Signals & Oscillators

Price-Oscillator Divergence

Detects divergence between price and oscillator for reversal signals

Automatically detects divergence between price action and oscillator readings — a classic precursor to trend reversals. Identifies both regular and hidden divergence patterns, with optional warning signals for developing divergences. Includes confluence and balance filters for signal refinement.

Price-Oscillator Divergence on a Sierra Chart

The Concept

Divergence between price and an oscillator is one of the most reliable precursors to trend reversals. This study automates the detection by comparing swing pivots in price against corresponding pivots in any referenced oscillator. It identifies both regular divergence (reversal signals) and hidden divergence (continuation signals), with optional early warnings for developing patterns.

How to Read It

Arrows and connecting lines mark confirmed and developing divergence patterns.

  • Regular Bullish — price makes a lower low but the oscillator makes a higher low, signaling potential reversal up
  • Regular Bearish — price makes a higher high but the oscillator makes a lower high, signaling potential reversal down
  • Hidden Bullish/Bearish — oscillator diverges from price in the trend direction, signaling continuation
  • Warning signals appear when a divergence pattern is forming but not yet fully confirmed

Practical Tips

Reference any oscillator study via the Oscillator Study Subgraph input — AMT TP, Dual Stochastic RSI, LWPI, or CCI all work well. The pivot sensitivity settings control how significant the swing points must be. Enable the Confluence Filter to require a second oscillator to agree, or the Balance Filter to show divergences only at structurally meaningful locations.

Requirements

  • An external oscillator study must be present on the chart and referenced via the Oscillator Study Subgraph input

Input & Settings

1Oscillator Study Subgraph

References the oscillator study and subgraph to monitor for divergence against price.

2Left Pivot Sensitivity

Number of bars required on the left side to confirm a swing pivot point. Default: 5.

3Right Pivot Left

Number of bars to the left of the right pivot for confirmation. Default: 5.

4Right Pivot Right

Number of bars to the right of the right pivot for confirmation. Default: 5.

5Enable Regular Divergence

Enables detection of regular (classic) divergence patterns. Default: Yes.

6Enable Hidden Divergence

Enables detection of hidden divergence patterns, which signal trend continuation. Default: Yes.

7Show Divergence Lines

When enabled, draws lines connecting the divergent pivot points on both price and the oscillator. Default: Yes.

8Arrow Offset (ticks)

Distance in ticks to offset the signal arrows from the bar high/low. Default: 2.

9Divergence Line Width

Line width for confirmed divergence lines drawn on the chart. Default: 2.

10Warning Line Width

Line width for warning (developing) divergence lines. Default: 1.

11Enable Warning Signals

Enables early warning signals for divergences that are still forming but have not yet fully confirmed. Default: Yes.

12Signal Type

Filters which divergence signals to display. 0 = Both bullish and bearish, 1 = Bullish only, 2 = Bearish only. Default: 0 (Both).

13Enable Oscillator Confluence Filter

When enabled, requires a second oscillator to agree with the divergence signal before displaying it. Default: No.

14Oscillator Confluence Study Subgraph

References the second oscillator study and subgraph used for confluence filtering.

15Enable Balance Filter

When enabled, filters signals based on price position relative to a reference level (e.g., VWAP or Balance). Default: No.

16Balance Filter Study Subgraph

References the study and subgraph used as the balance/reference level for filtering.

17Color: Warning Bullish

Color for warning bullish divergence signals.

18Color: Warning Bearish

Color for warning bearish divergence signals.

19Color: Regular Bullish

Color for confirmed regular bullish divergence signals. Default: Green.

20Color: Regular Bearish

Color for confirmed regular bearish divergence signals. Default: Red.

21Color: Hidden Bullish

Color for confirmed hidden bullish divergence signals. Default: Blue.

22Color: Hidden Bearish

Color for confirmed hidden bearish divergence signals. Default: Orange.

23Warning Signal Minimum Completion (%)

Minimum percentage completion required before a warning signal is displayed. Default: 80%.

Subgraphs

1Regular Bullish

Default: Arrow Up. Marks confirmed regular bullish divergence — price makes a lower low while the oscillator makes a higher low.

2Regular Bearish

Default: Arrow Down. Marks confirmed regular bearish divergence — price makes a higher high while the oscillator makes a lower high.

3Hidden Bullish

Default: Arrow Up. Marks confirmed hidden bullish divergence — price makes a higher low while the oscillator makes a lower low, signaling trend continuation.

4Hidden Bearish

Default: Arrow Down. Marks confirmed hidden bearish divergence — price makes a lower high while the oscillator makes a higher high, signaling trend continuation.

5Warning Bullish

Default: Arrow Up. Marks developing bullish divergence that has not yet fully confirmed.

6Warning Bearish

Default: Arrow Down. Marks developing bearish divergence that has not yet fully confirmed.

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