SenkouSpanA

Syntax

SenkouSpanA[tenkanPeriod, kijunPeriod, displacement]

The function takes no price argument. It is computed from the instrument's highs and lows.

Parameters

Formula

TenkanSen = (Highest[tenkanPeriod](high) + Lowest[tenkanPeriod](low)) / 2
KijunSen  = (Highest[kijunPeriod](high) + Lowest[kijunPeriod](low)) / 2

SenkouSpanA = (TenkanSen + KijunSen) / 2, plotted displacement bars ahead

How it works

Senkou Span A is one of the five lines of the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo system and forms one edge of the Kumo, or cloud. On each bar, ProBuilder averages the Tenkan-Sen and Kijun-Sen midlines and shifts the result forward by displacement bars. Together with SenkouSpanB, the space between the two spans defines the cloud that traders read as a zone of prospective support and resistance.

Because of the forward shift, the cloud value displayed at the current bar was calculated from price data displacement bars in the past. Senkou Span A reacts faster than Senkou Span B since its inputs use shorter lookbacks, so the relative position of the two spans (A above B or B above A) is commonly used to classify the cloud as bullish or bearish.

Examples

Example 1, Plotting the cloud boundaries (Indicator)

// Leading cloud line with default Ichimoku settings
mySenkouSpanA = SenkouSpanA[9, 26, 26]
spanB = SenkouSpanB[9, 26, 52]
RETURN mySenkouSpanA AS "Senkou Span A", spanB AS "Senkou Span B"

Computes both cloud boundaries with the classic 9/26/52 configuration and plots them as two lines. The area between them corresponds to the Kumo.

Example 2, Instruments trading above the cloud (ProScreener)

spanA = SenkouSpanA[9, 26, 26]
spanB = SenkouSpanB[9, 26, 52]
cloudTop = MAX(spanA, spanB)
SCREENER[close > cloudTop](close - cloudTop AS "Distance above cloud")

Selects instruments whose last price sits above the upper cloud edge, a standard Ichimoku definition of an established uptrend, and ranks them by distance above the cloud.

Example 3, Cloud filter for long entries (ProOrder)

// Trade long only while the cloud is bullish and price holds above it
spanA = SenkouSpanA[9, 26, 26]
spanB = SenkouSpanB[9, 26, 52]
bullishCloud = spanA > spanB

IF NOT LongOnMarket AND bullishCloud AND close > spanA THEN
  BUY 1 CONTRACT AT MARKET
ELSIF LongOnMarket AND close < spanB THEN
  SELL AT MARKET
ENDIF

Uses the span ordering as a regime filter and exits when price falls through the far side of the cloud.

Interpretation

A thick cloud implies a wider support or resistance zone, a thin cloud implies a weaker one that price crosses more readily. Crossings of Span A and Span B are sometimes read as slow trend-change confirmations, well after faster signals such as the Tenkan/Kijun cross.

Common errors and gotchas

• No price argument. SenkouSpanA[9, 26, 26](close) is invalid. The function is bracket-only and always works from the instrument's highs and lows.
• Built-in lag from displacement. The span visible at the current bar derives from data roughly displacement bars old. Systems that condition on the cloud react late by design, which is intentional in Ichimoku but surprising when compared with non-shifted indicators.
• Half the cloud is not the cloud. Testing close > SenkouSpanA[9, 26, 26] alone ignores Span B. When Span B is above Span A, price can be above Span A yet still inside the cloud.
• Whipsaw in ranging markets. In flat conditions the cloud is thin and price crosses it frequently. Cloud-based entries without an additional trend or volatility filter tend to generate rapid alternating signals.

Related instructions

• TenkanSen, the Ichimoku conversion line, first input to Span A.
• KijunSen, the Ichimoku base line, second input to Span A.
• SenkouSpanB, the slower cloud boundary paired with Span A.
• Highest, highest value over a lookback, the building block of the midlines.
• Lowest, lowest value over a lookback.
• Average, simple moving average for alternative trend baselines.
• Supertrend, another trend-following support and resistance line.
• SAR, parabolic stop and reverse, a trailing trend indicator.