- Type of Indicator: Volatility
- Creator: John Bollinger
- When Created: 1980s
- First Mentioned In: Bollinger on Bollinger Bands by John Bollinger.
What Is The Bollinger Bands %B?
%B, also known as percent B, is a technical analysis tool that is used in conjunction with Bollinger Bands.
It measures the position of the most recent closing price relative to the upper and lower bands of the Bollinger Bands.
%B is plotted as an oscillator that ranges from 0 to 1 and is designed to provide potential entry and exit points.
%B values above 1 indicate that the price is above the upper band. In addition, %B values below 0 indicate that the price is below the lower band. Values between 0 and 1 indicate the position of the closing price relative to the bands.
How Do You Read The %B Indicator?
%B provides traders with information about the position of the most recent closing price relative to the upper and lower bands of the Bollinger Bands. It can be used to identify potential overbought and oversold levels, as well as potential entry and exit points.
How Does The %B Work?
%B works by measuring the position of the most recent closing price relative to the upper and lower bands of the Bollinger Bands.
%B values above 1 indicate that the price is above the upper band. In contrast, %B values below 0 indicate that the price is below the lower band. Values between 0 and 1 indicate the position of the closing price relative to the bands.
How Is The Bollinger Bands %B Calculated?
%B is calculated using the following formula:
%B = (Closing Price – Lower Band) / (Upper Band – Lower Band)
How Do You Use The Bollinger Bands %B?
Overbought and Oversold Levels: %B can be used to identify potential overbought and oversold levels. Traders can enter short positions when %B is above 1 and enter long positions when %B is below 0.
Potential Entry and Exit Points: Traders can use %B to identify potential entry and exit points based on the position of the most recent closing price relative to the upper and lower bands of the Bollinger Bands.
Additional Trading & Risk Management Tips
Use the Bollinger Bands %B in conjunction with other technical indicators and chart patterns to improve the accuracy of your trading signals.
Be patient and wait for %B to signal a potential overbought or oversold level before entering a position. False signals can occur when the price is trading within the bands.
Adjust the periods of the moving average and standard deviation of the Bollinger Bands to suit your specific trading style and the market you are analyzing.
Use proper risk management techniques to protect your investments. Always consider other factors in addition to %B when making trading decisions.
Be aware that %B is a lagging indicator. This means it reflects past price movements and may not accurately predict future price movements.
Monitor %B for crossovers above or below 1 and 0, as well as for changes in the direction of the oscillator. This can signal potential trend reversals or changes in market direction.
Consider using the tool in conjunction with support and resistance levels or trendlines to confirm potential entry and exit points or to identify areas of confluence.
Finally, practice using %B on historical data and demo trading accounts to evaluate its effectiveness for your specific trading style and market conditions before incorporating it into your live trading strategy. Practice using the Bollinger Bands %B using a TradingView account to backtest performance.