Klinger Oscillator

The Klinger Oscillator converts each bar's volume into a signed volume force and plots the difference between the 34-period and 55-period EMAs of that force, with a 13-period EMA signal line for crossover reference. Readings above zero and rising suggest the advance is carried by volume; an oscillator sagging under rising price warns that participation is thinning.

Per bar, the script compares the sum of high, low, and close against the prior bar to fix the trend sign, then scales volume by how the bar's range relates to the cumulative range of the current move. The KVO and Signal lines plot around a dashed zero line — the standard implementation with its classic 34/55/13 defaults.

How to Trade the Klinger Oscillator?

• KVO crossing above the Signal line: volume force improving faster than its recent trend — the conventional bullish trigger.
• KVO crossing below the Signal line: the bearish counterpart, marking deteriorating volume flow.
• Zero-line position: above zero the fast EMA of volume force exceeds the slow one, framing the move as volume-supported.
• Divergence with price: a falling KVO against rising price questions the advance; the reverse questions a decline.

Klinger Oscillator Settings

• Fast Length (default 34): fast EMA applied to the volume force — shorter registers flow shifts sooner but whipsaws more.
• Slow Length (default 55): slow EMA anchoring the oscillator to the larger accumulation and distribution arc.
• Signal Length (default 13): EMA applied to the oscillator to obtain the Signal line.

Alerts

Four alert conditions are declared: Bullish Signal Cross and Bearish Signal Cross when the KVO crosses above or below its signal line, plus Bullish Zero Cross and Bearish Zero Cross on zero-line crossings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Klinger Oscillator different from On Balance Volume?

OBV accumulates each bar's full volume by close-to-close direction into one slow running line. This build signs volume by the high-low-close trend, tempers it by range behavior, and differences two EMAs, giving a zero-centered oscillator that registers shorter-term shifts in flow.

What are the best settings for the Klinger Oscillator?

The 34/55/13 defaults are the classic published configuration and translate to any interval. Widening the fast/slow gap emphasizes the slower accumulation trend; narrowing it speeds the oscillator up at the cost of noise.

What is the Klinger Oscillator's main limitation?

The trend sign rests on consecutive high-low-close sums, so one indecisive bar can throw its entire volume to the opposite side, and thin sessions can print outsized volume force. Treat it as a confirmation layer with trend context supplied elsewhere.