Sampled Average [SampAvg]

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The Sampled Average function calculates the average value of a field by sampling the value at a given period from the current value to the beginning of the data. Parameters ------------------ Data          The data to evaluate. This is typically a field in a data series or a calculated value. Period        The number of bars of data into the past to accumulate into the current value.                   For example, a period of 5 adds the value of the accumulator from five bars ago to the current value.                   Note: This can also be interpreted as the number of independent accumulators being maintained. Function Value ------------------------ This function takes the current value of a field and adds that value cumulatively to the value of that field a given number of bars ago, then takes the average. For example, with a period of 5, the current value is added to the value from 5 bars ago, 10 bars ago, 15 bars ago, and so on to the beginning of the data series. Usage ----------- The Sampled Average is useful for analyzing cycles over a fixed period. For example, annual cycles could be analyzed using the Samped Average of the direction of change in a field over a period of 253, which is the typical number of trading days in a year. By viewing a moving average of this value, it may often be found that certain months may trend upward while other months trend downward for a particular security. The Sampled Average can also be used to find the mean for a field over the entire data series by using a period of 1. Source ------------ This indicator was developed by Gary Geniesse as part of TradingSolutions.