Below are the results (quotes) of the volatility analysis (Average True Range, Standard Deviation) applied to the SPX index.

S&P 500 Index (^SPX) Select Index: NASDAQ Comp. (^COMP)NYSE Comp. (^NYA)AMEX Comp. (^XAX)DOW Comp. (^DJC)DJI (^DJI)DJT (^DJT)DJU (^DJU)S&P 400 (^MID)S&P 100 (^OEX)S&P 600 (^SML)S&P Financials (^SPS)S&P 500 (^SPX)NASDAQ Banking (^BANK)NASDAQ Industr. (^INDS)NASDAQ Insurance (^INSR)NASDAQ Computer (^IXCO)NASDAQ Finacial (^IXF)NASDAQ Health (^IXHC)NASDAQ Telecom. (^IXTC)NASDAQ Biotechn (^NBI)NASDAQ 100 (^NDX)NASDAQ Techn. (^NDXT)NASDAQ Q-50 (^NXTQ)NASDAQ Other Fin (^OFIN)NASDAQ Internet (^QNET)NASDAQ Market (^RCMP)NASDAQ Transport (^TRAN)Russell 3000 (^RUA)Russell 1000 (^RUI)Russell 2000 (^RUT)Housing (^HGX)Oil (^OSX)Semiconductor (^SOX)Utilities (^UTY)Gold/Silver (^XAU)Gold AMEX (^HUI)Oil Amex (^XOI)NASDAQ Canada (^CND) Time (ET) Last Change Open High Low Volume Thursday, March 18, 2010 16:00 1,165.70 -0.48 (-0.04%) 1,166.13 1,167.77 1,161.16 3,490,502K S&P 500 Technical Analysis Volatility Analysis S&P 500 Index (^SPX) True Range (TR), Average True Range (ATR) and ATR in percent Period TR ATR* ATR% Sentiment** 9-day Period 6.61 9.28 0.80 % Low Volatility 14-day Period 6.61 9.69 0.83 % Low Volatility 20-day Period 6.61 10.56 0.91 % Low Volatility *  As a rule, high volatility indicates a Bearish sentiment and is a characteristic of a down-trend. In contrast, low volatility indicates a Bullish sentiment and usually can be seen during up-trends. S&P 500 Index (^SPX) Standard Deviation (Historical Volatility) Indicator Standard Deviation Relative Deviation Annualized Volatility Sentiment* 9-day Period 9.51 0.83 % 13.11 Low Volatility 14-day Period 16.61 1.46 % 23.10 Low Volatility 20-day Period 22.20 1.96 % 31.18 Medium Volatility * Standard Deviation, also called Historical Volatility, is a measurement of the security's volatility over a specified period of time. The same as Average True Range, it helps to define periods of high low volatility.

About Analysis of the Volatility.

Many traders ignore analysis of the S&P 500 Index (^SPX) volatility by underestimating its importance. A trader may assume that the technical indicators or S&P 500 trading system that he is using is bad when it only need to be adjusted to the volatility.

The S&P 500 volatility analysis is used to define periods of high and low volatility. As a rule, S&P 500 high volatility is a nature of a down-trend, while during an S&P 500 up-trend we may see S&P 500 low volatility. Furthermore, during high volatility, the price of the S&P 500 tends to change direction more quickly than during trading periods of low volatility.

We recommend that, from time to time, you check the volatility, especially if the trading system starts to generate signals when it's too early to open/close trade or when it's too late to open/close a trade. In such situations, you might consider setting a tighter indicator setting in highly volatile periods and a looser indicator setting in periods of low volatility.

At the same time, S&P 500 volatility analysis could be used to generate S&P 500 trading signals. An increase in volatility during an up-trend may indicate a coming correction (down-trend) and, conversely, a decrease in volatility during a down-trend may indicate a coming reversal and recovery.