Higher Time Frame Average True RangesPurpose: This script will help an options trader asses risk and determine good entry and exit strategies
Background Information: The true range is the greatest of: current high minus the current low; the absolute value of the current high minus the previous close; and the absolute value of the current low minus the previous close. The Average True Range (ATR) is a 14-day moving average of the true range. Traders use the ATR indicator to assess volatility in stocks and decide when to enter and exit trades. It is important to note the limitations of using True Range and ATR: These indications cannot tell you the direction of your options trade (call vs. put) and they cannot tell you whether a particular trend is about to reverse. However, it can be used to assess if volatility has peaked for a particular direction and time period.
How this script works: This indicator calculates true range for the daily (DTR), weekly (WTR), and monthly (MTR) time frames and compares it to the Average True Range (ATR) for each of those time frames (DATR, WATR, and MATR). The comparison is displayed into a colored table in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. When a daily, weekly, or monthly true range reaches 80% of its respective ATR, the row for that time frame will turn Orange indicating medium risk for staying in the trade. If the true range goes above 100% of the respective ATR, then the row will turn Red indicating high risk for staying in the trade. When the row for a time period turns red, volatility for the time period has likely peaked and traders should heavily consider taking profits. It is important to note these calculations start at different times for each time frame: Daily (Today’s Open), Weekly (Monday’s Open), Monthly (First of the Month’s Open). This means if it’s the 15th of the month then the Monthly True Range is being calculated for the trading days in the first half of the month (approximately 10 trade days).
The script also plots three sets of horizontal dotted lines to visually represent the ATR for each time period. Each set is generated by adding and subtracting the daily, weekly, and monthly ATRs from that time periods open price. For example, the weekly ATR is added and subtracted from Mondays open price to visually represent the true range for that week. The DATR is represented by red lines, the WATR is represented by the green lines, and the MATR is represented by the blue lines. These plots could also be used to assess risk as well.
How to use this script: Use the table to assess risk and determine potential exit strategies (Green=Low Risk, Orange=Medium Risk, Red=High Risk. Use the dotted lines to speculate what a stock’s price could be in a given time period (Daily=Red, Weekly=Green, and Monthly=Blue). And don’t forget the true range’s calculation and plots starts at the beginning of each time period!
