Plus Directional Indicator (+DI)
Returns the Plus Directional Indicator, which measures the strength of upward 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: Bullish trend dominates
- +DI < -DI: Bearish trend dominates
- +DI crossover above -DI: Bullish signal
- Rising +DI: Strengthening uptrend
Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Stock ticker symbol | Required |
| Days | Number of periods | 14 |
| StartDate | Calculate as of this date | Today |
Syntax
=PlusDirectionalIndicator(Symbol, [Days], [StartDate])Examples
=PlusDirectionalIndicator("AAPL")=PlusDirectionalIndicator("AAPL", "14")=PlusDirectionalIndicator("MSFT", "20")=PlusDirectionalIndicator("SPY", "14")=PlusDirectionalIndicator("AAPL", "14", DATE(2024,1,15))Symbol from cell reference
When to Use
- Identify bullish trend strength
- Compare with -DI for directional bias
- Generate crossover trading signals
- DMI/ADX trading system implementation
- Confirm uptrend continuation
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need bearish direction | MinusDirectionalIndicator() |
| Need overall trend strength | TechnicalIndicator() with ADX |
| Need overbought/oversold | RelativeStrengthIndex() |
| Need volatility | AverageTrueRange() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Why is +DI returning "NA"?
Check that:
- The symbol is valid and actively traded
- There is sufficient historical data for the period
- OHLC data is available for the calculation
How do I use +DI with -DI?
Compare both values:
- When +DI > -DI: Bullish bias
- When -DI > +DI: Bearish bias
- Crossovers can signal trend changes
What is a typical +DI range?
+DI typically ranges from 0 to 50+, with higher values indicating stronger upward pressure.
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