FX Dynamic - Complete Guide
This guide explains how to set up and use FX Dynamic to assess how much of its average daily range a symbol has already consumed. FX Dynamic helps you answer the question: "Is there still room for this move, or has the pair already traveled its typical daily distance?"
Setup & First Steps
- Drag FX Dynamic onto any chart. It creates a separate subwindow below the main chart and draws ATR level lines directly on the price chart.
- Set Calculation mode to D1 (the default and recommended setting). This calculates the Average True Range based on daily candles.
- Set the Calculation period to 20 (default). This averages the last 20 daily candles, roughly 4 trading weeks.
- Configure your broker timezone. This is critical for correct ATR calculation. Either enable "Auto detect broker GMT/DST" or manually set your broker's GMT offset and DST zone.
- Verify the ATR levels appear on your chart as horizontal lines at the 80%, 100%, and 130% marks above and below the daily open price.
Why GMT/DST Settings Matter
FX Dynamic needs to know exactly when each trading day starts and ends to calculate the daily range correctly. If the timezone is wrong, the indicator measures the range from the wrong starting point, producing inaccurate readings.
How to get it right:
- Enable "Auto detect broker GMT/DST" as a starting point
- If values look wrong, ask your broker for their server's GMT offset (without DST)
- If you use SI Connect, it provides the correct GMT offset automatically
- Common broker GMT offsets: +2 (most EU brokers), +3 (EET brokers in summer), 0 (UK brokers)
Key Parameters
Calculation Settings
| Parameter | Default | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation mode | D1 | Keep at D1 for standard daily range analysis |
| Calculation period | 20 | 14-20 is the sweet spot. Lower values react faster to volatility changes |
While you can technically set the calculation mode to any timeframe, D1 is what makes this indicator useful. The whole point is measuring how much of the daily range has been used.
ATR Level Settings
Three configurable levels are drawn as horizontal lines on your chart:
| Level | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 80% | Caution zone. The pair has used most of its typical daily range |
| Level 2 | 100% | Statistical limit. The average daily movement has been fully consumed |
| Level 3 | 130% | Extreme extension. The pair has moved significantly beyond its normal range |
Levels are drawn both above and below the daily open price (labeled as "+80% ATR", "-80% ATR", etc.). The daily open price itself is marked as "Open" with a dark gray reference line.
Colors:
- Upper levels (above open): Red (default)
- Lower levels (below open): Green (default)
- Open reference line: Dark gray
You can adjust the level percentages, colors, and line styles in the ATR Levels Settings and ATR Levels Graphics Settings groups.
Understanding the Display
The Subwindow
The subwindow shows a line representing the current ATR percentage consumed by the chart symbol. When this line reaches 80, the pair has used 80% of its average daily range.
The Chart Lines
Six horizontal lines appear on your price chart (3 above and 3 below the open):
- Open: The reference point (daily candle open price)
- +/- 80% ATR: First warning zone
- +/- 100% ATR: Full average range
- +/- 130% ATR: Extreme extension
If "N/A" appears instead of a percentage, the indicator does not have enough data to calculate the ATR.
The Panel
The main panel lists all active symbols with their current ATR percentage. An optional Currencies panel (toggle via button) shows individual currency ATR consumption.
Alerts
FX Dynamic offers two alert categories:
| Alert Type | What It Monitors |
|---|---|
| Symbol Level Alert | Triggers when a symbol reaches any of the 3 ATR levels |
| Currency Level Alert | Triggers when a single currency reaches any of the 3 ATR levels |
Alerts are triggered once per calculation period (candle) and then reset. Standard notification options are available: popup, email, mobile push, and sound. Alerts can be scheduled to specific time windows and weekdays.
Practical Tips
How to Use the ATR Levels in Trading
- Below 80%: Normal conditions. Trade normally based on your other signals.
- At 80%: The pair has used most of its daily budget. Be cautious about entering new trend-following positions. If you are already in a trade, consider tightening your stop.
- At 100%: Statistically, the pair has consumed its average daily movement. New trend entries have less room to run. This does not mean the price will reverse, but the odds of a significant further extension decrease.
- At 130%: Extreme move. This typically happens during news events or breakouts. Counter-trend trades here are risky (the move could continue), but trend-following entries also have limited remaining potential for the day.
Combine with Trend Indicators
FX Dynamic does not generate entry signals. It tells you about remaining movement potential. Combine it with FX Trend or FX Power NG for a complete picture:
- Use FX Trend to identify the trend direction
- Use FX Power to find the strongest and weakest currencies
- Use FX Dynamic to check if there is still room for the move
If FX Trend shows a strong uptrend but FX Dynamic shows 110% ATR consumed, the better play might be to wait for tomorrow rather than chase the move.
Reduce Symbols for Better Performance
On slower systems, only activate the symbols you actually trade. Each symbol requires its own ATR calculation, and with all 28 forex pairs plus metals, indices, and crypto, the initial loading time can be significant.
Multiple Instances
You can run two instances with different settings, for example D1 ATR and H4 ATR, to see both daily and intraday range consumption. Use different Instance IDs (1, 2) to avoid conflicts.
Common Issues
- "Updating data" stays on permanently: The indicator is waiting for historical D1 data. Make sure your broker provides enough daily history for all active symbols. Reduce the number of symbols or the history bars setting.
- ATR values look wrong (too high or too low): Almost always a GMT/DST misconfiguration. The daily candle boundaries are being calculated from the wrong starting point. Fix your timezone settings.
- SI Connect error message: If you see "Please start SIConnect EA" but you are not using SI Connect, update to version 1.12 or later where this was fixed.
- Gold symbols not recognized: FX Dynamic recognizes most Gold symbol names automatically. For unusual variants, add the symbol manually under "Additional Symbols".
- iCustom buffer indices changed: If you upgraded from a version before 1.27, buffer indices have shifted. Check the current documentation for the correct buffer mapping.