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Supported Indicators

Keltner Channels

Introduction

This indicator creates a moving average (middle band) with an upper band and lower band fixed at k average True range multiples away from the middle band.

To view the implementation of this indicator, see the LEAN GitHub repository.

Using KCH Indicator

To create an automatic indicators for KeltnerChannels, call the KCH helper method from the QCAlgorithm class. The KCH method creates a KeltnerChannels object, hooks it up for automatic updates, and returns it so you can used it in your algorithm. In most cases, you should call the helper method in the initialize method.

Select Language: 
class KeltnerChannelsAlgorithm(QCAlgorithm):
    def initialize(self) -> None:
        self._symbol = self.add_equity("SPY", Resolution.DAILY).symbol
        self._kch = self.kch(self._symbol, 20, 2, MovingAverageType.Simple)

    def on_data(self, slice: Slice) -> None:
        if self._kch.is_ready:
            # The current value of self._kch is represented by self._kch.current.value
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "kch", self._kch.current.value)
            # Plot all attributes of self._kch
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "middle_band", self._kch.middle_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "upper_band", self._kch.upper_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "lower_band", self._kch.lower_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "average_true_range", self._kch.average_True_range.current.value)

The following reference table describes the KCH method:

kch(symbol, period, k, moving_average_type=0, resolution=None, selector=None)[source]

Creates a new Keltner Channels indicator. The indicator will be automatically updated on the given resolution.

Parameters:
  • symbol (Symbol) — The symbol whose Keltner Channel we seek
  • period (int) — The period over which to compute the Keltner Channels
  • k (float) — from the middle band of the Keltner Channels
  • moving_average_type (MovingAverageType, optional) — Specifies the type of moving average to be used as the middle line of the Keltner Channel
  • resolution (Resolution, optional) — The resolution.
  • selector (Callable[IBaseData, IBaseDataBar], optional) — Selects a value from the BaseData to send into the indicator, if null defaults to casting the input value to a TradeBar
Returns:

The Keltner Channel indicator for the requested symbol.

Return type:

KeltnerChannels

If you don't provide a resolution, it defaults to the security resolution. If you provide a resolution, it must be greater than or equal to the resolution of the security. For instance, if you subscribe to hourly data for a security, you should update its indicator with data that spans 1 hour or longer.

For more information about the selector argument, see Alternative Price Fields.

For more information about plotting indicators, see Plotting Indicators.

You can manually create a KeltnerChannels indicator, so it doesn't automatically update. Manual indicators let you update their values with any data you choose.

Updating your indicator manually enables you to control when the indicator is updated and what data you use to update it. To manually update the indicator, call the update method with a TradeBar or QuoteBar. The indicator will only be ready after you prime it with enough data.

Select Language: 
class KeltnerChannelsAlgorithm(QCAlgorithm):
    def initialize(self) -> None:
        self._symbol = self.add_equity("SPY", Resolution.DAILY).symbol
        self._kch = KeltnerChannels(20, 2, MovingAverageType.Simple)

    def on_data(self, slice: Slice) -> None:
        bar = slice.bars.get(self._symbol)
        if bar:
            self._kch.update(bar)
        if self._kch.is_ready:
            # The current value of self._kch is represented by self._kch.current.value
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "kch", self._kch.current.value)
            # Plot all attributes of self._kch
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "middle_band", self._kch.middle_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "upper_band", self._kch.upper_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "lower_band", self._kch.lower_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "average_true_range", self._kch.average_True_range.current.value)

To register a manual indicator for automatic updates with the security data, call the register_indicator method.

Select Language: 
class KeltnerChannelsAlgorithm(QCAlgorithm):
    def initialize(self) -> None:
        self._symbol = self.add_equity("SPY", Resolution.DAILY).symbol
        self._kch = KeltnerChannels(20, 2, MovingAverageType.Simple)
        self.register_indicator(self._symbol, self._kch, Resolution.DAILY)

    def on_data(self, slice: Slice) -> None:
        if self._kch.is_ready:
            # The current value of self._kch is represented by self._kch.current.value
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "kch", self._kch.current.value)
            # Plot all attributes of self._kch
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "middle_band", self._kch.middle_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "upper_band", self._kch.upper_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "lower_band", self._kch.lower_band.current.value)
            self.plot("KeltnerChannels", "average_true_range", self._kch.average_True_range.current.value)

The following reference table describes the KeltnerChannels constructor:

KeltnerChannels

class QuantConnect.Indicators.KeltnerChannels[source]

This indicator creates a moving average (middle band) with an upper band and lower band fixed at k average true range multiples away from the middle band.

get_enumerator()

Returns an enumerator that iterates through the history window.

Return type:

IEnumerator[IndicatorDataPoint]

reset()

Resets this indicator to its initial state

to_detailed_string()

Provides a more detailed string of this indicator in the form of {Name} - {Value}

Return type:

str

update(time, value)

Updates the state of this indicator with the given value and returns true if this indicator is ready, false otherwise

Parameters:
  • time (datetime)
  • value (float)
Return type:

bool

update(input)

Updates the state of this indicator with the given value and returns true if this indicator is ready, false otherwise

Parameters:
  • input (IBaseData)
Return type:

bool

property average_true_range

Gets the average true range

Returns:

Gets the average true range

Return type:

IndicatorBase[IBaseDataBar]

property consolidators

The data consolidators associated with this indicator if any

Returns:

The data consolidators associated with this indicator if any

Return type:

ISet[IDataConsolidator]

property current

Gets the current state of this indicator. If the state has not been updated then the time on the value will equal DateTime.MinValue.

Returns:

Gets the current state of this indicator. If the state has not been updated then the time on the value will equal DateTime.MinValue.

Return type:

IndicatorDataPoint

property is_ready

Gets a flag indicating when this indicator is ready and fully initialized

Returns:

Gets a flag indicating when this indicator is ready and fully initialized

Return type:

bool

property item

Indexes the history windows, where index 0 is the most recent indicator value. If index is greater or equal than the current count, it returns null. If the index is greater or equal than the window size, it returns null and resizes the windows to i + 1.

Returns:

Indexes the history windows, where index 0 is the most recent indicator value. If index is greater or equal than the current count, it returns null. If the index is greater or equal than the window size, it returns null and resizes the windows to i + 1.

Return type:

IndicatorDataPoint

property lower_band

Gets the lower band of the channel

Returns:

Gets the lower band of the channel

Return type:

IndicatorBase[IBaseDataBar]

property middle_band

Gets the middle band of the channel

Returns:

Gets the middle band of the channel

Return type:

IndicatorBase[IndicatorDataPoint]

property name

Gets a name for this indicator

Returns:

Gets a name for this indicator

Return type:

str

property previous

Gets the previous state of this indicator. If the state has not been updated then the time on the value will equal DateTime.MinValue.

Returns:

Gets the previous state of this indicator. If the state has not been updated then the time on the value will equal DateTime.MinValue.

Return type:

IndicatorDataPoint

property samples

Gets the number of samples processed by this indicator

Returns:

Gets the number of samples processed by this indicator

Return type:

int

property upper_band

Gets the upper band of the channel

Returns:

Gets the upper band of the channel

Return type:

IndicatorBase[IBaseDataBar]

property warm_up_period

Required period, in data points, for the indicator to be ready and fully initialized.

Returns:

Required period, in data points, for the indicator to be ready and fully initialized.

Return type:

int

property window

A rolling window keeping a history of the indicator values of a given period

Returns:

A rolling window keeping a history of the indicator values of a given period

Return type:

RollingWindow[IndicatorDataPoint]

Visualization

The following image shows plot values of selected properties of KeltnerChannels using the plotly library.

KeltnerChannels line plot.

Indicator History

To get the historical data of the KeltnerChannels indicator, call the self.indicator_history method. This method resets your indicator, makes a history request, and updates the indicator with the historical data. Just like with regular history requests, the indicator_history method supports time periods based on a trailing number of bars, a trailing period of time, or a defined period of time. If you don't provide a resolution argument, it defaults to match the resolution of the security subscription.

Select Language: 
class KeltnerChannelsAlgorithm(QCAlgorithm):
    def initialize(self) -> None:
        self._symbol = self.add_equity("SPY", Resolution.DAILY).symbol
        kch = self.kch(self._symbol, 20, 2, MovingAverageType.Simple)
        count_indicator_history = self.indicator_history(kch, self._symbol, 100, Resolution.MINUTE)
        timedelta_indicator_history = self.indicator_history(kch, self._symbol, timedelta(days=10), Resolution.MINUTE)
        time_period_indicator_history = self.indicator_history(kch, self._symbol, datetime(2024, 7, 1), datetime(2024, 7, 5), Resolution.MINUTE)

To make the indicator_history method update the indicator with an alternative price field instead of the close (or mid-price) of each bar, pass a selector argument.

Select Language: 
indicator_history = self.indicator_history(kch, 100, Resolution.MINUTE, lambda bar: bar.high)
indicator_history_df = indicator_history.data_frame

To access the properties of the indicator history, index the DataFrame with the property name.

Select Language: 
middle_band = indicator_history_df["middle_band"]
upper_band = indicator_history_df["upper_band"]
lower_band = indicator_history_df["lower_band"]
average_true_range = indicator_history_df["average_True_range"]

# Alternative way
# middle_band = indicator_history_df.middle_band
# upper_band = indicator_history_df.upper_band
# lower_band = indicator_history_df.lower_band
# average_true_range = indicator_history_df.average_True_range

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