OPEN-SOURCE SCRIPT
Updated Whaley Breadth Thrust Indicator

The Whaley Breadth Thrust Indicator (WBT) is a momentum-based technical indicator designed to identify the strength of market trends. It measures the market's breadth by comparing advancing stocks to declining stocks, providing insights into whether a market is in a bullish, neutral, or bearish state. This script calculates the indicator based on the advancing and declining U.S. stocks; however, it can be expanded to other markets as well.
Breadth Thrust Ratio (BTR):
This is calculated as the ratio of advancing stocks to the total number of advancing and declining stocks.
Formula: BTR = Advances / (Advances + Declines + small_offset), where the small offset prevents division errors.
Smoothing:
The BTR is smoothed using a 3-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) to reduce noise and highlight significant trends.
Thresholds:
0.30: Indicates a strongly bearish market.
0.40: A bearish threshold; crossing below suggests bearish momentum.
0.60: A bullish threshold; crossing above suggests bullish momentum.
0.70: Indicates a strongly bullish market.
Breadth Thrust Ratio (BTR):
This is calculated as the ratio of advancing stocks to the total number of advancing and declining stocks.
Formula: BTR = Advances / (Advances + Declines + small_offset), where the small offset prevents division errors.
Smoothing:
The BTR is smoothed using a 3-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) to reduce noise and highlight significant trends.
Thresholds:
0.30: Indicates a strongly bearish market.
0.40: A bearish threshold; crossing below suggests bearish momentum.
0.60: A bullish threshold; crossing above suggests bullish momentum.
0.70: Indicates a strongly bullish market.
Release Notes
Changes:- Added several user inputs
- Added additional thresholds
- Modified the calculation method to use SMA and not the EMA to be consistent with Wayne Whaley's paper Planes, Trains and Automobiles
- Added threshold alerts
- Added highlights for statistically significant thresholds
Release Notes
Minor code changeOpen-source script
In true TradingView spirit, the creator of this script has made it open-source, so that traders can review and verify its functionality. Kudos to the author! While you can use it for free, remember that republishing the code is subject to our House Rules.
For quick access on a chart, add this script to your favorites — learn more here.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.
Open-source script
In true TradingView spirit, the creator of this script has made it open-source, so that traders can review and verify its functionality. Kudos to the author! While you can use it for free, remember that republishing the code is subject to our House Rules.
For quick access on a chart, add this script to your favorites — learn more here.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.