Talk:Stochastic oscillator

Copyright violation free rewrite

I rewrote it so there are no copyright violations. I cited the problematic aritcle with a footnote. Mrdthree 13:30, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

2 weeks have passed without discussion. The copyvio is unsupported vandalism. Mrdthree 02:29, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

In which case, should not the recent deletions (twice, now) by User: AlfonseLaw LLP be reverted? --4wajzkd02 (talk) 17:16, 13 November 2009 (UTC)

Corrections

The numerator of the formula given on the 'article' page is incorrect. The numerator should be (closing price - pricelow). I think a better description of the Stochastic Oscillator is as described below:-

A technical momentum indicator that compares a security's closing price to its price range over a given period. The usual (or default period) is 14 days.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.133.26 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 10 February 2006

“A period can be a 1-month bar on the bar chart, a 1-week bar, a 1-hour bar, a 30-minute bar, a 15 minute bar, a 5-minute bar, or a 3-minute bar. You can change the numbers of bars being considered in the formula from 5 periods to 8, 13, or any other value.

• Lane, George C. & Caire (1998) “Getting Started With Stochastics”

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:48, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

The formula for the Stochastic (%K) is:-

%K = 100 (C - L14) / (H14 - L14)

where: C = todays close H14 = the highest closing price over the 14 previous trading sessions L14 = the lowest closing price over the 14 previous trading sessions

%K therefore represents in percentage terms how far up from the low of the price range of the period in question, is the current closing price.

The theory behind the stochastic indicator is that during an uptrend prices tend to close near their 14 day high, and that in a downtrend prices tend to close near their 14 day low.

The %K value calculated by the above formula is strictly speaking a 'Fast Stochastic'. A signal line (%D) is calculated by taking a 3 period exponential moving average of the %K line. Buy signals are given when %K moves up through the %D line. Sell signals are given when %K moves down through the %D line.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.133.26 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 10 February 2006

The most important signal generated by Stochastics is Divergence - Convergence. The signal to act on this divergence or convergence comes when %K crosses on the right hand side of the peak of %D in the case of a top, or on the right-hand side of the low point of %D in the case of a bottom.

• Lane, George C. & Caire (1998) “Getting Started With Stochastics”

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:48, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

Because the 'Fast Stochastic' is fairly volatile and prone to whipsaws, a Slow Stochastic is commonly used for trading. This is less volatile and less prone to giving false signals. The 'Slow Stochastic' is simply calculated as follows :-

Slow Stochastic %K = the Fast Stochastic signal line (ie, the Fast Stochastic %D) Slow Stochastic %D = 3 period exponential moving average of 'Slow Stochastic %K'—Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.133.26 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 10 February 2006

That gives us %K, a 3 period exponential moving average of %K, gives us %D, a 3 period exponential moving average of %D gives us %D-Slow. Charted this gives a 3-line Stochastic.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 13:02, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Additional important information about Stochastics by George Lane:

According to Lane you use the stochastics indicator with a good knowledge of "Elliot Wave Theory".

A Center piece of his teaching is the divergence and convergence of trend lines drawn on stochastics as diverging/ converging to trend lines drawn on price cycles.

Stochastics has the power to predict tops and bottoms. George Lane talks about the phenomena of "Three Rallies to the Top".

In George Lane's video course "Stochastics For The Serious Trader" also makes the important point that the indicator needs to be properly structured in order to be a leading indicator. This structuring requires to observe price cycles of the instrument, and to set the the first number in the indicator to the simple moving average of the cycles you are going to be trading. This is absolutely crucial, but appears to be lost by most comments and articles published on the internet as of this date (1-6-2007).

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Cclars (talk • contribs) 00:54, 7 January 2007

Corrections

The numerator of the formula given on the 'article' page is incorrect. The numerator should be (closing price - pricelow). I think a better description of the Stochastic Oscillator is as described below:-

A technical momentum indicator that compares a security's closing price to its price range over a given period. The usual (or default period) is 14 days.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.133.26 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 10 February 2006

“A period can be a 1-month bar on the bar chart, a 1-week bar, a 1-hour bar, a 30-minute bar, a 15 minute bar, a 5-minute bar, or a 3-minute bar. You can change the numbers of bars being considered in the formula from 5 periods to 8, 13, or any other value.

• Lane, George C. & Caire (1998) “Getting Started With Stochastics”

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:48, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

The formula for the Stochastic (%K) is:-

%K = 100 (C - L14) / (H14 - L14)

where: C = todays close H14 = the highest closing price over the 14 previous trading sessions L14 = the lowest closing price over the 14 previous trading sessions

%K therefore represents in percentage terms how far up from the low of the price range of the period in question, is the current closing price.

The theory behind the stochastic indicator is that during an uptrend prices tend to close near their 14 day high, and that in a downtrend prices tend to close near their 14 day low.

The %K value calculated by the above formula is strictly speaking a 'Fast Stochastic'. A signal line (%D) is calculated by taking a 3 period exponential moving average of the %K line. Buy signals are given when %K moves up through the %D line. Sell signals are given when %K moves down through the %D line.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.133.26 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 10 February 2006

The most important signal generated by Stochastics is Divergence - Convergence. The signal to act on this divergence or convergence comes when %K crosses on the right hand side of the peak of %D in the case of a top, or on the right-hand side of the low point of %D in the case of a bottom.

• Lane, George C. & Caire (1998) “Getting Started With Stochastics”

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:48, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

Because the 'Fast Stochastic' is fairly volatile and prone to whipsaws, a Slow Stochastic is commonly used for trading. This is less volatile and less prone to giving false signals. The 'Slow Stochastic' is simply calculated as follows :-

Slow Stochastic %K = the Fast Stochastic signal line (ie, the Fast Stochastic %D) Slow Stochastic %D = 3 period exponential moving average of 'Slow Stochastic %K'—Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.139.133.26 (talk • contribs) 01:44, 10 February 2006

That gives us %K, a 3 period exponential moving average of %K, gives us %D, a 3 period exponential moving average of %D gives us %D-Slow. Charted this gives a 3-line Stochastic.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 13:02, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Additional important information about Stochastics by George Lane:

According to Lane you use the stochastics indicator with a good knowledge of "Elliot Wave Theory".

A Center piece of his teaching is the divergence and convergence of trend lines drawn on stochastics as diverging/ converging to trend lines drawn on price cycles.

Stochastics has the power to predict tops and bottoms. George Lane talks about the phenomena of "Three Rallies to the Top".

In George Lane's video course "Stochastics For The Serious Trader" also makes the important point that the indicator needs to be properly structured in order to be a leading indicator. This structuring requires to observe price cycles of the instrument, and to set the the first number in the indicator to the simple moving average of the cycles you are going to be trading. This is absolutely crucial, but appears to be lost by most comments and articles published on the internet as of this date (1-6-2007).

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Cclars (talk • contribs) 00:54, 7 January 2007

Merger

I stuck tags to merge "Lane's Stochastics" into here. I'm actually thinking of a title "Stochastics (technical analysis)" for the merged whole too. Although Lane is mentioned with the concept, I've not usually seen his name in the name of the oscillator.

Kevin Ryde 00:47, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

Developed almost thirty years before, George Lane publically popularized Stochastics starting with the T.A.G. technical analysis groups, programming Lane’s Stochastics into Compu-Trac in 1979 for a private group of futures traders.

In 1984 Lane wrote Lane's Stochastics for a new, Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities magazine. This has become the most mentioned, essential source material for just about everyone who came later. How is it that Webster's Quotations calls it “Lane’s Stochastics,” and you, (Wiki), we, do not?

Here are a few sources that you may have overlooked that acknowledge George “Lane’s Stochastics,” with Lane’s name, in the name of the oscillator.

The encyclopedia of technical market indicators‎ - Page 664

Robert W. Colby - Business & Economics - 2002 - 820 pages

Stochastics (Lane's Stochastics) In statistics, the term "stochastic" refers to random variables. But that is the opposite of what George Lane has in mind. ...

Momentum, direction, and divergence‎ - Page 25

William Blau - Business & Economics - 1995 - 142 pages

LANE'S STOCHASTICS There are two formulas: the Fast Stochastic and the Slow

A complete guide to technical trading tactics: how to profit using pivot ...‎ - Page 144

John L. Person - Business & Economics - 2004 - 266 pages

Lane's Stochastics indicator is a popular technical tool used to help determine whether a market is overbought, meaning that prices have advanced too far ...

The volatility course‎ - Page 242

George Fontanills, Tom Gentile - Business & Economics - 2003 - 333 pages

Based on the work of George Lane. the indicator was popularized in an article. " Lane's Stochastics." in Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities magazine ...

Technical analysis for the trading professional‎ - Page 343

Constance M. Brown - Business & Economics - 1999 - 341 pages

Cardwell's Positive and Negative Reversals derived from the Relative Strength Index. She goes on to contribute to George Lane's Stochastics

Closes: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases‎ - Page 552

Inc Icon Group International - Reference - 2008 - 649 pages

[EU] Lane's Stochastics. Lane's Stochastics indicates entry signals

Entries: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases‎ - Page 345

Icon Group International, Inc. - Reference - 2008 - 480 pages

Source: Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Lane's Stochastics. Lane's Stochastics indicates entry signals based on reactions of professional traders on the ...

Cyber-investing: cracking Wall Street with your personal computer‎ - Page 133

David L. Brown, Kassandra Bentley - Computers - 1995 - 286 pages

Eng gives a detailed exposition of Lane's Stochastics in The Technical Analysis of Stocks, Options & Futures.

Trading on the edge: neural, genetic, and fuzzy systems for chaotic ...‎ - Page 13

Guido Deboeck - Business & Economics - 1994 - 377 pages

For example, a particular trader may look at Lane's Stochastics, relative strength indicators, directional movement indicators (+DI, — DI, ADX, ...

Building neural networks‎ - Page 154

David M. Skapura - Computers - 1995 - 286 pages

CWJ Granger and Paul Newbold. Forecasting Economic Time Series, second edition, Academic Press, Inc., l986. 6. George C. Lane. Lane's Stochastics. ...

Candlestick Charting Explained: Timeless Techniques for Trading Stocks and ...‎ - Page 278

Gregory L. Morris - Business & Economics - 1995 - 300 pages

Oscillator • Wilder's Directional Indicator • Lane's Stochastics • Double Momentum oscillator • price Rate of Change

Technicalities: Webster's Quotations, Facts and Phrases‎ - Page 309

Inc Icon Group International - Reference - 2008 - 495 pages

MACD is frequently used in conjunction with other technical indicators such as the relative strength index and Lane's Stochastics.

An introduction to technical analysis‎

Business & Economics - 1999 - 188 pages

Lane's Stochastics by George ...

Virtual trading: how any trader with a PC can use the power of neural nets ...‎ - Page 128

Jess Lederman, Robert Arnold Klein - Business & Economics - 1995 - 364 pages

A third commonly used oscillator is Lane's Stochastics (%K and %D) [Eng 88]. All three of these methods will be used in combination to develop a market ...

Die Rolle des Volumens bei der Aktienkursprognose unter besonderer ...‎ - Page 249

Reza Darius Montassér - Business & Economics - 2003 - 415 pages

Lane, George C. (1984): Lane's Stochastics, in: Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities, Band 2, S. 87-91. Le Beau, Charles, Lucas, David W. (1992): ...

Finance internationale: l'état actuel de la théorie : journées AFSE-GRECO ...‎ - Page 255

Eric Girardin, GRECO CNRS EFIQ (Group) - Business & Economics - 1992 - 523 pages

LANE GC (1984), "Lane's Stochastics", Technical Analysis of stocks and ...

Beyond technical analysis: how to develop and implement a winning trading system‎ - Page 376

Tushar S. Chande - Business & Economics - 2001 - 383 pages

Lane, George C.: "Lane's Stochastics," Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities, 2(3): 87-90, Technical Analysis, Inc., Seattle, June 1984. ...

Forecasting profits using price & time‎ - Page 152

Edward Gately - Business & Economics - 1998 - 164 pages...

George C. "Lane's Stochastics," Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities, May/June 1984. Larrain, Maurice. Testing Chaos and Nonlinearities in ...

Markttechnische Handelssysteme, quantitative Kursmuster und saisonale ...‎

Heckmann Tobias - Business & Economics - 2009 - 220 pages

Lane GC (1984): Lane's Stochastics, Technical analysis of Stocks and ...

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 12:01, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Concept

Rumour has it he may not have actually been the creator of the concept, so a neutral title could be best anyway.

Kevin Ryde 00:47, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

George Lane, “In our research, our indicators were running all over the page, so we developed the technique of expressing them as a percentage of 100. We developed %A, found it didn't work. We went on to research and to follow 28 oscillators. As we progressed through the oscillators we were developing, we expressed them as percentages as well; thus: %D, %K, %R.

• Lane, George C. M.D. (May/June, 1984) second issue of Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities magazine. pp 87-90.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:48, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

Copyvio

All Rights Reserved. Copyright (c) Iseindia.com Pleclech 22:42, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

I have fixed the violation. please withdraw complaint (see temp page) Mrdthree 06:54, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

Interpretation Section - clarification required

The interpretation section describes the 2 oscillators %K and %D, however, the example chart shows 4 lines which are labeled %Kfast %Dfast, %Kslow, %Dslow. The article describes %K as 'fast' then the sma of %K (=%D) as 'slow'.

Logically therefore %K is the fast oscillator and there is no explanation of the line %Kslow.

It cannot be determined from the article what the difference is between %Kslow and %D nor cannot it be determined what the difference is between %Kfast and simply %K for example. In short you have 2 explanations but have created 4 definitions.

It should be explained that %Dfast is the 3 period sma of %Kfast and that %Kslow is in fact ALSO the same 3 day sma of %Kfast i.e. %Kslow=%Dfast, and thence that %Dslow is a further smoothing by applying a 3 period sma to (the already smoothed) %Kslow.

Thus there are only 3 indicators; the fundamental %K, its 3 period sma or D%fast and its 9 period sma or %Dslow. G S Hayes 10:48, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

These are now called %K, %D and %D-Slow

You make some good points G S. Charting a 3-line Stochastics as mentioned by George Lane can solve all of this.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 12:31, 29 October 2009 (UTC) Convention and ease of use dictates the terminology %Kfast,%Dfast and %Kslow,%Dslow. G S Hayes 10:48, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

The Slow was probably meant to be derogatory.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 12:31, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Common practice has locked onto the use of 14 periods for calculating K and 3 period smoothing sma s, however, variations on these parameters are widely used. G S Hayes 10:48, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

Publishers, probably because of the way it looks, chose the 14 periods. The predictive value is restrained with such a long trail of data being dragged along. As explained above “the indicator needs to be properly structured in order to be a leading indicator.”

Lane suggested Fibonacci numbers but concedes any numbers can be used.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 12:31, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

%K itself is seldom used in raw (unsmoothed)state and will often be slowed (i.e. smoothed with a sma) with 2 different sma s - for example an 8 period sma and a 3 period sma to create 2 lines which are then monitored for buying and selling signals as described in the article.

To fix this section you could simply delete the picture or add further description. It is only the picture that brings in further defined terms not mentioned in the article. G S Hayes 10:48, 31 August 2007 (UTC)

%K & %D

Why are the letters K and D used? Do they signify kitty and doggy, or kouphos and dusmathes, or were letters picked at random? The article would be improved if these letters were given meaning. Jm546 (talk) 00:16, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

George Lane, "We had %A and %B-we went through the whole alphabet twice, working on things. Then we discovered %K and then %D and the darn thing worked. So, we quit the research and went into the pit every day and started making a living."

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:48, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

Support and resistance

The stochastic oscillator is a momentum indicator used in technical analysis, introduced by George Lane in the 1950s, to compare the closing price of a commodity to its price range over a given time span.

Excellent. Clearest explanation that I have seen so far. The stochastic oscillator is based on momentum, support and resistance. Why would anyone want to "compare the closing price of a commodity to its price range over a given time span?"

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 02:16, 25 October 2009 (UTC)

InformedTrades

Allot of our page is taken from a web site at InformedTrades who do not present Stochastics as a complete whole. They break it down into 3 unharmonious parts for charting and trading. The parts necessary to get a signal are broken down and acted upon separately. They appear to have no awareness of the root “Lane’s Stochastics.” They provide no documentation. I do not see how it can continue to be used here.

Stochastics can be plotted as one, 3-line oscillator with the lines %K, %D, and %D-Slow, shown all on the same chart.

A divergence - convergence, in an extreme area, is your clue to look for a crossover on the right hand side of a cycle, to act.

InformedTrades - “ Let me start by saying that there are 3 different types of stochastic oscillators.”

Well really there is only one. The premium charting packages available for many years let us chart all three lines as one indicator.

George Lane -

Stochastics may be charted using 3-lines this will give you an anticipatory signal in the first line %K, a signal in the second line of a turnaround in %D, at or before a bottom, and a confirmation of the turnaround in the third line with %D-Slow.

George would not have used 14 periods.

InformedTrades - “ the data points which form the %K line are basically a representation of where the market has closed for each period in relation to the trading range for the 14 periods used in the indicator.”

Do you notice something in what George says here?

George Lane -

You can change the numbers of bars being considered in the formula from 5 periods to 8, 13, or any other value.”

George used the Fibonacci number sequence.

InformedTrades - “The %D line is very simply a 5 period simple moving average of the %K line.”

The formula that George used was 5 periods for %K. When we did calculations by hand a 3 period moving average was used for %D and %D-Slow. From what he learned from studying MACD, Lane found, and you can test this yourself, that using an exponential moving average for %D, and %D-Slow, improved Stochastics.

InformedTrades - “first way that traders use the stochastic oscillator is to identify overbought and oversold levels in the market.”

Jake Bernstein -

Don’t use the SI for determining overbought or oversold conditions.

George Lane -

In working with %D it is important to remember that there is only ONE valid signal. That signal is a divergence between %D and the security with which you are working.

Lane stated, this is the only signal, which will cause you to buy or sell.

InformedTrades - When prices close in the upper end of their range in an uptrend this is a sign that the momentum of the trend is strong and vice versa for a downtrend.

The daily range will reach down to support before there is enough selling pressure to close that low. But as the closes continue lower and support holds, look for the ranges to shrink before the turn. Stochastics picks this up. Expect a higher close on the low day.

George Lane -

As prices move down, the close of the day has a tendency to crowd the lower portion of the daily range. Just before you get to the absolute price low, the market does not have as much push as it did. The closes no longer crowd the bottom of the daily range. Therefore, Stochastics turns up at or before the final price low.

William Blau -

Stochastics is seen to be very timely with turning points that often lead price turning points.

We are looking at the close relative to the low. On the final low day we get a higher close. The range between the close and low increases as the bottom is made.

InformedTrades - “Lane recommended waiting for the %K line to trade back below or above the 80 or 20 line as this gives a better signal that the momentum in the market is reversing.”

This is true, some of Lanes charts show where he has used 25 and 75 and on others 5 and 85, as well as the 20 and 80, publishers choose. Others have suggested to try 40 and 60 for Stochastic pops.

InformedTrades - “ When the faster %K line crosses the slower %D line this is a sign that the market may be heading up and when the %K line crosses below the %D line this is a sign that the market may be heading down.

George Lane -

The signal to act on this divergence or convergence comes when %K crosses on the right-hand side of the peak of %D in the case of a top, or on the right hand side of the low point of %D in the case of a bottom.

Jake Bernstein -

Useful in timing, provided one uses the appropriate crossover areas for timing trades.

This is kind of like having the five period and nine period trend turning on the same close. You want the momentum of both in your favor when you make a trade.

InformedTrades - watch for divergences .. this is an indication that the momentum in the market is waning and a reversal may be in the making. For further confirmation many traders will wait for the cross below the 80 or above the 20 line before entering a trade on divergence.

When you get divergence, in an extreme area, you can act on the right hand crossover of a cycle low. Stochastics is to be used with cycles, Elliot and Fibonacci for timing, if you use them. In low margin calendar futures spreads, you might use Wilders parabolic as a trailing stop.

When you put it all together you will see that there is only one Lanes Stochastics oscillator, and only one signal to act is a divergence - convergence, in an extreme area, with a crossover on the right hand side, at a cycle bottom. Stochastics will get you in at the bottom of a double bottom.

• See: Lane's Stochastics

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:00, 27 October 2009 (UTC)

Stochastics pop

This is when prices pop through and keep on going.

Rules:

Increase long position - When price crosses 80 level from below.

Increase short position - When price crosses 20 level from above.

Liquidate position - When Stochastic %D crosses %K in direction reversed to open trade.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 01:00, 27 October 2009 (UTC)

3-line

(%K) =100 ((closing price-price low)/(price high-price low))

(%D) is a 3-period exponential moving average of %K

(%D−Slow) is a 3-period exponential moving average of %D

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 17:42, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

Copyright question

Is the claim that the formulae themselves are copyrighted? If so, is that claim accurate?-FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 17:15, 13 November 2009 (UTC)

See Talk:Stochastic_oscillator#Copyright_violation_free_rewrite and User_talk:AlfonseLaw_LLP#WP:OTRS. The user making these claims (a) has not substantiated them, (b) has been directed to WP:OTRS to make a complaint, if warranted, and (c) has been blocked for continuing to edit under his previously WP:UAA-blocked username. I think his reversions are correctly treated as WP:VANDALISM and should themselves be reverted. --4wajzkd02 (talk) 17:19, 13 November 2009 (UTC)

Bad grammar

'Stochastic is smoother with less false signals' in the figure should read 'Stochastic is smoother with fewer false signals'. 'Less' is very bad grammar, though sadly common, and certainly not encyclopedic. 86.133.51.201 (talk) 17:28, 13 November 2009 (UTC)

Large blocks of deleted materiel - reinstated

An editor focusing only on this article deleted a large amount of the article, stating in his edit summary that the information was "speculative" (see [1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]). Some of the edit summaries were simply incorrect (e.g., referring to the removal of links as "speculative). In other cases, the materiel deleted had what seemed to be valid references. I undid the changes (which was a little tricky, due to intervening edits), as I was not confident they were done in good faith, given recent WP:VANDALISM in the article's history. More recent editors may want to review the text for completeness and correctness. --4wajzkd02 (talk) 18:15, 15 November 2009 (UTC)

Seasonals stochastics

We are looking for:

1. Bullish divergence, in an

2. Extreme area, with a

3. Crossover on the right hand side, of a

4. Seasonal cycle bottom.

Divergence means a divergence from parallel.

-oo0(GoldTrader)0oo- (talk) 11:23, 27 November 2009 (UTC)

Formula missing

The formula for stochastic was removed in this edit, among other changes: [8] I don't have time to fix it right now. Pfalstad (talk) 20:56, 1 February 2010 (UTC)

Period - Not well defined.

The Period (n) unit seems to be arbitrary and not well defined in relation to the chart or scale of the chart. e.g It is not clear wether you should use days for a weekly chart or days for a monthly chart. Preroll (talk)

The period (n) seems well defined enough, but perhaps it could be clarified. The article seems to take care not to specify days or weeks or whatever time scale. Period is simply an interval between snapshots of price. The period can be anything, 20 minutes, a day, a year, or even non-constant time intervals like ticks, volume units, or range bars. All that matters is the number of periods used in the calculation. ~Amatulić (talk) 03:24, 16 August 2012 (UTC)