Smoothed Oscillator
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.
Study Type: Stand-alone
Description
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
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Achelis, Steven B. Technical Analysis from A to Z.
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Colby, Robert F., Myers, Thomas. A. The Encyclopedia of Technical Market Indicators. Dow Jones Irwin. Homewood, IL. 1988.
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Murphy, John J. Technical Analysis of the Futures Market.
Parameters
- Period 1: (9): The length of the first Exponential Moving Average. However, to smooth the Oscillator, the period specified is lengthened: Period=2*n-1.
- Period 2: (19): The length of the second Exponential Moving Average. However, to smooth the Oscillator, the period specified is lengthened: Period=2*n-1.