Trendlines

A trendline measures the rate of increase in the share price over time and alerts you to any acceleration or deceleration of the trend. Trendlines can also be used to highlight support and resistance levels, trends, chart patterns and overbought/oversold levels.

There are several trendline options on the Draw menu:

draw toolbar

These are also found on the Draw toolbar for convenience:

draw toolbar

Drawing trendlines is time consuming, so use stock screens to identify the most likely candidates and concentrate on these. See Trend Lines for basic trend analysis details.

Add A Trendline

Auto-Fit Trendline

To automatically fit a trendline to selected data:

  1. Select auto fit trendline Autofit Trendline on the toolbar;
  2. Drag your mouse above (down-trend) or below (up-trend) the price bars for the period
  3. Select from Closing Price (long time periods) or Highs/Lows (short-term);
  4. The trendline will be drawn automatically;
  5. Drag the right anchor if you want to manually re-position the trendline.

For an up-trend the trendline will automatically fit to the lowest point and the second lowest trough in the given time period. For a down-trend the trendline automatically fits to the highest point and the second highest peak in the given time period.

Manual Trendline

To manually fit a trendline to the data:

  1. Select manual trendline Trendlines on the toolbar, or type R on your keyboard.
  2. Click at the point on the chart where you want to start the trendline and drag it into position.

Linear Regression Line

To automatically fit a linear regression line:

  1. Select linear regression line Linear Regression Line on the toolbar;
  2. Click at the point on the chart where you want to start the trendline and drag it into position.

Horizontal Line

To draw a horizontal line:

  1. Select horizontal line Horizontal Line on the toolbar.
  2. Click your mouse at the point on the chart where you want to place the horizontal line.

The Horizontal Line will automatically extend to the right-edge of the chart unless you adjust the default setting at Draw >> Draw Options >> Horizontal Lines >> Auto-extend as Default.

Vertical Line

Fit a vertical line across the entire chart by clicking at a selected point.
Also, right-click and select Apply to Project -- to apply the same line to all charts in a project.

To create a vertical line:

  1. Select vertical line Vertical Line on the toolbar.
  2. Click your mouse at the point on the chart where you want to place the vertical line.

Apply Vertical Line To Project

To display the Vertical Line on all charts in your project:

  • Right-click the Line
  • Select Apply to Project on the list of properties
trendline properties vertical

Modify Trendlines

Auto-Extend Trendline

To automatically extend a trendline to the latest date (or right-edge of the chart):

  1. Right-click the Trendline
  2. Select Auto-extend Line on the list of properties
trendline properties

To halt the AutoExtend, right-click on a trendline and un-check AutoExtend Trendline.

Adjust Trendline

To drag one end of the trendline to a new position:

  1. Place your mouse over the end of the trendline and wait for the square to appear.
    adjust trendline
  2. Click the anchor at the end of the Trendline and drag to a new position.

Move a Trendline

To drag a trendline to a new position while retaining the existing angle:

  • Place your mouse over the trendline (at any point except the anchors at the ends);
  • Wait for the trendline to be highlighted and the hand to appear.
    drag trendline
  • Click and drag to a new position.

Change a Trendline to Horizontal

To change a normal trendline to horizontal:

  • Right-click the Trendline
  • Select Horizontal Line on the list of properties
trendline properties horizontal

Hide Trendlines

Right-click on one of the trendline icons and clear the box next to Show Lines. Alternatively, use Ctrl + T.

hide trendline

To display hidden trendlines right-click on a trendline icon and select Show Lines.

Delete Trendline

To delete a specific trendline, click delete trendline Delete on the toolbar, then select the trendline.

Alternately double-click on the anchor at the end of a trendline, or right-click on the anchor at the end of a trendline and select Delete Line.

trendline properties

Delete All Trendlines

On a specific chart

  • Right-click on the chart.
  • Select delete chart trendlines Delete this Chart's Drawn Lines on the list that appears.
  • Click Yes at the prompt.

For a specific security in all projects

  • Ensure that the correct security is open.
  • Select Draw >> delete lines Delete All Lines.
  • Click Yes at the prompt.

Next: Captions