What is VWAP?
The VWAP indicator is used in different cases, but most often it is used in the intraday chart where time frames are set on a minutes, seconds or hourly basis. You can add the VWAP indicator to a streaming chart, and the calculation will be automatically shown in the chart. You can assume a 5-minute chart for the VWAP indicator.
To find the VWAP, you need to add the high, low, and close price, then divide by three, multiply this volume for that period, and add the result in the spreadsheet, under the volume column PV. After that, you need to divide PV by the volume for that period. You will get the VWAP. To maintain the VWAP throughout the day, you can continue to add the PV value from each period to the previous value. And then divide this total by the total volume at that point.
The goal of a volume-weighted average price is to compare the current price of a stock and give traders a benchmark to decide to enter and exit the price of trade.
Importance of Volume Weighted Average Price
The VWAP tells us about the real average price of the stock. This indicator is like the moving average, which works on historical data and makes the decision process easier in intraday trading. A VWAP is a popular tool among investors. Some of the advantages of VWAP are as follows:
This indicator is better than the moving average
It can indicate a bullish or bearish trend
You can use this indicator for long and short positions
How to Calculate VWAP?
How to Calculate VWAP?
The calculation starts with the market opening bell and ends with the closing bell. As the VWAP is an intraday indicator, intraday data is used to calculate it.
Today, thanks to technological advancements, you can straight away add any popular technical indicator like the VWAP to a price chart with a few clicks. That said, the following section will get into the details of how to calculate the VWAP manually.
The mathematical formula to calculate the volume-weighted average price is: VWAP = Typical Price*Volume/Cumulative Volume
Example of VWAP
In the above equation, the typical price is the average of the high price, the low price, and the closing price. You can calculate it by using the formula: Typical Price (TP) = high price + low price + closing price/3
To get a better understanding of the calculation, let us look at an example. Let's assume the high price = 20, low price = 10, and the average closing price = 15. Then, applying the typical price formula, we get: TP = 20+10+15/3 = 15
Then, multiply the TP by the volume, so let us assume the volume of the period is (V) = 20 Therefore, TP*V = 300
Cumulative volume for the stock, which in this case, let us assume is = 75 So, VWAP = TP*V/CV = 300/75 = 4
One can calculate the VWAP for every period, which will result in the formation of a VWAP curve on the price chart.
How to Use VWAP?
Different types of traders use VWAP in various ways. For example, they may use the VWAP as a trend confirmation tool. A trader using the VWAP as a trend confirmation tool could use it to take trading positions. So, if the price below the VWAP cuts above it, the trader could take long positions. On the other hand, if the price above the VWAP cuts below it the trader could go short. Institutions like insurance companies, mutual funds, and hedge funds may use the VWAP to make trades while impacting the market as little as possible.
Difference between VWAP and a Moving Average
Now, coming to the undressed elephant in the room—how is the VWAP different from a simple moving average? Both indicators, when plotted on a chart, may appear to be similar. However, both are technically quite different. Volume is an integral variable used to calculate the VWAP. On the other hand, the moving average does not consider the volume traded, and incorporates only the price over a certain period. As VWAP also accounts for the volume traded, inventors can take more educated trading positions.
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Frequently Asked Questions on VWAP (FAQs)
Generally, many traders using the VWAP indicator may consider taking long positions if the price below the VWAP cuts above it. However, there is no certainty that the price is going to shoot up and meet your target. There is always a chance it may see a reversal, so have a risk-management strategy in mind.
Nowhere does it say that you have to limit yourself to one technical indicator. You can refer to a single indicator or to multiple technical indicators before placing your trade, so find out what works best for you.
If you wish to implement another indicator besides the VWAP, you can consider using momentum indicators like MACD or the RSI.
Besides price, VWAP also considers the factor of volume, which is why it gives more weightage to those price points with higher volumes. Hence, traders get a clear picture of the price action. In contrast, moving averages do not factor in the volume at any given point.
No, the opening price does not influence the VWAP unless it is the lowest or highest price of the day.
VWAP is a lagging technical indicator. The VWAP qualifies as a lagging indicator since its calculation is based on historical data.
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