// Realized Volatility (RV) Indicator
// Sum of squared log returns, then sqrt, smoothed with SMA
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
namespace QuanTAlib;
///
/// RV: Realized Volatility
/// Calculates volatility as the square root of realized variance (sum of squared log returns),
/// smoothed with a Simple Moving Average.
///
///
/// Calculation steps:
///
/// - Calculate log return: r_t = ln(price_t / price_{t-1})
/// - Compute realized variance: RV_t = Σ(r_i²) for returns in window
/// - Take square root: volatility_t = √(RV_t)
/// - Smooth with SMA over smoothing period
/// - If annualize: volatility × √(annualPeriods)
///
///
/// Key characteristics:
///
/// - Based on sum of squared returns (not variance-adjusted)
/// - More responsive to recent volatility bursts
/// - SMA smoothing reduces noise
/// - Standard measure in academic finance and risk management
///
///
/// Sources:
/// Andersen, T.G., Bollerslev, T. (1998). "Answering the Skeptics: Yes, Standard
/// Volatility Models Do Provide Accurate Forecasts". International Economic Review.
///
[SkipLocalsInit]
public sealed class Rv : AbstractBase
{
private readonly int _period;
private readonly int _smoothingPeriod;
private readonly bool _annualize;
private readonly int _annualPeriods;
private readonly double _annualFactor;
private readonly RingBuffer _returnBuffer;
private readonly RingBuffer _volatilityBuffer;
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Auto)]
private record struct State(
double PrevPrice,
double LastValidReturn,
double LastValue,
int ReturnCount
);
private State _s;
private State _ps;
///
/// Initializes a new instance of the Rv class.
///
/// The window for calculating realized variance (default 5).
/// The SMA smoothing period (default 20).
/// Whether to annualize the volatility (default true).
/// Number of periods per year (default 252).
///
/// Thrown when period or smoothingPeriod is less than 1, or annualPeriods is less than 1 when annualizing.
///
public Rv(int period = 5, int smoothingPeriod = 20, bool annualize = true, int annualPeriods = 252)
{
if (period < 1)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Period must be at least 1", nameof(period));
}
if (smoothingPeriod < 1)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Smoothing period must be at least 1", nameof(smoothingPeriod));
}
if (annualize && annualPeriods <= 0)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Annual periods must be greater than 0 when annualizing", nameof(annualPeriods));
}
_period = period;
_smoothingPeriod = smoothingPeriod;
_annualize = annualize;
_annualPeriods = annualPeriods;
_annualFactor = annualize ? Math.Sqrt(annualPeriods) : 1.0;
_returnBuffer = new RingBuffer(period);
_volatilityBuffer = new RingBuffer(smoothingPeriod);
WarmupPeriod = period + smoothingPeriod; // Need returns + smoothing
Name = $"Rv({period},{smoothingPeriod})";
_s = new State(double.NaN, 0, 0, 0);
_ps = _s;
}
///
/// Initializes a new instance of the Rv class with a source.
///
/// The data source for chaining.
/// The window for calculating realized variance (default 5).
/// The SMA smoothing period (default 20).
/// Whether to annualize the volatility (default true).
/// Number of periods per year (default 252).
public Rv(ITValuePublisher source, int period = 5, int smoothingPeriod = 20, bool annualize = true, int annualPeriods = 252)
: this(period, smoothingPeriod, annualize, annualPeriods)
{
source.Pub += Handle;
}
private void Handle(object? sender, in TValueEventArgs e) => Update(e.Value, e.IsNew);
///
/// True if the indicator has enough data for valid results.
///
public override bool IsHot => _volatilityBuffer.Count >= _smoothingPeriod;
///
/// The window for calculating realized variance.
///
public int Period => _period;
///
/// The SMA smoothing period.
///
public int SmoothingPeriod => _smoothingPeriod;
///
/// Whether volatility is annualized.
///
public bool Annualize => _annualize;
///
/// Number of periods per year for annualization.
///
public int AnnualPeriods => _annualPeriods;
///
/// Updates the indicator with a new price value.
///
/// The input price value.
/// Whether this is a new bar or an update.
/// The calculated volatility value.
[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
public override TValue Update(TValue input, bool isNew = true)
{
return UpdateCore(input.Time, input.Value, isNew);
}
///
/// Updates the indicator with a new bar (uses Close price).
///
/// The input bar.
/// Whether this is a new bar or an update.
/// The calculated volatility value.
[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
public TValue Update(TBar bar, bool isNew = true)
{
return UpdateCore(bar.Time, bar.Close, isNew);
}
///
/// Updates the indicator with a bar series.
///
/// The source bar series.
/// A TSeries containing the volatility values.
public TSeries Update(TBarSeries source)
{
if (source.Count == 0)
{
return [];
}
int len = source.Count;
var t = new List(len);
var v = new List(len);
CollectionsMarshal.SetCount(t, len);
CollectionsMarshal.SetCount(v, len);
var tSpan = CollectionsMarshal.AsSpan(t);
var vSpan = CollectionsMarshal.AsSpan(v);
// Extract close prices
Span closes = len <= 128 ? stackalloc double[len] : new double[len];
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
{
closes[i] = source[i].Close;
tSpan[i] = source[i].Time;
}
Batch(closes, vSpan, _period, _smoothingPeriod, _annualize, _annualPeriods);
// Update internal state
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
{
Update(new TValue(source[i].Time, source[i].Close), isNew: true);
}
return new TSeries(t, v);
}
public override TSeries Update(TSeries source)
{
int len = source.Count;
var t = new List(len);
var v = new List(len);
CollectionsMarshal.SetCount(t, len);
CollectionsMarshal.SetCount(v, len);
var tSpan = CollectionsMarshal.AsSpan(t);
var vSpan = CollectionsMarshal.AsSpan(v);
Batch(source.Values, vSpan, _period, _smoothingPeriod, _annualize, _annualPeriods);
source.Times.CopyTo(tSpan);
// Update internal state
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
{
Update(new TValue(source.Times[i], source.Values[i]), isNew: true);
}
return new TSeries(t, v);
}
[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
private TValue UpdateCore(long timeTicks, double price, bool isNew)
{
if (isNew)
{
_ps = _s;
_returnBuffer.Snapshot();
_volatilityBuffer.Snapshot();
}
else
{
_s = _ps;
_returnBuffer.Restore();
_volatilityBuffer.Restore();
}
var s = _s;
// Handle non-finite price
if (!double.IsFinite(price) || price <= 0)
{
// Can't compute return, output last value
Last = new TValue(timeTicks, s.LastValue);
PubEvent(Last, isNew);
return Last;
}
double result;
// First price - no return yet
if (double.IsNaN(s.PrevPrice))
{
s = s with { PrevPrice = price };
result = 0;
}
else
{
// Calculate log return
double logReturn = Math.Log(price / s.PrevPrice);
if (!double.IsFinite(logReturn))
{
logReturn = s.LastValidReturn;
}
else
{
s = s with { LastValidReturn = logReturn };
}
// Add squared return to buffer
double squaredReturn = logReturn * logReturn;
_returnBuffer.Add(squaredReturn);
// Calculate realized variance (sum of squared returns)
double sumSquaredReturns = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < _returnBuffer.Count; i++)
{
sumSquaredReturns += _returnBuffer[i];
}
// Raw volatility = sqrt(realized variance)
double rawVolatility = Math.Sqrt(sumSquaredReturns);
// Add to smoothing buffer
_volatilityBuffer.Add(rawVolatility);
// Calculate SMA of volatilities
double sumVol = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < _volatilityBuffer.Count; i++)
{
sumVol += _volatilityBuffer[i];
}
double smoothedVolatility = sumVol / _volatilityBuffer.Count;
// Apply annualization
result = smoothedVolatility * _annualFactor;
s = s with
{
PrevPrice = price,
ReturnCount = s.ReturnCount + 1
};
}
if (!double.IsFinite(result))
{
result = s.LastValue;
}
else
{
s = s with { LastValue = result };
}
_s = s;
Last = new TValue(timeTicks, result);
PubEvent(Last, isNew);
return Last;
}
public override void Prime(ReadOnlySpan source, TimeSpan? step = null)
{
for (int i = 0; i < source.Length; i++)
{
Update(new TValue(DateTime.UtcNow, source[i]), isNew: true);
}
}
public override void Reset()
{
_s = new State(double.NaN, 0, 0, 0);
_ps = _s;
_returnBuffer.Clear();
_volatilityBuffer.Clear();
Last = default;
}
///
/// Calculates Realized Volatility for a price series (static).
///
/// The source price series.
/// The window for realized variance.
/// The SMA smoothing period.
/// Whether to annualize.
/// Periods per year.
/// A TSeries containing the volatility values.
public static TSeries Batch(TSeries source, int period = 5, int smoothingPeriod = 20, bool annualize = true, int annualPeriods = 252)
{
if (period < 1)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Period must be at least 1", nameof(period));
}
if (smoothingPeriod < 1)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Smoothing period must be at least 1", nameof(smoothingPeriod));
}
if (annualize && annualPeriods <= 0)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Annual periods must be greater than 0 when annualizing", nameof(annualPeriods));
}
int len = source.Count;
var t = new List(len);
var v = new List(len);
CollectionsMarshal.SetCount(t, len);
CollectionsMarshal.SetCount(v, len);
var tSpan = CollectionsMarshal.AsSpan(t);
var vSpan = CollectionsMarshal.AsSpan(v);
Batch(source.Values, vSpan, period, smoothingPeriod, annualize, annualPeriods);
source.Times.CopyTo(tSpan);
return new TSeries(t, v);
}
///
/// Calculates RV for a bar series (static).
///
public static TSeries Batch(TBarSeries source, int period = 5, int smoothingPeriod = 20, bool annualize = true, int annualPeriods = 252)
{
var rv = new Rv(period, smoothingPeriod, annualize, annualPeriods);
return rv.Update(source);
}
///
/// Batch calculation using spans.
///
/// Price values.
/// Output volatility values.
/// The window for realized variance.
/// The SMA smoothing period.
/// Whether to annualize.
/// Periods per year.
public static void Batch(
ReadOnlySpan prices,
Span output,
int period = 5,
int smoothingPeriod = 20,
bool annualize = true,
int annualPeriods = 252)
{
if (period < 1)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Period must be at least 1", nameof(period));
}
if (smoothingPeriod < 1)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Smoothing period must be at least 1", nameof(smoothingPeriod));
}
if (annualize && annualPeriods <= 0)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Annual periods must be greater than 0 when annualizing", nameof(annualPeriods));
}
if (output.Length < prices.Length)
{
throw new ArgumentException("Output span must be at least as long as prices span", nameof(output));
}
int len = prices.Length;
if (len == 0)
{
return;
}
double annualFactor = annualize ? Math.Sqrt(annualPeriods) : 1.0;
// Ring buffers for squared returns and raw volatilities
Span returnBuffer = period <= 128 ? stackalloc double[period] : new double[period];
Span volBuffer = smoothingPeriod <= 128 ? stackalloc double[smoothingPeriod] : new double[smoothingPeriod];
int returnHead = 0;
int returnCount = 0;
int volHead = 0;
int volCount = 0;
double prevPrice = double.NaN;
double lastValidReturn = 0;
double lastValue = 0;
double sumSquaredReturns = 0;
double sumVol = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++)
{
double price = prices[i];
// First price - no return
if (double.IsNaN(prevPrice))
{
prevPrice = price;
output[i] = 0;
continue;
}
// Handle invalid price
if (!double.IsFinite(price) || price <= 0)
{
output[i] = lastValue;
continue;
}
// Calculate log return
double logReturn = Math.Log(price / prevPrice);
prevPrice = price;
if (!double.IsFinite(logReturn))
{
logReturn = lastValidReturn;
}
else
{
lastValidReturn = logReturn;
}
double squaredReturn = logReturn * logReturn;
// Update return buffer
if (returnCount == period)
{
sumSquaredReturns -= returnBuffer[returnHead];
}
else
{
returnCount++;
}
returnBuffer[returnHead] = squaredReturn;
returnHead = (returnHead + 1) % period;
sumSquaredReturns += squaredReturn;
// Raw volatility
double rawVolatility = Math.Sqrt(sumSquaredReturns);
// Update volatility buffer for SMA
if (volCount == smoothingPeriod)
{
sumVol -= volBuffer[volHead];
}
else
{
volCount++;
}
volBuffer[volHead] = rawVolatility;
volHead = (volHead + 1) % smoothingPeriod;
sumVol += rawVolatility;
// Smoothed volatility
double smoothedVolatility = sumVol / volCount;
double result = smoothedVolatility * annualFactor;
if (!double.IsFinite(result))
{
result = lastValue;
}
else
{
lastValue = result;
}
output[i] = result;
}
}
public static (TSeries Results, Rv Indicator) Calculate(TSeries source, int period = 5, int smoothingPeriod = 20, bool annualize = true, int annualPeriods = 252)
{
var indicator = new Rv(period, smoothingPeriod, annualize, annualPeriods);
TSeries results = indicator.Update(source);
return (results, indicator);
}
}