Chaikin's oscillator is the difference of moving averages of Accumulation/Distribution.
"The concept of this oscillator is based on three main theses.
First: if a share or an index is higher when it closes than it was during
the day (you can calculate the average value as [max+min]/2), it means that
it was a day of accumulation. The closer the closing index of a share or an
index gets to the maximum, the more active the accumulation is. Vice versa,
if a share's closing price is lower than the average level of the day, it
means that distribution took place. The closer to the minimum the share
gets, the more active is the distribution.
Second: stable price growth is accompanied by increase in trade
volume and strong accumulation of the volume. As the volume is like
fuel that feeds market growth, the lag of volume along with the growth
of prices shows that there isn't enough fuel to continue the rise.
Vice versa, a slump in prices is usually accompanied by low amount
and ends up in panic liquidation of positions by institutional
investors. Therefore, first of all we see a growth of volume, then a
slump in prices accompanied by reduced volume and finally, when the
market is close to foundation, some accumulation takes place.
Third: with a Chaikin's oscillator you can trace back the volume of
money resources coming in to the market and leaving it. Comparing the
dynamics of volume and prices allows finding out peaks and foundations
of the market, both short- and medium-term.
As there are no correct methods of technical analysis, I would
recommend you using this oscillator along with other technical
indicators. The reliability of short-term and medium-term trade signals
will be higher if you use a Chaikin's oscillator together with, for
example, Envelopes based on a 21-day moving average and some oscillator of outbidding/resale.
The most important signal arises when the prices reach a maximum or
a minimum level (especially on the level of outbidding/resale), but the
Chaikin's oscillator can't overcome its previous extremum and so it
turns around.
Signals moving in the direction of the medium-term trend are more reliable than those moving against it.
The fact that an oscillator confirms a new maximum or minimum
doesn't mean that the prices will move on in that direction. I regard
this event as unimportant.
Another way of using Chaikin's oscillator implies the following: a
change in its direction is a signal for purchase or a sale, but only if
it coincides with the price trend direction. For example, if a share is
on the rise and its price is higher than a 90-day moving average, then
an up-turn of the oscillator curve in the area of negative values can
be regarded as a signal for purchase (but the share price must be
higher than a 90-day moving average - not less.)
A down-turn of the oscillator curve in the area of positive values
(above zero) can be regarded as a signal for sale, but the share price
must be lower than the 90-day moving average of closing prices."
To calculate the Chaikin's oscillator, you must subtract a 10-period exponential moving average of Accumulation/Distribution indicator from a 3-period exponential moving average of the same indicator.