Relative VolatilityRelative Volatility is a technical indicator designed to assess changes in market volatility by comparing fast and slow Average True Range (ATR) values. It operates by subtracting a slower ATR (e.g., 50-period ATR) from a faster ATR (e.g., 20-period ATR) and visualizing the result as a histogram. This enables traders to determine whether volatility is increasing or decreasing over time.
This indicator can help traders recognize volatility trends, which can inform decisions related to trade entries, exits, and risk management.
Interpreting Volatility Changes
Increasing Volatility: When the histogram is above zero, it indicates that the fast ATR is greater than the slow ATR, signifying an increase in short-term volatility compared to the long-term average. This may suggest heightened market activity and potential trading opportunities.
Decreasing Volatility: When the histogram is below zero, it shows that the fast ATR is less than the slow ATR, indicating a decrease in short-term volatility relative to the long-term average. This may suggest consolidating markets or reduced trading activity.
Relative Volatility assists traders in monitoring and analyzing changes in market volatility, providing insights that can enhance trading strategies and decision-making processes.
Relativevolatility
Bar metrics / quantifytools— Overview
Rather than eyeball evaluating bullishness/bearishness in any given bar, bar metrics allow a quantified approach using three basic fundamental data points: relative close, relative volatility and relative volume. These data points are visualized in a discreet data dashboard form, next to all real-time bars. Each value also has a dot in front, representing color coded extremes in the values.
Relative close represents position of bar's close relative to high and low, high of bar being 100% and low of bar being 0%. Relative close indicates strength of bulls/bears in a given bar, the higher the better for bulls, the lower the better for bears. Relative volatility (bar range, high - low) and relative volume are presented in a form of a multiplier, relative to their respective moving averages (SMA 20). A value of 1x indicates volume/volatility being on par with moving average, 2x indicates volume/volatility being twice as much as moving average and so on. Relative volume and volatility can be used for measuring general market participant interest, the "weight of the bar" as it were.
— Features
Users can gauge past bar metrics using lookback via input menu. Past bars, especially recent ones, are helpful for giving context for current bar metrics. Lookback bars are highlighted on the chart using a yellow box and metrics presented on the data dashboard with lookback symbols:
To inspect bar metric data and its implications, users can highlight bars with specified bracket values for each metric:
When bar highlighter is toggled on and desired bar metric values set, alert for the specified combination can be toggled on via alert menu. Note that bar highlighter must be enabled in order for alerts to function.
— Visuals
Bar metric dots are gradient colored the following way:
Relative volatility & volume
0x -> 1x / Neutral (white) -> Light (yellow)
1x -> 1.7x / Light (yellow) -> Medium (orange)
1.7x -> 2.4x / Medium (orange) -> Heavy (red)
Relative close
0% -> 25% / Heavy bearish (red) -> Light bearish (dark red)
25% -> 45% / Light bearish (dark red) -> Neutral (white)
45% - 55% / Neutral (white)
55% -> 75% / Neutral (white) -> Light bullish (dark green)
75% -> 100% / Light bullish (dark green) -> Heavy bullish (green)
All colors can be adjusted via input menu. Label size, label distance from bar (offset) and text format (regular/stealth) can be adjusted via input menu as well:
— Practical guide
As interpretation of bar metrics is highly contextual, it is especially important to use other means in conjunction with the metrics. Levels, oscillators, moving averages, whatever you have found useful for your process. In short, relative close indicates directional bias and relative volume/volatility indicates "weight" of directional bias.
General interpretation
High relative close, low relative volume/volatility = mildly bullish, bias up/consolidation
High relative close, medium relative volume/volatility = bullish, bias up
High relative close, high relative volume/volatility = exuberantly bullish, bias up/down depending on context
Medium relative close, low relative volume/volatility = noise, no bias
Medium relative close, medium to high relative volume/volatility = indecision, further evidence needed to evaluate bias
Low relative close, low relative volume/volatility = mildly bearish, bias down/consolidation
Low relative close, medium relative volume/volatility = bearish, bias down
Low relative close, high relative volume/volatility = exuberantly bearish, bias down/up depending on context
Nuances & considerations
As to relative close, it's important to note that each bar is a trading range when viewed on a lower timeframe, ES 1W vs. ES 4H:
When relative close is high, bulls were able to push price to range high by the time of close. When relative close is low, bears were able to push price to range low by the time of close. In other words, bulls/bears were able to gain the upper hand over a given trading range, hinting strength for the side that made the final push. When relative close is around middle range (40-60%), it can be said neither side is clearly dominating the range, hinting neutral/indecision bias from a relative close perspective.
As to relative volume/volatility, low values (less than ~0.7x) imply bar has low market participant interest and therefore is likely insignificant, as it is "lacking weight". Values close to or above 1x imply meaningful market participant interest, whereas values well above 1x (greater than ~1.3x) imply exuberance. This exuberance can manifest as initiation (beginning of a trend) or as exhaustion (end of a trend):
STDev % by Alejandro PThis is a simple indicator that expands the usability of Standard deviation into a universally usable indicator.
This indicator displays the volatility as standard deviation as a % of asset value, this allows using more standardized and comparable values across multiple instruments and asset classes.
