What Is the Force Index?

What Is the Force Index?

The force index is a technical indicator that measures the amount of power used to move the price of an asset. The term and its formula were developed by psychologist and trader Alexander Elder and published in his 1993 book Trading for a Living.

Understanding the Force Index

The force index uses price and volume to determine the amount of strength behind a price move. The index is an oscillator, fluctuating between positive and negative territory. It is unbounded meaning the index can go up or down indefinitely. It is used for trend and breakout confirmation, as well as spotting potential turning points by looking for divergences.

The formula is:

$\begin{aligned} &\text{FI}\left(1\right)=\left(\text{CCP }-\text{ PCP}\right)*\text{VFI}\left(13\right)=\\ &\text{13-Period EMA of FI}\left(1\right)\\ &\textbf{where:}\\ &\text{FI = Force index}\\ &\text{CCP = Current close price}\\ &\text{PCP = Prior close price}\\ &\text{VFI = Volume force index}\\ &\text{EMA = Exponential moving average}\\ \end{aligned}$​FI(1)=(CCP − PCP)∗VFI(13)=13-Period EMA of FI(1)where:FI = Force indexCCP = Current close pricePCP = Prior close priceVFI = Volume force indexEMA = Exponential moving average​

The calculation is as follows:

1. Compile the most recent closing price (current), the prior period's closing price, and the volume for the most recent period (current volume).
2. Calculate the one-period force index using this data.
3. Calculate the exponential moving average using multiple one-period force index calculations. For example, calculating a force index (20) will require at least 20 force index (1) calculations.
4. Continually repeat the steps after each period ends.

A one-period force index is comparing the current price to a prior price and then multiplying that by volume over that period. The value can be positive or negative. Typically the force index is averaged over several periods, such as 13, or 100. Therefore, the force index tells whether the price has made more progress upwards or downwards, and also how much volume or power is behind the move.

High force index readings are associated with very strong price moves and very high volume. Large price moves that lack volume will result in a force index that is not as high or low (compared to if the volume was large). Because the force index helps to gauge market power or force, it can be used to help confirm trends and breakouts.

Strong rallies in price should also see the force index rise. During pullbacks and sideways movements, the index will often mean-revert towards zero because the volume or the size of the price moves gets smaller.

During strong declines, the force index should fall. During bear market rallies or sideways corrections, the force index will mean-revert towards zero as well because the volume and the size of the price moves typically taper off.

Breakouts, from a chart pattern, for example, are usually confirmed by increasing volume. Since the force index factors for both price and volume, a force index spike in the direction of the breakout can help confirm the price breakout. Lack of volume, or non-confirmation, from the force index, could mean the breakout is more likely to fail.

When the above guidelines fail that may indicate a problem with the price/trend, and therefore a potential price reversal. For example, if the price is making higher highs but the force index is making lower highs, that is called a bearish divergence and the price may be due for a decline. If the price is making lower lows and the force index is making a higher low, that is a bullish divergence and the price may soon rise.

Force Index vs. Money Flow Index (MFI)

The money flow index (MFI), like the force index, uses price and volume to help assess the strength of a trend and spot potential price reversals. The calculations of the indicators are quite different, though, with MFI using a more complex formula that includes the typical price (high + low + close / 3) instead of just using closing prices. The MFI is also bound between zero and 100. Because the MFI is bound and uses a different calculation, it will provide different information than the force index.

Force Index Limitations

The force index is a lagging indicator. It is using prior price and volume data, and then that data is used to calculate an average (EMA). Because the data is typically put into an average, it may sometimes be slow to provide trade signals. For example, it may take a couple of periods for the force index to start rallying after an upside breakout, but by this time the price may have already moved significantly beyond the breakout point and may thus no longer justify an entry.

A shorter-term force index (10, 13, and 20 for example) creates a lot of whipsaws, as even moderate price moves or volume increases can cause big swings in the indicator. A longer-term force index (50, 100, or 150 for example) won't make as many swings, but it will be slower to react to price changes and will be more delayed in providing trade signals.