If you want to improve your trading strategy, consider using the Keltner Channel. It's a reliable and versatile indicator that can help you identify trends, breakouts, reversals and volatility in the forex market.
This article will explain the Keltner Channel, how it works, how to calculate it and how to use it in your trading. It also compares it to another popular indicator — Bollinger Bands — and guides you on finding the best forex brokers that offer the Keltner Channel indicator on their platforms.
What is the Keltner Channel?
The Keltner Channel is a technical tool for analyzing the movement of security prices, created by Chester Keltner in the 1960s. It includes three lines — a middle line that shows the price's exponential moving average (EMA) and two outer lines based on the average true range (ATR) of the price. The ATR measures volatility by considering each period's high, low and close. Typically, the outer lines are set at a multiple of the ATR above and below the middle line. This versatile tool can be used for any market and timeframe.
Understanding the Keltner Channel
The Keltner Channel can provide useful information about the price behavior of a currency pair. Here are some of the main concepts to understand.
Keltner Channel Methods
The Keltner Channel can be calculated and displayed differently depending on the settings a trader uses on their platform. The most common method is to use a 20-period EMA as the middle line and a 10-period ATR as the basis for the outer lines. The exterior lines are then set at 2 times the ATR above and below the center line. However, some traders may use different EMA, ATR and multiplier values depending on their preferences and trading style. The key is to find the settings that best suit your market and timeframe.
Calculating Keltner Channel
To calculate the Keltner Channel, you need to follow these steps.
- Calculate the EMA of the price for a given period (e.g., 20). This EMA forms the middle line of the channel.
- Calculate the ATR of the price for the specified period. The ATR is a measure of volatility that will determine the width of the channel.
- Multiply the ATR by a factor (typically 2). This is how far you will extend the outer lines from the middle line.
- Add the result of step 3 to the EMA to get the upper line of the channel.
- Subtract the result of step 3 from the EMA to get the lower channel line.
Limitations of Keltner Channel
The Keltner Channel is not a perfect indicator and has some limitations that traders should be aware of.
- May not capture all price movements, especially when there are sudden spikes or gaps in the market. This may lead to false signals or missed opportunities.
- Lags behind the price action, especially when using longer periods for the EMA and ATR, possibly resulting in late entries or exits.
- May generate too many unreliable and unprofitable signals in sideways or choppy markets.
- May not be suitable for all trading styles or strategies, as it may need frequent adjustments or fine-tuning depending on the trader's preference and the market conditions.
How to Trade Forex Using the Keltner Channel Indicator
Here are some of the most common ways to trade forex using this indicator.
Trend Following
You can trade in the direction of the channel slope, which indicates the trend direction. For example, if the channel is sloping up, you can look for buying opportunities near the lower or middle band. If it's sloping down, you can look for selling opportunities near the upper or middle band.
Breakout Trading
You can trade when the price breaks out of the channel boundaries, which indicates a continuation or reversal of the trend. For instance, if the price breaks above the upper band in an uptrend, you can buy and anticipate a continuation of the trend. Suppose the price breaks below the lower band in a downtrend; you can sell and expect the price to keep dropping.
Range Trading
You can trade when the price oscillates between the upper and lower bands, which indicates a ranging market. For example, you can buy near the lower band and sell near the upper band or vice versa.
Keltner Channel vs. Bollinger Bands
Keltner Channel and Bollinger Bands are both volatility-based indicators that create a channel around the price movements of an asset. However, they differ in how they are calculated and how they can be used for trading.
Calculation
The Keltner Channel uses the ATR to determine the channel width, while Bollinger Bands uses the standard deviation (SD) of the price. ATR is a measure of the average range of price fluctuations over some time, while SD is a measure of how much the price deviates from its mean. ATR is more consistent and less affected by outliers than SD, which means the Keltner Channel is smoother and less prone to sudden spikes than Bollinger Bands.
Sensitivity
The Keltner Channel is less sensitive to price changes than Bollinger Bands, producing fewer but more reliable signals. Bollinger Bands are more sensitive to price changes than the Keltner Channel, generating more but less reliable signals. A Keltner Channel is better for identifying trends and breakouts, while Bollinger Bands are better for spotting reversals and volatility.
Trading Methods
The Keltner Channel and Bollinger Bands can be used for similar trading methods, such as trend following, breakout and range trading. However, some traders use a combination of both indicators to enhance their analysis and decision-making. For instance, the Keltner Channel helps identify the trend direction, while Bollinger Bands are useful for determining entry and exit points. Traders may also use the squeeze phenomenon, which indicates a period of low volatility and potential for a breakout when Bollinger Bands move inside a Keltner Channel.
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Keltner Channel: A Powerful Alternative to Bollinger Bands
The Keltner Channel indicator can help identify trends, breakouts, reversals and volatility. To become proficient in using this tool, it's recommended to experiment with various settings and combine them with other indicators. Using stop-loss orders, testing your strategy on a demo account and keeping a trading journal can help improve your trading strategy and take it to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Keltner Channels tell you?
Keltner Channels tell you the direction and strength of the trend, as well as the potential breakout points and reversal zones of the price.
Do Keltner Channels work?
Keltner Channels work well in trending and volatile markets but may not work well in sideways or choppy markets.
Which is better Keltner Channel or Bollinger Bands?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as both indicators have advantages and disadvantages. It depends on your trading style, strategy, market conditions and personal preferences.
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About Anna Yen
Anna Yen, CFA is an investment writer with over two decades of professional finance and writing experience in roles within JPMorgan and UBS derivatives, asset management, crypto, and Family Money Map. She specializes in writing about investment topics ranging from traditional asset classes and derivatives to alternatives like cryptocurrency and real estate. Her work has been published on sites like Quicken and the crypto exchange Bybit.