OBV MACD vs. Traditional MACD – Which One Wins?

Ever wonder why some traders seem to have an edge over others? It might not be luck – it’s strategy. Volume and price are among the most underrated yet powerful combinations in technical analysis.

If you’re still relying solely on the standard MACD, you might leave profits on the table.

By merging On-Balance Volume (OBV) with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), traders unlock new indicator that gives better signals and reduce noise in their trades.

Let’s break down how OBV MACD works and why it could significantly boost your trading performance.

Understanding OBV (On-Balance Volume)

On-Balance Volume (OBV) measures buying and selling pressure using volume data. When the price closes higher than the previous day, all of the day’s volume is considered positive. Conversely, if the price closes lower, the volume is negative.

Why is OBV Important?

• Predictive Power: OBV often signals a price move before it happens.

• Volume Precedes Price: A rising OBV indicates accumulation (buying), while a falling OBV suggests distribution (selling).

 " By combining volume and price in a single indicator, OBV MACD reacts faster to market movements”

Ali Casey

Understanding MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)

MACD is a trend-following indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of price. It consists of:

• MACD Line (12-day EMA - 26-day EMA)

• Signal Line (9-day EMA of the MACD Line)

• Histogram (Difference between MACD and Signal Line)

Why is MACD Popular?

• Trend Identification: Clearly shows when the market is bullish or bearish.

• Momentum Indicator: Strong price movements often correlate with large histogram bars.

Combining OBV and MACD

So, why mix OBV with MACD? The answer lies in confirming signals.

MACD identifies trends but can sometimes generate false signals, especially in choppy markets. OBV, on the other hand, highlights real buying or selling pressure. When both align, the likelihood of a successful trade increases dramatically.

Chart comparing OBV MACD vs. Traditional MACD and traditional OBV on S&P 500

When comparing MACD vs. OBV-MACD (default settings: 12,26,9), OBV-MACD often signals up to 5 bars earlier than traditional MACD—a significant advantage for traders.

Although OBV MACD shows promise with earlier signals, rigorous strategy testing is essential to validate its benefits

With OBV and MACD combined, the next step is testing their real-world performance. Let's dive into how this strategy performs on the S&P 500 using historical data

Testing Environment:

The S&P 500 index provide a reliable testing ground due to their high liquidity and consistent market behavior over time.

• Market: S&P500 Emini futures

• Fees: no commission or slippage, trading fixed 1 contract

• Historical data: 2006-2024

• Buy signal: MACD cross above MACD Signal (green)

• Sell signal: MACD cross under MACD Signal (red)

Optimization

With optimization we can see the behavior of the indicator over several values.

• I kept MACD fixed in all optimizations, so we see the implication of adding OBV.

• I optimized the OBV-MACD using only OBV part by changing the lookback value and average value of the volume calculation.

• For the second optimization, I incorporated direction and volatility filters, such as moving averages and Average True Range (ATR). Moving averages serve as an excellent proxy for market direction, while ATR effectively measures volatility.

• Filters help in smoothing out false signals and ensuring trades align with broader market trends.

The table below shows the most positive effect on strategies usually comes from filters not from optimizing indicators.

table showing the strategy performance metrics for several variations

Correlation Between OBV MACD and MACD

Let’s break down the results to see how OBV MACD affects overall correlation and performance.

• Keeping MACD settings the same and adding OBV default settings does not change the strategy curve a lot with correlation at 0.75

• Optimizing OBV had a big effect on correlation

• As expected adding a filter is the game changer for correlation, where the correlation drop to 0.35 when MACD and OBV-MACD include filters

table showing correlations for several strategy variations

Combining only the two low correlated strategies we get a good portfolio, This approach captures profits while limiting drawdowns, as reflected in the Return/DD metric.

" Regardless of how fancy the indicator is, you only need it for two things – generating signals or filtering them"

Ali casey

The equity curve highlights how blending low-correlated strategies reduces drawdowns and enhances overall portfolio stability

Conclusion:

Testing shows that OBV MACD can significantly reduce false signals and improve performance when optimized correctly. If you’re looking to diversify your strategies and reduce correlation in your portfolio, OBV MACD might be the game-changer you need.

Questions & Answers

1. What is the OBV-MACD indicator, and how does it differ from the traditional MACD?

The OBV-MACD is a variation of the traditional MACD indicator that incorporates On-Balance Volume (OBV) data into its calculations. While the traditional MACD focuses solely on price movements by analyzing the relationship between two exponential moving averages (EMAs), the OBV-MACD integrates volume information, aiming to provide a more comprehensive view of market dynamics by considering both price and volume. ​

2. How does incorporating OBV into the MACD enhance trading signals?

By integrating OBV, which measures buying and selling pressure through volume analysis, the OBV-MACD aims to offer earlier and potentially more accurate signals. The inclusion of volume data can help confirm the strength behind price movements, potentially reducing false signals that might occur when relying solely on price-based indicators like the traditional MACD. ​

3. Are there specific market conditions where OBV-MACD outperforms traditional MACD?

The OBV-MACD may be particularly effective in markets where volume plays a significant role in price movements, such as during periods of accumulation or distribution. By considering volume trends, the OBV-MACD can provide insights into the underlying strength of a trend, potentially offering more timely signals in these scenarios compared to the traditional MACD.

4. How can traders implement the OBV-MACD indicator in their trading strategies?

Traders can implement the OBV-MACD by adding it to their technical analysis toolkit alongside other indicators. It's essential to backtest the OBV-MACD on historical data to evaluate its effectiveness and to customize its parameters to align with individual trading styles and the specific characteristics of the markets they are trading. ​

5. What are the limitations of using OBV-MACD compared to traditional MACD?

While the OBV-MACD incorporates volume data, it may also introduce additional complexity and potential for noise, especially in markets with irregular or low volume. Traders should be cautious of overfitting their strategies to specific market conditions and ensure that the OBV-MACD provides consistent value across different market environments. ​