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Technical Analysis Guide

Oscillators - Momentum Indicator

The Momentum indicator value is defined as the difference between price levels after a specified time period. If for example we take a period of 5, then the Momentum oscillator will be defined as the difference between the current close and the close 5 bars earlier. All negative and positive values are displayed on the chart with a zero line in the middle.

In MetaTrader 4, the Momentum indicator is defined not as the difference, but the correlation between the current price and the price n periods before:

MOMENTUM = CLOSE (i) / CLOSE (i - n) * 100

Where:

  • CLOSE (i) — current bar close;
  • CLOSE (i - n) — close n bars before.

Momentum signals:

  • if the indicator is below 100, then the market is bearish;
  • if above 100 then the market is bullish;
  • if the indicator is around 100, it signifies a flat market;
  • bullish divergence / bearish convergence - the main signal of the weakness of the prevailing trend;
  • in a flat market, exit from the overbought (oversold) areas is a signal to sell (buy).

In order to add Momentum indicator to the active chart in MetaTrader 4, use the "Insert -> Indicators -> Oscillators -> Momentum" menu sequence.

Bullish divergence / bearish convergence is the main Momentum signal:

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Main Momentum signal

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