Skip to main content
Track ATR position sizing
31 / 36
Library

2018issue C0712-19

Moving average support and volatility-band construction

A historical chart stack is assembled from three simple lookback averages as live support and resistance, a faster linear-weighted smoother, a squeeze-first Bollinger Bands envelope, and a custom band that can switch between an ATR-scaled channel and a standard deviation envelope.

  • A simple moving average gives every selected bar equal weight, an exponential form reduces the weight of older observations, and a linear-weighted form places more weight on recent prices and is described as more sensitive than either.
  • The construction places simple moving averages of 50, 100, and 200 bars as short-, medium-, and long-horizon support and resistance on a fixed-time chart and a modified renko chart, then adds a 20-bar linear-weighted average as a faster short-horizon smoother.
  • Standard Bollinger Bands sit two standard deviations from a 20-day simple moving average of closes. A squeeze is the narrowing of those bands at low volatility and is treated as a setup that can precede a reversal or a continuation.
  • The custom SveVolatilityBand can draw an ATR-scaled channel or a standard Bollinger envelope, plus a separate linear-weighted typical-price midline, and it replaces invalid inputs with a fixed default set.
Entries in this reading3 entries

Equal weight, fading weight, and recent weight

A moving average is built from ordered bar values. A simple moving average sums the selected bar values and divides by the bar count so every observation has equal weight.

An exponential moving average reduces the weight of older observations. A linear-weighted moving average places more weight on recent prices and is described as more sensitive than the simple or exponential form.

Stacked averages as live support and resistance

The construction uses three simple moving averages of 50, 100, and 200 bars as short-, medium-, and long-horizon active support and resistance. Those averages are applied on both a fixed-time chart and a modified renko chart.

A 20-bar linear-weighted moving average is added as a faster short-horizon smoother. On a candlestick chart the lookback may need to be lengthened to match the smoother, faster path seen on the modified renko chart.

A squeeze-first volatility envelope

Standard Bollinger Bands are constructed from a 20-day simple moving average of closes with upper and lower bands two standard deviations away. The bands contract when volatility falls and expand when it rises.

A squeeze is the narrowing of those bands at low volatility. It is treated as a setup that can precede either a reversal or a continuation. A later band break or move out of the range marks the start of the next move.

A band that can switch its width input

The custom SveVolatilityBand can draw either an ATR-scaled volatility channel around a linear-weighted close average or a standard Bollinger envelope. It also draws a separate linear-weighted typical-price midline.

When the volatility-band path is selected, band width is taken from a smoothed ATR buffer scaled by a deviation factor, then applied to a linear-weighted close average. The lower band is further scaled by a LowbandAdjust coefficient.

Invalid inputs are rejected and replaced with BandsPeriod 20, BandsDeviation 2.4, LowbandAdjust 0.9, and MiddleLineLwma 20.

Educational research material, not investment advice. Historical source context does not establish present-day performance.
31 of 36 in the ATR position sizing track
20188-15 pp.Next on ATR position sizingConstruct a lifecycle breakout from compressionThe lifecycle is specified as an accumulation phase, a public-participation phase, and a distribution phase, with accumulation still looking like a down move and distribution the mirror image.
All readings on this track · 36 readings
  1. 1988Constructing unsigned true range for directional models
  2. 1989Evaluate an always-in ATR breakout as one procedure
  3. 1992Variable lookback and average true range as a trend-filter construction
  4. 1993A random-walk index that uses true range as its scale
  5. 1993A shared harness for trend-filter construction
  6. 1998Finish a trend with a volatility trail, wave permission, and a slower-frame veto
  7. 1999A trend filter that switches tactics and scales ATR targets
  8. 2001Filter higher lows with linear regression, then judge the exit
  9. 2003A Mechanical trading system is a maintained procedure, not only an entry trigger
  10. 2005Construction of a volatility-bounded long entry
  11. 2005Six-zone encoding of open, high, low, and close
  12. 2006Normalized average true range as a pre-entry volatility bound
  13. 2006Chandelier exits, ATR position sizing, and trailing stops
  14. 2007Constructing a rule-based entry with Relative Strength Index and ATR position sizing
  15. 2008Constructing a zero-lag TMA and heikin-ashi crossover as a complete rule set
  16. 2010Use the session-range percent stop as a pre-trade filter
  17. 2011OCA exit groups, trailing limits, and ATR stops
  18. 2011ATR bands around support and resistance for stops and targets
  19. 2013Algorithmic head-and-shoulders construction with bounded exits
  20. 2013Constructing ATR-scaled swing pivots and linear-regression divergence
  21. 2013Constructing volatility bands from typical price
  22. 2014Constructing true-range contraction filters before expansion
  23. 2015Constructing touch plans from modified true range
  24. 2015One checklist for breakout entry and ATR risk
  25. 2015Percentage true-range construction for cross-market volatility filters
  26. 2015Construct a percentage true range for cross-market volatility
  27. 2015Percentage true range as a pre-entry exposure filter
  28. 2016Constructing ATR-filtered breakout entries
  29. 2017A dividend date as a pairs-trading classroom
  30. 2018Range-based volatility as a true-range construction
  31. 2018Moving average support and volatility-band construction
  32. 2018Construct a lifecycle breakout from compression
  33. 2018Pair the book first and let volatility or range set the size
  34. 2019Trend systems need a no-trade rule
  35. 2020Average true range as a shared unit for size, pairs, and stops
  36. 2020Volatility sizing and target-risk leverage as a pre-trade gate
All 44 readings tagged ATR position sizing
Also on ATR position sizing5 readings