The Ichimoku Cloud, also known as Ichimoku Kinko Hyo, is a versatile indicator that defines support and resistance, identifies trend direction, gauges momentum and provides trading signals. Ichimoku Kinko Hyo translates into “one look equilibrium chart”. With one look, chartists can identify the trend and look for potential signals within that trend. The indicator was developed by Goichi Hosoda, a journalist, and published in his 1969 book. Even though the Ichimoku Cloud may seem complicated when viewed on the price chart, it is really a straightforward indicator that is very usable. It was, after all, created by a journalist, not a rocket scientist! Moreover, the concepts are easy to understand and the signals are well-defined.
Four of the five plots within the Ichimoku Cloud are based on the average of the high and low over a given period of time. For example, the first plot is simply an average of the 9-day high and 9-day low. Before computers were widely available, it would have been easier to calculate this high-low average rather than a 9-day moving average. The Ichimoku Cloud consists of five plots:
Tenkan-sen (Conversion Line): (9-period high + 9-period low)/2))
The default setting is 9 periods and can be adjusted. On a daily chart, this line is the midpoint of the 9-day high-low range,
which is almost two weeks.
Kijun-sen (Base Line): (26-period high + 26-period low)/2))
The default setting is 26 periods and can be adjusted. On a daily chart, this line is the midpoint of the 26-day high-low range, which is almost one month).
Senkou Span A (Leading Span A): (Conversion Line + Base Line)/2))
This is the midpoint between the Conversion Line and the Base Line. The Leading Span A forms one of the two Cloud boundaries. It is referred to as "Leading" because it is plotted 26 periods in the future and forms the faster Cloud boundary.
Senkou Span B (Leading Span B): (52-period high + 52-period low)/2))
On the daily chart, this line is the midpoint of the 52-day high-low range, which is a little less than 3 months. The default calculation setting is 52 periods, but can be adjusted. This value is plotted 26 periods in the future and forms the slower Cloud boundary.
Chikou Span (Lagging Span): Close plotted 26 days in the past
The default setting is 26 periods, but can be adjusted.
This tutorial will use the English equivalents when explaining the various plots. The chart below shows the Dow Industrials with the Ichimoku Cloud plots. The Conversion Line (blue) is the fastest and most sensitive line. Notice that it follows price action the closest. The Base Line (red) trails the faster Conversion Line, but follows price action pretty well. The relationship between the Conversion Line and Base Line is similar to the relationship between a 9-day moving average and 26-day moving average. The 9-day is faster and more closely follows the price plot. The 26-day is slower and lags behind the 9-day. Incidentally, notice that 9 and 26 are the same periods used to calculate MACD.
Four of the five plots within the Ichimoku Cloud are based on the average of the high and low over a given period of time. For example, the first plot is simply an average of the 9-day high and 9-day low. Before computers were widely available, it would have been easier to calculate this high-low average rather than a 9-day moving average. The Ichimoku Cloud consists of five plots:
Tenkan-sen (Conversion Line): (9-period high + 9-period low)/2))
The default setting is 9 periods and can be adjusted. On a daily chart, this line is the midpoint of the 9-day high-low range,
which is almost two weeks.
Kijun-sen (Base Line): (26-period high + 26-period low)/2))
The default setting is 26 periods and can be adjusted. On a daily chart, this line is the midpoint of the 26-day high-low range, which is almost one month).
Senkou Span A (Leading Span A): (Conversion Line + Base Line)/2))
This is the midpoint between the Conversion Line and the Base Line. The Leading Span A forms one of the two Cloud boundaries. It is referred to as "Leading" because it is plotted 26 periods in the future and forms the faster Cloud boundary.
Senkou Span B (Leading Span B): (52-period high + 52-period low)/2))
On the daily chart, this line is the midpoint of the 52-day high-low range, which is a little less than 3 months. The default calculation setting is 52 periods, but can be adjusted. This value is plotted 26 periods in the future and forms the slower Cloud boundary.
Chikou Span (Lagging Span): Close plotted 26 days in the past
The default setting is 26 periods, but can be adjusted.
This tutorial will use the English equivalents when explaining the various plots. The chart below shows the Dow Industrials with the Ichimoku Cloud plots. The Conversion Line (blue) is the fastest and most sensitive line. Notice that it follows price action the closest. The Base Line (red) trails the faster Conversion Line, but follows price action pretty well. The relationship between the Conversion Line and Base Line is similar to the relationship between a 9-day moving average and 26-day moving average. The 9-day is faster and more closely follows the price plot. The 26-day is slower and lags behind the 9-day. Incidentally, notice that 9 and 26 are the same periods used to calculate MACD.