The vortex indicator plots two oscillating lines, one to identify positive trend movement and the other to identify negative price movement. Crosses between the lines trigger buy and sell signals that are designed to capture the most dynamic trending action, higher or lower. There’s no neutral setting for the indicator, which will always generate a bullish or bearish bias. You can find the complete vortex indicator calculations here.
Indicator construction revolves around the highs and lows of the last two days or periods. The distance from the current high to the prior low designates positive trend movement while the distance between the current low and the prior high designates negative trend movement. Strongly positive or negative trend movements will show a longer length between the two numbers while weaker positive or negative trend movement will show a shorter length.
Readings are usually captured over 14 periods (though the technician can choose any length) and then adjusted using J. Welles Wilder’s true range. Results are posted as continuous lines beneath price bars, while crossovers are compared to other trend-following indicators to produce valid trading signals. Traders can use the vortex indicator as a standalone signal generator, but keep in mind it is vulnerable to significant whipsaws and false signals in congested or mixed markets.
Synergy With Other Indicators
Adjusting the vortex indicator to longer periods will lower the frequency of whipsaws but generate delayed positive or negative crossovers. On the other hand, shortening the length will elicit many crossovers that fail to generate significant trend movement. As a general rule, high beta securities will respond better to shorter-term settings while slow-moving securities respond better to longer-term settings.
You can improve indicator reliability by comparing vortex indicator signals with other trend-following tools. The underlying math shows many similarities with Wilder's average directional index (ADX), the negative directional indicator (-DI) and the positive directional indicator (+DI). Those calculations translate into three lines that trigger complex crossovers. Unlike the vortex indicator, Wilder’s system can issue neutral readings that tell traders to stand pat or avoid exposure.
Moving average convergence-divergence (MACD) analysis offers a perfect fit with the vortex indicator. Its construction with three moving averages lowers false readings triggered by multiple indicators that capture the same flawed data. When plotted with histograms, the indicator generates surprisingly few false signals, making it a perfect partner for the noisier and whipsaw-prone vortex indicator.
Synergistic trading strategies use a simple process that looks for sympathetic buy or sell signals in the vortex indicators as well as in other indicators before committing capital. The challenge comes in two forms: First, there needs to be significant differences in data sources to avoid replicating flawed information, and second, indicator periods need experimentation and fine tuning to focus on the intended holding period, whether short, intermediate or long term.
This last step of honing indicator periods is vital because trends exhibit time frame independence, allowing multiple uptrends and downtrends to evolve in different time segments on the same security. This fractal behavior will produce false readings if the vortex indicator is looking at one segment of trend activity while a second indicator looks at a second segment. Traders can overcome this flaw through trial and error, by watching how indicator pairs interact on various instruments and in various time frames. With MACD in particular, it’s often best to leave settings alone and tweak vortex indicator periods instead.
Indicator construction revolves around the highs and lows of the last two days or periods. The distance from the current high to the prior low designates positive trend movement while the distance between the current low and the prior high designates negative trend movement. Strongly positive or negative trend movements will show a longer length between the two numbers while weaker positive or negative trend movement will show a shorter length.
Readings are usually captured over 14 periods (though the technician can choose any length) and then adjusted using J. Welles Wilder’s true range. Results are posted as continuous lines beneath price bars, while crossovers are compared to other trend-following indicators to produce valid trading signals. Traders can use the vortex indicator as a standalone signal generator, but keep in mind it is vulnerable to significant whipsaws and false signals in congested or mixed markets.
Synergy With Other Indicators
Adjusting the vortex indicator to longer periods will lower the frequency of whipsaws but generate delayed positive or negative crossovers. On the other hand, shortening the length will elicit many crossovers that fail to generate significant trend movement. As a general rule, high beta securities will respond better to shorter-term settings while slow-moving securities respond better to longer-term settings.
You can improve indicator reliability by comparing vortex indicator signals with other trend-following tools. The underlying math shows many similarities with Wilder's average directional index (ADX), the negative directional indicator (-DI) and the positive directional indicator (+DI). Those calculations translate into three lines that trigger complex crossovers. Unlike the vortex indicator, Wilder’s system can issue neutral readings that tell traders to stand pat or avoid exposure.
Moving average convergence-divergence (MACD) analysis offers a perfect fit with the vortex indicator. Its construction with three moving averages lowers false readings triggered by multiple indicators that capture the same flawed data. When plotted with histograms, the indicator generates surprisingly few false signals, making it a perfect partner for the noisier and whipsaw-prone vortex indicator.
Synergistic trading strategies use a simple process that looks for sympathetic buy or sell signals in the vortex indicators as well as in other indicators before committing capital. The challenge comes in two forms: First, there needs to be significant differences in data sources to avoid replicating flawed information, and second, indicator periods need experimentation and fine tuning to focus on the intended holding period, whether short, intermediate or long term.
This last step of honing indicator periods is vital because trends exhibit time frame independence, allowing multiple uptrends and downtrends to evolve in different time segments on the same security. This fractal behavior will produce false readings if the vortex indicator is looking at one segment of trend activity while a second indicator looks at a second segment. Traders can overcome this flaw through trial and error, by watching how indicator pairs interact on various instruments and in various time frames. With MACD in particular, it’s often best to leave settings alone and tweak vortex indicator periods instead.