Stochastics can be either fast or slow. This speed does not relate to the number of time periods that it covers, but how quickly it’ll reply to a change in direction from bullish to bearish or vice versa. The fast stochastic is more respondent, like a fast vehicle. This is the mathematical formula for fast stochastics:
%K = 100((C – L14)/(H14 – L14))
C = last closing price, L14 = lowest low in the past 14 periods, H14 = highest high during last fourteen periods. Stochastic based trading systems generally take a signal from the crossover of the two lines %K and %D.
The fast stochastic was the 1st and is still the main stochastic indicator utilized by traders. But some traders find it responds to changes in movements in prices too swiftly, resulting in a premature signal.
The slow stochastic indicator applies a three period moving average to the %K of the original equation. Clearly this is going to reduce sensitiveness to minor fluctuations in cost.
The slow indicator is thus the one that is most often used by day traders.
Part of the reason that stochastics are sometimes ignored by day traders is that they target the fast stochastic while actually the slow stochastic would serve them far better. It can be very effective, so check it out in your charts or look for a technical charting service that provides it.