S&P Utility Sector Index (^IXU)(IXU)

About Analysis of the Volatility.

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

The S&P Utility volatility analysis is used to define periods of high and low volatility. As a rule, S&P Utility high volatility is a nature of a down-trend, while during an S&P Utility up-trend we may see S&P Utility low volatility. Furthermore, during high volatility, the price of the S&P Utility 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 Utility volatility analysis could be used to generate S&P Utility 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.