Indicator Reference
Algo Architech supports a comprehensive suite of 20+ technical indicators spanning Trend, Momentum, Volatility, and Volume categories. Every indicator can be used in Comparison Rules, Crossover Rules, and Trend Detection.
Trend Indicators
Trend indicators help identify the overall market direction and filter trades accordingly.
| Indicator | Parameters | Description | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMA (Simple Moving Average) | Period | Arithmetic mean of closing prices over N periods | Trend direction, support/resistance |
| EMA (Exponential Moving Average) | Period | Weighted average giving more importance to recent prices | Faster trend detection, crossover signals |
| MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) | Fast, Slow, Signal | Difference between two EMAs with a signal line | Momentum shifts, crossover entries |
| ADX (Average Directional Index) | Period | Measures trend strength (not direction) | Filter ranging vs trending markets (>25 = trending) |
| Supertrend | Period, Multiplier | ATR-based trend overlay on price | Clear bullish/bearish signals, trailing stop |
| Parabolic SAR | Step, Max Step | Dots above/below price indicating trend direction | Trailing stop, trend reversal detection |
| Ichimoku Base (Kijun-sen) | Period | Midpoint of highest high and lowest low over N periods | Dynamic support/resistance |
Momentum Indicators
Momentum indicators measure the speed and strength of price movements.
| Indicator | Parameters | Range | Description | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSI (Relative Strength Index) | Period | 0–100 | Measures speed and magnitude of recent price changes | Overbought (>70), Oversold (<30), momentum confirmation |
| Stochastic (%K, %D) | Period, K Smooth, D Smooth | 0–100 | Compares closing price to high-low range | Crossover signals, extreme readings |
| Stochastic RSI | Period, K, D | 0–100 | RSI of RSI — more sensitive than standard RSI | Early momentum shifts, faster signals |
| Awesome Oscillator | Fast, Slow | Unbounded | Difference between 5-period and 34-period SMA of midpoints | Zero-line crossovers, saucer setups |
| Williams %R | Period | -100 to 0 | Inverse stochastic | Overbought (> -20), Oversold (< -80) |
Volatility Indicators
Volatility indicators measure market turbulence and expansion/contraction cycles.
| Indicator | Parameters | Description | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bollinger Bands (Upper) | Period, StdDev | Upper bound = SMA + (StdDev × multiplier) | Overbought detection, breakout targets |
| Bollinger Bands (Lower) | Period, StdDev | Lower bound = SMA - (StdDev × multiplier) | Oversold detection, support levels |
| Bollinger Band Width | Period, StdDev | Distance between upper and lower bands | Squeeze detection (low width = impending breakout) |
| ATR (Average True Range) | Period | Average of true ranges over N periods | Volatility measurement, dynamic stop-loss sizing |
| Keltner Channels | EMA Period, ATR Period, Multiplier | EMA-based bands using ATR | Trend confirmation, breakout detection |
| Donchian Channels | Period | Highest high and lowest low over N periods | Breakout strategies, range identification |
Volume Indicators
Volume indicators confirm price movements by analyzing trading volume.
| Indicator | Parameters | Description | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) | Session-based | Average price weighted by cumulative volume | Institutional fair value, intraday support/resistance |
| Rolling VWAP | Period | VWAP calculated over a rolling window | Multi-day volume-weighted trend |
| MFI (Money Flow Index) | Period | Volume-weighted RSI | Buying/selling pressure (>80 = overbought) |
| CMF (Chaikin Money Flow) | Period | Accumulation/distribution based on close position within range | Confirms trend strength via money flow |
Indicator Selection Tips
Choosing the Right Indicators
Don’t stack redundant indicators. Using RSI + Stochastic + Williams %R together is redundant — they all measure the same thing (momentum). Instead, combine indicators from different categories:
| Layer | Category | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Trend Filter | Trend | SMA(200) or ADX |
| Momentum Trigger | Momentum | RSI or MACD Crossover |
| Volatility Context | Volatility | ATR or Bollinger Width |
| Volume Confirmation | Volume | VWAP or MFI |
Recommended starter combo: SMA(200) for trend + RSI(14) for momentum + VWAP for volume context.
Using Indicators in Rules
Every indicator listed above can be used in all four rule types:
| Rule Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Comparison | RSI(14) > 70 |
| Crossover | EMA(9) crosses above EMA(21) |
| Trend | SMA(20) Rising for 3 bars |
| Compare vs OHLC | VWAP > Close |
Each indicator can also have its timeframe overridden independently, enabling multi-timeframe analysis within a single strategy.
Next Steps
Now that you understand entry conditions, learn how to build the positions your strategy will trade:
→ Next: Position Builder Overview