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Real-time technical indicators for equities

StratAlerts now computes a set of core technical indicators in real time for every equity symbol in the scanner universe. As trades and candle aggregates stream in during the session, the platform updates each metric continuously — you always see the latest value without refreshing or waiting for a candle close. The metrics pipeline covers two categories: aggregate-driven indicators derived from candle data (EMA, SMA, RSI, ATR) and trade-driven indicators derived from individual trades (session VWAP with sigma bands).

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Available metrics

EMA (20, 50, 200)

Exponential moving averages updated on every new candle aggregate. Use the 20 EMA for short-term momentum, the 50 for intermediate trend, and the 200 for long-term direction.

SMA (20)

Simple moving average over the last 20 closing prices. Useful for comparing smoothed price action against the faster EMA equivalents.

RSI (14)

Relative strength index with a 14-period lookback. The platform tracks oversold (below 30) and overbought (above 70) transitions and emits events when RSI crosses these thresholds.

ATR (14)

Average true range over 14 periods. Gives you a real-time read on volatility for each symbol — useful for sizing positions and setting stops.

Session VWAP

Volume-weighted average price computed from individual trades throughout the session. VWAP resets each trading day and reflects the true average price weighted by volume.

VWAP sigma bands

Statistical bands at 2 and 3 standard deviations above and below session VWAP. When price touches or crosses a band, the platform fires a metric event you can use to trigger alerts.

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How the metrics work

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Aggregate-driven indicators

EMA, SMA, RSI, and ATR are computed from candle aggregates — the same OHLCV data that powers the setups engine. Each time a new aggregate arrives for a symbol and timeframe, all four indicators update. This means your metrics reflect the latest bar data across every timeframe the scanner tracks. RSI threshold events fire automatically when the indicator crosses key levels:
EventCondition
Entered oversoldRSI drops below 30
Exited oversoldRSI rises back above 30
Entered overboughtRSI rises above 70
Exited overboughtRSI drops back below 70

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Trade-driven indicators

Session VWAP and its sigma bands are computed from individual trade executions, not candle data. Every trade updates the running VWAP and recalculates the standard deviation bands in real time. The platform tracks where price sits relative to the VWAP bands and fires events on transitions:
EventCondition
Touched +2σPrice moves above the upper 2-sigma band
Touched −2σPrice moves below the lower 2-sigma band
Touched +3σPrice moves above the upper 3-sigma band
Touched −3σPrice moves below the lower 3-sigma band
Re-entered from +2σPrice returns inside the 2-sigma range from above
Re-entered from −2σPrice returns inside the 2-sigma range from below
Re-entered from +3σPrice returns inside the 3-sigma range from above
Re-entered from −3σPrice returns inside the 3-sigma range from below
VWAP sigma bands are especially useful for identifying mean-reversion opportunities. A stock that touches the −2σ band during an otherwise bullish session may be presenting a pullback entry, while a touch of +3σ could signal overextension.

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Metric alerts

You can create alert definitions that fire when specific metric events occur. Each alert definition targets a combination of:
  • Metric family — RSI, SMA, EMA, ATR, or VWAP
  • Metric key — the specific indicator (e.g., rsi_14, session_vwap_2sigma)
  • Event type — the transition you want to be notified about (e.g., rsi_entered_oversold, price_touched_vwap_plus_2sigma)
  • Symbol — a specific ticker, or leave blank to match all equities
  • Session mode — regular session or extended hours
  • Cooldown — minimum time between repeated alerts for the same definition, so you don’t get flooded during volatile stretches
Metric alerts use automatic deduplication. If the same event fires multiple times for the same candle or trade, you only receive one alert. The cooldown setting adds an additional time-based buffer on top of deduplication.

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Example alert configurations

Set the metric family to RSI, metric key to rsi_14, and event type to rsi_entered_oversold. Leave the symbol blank to match every equity in the scanner. Set a cooldown of 300 seconds (5 minutes) to avoid repeated alerts during choppy conditions.
Set the metric family to VWAP, metric key to session_vwap_2sigma, event type to price_touched_vwap_minus_2sigma, and symbol to the ticker you want to monitor (e.g., AAPL). This fires when the stock pulls back to 2 standard deviations below session VWAP.
Set the metric family to RSI, metric key to rsi_14, and event type to rsi_exited_overbought. This fires when RSI drops back below 70 after being overbought — a potential signal that momentum is fading.

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Combining metrics with setups

Equities metrics work alongside the existing setups engine — they don’t replace it. Use metrics as an additional filter layer on top of your Strat-based workflow:
1

Identify a setup on the setups table

Start with a setup that matches your criteria on the Setups Table — timeframe, candle structure, and quality score.
2

Check the metric context

Before entering, check whether the equity’s RSI is in a favorable zone. A 2U daily setup with RSI below 70 has more room to run than one already in overbought territory.
3

Use VWAP bands for entry timing

If price is near the lower VWAP sigma bands during an uptrend setup, the pullback may offer a better entry price than chasing a break at the highs.
4

Set a metric alert for confirmation

Create a metric alert for the specific event you want to confirm — for example, an RSI exit from oversold — so you get notified when conditions align without watching the screen.
Metrics are computed from live market data and update continuously. Values can change rapidly during volatile conditions. Always confirm with the full setup context before acting on a metric signal alone.