Moving Average Trend█ OVERVIEW
This is a Moving Average Script that contains both a cloud and a ribbon that has independent MA-type selection.
⬆ green arrow up = up trend flip
⬇ red arrow down = down trend flip
🟢 Green Dot = Potential Long
🔴 Red Dot = Potential Short
█ CONCEPTS
1 — Cloud, like most trading algo, the cloud is made of 8 short term MA , with MA cross and MA cross (longema)
2 — Ribbon, this is by default turned off, the default values , an option in setting to change longema to look for ribbon cross
3 — Sequence, It goes from 1 – 9 at 9 the sequence resets. The sequence changes colour depending on if it’s a down trend(red) or uptrend(green) or an over extended trend (yellow)
Setup definitions
Red sell start = current close < the close 4 candles back
Yellow sell extended = current close < last close and current close < two closes back
Green buy start = current close > the close 4 candles back
Yellow buy extended = current close last close and current close < two closes back
This can help you find when it’s time to get out, or sit out of a choppy trend.
4 - Moving Average types:
sma = Simple Moving Average
ema = Exponential Moving Average
wma = Weighted Moving Average
vwma = Volume Weighted Moving Average
rma = Running Moving Average
alma = Arnaud Legoux Moving Average
hma = Hull Moving Average
jma = Jurik Moving Average
frama-o = frama
frama-m = frama mod
dema = Double Exponential Moving Average
tema = Triple Exponential Moving Average
zlema = Zero lag Exponential Moving Average
smma = Smoothed Moving Average
kma = kaufman Moving Average
tma = triangular Moving Average
gmma = Geometric Mean Moving Average
vida = Variable Index Dynamic Average
cma = Corrective Moving average
rema = Range Exponential Moving average
█ OTHER SECTIONS
• FEATURES: to describe the detailed features of the script, usually arranged in the same order as users will find them in the script's inputs.
• HOW TO USE
• LIMITATIONS: Like with any MA script there is a lag factor associated with is.
• RAMBLINGS: Experiment to your hearts content with all the MA types, I'm impartial to HMA as is
• NOTES: some of the MA's are more taxing, therefore take longer to load, be patience, this is a trimmed down version of an existing invite only script i have
在腳本中搜尋"小鹏汽车港股3月28日收盘价"
FOTSI - Open sourceI WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFY TWO THINGS:
- The indicator was absolutely not designed by me, I do not take any credit and much less I want them, I am just making this fantastic indicator open source and accessible to all
- The script code was not recycled from other indicators, but was created from 0 following the theory behind it to the letter, thus avoiding copyright infringement
- Advices and improvements are accepted, as having very little programming experience in Pine Script I consider this work still rough and slow
WHAT IS THE FOTSI?
The FOTSI is an oscillator that measures the relative strength of the individual currencies that make up the 28 major Forex exchanges.
By identifying the currencies that are in the overbought (+50) and oversold (-50) areas, it is possible to anticipate the correction of a currency pair following a strong trend.
THE THEORY BEHIND
1) At the base of everything is the 1-period momentum (close-open) of the single currency pairs that contain a certain currency. For example, the momentum of the USD currency is composed of all the exchange rates that contain the US dollar inside it: mom_usd = - mom_eurusd - mom_gbpusd + mom_usdchf + mom_usdjpy - mom_audusd + mom_usdcad - mom_nzdusd. Where the base currency is in second position, the momentum is subtracted instead of adding it.
2) The IST formula is applied to the momentum of the individual currencies obtained. In this way we get an oscillator that oscillates between 0 and its overbought and oversold areas. The area between +25 and -25 is an area in which we can consider the movements of individual currencies to be neutral.
3) The TSI is nothing more than a double smoothing on the momentum of individual currencies. This particularity makes the indicator very reactive, minimizing the delays of the trend reversal.
HOW TO USE
1) A currency is identified that is in the overbought (+50) or oversold (-50) area. Example GBP = 50
2) The second currency is identified as the one most opposite to the first. Example USD = -25
3) The currency pair consisting of the two currencies opens. So GBP / USD
4) Considering that GBP is oversold, we anticipate its future devaluation. So in this case we are short on GBP / SUD. Otherwise if GBP had been oversold (-50) we expect its future valuation and therefore we enter long.
5) It is used on the H1, H4 and D1 timeframes
6) Closing conditions: the position on the 50-period exponential moving average is split / the position at target on the 100-period exponential moving average is closed
7) Stoploss: it is recommended not to use it, if you want to use it it is equivalent to 5 times the ATR on the reference timeframe
8) Position sizing: go very slow! Being a counter-trend strategy, it is very risky to position yourself heavily. Use common sense in everything!
9) To insert the alerts that warn you of an overbought and oversold condition, it is necessary to enter the signals called "Overbought Signal" and "Oversold Signal" for each chart used, in the specific Trading View window. like me using multiple charts in the same window.
I hope you enjoy my work. For any questions write in the comments.
Thanks <3
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TENGO A PRECISARE DUE COSE:
- L'indicatore non è stato assolutamente ideato da me, non mi assumo nessun merito e tanto meno li voglio, io sto solo rendendo questo fantastico indicatore open source ed accessibile a tutti
- Il codice dello script non è stato riciclato da altri indicatori, ma è stato creato da 0 seguendo alla lettere la teoria che sta alla sua base, evitando così di violare il copyright
- Si accettano consigli e migliorie, visto che avendo pochissima esperienza di programmazione in Pine Script considero questo lavoro ancora grezzo e lento
COS'È IL FOTSI?
Il FOTSI è un oscillatore che misura la forza relativa delle singole valute che compongono i 28 cambi major del Forex.
Individuando le valute che si trovano nelle aree di ipercomprato (+50) ed ipervenduto (-50) , è possibile anticipare la correzione di una coppia valutaria al seguito di un forte trend.
LA TEORIA ALLA BASE
1) Alla base di tutto c'è il momentum ad 1 periodo (close-open) delle singole coppie valutarie che contengono una determinata valuta. Ad esempio il momentum della valuta USD è composto da tutti i cambi che contengono il dollaro americano al suo interno: mom_usd = - mom_eurusd - mom_gbpusd + mom_usdchf + mom_usdjpy - mom_audusd + mom_usdcad - mom_nzdusd . Ove la valuta base si trova in seconda posizione si sottrae il momentum al posto che sommarlo.
2) Si applica la formula del TSI ai momentum delle singole valute ottenute. In questo modo otteniamo un oscillatore che oscilla tra lo 0 e le sue aree di ipercomprato ed ipervenduto. L'area compresa tra +25 e -25 è un area in cui possiamo considerare neutri i movimenti delle singole valute.
3) Il TSI non è altro che un doppio smoothing sul momentum delle singole valute. Questa particolarità rende l'indicatore molto reattivo, minimizzando i ritardi dell'inversione del trend.
COME SI USA
1) Si individua una valuta che si trova nell'area di ipercomprato (+50) o ipervenduto (-50) . Esempio GBP = 50
2) Si individua come seconda valuta quella più opposta alla prima. Esempio USD = -25
3) Si apre la coppia di valuta composta dalle due valute. Quindi GBP/USD
4) Considerando che GBP è in fase di ipervenduto prevediamo una sua futura svalutazione. Quindi in questo caso entriamo short su GBP/SUD. Diversamente se GBP fosse stato in fase di ipervenduto (-50) ci aspettiamo una sua futura valutazione e quindi entriamo long.
5) Si usa sui timeframe H1, H4 e D1
6) Condizioni di chiusura: si smezza la posizione sulla media mobile esponenziale a 50 periodi / si chiude la posizione a target sulla media mobile esponenziale a 100 periodi
7) Stoploss: è consigliato non usarlo, nel caso lo si voglia utilizzare esso equivale a 5 volte l'ATR sul timeframe di riferimento
8) Position sizing: andateci molto piano! Essendo una strategia contro trend è molto rischioso posizionarsi in modo pesante. Usate il buonsenso in tutto!
9) Per inserire gli allert che ti avvertono di una condizione di ipercomprato ed ipervenduto, è necessario inserire dall'apposita finestra di Trading View i segnali denominati "Segnale di ipercomprato" ed "Segnale di ipervenduto" per ogni grafico che si usa, nel caso come me che si utilizzano più grafici nella stessa finestra.
Spero che possiate apprezzare il mio lavoro. Per qualsiasi domanda scrivete nei commenti.
Grazie<3
BTC Multi Exchange Perpetual PremiumThis script tracks the premium/discount of Bitcoin perpetual contracts at various exchanges.
The premium/discount is calculated against an index price. The index price is calculated from spot exchange prices and are weighted as follows:
Bitstamp:28,81%
Bittrex:5,5%
Coinbase: 38,07%
Gemini: 7,34%
Kraken: 20,28
The difference between this script and other available scripts, is that exciting script seems to only focus on one exchange. This script is also open source.
Bitcoin Bubble Strength IndexFor those who interested, here is a Bitcoin Strength Index source code. I used it on weekly chart with params (close,28). And only with Bitcoin . And only during bull run. It shows how far price went off the particular moving average during bubble run (i.e. being above BB). Weekly MA 28 is approximately daily ma 200.
The physical meaning of this indicator is to show current bull rally "speed".
Bitmex BTC Perpetual PremiumThis script tracks the premium of the Bitcoin Perpetual futures at Bimex exchange relative to 3 different reference prices.
The difference between this script and already published scripts is that it tracks the premium relative to 3 different reference prices. This tends to produce slightly different results.
This script is also open source, so you can verify the calculations, or use it as a basis for your own script.
The 3 plots uses the following reference prices:
Blue Area:
Bitmex Index price, ticker: BITMEX:XBT
Red line:
Bitmex Perpetual Premium, ticker XBTUSDPI
(This one is not used as reference, but simply plots the ticker*100)
Orange line:
The reference here is a price calculated by the tickers in trading view based on the Bitmex indices with weighing as follows:
Bitstamp:28,81%
Bittrex:5,5%
Coinbase: 38,07%
Gemini: 7,34%
Kraken: 20,28
Please note that Bitmex changes the bases of its indices regularly. Bitmex might also "rule out" on of these exchanges if there is a short term problem.
Bullish and Bearish by NicolErazoFThis indicator changes the color of the candlesticks when there’s a change in the trend to the rising or falling trend.
BEARISH ENGULFING: Yellow candlestick. It is an engulfing falling trend reversal; you must make a sell decision.
BEARISH HARAMI: White candlestick. Indicates a possible falling trend change, you must be alert for a possible sale.
BULLISH ENGULFING: Black candlestick. It is a change in the engulfing rising trend, you must make a purchase decision.
BULLISH HARAMI: Blue candlestick. Indicates a possible rising trend change, you should be alert for a possible purchase.
On the chart, you can see the 4 candles, on September 11 the black candle appears indicating a change in the uptrend. But today, the white candle is seen, which appears on September 8, indicating a rebound with a possible change in trend to bearish.
Previous days, on August 26, you see the blue candle with a possible change in the upward trend, which then, on August 28, a yellow candle appears with a change in the downward trend.
The Engulfing indicator (yellow and black) says that the candle has an engulfing change that is radical.
On the other hand, the Harami (blue and white) indicates a possible change in trend that must be previously analyzed.
Harami candles are smaller than Engulfing candles, since Harami in a Japanese term that means pregnancy, where the previous candle is the woman and the next candle is the baby.
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ESPAÑOL
Este indicador cambia las velas de color cuando ocurre un cambio de tendencia ALCISTA o BAJISTA
BEARISH ENGULFING: Vela de color amarillo. Es una cambio de tendencia bajista envolvente, debes tomar una decisión de venta.
BEARISH HARAMI: Vela de color blanco. Indica un posible cambio de tendencia bajista, debes estar alerta para una posible venta.
BULLISH ENGULFING: Vela de color negro. Es un cambio de tendencia alcista envolvente, debes tomar una decisión de compra.
BULLISH HARAMI: Vela de color azul. Indica un posible cambio de tendencia alcista, debes estar alerta para una posible compra.
En el gráfico, se pueden ver las 4 velas, el 11 de Septiembre aparece la vela negra que indica un cambio de tendencia alcista. Pero hoy, se ve la vela blanca, que aparece el 8 de septiembre, indicando un rebote con un posible cambio de tendencia a bajista.
Días anteriores, el 26 de Agosto, se ve la vela azul con un posible cambio de tendencia alcista, que luego, el 28 de agosto aparece una vela amarilla con cambio de tendencia bajista.
El indicador Engulfing (amarillo y negro) dice que la vela tiene un cambio envolvente que es radical.
En cambio, el Harami (azul y blanco) indica un posible cambio de tendencia que debe ser previamente analizado.
Las velas Harami son más pequeñas que las Engulfing , ya que Harami en un término japonés que significa embarazo, en donde la vela anterior es la mujer y la vela siguiente es el bebé.
Stochastic Heat MapA series of 28 stochastic oscillators plotted horizontally and stacked vertically from bottom to top as the oscillator background.
Each oscillator has been interpreted and the value has been used to colour the lines in.
Lower lines are shorter term stochastics and higher lines are longer term stochastics.
The average of the 28 stochastics has been taken and then used to plot the fast oscillator line, which also has a slow oscillator line to follow.
The oscillator line can be used to colour in the candles.
Inputs:
MA: multiple smoothing methods
Theme: multiple colours
Increment: stochastic length start and increments
Smooth Fast: smooth fast length
Smooth Slow: smooth slow length
Paint Bars: colour candles
Waves: toggle method to weight/increment stochastics
Heat map shows momentum extremes:
rainbow ema갤럭시님 이평선 토대로 JB가 에디트한 지수이평선 모음입니다. 편집하시면 일반 이평선으로도 사용이 가능합니다.
하나의 지표 추가 만으로 여러개의 지수이평선을 사용하실 수 있고, 제가 자주 사용하는 7,14,21,28,40,60,120,200,300선 넣어 놨습니다.
"Galaxy" made, JB edited EMA script. Editing is free for use if you swap ema to ma as a base setting.
You can use several ema lines by adding one indicator only, and I put 7,14,21,28,40,60,120,200,300 as a threshold which I frequently use.
It is made as an open source at any time possible, so that you are free for playing with it.
Gazua!!!!
Hucklekiwi Pip - HLHB Trend-Catcher SystemThe strategy was authored by Hucklekiwi Pip back in 2015 and is still being updated today. She says that the system was designed to simply catch short-term forex trends. At its heart, the system is a simple EMA crossover strategy with a couple of other indicators used for confirming entries.
Strategy Rules
See her original post here:
www.babypips.com
Be sure to check out the updates and tweaks over the years!
HOW TO USE
For full information on how to use this strategy and how to correctly set the exit time, see this post:
backtest-rookies.com
5 Adaptable MA [BVCC]A slight evolution to the ideas presented in the original 7-28-50 BVCC overlay. This version allows you to switch between a custom 5 MA set up of your own choosing and the BVCC recommended 7-28-50-100-200 combo. Additionally, you can choose to mix the SMA and EMA components of the combo in any way that you wish.
Vertical Horizontal Filter VHF by KIVANÇ fr3762Vertical Horizontal Filter
Vertical Horizontal Filter (VHF) was created by Adam White to identify trending and ranging markets. VHF measures the level of trend activity, similar to ADX in the Directional Movement System. Trend indicators can then be employed in trending markets and momentum indicators in ranging markets.
Vary the number of periods in the Vertical Horizontal Filter to suit different time frames. White originally recommended 28 days but now prefers an 18-day window smoothed with a 6-day moving average.
Trading Signals
Vertical Horizontal Filter does not, itself, generate trading signals, but determines whether signals are taken from trend or momentum indicators.
Rising values indicate a trend.
Falling values indicate a ranging market.
High values precede the end of a trend.
Low values precede a trend start.
I have added an option to plot a deafult value of 14 bar EMA too, to clarify the signals.
Formula
To calculate the Vertical Horizontal Filter:
Select the number of periods (n) to include in the indicator. This should be based on the length of the cycle that you are analyzing. The most popular is 28 days (for intermediate cycles).
Determine the highest closing price ( HCP ) in n periods.
Determine the lowest closing price (LCP) in n periods.
Calculate the range of closing prices in n periods:
HCP - LCP
Next, calculate the movement in closing price for each period:
Closing price - Closing price
Add up all price movements for n periods, disregarding whether they are up or down:
Sum of absolute values of ( Close - Close ) for n periods
Divide Step 4 by Step 6:
VHF = ( HCP - LCP) / (Sum of absolute values for n periods)
created by Adam White
Kay_BBandsV3This is the 3rd version of Kay_BBands.
When +DI (Directional Index ) is above -DI , then Upper band will be visible and vice-versa.
This is when the ADX is above the threshold. 28 is the default in this version. I found its more appealing in 5M time frame.
BLUE - ADX under 10
GREEN - Uptrend, ADX over 10
RED - Downtrend, ADX over 10
Use it with another band with setting 20, 0.6 deviation. Prices keeping above or below the 2nd bands upper or lower bounds shows trending conditions.
I didn't know how to update the old script so published it again.
Changes - :
1) Updated default settings for the indicator
2) ADX setting are now DI (28), ADX (10), adx level to check is 10.
3) IMPORTANT one - When DI is up/down, lower/upper band will also have color (more visible that way.)
Play around the settings.. It really eliminates extra indicator checking visually... Please like if you think idea is good.
Dynamic Equity Allocation Model"Cash is Trash"? Not Always. Here's Why Science Beats Guesswork.
Every retail trader knows the frustration: you draw support and resistance lines, you spot patterns, you follow market gurus on social media—and still, when the next bear market hits, your portfolio bleeds red. Meanwhile, institutional investors seem to navigate market turbulence with ease, preserving capital when markets crash and participating when they rally. What's their secret?
The answer isn't insider information or access to exotic derivatives. It's systematic, scientifically validated decision-making. While most retail traders rely on subjective chart analysis and emotional reactions, professional portfolio managers use quantitative models that remove emotion from the equation and process multiple streams of market information simultaneously.
This document presents exactly such a system—not a proprietary black box available only to hedge funds, but a fully transparent, academically grounded framework that any serious investor can understand and apply. The Dynamic Equity Allocation Model (DEAM) synthesizes decades of financial research from Nobel laureates and leading academics into a practical tool for tactical asset allocation.
Stop drawing colorful lines on your chart and start thinking like a quant. This isn't about predicting where the market goes next week—it's about systematically adjusting your risk exposure based on what the data actually tells you. When valuations scream danger, when volatility spikes, when credit markets freeze, when multiple warning signals align—that's when cash isn't trash. That's when cash saves your portfolio.
The irony of "cash is trash" rhetoric is that it ignores timing. Yes, being 100% cash for decades would be disastrous. But being 100% equities through every crisis is equally foolish. The sophisticated approach is dynamic: aggressive when conditions favor risk-taking, defensive when they don't. This model shows you how to make that decision systematically, not emotionally.
Whether you're managing your own retirement portfolio or seeking to understand how institutional allocation strategies work, this comprehensive analysis provides the theoretical foundation, mathematical implementation, and practical guidance to elevate your investment approach from amateur to professional.
The choice is yours: keep hoping your chart patterns work out, or start using the same quantitative methods that professionals rely on. The tools are here. The research is cited. The methodology is explained. All you need to do is read, understand, and apply.
The Dynamic Equity Allocation Model (DEAM) is a quantitative framework for systematic allocation between equities and cash, grounded in modern portfolio theory and empirical market research. The model integrates five scientifically validated dimensions of market analysis—market regime, risk metrics, valuation, sentiment, and macroeconomic conditions—to generate dynamic allocation recommendations ranging from 0% to 100% equity exposure. This work documents the theoretical foundations, mathematical implementation, and practical application of this multi-factor approach.
1. Introduction and Theoretical Background
1.1 The Limitations of Static Portfolio Allocation
Traditional portfolio theory, as formulated by Markowitz (1952) in his seminal work "Portfolio Selection," assumes an optimal static allocation where investors distribute their wealth across asset classes according to their risk aversion. This approach rests on the assumption that returns and risks remain constant over time. However, empirical research demonstrates that this assumption does not hold in reality. Fama and French (1989) showed that expected returns vary over time and correlate with macroeconomic variables such as the spread between long-term and short-term interest rates. Campbell and Shiller (1988) demonstrated that the price-earnings ratio possesses predictive power for future stock returns, providing a foundation for dynamic allocation strategies.
The academic literature on tactical asset allocation has evolved considerably over recent decades. Ilmanen (2011) argues in "Expected Returns" that investors can improve their risk-adjusted returns by considering valuation levels, business cycles, and market sentiment. The Dynamic Equity Allocation Model presented here builds on this research tradition and operationalizes these insights into a practically applicable allocation framework.
1.2 Multi-Factor Approaches in Asset Allocation
Modern financial research has shown that different factors capture distinct aspects of market dynamics and together provide a more robust picture of market conditions than individual indicators. Ross (1976) developed the Arbitrage Pricing Theory, a model that employs multiple factors to explain security returns. Following this multi-factor philosophy, DEAM integrates five complementary analytical dimensions, each tapping different information sources and collectively enabling comprehensive market understanding.
2. Data Foundation and Data Quality
2.1 Data Sources Used
The model draws its data exclusively from publicly available market data via the TradingView platform. This transparency and accessibility is a significant advantage over proprietary models that rely on non-public data. The data foundation encompasses several categories of market information, each capturing specific aspects of market dynamics.
First, price data for the S&P 500 Index is obtained through the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (ticker: SPY). The use of a highly liquid ETF instead of the index itself has practical reasons, as ETF data is available in real-time and reflects actual tradability. In addition to closing prices, high, low, and volume data are captured, which are required for calculating advanced volatility measures.
Fundamental corporate metrics are retrieved via TradingView's Financial Data API. These include earnings per share, price-to-earnings ratio, return on equity, debt-to-equity ratio, dividend yield, and share buyback yield. Cochrane (2011) emphasizes in "Presidential Address: Discount Rates" the central importance of valuation metrics for forecasting future returns, making these fundamental data a cornerstone of the model.
Volatility indicators are represented by the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) and related metrics. The VIX, often referred to as the market's "fear gauge," measures the implied volatility of S&P 500 index options and serves as a proxy for market participants' risk perception. Whaley (2000) describes in "The Investor Fear Gauge" the construction and interpretation of the VIX and its use as a sentiment indicator.
Macroeconomic data includes yield curve information through US Treasury bonds of various maturities and credit risk premiums through the spread between high-yield bonds and risk-free government bonds. These variables capture the macroeconomic conditions and financing conditions relevant for equity valuation. Estrella and Hardouvelis (1991) showed that the shape of the yield curve has predictive power for future economic activity, justifying the inclusion of these data.
2.2 Handling Missing Data
A practical problem when working with financial data is dealing with missing or unavailable values. The model implements a fallback system where a plausible historical average value is stored for each fundamental metric. When current data is unavailable for a specific point in time, this fallback value is used. This approach ensures that the model remains functional even during temporary data outages and avoids systematic biases from missing data. The use of average values as fallback is conservative, as it generates neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic signals.
3. Component 1: Market Regime Detection
3.1 The Concept of Market Regimes
The idea that financial markets exist in different "regimes" or states that differ in their statistical properties has a long tradition in financial science. Hamilton (1989) developed regime-switching models that allow distinguishing between different market states with different return and volatility characteristics. The practical application of this theory consists of identifying the current market state and adjusting portfolio allocation accordingly.
DEAM classifies market regimes using a scoring system that considers three main dimensions: trend strength, volatility level, and drawdown depth. This multidimensional view is more robust than focusing on individual indicators, as it captures various facets of market dynamics. Classification occurs into six distinct regimes: Strong Bull, Bull Market, Neutral, Correction, Bear Market, and Crisis.
3.2 Trend Analysis Through Moving Averages
Moving averages are among the oldest and most widely used technical indicators and have also received attention in academic literature. Brock, Lakonishok, and LeBaron (1992) examined in "Simple Technical Trading Rules and the Stochastic Properties of Stock Returns" the profitability of trading rules based on moving averages and found evidence for their predictive power, although later studies questioned the robustness of these results when considering transaction costs.
The model calculates three moving averages with different time windows: a 20-day average (approximately one trading month), a 50-day average (approximately one quarter), and a 200-day average (approximately one trading year). The relationship of the current price to these averages and the relationship of the averages to each other provide information about trend strength and direction. When the price trades above all three averages and the short-term average is above the long-term, this indicates an established uptrend. The model assigns points based on these constellations, with longer-term trends weighted more heavily as they are considered more persistent.
3.3 Volatility Regimes
Volatility, understood as the standard deviation of returns, is a central concept of financial theory and serves as the primary risk measure. However, research has shown that volatility is not constant but changes over time and occurs in clusters—a phenomenon first documented by Mandelbrot (1963) and later formalized through ARCH and GARCH models (Engle, 1982; Bollerslev, 1986).
DEAM calculates volatility not only through the classic method of return standard deviation but also uses more advanced estimators such as the Parkinson estimator and the Garman-Klass estimator. These methods utilize intraday information (high and low prices) and are more efficient than simple close-to-close volatility estimators. The Parkinson estimator (Parkinson, 1980) uses the range between high and low of a trading day and is based on the recognition that this information reveals more about true volatility than just the closing price difference. The Garman-Klass estimator (Garman and Klass, 1980) extends this approach by additionally considering opening and closing prices.
The calculated volatility is annualized by multiplying it by the square root of 252 (the average number of trading days per year), enabling standardized comparability. The model compares current volatility with the VIX, the implied volatility from option prices. A low VIX (below 15) signals market comfort and increases the regime score, while a high VIX (above 35) indicates market stress and reduces the score. This interpretation follows the empirical observation that elevated volatility is typically associated with falling markets (Schwert, 1989).
3.4 Drawdown Analysis
A drawdown refers to the percentage decline from the highest point (peak) to the lowest point (trough) during a specific period. This metric is psychologically significant for investors as it represents the maximum loss experienced. Calmar (1991) developed the Calmar Ratio, which relates return to maximum drawdown, underscoring the practical relevance of this metric.
The model calculates current drawdown as the percentage distance from the highest price of the last 252 trading days (one year). A drawdown below 3% is considered negligible and maximally increases the regime score. As drawdown increases, the score decreases progressively, with drawdowns above 20% classified as severe and indicating a crisis or bear market regime. These thresholds are empirically motivated by historical market cycles, in which corrections typically encompassed 5-10% drawdowns, bear markets 20-30%, and crises over 30%.
3.5 Regime Classification
Final regime classification occurs through aggregation of scores from trend (40% weight), volatility (30%), and drawdown (30%). The higher weighting of trend reflects the empirical observation that trend-following strategies have historically delivered robust results (Moskowitz, Ooi, and Pedersen, 2012). A total score above 80 signals a strong bull market with established uptrend, low volatility, and minimal losses. At a score below 10, a crisis situation exists requiring defensive positioning. The six regime categories enable a differentiated allocation strategy that not only distinguishes binarily between bullish and bearish but allows gradual gradations.
4. Component 2: Risk-Based Allocation
4.1 Volatility Targeting as Risk Management Approach
The concept of volatility targeting is based on the idea that investors should maximize not returns but risk-adjusted returns. Sharpe (1966, 1994) defined with the Sharpe Ratio the fundamental concept of return per unit of risk, measured as volatility. Volatility targeting goes a step further and adjusts portfolio allocation to achieve constant target volatility. This means that in times of low market volatility, equity allocation is increased, and in times of high volatility, it is reduced.
Moreira and Muir (2017) showed in "Volatility-Managed Portfolios" that strategies that adjust their exposure based on volatility forecasts achieve higher Sharpe Ratios than passive buy-and-hold strategies. DEAM implements this principle by defining a target portfolio volatility (default 12% annualized) and adjusting equity allocation to achieve it. The mathematical foundation is simple: if market volatility is 20% and target volatility is 12%, equity allocation should be 60% (12/20 = 0.6), with the remaining 40% held in cash with zero volatility.
4.2 Market Volatility Calculation
Estimating current market volatility is central to the risk-based allocation approach. The model uses several volatility estimators in parallel and selects the higher value between traditional close-to-close volatility and the Parkinson estimator. This conservative choice ensures the model does not underestimate true volatility, which could lead to excessive risk exposure.
Traditional volatility calculation uses logarithmic returns, as these have mathematically advantageous properties (additive linkage over multiple periods). The logarithmic return is calculated as ln(P_t / P_{t-1}), where P_t is the price at time t. The standard deviation of these returns over a rolling 20-trading-day window is then multiplied by √252 to obtain annualized volatility. This annualization is based on the assumption of independently identically distributed returns, which is an idealization but widely accepted in practice.
The Parkinson estimator uses additional information from the trading range (High minus Low) of each day. The formula is: σ_P = (1/√(4ln2)) × √(1/n × Σln²(H_i/L_i)) × √252, where H_i and L_i are high and low prices. Under ideal conditions, this estimator is approximately five times more efficient than the close-to-close estimator (Parkinson, 1980), as it uses more information per observation.
4.3 Drawdown-Based Position Size Adjustment
In addition to volatility targeting, the model implements drawdown-based risk control. The logic is that deep market declines often signal further losses and therefore justify exposure reduction. This behavior corresponds with the concept of path-dependent risk tolerance: investors who have already suffered losses are typically less willing to take additional risk (Kahneman and Tversky, 1979).
The model defines a maximum portfolio drawdown as a target parameter (default 15%). Since portfolio volatility and portfolio drawdown are proportional to equity allocation (assuming cash has neither volatility nor drawdown), allocation-based control is possible. For example, if the market exhibits a 25% drawdown and target portfolio drawdown is 15%, equity allocation should be at most 60% (15/25).
4.4 Dynamic Risk Adjustment
An advanced feature of DEAM is dynamic adjustment of risk-based allocation through a feedback mechanism. The model continuously estimates what actual portfolio volatility and portfolio drawdown would result at the current allocation. If risk utilization (ratio of actual to target risk) exceeds 1.0, allocation is reduced by an adjustment factor that grows exponentially with overutilization. This implements a form of dynamic feedback that avoids overexposure.
Mathematically, a risk adjustment factor r_adjust is calculated: if risk utilization u > 1, then r_adjust = exp(-0.5 × (u - 1)). This exponential function ensures that moderate overutilization is gently corrected, while strong overutilization triggers drastic reductions. The factor 0.5 in the exponent was empirically calibrated to achieve a balanced ratio between sensitivity and stability.
5. Component 3: Valuation Analysis
5.1 Theoretical Foundations of Fundamental Valuation
DEAM's valuation component is based on the fundamental premise that the intrinsic value of a security is determined by its future cash flows and that deviations between market price and intrinsic value are eventually corrected. Graham and Dodd (1934) established in "Security Analysis" the basic principles of fundamental analysis that remain relevant today. Translated into modern portfolio context, this means that markets with high valuation metrics (high price-earnings ratios) should have lower expected returns than cheaply valued markets.
Campbell and Shiller (1988) developed the Cyclically Adjusted P/E Ratio (CAPE), which smooths earnings over a full business cycle. Their empirical analysis showed that this ratio has significant predictive power for 10-year returns. Asness, Moskowitz, and Pedersen (2013) demonstrated in "Value and Momentum Everywhere" that value effects exist not only in individual stocks but also in asset classes and markets.
5.2 Equity Risk Premium as Central Valuation Metric
The Equity Risk Premium (ERP) is defined as the expected excess return of stocks over risk-free government bonds. It is the theoretical heart of valuation analysis, as it represents the compensation investors demand for bearing equity risk. Damodaran (2012) discusses in "Equity Risk Premiums: Determinants, Estimation and Implications" various methods for ERP estimation.
DEAM calculates ERP not through a single method but combines four complementary approaches with different weights. This multi-method strategy increases estimation robustness and avoids dependence on single, potentially erroneous inputs.
The first method (35% weight) uses earnings yield, calculated as 1/P/E or directly from operating earnings data, and subtracts the 10-year Treasury yield. This method follows Fed Model logic (Yardeni, 2003), although this model has theoretical weaknesses as it does not consistently treat inflation (Asness, 2003).
The second method (30% weight) extends earnings yield by share buyback yield. Share buybacks are a form of capital return to shareholders and increase value per share. Boudoukh et al. (2007) showed in "The Total Shareholder Yield" that the sum of dividend yield and buyback yield is a better predictor of future returns than dividend yield alone.
The third method (20% weight) implements the Gordon Growth Model (Gordon, 1962), which models stock value as the sum of discounted future dividends. Under constant growth g assumption: Expected Return = Dividend Yield + g. The model estimates sustainable growth as g = ROE × (1 - Payout Ratio), where ROE is return on equity and payout ratio is the ratio of dividends to earnings. This formula follows from equity theory: unretained earnings are reinvested at ROE and generate additional earnings growth.
The fourth method (15% weight) combines total shareholder yield (Dividend + Buybacks) with implied growth derived from revenue growth. This method considers that companies with strong revenue growth should generate higher future earnings, even if current valuations do not yet fully reflect this.
The final ERP is the weighted average of these four methods. A high ERP (above 4%) signals attractive valuations and increases the valuation score to 95 out of 100 possible points. A negative ERP, where stocks have lower expected returns than bonds, results in a minimal score of 10.
5.3 Quality Adjustments to Valuation
Valuation metrics alone can be misleading if not interpreted in the context of company quality. A company with a low P/E may be cheap or fundamentally problematic. The model therefore implements quality adjustments based on growth, profitability, and capital structure.
Revenue growth above 10% annually adds 10 points to the valuation score, moderate growth above 5% adds 5 points. This adjustment reflects that growth has independent value (Modigliani and Miller, 1961, extended by later growth theory). Net margin above 15% signals pricing power and operational efficiency and increases the score by 5 points, while low margins below 8% indicate competitive pressure and subtract 5 points.
Return on equity (ROE) above 20% characterizes outstanding capital efficiency and increases the score by 5 points. Piotroski (2000) showed in "Value Investing: The Use of Historical Financial Statement Information" that fundamental quality signals such as high ROE can improve the performance of value strategies.
Capital structure is evaluated through the debt-to-equity ratio. A conservative ratio below 1.0 multiplies the valuation score by 1.2, while high leverage above 2.0 applies a multiplier of 0.8. This adjustment reflects that high debt constrains financial flexibility and can become problematic in crisis times (Korteweg, 2010).
6. Component 4: Sentiment Analysis
6.1 The Role of Sentiment in Financial Markets
Investor sentiment, defined as the collective psychological attitude of market participants, influences asset prices independently of fundamental data. Baker and Wurgler (2006, 2007) developed a sentiment index and showed that periods of high sentiment are followed by overvaluations that later correct. This insight justifies integrating a sentiment component into allocation decisions.
Sentiment is difficult to measure directly but can be proxied through market indicators. The VIX is the most widely used sentiment indicator, as it aggregates implied volatility from option prices. High VIX values reflect elevated uncertainty and risk aversion, while low values signal market comfort. Whaley (2009) refers to the VIX as the "Investor Fear Gauge" and documents its role as a contrarian indicator: extremely high values typically occur at market bottoms, while low values occur at tops.
6.2 VIX-Based Sentiment Assessment
DEAM uses statistical normalization of the VIX by calculating the Z-score: z = (VIX_current - VIX_average) / VIX_standard_deviation. The Z-score indicates how many standard deviations the current VIX is from the historical average. This approach is more robust than absolute thresholds, as it adapts to the average volatility level, which can vary over longer periods.
A Z-score below -1.5 (VIX is 1.5 standard deviations below average) signals exceptionally low risk perception and adds 40 points to the sentiment score. This may seem counterintuitive—shouldn't low fear be bullish? However, the logic follows the contrarian principle: when no one is afraid, everyone is already invested, and there is limited further upside potential (Zweig, 1973). Conversely, a Z-score above 1.5 (extreme fear) adds -40 points, reflecting market panic but simultaneously suggesting potential buying opportunities.
6.3 VIX Term Structure as Sentiment Signal
The VIX term structure provides additional sentiment information. Normally, the VIX trades in contango, meaning longer-term VIX futures have higher prices than short-term. This reflects that short-term volatility is currently known, while long-term volatility is more uncertain and carries a risk premium. The model compares the VIX with VIX9D (9-day volatility) and identifies backwardation (VIX > 1.05 × VIX9D) and steep backwardation (VIX > 1.15 × VIX9D).
Backwardation occurs when short-term implied volatility is higher than longer-term, which typically happens during market stress. Investors anticipate immediate turbulence but expect calming. Psychologically, this reflects acute fear. The model subtracts 15 points for backwardation and 30 for steep backwardation, as these constellations signal elevated risk. Simon and Wiggins (2001) analyzed the VIX futures curve and showed that backwardation is associated with market declines.
6.4 Safe-Haven Flows
During crisis times, investors flee from risky assets into safe havens: gold, US dollar, and Japanese yen. This "flight to quality" is a sentiment signal. The model calculates the performance of these assets relative to stocks over the last 20 trading days. When gold or the dollar strongly rise while stocks fall, this indicates elevated risk aversion.
The safe-haven component is calculated as the difference between safe-haven performance and stock performance. Positive values (safe havens outperform) subtract up to 20 points from the sentiment score, negative values (stocks outperform) add up to 10 points. The asymmetric treatment (larger deduction for risk-off than bonus for risk-on) reflects that risk-off movements are typically sharper and more informative than risk-on phases.
Baur and Lucey (2010) examined safe-haven properties of gold and showed that gold indeed exhibits negative correlation with stocks during extreme market movements, confirming its role as crisis protection.
7. Component 5: Macroeconomic Analysis
7.1 The Yield Curve as Economic Indicator
The yield curve, represented as yields of government bonds of various maturities, contains aggregated expectations about future interest rates, inflation, and economic growth. The slope of the yield curve has remarkable predictive power for recessions. Estrella and Mishkin (1998) showed that an inverted yield curve (short-term rates higher than long-term) predicts recessions with high reliability. This is because inverted curves reflect restrictive monetary policy: the central bank raises short-term rates to combat inflation, dampening economic activity.
DEAM calculates two spread measures: the 2-year-minus-10-year spread and the 3-month-minus-10-year spread. A steep, positive curve (spreads above 1.5% and 2% respectively) signals healthy growth expectations and generates the maximum yield curve score of 40 points. A flat curve (spreads near zero) reduces the score to 20 points. An inverted curve (negative spreads) is particularly alarming and results in only 10 points.
The choice of two different spreads increases analysis robustness. The 2-10 spread is most established in academic literature, while the 3M-10Y spread is often considered more sensitive, as the 3-month rate directly reflects current monetary policy (Ang, Piazzesi, and Wei, 2006).
7.2 Credit Conditions and Spreads
Credit spreads—the yield difference between risky corporate bonds and safe government bonds—reflect risk perception in the credit market. Gilchrist and Zakrajšek (2012) constructed an "Excess Bond Premium" that measures the component of credit spreads not explained by fundamentals and showed this is a predictor of future economic activity and stock returns.
The model approximates credit spread by comparing the yield of high-yield bond ETFs (HYG) with investment-grade bond ETFs (LQD). A narrow spread below 200 basis points signals healthy credit conditions and risk appetite, contributing 30 points to the macro score. Very wide spreads above 1000 basis points (as during the 2008 financial crisis) signal credit crunch and generate zero points.
Additionally, the model evaluates whether "flight to quality" is occurring, identified through strong performance of Treasury bonds (TLT) with simultaneous weakness in high-yield bonds. This constellation indicates elevated risk aversion and reduces the credit conditions score.
7.3 Financial Stability at Corporate Level
While the yield curve and credit spreads reflect macroeconomic conditions, financial stability evaluates the health of companies themselves. The model uses the aggregated debt-to-equity ratio and return on equity of the S&P 500 as proxies for corporate health.
A low leverage level below 0.5 combined with high ROE above 15% signals robust corporate balance sheets and generates 20 points. This combination is particularly valuable as it represents both defensive strength (low debt means crisis resistance) and offensive strength (high ROE means earnings power). High leverage above 1.5 generates only 5 points, as it implies vulnerability to interest rate increases and recessions.
Korteweg (2010) showed in "The Net Benefits to Leverage" that optimal debt maximizes firm value, but excessive debt increases distress costs. At the aggregated market level, high debt indicates fragilities that can become problematic during stress phases.
8. Component 6: Crisis Detection
8.1 The Need for Systematic Crisis Detection
Financial crises are rare but extremely impactful events that suspend normal statistical relationships. During normal market volatility, diversified portfolios and traditional risk management approaches function, but during systemic crises, seemingly independent assets suddenly correlate strongly, and losses exceed historical expectations (Longin and Solnik, 2001). This justifies a separate crisis detection mechanism that operates independently of regular allocation components.
Reinhart and Rogoff (2009) documented in "This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly" recurring patterns in financial crises: extreme volatility, massive drawdowns, credit market dysfunction, and asset price collapse. DEAM operationalizes these patterns into quantifiable crisis indicators.
8.2 Multi-Signal Crisis Identification
The model uses a counter-based approach where various stress signals are identified and aggregated. This methodology is more robust than relying on a single indicator, as true crises typically occur simultaneously across multiple dimensions. A single signal may be a false alarm, but the simultaneous presence of multiple signals increases confidence.
The first indicator is a VIX above the crisis threshold (default 40), adding one point. A VIX above 60 (as in 2008 and March 2020) adds two additional points, as such extreme values are historically very rare. This tiered approach captures the intensity of volatility.
The second indicator is market drawdown. A drawdown above 15% adds one point, as corrections of this magnitude can be potential harbingers of larger crises. A drawdown above 25% adds another point, as historical bear markets typically encompass 25-40% drawdowns.
The third indicator is credit market spreads above 500 basis points, adding one point. Such wide spreads occur only during significant credit market disruptions, as in 2008 during the Lehman crisis.
The fourth indicator identifies simultaneous losses in stocks and bonds. Normally, Treasury bonds act as a hedge against equity risk (negative correlation), but when both fall simultaneously, this indicates systemic liquidity problems or inflation/stagflation fears. The model checks whether both SPY and TLT have fallen more than 10% and 5% respectively over 5 trading days, adding two points.
The fifth indicator is a volume spike combined with negative returns. Extreme trading volumes (above twice the 20-day average) with falling prices signal panic selling. This adds one point.
A crisis situation is diagnosed when at least 3 indicators trigger, a severe crisis at 5 or more indicators. These thresholds were calibrated through historical backtesting to identify true crises (2008, 2020) without generating excessive false alarms.
8.3 Crisis-Based Allocation Override
When a crisis is detected, the system overrides the normal allocation recommendation and caps equity allocation at maximum 25%. In a severe crisis, the cap is set at 10%. This drastic defensive posture follows the empirical observation that crises typically require time to develop and that early reduction can avoid substantial losses (Faber, 2007).
This override logic implements a "safety first" principle: in situations of existential danger to the portfolio, capital preservation becomes the top priority. Roy (1952) formalized this approach in "Safety First and the Holding of Assets," arguing that investors should primarily minimize ruin probability.
9. Integration and Final Allocation Calculation
9.1 Component Weighting
The final allocation recommendation emerges through weighted aggregation of the five components. The standard weighting is: Market Regime 35%, Risk Management 25%, Valuation 20%, Sentiment 15%, Macro 5%. These weights reflect both theoretical considerations and empirical backtesting results.
The highest weighting of market regime is based on evidence that trend-following and momentum strategies have delivered robust results across various asset classes and time periods (Moskowitz, Ooi, and Pedersen, 2012). Current market momentum is highly informative for the near future, although it provides no information about long-term expectations.
The substantial weighting of risk management (25%) follows from the central importance of risk control. Wealth preservation is the foundation of long-term wealth creation, and systematic risk management is demonstrably value-creating (Moreira and Muir, 2017).
The valuation component receives 20% weight, based on the long-term mean reversion of valuation metrics. While valuation has limited short-term predictive power (bull and bear markets can begin at any valuation), the long-term relationship between valuation and returns is robustly documented (Campbell and Shiller, 1988).
Sentiment (15%) and Macro (5%) receive lower weights, as these factors are subtler and harder to measure. Sentiment is valuable as a contrarian indicator at extremes but less informative in normal ranges. Macro variables such as the yield curve have strong predictive power for recessions, but the transmission from recessions to stock market performance is complex and temporally variable.
9.2 Model Type Adjustments
DEAM allows users to choose between four model types: Conservative, Balanced, Aggressive, and Adaptive. This choice modifies the final allocation through additive adjustments.
Conservative mode subtracts 10 percentage points from allocation, resulting in consistently more cautious positioning. This is suitable for risk-averse investors or those with limited investment horizons. Aggressive mode adds 10 percentage points, suitable for risk-tolerant investors with long horizons.
Adaptive mode implements procyclical adjustment based on short-term momentum: if the market has risen more than 5% in the last 20 days, 5 percentage points are added; if it has declined more than 5%, 5 points are subtracted. This logic follows the observation that short-term momentum persists (Jegadeesh and Titman, 1993), but the moderate size of adjustment avoids excessive timing bets.
Balanced mode makes no adjustment and uses raw model output. This neutral setting is suitable for investors who wish to trust model recommendations unchanged.
9.3 Smoothing and Stability
The allocation resulting from aggregation undergoes final smoothing through a simple moving average over 3 periods. This smoothing is crucial for model practicality, as it reduces frequent trading and thus transaction costs. Without smoothing, the model could fluctuate between adjacent allocations with every small input change.
The choice of 3 periods as smoothing window is a compromise between responsiveness and stability. Longer smoothing would excessively delay signals and impede response to true regime changes. Shorter or no smoothing would allow too much noise. Empirical tests showed that 3-period smoothing offers an optimal ratio between these goals.
10. Visualization and Interpretation
10.1 Main Output: Equity Allocation
DEAM's primary output is a time series from 0 to 100 representing the recommended percentage allocation to equities. This representation is intuitive: 100% means full investment in stocks (specifically: an S&P 500 ETF), 0% means complete cash position, and intermediate values correspond to mixed portfolios. A value of 60% means, for example: invest 60% of wealth in SPY, hold 40% in money market instruments or cash.
The time series is color-coded to enable quick visual interpretation. Green shades represent high allocations (above 80%, bullish), red shades low allocations (below 20%, bearish), and neutral colors middle allocations. The chart background is dynamically colored based on the signal, enhancing readability in different market phases.
10.2 Dashboard Metrics
A tabular dashboard presents key metrics compactly. This includes current allocation, cash allocation (complement), an aggregated signal (BULLISH/NEUTRAL/BEARISH), current market regime, VIX level, market drawdown, and crisis status.
Additionally, fundamental metrics are displayed: P/E Ratio, Equity Risk Premium, Return on Equity, Debt-to-Equity Ratio, and Total Shareholder Yield. This transparency allows users to understand model decisions and form their own assessments.
Component scores (Regime, Risk, Valuation, Sentiment, Macro) are also displayed, each normalized on a 0-100 scale. This shows which factors primarily drive the current recommendation. If, for example, the Risk score is very low (20) while other scores are moderate (50-60), this indicates that risk management considerations are pulling allocation down.
10.3 Component Breakdown (Optional)
Advanced users can display individual components as separate lines in the chart. This enables analysis of component dynamics: do all components move synchronously, or are there divergences? Divergences can be particularly informative. If, for example, the market regime is bullish (high score) but the valuation component is very negative, this signals an overbought market not fundamentally supported—a classic "bubble warning."
This feature is disabled by default to keep the chart clean but can be activated for deeper analysis.
10.4 Confidence Bands
The model optionally displays uncertainty bands around the main allocation line. These are calculated as ±1 standard deviation of allocation over a rolling 20-period window. Wide bands indicate high volatility of model recommendations, suggesting uncertain market conditions. Narrow bands indicate stable recommendations.
This visualization implements a concept of epistemic uncertainty—uncertainty about the model estimate itself, not just market volatility. In phases where various indicators send conflicting signals, the allocation recommendation becomes more volatile, manifesting in wider bands. Users can understand this as a warning to act more cautiously or consult alternative information sources.
11. Alert System
11.1 Allocation Alerts
DEAM implements an alert system that notifies users of significant events. Allocation alerts trigger when smoothed allocation crosses certain thresholds. An alert is generated when allocation reaches 80% (from below), signaling strong bullish conditions. Another alert triggers when allocation falls to 20%, indicating defensive positioning.
These thresholds are not arbitrary but correspond with boundaries between model regimes. An allocation of 80% roughly corresponds to a clear bull market regime, while 20% corresponds to a bear market regime. Alerts at these points are therefore informative about fundamental regime shifts.
11.2 Crisis Alerts
Separate alerts trigger upon detection of crisis and severe crisis. These alerts have highest priority as they signal large risks. A crisis alert should prompt investors to review their portfolio and potentially take defensive measures beyond the automatic model recommendation (e.g., hedging through put options, rebalancing to more defensive sectors).
11.3 Regime Change Alerts
An alert triggers upon change of market regime (e.g., from Neutral to Correction, or from Bull Market to Strong Bull). Regime changes are highly informative events that typically entail substantial allocation changes. These alerts enable investors to proactively respond to changes in market dynamics.
11.4 Risk Breach Alerts
A specialized alert triggers when actual portfolio risk utilization exceeds target parameters by 20%. This is a warning signal that the risk management system is reaching its limits, possibly because market volatility is rising faster than allocation can be reduced. In such situations, investors should consider manual interventions.
12. Practical Application and Limitations
12.1 Portfolio Implementation
DEAM generates a recommendation for allocation between equities (S&P 500) and cash. Implementation by an investor can take various forms. The most direct method is using an S&P 500 ETF (e.g., SPY, VOO) for equity allocation and a money market fund or savings account for cash allocation.
A rebalancing strategy is required to synchronize actual allocation with model recommendation. Two approaches are possible: (1) rule-based rebalancing at every 10% deviation between actual and target, or (2) time-based monthly rebalancing. Both have trade-offs between responsiveness and transaction costs. Empirical evidence (Jaconetti, Kinniry, and Zilbering, 2010) suggests rebalancing frequency has moderate impact on performance, and investors should optimize based on their transaction costs.
12.2 Adaptation to Individual Preferences
The model offers numerous adjustment parameters. Component weights can be modified if investors place more or less belief in certain factors. A fundamentally-oriented investor might increase valuation weight, while a technical trader might increase regime weight.
Risk target parameters (target volatility, max drawdown) should be adapted to individual risk tolerance. Younger investors with long investment horizons can choose higher target volatility (15-18%), while retirees may prefer lower volatility (8-10%). This adjustment systematically shifts average equity allocation.
Crisis thresholds can be adjusted based on preference for sensitivity versus specificity of crisis detection. Lower thresholds (e.g., VIX > 35 instead of 40) increase sensitivity (more crises are detected) but reduce specificity (more false alarms). Higher thresholds have the reverse effect.
12.3 Limitations and Disclaimers
DEAM is based on historical relationships between indicators and market performance. There is no guarantee these relationships will persist in the future. Structural changes in markets (e.g., through regulation, technology, or central bank policy) can break established patterns. This is the fundamental problem of induction in financial science (Taleb, 2007).
The model is optimized for US equities (S&P 500). Application to other markets (international stocks, bonds, commodities) would require recalibration. The indicators and thresholds are specific to the statistical properties of the US equity market.
The model cannot eliminate losses. Even with perfect crisis prediction, an investor following the model would lose money in bear markets—just less than a buy-and-hold investor. The goal is risk-adjusted performance improvement, not risk elimination.
Transaction costs are not modeled. In practice, spreads, commissions, and taxes reduce net returns. Frequent trading can cause substantial costs. Model smoothing helps minimize this, but users should consider their specific cost situation.
The model reacts to information; it does not anticipate it. During sudden shocks (e.g., 9/11, COVID-19 lockdowns), the model can only react after price movements, not before. This limitation is inherent to all reactive systems.
12.4 Relationship to Other Strategies
DEAM is a tactical asset allocation approach and should be viewed as a complement, not replacement, for strategic asset allocation. Brinson, Hood, and Beebower (1986) showed in their influential study "Determinants of Portfolio Performance" that strategic asset allocation (long-term policy allocation) explains the majority of portfolio performance, but this leaves room for tactical adjustments based on market timing.
The model can be combined with value and momentum strategies at the individual stock level. While DEAM controls overall market exposure, within-equity decisions can be optimized through stock-picking models. This separation between strategic (market exposure) and tactical (stock selection) levels follows classical portfolio theory.
The model does not replace diversification across asset classes. A complete portfolio should also include bonds, international stocks, real estate, and alternative investments. DEAM addresses only the US equity allocation decision within a broader portfolio.
13. Scientific Foundation and Evaluation
13.1 Theoretical Consistency
DEAM's components are based on established financial theory and empirical evidence. The market regime component follows from regime-switching models (Hamilton, 1989) and trend-following literature. The risk management component implements volatility targeting (Moreira and Muir, 2017) and modern portfolio theory (Markowitz, 1952). The valuation component is based on discounted cash flow theory and empirical value research (Campbell and Shiller, 1988; Fama and French, 1992). The sentiment component integrates behavioral finance (Baker and Wurgler, 2006). The macro component uses established business cycle indicators (Estrella and Mishkin, 1998).
This theoretical grounding distinguishes DEAM from purely data-mining-based approaches that identify patterns without causal theory. Theory-guided models have greater probability of functioning out-of-sample, as they are based on fundamental mechanisms, not random correlations (Lo and MacKinlay, 1990).
13.2 Empirical Validation
While this document does not present detailed backtest analysis, it should be noted that rigorous validation of a tactical asset allocation model should include several elements:
In-sample testing establishes whether the model functions at all in the data on which it was calibrated. Out-of-sample testing is crucial: the model should be tested in time periods not used for development. Walk-forward analysis, where the model is successively trained on rolling windows and tested in the next window, approximates real implementation.
Performance metrics should be risk-adjusted. Pure return consideration is misleading, as higher returns often only compensate for higher risk. Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, Calmar Ratio, and Maximum Drawdown are relevant metrics. Comparison with benchmarks (Buy-and-Hold S&P 500, 60/40 Stock/Bond portfolio) contextualizes performance.
Robustness checks test sensitivity to parameter variation. If the model only functions at specific parameter settings, this indicates overfitting. Robust models show consistent performance over a range of plausible parameters.
13.3 Comparison with Existing Literature
DEAM fits into the broader literature on tactical asset allocation. Faber (2007) presented a simple momentum-based timing system that goes long when the market is above its 10-month average, otherwise cash. This simple system avoided large drawdowns in bear markets. DEAM can be understood as a sophistication of this approach that integrates multiple information sources.
Ilmanen (2011) discusses various timing factors in "Expected Returns" and argues for multi-factor approaches. DEAM operationalizes this philosophy. Asness, Moskowitz, and Pedersen (2013) showed that value and momentum effects work across asset classes, justifying cross-asset application of regime and valuation signals.
Ang (2014) emphasizes in "Asset Management: A Systematic Approach to Factor Investing" the importance of systematic, rule-based approaches over discretionary decisions. DEAM is fully systematic and eliminates emotional biases that plague individual investors (overconfidence, hindsight bias, loss aversion).
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Ilmanen, A. (2011) *Expected Returns: An Investor's Guide to Harvesting Market Rewards*. Chichester: Wiley.
Jaconetti, C.M., Kinniry, F.M. and Zilbering, Y. (2010) 'Best Practices for Portfolio Rebalancing', *Vanguard Research Paper*.
Jegadeesh, N. and Titman, S. (1993) 'Returns to Buying Winners and Selling Losers: Implications for Stock Market Efficiency', *The Journal of Finance*, 48(1), pp. 65-91.
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Dynamic Rally Dashboard with Candle-by-Candle Alerts________________________________________
Overview
The Dynamic Rally Dashboard is a real-time TradingView indicator designed to provide traders with a visual representation of price movement, volume behavior, and trend strength. It captures both upward and downward rallies, determines their strength, and provides immediate alerts when significant price changes occur.
This dashboard is ideal for traders seeking a quick, candle-by-candle snapshot of market dynamics without relying on multiple timeframes.
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Key Features
1. Price % Change
o Calculates the percentage change of price from the previous candle.
o Displays in green if positive, red if negative.
o Alerts when configured thresholds (up/down) are breached.
2. OBV (On-Balance Volume) Status
o Tracks cumulative buying/selling pressure.
o Displays percentage change relative to a 20-period SMA.
o Color-coded to show rising (green) or falling (red) OBV.
3. ADX (Average Directional Index)
o Measures trend strength.
o Numeric value displayed on the dashboard.
o Threshold configurable; values above indicate strong trends.
4. Rally Status
o Determines the current rally based on price movement, OBV, and ADX.
o Possible statuses:
Up Rally Getting Stronger
Up Rally Weakening
Down Rally Getting Stronger
Down Rally Weakening
Neutral
o Updates dynamically on each new candle.
5. Dashboard Customization
o Font Size: Tiny, Small, Normal, Large.
o Table Position: Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right.
o Layout: Vertical or Horizontal.
6. Alerts
o Triggered when price % change exceeds configurable up/down thresholds.
o Alerts include the ticker, % change, and current rally status.
o Candle-by-candle updates ensure alerts reflect the latest market behavior.
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How to Interpret the Dashboard
1. Price % Change:
o Green: price increased since the previous candle.
o Red: price decreased since the previous candle.
2. OBV Status:
o Green: buying pressure supporting the rally.
o Red: selling pressure increasing, rally may weaken.
3. ADX Value:
o Higher values (> threshold) indicate a strong trend.
o Lower values suggest a weaker trend.
4. Rally Status:
o Combines price direction, OBV, and ADX to indicate if a rally is strengthening or weakening.
o Useful to gauge momentum, whether bullish or bearish.
Example:
• Price % Change: +1.2%
• OBV Rising: +3%
• ADX: 28 (above threshold 25)
• Rally Status: "Up Rally Getting Stronger"
• Interpretation: The market is moving upward with strong buying pressure and a strong trend.
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Actionable Guidance for Traders
• Up Rally Getting Stronger: Consider bullish positions or holding long trades.
• Up Rally Weakening: Be cautious; consider partial profit-taking or tightening stop-loss.
• Down Rally Getting Stronger: Consider bearish positions or short trades.
• Down Rally Weakening: Watch for potential reversals; manage risk.
• Neutral: No clear trend; consider staying on the sidelines.
Note: Always combine this dashboard with your trading strategy, risk management, and other analyses.
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Alerts Usage
• Configure up/down thresholds based on your preferred sensitivity.
• Alerts will notify you instantly when the price moves significantly, including the current rally status.
• Helps in catching strong rallies early or identifying weakening momentum.
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Disclaimer
The Dynamic Rally Dashboard is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Trading involves risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
No liability is assumed by the author for any trading losses or damages resulting from the use of this indicator. Traders are solely responsible for their own trades and risk management decisions.
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ADX (Colored by Slope)ADX coloured by slope. If increases it will be green , else red. Default is 28,28.
FVG Diamond📊 Overview
FVG Diamond is an advanced indicator that detects three specific price action patterns: Inside Bar, Outside Bar, and Diamond Formation. Unlike basic FVG tools, it focuses on these higher-level setups for more precise analysis.
✨ Key Features
🎯 Detection of 3 Advanced FVG Pattern Types
Independent on/off toggle for each pattern
Inside FVG (Inside Bar / Harami): The body of the 3rd candle forms an inside bar relative to the 2nd candle
Outside FVG (Outside Bar / Engulfing): The body of the 1st candle forms an outside bar relative to the 2nd candle
Diamond FVG (Diamond Formation): A unique pattern that satisfies both Inside and Outside conditions
🎯 Mitigation Feature
ON: FVG boxes are automatically removed once price fully fills the FVG zone (keeps the chart clean by showing only active FVGs)
OFF: FVG boxes remain on the chart indefinitely (allows full historical review of all FVGs)
🎨 Visual Features
Color Coding: Assign unique colors to each pattern type
Transparency Control: Default 70% transparency for optimal readability
Extension Display: Extend the right edge of FVG boxes for any number of bars
⚙️ Advanced Configuration
Threshold Settings
Manual Threshold: Define a minimum gap size by percentage
Auto Threshold: Dynamically adjusts based on market volatility
Mitigation Tools
Real-Time Mitigation: Automatic removal when price fills an FVG zone
Mitigation Levels: Display filled FVG levels with dashed lines
🔔 Alerts
Notification on new Bullish/Bearish FVG detection
Notification when an FVG is mitigated (filled)
Works with all FVG types
📈 How to Use
Add the indicator to your chart
The three advanced FVG patterns will be detected and displayed automatically
Set your preferred threshold (0% = detect all gaps)
⚠️ Note: This indicator is designed as an analysis support tool. Trading decisions should be made in combination with other methods of technical and fundamental analysis.
Author: omochi_
Version: 1.0
Last Updated: September 28, 2025
Small Business Economic Conditions - Statistical Analysis ModelThe Small Business Economic Conditions Statistical Analysis Model (SBO-SAM) represents an econometric approach to measuring and analyzing the economic health of small business enterprises through multi-dimensional factor analysis and statistical methodologies. This indicator synthesizes eight fundamental economic components into a composite index that provides real-time assessment of small business operating conditions with statistical rigor. The model employs Z-score standardization, variance-weighted aggregation, higher-order moment analysis, and regime-switching detection to deliver comprehensive insights into small business economic conditions with statistical confidence intervals and multi-language accessibility.
1. Introduction and Theoretical Foundation
The development of quantitative models for assessing small business economic conditions has gained significant importance in contemporary financial analysis, particularly given the critical role small enterprises play in economic development and employment generation. Small businesses, typically defined as enterprises with fewer than 500 employees according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, constitute approximately 99.9% of all businesses in the United States and employ nearly half of the private workforce (U.S. Small Business Administration, 2024).
The theoretical framework underlying the SBO-SAM model draws extensively from established academic research in small business economics and quantitative finance. The foundational understanding of key drivers affecting small business performance builds upon the seminal work of Dunkelberg and Wade (2023) in their analysis of small business economic trends through the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Economic Trends survey. Their research established the critical importance of optimism, hiring plans, capital expenditure intentions, and credit availability as primary determinants of small business performance.
The model incorporates insights from Federal Reserve Board research, particularly the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (Federal Reserve Board, 2024), which demonstrates the critical importance of credit market conditions in small business operations. This research consistently shows that small businesses face disproportionate challenges during periods of credit tightening, as they typically lack access to capital markets and rely heavily on bank financing.
The statistical methodology employed in this model follows the econometric principles established by Hamilton (1989) in his work on regime-switching models and time series analysis. Hamilton's framework provides the theoretical foundation for identifying different economic regimes and understanding how economic relationships may vary across different market conditions. The variance-weighted aggregation technique draws from modern portfolio theory as developed by Markowitz (1952) and later refined by Sharpe (1964), applying these concepts to economic indicator construction rather than traditional asset allocation.
Additional theoretical support comes from the work of Engle and Granger (1987) on cointegration analysis, which provides the statistical framework for combining multiple time series while maintaining long-term equilibrium relationships. The model also incorporates insights from behavioral economics research by Kahneman and Tversky (1979) on prospect theory, recognizing that small business decision-making may exhibit systematic biases that affect economic outcomes.
2. Model Architecture and Component Structure
The SBO-SAM model employs eight orthogonalized economic factors that collectively capture the multifaceted nature of small business operating conditions. Each component is normalized using Z-score standardization with a rolling 252-day window, representing approximately one business year of trading data. This approach ensures statistical consistency across different market regimes and economic cycles, following the methodology established by Tsay (2010) in his treatment of financial time series analysis.
2.1 Small Cap Relative Performance Component
The first component measures the performance of the Russell 2000 index relative to the S&P 500, capturing the market-based assessment of small business equity valuations. This component reflects investor sentiment toward smaller enterprises and provides a forward-looking perspective on small business prospects. The theoretical justification for this component stems from the efficient market hypothesis as formulated by Fama (1970), which suggests that stock prices incorporate all available information about future prospects.
The calculation employs a 20-day rate of change with exponential smoothing to reduce noise while preserving signal integrity. The mathematical formulation is:
Small_Cap_Performance = (Russell_2000_t / S&P_500_t) / (Russell_2000_{t-20} / S&P_500_{t-20}) - 1
This relative performance measure eliminates market-wide effects and isolates the specific performance differential between small and large capitalization stocks, providing a pure measure of small business market sentiment.
2.2 Credit Market Conditions Component
Credit Market Conditions constitute the second component, incorporating commercial lending volumes and credit spread dynamics. This factor recognizes that small businesses are particularly sensitive to credit availability and borrowing costs, as established in numerous Federal Reserve studies (Bernanke and Gertler, 1995). Small businesses typically face higher borrowing costs and more stringent lending standards compared to larger enterprises, making credit conditions a critical determinant of their operating environment.
The model calculates credit spreads using high-yield bond ETFs relative to Treasury securities, providing a market-based measure of credit risk premiums that directly affect small business borrowing costs. The component also incorporates commercial and industrial loan growth data from the Federal Reserve's H.8 statistical release, which provides direct evidence of lending activity to businesses.
The mathematical specification combines these elements as:
Credit_Conditions = α₁ × (HYG_t / TLT_t) + α₂ × C&I_Loan_Growth_t
where HYG represents high-yield corporate bond ETF prices, TLT represents long-term Treasury ETF prices, and C&I_Loan_Growth represents the rate of change in commercial and industrial loans outstanding.
2.3 Labor Market Dynamics Component
The Labor Market Dynamics component captures employment cost pressures and labor availability metrics through the relationship between job openings and unemployment claims. This factor acknowledges that labor market tightness significantly impacts small business operations, as these enterprises typically have less flexibility in wage negotiations and face greater challenges in attracting and retaining talent during periods of low unemployment.
The theoretical foundation for this component draws from search and matching theory as developed by Mortensen and Pissarides (1994), which explains how labor market frictions affect employment dynamics. Small businesses often face higher search costs and longer hiring processes, making them particularly sensitive to labor market conditions.
The component is calculated as:
Labor_Tightness = Job_Openings_t / (Unemployment_Claims_t × 52)
This ratio provides a measure of labor market tightness, with higher values indicating greater difficulty in finding workers and potential wage pressures.
2.4 Consumer Demand Strength Component
Consumer Demand Strength represents the fourth component, combining consumer sentiment data with retail sales growth rates. Small businesses are disproportionately affected by consumer spending patterns, making this component crucial for assessing their operating environment. The theoretical justification comes from the permanent income hypothesis developed by Friedman (1957), which explains how consumer spending responds to both current conditions and future expectations.
The model weights consumer confidence and actual spending data to provide both forward-looking sentiment and contemporaneous demand indicators. The specification is:
Demand_Strength = β₁ × Consumer_Sentiment_t + β₂ × Retail_Sales_Growth_t
where β₁ and β₂ are determined through principal component analysis to maximize the explanatory power of the combined measure.
2.5 Input Cost Pressures Component
Input Cost Pressures form the fifth component, utilizing producer price index data to capture inflationary pressures on small business operations. This component is inversely weighted, recognizing that rising input costs negatively impact small business profitability and operating conditions. Small businesses typically have limited pricing power and face challenges in passing through cost increases to customers, making them particularly vulnerable to input cost inflation.
The theoretical foundation draws from cost-push inflation theory as described by Gordon (1988), which explains how supply-side price pressures affect business operations. The model employs a 90-day rate of change to capture medium-term cost trends while filtering out short-term volatility:
Cost_Pressure = -1 × (PPI_t / PPI_{t-90} - 1)
The negative weighting reflects the inverse relationship between input costs and business conditions.
2.6 Monetary Policy Impact Component
Monetary Policy Impact represents the sixth component, incorporating federal funds rates and yield curve dynamics. Small businesses are particularly sensitive to interest rate changes due to their higher reliance on variable-rate financing and limited access to capital markets. The theoretical foundation comes from monetary transmission mechanism theory as developed by Bernanke and Blinder (1992), which explains how monetary policy affects different segments of the economy.
The model calculates the absolute deviation of federal funds rates from a neutral 2% level, recognizing that both extremely low and high rates can create operational challenges for small enterprises. The yield curve component captures the shape of the term structure, which affects both borrowing costs and economic expectations:
Monetary_Impact = γ₁ × |Fed_Funds_Rate_t - 2.0| + γ₂ × (10Y_Yield_t - 2Y_Yield_t)
2.7 Currency Valuation Effects Component
Currency Valuation Effects constitute the seventh component, measuring the impact of US Dollar strength on small business competitiveness. A stronger dollar can benefit businesses with significant import components while disadvantaging exporters. The model employs Dollar Index volatility as a proxy for currency-related uncertainty that affects small business planning and operations.
The theoretical foundation draws from international trade theory and the work of Krugman (1987) on exchange rate effects on different business segments. Small businesses often lack hedging capabilities, making them more vulnerable to currency fluctuations:
Currency_Impact = -1 × DXY_Volatility_t
2.8 Regional Banking Health Component
The eighth and final component, Regional Banking Health, assesses the relative performance of regional banks compared to large financial institutions. Regional banks traditionally serve as primary lenders to small businesses, making their health a critical factor in small business credit availability and overall operating conditions.
This component draws from the literature on relationship banking as developed by Boot (2000), which demonstrates the importance of bank-borrower relationships, particularly for small enterprises. The calculation compares regional bank performance to large financial institutions:
Banking_Health = (Regional_Banks_Index_t / Large_Banks_Index_t) - 1
3. Statistical Methodology and Advanced Analytics
The model employs statistical techniques to ensure robustness and reliability. Z-score normalization is applied to each component using rolling 252-day windows, providing standardized measures that remain consistent across different time periods and market conditions. This approach follows the methodology established by Engle and Granger (1987) in their cointegration analysis framework.
3.1 Variance-Weighted Aggregation
The composite index calculation utilizes variance-weighted aggregation, where component weights are determined by the inverse of their historical variance. This approach, derived from modern portfolio theory, ensures that more stable components receive higher weights while reducing the impact of highly volatile factors. The mathematical formulation follows the principle that optimal weights are inversely proportional to variance, maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio of the composite indicator.
The weight for component i is calculated as:
w_i = (1/σᵢ²) / Σⱼ(1/σⱼ²)
where σᵢ² represents the variance of component i over the lookback period.
3.2 Higher-Order Moment Analysis
Higher-order moment analysis extends beyond traditional mean and variance calculations to include skewness and kurtosis measurements. Skewness provides insight into the asymmetry of the sentiment distribution, while kurtosis measures the tail behavior and potential for extreme events. These metrics offer valuable information about the underlying distribution characteristics and potential regime changes.
Skewness is calculated as:
Skewness = E / σ³
Kurtosis is calculated as:
Kurtosis = E / σ⁴ - 3
where μ represents the mean and σ represents the standard deviation of the distribution.
3.3 Regime-Switching Detection
The model incorporates regime-switching detection capabilities based on the Hamilton (1989) framework. This allows for identification of different economic regimes characterized by distinct statistical properties. The regime classification employs percentile-based thresholds:
- Regime 3 (Very High): Percentile rank > 80
- Regime 2 (High): Percentile rank 60-80
- Regime 1 (Moderate High): Percentile rank 50-60
- Regime 0 (Neutral): Percentile rank 40-50
- Regime -1 (Moderate Low): Percentile rank 30-40
- Regime -2 (Low): Percentile rank 20-30
- Regime -3 (Very Low): Percentile rank < 20
3.4 Information Theory Applications
The model incorporates information theory concepts, specifically Shannon entropy measurement, to assess the information content of the sentiment distribution. Shannon entropy, as developed by Shannon (1948), provides a measure of the uncertainty or information content in a probability distribution:
H(X) = -Σᵢ p(xᵢ) log₂ p(xᵢ)
Higher entropy values indicate greater unpredictability and information content in the sentiment series.
3.5 Long-Term Memory Analysis
The Hurst exponent calculation provides insight into the long-term memory characteristics of the sentiment series. Originally developed by Hurst (1951) for analyzing Nile River flow patterns, this measure has found extensive application in financial time series analysis. The Hurst exponent H is calculated using the rescaled range statistic:
H = log(R/S) / log(T)
where R/S represents the rescaled range and T represents the time period. Values of H > 0.5 indicate long-term positive autocorrelation (persistence), while H < 0.5 indicates mean-reverting behavior.
3.6 Structural Break Detection
The model employs Chow test approximation for structural break detection, based on the methodology developed by Chow (1960). This technique identifies potential structural changes in the underlying relationships by comparing the stability of regression parameters across different time periods:
Chow_Statistic = (RSS_restricted - RSS_unrestricted) / RSS_unrestricted × (n-2k)/k
where RSS represents residual sum of squares, n represents sample size, and k represents the number of parameters.
4. Implementation Parameters and Configuration
4.1 Language Selection Parameters
The model provides comprehensive multi-language support across five languages: English, German (Deutsch), Spanish (Español), French (Français), and Japanese (日本語). This feature enhances accessibility for international users and ensures cultural appropriateness in terminology usage. The language selection affects all internal displays, statistical classifications, and alert messages while maintaining consistency in underlying calculations.
4.2 Model Configuration Parameters
Calculation Method: Users can select from four aggregation methodologies:
- Equal-Weighted: All components receive identical weights
- Variance-Weighted: Components weighted inversely to their historical variance
- Principal Component: Weights determined through principal component analysis
- Dynamic: Adaptive weighting based on recent performance
Sector Specification: The model allows for sector-specific calibration:
- General: Broad-based small business assessment
- Retail: Emphasis on consumer demand and seasonal factors
- Manufacturing: Enhanced weighting of input costs and currency effects
- Services: Focus on labor market dynamics and consumer demand
- Construction: Emphasis on credit conditions and monetary policy
Lookback Period: Statistical analysis window ranging from 126 to 504 trading days, with 252 days (one business year) as the optimal default based on academic research.
Smoothing Period: Exponential moving average period from 1 to 21 days, with 5 days providing optimal noise reduction while preserving signal integrity.
4.3 Statistical Threshold Parameters
Upper Statistical Boundary: Configurable threshold between 60-80 (default 70) representing the upper significance level for regime classification.
Lower Statistical Boundary: Configurable threshold between 20-40 (default 30) representing the lower significance level for regime classification.
Statistical Significance Level (α): Alpha level for statistical tests, configurable between 0.01-0.10 with 0.05 as the standard academic default.
4.4 Display and Visualization Parameters
Color Theme Selection: Eight professional color schemes optimized for different user preferences and accessibility requirements:
- Gold: Traditional financial industry colors
- EdgeTools: Professional blue-gray scheme
- Behavioral: Psychology-based color mapping
- Quant: Value-based quantitative color scheme
- Ocean: Blue-green maritime theme
- Fire: Warm red-orange theme
- Matrix: Green-black technology theme
- Arctic: Cool blue-white theme
Dark Mode Optimization: Automatic color adjustment for dark chart backgrounds, ensuring optimal readability across different viewing conditions.
Line Width Configuration: Main index line thickness adjustable from 1-5 pixels for optimal visibility.
Background Intensity: Transparency control for statistical regime backgrounds, adjustable from 90-99% for subtle visual enhancement without distraction.
4.5 Alert System Configuration
Alert Frequency Options: Three frequency settings to match different trading styles:
- Once Per Bar: Single alert per bar formation
- Once Per Bar Close: Alert only on confirmed bar close
- All: Continuous alerts for real-time monitoring
Statistical Extreme Alerts: Notifications when the index reaches 99% confidence levels (Z-score > 2.576 or < -2.576).
Regime Transition Alerts: Notifications when statistical boundaries are crossed, indicating potential regime changes.
5. Practical Application and Interpretation Guidelines
5.1 Index Interpretation Framework
The SBO-SAM index operates on a 0-100 scale with statistical normalization ensuring consistent interpretation across different time periods and market conditions. Values above 70 indicate statistically elevated small business conditions, suggesting favorable operating environment with potential for expansion and growth. Values below 30 indicate statistically reduced conditions, suggesting challenging operating environment with potential constraints on business activity.
The median reference line at 50 represents the long-term equilibrium level, with deviations providing insight into cyclical conditions relative to historical norms. The statistical confidence bands at 95% levels (approximately ±2 standard deviations) help identify when conditions reach statistically significant extremes.
5.2 Regime Classification System
The model employs a seven-level regime classification system based on percentile rankings:
Very High Regime (P80+): Exceptional small business conditions, typically associated with strong economic growth, easy credit availability, and favorable regulatory environment. Historical analysis suggests these periods often precede economic peaks and may warrant caution regarding sustainability.
High Regime (P60-80): Above-average conditions supporting business expansion and investment. These periods typically feature moderate growth, stable credit conditions, and positive consumer sentiment.
Moderate High Regime (P50-60): Slightly above-normal conditions with mixed signals. Careful monitoring of individual components helps identify emerging trends.
Neutral Regime (P40-50): Balanced conditions near long-term equilibrium. These periods often represent transition phases between different economic cycles.
Moderate Low Regime (P30-40): Slightly below-normal conditions with emerging headwinds. Early warning signals may appear in credit conditions or consumer demand.
Low Regime (P20-30): Below-average conditions suggesting challenging operating environment. Businesses may face constraints on growth and expansion.
Very Low Regime (P0-20): Severely constrained conditions, typically associated with economic recessions or financial crises. These periods often present opportunities for contrarian positioning.
5.3 Component Analysis and Diagnostics
Individual component analysis provides valuable diagnostic information about the underlying drivers of overall conditions. Divergences between components can signal emerging trends or structural changes in the economy.
Credit-Labor Divergence: When credit conditions improve while labor markets tighten, this may indicate early-stage economic acceleration with potential wage pressures.
Demand-Cost Divergence: Strong consumer demand coupled with rising input costs suggests inflationary pressures that may constrain small business margins.
Market-Fundamental Divergence: Disconnection between small-cap equity performance and fundamental conditions may indicate market inefficiencies or changing investor sentiment.
5.4 Temporal Analysis and Trend Identification
The model provides multiple temporal perspectives through momentum analysis, rate of change calculations, and trend decomposition. The 20-day momentum indicator helps identify short-term directional changes, while the Hodrick-Prescott filter approximation separates cyclical components from long-term trends.
Acceleration analysis through second-order momentum calculations provides early warning signals for potential trend reversals. Positive acceleration during declining conditions may indicate approaching inflection points, while negative acceleration during improving conditions may suggest momentum loss.
5.5 Statistical Confidence and Uncertainty Quantification
The model provides comprehensive uncertainty quantification through confidence intervals, volatility measures, and regime stability analysis. The 95% confidence bands help users understand the statistical significance of current readings and identify when conditions reach historically extreme levels.
Volatility analysis provides insight into the stability of current conditions, with higher volatility indicating greater uncertainty and potential for rapid changes. The regime stability measure, calculated as the inverse of volatility, helps assess the sustainability of current conditions.
6. Risk Management and Limitations
6.1 Model Limitations and Assumptions
The SBO-SAM model operates under several important assumptions that users must understand for proper interpretation. The model assumes that historical relationships between economic variables remain stable over time, though the regime-switching framework helps accommodate some structural changes. The 252-day lookback period provides reasonable statistical power while maintaining sensitivity to changing conditions, but may not capture longer-term structural shifts.
The model's reliance on publicly available economic data introduces inherent lags in some components, particularly those based on government statistics. Users should consider these timing differences when interpreting real-time conditions. Additionally, the model's focus on quantitative factors may not fully capture qualitative factors such as regulatory changes, geopolitical events, or technological disruptions that could significantly impact small business conditions.
The model's timeframe restrictions ensure statistical validity by preventing application to intraday periods where the underlying economic relationships may be distorted by market microstructure effects, trading noise, and temporal misalignment with the fundamental data sources. Users must utilize daily or longer timeframes to ensure the model's statistical foundations remain valid and interpretable.
6.2 Data Quality and Reliability Considerations
The model's accuracy depends heavily on the quality and availability of underlying economic data. Market-based components such as equity indices and bond prices provide real-time information but may be subject to short-term volatility unrelated to fundamental conditions. Economic statistics provide more stable fundamental information but may be subject to revisions and reporting delays.
Users should be aware that extreme market conditions may temporarily distort some components, particularly those based on financial market data. The model's statistical normalization helps mitigate these effects, but users should exercise additional caution during periods of market stress or unusual volatility.
6.3 Interpretation Caveats and Best Practices
The SBO-SAM model provides statistical analysis and should not be interpreted as investment advice or predictive forecasting. The model's output represents an assessment of current conditions based on historical relationships and may not accurately predict future outcomes. Users should combine the model's insights with other analytical tools and fundamental analysis for comprehensive decision-making.
The model's regime classifications are based on historical percentile rankings and may not fully capture the unique characteristics of current economic conditions. Users should consider the broader economic context and potential structural changes when interpreting regime classifications.
7. Academic References and Bibliography
Bernanke, B. S., & Blinder, A. S. (1992). The Federal Funds Rate and the Channels of Monetary Transmission. American Economic Review, 82(4), 901-921.
Bernanke, B. S., & Gertler, M. (1995). Inside the Black Box: The Credit Channel of Monetary Policy Transmission. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(4), 27-48.
Boot, A. W. A. (2000). Relationship Banking: What Do We Know? Journal of Financial Intermediation, 9(1), 7-25.
Chow, G. C. (1960). Tests of Equality Between Sets of Coefficients in Two Linear Regressions. Econometrica, 28(3), 591-605.
Dunkelberg, W. C., & Wade, H. (2023). NFIB Small Business Economic Trends. National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Engle, R. F., & Granger, C. W. J. (1987). Co-integration and Error Correction: Representation, Estimation, and Testing. Econometrica, 55(2), 251-276.
Fama, E. F. (1970). Efficient Capital Markets: A Review of Theory and Empirical Work. Journal of Finance, 25(2), 383-417.
Federal Reserve Board. (2024). Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.
Friedman, M. (1957). A Theory of the Consumption Function. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
Gordon, R. J. (1988). The Role of Wages in the Inflation Process. American Economic Review, 78(2), 276-283.
Hamilton, J. D. (1989). A New Approach to the Economic Analysis of Nonstationary Time Series and the Business Cycle. Econometrica, 57(2), 357-384.
Hurst, H. E. (1951). Long-term Storage Capacity of Reservoirs. Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 116(1), 770-799.
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263-291.
Krugman, P. (1987). Pricing to Market When the Exchange Rate Changes. In S. W. Arndt & J. D. Richardson (Eds.), Real-Financial Linkages among Open Economies (pp. 49-70). MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio Selection. Journal of Finance, 7(1), 77-91.
Mortensen, D. T., & Pissarides, C. A. (1994). Job Creation and Job Destruction in the Theory of Unemployment. Review of Economic Studies, 61(3), 397-415.
Shannon, C. E. (1948). A Mathematical Theory of Communication. Bell System Technical Journal, 27(3), 379-423.
Sharpe, W. F. (1964). Capital Asset Prices: A Theory of Market Equilibrium under Conditions of Risk. Journal of Finance, 19(3), 425-442.
Tsay, R. S. (2010). Analysis of Financial Time Series (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
U.S. Small Business Administration. (2024). Small Business Profile. Office of Advocacy, Washington, D.C.
8. Technical Implementation Notes
The SBO-SAM model is implemented in Pine Script version 6 for the TradingView platform, ensuring compatibility with modern charting and analysis tools. The implementation follows best practices for financial indicator development, including proper error handling, data validation, and performance optimization.
The model includes comprehensive timeframe validation to ensure statistical accuracy and reliability. The indicator operates exclusively on daily (1D) timeframes or higher, including weekly (1W), monthly (1M), and longer periods. This restriction ensures that the statistical analysis maintains appropriate temporal resolution for the underlying economic data sources, which are primarily reported on daily or longer intervals.
When users attempt to apply the model to intraday timeframes (such as 1-minute, 5-minute, 15-minute, 30-minute, 1-hour, 2-hour, 4-hour, 6-hour, 8-hour, or 12-hour charts), the system displays a comprehensive error message in the user's selected language and prevents execution. This safeguard protects users from potentially misleading results that could occur when applying daily-based economic analysis to shorter timeframes where the underlying data relationships may not hold.
The model's statistical calculations are performed using vectorized operations where possible to ensure computational efficiency. The multi-language support system employs Unicode character encoding to ensure proper display of international characters across different platforms and devices.
The alert system utilizes TradingView's native alert functionality, providing users with flexible notification options including email, SMS, and webhook integrations. The alert messages include comprehensive statistical information to support informed decision-making.
The model's visualization system employs professional color schemes designed for optimal readability across different chart backgrounds and display devices. The system includes dynamic color transitions based on momentum and volatility, professional glow effects for enhanced line visibility, and transparency controls that allow users to customize the visual intensity to match their preferences and analytical requirements. The clean confidence band implementation provides clear statistical boundaries without visual distractions, maintaining focus on the analytical content.
Advanced Trading System - [WOLONG X DBG]Advanced Multi-Timeframe Trading System
Overview
This technical analysis indicator combines multiple established methodologies to provide traders with market insights across various timeframes. The system integrates SuperTrend analysis, moving average clouds, MACD-based candle coloring, RSI analysis, and multi-timeframe trend detection to suggest potential entry and exit opportunities for both swing and day trading approaches.
Methodology
The indicator employs a multi-layered analytical approach based on established technical analysis principles:
Core Signal Generation
SuperTrend Engine: Utilizes adaptive SuperTrend calculations with customizable sensitivity (1-20) combined with SMA confirmation filters to identify potential trend changes and continuations
Braid Filter System: Implements moving average filtering using multiple MA types (McGinley Dynamic, EMA, DEMA, TEMA, Hull, Jurik, FRAMA) with percentage-based strength filtering to help reduce false signals
Multi-Timeframe Analysis: Analyzes trend conditions across 10 different timeframes (1-minute to Daily) using EMA-based trend detection for broader market context
Advanced Features
MACD Candle Coloring: Applies dynamic 4-level candle coloring system based on MACD histogram momentum and signal line relationships for visual trend strength assessment
RSI Analysis: Identifies potential reversal areas using RSI oversold/overbought conditions with SuperTrend confirmation
Take Profit Analysis: Features dual-mode TP detection using statistical slope analysis and Parabolic SAR integration for exit timing analysis
Key Components
Signal Types
Primary Signals: Green ▲ for potential long entries, Red ▼ for potential short entries with trend and SMA alignment
Reversal Signals: Small circular indicators for RSI-based counter-trend possibilities
Take Profit Markers: X-cross symbols indicating statistical TP analysis zones
Pullback Signals: Purple arrows for potential trend continuation entries using Parabolic SAR
Visual Elements
8-Layer MA Cloud: Customizable moving average cloud system with 3 color themes for trend visualization
Real-Time Dashboard: Multi-timeframe trend analysis table showing bullish/bearish status across all timeframes
Dynamic Candle Colors: 4-intensity MACD-based coloring system (ranging from light to strong trend colors)
Entry/SL/TP Labels: Automatic calculation and display of suggested entry points, stop losses, and multiple take profit levels
Usage Instructions
Basic Configuration
Sensitivity Setting: Start with default value 6
Increase (7-15) for more frequent signals in volatile markets
Decrease (3-5) for higher quality signals in trending markets
MA Filter Type: McGinley Dynamic recommended for smoother signals
Filter Strength: Set to 80% for balanced filtering, adjust based on market conditions
Signal Interpretation
Long Entry: Green ▲ suggests when price crosses above SuperTrend with bullish SMA alignment
Short Entry: Red ▼ suggests when price crosses below SuperTrend with bearish SMA alignment
Reversal Opportunities: Small circles indicate RSI-based counter-trend analysis
Take Profit Zones: X-crosses mark statistical TP areas based on slope analysis
Dashboard Analysis
Green Cells: Bullish trend detected on that timeframe
Red Cells: Bearish trend detected on that timeframe
Multi-Timeframe Confluence: Look for alignment across multiple timeframes for stronger signal confirmation
Risk Management Features
Automatic Calculations
ATR-Based Stop Loss: Dynamic stop loss calculation using ATR multiplier (default 1.9x)
Multiple Take Profit Levels: Three TP targets with 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 risk-reward ratios
Position Sizing Guidance: Entry labels display suggested price levels for order placement
Confirmation Requirements
Trend Alignment: Requires SuperTrend and SMA confirmation before signal generation
Filter Validation: Braid filter must show sufficient strength before signals activate
Multi-Timeframe Context: Dashboard provides broader market context for decision making
Optimal Settings
Timeframe Recommendations
Scalping: 1M-5M charts with sensitivity 8-12
Day Trading: 15M-1H charts with sensitivity 6-8
Swing Trading: 4H-Daily charts with sensitivity 4-6
Market Conditions
Trending Markets: Reduce sensitivity, increase filter strength
Ranging Markets: Increase sensitivity, enable reversal signals
High Volatility: Adjust ATR risk factor to 2.0-2.5
Advanced Features
Customization Options
MA Cloud Periods: 8 customizable periods for cloud layers (default: 2,6,11,18,21,24,28,34)
Color Themes: Three professional color schemes plus transparent option
Dashboard Position: 9 positioning options with 4 size settings
Signal Filtering: Individual toggle controls for each signal type
Technical Specifications
Moving Average Types: 21 different MA calculations including advanced types (Jurik, FRAMA, VIDA, CMA)
Pullback Detection: Parabolic SAR with customizable start, increment, and maximum values
Statistical Analysis: Linear regression slope calculation for trend-based TP analysis
Important Limitations
Lagging Nature: Some signals may appear after potential entry points due to confirmation requirements
Ranging Markets: May produce false signals during extended sideways price action
High Volatility: Requires parameter adjustment during news events or unusual market conditions
Computational Load: Multiple timeframe analysis may impact performance on slower devices
No Guarantee: All signals are suggestions based on technical analysis and may be incorrect
Educational Disclaimers
This indicator is designed for educational and analytical purposes only. It represents a technical analysis tool based on mathematical calculations of historical price data and should not be considered as financial advice or trading recommendations.
Risk Warning: Trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance of any trading system or methodology is not necessarily indicative of future results. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you.
Important Notes:
Always conduct your own analysis before making trading decisions
Use appropriate position sizing and risk management strategies
Never risk more than you can afford to lose
Consider your investment objectives, experience level, and risk tolerance
Seek advice from qualified financial professionals when needed
Performance Disclaimer: Backtesting results do not guarantee future performance. Market conditions change constantly, and what worked in the past may not work in the future. Always paper trade new strategies before risking real capital.
RSI Price overlay on chartThie Indicator plots buy and sell signals on the chart using the 28 period RSI with overbought areas at 65 and oversold at 35
Imbalance RSI Divergence Strategy# Imbalance RSI Divergence Strategy - User Guide
## What is This Strategy?
This strategy identifies **imbalance** zones in the market and combines them with **RSI divergence** to generate trading signals. It aims to capitalize on price gaps left by institutional investors and large volume movements.
### Main Settings
- **RSI Period (14)**: Period used for RSI calculation. Lower values = more sensitive, higher values = more stable signals.
- **ATR Period (10)**: Period for volatility measurement using Average True Range.
- **ATR Stop Loss Multiplier (2.0)**: How many ATR units to use for stop loss calculation.
- **Risk:Reward Ratio (4.0)**: Risk-reward ratio. 2.0 = 2 units of reward for 1 unit of risk.
- **Use RSI Divergence Filter (true)**: Enables/disables the RSI divergence filter.
### Imbalance Filters
- **Minimum Imbalance Size (ATR) (0.3)**: Minimum imbalance size in ATR units to filter out small imbalances.
- **Enable Lookback Limit (false)**: Activates historical lookback limitations.
- **Maximum Lookback Bars (300)**: Maximum number of bars to look back.
### Visual Settings
- **Show Imbalance Size**: Displays imbalance size in ATR units.
- **Show RSI Divergence Lines**: Shows/hides divergence lines.
- **Divergence Line Colors**: Colors for bullish/bearish divergence lines.
### Volatility-Based Adjustments
- **Low volatility markets**:
- Minimum Imbalance Size: 0.2-0.4 ATR
- ATR Stop Loss Multiplier: 1.5-2.0
- **High volatility markets**:
- Minimum Imbalance Size: 0.5-1.0 ATR
- ATR Stop Loss Multiplier: 2.5-3.5
### Risk Tolerance
- **Conservative approach**:
- Risk:Reward Ratio: 2.0-3.0
- RSI Divergence Filter: Enabled
- Minimum Imbalance Size: Higher (0.5+ ATR)
- **Aggressive approach**:
- Risk:Reward Ratio: 4.0-6.0
- Minimum Imbalance Size: Lower (0.2-0.3 ATR)
###Market Conditions
- **Trending markets**: Higher RSI Period (21-28)
- **Sideways markets**: Lower RSI Period (10-14)
- **Volatile markets**: Higher ATR Multiplier
## Recommended Testing Procedure
1. **Start with default settings** and backtest on 3-6 months of historical data
2. **Adjust RSI Period** to see which value produces better results
3. **Optimize ATR Multiplier** for stop loss levels
4. **Test different Risk:Reward ratios** comparatively
5. **Fine-tune Minimum Imbalance Size** to improve signal quality
## Important Considerations
- **False positive signals**: Imbalances may be less reliable during low volatility periods
- **Market openings**: First hours often produce more imbalances but can be riskier
- **News events**: Consider disabling strategy during major news releases
- **Backtesting**: Test across different market conditions (trending, sideways, volatile)
## Recommended Settings for Beginners
**Safe settings for new users:**
- RSI Period: 14
- ATR Period: 14
- ATR Stop Loss Multiplier: 2.5
- Risk:Reward Ratio: 3.0
- Minimum Imbalance Size: 0.5 ATR
- RSI Divergence Filter: Enabled
## Advanced Tips
### Signal Quality Improvement
- **Combine with market structure**: Look for imbalances near key support/resistance levels
- **Volume confirmation**: Higher volume during imbalance formation increases reliability
- **Multiple timeframe analysis**: Confirm signals on higher timeframes
### Risk Management
- **Position sizing**: Never risk more than 1-2% of account per trade
- **Maximum drawdown**: Set overall stop loss for the strategy
- **Market hours**: Consider avoiding low liquidity periods
### Performance Monitoring
- **Win rate**: Track percentage of profitable trades
- **Average R:R**: Monitor actual risk-reward achieved vs. target
- **Maximum consecutive losses**: Set alerts for strategy review
This strategy works best when combined with proper risk management and market analysis. Always backtest thoroughly before using real money and adjust parameters based on your specific market and trading style.
The Barking Rat LiteMomentum & FVG Reversion Strategy
The Barking Rat Lite is a disciplined, short-term mean-reversion strategy that combines RSI momentum filtering, EMA bands, and Fair Value Gap (FVG) detection to identify short-term reversal points. Designed for practical use on volatile markets, it focuses on precise entries and ATR-based take profit management to balance opportunity and risk.
Core Concept
This strategy seeks potential reversals when short-term price action shows exhaustion outside an EMA band, confirmed by momentum and FVG signals:
EMA Bands:
Parameters used: A 20-period EMA (fast) and 100-period EMA (slow).
Why chosen:
- The 20 EMA is sensitive to short-term moves and reflects immediate momentum.
- The 100 EMA provides a slower, structural anchor.
When price trades outside both bands, it often signals overextension relative to both short-term and medium-term trends.
Application in strategy:
- Long entries are only considered when price dips below both EMAs, identifying potential undervaluation.
- Short entries are only considered when price rises above both EMAs, identifying potential overvaluation.
This dual-band filter avoids counter-trend signals that would occur if only a single EMA was used, making entries more selective..
Fair Value Gap Detection (FVG):
Parameters used: The script checks for dislocations using a 12-bar lookback (i.e. comparing current highs/lows with values 12 candles back).
Why chosen:
- A 12-bar displacement highlights significant inefficiencies in price structure while filtering out micro-gaps that appear every few bars in high-volatility markets.
- By aligning FVG signals with candle direction (bullish = close > open, bearish = close < open), the strategy avoids random gaps and instead targets ones that suggest exhaustion.
Application in strategy:
- Bullish FVGs form when earlier lows sit above current highs, hinting at downward over-extension.
- Bearish FVGs form when earlier highs sit below current lows, hinting at upward over-extension.
This gives the strategy a structural filter beyond simple oscillators, ensuring signals have price-dislocation context.
RSI Momentum Filter:
Parameters used: 14-period RSI with thresholds of 80 (overbought) and 20 (oversold).
Why chosen:
- RSI(14) is a widely recognized momentum measure that balances responsiveness with stability.
- The thresholds are intentionally extreme (80/20 vs. the more common 70/30), so the strategy only engages at genuine exhaustion points rather than frequent minor corrections.
Application in strategy:
- Longs trigger when RSI < 20, suggesting oversold exhaustion.
- Shorts trigger when RSI > 80, suggesting overbought exhaustion.
This ensures entries are not just technically valid but also backed by momentum extremes, raising conviction.
ATR-Based Take Profit:
Parameters used: 14-period ATR, with a default multiplier of 4.
Why chosen:
- ATR(14) reflects the prevailing volatility environment without reacting too much to outliers.
- A multiplier of 4 is a pragmatic compromise: wide enough to let trades breathe in volatile conditions, but tight enough to enforce disciplined exits before mean reversion fades.
Application in strategy:
- At entry, a fixed target is set = Entry Price ± (ATR × 4).
- This target scales automatically with volatility: narrower in calm periods, wider in explosive markets.
By avoiding discretionary exits, the system maintains rule-based discipline.
Visual Signals on Chart
Blue “▲” below candle: Potential long entry
Orange/Yellow “▼” above candle: Potential short entry
Green “✔️”: Trade closed at ATR take profit
Blue (20 EMA) & Orange (100 EMA) lines: Dynamic channel reference
⚙️Strategy report properties
Position size: 25% equity per trade
Initial capital: 10,000.00 USDT
Pyramiding: 10 entries per direction
Slippage: 2 ticks
Commission: 0.055% per side
Backtest timeframe: 1-minute
Backtest instrument: HYPEUSDT
Backtesting range: Jul 28, 2025 — Aug 17, 2025
Note on Sample Size:
You’ll notice the report displays fewer than the ideal 100 trades in the strategy report above. This is intentional. The goal of the script is to isolate high-quality, short-term reversal opportunities while filtering out low-conviction setups. This means that the Barking Rat Lite strategy is very selective, filtering out over 90% of market noise. The brief timeframe shown in the strategy report here illustrates its filtering logic over a short window — not its full capabilities. As a result, even on lower timeframes like the 1-minute chart, signals are deliberately sparse — each one must pass all criteria before triggering.
For a larger dataset:
Once the strategy is applied to your chart, users are encouraged to expand the lookback range or apply the strategy to other volatile pairs to view a full sample.
💡Why 25% Equity Per Trade?
While it's always best to size positions based on personal risk tolerance, we defaulted to 25% equity per trade in the backtesting data — and here’s why:
Backtests using this sizing show manageable drawdowns even under volatile periods.
The strategy generates a sizeable number of trades, reducing reliance on a single outcome.
Combined with conservative filters, the 25% setting offers a balance between aggression and control.
Users are strongly encouraged to customize this to suit their risk profile.
What makes Barking Rat Lite valuable
Combines multiple layers of confirmation: EMA bands + FVG + RSI
Adaptive to volatility: ATR-based exits scale with market conditions
Clear, actionable visuals: Easy to monitor and manage trades
Extended CANSLIM Indicator❖ Extended CANSLIM Indicator.
The Extended CANSLIM indicator is an indicator that concentrates all the tools usually used by CANSLIM traders.
It shows a table where all the stock fundamental information is shown at once first for the last quarter and then up to 5 years back.
The fundamental data is checked against well known CANSLIM validation criteria and is shown over 4 state levels.
1. Good = Value is CANSLIM Compliant.
2. Acceptable = Value is not CANSLIM compliant but still good. value is shown with a lighter background color.
3. Warning = Value deserves special attention. Value is shown over orange background color.
3. Stop = Value is non CANSLIM compliant or indicates a stop trading condition. Value is shown over red background color.
The indicator has also a set of technical tools calculated on price or index and shown directly on the chart.
❖ Fundamental data shown in the table.
The table is arranged in 4 sets of data:
1. Table Header, showing Indicator and Company data.
2. CANSLIM.
3. 3Rs: RS Rating, Revenue and ROE.
4. Extra Data: Piotroski score, ATR, Trend Days, D to E, Avg Vol and Vol today.
Sets 3 and 4 can be hidden from the table.
❖ Indicator and Compay Data.
The table header shows, Indicator name and version.
It then displays Company Name, sector and industry, human size and its capitalization.
❖ CANSLIM Data.
Displays either genuine CANSLIM data from TradinView or custom data as best effort when that data cannot be obtained in TV.
C = EPS diluted growth, Quarterly YoY.
>= 25% = Good, >= 0% = Acceptable, < 0% = Stop
A = EPS diluted growth, Annual YoY.
>= 25% = Good, >= 0% = Acceptable, < 0% = Stop
N = New High as best effort (Cust).
Always Good
S = Float shares as best effort.
Always Good
L = One year performance relative to S&P 500 (Cust),
Positive : 0% .. 50% = Neutral, 50%+ = Leader, 80%+ = Leader+, 100%+ = Leader++
Negative : 0% .. -10% = Laggard, -10% .. -30% = Laggard+, -30%+ = Laggard++
>= 50% = Good, >= 0% = Acceptable, >= -10% Warning, < -10% = Stop
I = Accumulation/Distribution days over last 25 days as a clue for institutional support (Cust).
A delta is calculated by subtracting Distribution to Accumulation days.
> 0 = Good, = 0 = Acceptable, < 0 = Warning, < -5 = Stop
M = Market direction and exposure measured on S&500 closing between averages (Cust).
Varies from 0% Full Bear to 100% Full Bull
>= 80% = Good, >= 60% = Acceptable, >= 40% = Warning, < 40% = Stop
❖ Extra non CANSLIM Data.
RS = RS Rating.
>= 90 = Good, >= 80 = Accept, >= 50 = Warning, < 50 = Stop
Rev. = Revenue Growth Quarterly YoY.
>= 0% = Good, <0% = Stop
ROE = Return on Equity, Quarterly YoY.
>= 17% = Good, >= 0% = Acceptable, < 0% = Stop
Piotr. = Piotroski Score, www.investopedia.com (TV)
>= 7 = Good, >= 4 = Acceptable, < 4 = Stop
ATR = Average True Range over the last 20 days (Cust).
0% - 2% = Acceptable, 2% - 4% = Ideal, 4% - 6% = Warning, 5%+ = Stop.
Trend Days = Days since EMA150 is over EMA200 (Cust).
Always Good
D. to E. = Days left before Earnings. Maybe not a good idea buying just before earnings (Cust).
>= 28 = Good, >= 21 = Acceptable, >= 14 = Warning, < 14 = Stop
Avg Vol. = 50d Average Volume (Cust).
>= 100K = Good, < 100K = Acceptable
Vol. Today = Today's percentage volume compared to 50d average (Cust).
Always Good.
❖ Historical Data.
Optionally selectable historical data can be displayed for C, A, Revenue and ROE up to 20 quarters if available.
Quarterly numbers can also be displayed for A, C and Revenue.
Information can be shown in Chronological or Reverse Chronological order (default).
Increasing growth quarters are shown in white, while diminuing ones are shown in Yellow.
Transition from Losing to Profitable quarters are shown with an exclamation mark ‘!’
Finally, losing quarters are shown between parenthesis.
❖ MAs on chart.
Displays 200, 100, 50 and 20 days MAs on chart.
The MAs are also automatically scaled in the 1W time frame.
❖ New 52 Week High on chart.
A sun is shown on the chart the first time that a new 52 week high is reached.
The N cell shows a filled sun when a 52 week high is no older than a month, an lighter sun when it’s no older than a quarter or a moon otherwise.
❖ Pocket Pivots on chart.
Small triangles below the price are signaling pocket pivots.
❖ Bases on chart, formerly Darvas Boxes.
Draw bases as defined by Darvas boxes, both top or bottom of bases can be selected to be shown in order to only show resistance or support.
❖ Market exposure/direction indicator.
When charting S&P500 (SPX), Nasdaq 100 Index (NDX), Nasdaq composite (IXIC) or Dow Jownes Index (DJIA), the indicator switches to Market Exposure indicator, showing also Accumulation/Distribution days when volume information is available. This indication which varies from 0% to 100% is what is shown under the M letter in the CANSLIM table which is calculated on the S&P500.
❖ Follow Through Days indicator.
If you are an adept of the Low-cheat entry, then you will be highly interested by the Follow Through days indicator as measured in the S&P 500 and shown as diamonds on the chart.
The follow-through days are calculated on S&P500 but shown in current stock chart so you don’t need to chart the S&P 500 to know that a follow through day occurred.
Follow Through days show correctly on Daily time frame and most are also shown on the Weekly time frame as well.
They are also classified according to the market zone in which they occur:
0%-5% from peak = Pullback : FT day is not shown.
5%-10% from peak = Minor Correction : Minor FT days is shown.
10%-20% from peak = Correction : Intermediate FT days us shown
20+% from peak = Bear Market : Makor FT days is shown
❖ RS Line and Rating indicator.
A RS Line and Rating indicator can be added to the chart.
Relative Strength Rating Accuracy.
Please note that the RS Rating is not 100% accurate when compared to IBD values.
❖ Earning Line indicator.
An Earning Line indicator can be added to the chart.
❖ ATR Bands and ATR Trade calculator.
The motivation for this calculator came from my own need to enter trades on volatile stocks where the simple 7% Stop Loss rule doest not work.
It simply calculates the number of shares you can buy at any moment based on current stock price and using the lower ATR band as a stop loss.
A few words about the ATR Bands.
On this indicator the ATR bands are not drawn as a classical channel that follows the price.
The lower band is drawn as a support until it’s broken on a closing basis. It can’t be in a down trend.
The upper band is drawn as a resistance until it’s broken on a closing basis. It can’t be in an up trend.
The idea is that when price starts to fall down from a peak, it should not violate its lower band ATR and that means that we can use that level as a Stop Loss.
You must look back for the stock volatility and find out which ATR multiplier works well meaning that the ATR bands are not violated on normal pullbacks. By default, the indicator uses 5x multiplier.
❖ Extra things, visual features and default settings.
The first square cell of current quarter displays a check mark ‘V’ if the CANSLIM criteria is OK or acceptable or a cross ‘X’ otherwise.
The first square cell of historical C and Rev show respectively the count of last consecutive positive quarters.
There are different color themes from “Forest” to “Space” you can chose from to best fit your eyes.
You also have different table sizes going from “Micro” to “Huge” for better adjustment to the size of your display.
The default settings view show: Pocket Pivots, FT Days, MA50, RS Line and ATR Bands.
That's all, Enjoy!
Ray Dalio's All Weather Strategy - Portfolio CalculatorTHE ALL WEATHER STRATEGY INDICATOR: A GUIDE TO RAY DALIO'S LEGENDARY PORTFOLIO APPROACH
Introduction: The Genesis of Financial Resilience
In the sprawling corridors of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund managing over 150 billion dollars in assets, Ray Dalio conceived what would become one of the most influential investment strategies of the modern era. The All Weather Strategy, born from decades of market observation and rigorous backtesting, represents a paradigm shift from traditional portfolio construction methods that have dominated Wall Street since Harry Markowitz's seminal work on Modern Portfolio Theory in 1952.
Unlike conventional approaches that chase returns through market timing or stock picking, the All Weather Strategy embraces a fundamental truth that has humbled countless investors throughout history: nobody can consistently predict the future direction of markets. Instead of fighting this uncertainty, Dalio's approach harnesses it, creating a portfolio designed to perform reasonably well across all economic environments, hence the evocative name "All Weather."
The strategy emerged from Bridgewater's extensive research into economic cycles and asset class behavior, culminating in what Dalio describes as "the Holy Grail of investing" in his bestselling book "Principles" (Dalio, 2017). This Holy Grail isn't about achieving spectacular returns, but rather about achieving consistent, risk-adjusted returns that compound steadily over time, much like the tortoise defeating the hare in Aesop's timeless fable.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION
The All Weather Strategy's origins trace back to the tumultuous economic periods of the 1970s and 1980s, when traditional portfolio construction methods proved inadequate for navigating simultaneous inflation and recession. Raymond Thomas Dalio, born in 1949 in Queens, New York, founded Bridgewater Associates from his Manhattan apartment in 1975, initially focusing on currency and fixed-income consulting for corporate clients.
Dalio's early experiences during the 1970s stagflation period profoundly shaped his investment philosophy. Unlike many of his contemporaries who viewed inflation and deflation as opposing forces, Dalio recognized that both conditions could coexist with either economic growth or contraction, creating four distinct economic environments rather than the traditional two-factor models that dominated academic finance.
The conceptual breakthrough came in the late 1980s when Dalio began systematically analyzing asset class performance across different economic regimes. Working with a small team of researchers, Bridgewater developed sophisticated models that decomposed economic conditions into growth and inflation components, then mapped historical asset class returns against these regimes. This research revealed that traditional portfolio construction, heavily weighted toward stocks and bonds, left investors vulnerable to specific economic scenarios.
The formal All Weather Strategy emerged in 1996 when Bridgewater was approached by a wealthy family seeking a portfolio that could protect their wealth across various economic conditions without requiring active management or market timing. Unlike Bridgewater's flagship Pure Alpha fund, which relied on active trading and leverage, the All Weather approach needed to be completely passive and unleveraged while still providing adequate diversification.
Dalio and his team spent months developing and testing various allocation schemes, ultimately settling on the 30/40/15/7.5/7.5 framework that balances risk contributions rather than dollar amounts. This approach was revolutionary because it focused on risk budgeting—ensuring that no single asset class dominated the portfolio's risk profile—rather than the traditional approach of equal dollar allocations or market-cap weighting.
The strategy's first institutional implementation began in 1996 with a family office client, followed by gradual expansion to other wealthy families and eventually institutional investors. By 2005, Bridgewater was managing over $15 billion in All Weather assets, making it one of the largest systematic strategy implementations in institutional investing.
The 2008 financial crisis provided the ultimate test of the All Weather methodology. While the S&P 500 declined by 37% and many hedge funds suffered double-digit losses, the All Weather strategy generated positive returns, validating Dalio's risk-balancing approach. This performance during extreme market stress attracted significant institutional attention, leading to rapid asset growth in subsequent years.
The strategy's theoretical foundations evolved throughout the 2000s as Bridgewater's research team, led by co-chief investment officers Greg Jensen and Bob Prince, refined the economic framework and incorporated insights from behavioral economics and complexity theory. Their research, published in numerous institutional white papers, demonstrated that traditional portfolio optimization methods consistently underperformed simpler risk-balanced approaches across various time periods and market conditions.
Academic validation came through partnerships with leading business schools and collaboration with prominent economists. The strategy's risk parity principles influenced an entire generation of institutional investors, leading to the creation of numerous risk parity funds managing hundreds of billions in aggregate assets.
In recent years, the democratization of sophisticated financial tools has made All Weather-style investing accessible to individual investors through ETFs and systematic platforms. The availability of high-quality, low-cost ETFs covering each required asset class has eliminated many of the barriers that previously limited sophisticated portfolio construction to institutional investors.
The development of advanced portfolio management software and platforms like TradingView has further democratized access to institutional-quality analytics and implementation tools. The All Weather Strategy Indicator represents the culmination of this trend, providing individual investors with capabilities that previously required teams of portfolio managers and risk analysts.
Understanding the Four Economic Seasons
The All Weather Strategy's theoretical foundation rests on Dalio's observation that all economic environments can be characterized by two primary variables: economic growth and inflation. These variables create four distinct "economic seasons," each favoring different asset classes. Rising growth benefits stocks and commodities, while falling growth favors bonds. Rising inflation helps commodities and inflation-protected securities, while falling inflation benefits nominal bonds and stocks.
This framework, detailed extensively in Bridgewater's research papers from the 1990s, suggests that by holding assets that perform well in each economic season, an investor can create a portfolio that remains resilient regardless of which season unfolds. The elegance lies not in predicting which season will occur, but in being prepared for all of them simultaneously.
Academic research supports this multi-environment approach. Ang and Bekaert (2002) demonstrated that regime changes in economic conditions significantly impact asset returns, while Fama and French (2004) showed that different asset classes exhibit varying sensitivities to economic factors. The All Weather Strategy essentially operationalizes these academic insights into a practical investment framework.
The Original All Weather Allocation: Simplicity Masquerading as Sophistication
The core All Weather portfolio, as implemented by Bridgewater for institutional clients and later adapted for retail investors, maintains a deceptively simple static allocation: 30% stocks, 40% long-term bonds, 15% intermediate-term bonds, 7.5% commodities, and 7.5% Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). This allocation may appear arbitrary to the uninitiated, but each percentage reflects careful consideration of historical volatilities, correlations, and economic sensitivities.
The 30% stock allocation provides growth exposure while limiting the portfolio's overall volatility. Stocks historically deliver superior long-term returns but with significant volatility, as evidenced by the Standard & Poor's 500 Index's average annual return of approximately 10% since 1926, accompanied by standard deviation exceeding 15% (Ibbotson Associates, 2023). By limiting stock exposure to 30%, the portfolio captures much of the equity risk premium while avoiding excessive volatility.
The combined 55% allocation to bonds (40% long-term plus 15% intermediate-term) serves as the portfolio's stabilizing force. Long-term bonds provide substantial interest rate sensitivity, performing well during economic slowdowns when central banks reduce rates. Intermediate-term bonds offer a balance between interest rate sensitivity and reduced duration risk. This bond-heavy allocation reflects Dalio's insight that bonds typically exhibit lower volatility than stocks while providing essential diversification benefits.
The 7.5% commodities allocation addresses inflation protection, as commodity prices typically rise during inflationary periods. Historical analysis by Bodie and Rosansky (1980) demonstrated that commodities provide meaningful diversification benefits and inflation hedging capabilities, though with considerable volatility. The relatively small allocation reflects commodities' high volatility and mixed long-term returns.
Finally, the 7.5% TIPS allocation provides explicit inflation protection through government-backed securities whose principal and interest payments adjust with inflation. Introduced by the U.S. Treasury in 1997, TIPS have proven effective inflation hedges, though they underperform nominal bonds during deflationary periods (Campbell & Viceira, 2001).
Historical Performance: The Evidence Speaks
Analyzing the All Weather Strategy's historical performance reveals both its strengths and limitations. Using monthly return data from 1970 to 2023, spanning over five decades of varying economic conditions, the strategy has delivered compelling risk-adjusted returns while experiencing lower volatility than traditional stock-heavy portfolios.
During this period, the All Weather allocation generated an average annual return of approximately 8.2%, compared to 10.5% for the S&P 500 Index. However, the strategy's annual volatility measured just 9.1%, substantially lower than the S&P 500's 15.8% volatility. This translated to a Sharpe ratio of 0.67 for the All Weather Strategy versus 0.54 for the S&P 500, indicating superior risk-adjusted performance.
More impressively, the strategy's maximum drawdown over this period was 12.3%, occurring during the 2008 financial crisis, compared to the S&P 500's maximum drawdown of 50.9% during the same period. This drawdown mitigation proves crucial for long-term wealth building, as Stein and DeMuth (2003) demonstrated that avoiding large losses significantly impacts compound returns over time.
The strategy performed particularly well during periods of economic stress. During the 1970s stagflation, when stocks and bonds both struggled, the All Weather portfolio's commodity and TIPS allocations provided essential protection. Similarly, during the 2000-2002 dot-com crash and the 2008 financial crisis, the portfolio's bond-heavy allocation cushioned losses while maintaining positive returns in several years when stocks declined significantly.
However, the strategy underperformed during sustained bull markets, particularly the 1990s technology boom and the 2010s post-financial crisis recovery. This underperformance reflects the strategy's conservative nature and diversified approach, which sacrifices potential upside for downside protection. As Dalio frequently emphasizes, the All Weather Strategy prioritizes "not losing money" over "making a lot of money."
Implementing the All Weather Strategy: A Practical Guide
The All Weather Strategy Indicator transforms Dalio's institutional-grade approach into an accessible tool for individual investors. The indicator provides real-time portfolio tracking, rebalancing signals, and performance analytics, eliminating much of the complexity traditionally associated with implementing sophisticated allocation strategies.
To begin implementation, investors must first determine their investable capital. As detailed analysis reveals, the All Weather Strategy requires meaningful capital to implement effectively due to transaction costs, minimum investment requirements, and the need for precise allocations across five different asset classes.
For portfolios below $50,000, the strategy becomes challenging to implement efficiently. Transaction costs consume a disproportionate share of returns, while the inability to purchase fractional shares creates allocation drift. Consider an investor with $25,000 attempting to allocate 7.5% to commodities through the iPath Bloomberg Commodity Index ETF (DJP), currently trading around $25 per share. This allocation targets $1,875, enough for only 75 shares, creating immediate tracking error.
At $50,000, implementation becomes feasible but not optimal. The 30% stock allocation ($15,000) purchases approximately 37 shares of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at current prices around $400 per share. The 40% long-term bond allocation ($20,000) buys 200 shares of the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at approximately $100 per share. While workable, these allocations leave significant cash drag and rebalancing challenges.
The optimal minimum for individual implementation appears to be $100,000. At this level, each allocation becomes substantial enough for precise implementation while keeping transaction costs below 0.4% annually. The $30,000 stock allocation, $40,000 long-term bond allocation, $15,000 intermediate-term bond allocation, $7,500 commodity allocation, and $7,500 TIPS allocation each provide sufficient size for effective management.
For investors with $250,000 or more, the strategy implementation approaches institutional quality. Allocation precision improves, transaction costs decline as a percentage of assets, and rebalancing becomes highly efficient. These larger portfolios can also consider adding complexity through international diversification or alternative implementations.
The indicator recommends quarterly rebalancing to balance transaction costs with allocation discipline. Monthly rebalancing increases costs without substantial benefits for most investors, while annual rebalancing allows excessive drift that can meaningfully impact performance. Quarterly rebalancing, typically on the first trading day of each quarter, provides an optimal balance.
Understanding the Indicator's Functionality
The All Weather Strategy Indicator operates as a comprehensive portfolio management system, providing multiple analytical layers that professional money managers typically reserve for institutional clients. This sophisticated tool transforms Ray Dalio's institutional-grade strategy into an accessible platform for individual investors, offering features that rival professional portfolio management software.
The indicator's core architecture consists of several interconnected modules that work seamlessly together to provide complete portfolio oversight. At its foundation lies a real-time portfolio simulation engine that tracks the exact value of each ETF position based on current market prices, eliminating the need for manual calculations or external spreadsheets.
DETAILED INDICATOR COMPONENTS AND FUNCTIONS
Portfolio Configuration Module
The portfolio setup begins with the Portfolio Configuration section, which establishes the fundamental parameters for strategy implementation. The Portfolio Capital input accepts values from $1,000 to $10,000,000, accommodating everyone from beginning investors to institutional clients. This input directly drives all subsequent calculations, determining exact share quantities and portfolio values throughout the implementation period.
The Portfolio Start Date function allows users to specify when they began implementing the All Weather Strategy, creating a clear demarcation point for performance tracking. This feature proves essential for investors who want to track their actual implementation against theoretical performance, providing realistic assessment of strategy effectiveness including timing differences and implementation costs.
Rebalancing Frequency settings offer two options: Monthly and Quarterly. While monthly rebalancing provides more precise allocation control, quarterly rebalancing typically proves more cost-effective for most investors due to reduced transaction costs. The indicator automatically detects the first trading day of each period, ensuring rebalancing occurs at optimal times regardless of weekends, holidays, or market closures.
The Rebalancing Threshold parameter, adjustable from 0.5% to 10%, determines when allocation drift triggers rebalancing recommendations. Conservative settings like 1-2% maintain tight allocation control but increase trading frequency, while wider thresholds like 3-5% reduce trading costs but allow greater allocation drift. This flexibility accommodates different risk tolerances and cost structures.
Visual Display System
The Show All Weather Calculator toggle controls the main dashboard visibility, allowing users to focus on chart visualization when detailed metrics aren't needed. When enabled, this comprehensive dashboard displays current portfolio value, individual ETF allocations, target versus actual weights, rebalancing status, and performance metrics in a professionally formatted table.
Economic Environment Display provides context about current market conditions based on growth and inflation indicators. While simplified compared to Bridgewater's sophisticated regime detection, this feature helps users understand which economic "season" currently prevails and which asset classes should theoretically benefit.
Rebalancing Signals illuminate when portfolio drift exceeds user-defined thresholds, highlighting specific ETFs that require adjustment. These signals use color coding to indicate urgency: green for balanced allocations, yellow for moderate drift, and red for significant deviations requiring immediate attention.
Advanced Label System
The rebalancing label system represents one of the indicator's most innovative features, providing three distinct detail levels to accommodate different user needs and experience levels. The "None" setting displays simple symbols marking portfolio start and rebalancing events without cluttering the chart with text. This minimal approach suits experienced investors who understand the implications of each symbol.
"Basic" label mode shows essential information including portfolio values at each rebalancing point, enabling quick assessment of strategy performance over time. These labels display "START $X" for portfolio initiation and "RBL $Y" for rebalancing events, providing clear performance tracking without overwhelming detail.
"Detailed" labels provide comprehensive trading instructions including exact buy and sell quantities for each ETF. These labels might display "RBL $125,000 BUY 15 SPY SELL 25 TLT BUY 8 IEF NO TRADES DJP SELL 12 SCHP" providing complete implementation guidance. This feature essentially transforms the indicator into a personal portfolio manager, eliminating guesswork about exact trades required.
Professional Color Themes
Eight professionally designed color themes adapt the indicator's appearance to different aesthetic preferences and market analysis styles. The "Gold" theme reflects traditional wealth management aesthetics, while "EdgeTools" provides modern professional appearance. "Behavioral" uses psychologically informed colors that reinforce disciplined decision-making, while "Quant" employs high-contrast combinations favored by quantitative analysts.
"Ocean," "Fire," "Matrix," and "Arctic" themes provide distinctive visual identities for traders who prefer unique chart aesthetics. Each theme automatically adjusts for dark or light mode optimization, ensuring optimal readability across different TradingView configurations.
Real-Time Portfolio Tracking
The portfolio simulation engine continuously tracks five separate ETF positions: SPY for stocks, TLT for long-term bonds, IEF for intermediate-term bonds, DJP for commodities, and SCHP for TIPS. Each position's value updates in real-time based on current market prices, providing instant feedback about portfolio performance and allocation drift.
Current share calculations determine exact holdings based on the most recent rebalancing, while target shares reflect optimal allocation based on current portfolio value. Trade calculations show precisely how many shares to buy or sell during rebalancing, eliminating manual calculations and potential errors.
Performance Analytics Suite
The indicator's performance measurement capabilities rival professional portfolio analysis software. Sharpe ratio calculations incorporate current risk-free rates obtained from Treasury yield data, providing accurate risk-adjusted performance assessment. Volatility measurements use rolling periods to capture changing market conditions while maintaining statistical significance.
Portfolio return calculations track both absolute and relative performance, comparing the All Weather implementation against individual asset classes and benchmark indices. These metrics update continuously, providing real-time assessment of strategy effectiveness and implementation quality.
Data Quality Monitoring
Sophisticated data quality checks ensure reliable indicator operation across different market conditions and potential data interruptions. The system monitors all five ETF price feeds plus economic data sources, providing quality scores that alert users to potential data issues that might affect calculations.
When data quality degrades, the indicator automatically switches to fallback values or alternative data sources, maintaining functionality during temporary market data interruptions. This robust design ensures consistent operation even during volatile market conditions when data feeds occasionally experience disruptions.
Risk Management and Behavioral Considerations
Despite its sophisticated design, the All Weather Strategy faces behavioral challenges that have derailed countless well-intentioned investment plans. The strategy's conservative nature means it will underperform growth stocks during bull markets, potentially by substantial margins. Maintaining discipline during these periods requires understanding that the strategy optimizes for risk-adjusted returns over absolute returns.
Behavioral finance research by Kahneman and Tversky (1979) demonstrates that investors feel losses approximately twice as intensely as equivalent gains. This loss aversion creates powerful psychological pressure to abandon defensive strategies during bull markets when aggressive portfolios appear more attractive. The All Weather Strategy's bond-heavy allocation will seem overly conservative when technology stocks double in value, as occurred repeatedly during the 2010s.
Conversely, the strategy's defensive characteristics provide psychological comfort during market stress. When stocks crash 30-50%, as they periodically do, the All Weather portfolio's modest losses feel manageable rather than catastrophic. This emotional stability enables investors to maintain their investment discipline when others capitulate, often at the worst possible times.
Rebalancing discipline presents another behavioral challenge. Selling winners to buy losers contradicts natural human tendencies but remains essential for the strategy's success. When stocks have outperformed bonds for several quarters, rebalancing requires selling high-performing stock positions to purchase seemingly stagnant bond positions. This action feels counterintuitive but captures the strategy's systematic approach to risk management.
Tax considerations add complexity for taxable accounts. Frequent rebalancing generates taxable events that can erode after-tax returns, particularly for high-income investors facing elevated capital gains rates. Tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs provide ideal vehicles for All Weather implementation, eliminating tax friction from rebalancing activities.
Capital Requirements and Cost Analysis
Comprehensive cost analysis reveals the capital requirements for effective All Weather implementation. Annual expenses include management fees for each ETF, transaction costs from rebalancing, and bid-ask spreads from trading less liquid securities.
ETF expense ratios vary significantly across asset classes. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF charges 0.09% annually, while the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF charges 0.20%. The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF charges 0.15%, the Schwab US TIPS ETF charges 0.05%, and the iPath Bloomberg Commodity Index ETF charges 0.75%. Weighted by the All Weather allocations, total expense ratios average approximately 0.19% annually.
Transaction costs depend heavily on broker selection and account size. Premium brokers like Interactive Brokers charge $1-2 per trade, resulting in $20-40 annually for quarterly rebalancing. Discount brokers may charge higher per-trade fees but offer commission-free ETF trading for selected funds. Zero-commission brokers eliminate explicit trading costs but often impose wider bid-ask spreads that function as hidden fees.
Bid-ask spreads represent the difference between buying and selling prices for each security. Highly liquid ETFs like SPY maintain spreads of 1-2 basis points, while less liquid commodity ETFs may exhibit spreads of 5-10 basis points. These costs accumulate through rebalancing activities, typically totaling 10-15 basis points annually.
For a $100,000 portfolio, total annual costs including expense ratios, transaction fees, and spreads typically range from 0.35% to 0.45%, or $350-450 annually. These costs decline as a percentage of assets as portfolio size increases, reaching approximately 0.25% for portfolios exceeding $250,000.
Comparing costs to potential benefits reveals the strategy's value proposition. Historical analysis suggests the All Weather approach reduces portfolio volatility by 35-40% compared to stock-heavy allocations while maintaining competitive returns. This volatility reduction provides substantial value during market stress, potentially preventing behavioral mistakes that destroy long-term wealth.
Alternative Implementations and Customizations
While the original All Weather allocation provides an excellent starting point, investors may consider modifications based on personal circumstances, market conditions, or geographic considerations. International diversification represents one potential enhancement, adding exposure to developed and emerging market bonds and equities.
Geographic customization becomes important for non-US investors. European investors might replace US Treasury bonds with German Bunds or broader European government bond indices. Currency hedging decisions add complexity but may reduce volatility for investors whose spending occurs in non-dollar currencies.
Tax-location strategies optimize after-tax returns by placing tax-inefficient assets in tax-advantaged accounts while holding tax-efficient assets in taxable accounts. TIPS and commodity ETFs generate ordinary income taxed at higher rates, making them candidates for retirement account placement. Stock ETFs generate qualified dividends and long-term capital gains taxed at lower rates, making them suitable for taxable accounts.
Some investors prefer implementing the bond allocation through individual Treasury securities rather than ETFs, eliminating management fees while gaining precise maturity control. Treasury auctions provide access to new securities without bid-ask spreads, though this approach requires more sophisticated portfolio management.
Factor-based implementations replace broad market ETFs with factor-tilted alternatives. Value-tilted stock ETFs, quality-focused bond ETFs, or momentum-based commodity indices may enhance returns while maintaining the All Weather framework's diversification benefits. However, these modifications introduce additional complexity and potential tracking error.
Conclusion: Embracing the Long Game
The All Weather Strategy represents more than an investment approach; it embodies a philosophy of financial resilience that prioritizes sustainable wealth building over speculative gains. In an investment landscape increasingly dominated by algorithmic trading, meme stocks, and cryptocurrency volatility, Dalio's methodical approach offers a refreshing alternative grounded in economic theory and historical evidence.
The strategy's greatest strength lies not in its potential for extraordinary returns, but in its capacity to deliver reasonable returns across diverse economic environments while protecting capital during market stress. This characteristic becomes increasingly valuable as investors approach or enter retirement, when portfolio preservation assumes greater importance than aggressive growth.
Implementation requires discipline, adequate capital, and realistic expectations. The strategy will underperform growth-oriented approaches during bull markets while providing superior downside protection during bear markets. Investors must embrace this trade-off consciously, understanding that the strategy optimizes for long-term wealth building rather than short-term performance.
The All Weather Strategy Indicator democratizes access to institutional-quality portfolio management, providing individual investors with tools previously available only to wealthy families and institutions. By automating allocation tracking, rebalancing signals, and performance analysis, the indicator removes much of the complexity that has historically limited sophisticated strategy implementation.
For investors seeking a systematic, evidence-based approach to long-term wealth building, the All Weather Strategy provides a compelling framework. Its emphasis on diversification, risk management, and behavioral discipline aligns with the fundamental principles that have created lasting wealth throughout financial history. While the strategy may not generate headlines or inspire cocktail party conversations, it offers something more valuable: a reliable path toward financial security across all economic seasons.
As Dalio himself notes, "The biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent past is likely to persist, and they design their portfolios accordingly." The All Weather Strategy's enduring appeal lies in its rejection of this recency bias, instead embracing the uncertainty of markets while positioning for success regardless of which economic season unfolds.
STEP-BY-STEP INDICATOR SETUP GUIDE
Setting up the All Weather Strategy Indicator requires careful attention to each configuration parameter to ensure optimal implementation. This comprehensive setup guide walks through every setting and explains its impact on strategy performance.
Initial Setup Process
Begin by adding the indicator to your TradingView chart. Search for "Ray Dalio's All Weather Strategy" in the indicator library and apply it to any chart. The indicator operates independently of the underlying chart symbol, drawing data directly from the five required ETFs regardless of which security appears on the chart.
Portfolio Configuration Settings
Start with the Portfolio Capital input, which drives all subsequent calculations. Enter your exact investable capital, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000,000. This input determines share quantities, trade recommendations, and performance calculations. Conservative recommendations suggest minimum capitals of $50,000 for basic implementation or $100,000 for optimal precision.
Select your Portfolio Start Date carefully, as this establishes the baseline for all performance calculations. Choose the date when you actually began implementing the All Weather Strategy, not when you first learned about it. This date should reflect when you first purchased ETFs according to the target allocation, creating realistic performance tracking.
Choose your Rebalancing Frequency based on your cost structure and precision preferences. Monthly rebalancing provides tighter allocation control but increases transaction costs. Quarterly rebalancing offers the optimal balance for most investors between allocation precision and cost control. The indicator automatically detects appropriate trading days regardless of your selection.
Set the Rebalancing Threshold based on your tolerance for allocation drift and transaction costs. Conservative investors preferring tight control should use 1-2% thresholds, while cost-conscious investors may prefer 3-5% thresholds. Lower thresholds maintain more precise allocations but trigger more frequent trading.
Display Configuration Options
Enable Show All Weather Calculator to display the comprehensive dashboard containing portfolio values, allocations, and performance metrics. This dashboard provides essential information for portfolio management and should remain enabled for most users.
Show Economic Environment displays current economic regime classification based on growth and inflation indicators. While simplified compared to Bridgewater's sophisticated models, this feature provides useful context for understanding current market conditions.
Show Rebalancing Signals highlights when portfolio allocations drift beyond your threshold settings. These signals use color coding to indicate urgency levels, helping prioritize rebalancing activities.
Advanced Label Customization
Configure Show Rebalancing Labels based on your need for chart annotations. These labels mark important portfolio events and can provide valuable historical context, though they may clutter charts during extended time periods.
Select appropriate Label Detail Levels based on your experience and information needs. "None" provides minimal symbols suitable for experienced users. "Basic" shows portfolio values at key events. "Detailed" provides complete trading instructions including exact share quantities for each ETF.
Appearance Customization
Choose Color Themes based on your aesthetic preferences and trading style. "Gold" reflects traditional wealth management appearance, while "EdgeTools" provides modern professional styling. "Behavioral" uses psychologically informed colors that reinforce disciplined decision-making.
Enable Dark Mode Optimization if using TradingView's dark theme for optimal readability and contrast. This setting automatically adjusts all colors and transparency levels for the selected theme.
Set Main Line Width based on your chart resolution and visual preferences. Higher width values provide clearer allocation lines but may overwhelm smaller charts. Most users prefer width settings of 2-3 for optimal visibility.
Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues
If the indicator displays "Data not available" messages, verify that all five ETFs (SPY, TLT, IEF, DJP, SCHP) have valid price data on your selected timeframe. The indicator requires daily data availability for all components.
When rebalancing signals seem inconsistent, check your threshold settings and ensure sufficient time has passed since the last rebalancing event. The indicator only triggers signals on designated rebalancing days (first trading day of each period) when drift exceeds threshold levels.
If labels appear at unexpected chart locations, verify that your chart displays percentage values rather than price values. The indicator forces percentage formatting and 0-40% scaling for optimal allocation visualization.
COMPREHENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING
PRIMARY SOURCES AND RAY DALIO WORKS
Dalio, R. (2017). Principles: Life and work. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Dalio, R. (2018). A template for understanding big debt crises. Bridgewater Associates.
Dalio, R. (2021). Principles for dealing with the changing world order: Why nations succeed and fail. New York: Simon & Schuster.
BRIDGEWATER ASSOCIATES RESEARCH PAPERS
Jensen, G., Kertesz, A. & Prince, B. (2010). All Weather strategy: Bridgewater's approach to portfolio construction. Bridgewater Associates Research.
Prince, B. (2011). An in-depth look at the investment logic behind the All Weather strategy. Bridgewater Associates Daily Observations.
Bridgewater Associates. (2015). Risk parity in the context of larger portfolio construction. Institutional Research.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON RISK PARITY AND PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION
Ang, A. & Bekaert, G. (2002). International asset allocation with regime shifts. The Review of Financial Studies, 15(4), 1137-1187.
Bodie, Z. & Rosansky, V. I. (1980). Risk and return in commodity futures. Financial Analysts Journal, 36(3), 27-39.
Campbell, J. Y. & Viceira, L. M. (2001). Who should buy long-term bonds? American Economic Review, 91(1), 99-127.
Clarke, R., De Silva, H. & Thorley, S. (2013). Risk parity, maximum diversification, and minimum variance: An analytic perspective. Journal of Portfolio Management, 39(3), 39-53.
Fama, E. F. & French, K. R. (2004). The capital asset pricing model: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18(3), 25-46.
BEHAVIORAL FINANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES
Kahneman, D. & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263-292.
Thaler, R. H. & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Montier, J. (2007). Behavioural investing: A practitioner's guide to applying behavioural finance. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
MODERN PORTFOLIO THEORY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio selection. The Journal of Finance, 7(1), 77-91.
Sharpe, W. F. (1964). Capital asset prices: A theory of market equilibrium under conditions of risk. The Journal of Finance, 19(3), 425-442.
Black, F. & Litterman, R. (1992). Global portfolio optimization. Financial Analysts Journal, 48(5), 28-43.
PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION AND ETF ANALYSIS
Gastineau, G. L. (2010). The exchange-traded funds manual. 2nd ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Poterba, J. M. & Shoven, J. B. (2002). Exchange-traded funds: A new investment option for taxable investors. American Economic Review, 92(2), 422-427.
Israelsen, C. L. (2005). A refinement to the Sharpe ratio and information ratio. Journal of Asset Management, 5(6), 423-427.
ECONOMIC CYCLE ANALYSIS AND ASSET CLASS RESEARCH
Ilmanen, A. (2011). Expected returns: An investor's guide to harvesting market rewards. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
Swensen, D. F. (2009). Pioneering portfolio management: An unconventional approach to institutional investment. Rev. ed. New York: Free Press.
Siegel, J. J. (2014). Stocks for the long run: The definitive guide to financial market returns & long-term investment strategies. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES
Taleb, N. N. (2007). The black swan: The impact of the highly improbable. New York: Random House.
Lowenstein, R. (2000). When genius failed: The rise and fall of Long-Term Capital Management. New York: Random House.
Stein, D. M. & DeMuth, P. (2003). Systematic withdrawal from retirement portfolios: The impact of asset allocation decisions on portfolio longevity. AAII Journal, 25(7), 8-12.
CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Asness, C. S., Frazzini, A. & Pedersen, L. H. (2012). Leverage aversion and risk parity. Financial Analysts Journal, 68(1), 47-59.
Roncalli, T. (2013). Introduction to risk parity and budgeting. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Ibbotson Associates. (2023). Stocks, bonds, bills, and inflation 2023 yearbook. Chicago: Morningstar.
PERIODICALS AND ONGOING RESEARCH
Journal of Portfolio Management - Quarterly publication featuring cutting-edge research on portfolio construction and risk management
Financial Analysts Journal - Bi-monthly publication of the CFA Institute with practical investment research
Bridgewater Associates Daily Observations - Regular market commentary and research from the creators of the All Weather Strategy
RECOMMENDED READING SEQUENCE
For investors new to the All Weather Strategy, begin with Dalio's "Principles" for philosophical foundation, then proceed to the Bridgewater research papers for technical details. Supplement with Markowitz's original portfolio theory work and behavioral finance literature from Kahneman and Tversky.
Intermediate students should focus on academic papers by Ang & Bekaert on regime shifts, Clarke et al. on risk parity methods, and Ilmanen's comprehensive analysis of expected returns across asset classes.
Advanced practitioners will benefit from Roncalli's technical treatment of risk parity mathematics, Asness et al.'s academic critique of leverage aversion, and ongoing research in the Journal of Portfolio Management.
