Williams %R Indicator
Returns the Williams %R, a momentum indicator developed by Larry Williams. It oscillates between 0 and -100, showing where the current close is relative to the high-low range over a period.
How Williams %R Works
| Value Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 to -20 | Overbought (potential sell signal) |
| -80 to -100 | Oversold (potential buy signal) |
| -20 to -80 | Neutral zone |
Williams %R vs Stochastic
Williams %R is essentially an inverted Stochastic Oscillator:
- Williams %R: 0 at high, -100 at low
- Stochastic %K: 100 at high, 0 at low
Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Stock ticker symbol | Required |
| Days | Number of periods (lookback) | 14 |
| StartDate | Calculate as of this date | Today |
Examples
=WilliamsR("AAPL")=WilliamsR("AAPL", "14")=WilliamsR("MSFT", "10")=WilliamsR("SPY", "20")=WilliamsR("AAPL", "14", DATE(2024,1,15))=WilliamsR(A1)When to Use
- Identify overbought and oversold conditions
- Generate reversal trading signals
- Confirm price breakouts with momentum
- Short-term trading strategies
- Alternative to Stochastic Oscillator
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need 0-100 scale oscillator | RelativeStrengthIndex() |
| Need volume-weighted momentum | MoneyFlowIndex() |
| Need trend direction | SimpleMovingAverage() |
| Need raw price momentum | Momentum() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Q: Why is Williams %R returning "NA"? A: Check that:
- The symbol is valid and actively traded
- There is sufficient historical data for the period
- High/Low/Close data is available
Q: Why are the values negative? A: Williams %R uses a scale of 0 to -100 by design. Values near 0 indicate overbought, near -100 indicate oversold.
Q: What period should I use? A: The standard period is 14 days. Shorter periods (5-10) are more sensitive, longer periods (20-30) are smoother.
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