# William Blau's Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI) Pro Suite (Standard & MTF) ## 1. Summary (Introduction) The **William Blau's Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI) Pro Suite** is an institutional-grade, low-latency cyclical momentum and trend-reversal tracking system. It consists of two highly synchronized indicators: `SMI_Pro` (Standard) and its Multi-Timeframe (MTF) counterpart. Standard Stochastic oscillators calculate price location relative to the absolute low of the high-low range, which makes them highly sensitive to micro-noise and causes them to peg prematurely at extremes during strong trends. Developed by William Blau, the **Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI)** resolves this limitation by measuring the relative position of the close price relative to the **median (center) of the high-low range** instead: $$\text{Median}_t = \frac{\text{HighestHigh}_t + \text{LowestLow}_t}{2}$$ $$\text{RelativePrice}_t = C_t - \text{Median}_t$$ By double-smoothing both this relative price and the total high-low range over a double smoothing period ($D$), the SMI generates exceptionally smooth, fourier-stable, and organic momentum waves. To deliver maximum quantitative flexibility, this suite elevates Blau's original concept by replacing the hardcoded EMAs with a **5-motor moving average composition**. This allows traders to select *any* moving average type (SMA, EMA, SMMA, LWMA, TMA, DEMA, TEMA, VWMA) for both the double-smoothing stages and the final signal line, introducing volume-weighting (VWMA) capabilities to the entire SMI pipeline for the first time. --- ## 2. Mathematical & Quant Foundations The indicator calculates a double-smoothed ratio using five independent, state-safe moving average engines: ### A. Core Price and Range Calculations Over the lookback period $K$ (`InpLengthK`), the highest high and lowest low are calculated to determine the high-low range and the relative price distance from the median: $$\text{Range}_t = \max_{j=0 \dots K-1} (H_{t-j}) - \min_{j=0 \dots K-1} (L_{t-j})$$ $$\text{Relative}_t = C_t - \frac{\max_{j=0 \dots K-1} (H_{t-j}) + \min_{j=0 \dots K-1} (L_{t-j})}{2}$$ ### B. Double Smoothing Pipeline Both the relative price ($\text{Relative}_t$) and the absolute range ($\text{Range}_t$) are processed through two consecutive, state-safe smoothing engines using the slowing period $D$ (`InpLengthD`) and the selected slowing MA type (`InpSlowingType`): $$\text{Sm1\_Rel}_t = \text{Smoothing1}_{D}(\text{Relative}_t)$$ $$\text{Sm2\_Rel}_t = \text{Smoothing2}_{D}(\text{Sm1\_Rel}_t)$$ $$\text{Sm1\_Ran}_t = \text{Smoothing1}_{D}(\text{Range}_t)$$ $$\text{Sm2\_Ran}_t = \text{Smoothing2}_{D}(\text{Sm1\_Ran}_t)$$ ### C. Final SMI & Signal Line Equations The final SMI represents the ratio of the double-smoothed relative price over half of the double-smoothed absolute range, bounded strictly between $-100$ and $100$: $$\text{SMI}_t = \begin{cases} 100.0 \times \frac{\text{Sm2\_Rel}_t}{\frac{\text{Sm2\_Ran}_t}{2.0}} & \text{if } \text{Sm2\_Ran}_t > 1.0e-9 \\ 0.0 & \text{otherwise} \end{cases}$$ The final plotted Signal Line is computed by smoothing the active $\text{SMI}_t$ over the signal period (`InpLengthEMA`) using the selected signal MA type (`InpSignalType`): $$\text{Signal}_t = \text{Smoothing}_{\text{SignalPeriod}}(\text{SMI}_t)$$ --- ## 3. Recommended Calibration Presets | Trading Style | Timeframe | SMI Settings ($K, D, \text{Slowing MA}$) | Signal Settings ($\text{EMA}, \text{Signal MA}$) | Quantitative Tactical Role | | :--- | :--- | :---: | :---: | :--- | | **Intraday Scalping** | M5 / M15 | `10, 3` (EMA) | `3` (EMA) | **Fast Mean Reversion.** Highly responsive crossover triggers on intraday charts. | | **Trend Following** | M30 / H1 | `14, 5` (SMA) | `5` (SMA) | **Stable Swing Tracking.** Filters out noise on H1 charts, tracking clean cyclical waves. | | **Institutional Flow** | H1 / H4 | `14, 3` (VWMA) | `3` (EMA) | **Volume-Backed Momentum.** Integrates exchange volume weighting to track true institutional pivots. | --- ## 4. Visual & Technical Highlights * **5-Motor Composite OOP Design:** To handle double-smoothing across multiple variables cleanly without visual or computational lag, the `CSMICalculator` class instantiates five independent `CMovingAverageCalculator` engines. This modular structure completely isolates the MA calculations, enabling fázis-helyes (phase-correct) and state-safe execution for any combination of MA types. * **Pragmatic Visual Styling:** The main oscillator lines are plotted with distinct, professional weights: the SMI line is plotted in bold Steel Blue (`clrSteelBlue`, width 2) for immediate trend identification, while the Signal line is plotted as a thinner Dark Orange line (`clrDarkOrange`, width 1.5) for clean crossover visual comfort. * **Chronological Safety Guards:** The engine enforces chronological array indexing (`ArraySetAsSeries(..., false)`) across all internal persistent buffers, price caches, and indicator buffers, completely eliminating phase shift errors during template changes. --- ## 5. Advanced MQL5 MTF Implementation Details Operating high-order recursive double-smoothings combined with lookback arrays across multiple timeframes requires precise architectural guards: ### A. Non-Warping Staircase Solution To prevent the active, forming HTF candle from drawing a warped diagonal slope on lower timeframe charts, the indicator runs a backward-scanning block-force loop. It identifies the beginning of the active forming HTF block and rewrites the entire block flat on every tick: ```mql5 int first_bar_of_forming_htf = rates_total - 1; while(first_bar_of_forming_htf > 0 && iBarShift(_Symbol, g_calc_timeframe, time[first_bar_of_forming_htf], false) == 0) { first_bar_of_forming_htf--; } first_bar_of_forming_htf++; // Anchor start of current HTF period block if(start > first_bar_of_forming_htf) start = first_bar_of_forming_htf; ``` ### B. High-Order IIR State Mocking Since the SMI MA double-smoothing relies on deep historical smoothed averages, calling calculations continuously on the live forming bar on every tick can cause feedback decay. To solve this, the MTF engine uses **State Mocking** during live ticks by passing `prev_calculated = g_htf_count`, which updates only the active live register while keeping historical closed states completely locked. --- ## 6. Symmetrical Momentum Trading Strategies ### A. The Symmetrical Extremes Crossover Strategy (40/60 & 80/90 Reversal) Because the SMI is bounded between $-100$ and $100$, crossovers occurring inside the extreme over-extended zones represent high-probability trend reversal points. 1. **Indicator Setup:** * **SMI Pro:** K Period = `10`, D Period = `3` (EMA), Signal = `3` (EMA). 2. **Execution Rules:** * **BUY Trigger:** Enter Long when the **SMI line crosses above the Signal line** strictly while both lines are **below the $-40.0$ or $-60.0$ levels** (Oversold). * **SELL Trigger:** Enter Short when the **SMI line crosses below the Signal line** strictly while both lines are **above the $+40.0$ or $+60.0$ levels** (Overbought). 3. **Risk Management:** Place Stop Loss below the local swing low (for Long trades) or above the local swing high (for Short trades). Exit on an opposing crossover at the opposite extreme boundary. ### B. The Volume-Weighted Momentum Continuation Squeeze By utilizing volume-weighted moving averages (VWMA) for the double-smoothing slowing stage, we ensure that trend accelerations are backed by true institutional transaction volume. 1. **Indicator Setup:** * Load the indicator on an M5 or M15 chart. * Configure the Slowing MA to **`VWMA`** and the Signal MA to **`EMA`**. 2. **Strategy Mechanics:** * During consolidation, the SMI and Signal lines contract towards the $0.0$ level, forming a tight squeeze. * **BUY Entry:** Enter Long when the **SMI line crosses above the Signal line** near the $0.0$ level, accompanied by a breakout of the SMI line above $0.0$. The VWMA double-smoothing ensures this cross is backed by true transaction volume. * **SELL Entry:** Enter Short when the **SMI line crosses below the Signal line** near the $0.0$ level, and breaks below $0.0$. 3. **Strategic Value:** Entering near the $0.0$ level allows you to catch the very beginning of a trend expansion immediately after a volatility contraction squeeze.