Commodity Channel Index (CCI) is a versatile technical indicator used in trading financial instruments. It was developed by Donald Lambert in 1980 and has since gained widespread acceptance among traders. In this guide, we will cover the basics of the CCI, its calculation, interpretation, and trading strategies.

What is Commodity Channel Index (CCI)?
The CCI is a technical indicator that measures the difference between the current price of an asset and its moving average, relative to the average deviation. The CCI is typically used to identify overbought and oversold conditions in the market. It oscillates around a zero line, with positive values indicating bullish momentum and negative values indicating bearish momentum.
CCI Calculation
The CCI is calculated as follows:
- Calculate the typical price (TP) of the asset, which is the average of its high, low, and close prices for the given period.
- Calculate the simple moving average (SMA) of the TP for the given period.
- Calculate the mean deviation (MD) of the TP for the given period, which is the average of the absolute difference between each TP and the SMA.
- Calculate the CCI by dividing the difference between the current TP and the SMA by (0.015 x MD).
The typical period for CCI calculation is 20, but it can be adjusted based on the trader’s preference and the asset being traded.
Interpreting CCI
As mentioned earlier, the CCI oscillates around a zero line, with positive values indicating bullish momentum and negative values indicating bearish momentum. A value of zero indicates that the asset is trading at its moving average.
Values above +100 indicate that the asset is overbought, which means that its price may be due for a correction. Conversely, values below -100 indicate that the asset is oversold, which means that its price may be due for a rebound.
Trading with CCI
The CCI can be used in various trading strategies, including trend following, counter-trend, and range-bound trading.
Trend Following
In trend following, traders use the CCI to identify the direction of the trend and enter trades in the same direction. A bullish trend is identified when the CCI crosses above +100

A bearish trend is identified when the CCI crosses below -100. Traders can use other indicators, such as moving averages, to confirm the trend direction.

Counter-Trend
In counter-trend trading, traders use the CCI to identify overbought and oversold conditions and enter trades in the opposite direction. When the CCI is above +100, traders can look for short opportunities, while when the CCI is below -100, traders can look for long opportunities.
Range-Bound
In range-bound trading, traders use the CCI to identify support and resistance levels and enter trades when the CCI bounces off these levels. For example, when the CCI reaches the +100 level, traders can look for short opportunities, while when the CCI reaches the -100 level, traders can look for long opportunities.

Conclusion
The Commodity Channel Index (CCI) is a useful technical indicator that can help traders identify overbought and oversold conditions in the market. It can be used in various trading strategies, including trend following, counter-trend, and range-bound trading. However, like all technical indicators, the CCI is not foolproof and should be used in conjunction with other indicators and analysis methods.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Identifies overbought/oversold conditions | False signals |
Helps identify trends | Lagging indicator |
Can predict potential market reversals through divergence | Sensitivity to market conditions |
Useful for multiple timeframe analysis | Not suitable for all assets |
Charts courtesy of TradingView
Trading View They have wonderful technical analysis indicators and charts and can be used with many different brokerage companies. They have a free version and a 30 day trial for the pro and advanced versions.
Here are some futures ideas we will be discussing.
Column 1 | Column 2 |
---|---|
CCI trading strategies for identifying trends in the stock market | Incorporating the CCI oscillator into a forex trading strategy for improved performance |
Analyzing market volatility with the CCI indicator to predict future price movements | Profitable trading opportunities using the CCI indicator in the cryptocurrency market |
Overbought and oversold levels of the CCI oscillator for effective trading | Price momentum analysis using the CCI indicator and volume analysis for improved trading accuracy |
Using the CCI indicator for price momentum analysis in forex trading strategies | Combining the CCI indicator with Fibonacci retracements for market analysis and trend identification |
CCI oscillator signals for identifying potential trading opportunities in the cryptocurrency market | Identifying potential reversals in the stock market using the Commodity Channel Index |
Technical analysis techniques using the CCI indicator for stock market analysis | Understanding the relationship between the relative strength index (RSI) and the CCI indicator for successful trading strategies |
Price action analysis using the CCI indicator for successful trading strategies | Bollinger Bands analysis with the CCI indicator for effective trading techniques |
Advanced trading strategies using the Commodity Channel Index for trading signals | Identifying potential breakouts in the stock market using the Commodity Channel Index |
Using candlestick patterns in conjunction with the CCI indicator for improved trading accuracy |