Traders can use this indicator to prove a stock’s trend or anticipate future price reversals. Rising window confirms the uptrend and the prices rise sharply. A sharp rise in prices followed by the steep AD line makes sense, as buying pressure is required to sustain the uptrend.

As such, it cannot be expected to always affirm price action or successfully predict price reversals with divergences. Sometimes there is a disconnect between prices and the indicator. Sometimes the Accumulation Distribution Line simply doesn’t work. This is why it is vitally important to use the Accumulation Distribution Line, and all indicators for that matter, in conjunction with price/trend analysis and/or other indicators.

What is the Accumulation/Distribution Indicator?

Chartists can also add a moving average to the indicator by using the advanced options. Click here for a live chart with the Accumulation Distribution Line. When the stock price and A/D indicator both make high peaks and high troughs, the upward trend is likely to continue. Repeat the process as each period ends, adding/subtracting the new money flow volume to/from the prior total. Supporting documentation for any claims, comparison, statistics, or other technical data will be supplied upon request. TD Ameritrade does not make recommendations or determine the suitability of any security, strategy or course of action for you through your use of our trading tools.

If the current close is higher than the previous close, it adds the volume for that period. Whereas if the current close is lower, it deducts the volume. If you’re familiar with the On-Balance Volume indicator, you know that, much like the A/D indicator, it also uses price and volume to predict market movements.

Futures and forex accounts are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation . Histogram bars below this line signal range compression. The ratio of the current range to its past value, expressed in percent. If a RangeRatio histogram bar is below this line, range compression is recognized. The Accumulation/Distribution strategy uses values of the RangeRatio plot to add simulated buy and sell orders. To calculate Williams’ Accumulation/Distribution indicator, first determine the True Range High (“TRH”) and True Range Low (“TRL”).

Divergences – It is a good indicator to identify divergences in the financial market. The accumulation/distribution (A/D) indicator is one of the most popular volume-based indicators in the market. It was developed by Mark Chaikin, who is also known for developing the Chaikin Oscillator. For a given period, if the A/D indicator is rising, then accumulation may be higher and is a sign of the future upward breakout. When the stock price and A/D indicator both make low peaks and low troughs, the downward trend is likely to continue.

If the close is exactly between the high and low prices, nothing is added to the cumulative total. As you can see, Chaikin completely ignored the change from one period to the next. His primary focus was on the level of the close measured against the high-low range over a given period. Even if the price briefly dips and closes much lower, the A/D line could still rise if the asset has a closing price above the midpoint of the high-lows.

What is accumulation distribution indicator?

Similar concepts apply if a price closes within the lower half of a period’s price range. During a period, the A/D decrease is affected both by volume and by where the price closes. Any trader’s arsenal always contains a mix of leading and lagging indicators. This way, they get an additional layer of confirmation or contradiction of a particular trend. Monitoring the overall money flow — The A/D line gives us an idea of the market’s overall money flow over a given period.

We measure the A/D line in relation to the price trend and then either confirms or contradicts it. Moreover, this aspect makes the A/D indicator an excellent tool for reinforcing the underlying trend or spotting potential reversals. In this way, traders can predict the security’s future price trend as well as potential reversals. Making those predictions with reasonable trend envelopes indicator accuracy allows traders to go long or short on a security at the appropriate time. The accumulation/distribution indicator determines the supply and demand level of a stock/asset/cryptocurrency by multiplying the closing price of a specific period with volume. An accumulation/distribution indicator that works better against gaps and with trend coloring.

What Is the Accumulation/Distribution Indicator (A/D)?

The price oscillates throughout the day and finishes in the upper portion of its daily range, but is still down 18% from the prior close. Traders need to monitor the price chart and mark any potential anomalies like these, as they could affect how the indicator is interpreted. The A/D indicator doesn’t factor in the prior close and uses a multiplier based on where the price closed within the period’s range. Therefore, the indicators use different calculations and may provide different information. When the indicator drops, it means distribution of the security, as most of sales take place during the downward price movement. Trading stocks, options, futures and forex involves speculation, and the risk of loss can be substantial.

Even though the indicator showed signs of buying pressure, it was important to wait for a bullish catalyst or confirmation on the price chart. This catalyst came as the stock gapped up and surged on big volume. The multiplier in the calculation provides a gauge for how strong the buying or selling was during a particular period. It does this by determining whether the price closed in the upper or lower portion of its range.

• There are hundreds of indicators, put into several categories, available in most trading platforms.
• For a given period, if the A/D indicator is falling, then distribution may be higher and is a sign of the future downward breakout.
• Similar concepts apply if a price closes within the lower half of a period’s price range.
• TD Ameritrade does not make recommendations or determine the suitability of any security, strategy or course of action for you through your use of our trading tools.
• Accumulation distribution indicator is a technical analysis indicator used to measure the degree of overbought and oversold markets.
• Spot price-volume divergences — The Accumulation/Distribution line also tells us if the current price and volume are not in agreement, which could mean a potential reversal soon.

This makes sense, as buying pressure is stronger than selling pressure when prices close in the upper half of the period’s range . The Accumulation Distribution Line rises when the multiplier is positive and falls when the multiplier is negative. The primary rule of the A/D indicator is that stock volume precedes stock price. The number of shares traded is relative to the rise and fall of its stock price. The A/D indicator, like other volume indicators, predicts the direction of the volume flow. It helps determine future stock price movements and hence provides an edge.

The accumulation/distribution line demonstrates how supply and demand influences pricing. Price fluctuations might cause the A/D line to move in the same way or the other direction. This indicator allows you to set a range of price which you want to get an alert about if price breaks that structure. Breaking down the Accumulation Distribution formula, you’ll see that it is a single line tool, which belongs to the oscillator family and fluctuates around a zero (0.00) level. The uptrend line is broken indicating a change in trend.

Kiril is a CFA charterholder with over 10 years of investing experience. It can also provide even more in-depth insight into the market, so you’re more confident about the trades you’re making. Sometimes, the A/D indicator simply doesn’t work — No one indicator provides accurate predictions 100% of the time.

A/D vs On-Balance Volume (OBV)

Chaikin Oscillator is a technical analysis tool used to measure the accumulation and distribution of moving average convergence-divergence . The A/D is just one tool that can be used to assess strength or weakness within a trend, but it is not without its faults. The A/D indicator does not factor in price changes from one period to the next, and focuses only on where the price closes within the current period’s range. Divergences between the Accumulation/Distribution indicator and the price of the security indicate the upcoming change of prices.

Indicators M ~ N

Then calculate the money flow volume by using the period’s volume and the value of multiplier calculated in the previous step. When the Accumulation Distribution Line is rising together with the price, it confirms the uptrend. When the ADL line is falling together with the falling price it supports the downtrend.

It can also refer to an asset that is heavily bought rate of change forex and to the growth of a portfolio over time.

The bearish divergence signaled the correction in April. The bearish divergence signaled the fortfs review correction in January. The bullish divergence correctly predicted the subsequent rally.

The A/D line helps to show how supply and demand factors are influencing price. A/D can move in the same direction as price changes or in the opposite direction. In fact, this indicator is a variant of the more commonly used indicator On Balance Volume. They are both used to confirm price changes by means of measuring the respective volume of sales. Futures and futures options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please read theRisk Disclosure Statementprior to trading futures products.

Price disconnect — The A/D line ties with the price changes over a given period. This can cause a disconnect between the indicator and the price, especially for minor price changes. OBV takes difference between old close and new close and multiplies by volume without considering high and low. This assigns the entire volume into a single direction even tho movement could’ve been in both.