SMI Ergodic Indicator: Description and Calculation

The Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI) Ergodic indicator is a lesser-known tool. Still, it’s favoured by trend traders. In this article, we will uncover the mechanics of this indicator, its unique formula, and how traders can use it to trade trends and spot reversals.

What Is the SMI Ergodic Indicator?

The SMI Ergodic indicator, or Stochastic Momentum Index Ergodic, is a momentum oscillator that gauges the distance of a security's closing price relative to the range of its price movements. Unlike the traditional stochastic oscillator, which measures price velocity, the SMI provides a clearer, more precise picture of market trends by incorporating the concept of 'ergodicity'.

The ergodicity concept implies that the average of a time series over time and the average over the ensemble of all possible time series are identical. It provides a clear perspective of market behaviour by removing noise, thereby enhancing a trader's ability to identify market trends.

What Is the SMI Ergodic Indicator and Oscillator Formula?

The SMI Ergodic consists of three distinct components, each calculated using a different formula.

SMI Line

This key component is calculated as follows:

SMI = (PCDS / APCDS) * 100

Here, PCDS refers to Price Close Double Smoothed, and APCDS stands for Absolute Price Close Double Smoothed. Both these values are calculated based on Exponential Moving Average (EMA) periods.

Histogram Oscillator

Calculated as the difference between the True Strength Index (TSI) and the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) of the TSI:

Histogram = TSI - (EMA * TSI)

Signal Line

Simply the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) of the TSI:

Signal Line = EMA * TSI

The default setting for the SMI line is typically 20 periods, while the Signal and EMA are usually set to 5. The result is an indicator similar in appearance to the MACD.

Don’t worry about performing these calculations yourself. In FXOpen’s free TickTrader platform, you will find the SMI Ergodic indicator and dozens of other trading tools waiting for you.

How to Use the SMI Ergodic Indicator

In stocks, commodities, crypto*, and forex, the SMI Ergodic oscillator offers traders several practical applications. It's particularly useful for identifying the underlying trend in a market. An upward-trending SMI line typically signals bullish market conditions, whereas a downward-trending line suggests bearish market conditions.

In addition to identifying market trends, the SMI Ergodic serves as a strong tool to spot potential entry and exit points. When the SMI line crosses above the signal line, it is generally considered a bullish signal, indicating a good entry point. On the contrary, when it crosses below the signal line, it is often seen as a bearish signal, suggesting a potential exit point or a short-selling opportunity.

Beyond trend identification and spotting entry and exit points, the SMI Ergodic indicator also helps traders understand market momentum. If the SMI line is above 0, it points to positive momentum, signalling upward price movement. Conversely, if it falls below 0, it indicates negative momentum, suggesting downward price movement.

Lastly, the histogram oscillator can serve as a confirmation tool. If the histogram bars are above 0 and growing in size, this confirms a strong upward momentum. Conversely, if the histogram bars are below 0 and growing in size, this confirms a strong downward momentum.

The Bottom Line

In summary, the SMI Ergodic offers traders a multi-dimensional view of the market. By helping to identify market trends, entry and exit points, and market momentum, it has a solid position in any trader's arsenal. Still, it may provide incorrect signals or be misunderstood due to the subjectivity of its interpretation.

While it may be one of the more complex trading tools out there, don’t let that stop you. You can practise your SMI skills in our free TickTrader platform, and when you are ready, open an FXOpen account. Once you do, you’ll be able to put your SMI strategy to the test across 600+ markets and benefit from ultra-fast execution speeds and competitive trading costs. Happy trading!

*At FXOpen UK and FXOpen AU, Cryptocurrency CFDs are only available for trading by those clients categorised as Professional clients under FCA Rules and Professional clients under ASIC Rules, respectively. They are not available for trading by Retail clients.