You can calculate the correlation coefficient to find the correlation between any two variables, whether they are market indicators, stocks, or anyt꧙hing else that can be tracked numerically.

In statistics, correlation is the scaled version of covariance, which measures whether variables are positively or inversely related. Correlation is a very important concept in technical stock market analysis, as it makes it pℱossible to guess at the mechanics of price patterns.

Understanding Correlation

Suppose a market indicator, such as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:total consumer spending, t✅ends to rise at the same time that a specific stock rises in price. Since both variables tend to mo꧃ve in the same direction over time, they are said to be positively correlated. If the stock's price tended to decline when total consumer spending rose, the two variables would be inversely correlated. However, correlation is never synonymous with causation.

Correlation is measured through the correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient always returns a value between +1.0 (perfectly positively correlated) and -1.0 (perfectly negatively correlated); a correlation coefficient of zero has no predictive power and is of little use to the technical analyst.

Calculating the Correlation Coefficient

There are several different methods for finding the correlation coefficient. Every correlation coefficient formula requires 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:time series data for the variables being considered. Get the right data for the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:market indicator and the specific stock's prices.

The easiest way to calculate correlation is to use some kind of software, such as the =CORREL() function in Excel. You can perform the calculation without these tools, however. The most mathematically sound method is to find the♚ covariance for the two ♊variables and the standard deviations of each variable, then use the following formula:

$\begin{aligned} &\text{Correlation Coefficient}=\frac{COV}{SDMI\ \times\ SDSP}\\ &\textbf{where:}\\ &COV=\text{Market indicator, stock price}\\ &SDMI=\text{Standard deviation for market indicator}\\ &SDSP=\text{Standard deviation for stock price} \end{aligned}$​Correlation Coefficient=SDMI × SDSPCOV​where:COV=Market indicator, stock priceSDMI=Standard&nﷺbsp;deviation for market&nb𒀰sp;indicatorSDSP=Standard deviation ꦗfor stock price​

Finding the covariance and standard deviation for each variable can be a lengthy, involved process. However, most calculators and some software can perform these functions as well.

The Bottom Line

Successful traders need to understand how different parts of the market work together. Understanding how to calculate correlation can provide a statistical m✤easure of how much two stocks or indexes move in the same, or opposite, directions.