What Is Envelopes Indicator?

In financial markets and trading, traders utilize numerous technical indicators to analyze price movements and make informed decisions. One such indicator is the envelopes indicator. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the envelopes indicator, how it works, how to use it effectively, how to calculate it, interpret it, and its limitations.

What Is an Envelopes Indicator?

The envelopes indicator is a popular tool among traders. It is an overlay indicator plotted on the price chart that consists of two moving averages, one located above and the other below the price. The envelopes indicator aims to help identify potential overbought and oversold levels and provides signals for possible trend reversals.

How Envelopes Work

The envelopes indicator is based on the concept that prices fluctuate within a certain range around a moving average. The envelopes indicator visually represents this range by plotting two lines or bands around the moving average. The width of the envelopes can be adjusted to suit the trader's preferences and market conditions.

The market is overbought when the price moves toward the upper band, indicating a possible reversal or correction to the downside. Conversely, when the price approaches the lower band, it suggests that the market is oversold, signaling a potential reversal or correction to the upside. Traders often look for price interactions with the bands as potential entry or exit points for their trades.

How to Use Envelopes Indicator

When you download MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), you will discover that the envelopes indicator is a standard tool integrated into the platform's core set of instruments.

To add the envelopes indicator to a chart, click on the “Insert” button in the upper left corner of the MetaTrader window, then click “Indicators” and choose “Trend,” as it is shown in the picture below.

How to set Envelopes indicator.png

How to set the Envelopes indicator | FBS

The default settings for the Envelopes indicator are:

Period - 14

Shift - 0

Deviation - 0

Method - simple

Apply to - close

It is suggested when using an indicator for the first time to start with the default values. Let's look at these parameters and how they affect the Envelopes indicator.

Period

The "period" refers to the number of candles within a specific timeframe that an indicator utilizes to calculate average price values and generate moving average lines. Increasing the period results in the envelopes indicator incorporating more price data and producing a smoother curve. Traders who prefer less frequent trading may find higher period values more suitable as they create envelopes further apart from the price.

Shift

The "Shift" parameter enables the adjustment of Moving Averages (MAs) along the time axis. The MA lines can be shifted forward or backward by specifying a value in the "Shift" field. For instance, a positive value such as 10 moves the MA lines forward by 10 bars, while a negative value like -10 shifts them backward by 10 bars, and so forth.

Method

The MA method determines how the values are averaged within the selected timeframe specified by the "Period" parameter. The default method is "Simple," where each price value is given equal weight. However, there are alternative averaging methods to choose from. These include "Exponential," "Smoothed," and "Linear Weighted," each offering different approaches to calculating the moving averages.

Apply To

"Apply to" defines which type of price value is used for each bar. The default value is "Close," but many other options exist, including high, low, open, or median.

Deviation

The "Deviation" parameter determines the vertical shift of the moving average lines along the price axis. Essentially, it controls the width or narrowness of the envelopes. A value of 0.1 signifies that the moving average lines will be shifted up and down by 0.1% of the price.

In the image below, we have added the Envelopes indicator using the default settings to an hourly chart of EURUSD.

Envelopes.png

Envelopes indicator | FBS

How to calculate Envelopes indicator

The envelopes indicator is typically calculated by adding a percentage or value to the moving average to derive the upper band and subtracting the same percentage or value to obtain the lower band. The percentage or value used to calculate the envelopes can be adjusted based on the trader's preferences and market conditions.

For example, if a trader wants to set the width of the envelopes at 2%, the upper band would be calculated by adding 2% to the moving average. In comparison, the lower band would be derived by subtracting 2% from the moving average.

The Formula is:

  • Upper envelope = SMANx X [1 + D%]
  • Lower envelope = SMANx X [1 - D%]

N is the number of periods used for the averaging, and D is the deviation value. So if we chose 0.2 for our deviation value, the upper envelope would be 1.002 times the SMA, and the lower envelope would be 0.998 times the SMA.

How to interpret Envelopes indicator

The Envelopes indicator is based on Moving Averages and thus has the specific features and applications as other MAs do. First, the slope of the indicator lines shows the direction of a trend: if the Envelopes bands are sloping up, it’s an uptrend, while if they are sloping down, it’s a downtrend. In addition, the indicator clearly shows the start of a sideways market as its lines become horizontal.

There are several ways to interpret the Envelopes indicator:

  • It’s possible to trade inside the channel created by the Envelopes bands: buy when the price reaches the lower band in an uptrend and sell when the price gets to the upper band in a downtrend.

strong downtrend 2.png

Sell signal by Envelopes indicator | FBS

  • When the market is range-bound, the price increases above the upper Envelopes band signal that the asset is overbought and will likely reverse down. Moves below the lower band mean the market is oversold and may reverse up.

range.png

How to use Envelopes indicator for trading in range | FBS

Limitations of the Envelope Indicator Formula

While the envelopes indicator can be a valuable tool, it also has limitations. One limitation is that it is a lagging indicator relying on moving averages. As a result, it may not provide timely signals during rapidly changing market conditions or volatile periods.

The envelopes indicator may also generate false signals, especially when the market is strongly trending. In trending markets, prices can remain near the upper or lower band for an extended period, leading to whipsaw trades if traders solely rely on envelope crossovers.

Conclusion

The envelopes indicator is a widely used technical analysis tool that helps traders identify potential overbought and oversold levels, offering signals for possible trend reversals. However, it is important to consider the limitations of the indicator and use it in conjunction with other technical analysis tools to increase its effectiveness. With proper understanding and application, the envelopes indicator can be a valuable addition to a trader's arsenal of technical analysis tools.

Frequently asked questions

  • How to open an FBS account?

    Click the ‘Open account’ button on our website and proceed to the Personal Area. Before you can start trading, pass a profile verification. Confirm your email and phone number, get your ID verified. This procedure guarantees the safety of your funds and identity. Once you are done with all the checks, go to the preferred trading platform, and start trading. 

  • How to start trading?

    If you are 18+ years old, you can join FBS and begin your FX journey. To trade, you need a brokerage account and sufficient knowledge on how assets behave in the financial markets. Start with studying the basics with our free educational materials and creating an FBS account. You may want to test the environment with virtual money with a Demo account. Once you are ready, enter the real market and trade to succeed.

  • How to withdraw the money you earned with FBS?

    The procedure is very straightforward. Go to the Withdrawal page on the website or the Finances section of the FBS Personal Area and access Withdrawal. You can get the earned money via the same payment system that you used for depositing. In case you funded the account via various methods, withdraw your profit via the same methods in the ratio according to the deposited sums.

Latest news

AUD: Markets Prepare for RBA Rates Statement.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is widely anticipated to maintain its current interest rates at 4.35% following its two-day meeting concluding on Tuesday. Despite holding rates steady since December, the RBA has hinted at the possibility of further rate hikes due to persistently high inflation, which has exceeded its target range of 2% to 3%.

Coinbase and Marathon. Instruments of the Week (18-22 March)

Coinbase (#COIN) saw its revenue rise to $773 million in Q1 2024, marking a 23% increase from the previous quarter and surpassing analyst expectations.

XTIUSD Extends Bullish Phase, but Watch for Retracement Levels Before Continuing to Buy!

Bearish scenario: Sales below 80.00 with TP1: 79.60... Anticipated bullish scenario: Intraday purchases above 80.70 with TP: 81.50...

Deposit with your local payment systems

Data collection notice

FBS maintains a record of your data to run this website. By pressing the “Accept” button, you agree to our Privacy policy.

Callback

A manager will call you shortly.

Change number

Your request is accepted.

A manager will call you shortly.

Next callback request for this phone number
will be available in

If you have an urgent issue please contact us via
Live chat

Internal error. Please try again later

Don’t waste your time – keep track of how NFP affects the US dollar and profit!

You are using an older version of your browser.

Update it to the latest version or try another one for a safer, more comfortable and productive trading experience.

Safari Chrome Firefox Opera