Klinger Oscillator¶
Indicators · Volume
Klinger Volume Oscillator — signed volume-force EMA difference.
The Klinger Volume Oscillator (KVO), built by Stephen Klinger, aims to capture both short-term reversals and long-term money flow in one indicator. It tracks "volume force" — volume signed and weighted by the direction and strength of price movement — and turns it into a MACD-style oscillator with a signal line. The goal is to stay sensitive enough to catch turns while still reflecting the bigger accumulation/distribution picture, so it doesn't whip you out of a trend on every wiggle.
How it works¶
For each bar the block computes a "volume force" — volume signed by whether the bar's trend is up or down and scaled by where price sits in its range — then takes the difference of a fast and slow EMA of that force, over the Fast EMA (34) and Slow EMA (55). That's the KVO line. A Signal line (EMA of KVO over Signal period, 13) gives the crossover trigger, with Bull ↑ / Bear ↓ on the cross. Both oscillate around zero in a sub-pane.
When to use it¶
Use the Klinger Oscillator for volume-confirmed momentum and divergence. The KVO/Signal crossover times entries; the zero line marks the money-flow trend state; and divergence between KVO and price is its headline use — a price high not confirmed by KVO warns the move lacks volume force. Because it blends short and long horizons it's smoother than a raw volume oscillator, suiting swing trading. Like all volume tools it's most reliable where volume is genuine; on forex it uses tick volume.
Example¶
Volume-confirmed entry: wire bars into the Klinger Oscillator and take a KVO-crosses-Signal-up event via a Crosses Above into a Buy Signal, confirmed by price above a 200-EMA through an And gate. Watch for KVO/price divergence in the Tester review.
Tips & gotchas¶
- Blends short reversals + long money flow — smoother than a plain volume oscillator.
- Signal cross = timing; divergence = the marquee use.
- Longer default periods (34/55) make it a swing-oriented tool.
- Tick volume on forex — a proxy for real volume force.
Related blocks¶
Inputs¶
| Socket | Type | What to wire in |
|---|---|---|
| Source | bars |
Price bars (needs HLCV) |
Outputs¶
| Output | Type | Plots as | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVO | series |
Line · sub-pane | Klinger value |
| Signal | series |
Line · sub-pane | EMA of KVO |
| Bull ↑ | signal |
Signal arrows | KVO crosses above signal |
| Bear ↓ | signal |
Signal arrows | KVO crosses below signal |
Parameters¶
| Parameter | Type | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast EMA | number · 2–200 | 34 |
|
| Slow EMA | number · 2–200 | 55 |
|
| Signal period | number · 1–100 | 13 |
|
| KVO color | colour | #5c6bc0 |
|
| Signal color | colour | #ffb74d |
Reference auto-generated from the block catalog · category Indicators.