Minus Directional Indicator (-DI)

Returns the Minus Directional Indicator, which measures the strength of downward price movement. Part of the Directional Movement Index (DMI) system developed by J. Welles Wilder.

DMI System Overview

Indicator Measures
+DI Strength of upward movement
-DI Strength of downward movement
ADX Overall trend strength (derived from +DI and -DI)

Trading Signals

  • -DI > +DI: Bearish trend dominates
  • -DI < +DI: Bullish trend dominates
  • -DI crossover above +DI: Bearish signal
  • Rising -DI: Strengthening downtrend

Parameters

Parameter Description Default
Symbol Stock ticker symbol Required
Days Number of periods 14
StartDate Calculate as of this date Today

Examples

=MinusDirectionalIndicator("AAPL")
14-day -DI for Apple
=MinusDirectionalIndicator("AAPL", "14")
Explicitly 14-day -DI
=MinusDirectionalIndicator("MSFT", "20")
20-day -DI for Microsoft
=MinusDirectionalIndicator("SPY", "14")
14-day -DI for SPY
=MinusDirectionalIndicator("AAPL", "14", DATE(2024,1,15))
Historical -DI
=MinusDirectionalIndicator(A1)
Symbol from cell reference

When to Use

  • Identify bearish trend strength
  • Compare with +DI for directional bias
  • Generate crossover trading signals
  • DMI/ADX trading system implementation
  • Confirm downtrend continuation

When NOT to Use

Scenario Use Instead
Need bullish direction PlusDirectionalIndicator()
Need overall trend strength TechnicalIndicator() with ADX
Need overbought/oversold RelativeStrengthIndex()
Need volatility AverageTrueRange()

Common Issues & FAQ

Q: Why is -DI returning "NA"? A: Check that:

  • The symbol is valid and actively traded
  • There is sufficient historical data for the period
  • OHLC data is available for the calculation

Q: How do I use -DI with +DI? A: Compare both values:

  • When -DI > +DI: Bearish bias
  • When +DI > -DI: Bullish bias
  • Crossovers can signal trend changes

Q: What is a typical -DI range? A: -DI typically ranges from 0 to 50+, with higher values indicating stronger downward pressure.

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MarketXLS Excel Add-in Tutorial - How to Use Minus Directional Indicator (-DI) and Other Financial Formulas
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