Smart Periods

Smart Periods indicator enables you to plot 30 minute periods over other bar types. Many of the statistics we’ve developed in the trading room over the years involve 30 minute period ranges and the sequencing of 30 minute periods over various intervals. This has resulted in the development of Market Maps such as the Three Period Probability Walk, then that evolving into 4 Period walks, then the evolution of the Smart Super Map and then the current highest Generation, The Smart Ultra Map (These Maps are available from the Trading Room only as a subscription).  So, in addition to keeping track of developing 30 minute ranges, period extremes, and 30 minute period opens on your chart, Smart Periods can also be used to keep track of higer level mapping of the market with associated ranges, sequences, boundaries and etc.  Regardless of whetehr I an using Smart Periods for one or both of the above, I always have this indicator on my chart.

The Two Basic Uses reiterated:

• Keeping Track of 30 minute Period extremes and Developing Ranges on your trading chart.
• Keeping Track of Mapping, Sequencing and Developing Ranges

The indicator tracks developing Range over the 5 most recent periods and, additionally the Current Session Developing Range, the Overnight Range and Globex Ranges (see the image below).

In the chart, we see an ES chart with the entire day 30 minute periods mapped onto a Smart Super Renko bar.  This helps us to see what the important 30 minute time frame traders are looking at and responding to, while maintaining our trading environment / chart in the same chart panel.

Note the box I have in the top left.  This is showing the last most recent high was “L” period and the last most recent low (out of the last 5 periods (O, N, M, L & K)) was “K” period.  So I can see this at a glance or by looking to the chart.

The box also shows me what the ranges were.  On the line for K, it is showing 16 handles / points as the total range for the interval K to L.

O period (the current period), is / has currently developed to 3.75 points, while the interval, N O has developed to 6.25.

The interval LMN is 11.75 with L being the high.

Why would we have decided to display developing ranges in this way?  Because sometimes we want to keep track whether or not we are ahead or behind what is expected.  We do this a lot in the trading room daily and use Smart Periods in conjunction with a map like the Super Map or Ultra Map for Probability Stacking.

This is an indicator that I will not trade without.  It helps me to see the big picture, to understand higher level trends and probabilities associated with continuation.

We have also recently added the following rows and columns to Smart Periods (this is a major upgrade):

• We added the European session to the top portion of the box.
• Then we also added the Stretch and Stretcher for each (use the checkbox)
• And the %C.

Stretch is defined as the lesser of the High-Open or Open-Low for the period and the Stretcher is defined as the Range – Stretch, or simply the greater of the two. These metrics are helpful for seeing bigger trend patterns across sessions or periods. On the left side it represents up and on the right down. So, you can see the trend and break ratio on an ongoing basis at a glance.

The %C represents where you are in the given range. For example, if you close at the high, it is 100%, the low, 0%, on the halfback for the interval, 100%.

If you observe these live, and also use in conjunction with maps (if you are a trading room member), you might observe certain beneficial relationships across them as the market trends. We have found this to be quite useful 🙂

The manual covers more details and examples.

Also look in the related products section below or Smart Patterns Systems or other categories from the drop down menu above that include or can be combined with this great tool to create a comprehensive strategy and for special pricing.

As always, as if you need assistance we are here to help.