Expansion Contraction compares 2 price points (the high and the low), up or down through the 2 moving average channel (MAC) settings. Since Expansion Contraction measures every period (chart setting), it technically has “zero lag”. A second indicator compares 2 price points (the high and the low), up or down through 2 longer look-back moving average channel settings… Note: Ideally, this ratio usually produces a condition where a 2 standard deviation short term move (strong swing) equals approximately a 1 standard deviation long term move (trend strengthening).
Basically, if both the short term swing is expanding higher and the long term trend is expanding higher, then that signals the strongest part of the current swing higher (dark green bars). The strongest part of the current swing lower (dark red bars), occurs when both the short term swing is expanding lower and the long term trend is expanding lower.
Light green bars occur when the short term swing is expanding lower however; the long term trend is still bullish. Light red bars occur when the short term swing is higher however; the long term trend is still bearish. These indicate weakness in the current swing and Jake’s trailing stop rules should be considered.
When both the short term swing and the long term trend are within 1 standard deviation based on the short term swing, the resulting narrow range indicates a “not trending” or range bound condition.
When the short term swings are at or beyond +2 standard deviations, this setup is a leading indicator of the trend direction most of the time (not how long the trend will last). When the long term trend, up or down exceeds a 2 standard deviation move higher, the condition is considered over-bought or over-sold, respectively. Trade Navigator programming appears as a colored triangle (red/green). Use trailing stop rules.
Indicator created by Brian Latta based on Jake Bernstein’s principles of Moving Average Channel system.
Brian Latta - Author of “The Book on Trading”, trading system developer and coach
Jake Bernstein - Speaker at Wealth365®
Basically, if both the short term swing is expanding higher and the long term trend is expanding higher, then that signals the strongest part of the current swing higher (dark green bars). The strongest part of the current swing lower (dark red bars), occurs when both the short term swing is expanding lower and the long term trend is expanding lower.
Light green bars occur when the short term swing is expanding lower however; the long term trend is still bullish. Light red bars occur when the short term swing is higher however; the long term trend is still bearish. These indicate weakness in the current swing and Jake’s trailing stop rules should be considered.
When both the short term swing and the long term trend are within 1 standard deviation based on the short term swing, the resulting narrow range indicates a “not trending” or range bound condition.
When the short term swings are at or beyond +2 standard deviations, this setup is a leading indicator of the trend direction most of the time (not how long the trend will last). When the long term trend, up or down exceeds a 2 standard deviation move higher, the condition is considered over-bought or over-sold, respectively. Trade Navigator programming appears as a colored triangle (red/green). Use trailing stop rules.
Indicator created by Brian Latta based on Jake Bernstein’s principles of Moving Average Channel system.
Brian Latta - Author of “The Book on Trading”, trading system developer and coach
Jake Bernstein - Speaker at Wealth365®