You are currently viewing
<span class="bsf-rt-reading-time"><span class="bsf-rt-display-label" prefix="Reading Time"></span> <span class="bsf-rt-display-time" reading_time="3"></span> <span class="bsf-rt-display-postfix" postfix="mins"></span></span><!-- .bsf-rt-reading-time -->Top 3 Ways of Keltner channel Practical Trading

Top 3 Ways of Keltner channel Practical Trading

The Keltner channel is a technical indicator that plots two bands above and below a moving average using Average True Range (ATR). Chester W. Keltner created the Keltner channel, which he mentioned in his 1960 book How To Make Money in Commodities.

Keltner channels resemble envelopes or Bollinger bands, but instead of standard deviations as in the case of Bollinger bands, they use ATR. Keltner channels assist traders in identifying overbought and oversold regions on price charts.


Table of Contents


Keltner’s channels also provide valuable information regarding trend reversals and act as additional confluence factor in price action trading.

keltner channel

Keltner’s Channels Formula

Modern Day Modified Formula

Middle line= 20 period Exponential Moving Average 

Upper Band = Exponential Moving Average+2*ATR

Lower Band= Exponential Moving Average-2*ATR

Original Keltner’s Formula

Middle line=10 Period Simple Moving Average of Typical Price 

Upper Band =Middle Line+ 10 Period Moving Average of Daily Price Range

Lower Band=Middle Line- 10 Period Moving Average of Daily Price Range 

Where

Typical price = high + low + close/3

Use of Keltner’s Channel

Originally keltner channel was used in commodity trading and middle band was a function of simple moving average only, at the starting ATR was also not part of the original strategy and was called 10 day moving average trading rule by its founder Chester W. Keltner

Later, changes were made to the original indicator, and the Exponential Moving Average (EMA) was introduced in place of the simple moving average, as well as ATR.

Present day Keltner channel is used in its modified form, there are three ways to use keltner channel in price action trading – 

1. Keltner’s channel with EMA

The upper band of the Keltner channel is used to define an overbought market that may experience a downward correction, while the lower band defines an oversold market that may experience an upward correction.

Using EMA with Keltner channel provides decent setup especially in trending markets,To define the trading strategy using EMA consider following conditions for entry and exit-

Long Entry –

Current closing price Yesterday’s 4 day EMA –  77% OF ATR ( 4 days) & Above 270 day EMA

Go long if current closing price is less than yesterdays 4 day EMA minus 77% of four days ATR and if above 270 days EMA

Short Entry –

Current closing price Yesterday’s 4 day EMA +77% OF ATR ( 4 days) &  Below 270 day EMA

Go short  if current closing price is greater  than yesterdays 4 day EMA plus 77% of four days ATR and if below 270 days EMA

Cover the positions if any one of the conditions from the equation deviates.

2. Keltner’s Trend Following System

With Keltner’s trend following rule, a long entry is made when the current price high surpasses the high of the previous period by a minimal unit of price measurement.

Similarly, a short entry is made if the price falls by the minimum unit of price measurement below the low of the previous period.

Although Strategy appears to be robust during back testing, actual trading appears to be very expensive with this type of setup, as many signals are generated in relatively short periods of time, particularly during choppy markets.

As a result, broking fees and other transaction costs skyrocket, and the overall result is subpar. 

3. Ten Day Moving Average Rule

In its original form, the Keltner channel used this rule to get long and short trades in commodity markets. It is a very simple rule that involves going long when the current day’s high crosses an upper band and going short when the current day’s low crosses a lower band.

The upper and lower bands are the 10 day simple moving average of the daily price range added to and subtracted from the typical price line’s 10 day simple moving average.

Where typical price = high + close + low / 3

Difference Between Bollinger Band & Keltner Channels

Bollinger BandsKeltner’s Channel 
Bollinger bands use standard deviations to get the upper band & lower band Keltner’s channel use ATR to calculate the upper band and lower band
Bollinger bands can be used to measure volatility expansion and squeeze Keltner’s channels can only be used to gauge the oversold and overbought price levels 
Using standard deviations makes bollinger bands less reactive to choppy markets which makes bollinger band better in case of choppy markets ATR has more fluctuations, during choppy markets. Keltner’s channels are incapable of filtering market noise.

Keltner’s Channel FAQ

What is a Keltner’s Channel?

Keltner’s channel is a volatility based indicator which uses Average True Range to plot two bands above and below a moving average.

How To Plot Keltner’s Channels?

Use 20 day period EMA and plot upper band by adding 2 ATR value to this exponential moving average, similarly subtract 2 ATR value to get the lower band.

Which is better Bollinger Bands or Keltner Channel?

Keltner’s channels are more vulnerable to market noise; nonetheless, Bollinger bands perform far better in greater time frames than Keltner’s channels. Using Keltner’s channel to uncover overpriced and underpriced stocks is a somewhat better strategy than classic band and envelope trading.

Author

  • RUPIN JOSHI

    Rupin Joshi Senior Technical Analyst, Finance Writer, and Trading ExpertRupin Joshi is a seasoned Trading Expert with over a decade of experience. As a prolific Finance Writer, he has authored numerous research papers in Technical Analysis and Price Action. Rupin's insights and strategies have earned him global recognition, including awards in Trading Competitions. Currently serving as the Director at Bulls Arena Trading, he continues to empower traders and investors with his expertise and innovative approaches.

Candlestick Patterns Trading Course