Trading Basics  |  JAN 2002

Detecting Trend Direction And Strength by Barbara Star, Ph.D.

Detecting Trend Direction And Strength by Barbara Star, Ph.D. Using an indicator by itself can reveal a portion of the entire picture. Combining it with another can reveal more. Traders use technical indicators to recognize market changes. They look to indicators for signs of price direction, momentum shifts, and market volatility. Among the most sought-after indicators are those that identify price trends. Traditionally, moving averages serve that purpose, but they suffer from whipsaw action during price consolidations. However, there is another approach. This article shows how to combine two popular indicators to help traders detect not only trend direction but also trend strength. The indicators involved are the average directional index (ADX) and the moving average convergence/divergence (MACD). The ADX functions as a trend detector, rising as price strengthens into an identifiable trend and falling when price moves sideways or loses its trending power. ADX values in the 20 to 30 range indicate mild to moderate trending behavior, while values above 30 usually signify a strong trend. Unfortunately, the ADX does not reveal the trend direction. The MACD, on the other hand, indicates price momentum and can also be used to identify price direction as it rises above its trigger line or falls below its zero line.

by Barbara Star, Ph.D.