TRIX is a momentum indicator that displays the
percent rate-of-change of a triple exponentially smoothed moving average
of the security's closing price. It is designed to keep you in trends
equal to or shorter than the number of periods you specify.
Interpretation
The TRIX indicator oscillates around a zero line.
Its triple exponential smoothing is designed to filter out
"insignificant" cycles (i.e., those that are shorter than the number of
periods you specify).
Trades should be placed when the indicator changes
direction (i.e., buy when it turns up and sell when it turns down). You
may want to plot a 9-period moving average of the TRIX to create a
"signal" line (similar to the MACD indicator, and then buy when the TRIX
rises above its signal, and sell when it falls below its signal.
Divergences between the security and the TRIX can
also help identify turning points.
Example
The following chart shows Checker Drive-In, its
12-day TRIX (solid line), and a 9-day "signal" moving average of the
TRIX (dotted line).
I drew "buy" arrows when the TRIX rose above its
signal line and drew "sell" arrows when it fell below its signal line.
This method worked well when prices were trending, but it generated
numerous false signals when prices were moving sideways.
A bearish divergence occurred when the TRIX was
falling (trendline "A") while prices rose. Prices subsequently
corrected. Similarly, a bullish divergence occurred when the TRIX was
rising (trendline "B") while prices were falling. Prices subsequently
rallied.
Calculation
To calculate the TRIX indicator:
Calculate an n-period exponential moving average
of the closing prices.
Calculate an n-period exponential moving average
of the moving average calculated in Step #1.
Calculate an n-period exponential moving average
of the moving average calculated in Step #2.
Calculate the 1-period (e.g., 1-day) percent
change of the moving average calculated in Step #3.