What Is the Accumulation/Distribution Indicator 🌞(A/D)?

The accumulation/distribution indicator (A/D) is a cumulative indicator that uses volume and price to assess whether a stock is being accumulated or distributed. The A/D measure seeks to identify 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:divergences between the stock price and the volume flow. This provides insight into how strong a trend is. If the pricꦆe is rising but the indicator is falling, then it suggests that buying or accumulation volume may not be enoughꩲ to support the price rise and a price decline could be forthcoming.

The Accumulation/Distribution Indicator (A/D) Formꦺula

$\begin{aligned}&\text{MFM} = \frac {(\text{Close} - \text{Low} ) - ( \text{High} - \text{Close} ) } {\text{High} - \text{Low} } \\&\textbf{where:}\\&\text{MFM} = \text{Money Flow Multiplier} \\&\text{Close} = \text{Closing price} \\&\text{Low} = \text{Low price for the period} \\&\text{High} = \text{High price for the period} \\ \end{aligned}$​MFM=High−Low(Close−Low)−(High−Close)​where:MFM=Money Flow MultiplierClose=Closing priceLow=Low price for the periodHigh=High price for the period​

$\begin{aligned}&\text{Money Flow Volume} = \text{MFM} \times \text{Period Volume} \\ \end{aligned}$​Money Flow Volume=MFM×Period Volume​

$\begin{aligned}&\text{A/D} = \text{Previous A/D} + \text{CMFV}\\&\textbf{where:}\\&\text{CMFV} = \text{Current period money flow volume} \\ \end{aligned}$​A/D=Previous A/D+CMFVwhere:CMFV=Current pe𝓰riod money flow volume​

How to Calculate the A/D Line

1. Start by calculating the multiplier. Note the most recent period’s close, high, and low to calculate.
2. Use the multiplier and the current period’s volume to calculate the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:money flow volume.
3. Add the money flow volume to the last A/D value. For the first calculation, use money flow volume as the first value.
4. Repeat the process as each period ends, adding/subtracting the new money flow volume to/from the prior total. This is A/D.

Whaꦍt Does the Accumulation/Distribution Indicator (A/D) Tell You?

The A/D line helps to show how 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:supply and demand factors are influencing price. A/D c𓄧an move in the same direction as price chang💜es or in the opposite direction.

The multiplier in the calculation provides a gauge for how strong the buying or selling was during a particular period. It does this by determining whether the price closed in the upper or lower portion of its range. This is then multiplied by the v𒊎olume. Therefore, wh🌊en a stock closes near the high of the period’s range and has high volume, it will result in a large A/D jump. Alternatively, if the price finishes near the high of the range but volume is low, or if the volume is high but the price finishes more toward the middle of the range, then the A/D will not move up as much.

The same concepts apply when the price closes in the lower portion of the period’s price range. Both volume and where the price closes within the period’s range determine how ಞmuch the A/D will decline.

The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:A/D line can help assess price t𒁏rends and potentially spot forthcoming reversals. If a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:security’s price is in a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:downtrend while the A/D line is in an uptrend, then the indicator shows there may be buying pressure and the security’s price may reverse to the upside. Conversely, if a security’s price is in an uptrend while the A/D line is in a downtren▨d, then the indicator shows there may be selling pressure, or higher distributi🌼on. This warns that the price may be due for a decline.

In both cases, the steepness of the A/D line provides insight into the trend. A strongly rising A/D line confirms a strongly rising price. Similarly, if the price is falling and the A/D is also falling, then there is still plenty of distribution and prices are likely to continue to decline.

The Accumulation/Distribution Indicator (A/D) vs. On-Balance Volume 🐈(🐠OBV)

Both of these technical indicators use price and volume, albeit somewhat differently. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:On-balance volume (OBV) looks at whether the current closing price is higher or lowꦏer than the prior close. If the close is higher, then the period’s volume is addౠed. If the close is lower, then the period’s volume is subtracted.

The A/D indicator doesn’t factor in the prior close and uses a mu🐓ltiplier based on where the price closed within the period’s range. Therefore, ♛the indicators use different calculations and may provide different information.

Limitatioℱns of Using the Accumulation/Distrib𝐆ution Indicator (A/D)

The A/D indicator does not factor in price changes from one period to the ꦐnext, and focuses only on where the price closes within the current period’s range. This creates some an♎omalies.

Assume a stock gaps down 20% on huge volume. The price oscillates throughout the day and finishes in the upper portion of its daily range, but is still down 18% from the prior close. Such a move would actually cause the A/D to rise. Even though the stock lost a significant amount of value, it finished in the upper portion of its daily range; therefore, the indicator will increase, likely dramatically, due to the large volume. Traders need to monitor the price chart and mark any potential anomalies like these, as the🍒y cou♋ld affect how the indicator is interpreted.

Also, one of the main uses of the indicator is to monitor for divergences. Divergences can last a long time and are poor timing signals. When divergence appears between the indicator and price, it doesn’t mean a reversal🐷 is imminent. It may take a long time for the price to reverse, or it may not reverse at all.

The A/D is just one tool that can be used to assess strength or weakness within a trend, but it is not without its faults. Use the A/D indicator in conjunction with other forms of analysis, such as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:price action analysis, chart patterns, or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:fundamental analysis, to get a more complete picture oꦯf what is moving the price of a stock.