The Ultimate Oscillator is a technical analysis indicator that captures momentum across three timeframes. In this post, you’ll learn what the timeframes are and how the tool can be used to identify potential buy and sell signals.
Contents
What Is the Ultimate Oscillator?
The Ultimate Oscillator combines short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term price action into one oscillator. It attempts to give overbought and oversold readings, potential buy and sell signals, and confirmations of price action as well as divergences that might warn of future price reversals.
The creator of the Ultimate Oscillator, Larry Williams, described the need for different time periods:
- Short-term – The short-term oscillator peaks earlier than price action peaks.
- Long-term – The long-term oscillator is late in responding to price action reversals.
By combining three separate time periods, short-term (usually 7-period), intermediate-term (usually 14-period), and long-term (usually 28-period), the Ultimate Oscillator tends to peak when price peaks.
The Ultimate Oscillator is mainly used to identify divergences and give potential buy or sell signals based on those divergences.
Ultimate Oscillator Potential Buy Signal
This chart of the E-mini Russell 2000 futures contract shows an example of a bullish divergence and subsequent potential buy signal.
The Russell 2000 E-mini made a lower low from Low #1 to Low #2. To the contrary, the Ultimate Oscillator made a higher low from Low #1 to Low #2.
This bearish divergence acts as the first step of the possibly forming buy signal.
The second step occurs by drawing a line where the highest high occurred during the bearish divergence. Once the Ultimate Oscillator closes above the previous high, then the potential buy signal has been generated.
Ultimate Oscillator Potential Sell Signal
How to Recognize a Sell Signal
- Overbought area – The Ultimate Oscillator must have reached overbought status (above 70), before a sell signal can be given.
- Bearish divergence – When price makes a new high, but the Ultimate Oscillator makes a lower high.
- Ultimate Oscillator breakout – When the Ultimate Oscillator closes below the lowest low during the bearish divergence.
When both 1, 2, and 3 occur, then a sell signal is given. An example is given below in the chart of the E-mini Russell 2000 futures contract.
A sell signal given by the Ultimate Oscillator would be strengthened by a trendline break of price. In the chart of the Russell 2000 E-mini future, price broke support and consequently crashed downwards with a very large bearish red candle.
The Ultimate Oscillator is a very effective tool for showing overbought and oversold conditions, divergences, and buy and sell signals.
Where to Trade Commodities Using Technical Analysis
If you’re interested in trading using technical analysis indicators like the Ultimate Oscillator, have a look at our reviews of these regulated brokers available in .
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74%-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Further Reading
Other oscillators to investigate are stochastics and relative strength index.
Learn more about technical analysis charting concepts and strategies, including:
For all the basics on how to trade commodities, our introduction to commodity trading is helpful.
Also, take a look at our guides on stock, CFD, and commodity brokers to find out which online trading platforms are available in .
