Indicators

Indicators

Indicators describe what's already happening. They don't predict.

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16 guidesIn this category
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Featured Guide
Aroon Indicator: The Trend Gauge That Reads Time, Not Price
Indicators

Aroon Indicator: The Trend Gauge That Reads Time, Not Price

The Aroon indicator grades a trend by timing the last high and low. Its three uses, the crossover and the Aroon oscillator, on gold, Bitcoin and Forex.

james-hartwell james-hartwell · · 18 min read
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About Indicators

Indicators describe what's already happening. They don't predict price. We lean on a short list: MACD, RSI, EMA structure. Each guide covers how to read one without lagging into bad entries. We also cover when the indicator misleads, and what combinations actually filter noise instead of adding more of it. Price action is the partner here, not the indicator alone.

What you'll get
  • What each indicator actually measures
  • Lead vs. lag in different conditions
  • Combinations that filter false signals
Written by active traders — not finance journalists
Alex Rivers
Alex Rivers
Momentum Trader & Technical Analyst
 James Hartwell
James Hartwell
Forex Analyst & Senior Trader
 Nina Carr
Nina Carr
Quant Researcher & Systems Builder

More in Indicators

15 guides
Awesome Oscillator: The Zero-Cross That Pays in a Calm Trend Indicators
· 28 min read

Awesome Oscillator: The Zero-Cross That Pays in a Calm Trend

The awesome oscillator zero-cross ran a 1.87 profit factor on eight years of gold, and 4.63 with a calm-market filter. Honest about where it breaks.
Accumulation/Distribution Indicator: The Cross That Pays Indicators
· 25 min read

Accumulation/Distribution Indicator: The Cross That Pays

We ran the accumulation/distribution indicator on eight years of daily gold. The fast A/D cross pays best, and calm days beat volatile ones five to one.
Hull Moving Average: The Low-Lag Line That Rides Gold Indicators
· 24 min read

Hull Moving Average: The Low-Lag Line That Rides Gold

The Hull Moving Average is a near-zero-lag trend line. Across eight years of gold data its cross setups ran a 1.9 profit factor. Here is how to trade the three main ways, and where each one breaks.
Relative Vigor Index: The Calm-Market Edge on Gold Indicators
· 25 min read

Relative Vigor Index: The Calm-Market Edge on Gold

The Relative Vigor Index is a momentum oscillator. On eight years of gold its signal cross paid best in calm markets, and the volume filter made it worse.
Chaikin Money Flow: The Volume Cross That Pays on Gold Indicators
· 33 min read

Chaikin Money Flow: The Volume Cross That Pays on Gold

We ran the Chaikin Money Flow indicator on eight years of gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin. The CMF zero-cross pays best on gold, thin on the euro, marginal on Bitcoin.
On Balance Volume: The Volume Line That Only Works One Way Indicators
· 30 min read

On Balance Volume: The Volume Line That Only Works One Way

On balance volume is a running tally of volume that leads price. We tested it over eight years: the raw signal is a coin flip, but as a trend confirmation it earned a 1.89 to 2.40 profit factor on gold and silver. The twist: adding a volume filter helps on Bitcoin and wrecks it on Forex.
Williams %R: The Oversold Bounce Is a Trap, Here's What Pays Indicators
· 30 min read

Williams %R: The Oversold Bounce Is a Trap, Here's What Pays

We tested Williams %R across eight years on gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin. The famous buy-at-minus-80 bounce wins often and still loses. The trend-pullback is the play that travels. Full numbers, real charts.
Average Directional Index: How to Read ADX Indicators
· 12 min read

Average Directional Index: How to Read ADX

Learn how the average directional index (ADX) measures trend strength, what ADX readings mean, and how to use +DI/-DI to find trending trade entries.
Average True Range (ATR) Indicator Explained Indicators
· 13 min read

Average True Range (ATR) Indicator Explained

What ATR measures, how to calculate it, and how to use it for stop losses, position sizing, and volatility filters. Includes live forward-test results.
What Is VWAP? The Fair-Value Line That Paid on Gold Indicators
· 28 min read

What Is VWAP? The Fair-Value Line That Paid on Gold

What is VWAP? It is the volume-weighted fair-value line. Run on eight years of daily data, the VWAP reclaim setup paid a 2.21 profit factor on gold.
Stochastic Oscillator: The Bounce Most Traders Trade Backwards Indicators
· 28 min read

Stochastic Oscillator: The Bounce Most Traders Trade Backwards

The stochastic oscillator is taught as an oversold bounce. We tested it over 8 years: that read loses on gold. Here is the %K/%D play the data rewards, by market.
Stochastic RSI: How to Read and Trade It Indicators
· 10 min read

Stochastic RSI: How to Read and Trade It

StochRSI moves faster than regular RSI but generates more noise. Here's how it works, best settings for forex and crypto, and a live-tested 64% win rate setup.
RSI Settings: the Best Period and Levels, by Timeframe Indicators
· 27 min read

RSI Settings: the Best Period and Levels, by Timeframe

We ran RSI period 7/9/14/21 and the 70/30 vs 80/20 levels across gold, EUR/USD and Bitcoin on three timeframes of real market data. There is no magic RSI setting, but the data says exactly which period and levels pay for each play. Real numbers, real charts.
RSI Indicator Guide: How to Read and Use RSI Indicators
· 12 min read

RSI Indicator Guide: How to Read and Use RSI

Learn how to use the RSI indicator for trading. Overbought/oversold levels, divergence signals, and the 14-period settings that work in 2025-2026.
MACD Indicator: The Cross That Actually Holds Up Indicators
· 29 min read

MACD Indicator: The Cross That Actually Holds Up

The MACD indicator has two famous crosses. We tested both across eight years on gold, EUR/USD, BTC and oil. The slower zero-line cross is the real edge, with real numbers.

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