Squeeze Indicator

Squeeze Indicator is a volatility-focused indicator designed to identify periods of compression and the early transition into expansion.

It measures Bollinger Band Width (BBW) using a 20-period Bollinger Band to quantify how tightly price is coiling, then smooths BBW with a 16-period SMA and a faster 8-period EMA to distinguish structural compression from short-term changes in volatility.

The BBW itself is displayed as a subtle grey filled area to emphasize relative contraction and expansion, while a squeeze condition is highlighted whenever BBW falls below both its SMA and EMA, signaling an environment where volatility is suppressed and a directional move is more likely to follow.

Crossovers of the EMA above or below the SMA provide early warnings of volatility expansion or renewed compression, making the indicator especially useful for timing breakouts, anticipating regime shifts from range to trend, and managing options strategies that depend on changes in volatility rather than price direction.