Showing posts with label NR4. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NR4. Show all posts

Monday, September 25, 2023

NR4 & NR7 (Narrow Range 4 & 7) and ID (Inside Days) | Toby Crabel

Narrow range patterns were described by Tony Crabel in his book, "Day Trading with Short Term Price Patterns & Opening Range Breakout". Even though it was published in 1990, many of Crabel's concepts and set-ups are still effective, and in particular his NR4 (Narrow Range 4) and NR7 (Narrow Range 7) patterns became quite popular with short-term traders. The idea for set-ups is similar to the Bollinger Band Squeeze or Short-Squeezes and Long-Squeezes in general: a volatility contraction is followed by a volatility expansion; narrow range days mark price contractions that precede price expansions. The NR7 day and the NR4 day as such are 'neutral' when it comes to future price direction, and other tools need to be employed to determine directional bias. Because NR4/NR7 days are relatively commonplace and the range is small by definition, the chances of whipsaw are above average. A break above the NR7 high can fail and be followed by a break below the NR7 high. Just be aware of this probability and keep the bigger picture in mind. In other words, be wary of sell signals within a bullish pattern, such as a falling flag or at a support test.
 
Examples of Narrow Range 7 Inside Days (IDnr7) in the Nasdaq.

Traders will want to qualify NR7 signals because they are quite frequent. A typical instrument will produce dozens of NR7 days in a twelve month period and a daily scan of US stocks will often return hundreds of stocks with NR7 days. Traders can increase or decrease the number of narrow range periods to affect the results. A decrease from NR7 to NR4 would increase the number of instruments fitting the criteria, while an increase from NR7 to e.g. NR20 would decrease the number of signal days. Consider NR7 and NR4 days that are at the same time Inside Days (IDnr4, IDnr7) also as signal days (see chart above).

Strategy: This strategy starts with the day's range, which is simply the difference between the high and the low. Crabel used the absolute range, as opposed to the percentage range, which would be the absolute range divided by the close or the midpoint. Because we are only dealing with four and seven days, the difference between the absolute range and percentage range is negligible. Crabel focused on two different narrow range timeframes: four days and seven days. An NR4 pattern would be the narrowest range in four days, while an NR7 would be the narrowest range in seven days. It is a very short-term pattern designed to initiate a trade based on an "opening range breakout", which is another term from Crabel's book. Look for an upside breakout when prices move above the high of the narrow range day and a downside breakdown when prices move below the low of the narrow range day.

Bull Signal:
  1. The daily bias is bullish.
  2. Identify a NR4, a NR7, an IDnr4 or an IDnr4 day.
  3. Buy on move above high of narrow range day high.
  4. Set trailing stop-loss.
Bear Signal:
  1. The daily bias is bearish.
  2. Identify a NR4, a NR7, an IDnr4 or an IDnr4 day.
  3. Sell on move below low of narrow range day low.
  4. Set trailing stop-loss.
Targets: Because this is a short-term setup, it is important that the trade starts working right away. Failure to continue in the direction of the signal is the first warning. After a buy signal, a move below the low of the narrow range day would be negative. Conversely, a move above the high of the narrow range day would negate a sell signal. Consider profit targets and stop-losses. Crabel took profits quite quickly, usually at the close of the first trading day or on the first profitable close. Again, this is very short-term-oriented and might not be suitable for all traders. Alternatively, profits can be taken near the next resistance levels or a percentage target can be used. Base stops on previous highs and lows, the Average True Range (ATR), etc. For example, the stop-loss on a long position could be set two ATR values below current prices and trailed higher.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

S&P 500 Index vs Equity Put / Call Ratio | Overbought

Up-Turn on Dec 26 (Wed) on decreasing volume
+ (P/C Ratio + RSI2 @ Extremes + NR4/NR7 + Negative Close above 3DMA)
= High + Sideways to Down on Dec 31 (Mon) into Jan 03 (Thu) = Perihelion |
Jan 5 (Sat) = New Moon + Solar Eclipse

Sunday, April 2, 2017

S&P 500 Index vs Market Momentum │ Greed


On March 31, 2017 (Fri) the daily price bar's Range of the SPX was less than the previous 13 bars, and the narrowest since the last short term change in the daily trend on March 27 (Mon). This makes it a Narrow Range 4 Day (NR4).

Sunday, April 21, 2013

DJI vs Bradley Index

Calculated and charted with Sergey Tarassov's Timing Solution (see also HERE)
CITs in this optimized Bradley Index:
 2013-01-13 (Sun)
2013-01-24 (Thu)
2013-02-07 (Thu)
2013-02-11 (Mon)
2013-02-14 (Thu)
2013-02-25 (Mon)
2013-03-11 (Mon)
2013-03-28 (Thu)
2013-04-11 (Thu)
2013-04-21 (Sun) 

Credits: Francis Bussiere - HERE
2013-04-28 (Sun)
2013-05-03 (Fri)
2013-05-10 (Fri)
2013-05-20 (Mon)
2013-05-26 (Sun)
2013-06-08 (Sat)
2013-06-21 (Fri)
2013-07-29 (Mon)
2013-08-15 (Thu)
2013-08-23 (Fri)
2013-09-01 (Sun)
2013-09-16 (Mon)
2013-09-30 (Mon)
2013-10-15 (Tue)
2013-10-20 (Sun)
2013-11-05 (Tue)
2013-11-15 (Fri)
2013-11-27 (Wed)
2013-12-14 (Sat)
2013-12-27 (Fri)
2014-01-07 (Tue)

2014-01-09 (Thu)
Credits: Alphee Lavoie - HERE
Credits: Mike Korell - HERE
2014-01-13 (Mon)
2014-02-06 (Thu)
2014-02-09 (Sun)
2014-02-14 (Fri)
2014-03-17 (Mon)
2014-04-13 (Sun)
2014-04-23 (Wed)
2014-05-12 (Mon)
2014-05-21 (Wed)
2014-06-01 (Sun)
2014-06-19 (Thu)
2014-07-06 (Sun)
2014-07-17 (Thu)
2014-07-23 (Wed)
2014-08-04 (Mon)
2014-08-11 (Mon)
2014-08-16 (Sat)
2014-08-30 (Sat)

2014-09-03 (Wed)
2014-09-13 (Sat)
2014-09-21 (Sun)
2014-10-02 (Thu)
2014-10-08 (Wed)
2014-10-18 (Sat)
2014-11-03 (Mon)
2014-11-23 (Sun)
2014-12-16 (Tue)
2014-12-24 (Wed)
2015-01-11 (Sun)


See also HERE & HERE



HERE

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Toby Crabel - Definition of Patterns

Toby Crabel wrote a book called Day Trading With Short Term Price Patterns and Opening Range Breakout which is no longer in print and sometimes sold on eBay for more than $1,000. In this book he defines a number of trading patterns which have become popular numbers to calculate and watch among day traders and swing traders. He is a United States self-made millionaire commodities trader. The Financial Times called him "the most well-known trader on the counter-trend side" He is the fund manager of "Crabel Capital Management". ranking number 101 out of 196 funds on Absolute Return magazine list Absolute Return survey of U.S. groups with more than $1 billion AUM, July 2005. This is the latest current ranking of the top 196 money managers in the country. Mr Crabel manages 3.2 billion dollars and had a growth of 16.7% in 2005. A producer of consistent returns whatever the weather, Crabel has avoided having a losing year from 1991 to 2002 (Wikipedia).

Stretch
The Stretch is calculated by taking the 10 day Simple Moving Average (SMA) of the absolute difference between the Open and either the High or Low, whichever difference is smaller.
 
For example, if the Open is 1250, the High is 1258, and the Low is 1240, then we would take the value of 8 for that day because 1258-1250 is 8 which is smaller than 1250-1240 which is 10. We then add together all of these values for the last 10 trading days and divide this by 10 to get the 10 day SMA. This value will then become the Stretch. Stretch Calculation:

1.  Take the Open, High and Low of each day.
2.  Find delta of High - Open.
3.  Find delta of Open - Low.
4.  Which ever is lower between step 1 and step 2 take that value for each day.
5.  Stretch = average of the values of past 10 days.

The Stretch is used in calculating where to enter the trade and where to place a stop using the ORB and ORBP trading strategies. Before buying and selling the Stretch, also consider support and resistance-levels derived from the Daily Classic Pivot Point.















Daily Classic Pivot Points
The formula used in the calculation of Classic Pivot Points are:
 
R4 = R3 + RANGE (same as: PP + RANGE * 3)
R3 = R2 + RANGE (same as: PP + RANGE * 2)
R2 = PP + RANGE
R1 = (2 * PP) - LOW
PP = (HIGH + LOW + CLOSE) / 3
S1 = (2 * PP) - HIGH
S2 = PP - RANGE
S3 = S2 - RANGE (same as: PP - RANGE * 2)
S4 = S3 - RANGE (same as: PP - RANGE * 3)

Where R1 through R4 are Resistance levels 1 to 4, PP is the Pivot Point, S1 through S4 are support levels 1 to 4, RANGE is the High minus the Low of yesterday's daily EOD.

Opening Range Breakout = ORB
Using this strategy, the trader places a buy stop just above the Open price plus the Stretch and a sell stop just below the Open price minus the Stretch. The first stop triggered enters the trader into the trade and the other stop becomes the protective stop.
 
Crabel's research shows that the earlier in the trading session the entry stop is hit the more likely the trade will be profitable at the close. A market movement that kicks off a trend quickly in the current trading session could add significant profit to a trader's position by the close and should be considered for a multi-day trade.
 
The ORB can be utilized as a general indicator of bias every day. Whichever side of the stretch is traded first will indicate bias in that direction for the next two to three hours of the session. This information alone will keep you out of trouble, if nothing else.
 
Multiple contracts can be used when entering on an ORB or ORBP. This allows for some profit taking as the move continues to guarantee at least some profit in the case of a pullback to the break-even stop. A trailing stop is also very effective.
 
If you miss the ORB and early entry occurred, any 3/8 to 1/2 retracement of the established range can be used as an entry point with stops beyond the 5/8 level. This technique can be utilized twice, but becomes treacherous on the third retracement.

Extending Crabel's research results it is obvious that as time passes and we are not filled early on then the risk increases and it becomes prudent to reduce the size of the position during the day. Trades filled towards the end of the day carry the most risk and the later in the day the trade is filled the less likely the trader will want to carry that trade overnight. Variations of this strategy include the Opening Range Breakout Preference (ORBP - HERE).

Opening Range Breakout Preference = ORBP
An ORBP trade is a one sided Opening Range Breakout (ORB) trade. If other technical indicators show a strong trend in one direction then the trader will exercise a "Preference" for the direction in which to trade the ORB trade. A stop to open a position would be placed on the side of the trend only and if filled a protective stop would then be placed. The calculation of where to place the "stop to open" would be the same as that for the ORB trade: For longs, the Open price plus the Stretch and for shorts the Open price minus the Stretch. The ORBP trade is a specialized form of the ORB trade (HERE).  

Narrow Range = NR
If a price bar's Range is less than the previous bar's range it is said to have an NR. The opposite of NR is Wide Spread (WS). NR is technically NR2 when compared to NR4, NR5, and NR7.
Type: Trend-Continuation or Short-Term Breakout Set-up
Conditions: The current bar has the narrowest range (high - low) of the last X bars. The bar may or may not be an inside bar. Buy and Sell reference are the high and low of the NR bar.
 
Narrow Range 4 = NR4
If a price bar's Range is less than the previous 3 bars' ranges (measured independently) it is said to have the narrowest range in 4 days or NR4. The opposite of NR4 is WS4. NR, NR5, and NR7 are also closely watched price patterns.Type: Trend-Continuation or Short-Term Breakout Set-up

Narrow Range 5 = NR5
If a price bar's Range is less than the previous 4 bars' ranges (measured independently) it is said to have the narrowest range in 5 days or NR5. The opposite of NR5 is WS5. NR, NR4, and NR7 are also closely watched price patterns.Type: Trend-Continuation or Short-Term Breakout Set-up

Narrow Range 7 = NR7
If a price bar's Range is less than the previous 6 bars' ranges (measured independently) it is said to have the narrowest range in 7 days or NR7. The opposite of NR7 is WS7. NR, NR4, and NR5 are also closely watched price patterns.
Type: Trend-Continuation or Short-Term Breakout Set-up

Wide Spread = WS
If a price bar's Range is wider than the previous bar's range it is said to have a WS. The opposite of WS is NR. WS is technically WS2 when compared to WS4, WS5, and WS7.
WS4 = Wide Spread 4: If a price bar's Range is wider than the previous 3 bars' ranges (measured independently) it is said to have the widest range in 4 days or WS4. The opposite of WS4 is NR4. WS, WS5, and WS7 are also closely watched price patterns.

Inside Day = ID
If the high of the current day is lower than the high of the previous day AND the low of the current day is higher than the low of the previous day then we have an ID or Inside Day. The opposite to an ID is an Outside Day (OD).  

Type: Trend-Continuation or Short-Term Breakout Set-up.

Outside Day = OD
If the high of the current day is higher than the high of the previous day AND the low of the current day is lower than the low of the previous day then we have an OD or Outside Day. The opposite to an OD is an Inside Day (ID).

Bear Hook

A Bear Hook occurs when you have an NR with the Open less than the previous bar's Low AND the Close greater than the previous bar's Close.

Bull Hook
A Bull Hook occurs when you have an NR with the Open greater than the previous bar's High AND the Close less than the previous bar's Close.

Inside Day Narrow Range 4 = IDnr4
IDnr4 is an Inside Day (ID) with a Narrow Range 4 (NR4).
An IDnr4 is a combination of an ID and an NR4. This happens when the current day's high is lower than the previous day's high AND the current day's low is higher than the previous day's low AND the range is the narrowest when compared to the previous 3 trading days.

See also HERE 

2 Bar Narrow Range = 2BNR
If the 2-day-range (the higher of the 2 highs less the lower of the 2 lows) is the narrowest 2-day-range in the last 20 trading sessions then we are currently sitting on a 2BNR.

3 Bar Narrow Range = 3BNR
If the 3-day-range (the higher of the 3 highs less the lower of the 3 lows) is the narrowest 3-day-range in the last 20 trading sessions then this is true.

4 Bar Narrow Range = 4BNR
If the 4-day-range (the higher of the 4 highs less the lower of the 4 lows) is the narrowest 4-day-range in the last 30 trading sessions then this is true.

8 Bar Narrow Range = 8BNR
If the 8-day-range (the higher of the 8 highs less the lower of the 8 lows) is the narrowest 8-day-range in the last 40 trading sessions then this is true.

Credits: www.mypivots.com