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Technical Indicators

Thu, Jun 5th, 2025
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The descriptions, formulas, and parameters shown below apply to both Interactive Charts and Snapshot Charts, unless noted. Please note that some of the parameters may be slightly different between the two versions of charts.
Studies noted with * are available only in Snapshot Charts and those noted with ^ are available only in Interactive Charts.
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Percentage Volume Oscillator

Indicator Type: Standalone

The Percentage Volume Oscillator (PVO) is the percentage difference between two moving averages of volume. The indicator is calculated with the following formula:

Volume Oscillator (%) - PVO = ((Vol 12-day EMA - Vol 26-day EMA)/Vol 12-day EMA) x 100

The 12-day exponential moving average (EMA) and 26-exponential moving average were used as examples. Typically, these can be changed to suit longer or shorter time periods. Because of its formula, the PVO has a maximum value of +100, but no minimum value. For example: if the 12-day EMA equals 2000 and the 26-day EMA equals 8000, then the PVO would equal -300 (((2000 - 8000)/2000) x 100) = -300. The absolute value is not as important as the direction or the crosses above and below the zero line.

Sample Chart:

Percentage Volume Oscillator

Uses

The PVO can be used to identify periods of expanding or contracting volume in three different ways:

  • Centerline Crossovers: like the PPO, the PVO oscillates above and below the zero line. When PVO is positive, the shorter EMA of volume is greater than the longer EMA of volume. When PVO is negative, the shorter EMA of volume is less than the longer EMA of volume. A PVO above zero indicates that volume levels are generally above average and relatively heavy. When the PVO is below zero, volume levels are generally below average and light.
  • Directional Movement: General directional movement of the PVO can offer a quick visual assessment of volume patterns. A rising PVO signals that volume levels are increasing and a falling PVO signals that volume levels are decreasing.
  • Moving average crossovers: The last variable in the PVO forms the signal line. For example: PVO(12,26,9) would include a 9-day EMA of PVO as well as a histogram representing the difference between the PVO and its 9-day EMA. When PVO moves above its signal line, volume levels are generally increasing. When PVO moves below its signal line, volume levels are generally decreasing.

Movements in the PVO are completely separate from price movements. As such, movements in PVO can correlated with price movements to assess the degree of buying or selling pressure. Advances combined with strength in the PVO would be considered strong. Should the PVO decline while a security's price fell, it would indicate decreasing volume on the decline.

Parameters:
  • Period (12) - the number of bars, or period, used to calculate the first EMA.
  • Period (26) - the number of bars, or period, used to calculate the second EMA.
  • Period (9) - the number of bars, or period, used to calculate the signal line.
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