Stochastic Momentum Index Forex Technical Analysis Forex Trading Signals
Developed by William Blau.
The Stochastic Momentum Index, SMI is an adaptation of the classic Stochastic Oscillator that smoothes out the stochastic oscillations.
Construction of Stochastic Momentum Index
This indicator is calculated by comparing the currency price relative to the average of an n number of periods.
Then instead of plotting these values directly, smoothing using an Exponential Moving Average is applied and then the values plotted to form the SMI.
When the closing price is greater than the average of the range, the SMI will move up.
When the closing price is less than the average of the range, the SMI will move down.
This oscillator ranges between the values of +100 and -100, this indicator is also less prone to whipsaws compared to the stochastic oscillator.
Forex Technical Analysis and Generating Forex Trading Signals
Buy and Sell Signals/ Crossover Signals
The Stochastic Momentum Index can be used to generate buy and sell signals using the method shown below, Buy when the SMI is heading upwards and sell when its heading downwards.
Buy and Sell Signals/ Crossover Signals
Overbought/Oversold Level Crossovers
- Overbought levels above +40
- Oversold levels below -40
Buy signal is generated when this oscillator falls below oversold level and then rises above this level and starts to move upwards.
Sell Signal is generated when this oscillator rises above overbought level and then falls below this level and starts to move downwards.
Divergence Trading
The example below shows a bearish classic divergence between the price and the SMI. When the Stochastic Momentum Index showed this divergence the price trend reversed and started to move in a downward direction.
Bearish Divergence
