Reduce position size during dark periods
4. Use Möbius Field strength for stop placement
5. Align with HTF trend for maximum probability
The OFPI Momentum Strategy
1. Watch for momentum shifting detection
2. Confirm with accelerating flow in direction
3. Enter on immediate portal signal
4. Scale out at Fibonacci levels
5. Exit on flow deceleration or reversal
⚠️ RISK MANAGEMENT INTEGRATION
Mathematical Position Sizing
- Use Galois Rank for volatility-adjusted sizing
- Möbius Field strength determines stop width
- Fractal Dimension guides maximum exposure
- OFPI momentum affects entry timing
Signal Quality Filtering
- Trade only STRONG or EXCEPTIONAL quality signals
- Increase position size with higher agreement levels
- Reduce risk during CHAOTIC Möbius field periods
- Respect HTF trend alignment for directional bias
🔬 DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
Creating the LOMV was an extraordinary mathematical undertaking that pushed the boundaries of what's possible in technical analysis. This indicator almost didn't happen. The theoretical complexity nearly proved insurmountable.
The Mathematical Challenge
Implementing the Langlands Program required deep research into:
- Number theory and the Möbius function
- Riemann zeta function convergence properties
- L-function analytical continuation
- Galois representations in finite fields
The mathematical literature spans decades of pure mathematics research, requiring translation from abstract theory to practical market application.
The Computational Complexity
Operadic composition theory demanded:
- Category theory implementation in Pine Script
- Multi-dimensional array management for strategy composition
- Real-time democratic voting algorithms
- Performance optimization for complex calculations
The Integration Breakthrough
Bringing together three disparate mathematical frameworks required:
- Novel approaches to signal weighting and combination
- Revolutionary Order Flow Polarity Index development
- Advanced T3 smoothing implementation
- Balanced signal generation preventing directional bias
Months of intensive research culminated in breakthrough moments when the mathematics finally aligned with market reality. The result is an indicator that reveals market structure invisible to conventional analysis while maintaining practical trading utility.
🎯 PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION
Getting Started
1. Apply indicator with default settings
2. Select appropriate theme for your markets
3. Observe dashboard metrics during different market conditions
4. Practice signal identification without trading
5. Gradually adjust parameters based on observations
Signal Confirmation Process
- Never trade on score alone - verify quality rating
- Confirm OFPI alignment with intended direction
- Check fractal grid level proximity for timing
- Ensure Möbius field strength supports position size
- Validate against HTF trend for bias confirmation
Performance Monitoring
- Track win rate in dashboard for strategy assessment
- Monitor component contributions for optimization
- Adjust threshold based on desired signal frequency
- Document performance across different market regimes
🌟 UNIQUE INNOVATIONS
1. First Integration of Langlands Program mathematics with practical trading
2. Revolutionary OFPI with T3 smoothing and momentum detection
3. Operadic Composition using category theory for signal democracy
4. Dynamic Fractal Grid with projected L-Score calculations
5. Multi-Dimensional Visualization through morphism flow portals
6. Regime-Adaptive Background showing market energy intensity
7. Balanced Signal Generation preventing directional bias
8. Professional Dashboard with institutional-grade metrics
📚 EDUCATIONAL VALUE
The LOMV serves as both a practical trading tool and an educational gateway to advanced mathematics. Traders gain exposure to:
- Pure mathematics applications in markets
- Category theory and operadic composition
- Number theory through Möbius function implementation
- Harmonic analysis via L-function calculations
- Advanced signal processing through T3 smoothing
⚖️ RESPONSIBLE USAGE
This indicator represents advanced mathematical research applied to market analysis. While the underlying mathematics are rigorously implemented, markets remain inherently unpredictable.
Key Principles:
- Use as part of comprehensive trading strategy
- Implement proper risk management at all times
- Backtest thoroughly before live implementation
- Understand that past performance does not guarantee future results
- Never risk more than you can afford to lose
The mathematics reveal deep market structure, but successful trading requires discipline, patience, and sound risk management beyond any indicator.
🔮 CONCLUSION
The Langlands-Operadic Möbius Vortex represents a quantum leap forward in technical analysis, bringing PhD-level pure mathematics to practical trading while maintaining visual elegance and usability.
From the harmonic analysis of the Langlands Program to the democratic composition of operadic theory, from the number-theoretic precision of the Möbius function to the revolutionary Order Flow Polarity Index, every component works in mathematical harmony to reveal the hidden order within market chaos.
This is more than an indicator - it's a mathematical lens that transforms how you see and understand market structure.
Trade with mathematical precision. Trade with the LOMV.
*"Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe." - Galileo Galilei*
*In markets, as in nature, profound mathematical beauty underlies apparent chaos. The LOMV reveals this hidden order.*
— Dskyz, Trade with insight. Trade with anticipation.
Quarterly Theory ICT 04 [TradingFinder] SSMT 4Quarter Divergence🔵 Introduction
Sequential SMT Divergence is an advanced price-action-based analytical technique rooted in the ICT (Inner Circle Trader) methodology. Its primary objective is to identify early-stage divergences between correlated assets within precise time structures. This tool not only breaks down market structure but also enables traders to detect engineered liquidity traps before the market reacts.
In simple terms, SMT (Smart Money Technique) occurs when two correlated assets—such as indices (ES and NQ), currency pairs (EURUSD and GBPUSD), or commodities (Gold and Silver)—exhibit different reactions at key price levels (swing highs or lows). This lack of alignment is often a sign of smart money manipulation and signals a lack of confirmation in the ongoing trend—hinting at an imminent reversal or at least a pause in momentum.
In its Sequential form, SMT divergences are examined through a more granular temporal lens—between intraday quarters (Q1 through Q4). When SMT appears at the transition from one quarter to another (e.g., Q1 to Q2 or Q3 to Q4), the signal becomes significantly more powerful, often aligning with a critical phase in the Quarterly Theory—a framework that segments market behavior into four distinct phases: Accumulation, Manipulation, Distribution, and Reversal/Continuation.
For instance, a Bullish SMT forms when one asset prints a new low while its correlated counterpart fails to break the corresponding low from the previous quarter. This usually indicates absorption of selling pressure and the beginning of accumulation by smart money. Conversely, a Bearish SMT arises when one asset makes a higher high, but the second asset fails to confirm, signaling distribution or a fake-out before a decline.
However, SMT alone is not enough. To confirm a true Market Structure Break (MSB), the appearance of a Precision Swing Point (PSP) is essential—a specific candlestick formation on a lower timeframe (typically 5 to 15 minutes) that reveals the entry of institutional participants. The combination of SMT and PSP provides a more accurate entry point and better understanding of premium and discount zones.
The Sequential SMT Indicator, introduced in this article, dynamically scans charts for such divergence patterns across multiple sessions. It is applicable to various markets including Forex, crypto, commodities, and indices, and shows particularly strong performance during mid-week sessions (Wednesdays and Thursdays)—when most weekly highs and lows tend to form.
Bullish Sequential SMT :
Bearish Sequential SMT :
🔵 How to Use
The Sequential SMT (SSMT) indicator is designed to detect time and structure-based divergences between two correlated assets. This divergence occurs when both assets print a similar swing (high or low) in the previous quarter (e.g., Q3), but in the current quarter (e.g., Q4), only one asset manages to break that swing level—while the other fails to reach it.
This temporal mismatch is precisely identified by the SSMT indicator and often signals smart money activity, a market phase transition, or even the presence of an engineered liquidity trap. The signal becomes especially powerful when paired with a Precision Swing Point (PSP)—a confirming candle on lower timeframes (5m–15m) that typically indicates a market structure break (MSB) and the entry of smart liquidity.
🟣 Bullish Sequential SMT
In the previous quarter, both assets form a similar swing low.
In the current quarter, one asset (e.g., EURUSD) breaks that low and trades below it.
The other asset (e.g., GBPUSD) fails to reach the same low, preserving the structure.
This time-based divergence reflects declining selling pressure, potential absorption, and often marks the end of a manipulation phase and the start of accumulation. If confirmed by a bullish PSP candle, it offers a strong long opportunity, with stop-losses defined just below the swing low.
🟣 Bearish Sequential SMT
In the previous quarter, both assets form a similar swing high.
In the current quarter, one asset (e.g., NQ) breaks above that high.
The other asset (e.g., ES) fails to reach that high, remaining below it.
This type of divergence signals weakening bullish momentum and the likelihood of distribution or a fake-out before a price drop. When followed by a bearish PSP candle, it sets up a strong shorting opportunity with targets in the discount zone and protective stops placed above the swing high.
🔵 Settings
⚙️ Logical Settings
Quarterly Cycles Type : Select the time segmentation method for SMT analysis.
Available modes include: Yearly, Monthly, Weekly, Daily, 90 Minute, and Micro.
These define how the indicator divides market time into Q1–Q4 cycles.
Symbol : Choose the secondary asset to compare with the main chart asset (e.g., XAUUSD, US100, GBPUSD).
Pivot Period : Sets the sensitivity of the pivot detection algorithm. A smaller value increases responsiveness to price swings.
Activate Max Pivot Back : When enabled, limits the maximum number of past pivots to be considered for divergence detection.
Max Pivot Back Length : Defines how many past pivots can be used (if the above toggle is active).
Pivot Sync Threshold : The maximum allowed difference (in bars) between pivots of the two assets for them to be compared.
Validity Pivot Length : Defines the time window (in bars) during which a divergence remains valid before it's considered outdated.
🎨 Display Settings
Show Cycle :Toggles the visual display of the current Quarter (Q1 to Q4) based on the selected time segmentation
Show Cycle Label : Shows the name (e.g., "Q2") of each detected Quarter on the chart.
Show Bullish SMT Line : Draws a line connecting the bullish divergence points.
Show Bullish SMT Label : Displays a label on the chart when a bullish divergence is detected.
Bullish Color : Sets the color for bullish SMT markers (label, shape, and line).
Show Bearish SMT Line : Draws a line for bearish divergence.
Show Bearish SMT Label : Displays a label when a bearish SMT divergence is found.
Bearish Color : Sets the color for bearish SMT visual elements.
🔔 Alert Settings
Alert Name : Custom name for the alert messages (used in TradingView’s alert system).
Message Frequency :
All: Every signal triggers an alert.
Once Per Bar: Alerts once per bar regardless of how many signals occur.
Per Bar Close: Only triggers when the bar closes and the signal still exists.
Time Zone Display : Choose the time zone in which alert timestamps are displayed (e.g., UTC).
Bullish SMT Divergence Alert : Enable/disable alerts specifically for bullish signals.
Bearish SMT Divergence Alert : Enable/disable alerts specifically for bearish signals
🔵 Conclusion
The Sequential SMT (SSMT) indicator is a powerful and precise tool for identifying structural divergences between correlated assets within a time-based framework. Unlike traditional divergence models that rely solely on sequential pivot comparisons, SSMT leverages Quarterly Theory, in combination with concepts like liquidity sweeps, market structure breaks (MSB) and precision swing points (PSP), to provide a deeper and more actionable view of market dynamics.
By using SSMT, traders gain not only the ability to identify where divergence occurs, but also when it matters most within the market cycle. This empowers them to anticipate major moves or traps before they fully materialize, and position themselves accordingly in high-probability trade zones.
Whether you're trading Forex, crypto, indices, or commodities, the true strength of this indicator is revealed when used in sync with the Accumulation, Manipulation, Distribution, and Reversal phases of the market. Integrated with other confluence tools and market models, SSMT can serve as a core component in a professional, rule-based, and highly personalized trading strategy.
Supply and Demand [tambangEA]Supply and Demand Indicator Overview
The Supply and Demand indicator on TradingView is a technical tool designed to help traders identify areas of significant buying and selling pressure in the market. By identifying zones where price is likely to react, it helps traders pinpoint key support and resistance levels based on the concepts of supply and demand. This indicator plots zones using four distinct types of market structures:
1. Rally-Base-Rally (RBR) : This structure represents a bullish continuation zone. It occurs when the price rallies (increases), forms a base (consolidates), and then rallies again. The base represents a period where buying interest builds up before the continuation of the upward movement. This zone can act as support, where buyers may step back in if the price revisits the area.
2. Drop-Base-Rally (DBR) : This structure marks a bullish reversal zone. It forms when the price drops, creates a base, and then rallies. The base indicates a potential exhaustion of selling pressure and a build-up of buying interest. When price revisits this zone, it may act as support, signaling a buying opportunity.
3. Rally-Base-Drop (RBD) : This structure signifies a bearish reversal zone. Here, the price rallies, consolidates into a base, and then drops. The base indicates a temporary balance before sellers overpower buyers. If price returns to this zone, it may act as resistance, with selling interest potentially re-emerging.
4. Drop-Base-Drop (DBD) : This structure is a bearish continuation zone. It occurs when the price drops, forms a base, and then continues dropping. This base reflects a pause before further downward movement. The zone may act as resistance, with sellers possibly stepping back in if the price revisits the area.
Features of Supply and Demand Indicator
Automatic Zone Detection : The indicator automatically identifies and plots RBR, DBR, RBD, and DBD zones on the chart, making it easier to see potential supply and demand areas.
Customizable Settings : Users can typically adjust the color and transparency of the zones, time frames for analysis, and zone persistence to suit different trading styles.
Visual Alerts : Many versions include alert functionalities, notifying users when price approaches a plotted supply or demand zone.
How to Use Supply and Demand in Trading
Identify High-Probability Reversal Zones : Look for DBR and RBD zones to identify potential areas where price may reverse direction.
Trade Continuations with RBR and DBD Zones : These zones can indicate strong trends, suggesting that price may continue in the same direction.
Combine with Other Indicators: Use it alongside trend indicators, volume analysis, or price action strategies to confirm potential trade entries and exits.
This indicator is particularly useful for swing and day traders who rely on price reaction zones for entering and exiting trades.
Smart Money Setup 08 [TradingFinder] Binary Options Gold Scalper🔵 Introduction
In the Smart Money methodology, the market is understood as a structure driven by liquidity flow. This structure forms through the movement of large orders, the accumulation of liquidity, and the reactions that occur around key price zones. The logic of Smart Money is based on the idea that price movement is not random and usually evolves with the intention of collecting liquidity and creating price inefficiencies known as imbalances.
Within this framework, several important stages including the liquidity sweep, the formation of a point of interest, the appearance of an imbalance and the transition of market structure play major roles and collectively define the broader direction of price.
In many bullish scenarios, the market begins by sweeping sell side liquidity and targeting important lows in order to collect the liquidity resting below them. This liquidity collection often becomes the starting point for creating a point of interest which usually marks the area where Smart Money begins to enter the market.
After price moves away from this point, it breaks a structural high and forms a change of character. This shift marks a transition in the balance of power between buyers and sellers and is considered the first clear signal that the market structure is changing.
After the change of character, new institutional order flow often creates a strong and rapid movement that leaves behind an imbalance. This imbalance is one of the most important elements in Smart Money analysis because price tends to return to this area in order to complete structure and restore balance.
The return into the imbalance becomes meaningful when it occurs together with the liquidity sweep, the presence of a validated point of interest and a confirmed structural transition. These conditions frequently mark the beginning of powerful movements within the Smart Money cycle.
Understanding the sequence of liquidity, point of interest, imbalance, change of character and market structure builds the foundation of Smart Money analysis and provides a clear view of the true direction of institutional strength.
Bullish Setup :
Bearish Setup :
🔵 How to Use
To use this framework effectively, the trader must analyze the market through the principles of Smart Money and observe how liquidity drives price. A trade becomes valid only when several essential components appear together in a clear and consistent order.
These components include the liquidity sweep, the formation of a point of interest, the confirmation of a change of character, the transition of market structure and the return of price into an imbalance. The method is built on the understanding that the market first collects liquidity, then shifts order flow and finally provides an entry opportunity inside an inefficient area or inside a point of interest.
For this reason, the trader must follow the path of liquidity from the moment the sweep occurs, through the point of interest and the change of character and finally into the return of price toward the imbalance. When applied correctly, this approach creates entries that are more precise, more structural and more aligned with the real behavior of the market rather than with superficial signals.
🟣 Long Position
A bullish setup in Smart Money structure begins with a liquidity sweep on the sell side. The market first targets the areas where sell side liquidity is located and collects the stops and resting liquidity under previous lows. This collection is the condition that Smart Money requires to begin creating a new order flow. After this liquidity has been taken, a point of interest forms which is usually the last bearish candle or the effective demand zone that initiated the upward movement.
Price then moves away from the point of interest and breaks a structural high which creates a change of character. This event confirms that the market structure has moved from a bearish state to a bullish one and that buying pressure has taken control of the order flow. Following this shift, a strong upward movement often occurs and creates an imbalance between candles. This imbalance reflects the entrance of strong Smart Money orders and is seen as an important confirmation of bullish strength.
When price returns to this imbalance after the displacement, the market enters a phase where Smart Money aims to complete the corrective movement and continue the upward direction. The reaction inside the imbalance when combined with the liquidity sweep, the confirmed point of interest and the change of character completes the bullish setup and forms a structure that often leads to a continuation of the bullish trend.
🟣 Short Position
A bearish setup follows the same Smart Money logic but in the opposite direction. The market begins by collecting buy side liquidity and targets the highs where buy side liquidity and resting stops are located. This liquidity sweep on the buy side becomes the starting phase for Smart Money to initiate a downward order flow. After the liquidity is collected, a bearish point of interest forms which is usually the last bullish candle or the supply zone that created the initial drop.
Price then moves away from this point and breaks the first structural low. This creates a change of character to the downside which confirms that the market structure has transitioned from bullish to bearish and that selling pressure has gained control. After this shift, a strong downward displacement appears and leaves behind a bearish imbalance that clearly shows the dominance of sellers.
As price returns to this imbalance and corrects the inefficient movement, the bearish setup becomes complete as long as the market structure remains bearish. The combination of the buy side liquidity sweep, the bearish point of interest, the change of character, the imbalance and the corrective return creates the ideal structure that Smart Money uses to continue the downward movement and develop a reliable selling opportunity.
🔵 Settings
🟣 Logic Settings
Pivot Period : Defines how many bars are analyzed to identify swing highs and lows. Higher values detect larger, slower structures, while lower values respond to faster patterns. The default value of 5 offers a balanced sensitivity.
🟣 Alert Settings
Alert : Enables alerts for SMS08.
Message Frequency : Determines the frequency of alerts. Options include 'All' (every function call), 'Once Per Bar' (first call within the bar), and 'Once Per Bar Close' (final script execution of the real-time bar). Default is 'Once per Bar'.
Show Alert Time by Time Zone : Configures the time zone for alert messages. Default is 'UTC'.
🔵 Conclusion
The Smart Money approach demonstrates that price movement is not random or based on surface level patterns. Instead, it develops through a clear cycle of liquidity collection, structural transition and corrective movement toward key price zones. By recognizing events such as the liquidity sweep, the formation of the point of interest, the change of character and the return into the imbalance, the trader gains the ability to understand order flow more accurately and identify the true direction of market structure.
Both bullish and bearish setups show that the alignment of these elements creates a transparent view of institutional behavior and reveals the source of strong movements in the market. When the trader correctly identifies this sequence, entry points become more reliable and more aligned with liquidity flow. The combination of liquidity, structure and imbalance provides a consistent framework that removes guesswork and guides decisions through the real logic of the market.
Elliott Wave Full Fractal System CleanElliott Wave: Full Fractal System (Automated)
This script is a complete Fractal Trading System that automates Elliott Wave analysis. It moves beyond simple wave counting by combining multi-degree wave detection (Primary, Intermediate, Minor) with an automated "Sniper" entry strategy based on high-probability Wave 4 pullbacks.
1. Idea of the Script This tool acts as an educational Elliott Wave assistant that automatically:
Detects Swings: Uses a pivot engine (ZigZag-like logic) to identify key market structure.
Identifies Impulses: Scans for valid 1–5 motive waves across multiple timeframes.
Visualizes Corrections: Detects and labels A-B-C corrective phases after an impulse.
Executes Strategy: Adds a strategy layer on the Intermediate degree to backtest optimal entry zones.
2. How it Works: The "Fractal Sniper" Strategy The script applies strict algorithmic logic to Elliott Wave Theory. It analyzes the Intermediate (Green) degree to generate signals:
Step 1: The Setup (Wave 3 Identification) The script scans for a valid Wave 3 impulse. It ensures Wave 3 is not the shortest and the structure respects fractal rules.
Step 2: The "Wait" Phase (Target Zone) Once Wave 3 is confirmed, the script projects a Box (Green for Long, Red for Short). You will see a label: WAIT FOR DIP. Logic: We wait for price to retrace to the 50% Fibonacci level (The Golden Zone). We do not chase the top of Wave 3.
Step 3: The Trigger ("Sniper" Entry) A trade is triggered only when price touches the specific entry zone while maintaining structure. Signal: Sniper Long 🚀 or Sniper Short 🔻.
Step 4: Automated Risk Management
Stop Loss (SL): Placed at the extremum of Wave 1 (Theory: Wave 4 cannot overlap Wave 1).
Take Profit (TP): Placed at the 1.618 Fibonacci Extension of Wave 5.
3. 📊 Visual Legend (Fractal Degrees) The script analyzes three timeframes simultaneously. Use this guide to read the chart:
🔵 Blue (Primary Degree): Macro Trend. Marked with Circles (①, ②...). Use this for overall market bias.
🟢 Green (Intermediate Degree): The Trading Layer. Marked with Parentheses ((1), (2)...). All Strategy Signals are generated from this degree.
🔴 Red (Minor Degree): Micro Structure. Marked with Roman Numerals (i, ii...). Useful for seeing the sub-waves inside larger moves.
4. 📉 A-B-C Corrections (Visual Only) The script automatically detects and labels corrective phases (A, B, C) following a 5-wave impulse.
Function: These labels indicate that the trend is correcting or resting.
Note: The "Strategy" (Buy/Sell logic) ignores these A-B-C labels. It sees the correction and draws it for your awareness, but it does not risk money on counter-trend moves.
5. ⚠️ CRITICAL NOTE ON BACKTESTING & LAG This strategy uses ta.pivothigh and ta.pivotlow to identify wave structures.
The Lag: Pivot points are lagging indicators. A pivot is only mathematically confirmed X bars after the peak or valley has occurred.
The Backtest: While the labels are drawn historically on the correct bars, the strategy logic strictly waits for the pivot confirmation before generating a signal. This prevents "repainting" in live trading, but users must understand that the signal occurs after the pivot is locked in.
6. Settings Included
Degrees: Customizable lookback lengths for Primary, Intermediate, and Minor waves.
Strict Rules: Toggle to enforce standard Elliott rules (e.g., No Overlap).
Realistic Simulation: Commission and slippage are enabled in the strategy settings to provide realistic results.
Disclaimer: This script is for educational and research purposes only. It applies strict algorithmic logic to Elliott Wave Theory, but wave counting is inherently subjective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Golden BOS Strategy - ChecklistA clean, mechanical on-chart checklist designed for multi-timeframe traders using the Golden BOS / Institutional Retracement Framework.
This tool helps you stay disciplined by tracking each requirement of the strategy in real time:
Included Criteria
4H Bias: Bullish or bearish macro structure
1H Structure: Push/pull phase + golden zone retracement
5M Entry Model:
Break of Structure (BOS)
5M golden zone retracement
POI validation (OB/FVG/Breaker)
Final micro BOS or rejection confirmation
Risk Filters:
Session validity (London / NY)
Red news avoidance
Stop-loss placement check
Liquidity-based target confirmation
Purpose
This overlay ensures every trade meets strict criteria before execution, removing emotion and improvisation. Ideal for backtesting, forward testing, and staying consistent during live market conditions.
Golden BOS Strategy — Description
The Golden BOS Strategy is a structured, multi-timeframe trading system designed to capture high-probability continuation moves during London and New York sessions. The strategy combines institutional concepts with Fibonacci-based retracements to identify discounted entry zones aligned with higher-timeframe direction.
Using the 4H timeframe, traders establish the daily macro bias and identify the dominant trend. The 1H chart is then used to confirm the current phase of market structure, distinguishing between impulsive “push” moves and corrective “pullback” phases. A Fibonacci retracement is applied to the most recent 1H impulse leg to define a high-value discount or premium zone where entries become valid.
Execution takes place on the 5-minute chart. Once price reaches the 1H golden zone (61.8–78.6%), a Break of Structure (BOS) is required to confirm a shift in short-term momentum. A second Fibonacci retracement is then drawn on the 5M impulse leg that caused the BOS, and price must retrace back into the 5M golden zone. Traders refine their entry using a confluence point of interest (POI) such as a Fair Value Gap (FVG), Order Block, Breaker Block, or Inverse FVG, ideally accompanied by a final micro BOS or rejection candle.
Risk management is strict and rule-driven. Stop loss is placed beyond the extreme wick of the POI, while take-profit targets are set at logical liquidity pools in the direction of the higher-timeframe trend. The strategy avoids red-folder news and only allows trades during active sessions to ensure optimal volatility and reliability.
The Golden BOS Strategy is designed to impose discipline, reduce discretionary errors, and give traders a repeatable, mechanical framework for navigating trending markets with precision.
Rasta Long/Short — StrategyThe Rasta Long/Short Strategy is a visual and educational framework designed to help traders study momentum shifts that appear when a fast EMA interacts with a slower smoothed baseline.
It is not a signal service. Instead, it is a research tool that helps you observe transitions, structure, and behavior across different market conditions and smoothing contexts.
The script plots:
A primary EMA line (fast reaction wave).
A Smoothed line (your chosen smoothing method).
Color-coded fog regions showing directional bias.
Optional DNA rung connections between the two lines for structural comparison.
Together, these allow a deeper study of how momentum pushes, volatility compression, expansions, and drift emerge around fast/slow EMA interactions.
✦ Core Idea
The Rasta Long/Short mechanism studies how price behaves when the fast EMA crosses above or below a smoothed anchor.
Rather than predicting price, it reveals where transitions occur across different structures, timeframes, and smoothing techniques.
The Long/Short logic simply highlights flips in directional structure.
It is not intended for real-time signals or automated execution; it is intended for understanding market movement.
✦ Smoothing Types (Explained)
The strategy allows experimenting with several smoothing families to observe how they transform the fast EMA:
SMA (Simple Moving Average)
Averaged, slower response. Good for stability comparisons.
EMA (Exponential)
Faster reaction, more responsive, smoother behavior during momentum.
RMA (Wilder’s)
Used in RSI calculations; steady, well-balanced response.
WMA (Weighted)
More weight to recent bars; bridges SMA and EMA dynamics.
None
Raw EMA vs EMA interaction with no secondary smoothing.
Each smoothing type provides unique structural information and can lead to different interpretations.
✦ Modes of Study
Designed for multi-timeframe research:
1H / 4H — Momentum flow mapping and structural identification.
Daily / Weekly — Higher-timeframe rotations, macro structure transitions.
1–15m — Microstructure studies, noise vs trend emergence.
Use the built-in Strategy Tester to explore entry/exit context, but treat results as research, not predictive performance.
✦ Components (Visual Study Tools)
EMA Line (Fast)
Primary reactive wave. Shows fast directional shifts.
Smoothed Line (Slow)
Trend baseline / reference structure.
Fog Region
Highlights fast-vs-smoothed directional alignment.
DNA Rungs (Optional)
Structural “bridges” showing the exact relationship between waves on each bar.
Useful for studying separation, compression, and expansions.
✦ Educational Insights
This strategy helps illuminate:
How fast and slow EMAs interact dynamically.
How structure changes precede trend emergence.
Where volatility compresses before expansion.
How noise, drift, and clean reversals differ.
How different smoothers alter the interpretation of the same price data.
The goal is clarity — not prediction.
✦ How to Use
Apply to any timeframe or instrument.
Enable or disable fog depending on preferred visibility.
Use DNA rungs for close structural comparison.
Observe long/short flips as educational reference points — not signals.
Study transitions visually, then backtest using the Strategy Tester for pattern research.
✦ Disclaimer
This script is provided for educational and research purposes only.
It does not provide trading signals, financial advice, or recommendations.
Past behavior does not indicate future performance.
Always practice risk-aware study and consult qualified financial professionals when needed.
✦ Author
Michael Culpepper (mikeyc747)
Creator of the Rasta framework and related market structure studies.
AG Pro Dynamic ChannelsAG Pro Dynamic Channels V2
Discover a new lens through which to view market structure with the AG Pro Dynamic Channels V2. This advanced indicator moves beyond simple trendlines, automatically identifying, classifying, and drawing eight distinct types of support and resistance channels directly on your chart.
Built on a sophisticated pivot-point detection engine, this script intelligently distinguishes between Major and Minor price structures, as well as Internal and External channels. This provides a comprehensive and multi-dimensional map of the market's flow, helping you identify trend continuations, corrections, and potential reversals.
The indicator is complete with a powerful, fully customizable alert system designed to notify you of the two most critical events: channel breakouts and price reactions.
Key Features
Fully Automatic Channels: The script automatically analyzes price action to find pivot highs and lows, using them to construct relevant channels without any manual drawing required.
8-Channel Classification: Gain deep market insight by viewing eight distinct channel types:
Major External (Up/Down)
Major Internal (Up/Down)
Minor External (Up/Down)
Minor Internal (Up/Down)
Advanced Pivot Engine: The core logic classifies pivots into categories like Higher Highs (MHH/mHH), Lower Lows (MLL/mLL), Higher Lows (MHL/mHL), and Lower Highs (MLH/mLH) to determine the precise start and end points for each channel.
Deep Customization: Take full control of your chart's appearance. You can individually toggle the visibility, color, line style (solid, dashed, dotted), and line width for all eight channel types.
Chart Clarity: A "Delete Previous" option is available for each channel type, allowing you to keep your chart clean and focused on only the most current and relevant market structures.
Comprehensive Alert System
Never miss a key price interaction. The AG Pro Dynamic Channels V2 features a robust, built-in alert module.
Dual-Alert Conditions: Get notifications for two distinct events:
Break Alert: Triggers when price confirms a close outside of a channel, signaling a potential breakout.
React Alert: Triggers when price touches or interacts with a channel line before closing back inside, signaling a test or rejection.
16 Unique Alerts: You have full control to enable or disable "Break" and "React" alerts for all 8 channel types individually, giving you 16 unique alert conditions to monitor.
Professional Alert Messages: The embedded alert sender provides detailed messages that include the asset, timeframe, and the specific event, such as "Break Major External Up Channel" or "React Minor Internal Down Channel".
Alert Configuration: Easily set your global Alert Name, Message Frequency (e.g., Once Per Bar, Once Per Bar Close), and Alert Time Zone from the script's settings.
How to Use
Trend Identification: Use the Major External Channels (drawn from MHH and MLL pivots) to identify the primary, long-term trend direction.
Pullback & Entry Zones: Use the Internal Channels (drawn from MHL and MLH pivots) to spot corrections and potential entry zones within an established trend.
Breakout Trading: Set Break Alerts on Major channels to be notified of significant, structure-shifting moves.
Short-Term & Counter-Trend: Utilize the Minor Channels to identify shorter-term price swings and potential reversal points.
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.
PM Range Breaker [CHE] PM Range Breaker — Premarket bias with first-five range breaks, optional SWDEMA regime latch, and simple two-times-range targets
Summary
This indicator sets a once-per-day directional bias during New York premarket and then tracks a strict first-five-minutes range from the session open. After the first five complete, it marks clean breakouts and can project targets at two times the measured range. A second mode latches an EMA-based regime to inform the bias and optional background tinting. A compact panel reports live state, first-five levels, and rolling hit rates of both bias modes using a user-defined midday close for statistics.
Motivation: Why this design?
Intraday traders often get whipsawed by early noise or by fast flips in trend filters. This script commits to a bias at a single premarket minute and then waits for the market to present an objective structure: the first-five range. Breaks after that window are clearer and easier to manage. The alternative SWDEMA regime gives a slower, latched context for users who prefer a trend scaffold rather than a midpoint reference.
What’s different vs. standard approaches?
Baseline: Typical open-range-breakout lines or a single moving-average filter without daily commitment.
Architecture differences:
Bias decision at a fixed New York time using either a midpoint lookback (“Classic”) or a two-EMA regime latch (“SWDEMA”).
Strict five-minute window from session open; breakout shapes print only after that window.
Single-shot breakout direction per session (debounce) and optional two-times-range targets.
On-chart panel with hit rates using a configurable midday close for statistics.
Practical effect: Cleaner visuals, fewer repeated signals, and a traceable daily decision that can be evaluated over time.
How it works (technical)
Time handling uses New York session times for premarket decision, open, first-five end, and a midday statistics checkpoint.
Classic bias: A midpoint is computed from the highest and lowest over a user period; at the premarket minute, the bias is set long when the close is above the midpoint, short otherwise.
SWDEMA bias: Two EMAs define a regime score that requires price and trend agreement; when both agree on a confirmed bar, the regime latches. At the premarket minute, the daily bias is set from the current regime.
The first-five range captures high and low from open until the end minute, then freezes. Breakouts are detected after that window using close-based cross logic.
The script draws range lines and optional targets at two times the frozen range. A session break direction latch prevents duplicate break markers.
Statistics compare daily open and a configurable midday close to record if the chosen bias aligned with the move.
Optional elements include EMA lines, midpoint line, latched-regime background, and regime switch markers.
Data aggregation for day logic and the first-five window is sampled on one-minute data with explicit lookahead off. On charts above one minute, values update intra-bar until the underlying minute closes.
Parameter Guide
Premarket Start (NY) — Minute when the bias is decided — Default: 08:30 — Move earlier for more stability; later for recency.
Market Open (NY) — Session start used for the first-five window — Default: 09:30 — Align to instrument’s RTH if different.
First-5 End (NY) — End of the first-five window — Default: 09:35 — Extend slightly to capture wider opening ranges.
Day End (NY) for Stats — Midday checkpoint for hit rate — Default: 12:00 — Use a later time for a longer evaluation window.
Show First-5 Lines — Draw the frozen range lines — Default: On — Turn off if your chart is crowded.
Show Bias Background (Session) — Tint by daily bias during session — Default: On — Useful for directional context.
Show Break Shapes — Print breakout triangles — Default: On — Disable if you only want lines and alerts.
Show 2R Targets (Optional) — Plot targets at two times the range — Default: On — Switch off if you manage exits differently.
Line Length Right — Extension length of drawn lines — Default: 20 (bars) — Increase for slower timeframes.
High/Low Line Colors — Visual colors for range levels — Defaults: Green/Red — Adjust to your theme.
Long/Short Bias Colors — Background tints — Defaults: Green/Red with high transparency — Lower transparency for stronger emphasis.
Show Corner Panel — Enable the info panel — Default: On — Centralizes status and numbers.
Show Hit Rates in Panel — Include success rates — Default: On — Turn off to reduce panel rows.
Panel Position — Anchor on chart — Default: Top right — Move to avoid overlap.
Panel Size — Text size in panel — Default: Small — Increase on high-resolution displays.
Dark Panel — Dark theme for the panel — Default: On — Match your chart background.
Show EMA Lines — Plot blue and red EMAs — Default: Off — Enable for SWDEMA context.
Show Midpoint Line — Plot the midpoint — Default: Off — Useful for Classic mode visualization.
Midpoint Lookback Period — Bars for high-low midpoint — Default: 300 — Larger values stabilize; smaller values respond faster.
Midpoint Line Color — Color for midpoint — Default: Gray — A neutral line works best.
SWDEMA Lengths (Blue/Red) — Periods for the two EMAs — Defaults: 144 and 312 — Longer values reduce flips.
Sources (Blue/Red) — Price sources — Defaults: Close and HLC3 — Adjust if you prefer consistency.
Offsets (Blue/Red) — Pixel offsets for EMA plots — Defaults: zero — Use only for visual shift.
Show Latched Regime Background — Background by SWDEMA regime — Default: Off — Separate from session bias.
Latched Background Transparency — Opacity of regime background — Default: eighty-eight — Lower value for stronger tint.
Show Latch Switch Markers — Plot regime change markers — Default: Off — For auditing regime changes.
Bias Mode — Classic midpoint or SWDEMA latch — Default: Classic — Choose per your style.
Background Mode — Session bias or SWDEMA regime — Default: Session — Decide which background narrative you want.
Reading & Interpretation
Panel: Shows the active bias, first-five high and low, and a state that reads Building during the window, Ready once frozen, and Break arrows when a breakout occurs. Hit rates show the percentage of days where each bias mode aligned with the midday move.
Colors and shapes: Green background implies long bias; red implies short bias. Triangle markers denote the first valid breakout after the first-five window. Optional regime markers flag regime changes.
Lines: First-five high and low form the core structure. Optional targets mark a level at two times the frozen range from the breakout side.
Practical Workflows & Combinations
Trend following: Choose a bias mode. Wait for the first clean breakout after the first-five window in the direction of the bias. Confirm with structure such as higher highs and higher lows or lower highs and lower lows.
Exits and risk: Conservative users can trail behind the opposite side of the first-five range. Aggressive users can scale near the two-times-range target.
Multi-asset and multi-TF: Works well on intraday timeframes from one minute upward. For non-US sessions, adjust the time inputs to the instrument’s regular trading hours.
Behavior, Constraints & Performance
Repaint and confirmation: Bias and regime decisions use confirmed bars. Breakout signals evaluate on bar close at the chart timeframe. On higher timeframes, minute-based sources update within the live bar until the minute closes.
security and HTF: The script samples one-minute data. Lookahead is off. Values stabilize once the source minute closes.
Resources: `max_bars_back` is five thousand. Drawing objects and the panel update efficiently, with position extensions handled on the last bar.
Known limits: Midday statistics use the configured time, not the official daily close. Session logic assumes New York session timing. Targets are simple multiples of the first-five range and do not adapt to volatility beyond that structure.
Sensible Defaults & Quick Tuning
Start with Classic bias, midpoint lookback at three hundred, and all visuals on.
Too many flips in context → switch to SWDEMA mode or increase EMA lengths.
Breakouts feel noisy → extend the first-five end by a minute or two, or wait for a retest by your own rules.
Too sluggish → reduce midpoint lookback or shorten EMA lengths.
Chart cluttered → hide EMA or midpoint lines and keep only range levels and breakout shapes.
What this indicator is—and isn’t
This is a visualization and signal layer for session bias and first-five structure. It does not manage orders, position sizing, or risk. It is not predictive. Use it alongside market structure, execution rules, and independent risk controls.
Disclaimer
The content provided, including all code and materials, is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be interpreted as, financial advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument, or an offer of any financial product or service. All strategies, tools, and examples discussed are provided for illustrative purposes to demonstrate coding techniques and the functionality of Pine Script within a trading context.
Any results from strategies or tools provided are hypothetical, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve high risk, including the potential loss of principal, and may not be suitable for all individuals. Before making any trading decisions, please consult with a qualified financial professional to understand the risks involved.
By using this script, you acknowledge and agree that any trading decisions are made solely at your discretion and risk.
Do not use this indicator on Heikin-Ashi, Renko, Kagi, Point-and-Figure, or Range charts, as these chart types can produce unrealistic results for signal markers and alerts.
Best regards and happy trading
Chervolino
Many thanks to LonesomeTheBlue
for the original work. I adapted the midpoint calculation for this script. www.tradingview.com
The ICT Ultimate Grid | MarketMaverisk GroupThe ICT Ultimate Grid | MarketMaverisk Group
This script is a fully customizable checklist based on ICT (Inner Circle Trader) concepts. It helps traders validate entry conditions across three timeframes:
LTP (Long-Term), ITP (Intermediate-Term), and STP (Short-Term).
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✅ Purpose & Utility:
Instead of generating simple buy/sell signals, this tool assists traders in making structured, confirmation-based decisions. It presents a visual checklist with 11 customizable columns—each can be individually toggled for each timeframe and displays ✅ or ❌ confirmation status.
⸻
🧠 Confirmation Structure:
The checklist covers the following core elements from the ICT methodology:
• ERL⇔IRL and IRL⇔ERL (presented as special confirmations below the table)
• DOL – Drow On liqudity Level
• PD – permium or discuant
• SMT – Smart Money Trap / Inter-market Divergence
• CSD – Change in State of dlivery
• MSS – Market Structure Shift
• MMXM – Market maker (buy or sell) model
• FVG – Fair Value Gap
• OB – Order Block
• BRK.B – breker Block
Each item can be enabled or disabled for LTP, ITP, and STP individually.
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📊 Visual Design:
• Clean, compact table displayed in the top-right corner of the chart.
• Clear color scheme (✅ Green = Confirmed, ❌ Red = Not Confirmed, Grey = Hidden/Disabled).
• Timeframes are stacked row-wise (LTP, ITP, STP).
• Inputs allow fine-grained control over what elements are shown in each timeframe.
• Additional rows are used to confirm:
• HTF Key Level
• Direction: Reversal ↩️ or Continuation 🔂
• Bias: Bullish 🔼 or Bearish 🔽
⸻
📈 Use Case:
This tool is ideal for traders who follow:
• ICT-based trading approaches
• Market structure + Liquidity analysis
• Day trading, scalping, or swing setups
• Confirmation-based entries after higher-timeframe alignment
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⚙️ Recommended Timeframe Settings:
• LTP = D1 or 4H
• ITP = 1H or 15min
• STP = 5min or 3min or 1min
• Session time: Best used between 02:00 and 05:00 on london killzone & 08:00 and 12:00 on New york killzone in New York timezone (UTC -5)
(you can customize this in strategy version)
⸻
🛠 Technical Note:
This version is an indicator and does not generate signals or alerts by itself. For full automation, a strategy version is also available upon request.
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Let me know if you’d like me to also write a “strategy description” or help you prepare the public chart layout 📊 to make your publish clean and attractivE
TTM Scalper AlertTTM Scalper Alert — Real-Time Pivot Detector
Description:
This is a custom implementation of the classic TTM Scalper Alert, adapted to show early pivot detection and trend structure tracking in real-time. The script identifies potential highs and lows before the full pivot confirmation—giving traders an early edge—and removes outdated signals once pivots are confirmed.
It supports two levels of detection:
Fast Alert Pivots : Identified after Alert Period candles confirm a local reversal.
Confirmed Pivots : Validated only after Pivot Period candles on both sides ensure a true swing high/low.
How It Works:
Fast Detection (Early Pivots):
Detected after Alert Period (AP) candles. These are provisional signals, shown as triangle labels (▲▼) near current price. Only the latest signal is shown; previous fast pivots are deleted to avoid clutter.
Confirmed Pivots:
Detected with a full lookback of Pivot Period (PP) on both sides of the candle. Shown using plotshape with triangle markers (▲▼). Serve as anchors for price structure analysis (HH-HL or LL-LH tracking).
Custom Source Option:
Users can choose to base pivots on High/Low or Close/Open range. Helps adjust sensitivity depending on volatility or bar structure.
How to Interpret:
Trend & Market Structure:
Use Confirmed Pivots (plotshapes) to analyze market structure:
HH → HL: Uptrend
LL → LH: Downtrend
Watch for breaks in structure for possible reversals
Early Alerts:
The floating labels (▲▼) represent early warnings of a potential pivot. Use them to anticipate:
Short-term exhaustion
Quick scalping entries
Divergence setups
Inputs:
Source : Choose from High/Low or Close/Open — affects how pivots are calculated
Alert Period : How fast the script detects an early reversal pattern (used for entry timing)
Pivot Period : How many candles before/after to confirm a full pivot (used for structural analysis)
Best For:
Traders who follow price action and structure
Scalpers and intraday traders who want early signals
Anyone using pivot highs/lows for confluence with other tools (like RSI divergence, Bollinger Bands, VWAP, etc.)
Pro Tips:
Combine this with:
Trend Magic or Supertrend for directional bias
Volume spike filters to confirm reversal intent
RSI/CCI divergence to strengthen reversal pivots
Adjust Alert Period to tune early signal sensitivity (lower = faster but noisier)
Twitter Model ICT [TradingFinder] MMXM ERL D + FVG + M15 MSS/SMT🔵 Introduction
The Twitter Model ICT is a trading approach based on ICT (Inner Circle Trader) models, focusing on price movement between external and internal liquidity in lower timeframes. This model integrates key concepts such as Market Structure Shift (MSS), Smart Money Technique (SMT) divergence, and CISD level break to identify precise entry points in the market.
The primary goal of this model is to determine key liquidity levels, such as the previous day’s high and low (PDH/PDL) and align them with the Fair Value Gap (FVG) in the 1-hour timeframe. The overall strategy involves framing trades around the 1H FVG and using the M15 Market Structure Shift (MSS) for entry confirmation.
The Twitter Model ICT is designed to utilize external liquidity levels, such as PDH/PDL, as key entry zones. The model identifies FVG in the 1-hour timeframe, which acts as a magnet for price movement. Additionally, traders confirm entries using M15 Market Structure Shift (MSS) and SMT divergence.
Bullish Twitter Model :
In a bullish setup, the price sweeps the previous day’s low (PDL), and after confirming reversal signals, buys are executed in internal liquidity zones. Conversely, in a bearish setup, the price sweeps the previous day’s high (PDH), and after confirming weakness signals, sells are executed.
Bearish Twitter Model :
In short setups, entries are only executed above the Midnight Open, while in long setups, entries are taken below the Midnight Open. Adhering to these principles allows traders to define precise entry and exit points and analyze price movement with greater accuracy based on liquidity and market structure.
🔵 How to Use
The Twitter Model ICT is a liquidity-based trading strategy that analyzes price movements relative to the previous day’s high and low (PDH/PDL) and Fair Value Gap (FVG). This model is applicable in both bullish and bearish directions and utilizes the 1-hour (1H) and 15-minute (M15) timeframes for entry confirmation.
The price first sweeps an external liquidity level (PDH or PDL) and then provides an entry opportunity based on Market Structure Shift (MSS) and SMT divergence. Additionally, the entry should be positioned relative to the Midnight Open, meaning long entries should occur below the Midnight Open and short entries above it.
🟣 Bullish Twitter Model
In a bullish setup, the price first sweeps the previous day’s low (PDL) and reaches an external liquidity level. Then, in the 1-hour timeframe (1H), a bullish Fair Value Gap (FVG) forms, which serves as the price target.
To confirm the entry, a Market Structure Shift (MSS) in the 15-minute timeframe (M15) should be observed, signaling a trend reversal to the upside. Additionally, SMT divergence with correlated assets can indicate weakness in selling pressure.
Under these conditions, a long position is taken below the Midnight Open, with a stop-loss placed at the lowest point of the recent bearish move. The price target for this trade is the FVG in the 1-hour timeframe.
🟣 Bearish Twitter Model
In a bearish setup, the price first sweeps the previous day’s high (PDH) and reaches an external liquidity level. Then, in the 1-hour timeframe (1H), a bearish Fair Value Gap (FVG) is identified, serving as the trade target.
To confirm entry, a Market Structure Shift (MSS) in the 15-minute timeframe (M15) should form, signaling a trend shift to the downside. If an SMT divergence is present, it can provide additional confirmation for the trade.
Once these conditions are met, a short position is taken above the Midnight Open, with a stop-loss placed at the highest level of the recent bullish move. The trade's price target is the FVG in the 1-hour timeframe.
🔵 Settings
Bar Back Check : Determining the return of candles to identify the CISD level.
CISD Level Validity : CISD level validity period based on the number of candles.
Daily Position : Determines whether only the first signal of the day is considered or if signals are evaluated throughout the entire day.
Session : Specifies in which trading sessions the indicator will be active.
Second Symbol : This setting allows you to select another asset for comparison with the primary asset. By default, "XAUUSD" (Gold) is set as the second symbol, but you can change it to any currency pair, stock, or cryptocurrency. For example, you can choose currency pairs like EUR/USD or GBP/USD to identify divergences between these two assets.
Divergence Fractal Periods : This parameter defines the number of past candles to consider when identifying divergences. The default value is 2, but you can change it to suit your preferences. This setting allows you to detect divergences more accurately by selecting a greater number of candles.
The indicator allows displaying sessions based on various time zones. The user can select one of the following options :
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
Local Time of the Session
User’s Local Time
Show Open Price : Displays the New York market opening price.
Show PDH / PDL : Displays the previous day’s high and low to identify potential entry points.
Show SMT Divergence : Displays lines and labels for bullish ("+SMT") and bearish ("-SMT") divergences.
🔵 Conclusion
The Twitter Model ICT is an effective approach for analyzing and executing trades in financial markets, utilizing a combination of liquidity principles, market structure, and SMT confirmations to identify optimal entry and exit points.
By analyzing the previous day’s high and low (PDH/PDL), Fair Value Gaps (FVG), and Market Structure Shift (MSS) in the 1H and M15 timeframes, traders can pinpoint liquidity-driven trade opportunities. Additionally, considering the Midnight Open level helps traders avoid random entries and ensures better trade placement.
By applying this model, traders can interpret market movements based on liquidity flow and structural changes, allowing them to fine-tune their trading decisions with higher precision. Ultimately, the Twitter Model ICT provides a structured and logical approach for traders who seek to trade based on liquidity behavior and trend shifts in the market.
Enhanced London Session SMC SetupEnhanced London Session SMC Setup Indicator
This Pine Script-based indicator is designed for traders focusing on the London trading session, leveraging smart money concepts (SMC) to identify potential trading opportunities in the GBP/USD currency pair. The script uses multiple techniques such as Order Block Detection, Imbalance (Fair Value Gap) Analysis, Change of Character (CHoCH) detection, and Fibonacci retracement levels to aid in market structure analysis, providing a well-rounded approach to trade setups.
Features:
London Session Highlight:
The indicator visually marks the London trading session (from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PM UTC) on the chart using a blue background, signaling when the high-volume, high-impulse moves tend to occur, helping traders focus their analysis on this key session.
Order Block Detection:
Identifies significant impulse moves that may form order blocks (supply and demand zones). Order blocks are areas where institutions have executed large orders, often leading to price reversals or continuation. The indicator plots the high and low of these order blocks, providing key levels to monitor for potential entries.
Imbalance (Fair Value Gap) Detection:
Detects and highlights price imbalances or fair value gaps (FVG) where the market has moved too quickly, creating a gap in price action. These areas are often revisited by price, offering potential trade opportunities. The upper and lower bounds of the imbalance are visually marked for easy reference.
Change of Character (CHoCH) Detection:
This feature identifies potential trend reversals by detecting significant changes in market character. When the price action shifts from bullish to bearish or vice versa, a CHoCH signal is triggered, and the corresponding level is marked on the chart. This can help traders catch trend reversals at key levels.
Fibonacci Retracement Levels:
The script calculates and plots the key Fibonacci retracement levels (0.618 and 0.786 by default) based on the highest and lowest points over a user-defined swing lookback period. These levels are commonly used by traders to identify potential pullback zones where price may reverse or find support/resistance.
Directional Bias Based on Market Structure:
The indicator provides a market structure analysis by comparing the current highs and lows to the previous periods' highs and lows. This helps in identifying whether the market is in a bullish or bearish state, providing a clear directional bias for trade setups.
Alerts:
The indicator comes with built-in alert conditions to notify the trader when an order block, imbalance, CHoCH, or other significant price action event is detected, ensuring timely action can be taken.
Ideal Usage:
Timeframe: Suitable for intraday trading, particularly focusing on the London session (08:00 AM to 04:00 PM UTC).
Currency Pair: Specifically designed for GBP/USD but can be adapted to other pairs with similar market behavior.
Trading Strategy: Best used in conjunction with a price action strategy, focusing on the key levels identified (order blocks, FVG, CHoCH) and using Fibonacci retracement levels for precision entries.
Target Audience: Ideal for traders who follow smart money concepts (SMC) and are looking for a structured approach to identify high-probability setups during the London session.
ICT Donchian Smart Money Structure (Expo)█ Concept Overview
The Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology is focused on understanding the actions and implications of the so-called "smart money" - large institutions and professional traders who often influence market movements. Key to this is the concept of market structure and how it can provide insights into potential price moves.
Over time, however, there has been a notable shift in how some traders interpret and apply this methodology. Initially, it was designed with a focus on the fractal nature of markets. Fractals are recurring patterns in price action that are self-similar across different time scales, providing a nuanced and dynamic understanding of market structure.
However, as the ICT methodology has grown in popularity, there has been a drift away from this fractal-based perspective. Instead, many traders have started to focus more on pivot points as their primary tool for understanding market structure.
Pivot points provide static levels of potential support and resistance. While they can be useful in some contexts, relying heavily on them could provide a skewed perspective of market structure. They offer a static, backward-looking view that may not accurately reflect real-time changes in market sentiment or the dynamic nature of markets.
This shift from a fractal-based perspective to a pivot point perspective has significant implications. It can lead traders to misinterpret market structure and potentially make incorrect trading decisions.
To highlight this issue, you've developed a Donchian Structure indicator that mirrors the use of pivot points. The Donchian Channels are formed by the highest high and the lowest low over a certain period, providing another representation of potential market extremes. The fact that the Donchian Structure indicator produces the same results as pivot points underscores the inherent limitations of relying too heavily on these tools.
While the Donchian Structure indicator or pivot points can be useful tools, they should not replace the original, fractal-based perspective of the ICT methodology. These tools can provide a broad overview of market structure but may not capture the intricate dynamics and real-time changes that a fractal-based approach can offer.
It's essential for traders to understand these differences and to apply these tools correctly within the broader context of the ICT methodology and the Smart Money Concept Structure. A well-rounded approach that incorporates fractals, along with other tools and forms of analysis, is likely to provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of market structure.
█ Smart Money Concept - Misunderstandings
The Smart Money Concept is a popular concept among traders, and it's based on the idea that the "smart money" - typically large institutional investors, market makers, and professional traders - have superior knowledge or information, and their actions can provide valuable insight for other traders.
One of the biggest misunderstandings with this concept is the belief that tracking smart money activity can guarantee profitable trading.
█ Here are a few common misconceptions:
Following Smart Money Equals Guaranteed Success: Many traders believe that if they can follow the smart money, they will be successful. However, tracking the activity of large institutional investors and other professionals isn't easy, as they use complex strategies, have access to information not available to the public, and often intentionally hide their moves to prevent others from detecting their strategies.
Instantaneous Reaction and Results: Another misconception is that market movements will reflect smart money actions immediately. However, large institutions often slowly accumulate or distribute positions over time to avoid moving the market drastically. As a result, their actions might not produce an immediate noticeable effect on the market.
Smart Money Always Wins: It's not accurate to assume that smart money always makes the right decisions. Even the most experienced institutional investors and professional traders make mistakes, misjudge market conditions, or are affected by unpredictable events.
Smart Money Activity is Transparent: Understanding what constitutes smart money activity can be quite challenging. There are many indicators and metrics that traders use to try and track smart money, such as the COT (Commitments of Traders) reports, Level II market data, block trades, etc. However, these can be difficult to interpret correctly and are often misleading.
Assuming Uniformity Among Smart Money: 'Smart Money' is not a monolithic entity. Different institutional investors and professional traders have different strategies, risk tolerances, and investment horizons. What might be a good trade for a long-term institutional investor might not be a good trade for a short-term professional trader, and vice versa.
█ Market Structure
The Smart Money Concept Structure deals with the interpretation of price action that forms the market structure, focusing on understanding key shifts or changes in the market that may indicate where 'smart money' (large institutional investors and professional traders) might be moving in the market.
█ Three common concepts in this regard are Change of Character (CHoCH), and Shift in Market Structure (SMS), Break of Structure (BMS/BoS).
Change of Character (CHoCH): This refers to a noticeable change in the behavior of price movement, which could suggest that a shift in the market might be about to occur. This might be signaled by a sudden increase in volatility, a break of a trendline, or a change in volume, among other things.
Shift in Market Structure (SMS): This is when the overall structure of the market changes, suggesting a potential new trend. It usually involves a sequence of lower highs and lower lows for a downtrend, or higher highs and higher lows for an uptrend.
Break of Structure (BMS/BoS): This is when a previously defined trend or pattern in the price structure is broken, which may suggest a trend continuation.
A key component of this approach is the use of fractals, which are repeating patterns in price action that can give insights into potential market reversals. They appear at all scales of a price chart, reflecting the self-similar nature of markets.
█ Market Structure - Misunderstandings
One of the biggest misunderstandings about the ICT approach is the over-reliance or incorrect application of pivot points. Pivot points are a popular tool among traders due to their simplicity and easy-to-understand nature. However, when it comes to the Smart Money Concept and trying to follow the steps of professional traders or large institutions, relying heavily on pivot points can create misconceptions and lead to confusion. Here's why:
Delayed and Static Information: Pivot points are inherently backward-looking because they're calculated based on the previous period's data. As such, they may not reflect real-time market dynamics or sudden changes in market sentiment. Furthermore, they present a static view of market structure, delineating pre-defined levels of support and resistance. This static nature can be misleading because markets are fundamentally dynamic and constantly changing due to countless variables.
Inadequate Representation of Market Complexity: Markets are influenced by a myriad of factors, including economic indicators, geopolitical events, institutional actions, and market sentiment, among others. Relying on pivot points alone for reading market structure oversimplifies this complexity and can lead to a myopic understanding of market dynamics.
False Signals and Misinterpretations: Pivot points can often give false signals, especially in volatile markets. Prices might react to these levels temporarily but then continue in the original direction, leading to potential misinterpretation of market structure and sentiment. Also, a trader might wrongly perceive a break of a pivot point as a significant market event, when in fact, it could be due to random price fluctuations or temporary volatility.
Over-simplification: Viewing market structure only through the lens of pivot points simplifies the market to static levels of support and resistance, which can lead to misinterpretation of market dynamics. For instance, a trader might view a break of a pivot point as a definite sign of a trend, when it could just be a temporary price spike.
Ignoring the Fractal Nature of Markets: In the context of the Smart Money Concept Structure, understanding the fractal nature of markets is crucial. Fractals are self-similar patterns that repeat at all scales and provide a more dynamic and nuanced understanding of market structure. They can help traders identify shifts in market sentiment or direction in real-time, providing more relevant and timely information compared to pivot points.
The key takeaway here is not that pivot points should be entirely avoided or that they're useless. They can provide valuable insights and serve as a useful tool in a trader's toolbox when used correctly. However, they should not be the sole or primary method for understanding the market structure, especially in the context of the Smart Money Concept Structure.
█ Fractals
Instead, traders should aim for a comprehensive understanding of markets that incorporates a range of tools and concepts, including but not limited to fractals, order flow, volume analysis, fundamental analysis, and, yes, even pivot points. Fractals offer a more dynamic and nuanced view of the market. They reflect the recursive nature of markets and can provide valuable insights into potential market reversals. Because they appear at all scales of a price chart, they can provide a more holistic and real-time understanding of market structure.
In contrast, the Smart Money Concept Structure, focusing on fractals and comprehensive market analysis, aims to capture a more holistic and real-time view of the market. Fractals, being self-similar patterns that repeat at different scales, offer a dynamic understanding of market structure. As a result, they can help to identify shifts in market sentiment or direction as they happen, providing a more detailed and timely perspective.
Furthermore, a comprehensive market analysis would consider a broader set of factors, including order flow, volume analysis, and fundamental analysis, which could provide additional insights into 'smart money' actions.
█ Donchian Structure
Donchian Channels are a type of indicator used in technical analysis to identify potential price breakouts and trends, and they may also serve as a tool for understanding market structure. The channels are formed by taking the highest high and the lowest low over a certain number of periods, creating an envelope of price action.
Donchian Channels (or pivot points) can be useful tools for providing a general view of market structure, and they may not capture the intricate dynamics associated with the Smart Money Concept Structure. A more nuanced approach, centered on real-time fractals and a comprehensive analysis of various market factors, offers a more accurate understanding of 'smart money' actions and market structure.
█ Here is why Donchian Structure may be misleading:
Lack of Nuance: Donchian Channels, like pivot points, provide a simplified view of market structure. They don't take into account the nuanced behaviors of price action or the complex dynamics between buyers and sellers that can be critical in the Smart Money Concept Structure.
Limited Insights into 'Smart Money' Actions: While Donchian Channels can highlight potential breakout points and trends, they don't necessarily provide insights into the actions of 'smart money'. These large institutional traders often use sophisticated strategies that can't be easily inferred from price action alone.
█ Indicator Overview
We have built this Donchian Structure indicator to show that it returns the same results as using pivot points. The Donchian Structure indicator can be a useful tool for market analysis. However, it should not be seen as a direct replacement or equivalent to the original Smart Money concept, nor should any indicator based on pivot points. The indicator highlights the importance of understanding what kind of trading tools we use and how they can affect our decisions.
The Donchian Structure Indicator displays CHoCH, SMS, BoS/BMS, as well as premium and discount areas. This indicator plots everything in real-time and allows for easy backtesting on any market and timeframe. A unique candle coloring has been added to make it more engaging and visually appealing when identifying new trading setups and strategies. This candle coloring is "leading," meaning it can signal a structural change before it actually happens, giving traders ample time to plan their next trade accordingly.
█ How to use
The indicator is great for traders who want to simplify their view on the market structure and easily backtest Smart Money Concept Strategies. The added candle coloring function serves as a heads-up for structure change or can be used as trend confirmation. This new candle coloring feature can generate many new Smart Money Concepts strategies.
█ Features
Market Structure
The market structure is based on the Donchian channel, to which we have added what we call 'Structure Response'. This addition makes the indicator more useful, especially in trending markets. The core concept involves traders buying at a discount and selling or shorting at a premium, depending on the order flow. Structure response enables traders to determine the order flow more clearly. Consequently, more trading opportunities will appear in trending markets.
Structure Candles
Structure Candles highlight the current order flow and are significantly more responsive to structural changes. They can provide traders with a heads-up before a break in structure occurs
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Disclaimer
The information contained in my Scripts/Indicators/Ideas/Algos/Systems does not constitute financial advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities of any type. I will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information.
All investments involve risk, and the past performance of a security, industry, sector, market, financial product, trading strategy, backtest, or individual's trading does not guarantee future results or returns. Investors are fully responsible for any investment decisions they make. Such decisions should be based solely on an evaluation of their financial circumstances, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.
My Scripts/Indicators/Ideas/Algos/Systems are only for educational purposes!
Fib and Slope Trend Detector [EWT] + MTF Dashboard🚀 Overview
The Momentum Structure Trend Detector is a sophisticated trend-following tool that combines Price Velocity (Slope) with Market Structure (Fibonacci) to identify high-probability trend reversals and continuations.
Unlike traditional indicators that rely heavily on lagging moving averages, this script analyzes the speed of price action in real-time. It operates on the core principle of market structure: Impulse moves are fast and steep, while corrections are slow and shallow.
🧠 The Logic: Physics Meets Market Structure
This indicator determines the trend direction by calculating the Slope (Velocity) of price swings.
ZigZag Calculation: It first identifies market swings (Highs and Lows) using a standard pivot detection algorithm.
Slope Calculation: It calculates the velocity of every completed leg using the formula: $Slope = \frac{|Price Change|}{|Time Duration|}$.
Trend Definition:
Uptrend : If the previous Up-move was fast (Impulse) and the subsequent Down-move is slower (Correction), the market is primed for an uptrend.
Downtrend : If the previous Down-move was fast (Impulse) and the subsequent Up-move is slower (Correction), the market is primed for a downtrend.
🔥 Key Features
1. Aggressive Real-Time Detection (No Lag)
Most structure indicators wait for a "Higher High" to confirm a trend, which often leads to late entries. This script uses an Aggressive Live Slope calculation:
It compares the current developing slope of the live price action against the slope of the previous completed leg.
Result: As soon as the current move becomes "steeper" (faster) than the previous correction, the trend flips immediately. This allows you to catch the "meat" of the move before a new pivot is even confirmed.
2. Fibonacci Validity Filter
Momentum alone isn't enough; we need structural integrity.
The script calculates the 78.6% Retracement level of the impulse leg.
If a correction moves deeper than this Fibonacci limit (on a closing basis), the trend structure is considered "broken" or "invalid," and the indicator switches to a Neutral state. This filters out choppy/ranging markets.
3. Multi-Timeframe (MTF) Dashboard
A customizable dashboard on the chart allows for fractal analysis. You can view the trend state (UP/DOWN/NEUTRAL) across 9 different timeframes (1m to 1M) simultaneously.
Green Row : Uptrend
Red Row : Downtrend
Gray : Neutral/Indeterminate
4. Smart Visuals
Background Colo r: Changes dynamically (Teal for Bullish, Red for Bearish, Gray for Neutral) to give you an instant read of the market state.
Slope Labels : Displays the calculated numeric slope on the chart, helping you visualize the momentum difference between impulse and corrective waves.
Invalidation Levels : Automatically plots the invalidation line (Stop Loss level) based on the market structure.
🛠️ Settings & Inputs
Strategy Settings
Pivot Deviation Length : Sensitivity of the ZigZag calculation (Default: 5). Lower numbers = more sensitive to small swings.
Max Retracement % : The Fibonacci limit for a valid correction (Default: 78.6%).
Min Bars for Live Calc : To prevent noise, the script waits for this many bars after a pivot before calculating the "Live Slope" (Default: 3).
Dashboard Settings
Show Dashboard : Toggle the table on/off.
Timeframe Toggles : Enable/Disable specific timeframes (1m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 1H, 4H, 1D, 1W, 1M) to suit your trading style.
🎯 How to Use
Wait for Background Change : When the background turns Teal, it indicates that a corrective pullback has ended and a new impulse with high velocity has begun.
Check Invalidation : Look at the plotted Stop Loss Level. If price closes below this line, the trade idea is invalid.
Confirm with Dashboard : Use the table to ensure the higher timeframes (e.g., 1H, 4H) align with your current chart's direction for higher probability setups.
Disclaimer : This tool is designed for trend analysis and educational purposes. Past performance (momentum) is not indicative of future results. Always manage your risk.
