# PMO > Price Momentum Oscillator — Carl Swenlin's DecisionPoint PMO line: a > doubly-smoothed rate of change. ## Quick reference | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Family | Momentum Oscillators | | Input type | `f64` (single close) | | Output type | `f64` | | Output range | unbounded around zero | | Default parameters | `(smoothing1 = 35, smoothing2 = 20)` (Python) | | Warmup period | `2` | | Interpretation | Smoothed momentum; zero-line and signal-line crosses are the signals. | ## Formula ``` roc_t = (price_t / price_{t−1} − 1) · 100 smoothed_t = customEMA(roc, smoothing1)_t PMO_t = customEMA(10 · smoothed, smoothing2)_t ``` `customEMA` is the DecisionPoint smoothing: an exponential average whose smoothing constant is `2 / period` (not the textbook `2 / (period + 1)`), seeded from its first input. The 1-bar percentage change is smoothed once, scaled by `10`, then smoothed again. The classic PMO **signal line** is a 10-period EMA of this PMO line. It is deliberately not bundled in — compose it yourself with [`Chain`](../../Indicator-Chaining.md) and an `Ema(10)`. ## Parameters | Name | Type | Default | Valid range | Description | |--------------|---------|---------------|-------------|-------------| | `smoothing1` | `usize` | `35` (Python) | `>= 2` | First smoothing period (applied to ROC). `0` errors with `Error::PeriodZero`; `1` with `Error::InvalidPeriod`. | | `smoothing2` | `usize` | `20` (Python) | `>= 2` | Second smoothing period (applied to `10 · smoothed`). Same error rules. | `smoothing = 1` is rejected because the smoothing constant `2 / 1 = 2` would exceed `1`. The Python binding defaults the pair to `(35, 20)` via `#[pyo3(signature = (smoothing1=35, smoothing2=20))]`. The `periods` property returns `(smoothing1, smoothing2)`. ## Inputs / Outputs From `crates/wickra-core/src/indicators/pmo.rs`: ```rust impl Indicator for Pmo { type Input = f64; type Output = f64; // update(&mut self, input: f64) -> Option } ``` A single `f64` close in, an `Option` out. Python maps this to `float | None` / `numpy.ndarray` (NaN warmup); Node to `number | null` / `Array` (NaN warmup). ## Warmup `Pmo::new(s1, s2).warmup_period() == 2`. The first ROC needs a previous price, and both `customEMA`s seed from their very first input, so the first non-`None` output lands on the **second** `update()`. Note this is the first *defined* value; the doubly-smoothed series only stabilises after many more bars, so treat early readings as unsettled. ## Edge cases - **Constant series.** A flat series gives `roc = 0` on every bar, so both smoothings stay at `0` and PMO is `0.0` (`constant_series_yields_zero` pins this). - **Zero previous price.** A ratio against a `0.0` prior price is undefined; `roc` is treated as `0` for that bar. - **NaN / infinity inputs.** Non-finite inputs are silently dropped; the smoothing chains are not advanced. - **Reset.** `pmo.reset()` clears the previous price and both EMAs. ## Examples ### Rust ```rust use wickra::{Indicator, Pmo}; fn main() -> Result<(), Box> { let mut pmo = Pmo::new(35, 20)?; println!("{:?}", pmo.update(100.0)); // no previous price yet println!("{:?}", pmo.update(101.0)); // first defined PMO Ok(()) } ``` Output: ``` None Some(10.0) ``` The first `update` only records the price. The second produces `roc = 1.0%`; each `customEMA` seeds from its first input, so the inner EMA emits `1.0`, the `×10` scaling gives `10.0`, and the outer EMA seeds at `10.0` — hence `PMO = 10.0` on the first defined bar. Early values are seed artefacts: the double smoothing only settles after many more bars. This matches the `first_emission_at_second_update` test in `crates/wickra-core/src/indicators/pmo.rs`. ### Python ```python import numpy as np import wickra as ta pmo = ta.PMO() # (smoothing1=35, smoothing2=20) prices = 100.0 * 1.01 ** np.arange(120) # steady uptrend out = pmo.batch(prices) print("last > 0:", out[-1] > 0) ``` Output: ``` last > 0: True ``` ### Node ```javascript const ta = require('wickra'); const pmo = new ta.PMO(35, 20); const prices = Array.from({ length: 120 }, (_, i) => 100 * 1.01 ** i); console.log('last:', pmo.batch(prices).at(-1)); ``` ## Interpretation `Pmo` is a smoothed momentum line. The DecisionPoint reads are: PMO crossing its zero line (momentum changing sign), PMO crossing its signal line (a 10-EMA of PMO — build it with `Chain`), and PMO turning up/down from an extreme. Because the rate of change is taken in percentage terms, PMO values *are* comparable across instruments — unlike raw [`Mom`](../momentum-oscillators/Indicator-Mom.md). ## Common pitfalls - **Trusting the first few values.** `warmup_period()` is `2`, but that is only the first *defined* output — the double smoothing needs many bars to settle. Discard the early ramp. - **Expecting a bundled signal line.** PMO here is the single PMO line; add `Ema(10)` via `Chain` for the signal. ## References Carl Swenlin, DecisionPoint Price Momentum Oscillator. The `2 / period` "custom smoothing", the `×10` scaling and the conventional `(35, 20)` periods follow the published DecisionPoint definition. ## See also - [Indicator-Roc.md](../momentum-oscillators/Indicator-Roc.md) — the raw rate of change PMO smooths. - [Indicator-Tsi.md](../momentum-oscillators/Indicator-Tsi.md) — another double-smoothed momentum oscillator. - [Indicator-Chaining.md](../../Indicator-Chaining.md) — how to add the signal-line EMA. - [Indicators-Overview.md](../../Indicators-Overview.md) — the full taxonomy.