Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) [ParadoxAlgo]OVERVIEW
This indicator implements the Chaikin Money Flow oscillator as an overlay on the price chart, designed to help traders identify institutional money flow patterns. The Chaikin Money Flow combines price and volume data to measure the flow of money into and out of a security, making it particularly useful for detecting accumulation and distribution phases.
WHAT IS CHAIKIN MONEY FLOW?
Chaikin Money Flow was developed by Marc Chaikin and measures the amount of Money Flow Volume over a specific period. The indicator oscillates between +1 and -1, where:
Positive values indicate money flowing into the security (accumulation)
Negative values indicate money flowing out of the security (distribution)
Values near zero suggest equilibrium between buying and selling pressure
CALCULATION METHOD
Money Flow Multiplier = ((Close - Low) - (High - Close)) / (High - Low)
Money Flow Volume = Money Flow Multiplier × Volume
CMF = Sum of Money Flow Volume over N periods / Sum of Volume over N periods
KEY FEATURES
Big Money Detection:
Identifies significant institutional activity when CMF exceeds user-defined thresholds
Requires volume confirmation (volume above average) to validate signals
Uses battery icon (🔋) for institutional buying and lightning icon (⚡) for institutional selling
Visual Elements:
Background coloring based on money flow direction
Support and resistance levels calculated using Average True Range
Real-time dashboard showing current CMF value, volume strength, and signal status
Customizable Parameters:
CMF Period: Calculation period for the money flow (default: 20)
Signal Smoothing: EMA smoothing applied to reduce noise (default: 5)
Big Money Threshold: CMF level required to trigger institutional signals (default: 0.15)
Volume Threshold: Volume multiplier required for signal confirmation (default: 1.5x)
INTERPRETATION
Signal Types:
🔋 (Battery): Indicates strong institutional buying when CMF > threshold with high volume
⚡ (Lightning): Indicates strong institutional selling when CMF < -threshold with high volume
Background color: Green tint for positive money flow, red tint for negative money flow
Dashboard Information:
CMF Value: Current Chaikin Money Flow reading
Volume: Current volume as a multiple of 20-period average
Big Money: Status of institutional activity (BUYING/SELLING/QUIET)
Signal: Strength assessment (STRONG/MEDIUM/WEAK)
TRADING APPLICATIONS
Trend Confirmation: Use CMF direction to confirm price trends
Divergence Analysis: Look for divergences between price and money flow
Volume Validation: Confirm breakouts with corresponding money flow
Accumulation/Distribution: Identify phases of institutional activity
PARAMETER RECOMMENDATIONS
Day Trading: CMF Period 14-21, higher sensitivity settings
Swing Trading: CMF Period 20-30, moderate sensitivity
Position Trading: CMF Period 30-50, lower sensitivity for major trends
ALERTS
Optional alert system notifies users when:
Big money buying is detected (CMF above threshold with volume confirmation)
Big money selling is detected (CMF below negative threshold with volume confirmation)
LIMITATIONS
May generate false signals in low-volume conditions
Best used in conjunction with other technical analysis tools
Effectiveness varies across different market conditions and timeframes
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE
This open-source indicator is provided for educational purposes to help traders understand money flow analysis. It demonstrates the practical application of the Chaikin Money Flow concept with visual enhancements for easier interpretation.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Overlay indicator (displays on price chart)
No repainting - all calculations are based on closed bar data
Suitable for all timeframes and asset classes
Minimal resource usage for optimal performance
DISCLAIMER
This indicator is for educational and informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own analysis and consider risk management before making trading decisions.
