STRSQZ -- Stretch and Squeeze (w auto calibrate)

This indicator displays the premium/discount between a future contract and its cash index
A popular display pair is YM and INDU

Basic Concept:
When the market is going up, the future leads the cash with premium.
When the market is going down, the future leads the cash with discount*.
(* or less premium)

The key is to look for excessive premium/discount at points of change.
(eg. at channel boundaries, price extremes, etc.,)

Note that this is not a Buy/Sell type of indicator
You will need to understand the workings of the market to exploit these signals.

Instructions:
set up 3 symbols in the chart:
data1: INDU index (1 minute)
data2: YM current month future contract (1 minute)
data3: YM current month future contract (5 minutes)

Set the first 2 symbols to invisible...
the 3rd symbol is your trading chart
(you can substitute the 3rd symbol with other instruments, eg. ES, NQ)

Note:
1. The indicator uses a moving average to surpress the noise. The first few bars of the day is not displayed
2. The indicator will stop plotting when the cash is closed
3. The histogram color threshold is user adjustable

[Tams]

Here are some of the chart examples.

Screen time is your best friend; you will need to learn which is signal and which is noise.

You are invited to post your charts and your interpretations.

enjoy


.

[aaa]

I always trade with the DJI cash 1 mn on my left screen and the EuroStoxx Future 1 mn on the right screen.

(Europe market follows US markets as a sticker)

The interpretation takes a long time and this indicator looks to be very interesting

I will try it next week

ThanX Tams

[aaa]

ATTENTION

This is A GREAT indicator, one the best one on my modest point of view.

I will post charts and interpretations this weekend

I added minor changes, if Tams agree

// version 5.6b
// Author: aa
// Date: 20090505

// 1) The Threshold.Upper and Threshold.Lower are linked

// 2) Choose between inserting the...
// ... Insert.Cash.1rst = 1
// ... Future first = 0

// 3) Set a noPlot color for good color synchronisation

[Tams]

Originally Posted by aaa »

ATTENTION

This is A GREAT indicator, one the best one on my modest point of view.

I will post charts and interpretations this weekend

I added minor changes, if Tams agree

of course... the idea of open source is for people to collaborate and improve/refine.

// version 5.6b
// Author: aa
// Date: 20090505

// 1) The Threshold.Upper and Threshold.Lower are linked

// 2) Choose between inserting the...
// ... Insert.Cash.1rst = 1
// ... Future first = 0

// 3) Set a noPlot color for good color synchronisation

Well done!
Thanks for the refinements.


my notes:

1. the original code was designed for INDU:YM pair.
there is a market hour difference between the 2 symbols
INDU closes at 1600ET, while YM closes at 1615ET.

The code checks for the first symbol's trading session,
and stops plotting when that session ends.
This is done to avoid the chart going haywire when only one data stream is present.

Therefore is it ok to put the cash (or any symbol) as data2, so long as the sessions end at the same time.


2. on the threshold:
one way to simplify it is to put a minus sign in front of the threshold:

If STRSQZ > Threshold then
setplotcolor (1, upcol)
else If STRSQZ < -Threshold then
setplotcolor (1, dncol)
...




ps. nice comments and section separations in the code

ps. thanks for adding the neutral color in the histogram.
I noticed the error yesterday, and was going to post the corrected code today. You beat me to it.

;-)

[aaa]

I'm Glad to collaborate with my few knoledge

Therefore is it ok to put the cash (or any symbol) as data2, so long as the sessions end at the same time.

I 've traded from 9:00 to 15:30 (Zurich Time) with the pair EuroStoxx cash/EuroStoxx Future

And at 15:30 I've swapped to the pair DJI cash/EuroStoxx without any problem

I added this because it was quicker to add a symbol on an existed graph rather that starting from 0.

It is very processing hard charge with 8 graphs for a quadriProcessor

My compliments for this great indicator ; I really improve my trading

[Tams]

Originally Posted by aaa »

I'm Glad to collaborate with my few knoledge
I 've traded from 9:00 to 15:30 (Zurich Time) with the pair EuroStoxx cash/EuroStoxx Future
And at 15:30 I've swapped to the pair DJI cash/EuroStoxx without any problem
I added this because it was quicker to add a symbol on an existed graph rather that starting from 0.

It is very processing hard charge with 8 graphs for a quadriProcessor

My compliments for this great indicator ; I really improve my trading

I regularly open 8 chart windows and 20+ charts.
My CPU (quad) barely moves.
Maybe you have a lot of days in your chart.


p.s. tick charts uses more resources. It is best to keep the days to a minimum on tick charts.

[aaa]

I use

3 workspaces

1 = 1 chart dayly 700 bars back + 1 chart 168 mn 700 bars back detached on a 2nd screen

2 = 1 chart 60 mn 700 bars barck + 1 chart 15 mn 700 bars back detached on a 2nd screen

The one I trade with
3 = ( 1 chart 5 mn 700 bars barck + 1 chart 1 mn 9 days back ) + 1 chart 1 mn 9 days back with 2 datas detached on a 2nd screen

Total = 8 datas in RT

And my CPU is over 50 oftenly 80%

I think that it could be indicator(s) which is bad writen...

PS I have a HMM with a 610 period this is why I use 700 bars back