If you've applied the Bollinger Bands for virtually any amount of time, you will recognize that breakout alerts are definitely more reliable in the event the bands are closer together.
Bollinger band width is an indicator resulting from Bollinger Bands. Inside his book, Bollinger on Bollinger Bands, John Bollinger identifies Bollinger band width as one of two indicators that may be produced from Bollinger Bands. One other indicator is %B.
Non-normalized band width measures the space, or difference, regarding the top band and also the bottom band. Band width decreases as Bollinger Bands slim and grows when Bollinger Bands widen. Since Bollinger Bands derive from the standard deviation, decreasing band width reflects lowering volatility and expanding band width demonstrates growing volatility.
Bollinger band width is ideal with regard to identifying volatility and what's known as The Squeeze. This happens any time volatility drops to a very low level, as denoted with the narrowing bands. The upper and also lower bands are based on the standard deviation, which is a measure of volatility. Thus, volatility shrinks when the bands narrow. The bands narrow when price flattens or moves inside a reasonably narrow range. The theory is that times of low volatility are usually followed by time periods of high volatility.
The market cycles to and fro between lower volatility (range contraction) and higher volatility (range expansion). Periods associated with lower volatility are usually followed by times of increased volatility.
Comparatively narrow band width (also called the Squeeze) may foreshadow a significant upward move and also downward move. After the Squeeze, a price surge and subsequent band break indicate the beginning of a whole new move. A brand new advance begins with the Squeeze and subsequent break above the top band. A new drop starts off with the Squeeze and succeeding break under the lower band.
As a price moves sideways, the Bollinger Bands get together since volatility goes down. At this time, you need to find your entry. As soon as the price breaks the upper Bollinger Band, there is a volatility breakout to the upside and that means you go long. In case the price breaks underneath the bottom Bollinger Band, you have a volatility breakout towards the downside so you enter a short position.
The closer the Bollinger Bands come together, the more effective the signal is on the breakout over either the upper or bottom Bollinger Band wall.
Employing Bollinger Bands as a volatility breakout indicator may also be used on weekly charts or longer timeframes. Volatility and band width on weekly charts is higher than on the daily chart. This makes sense for the reason that greater price moves should be expected over longer timeframes.
The danger with using Bollinger Bands as a volatility breakout indicator arises from what is often known as a head fake. Head fakes are when the upper or lower Bollinger Band is broke simply to reverse a couple of days later and stop you out from your position.
Some markets are definitely more vulnerable to head fakes compared with others at various times of the year. Examine past Squeezes for the stock you are considering trading and then determine if they included head fakes previously. Something else which can be done to reduce your losses in the case of a head fake will be to trade half a position the first powerful day of the Bollinger Band break, increasing the position upon a few days confirmation of the breakout and employing a parabolic stop to keep from getting hurt too much.
Loading...