George C Lane developed stochastics to be a price-velocity indicator. It compares
the difference between the latest closing price and the low for a term with the
price range for the term. You specify the term.
Lane's interpretation is complicated. He recommends smoothing twice with simple
three-term moving averages. Divergence between the price trend and the singly smoothed
stochastic would signal a trend reversal. This would be confirmed when the singly
and doubly smoothed stochastic crossed provided that the doubly smoothed stochastic
has already turned in the direction of the new trend when signals are in the direction
of the major trend when the bullish signals are in the 10% to 15% range and bearish
signals are in the 85% to 90% range.
Colby and Meyers recommend a simpler interpretation. They suggest using an unsmoothed
stochastic (term = 1.) A bullish signal would occur when the stochastic rises above
50%, providing that the stochastic and closing prices are above their previous week's
levels. Bearishness is signalled when the stochastic sinks below 50% and the stochastic
and closing prices are below their previous week's levels. They suggest an optimal
term of 39 weeks. However, this was determined using historical data from the US
markets. You would be well advised to experiment with local data before employing
this technique.
References
Colby and Meyers (1988). The Encyclopaedia of Technical Market
Indicators. Dow Jones-Irwin..