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Technical Chart Indicators and Studies

Find descriptions, formulas, parameters, and other help for the indicators and studies used by the Barchart.com Technical Charts application below.

Technical Charts and Classic Charts each have their own set of studies.

View Classic Chart Indicators

Interactive Charts, however, share many of the same studies with Technical Charts. Some of the parameters may be slightly different between the two versions of charts. Unless otherwise specified, the parameters shown in this documentation are those used by the Technical Chart program.

Technical Chart Indicators and Studies

* Available in Interactive Charts only

When you switch between Technical, Interactive, or Classic Charts, any studies already on the chart are removed, as the indicators do not transfer.

Note:When adding multiple moving averages on a chart, the lines will be colored in this order: red, green, blue, purple, orange.

Technical Chart: change parameters

When adding an indicator to a Technical Chart, you can change the parameters of the study by clicking on the indicator name.

The area will expand, and allow you to enter the parameters of your choice.

Smoothed Oscillator

Indicator Type: Standalone - Interactive Charts Only

A Smoothed Oscillator is an Exponential Oscillator, only with a longer period applied. The Smoothed Oscillator is plotted as a histogram, using the difference between two Moving Averages. It can be used to help identify divergences, short-term variations from the long-term trend, and to identify the crossing of two Moving Averages, which occur when the oscillator crosses the zero line.

Interpretation: Technical analysts use a variety of oscillators. An oscillator is the simple difference between two Moving Averages. Those values oscillate about the zero line and are plotted as a histogram.

One trading rule is similar to the crossover system used in Moving Averages. In fact, the oscillator is another method of using two Moving Averages. Sell when the oscillator crosses the zero line from above to below. Buy when the oscillator crosses from below to above. Some traders buy the valleys and sell the peaks of the oscillator. The oscillator has no confined limits. Its value fluctuates widely. It is a function of price volatility and the Moving Averages.

Literature:

Achelis, Steven B. Technical Analysis from A to Z.
Colby, Robert F., Myers, Thomas. A. The Encyclopedia of Technical Market Indicators. Dow Jones - Irwin. Homewood, IL. 1988.
Murphy, John J. Technical Analysis of the Futures Market.

Default Parameters: 5, 10

(5): The length of the first Exponential Moving Average. The application uses a default of 5. However, to smooth the Oscillator, the period specified is lengthened: Period=2*n-1.

(10): The length of the second Exponential Moving Average. The application uses a default of 10. However, to smooth the Oscillator, the period specified is lengthened: Period=2*n-1.

Sample Chart:

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