ComponentOne FinancialChart for WinForms
Analytics / Indicators / Moving Average Convergence Divergence
In This Topic
    Moving Average Convergence Divergence
    In This Topic

    Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator for FinancialChart is a trend-following momentum indicator. It reveals changes in the strength, direction, duration and momentum of price of an asset. The indicator is efficient in helping users spot short-term price momentum.

    MACD momentum oscillator displays a relationship between 26 day exponential moving average and 12 day exponential moving average. As the two moving averages converge, cross and diverge, they make the MACD oscillator to fluctuate above and below the zero line. A "signal line" is plotted on the top of the oscillator. It is a 9 day exponential moving average of MACD, which serves as a trigger for buy and sell signals. A sell signal is generated with the MACD going below the zero line.

    MACD Histogram is an oscillator which measures the difference between the fast MACD line and the signal line. Just like MACD indicator, histogram also fluctuates above and below zero line. A positive histogram indicates that MACD is above its signal line, while MACD going below its signal line makes a negative histogram. A negative MACD Histograms generates sell signal. To use MACD indicator and MACD Histogram in FinancialChart, add a FinancialChart control to your application and bind it to an appropriate data source. The ItemsSource object enables data binding or populating data in FinancialChart. The MacdBase class exposes FastPeriod, SlowPeriod, and Smoothing period properties. Based on the values of these properties, data points for Macd indicator and Histogram are calculated and plotted on FinancialChart. The appearance of the series can be manipulated with MacdLineStyle and SignalLineStyle properties.

    FinancialChart also enables users to fetch the calculated Macd valuesMacd x valuesSignal values, and Signal x values in the run time, for the purpose of creating alerts in application or maintaining logs while working with dynamic data.

    MACD-Indicator

    The following example considers stock data for a company Box Inc. over a period of time and plots its MACD Indicator and MACD Histogram apart from the volume chart, as shown in the image above. The example uses data from a json file, and DataService.cs class is created to access this json file.

    Make sure that Build Action property of the json file is set to Embedded Resource.

    Make sure to add the following references in DataService.cs:

    Public Class DataService
        Public Function GetData() As List(Of Quote)
            Dim stream As New FileStream("..\..\Resources\box.json", FileMode.Open)
            Dim ser = New DataContractJsonSerializer(GetType(Quote()))
            Dim data = DirectCast(ser.ReadObject(stream), Quote())
            stream.Close()
            Return data.ToList()
        End Function
        Shared _ds As DataService
        Public Shared Function GetService() As DataService
            If _ds Is Nothing Then
                _ds = New DataService()
            End If
            Return _ds
        End Function
    End Class
    
    class DataService
    {
        public List<Quote> GetData()
        {
            string path = "IndicatorMACD.Resources.box.json";
            //Replace IndicatorMACD by your application name       
            var stream = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(path);
            var ser = new DataContractJsonSerializer(typeof(Quote[]));
            var data = (Quote[])ser.ReadObject(stream);
            return data.ToList();
        }
        static DataService _ds;
        public static DataService GetService()
        {
            if (_ds == null)
                _ds = new DataService();
            return _ds;
        }
    }
    

    Json Data

    [
        { "date": "01/23/15", "open": 20.2, "high": 24.73, "low": 20.16, "close": 23.23, "volume": 42593223 }, 
        { "date": "01/26/15", "open": 23.67, "high": 24.39, "low": 22.5, "close": 22.6, "volume": 8677164 }, 
        { "date": "01/27/15", "open": 22, "high": 22.47, "low": 21.17, "close": 21.3, "volume": 3272512 }, 
        { "date": "01/28/15", "open": 21.62, "high": 21.84, "low": 19.6, "close": 19.78, "volume": 5047364 }, 
        { "date": "01/29/15", "open": 19.9, "high": 19.95, "low": 18.51, "close": 18.8, "volume": 3419482 }, 
        { "date": "01/30/15", "open": 18.47, "high": 19.48, "low": 18.22, "close": 18.81, "volume": 2266439 }, 
        { "date": "02/02/15", "open": 19.18, "high": 19.3, "low": 18.01, "close": 18.02, "volume": 2071168 }, 
        { "date": "02/03/15", "open": 18.22, "high": 18.64, "low": 18.12, "close": 18.24, "volume": 1587435 }, 
        { "date": "02/04/15", "open": 18.2, "high": 18.35, "low": 17, "close": 17.1, "volume": 2912224 }, 
        { "date": "02/05/15", "open": 17.3, "high": 17.31, "low": 16.41, "close": 16.66, "volume": 2682187 }, 
        { "date": "02/06/15", "open": 17.39, "high": 18.88, "low": 17.21, "close": 18.12, "volume": 3929164 }, 
        { "date": "02/09/15", "open": 18.86, "high": 19.95, "low": 18.45, "close": 19.6, "volume": 3226650 }, 
        { "date": "02/10/15", "open": 20.5, "high": 21, "low": 19.63, "close": 20.99, "volume": 2804409 }, 
        { "date": "02/11/15", "open": 20.89, "high": 21, "low": 20.2, "close": 20.96, "volume": 1698365 }, 
        { "date": "02/12/15", "open": 20.66, "high": 20.85, "low": 19.75, "close": 20.17, "volume": 1370320 }, 
        { "date": "02/13/15", "open": 20.19, "high": 20.68, "low": 20, "close": 20.18, "volume": 711951 }, 
        { "date": "02/17/15", "open": 19.5, "high": 20.1, "low": 18.8, "close": 19.05, "volume": 2093602 }, 
        { "date": "02/18/15", "open": 18.31, "high": 18.5, "low": 17.96, "close": 18, "volume": 1849490 }, 
        { "date": "02/19/15", "open": 18.33, "high": 19.25, "low": 17.91, "close": 18.96, "volume": 1311518 }, 
        { "date": "02/20/15", "open": 18.68, "high": 19.3, "low": 18.65, "close": 18.85, "volume": 1001692 }, 
        { "date": "02/23/15", "open": 18.8, "high": 18.89, "low": 18.11, "close": 18.21, "volume": 670087 }, 
        { "date": "02/24/15", "open": 18.46, "high": 19, "low": 18.27, "close": 18.83, "volume": 759263 }, 
        { "date": "02/25/15", "open": 18.83, "high": 19.48, "low": 18.47, "close": 18.67, "volume": 915580 }, 
        { "date": "02/26/15", "open": 18.64, "high": 19.2, "low": 18.64, "close": 18.94, "volume": 461283 }, 
        { "date": "02/27/15", "open": 18.8, "high": 19.12, "low": 18.55, "close": 18.66, "volume": 617199 }, 
        { "date": "03/02/15", "open": 18.66, "high": 19.09, "low": 18.65, "close": 18.79, "volume": 519605 }, 
        { "date": "03/03/15", "open": 18.79, "high": 19.21, "low": 18.45, "close": 18.59, "volume": 832415 }, 
        { "date": "03/04/15", "open": 18.64, "high": 19.05, "low": 18.32, "close": 19, "volume": 539688 }, 
        { "date": "03/05/15", "open": 19.2, "high": 19.2, "low": 18.8, "close": 19.14, "volume": 486149 }, 
        { "date": "03/06/15", "open": 19.03, "high": 19.1, "low": 18.7, "close": 18.91, "volume": 685659 }, 
        { "date": "03/09/15", "open": 18.98, "high": 20.15, "low": 18.96, "close": 19.4, "volume": 1321363 }, 
        { "date": "03/10/15", "open": 19.3, "high": 19.8, "low": 18.85, "close": 19.64, "volume": 615743 }, 
        { "date": "03/11/15", "open": 20.08, "high": 20.65, "low": 19.24, "close": 20.53, "volume": 2167167 }, 
        { "date": "03/12/15", "open": 17.17, "high": 18.2, "low": 16.76, "close": 18.2, "volume": 6837638 }, 
        { "date": "03/13/15", "open": 18.05, "high": 18.05, "low": 17.3, "close": 17.88, "volume": 1715629 }, 
        { "date": "03/16/15", "open": 17.91, "high": 18, "low": 17.01, "close": 17.13, "volume": 1321313 }, 
        { "date": "03/17/15", "open": 17.28, "high": 17.37, "low": 16.6, "close": 17.12, "volume": 1272242 }, 
        { "date": "03/18/15", "open": 17.1, "high": 17.27, "low": 16.91, "close": 17.01, "volume": 530063 }, 
        { "date": "03/19/15", "open": 17, "high": 17.28, "low": 17, "close": 17.06, "volume": 536427 }, 
        { "date": "03/20/15", "open": 17.13, "high": 17.24, "low": 16.88, "close": 17.21, "volume": 1320237 }, 
        { "date": "03/23/15", "open": 17.21, "high": 17.23, "low": 17.01, "close": 17.11, "volume": 509798 }, 
        { "date": "03/24/15", "open": 17.02, "high": 17.18, "low": 16.82, "close": 17, "volume": 962149 }, 
        { "date": "03/25/15", "open": 16.92, "high": 16.99, "low": 16.82, "close": 16.97, "volume": 565673 }, 
        { "date": "03/26/15", "open": 16.83, "high": 17.56, "low": 16.83, "close": 17.54, "volume": 884523 }, 
        { "date": "03/27/15", "open": 17.58, "high": 18.3, "low": 17.11, "close": 18.3, "volume": 705626 }, 
        { "date": "03/30/15", "open": 18.5, "high": 19.4, "low": 18.4, "close": 19.05, "volume": 1151620 }, 
        { "date": "03/31/15", "open": 19.08, "high": 20.58, "low": 18.4, "close": 19.75, "volume": 2020679 }, 
        { "date": "04/01/15", "open": 19.69, "high": 19.69, "low": 18.55, "close": 18.65, "volume": 961078 }, 
        { "date": "04/02/15", "open": 18.56, "high": 18.66, "low": 17.85, "close": 17.9, "volume": 884233 }, 
        { "date": "04/06/15", "open": 17.78, "high": 17.94, "low": 17.51, "close": 17.66, "volume": 605252 }, 
        { "date": "04/07/15", "open": 17.62, "high": 17.9, "low": 17.53, "close": 17.61, "volume": 591988 }, 
        { "date": "04/08/15", "open": 17.64, "high": 17.85, "low": 17.32, "close": 17.36, "volume": 618855 }, 
        { "date": "04/09/15", "open": 17.33, "high": 17.54, "low": 17.1, "close": 17.1, "volume": 761855 }, 
        { "date": "04/10/15", "open": 17.08, "high": 17.36, "low": 17, "close": 17.05, "volume": 568373 }, 
        { "date": "04/13/15", "open": 17.24, "high": 17.26, "low": 16.81, "close": 17.1, "volume": 667142 }, 
        { "date": "04/14/15", "open": 17.1, "high": 17.89, "low": 17.02, "close": 17.52, "volume": 870138 }, 
        { "date": "04/15/15", "open": 17.6, "high": 17.99, "low": 17.5, "close": 17.69, "volume": 530456 }, 
        { "date": "04/16/15", "open": 17.95, "high": 18, "low": 17.6, "close": 17.82, "volume": 548730 }, 
        { "date": "04/17/15", "open": 17.75, "high": 17.79, "low": 17.5, "close": 17.79, "volume": 446373 }, 
        { "date": "04/20/15", "open": 17.63, "high": 17.98, "low": 17.52, "close": 17.93, "volume": 487017 }, 
        { "date": "04/21/15", "open": 17.96, "high": 17.98, "low": 17.71, "close": 17.92, "volume": 320302 }, 
        { "date": "04/22/15", "open": 17.88, "high": 18.33, "low": 17.57, "close": 18.29, "volume": 644812 }, 
        { "date": "04/23/15", "open": 18.29, "high": 18.61, "low": 18.18, "close": 18.28, "volume": 563879 }, 
        { "date": "04/24/15", "open": 18.5, "high": 18.5, "low": 17.61, "close": 17.75, "volume": 650762 }, 
        { "date": "04/27/15", "open": 17.97, "high": 18.05, "low": 17.45, "close": 17.57, "volume": 437294 }, 
        { "date": "04/28/15", "open": 17.65, "high": 17.79, "low": 17.39, "close": 17.5, "volume": 224519 }, 
        { "date": "04/29/15", "open": 17.68, "high": 17.68, "low": 17.1, "close": 17.21, "volume": 495706 }, 
        { "date": "04/30/15", "open": 17.22, "high": 17.3, "low": 17, "close": 17.11, "volume": 391040 }, 
        { "date": "05/01/15", "open": 17.11, "high": 17.55, "low": 16.85, "close": 17.5, "volume": 563075 }, 
        { "date": "05/04/15", "open": 17.56, "high": 17.85, "low": 17.3, "close": 17.4, "volume": 253138 }, 
        { "date": "05/05/15", "open": 17.68, "high": 17.68, "low": 17.09, "close": 17.43, "volume": 290935 }, 
        { "date": "05/06/15", "open": 17.48, "high": 17.48, "low": 17, "close": 17.04, "volume": 313662 }, 
        { "date": "05/07/15", "open": 17.05, "high": 17.19, "low": 16.92, "close": 17.04, "volume": 360284 }, 
        { "date": "05/08/15", "open": 17.13, "high": 17.21, "low": 16.91, "close": 17.1, "volume": 297653 }, 
        { "date": "05/11/15", "open": 17.16, "high": 17.44, "low": 17.13, "close": 17.31, "volume": 268504 }, 
        { "date": "05/12/15", "open": 17.28, "high": 17.44, "low": 16.99, "close": 17.24, "volume": 376961 }, 
        { "date": "05/13/15", "open": 17.24, "high": 17.3, "low": 17.06, "close": 17.2, "volume": 244617 }, 
        { "date": "05/14/15", "open": 17.24, "high": 17.25, "low": 17.02, "close": 17.08, "volume": 252526 }, 
        { "date": "05/15/15", "open": 17.06, "high": 17.16, "low": 16.95, "close": 16.95, "volume": 274783 }, 
        { "date": "05/18/15", "open": 16.95, "high": 17.01, "low": 16.76, "close": 16.87, "volume": 418513 }, 
        { "date": "05/19/15", "open": 16.93, "high": 16.94, "low": 16.6, "close": 16.83, "volume": 367660 }, 
        { "date": "05/20/15", "open": 16.8, "high": 16.9, "low": 16.65, "close": 16.86, "volume": 297914 }, 
        { "date": "05/21/15", "open": 16.9, "high": 17.08, "low": 16.79, "close": 16.88, "volume": 229346 }, 
        { "date": "05/22/15", "open": 16.9, "high": 17.05, "low": 16.85, "close": 17, "volume": 253279 }, 
        { "date": "05/26/15", "open": 17.03, "high": 17.08, "low": 16.86, "close": 17.01, "volume": 212640 }, 
        { "date": "05/27/15", "open": 17.01, "high": 17.99, "low": 16.87, "close": 17.75, "volume": 857109 }, 
        { "date": "05/28/15", "open": 17.77, "high": 17.77, "low": 17.44, "close": 17.62, "volume": 338482 }
                ]
    

    Make sure to add the following references in code view:

    Partial Public Class Form1
        Inherits Form
        Private dataService As DataService = DataService.GetService()
        Dim macd As New Macd() With {
        .Name = "MACD, Signal"
    }
        Dim macdHistogram As New MacdHistogram() With {
        .Name = "MACD Histogram"
    }
        Private fs As New FinancialSeries()
        Public Sub New()
            InitializeComponent()
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub FinancialChart1_Rendered(sender As Object, e As C1.Win.Chart.RenderEventArgs) Handles FinancialChart1.Rendered
            FinancialChart2.AxisX.Min = FinancialChart1.AxisX.ActualMin
            FinancialChart2.AxisX.Max = FinancialChart1.AxisX.ActualMax
        End Sub
    
        Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
            FinancialChart1.BeginUpdate()
            FinancialChart1.BindingX = "date"
            FinancialChart1.Binding = "close"
            FinancialChart1.Series.Add(New FinancialSeries())
            'fs.Name = "Box Inc.";
            FinancialChart1.Legend.Position = C1.Chart.Position.Right
            fs.Visibility = C1.Chart.SeriesVisibility.Visible
            FinancialChart1.ChartType = C1.Chart.Finance.FinancialChartType.Line
            FinancialChart1.DataSource = dataService.GetData()
            FinancialChart1.Legend.Orientation = C1.Chart.Orientation.Vertical
            FinancialChart1.Legend.Title = "Box Inc."
            FinancialChart1.EndUpdate()
    
            FinancialChart2.BeginUpdate()
            FinancialChart2.ChartType = C1.Chart.Finance.FinancialChartType.Line
            FinancialChart2.BindingX = "date"
            FinancialChart2.Binding = "high,low,close"
            FinancialChart2.Series.Add(macd)
            FinancialChart2.Series.Add(macdHistogram)
            FinancialChart2.Legend.Position = C1.Chart.Position.Bottom
            FinancialChart2.DataSource = dataService.GetData()
            FinancialChart2.EndUpdate()
            macd.FastPeriod = 12
            macd.SlowPeriod = 26
            macd.SmoothingPeriod = 9
            macd.MacdLineStyle.Stroke = Brushes.Red
            macd.SignalLineStyle.Stroke = Brushes.Orange
        End Sub
    End Class
    Public Class Quote
        Public Property [date]() As String
            Get
                Return m_date
            End Get
            Set
                m_date = Value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_date As String
        Public Property high() As Double
            Get
                Return m_high
            End Get
            Set
                m_high = Value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_high As Double
        Public Property low() As Double
            Get
                Return m_low
            End Get
            Set
                m_low = Value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_low As Double
        Public Property open() As Double
            Get
                Return m_open
            End Get
            Set
                m_open = Value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_open As Double
        Public Property close() As Double
            Get
                Return m_close
            End Get
            Set
                m_close = Value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_close As Double
        Public Property volume() As Double
            Get
                Return m_volume
            End Get
            Set
                m_volume = Value
            End Set
        End Property
        Private m_volume As Double
    End Class
    
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        DataService dataService = DataService.GetService();
        Macd macd = new Macd() { Name = "MACD, Signal" };
        MacdHistogram macdHistogram = new MacdHistogram() { Name = "MACD Histogram" };
        FinancialSeries fs = new FinancialSeries();
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        public List<Quote> Data
        {
            get
            {
                return dataService.GetData();
            }
        }
        private void OnLoad(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            financialChart1.BeginUpdate();
            financialChart1.BindingX = "date";           
            financialChart1.Binding = "close";
            financialChart1.Series.Add(new FinancialSeries());            
            financialChart1.Legend.Position = C1.Chart.Position.Right;
            fs.Visibility = C1.Chart.SeriesVisibility.Visible;
            financialChart1.ChartType = C1.Chart.Finance.FinancialChartType.Line;
            financialChart1.DataSource = dataService.GetData();
            financialChart1.Legend.Orientation = C1.Chart.Orientation.Vertical;
            financialChart1.Legend.Title = "Box Inc.";
            financialChart1.Rendered += (s, a) =>
            {
                financialChart2.AxisX.Min = financialChart1.AxisX.ActualMin;
                financialChart2.AxisX.Max = financialChart1.AxisX.ActualMax;
            };
            financialChart1.EndUpdate();
    
            financialChart2.BeginUpdate();
            financialChart2.ChartType = C1.Chart.Finance.FinancialChartType.Line;
            financialChart2.BindingX = "date";
            financialChart2.Binding = "high,low,close";
            financialChart2.Series.Add(macd);
            financialChart2.Series.Add(macdHistogram);
            financialChart2.Legend.Position = C1.Chart.Position.Bottom;
            financialChart2.DataSource = dataService.GetData();            
            financialChart2.EndUpdate();
            macd.FastPeriod = 12;
            macd.SlowPeriod = 26;
            macd.SmoothingPeriod = 9;
            macd.MacdLineStyle.Stroke = Brushes.OrangeRed;
            macd.SignalLineStyle.Stroke = Brushes.Blue;
        }
    }
    public class Quote
    {
        public string date { get; set; }
        public double high { get; set; }
        public double low { get; set; }
        public double open { get; set; }
        public double close { get; set; }
        public double volume { get; set; }
    }
    

    Back to Top