Elder force index
A smoothed (typically EMA-averaged) version of the Force Index, reducing noise while still capturing the combined price-and-volume force behind a move.
What the numbers mean
Thirteen is the EMA period smoothing the raw force calculation — about a month of daily bars. A 2-period version is sometimes used alongside it for short-term entries.
- 13 — about a month of daily bars; the standard smoothing
- 2 — the short companion setting for entries
- 0 — the line separating net buying force from selling force
How it is used
Read for zero-line crossings, for divergence against price, and for new extremes that confirm a breakout has real weight of money behind it.
- Zero-line crossings → force changing sides
- Divergence against price → participation not confirming the move
- New extremes → a breakout with real money behind it
How it relates to everything else
This is the Force Index with an EMA applied, and it sits inside Elder's three-screen system alongside a trend filter and an oscillator — the trend decides direction, force decides timing.
- Smoothed Force Index
- Part of Elder's system with a weekly trend filter and a daily oscillator
- A single huge volume day can dominate the average for weeks
What to watch for
A single very high volume bar can dominate the average for weeks, and the scale is security-specific, so readings cannot be compared across names.