- Type of Indicator: Volatility
- Creator: Chester Keltner
- When Created: 1950s
- First Mentioned In: How to Make Money in Commodities by Chester Keltner.
What Is The Keltner Channels?
Keltner Channels are a technical analysis tool that is used to identify potential trend reversals and breakout points.
They consist of three lines, which represent the upper and lower channel lines and the centerline. The centerline is typically a moving average of the closing price.
How Do You Read The Keltner Channels?
The upper and lower channel lines are based on the average true range (ATR) of the price over a specific time period, while the centerline is a moving average of the closing price over the same period. The tool can be used to identify potential entry and exit points.
How Does The Keltner Channels Work?
Keltner Channels work by identifying potential trend reversals and breakout points based on the position of the price relative to the channels.
When the price breaks above the upper channel line, it is considered a potential buy signal. When the price breaks below the lower channel line, it is considered a potential sell signal.
How Are The Keltner Channels Calculated?
The calculation for Keltner Channels involves selecting a specific time period, such as 20 days, and finding the upper and lower channel lines based on the average true range (ATR) of the price over that period.
The centerline is typically a moving average of the closing price over the same period.
How Do You Use Keltner Channels?
Breakout Trades: Traders can use tool to identify potential breakout trades. A buy signal is generated when the price breaks above the upper channel line. A sell signal is generated when the price breaks below the lower channel line.
Trend Reversals: Traders can use indicator to identify potential trend reversals. When the price crosses below the centerline, it may indicate a potential downtrend. When the price crosses above the centerline, it may indicate a potential uptrend.
Stop Losses: Traders can use the upper and lower channel lines to set stop-loss orders. For example, a stop-loss order can be set below the lower channel line for a long position or above the upper channel line for a short position.
Additional Trading & Risk Management Tips
Use the Keltner Channels in conjunction with other technical indicators and chart patterns to improve the accuracy of trading signals.
Adjust the period of the channels and the type of moving average used 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 Keltner Channels when making trading decisions.
Be aware that Keltner Channels are a lagging indicator. This means they reflect past price movements and may not accurately predict future price movements. Therefore, use them in conjunction with other technical analysis tools to make more informed trading decisions.
Monitor the position of the price relative to the channels for potential breakout trades or trend reversals. Adjust your trading strategy accordingly.
Use multiple timeframes when analyzing Keltner Channels. For example, you could use a longer-term Keltner Channel on a weekly chart to identify the overall trend and a shorter-term Keltner Channel on a daily chart to identify potential entry and exit points.
Be aware of false signals. Like any technical indicator, Keltner Channels are not infallible and can generate false signals. Therefore, it’s important to use other technical analysis tools and to take into account market fundamentals when making trading decisions.
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 tool 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 Keltner Channels using a TradingView account to backtest performance.