What period should I use for Force Index?

2-period EMA for short-term timing, 13-period for intermediate trend analysis.

Key Takeaways

Difficulty:Intermediate

Reliability:High

Category:volume

Timeframes:Daily, Weekly

Force Index

volume📊 Daily, Weekly

Dr. Alexander Elder indicator combining price change, direction, and volume.

Formula

Code

Force Index = (Close - Previous Close) × Volume

EMA smoothed version commonly used

Detailed Explanation

Force Index measures the force behind price moves by combining direction, magnitude, and volume.

Interpretation:
- Large positive: Strong buying
- Large negative: Strong selling
- Near zero: Balance between buyers/sellers

Trading Setup Example

Entry, stop loss, and take profit levels.

📈 Buy Setup

📉 Sell Setup

Always wait for signal confirmation before entering a trade.

Where This Indicator Works Best

Trend context and market position.

📈 Bullish Context

📉 Bearish Context

Confirms price moves through volume analysis.

Live Chart — Force Index

See Force Index in action on a live chart. Try changing the settings and timeframe.

Force Index is a manual drawing tool or chart type and cannot be auto-overlaid as a study.

Open Chart on TradingView

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Parameters

EMA Period

Default: 13

Smoothing period

📈 Bullish Signals

Force Index crosses above zero in uptrend, bullish divergence

📉 Bearish Signals

Force Index crosses below zero in downtrend, bearish divergence

Python Implementation

Force Index calculation

Python

import pandas_ta as ta

df['Force'] = (df['close'] - df['close'].shift(1)) * df['volume']

df['Force_EMA'] = ta.ema(df['Force'], 13)

TradingView Pine Script

Try on TradingView

JavaScript

//@version=5

indicator("Force Index")

force = ta.ema((close - close[1]) * volume, 13)

plot(force, "Force", color=color.blue)

hline(0, "Zero")

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MT5 MQL5 Code

C++

int force_handle = iForce(_Symbol, _Period, 13, MODE_EMA, VOLUME_TICK);

Python Libraries

pandas-ta

Technical analysis

pip install pandas-ta

Common Mistakes

✗Using raw Force Index without smoothing

✗Ignoring divergences

Confirmation Signals

EMA trend

Price action

Other volume indicators

Best For

Volume-price analysisTrend confirmationPullback entries

💡 Pro Tips

•Use 2-period EMA for short-term
•Use 13-period EMA for intermediate
•Combines three key elements: direction, extent, volume

Last updated: February 8, 2026

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Trading involves significant risk and you may lose your capital. Always consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Learn More

Investopedia - Technical Indicators— Financial Education BabyPips - Technical Indicators— Trading School MetaTrader 5 Docs— Official Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

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Dr. Alexander Elder's indicator measuring Bull Power and Bear Power relative to an EMA.

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