The strength of the US Dollar plays a crucial role in the Forex market, as it is involved in the majority of major currency pairs. Understanding overall USD performance can provide traders with valuable insight into market direction and relative currency strength.
The USDX Indicator for MT4 & MT5 is a MetaTrader indicator that calculates and displays the US Dollar Index (USDX / DXY) directly inside the trading platform. By combining data from multiple USD-based currency pairs, this indicator allows traders to analyze the dollar’s strength without relying on external charts or data sources.
What Is the USDX (US Dollar Index)?
The US Dollar Index (USDX) measures the value of the US Dollar against a basket of major currencies. It was introduced in 1973 with a base value of 100 and was updated once in 1999 to reflect the introduction of the euro.
The index is calculated using the following currency pairs:
- EUR/USD
- USD/JPY
- GBP/USD
- USD/CAD
- USD/CHF
- USD/SEK
The USDX Indicator applies the official USDX formula to calculate the index value in real time.
USDX Calculation Formula:
USDX = 50.14348112 × EURUSD^-0.576 × USDJPY^0.136 × GBPUSD^-0.119 × USDCAD^0.091 × USDSEK^0.042 × USDCHF^0.036
The resulting value closely resembles the official USDX traded on ICE.
How the USDX Indicator Works
- The indicator gathers price data from the selected USD-based currency pairs.
- Each pair is weighted according to its coefficient in the USDX formula.
- The calculated index is displayed in a separate indicator window.
- Two customizable moving averages can be applied to the USDX line or candles for trend analysis.
Platform Differences:
- MT4 version: Displays the USDX as a line (Open, High, Low, or Close price).
- MT5 version: Displays full USDX candlesticks and operates as a true multi-currency indicator, reacting instantly to price changes in any component pair.
Key Features
- Real-time calculation of the US Dollar Index
- Uses official USDX currency basket and weighting
- Displays USDX in a separate chart window
- Two removable and customizable moving averages
- Works on all timeframes
- Supports both MT4 and MT5 platforms
- Can be modified to create other custom currency indexes
Input Parameters Explained
Common Parameters (MT4 & MT5):
- IndexPairs
Currency pairs used in the index calculation. - IndexCoefficients
Weighting coefficients corresponding to each currency pair (order matters). - IndexInitialValue
Initial base value for index calculation (default: 50.14348112). - MA_Period1 / MA_Period2
Periods for the first and second moving averages (set to 0 to disable). - MA_Mode1 / MA_Mode2
Moving average calculation method (SMA, EMA, etc.).
MT4-Specific Parameters:
- USDX_PriceType
Price type used for the USDX line (Close, Open, High, or Low).
MT5-Specific Parameters:
- MaxBars
Maximum number of bars to calculate (0 = unlimited). - MA_PriceType1 / MA_PriceType2
Price types used for calculating the moving averages.
How to Use the USDX Indicator in Trading
The USDX Indicator does not provide direct buy or sell signals. Instead, it serves as a powerful confirmation and analysis tool.
Common Trading Applications:
- Confirm trends in USD-based currency pairs
- Detect divergence between a currency pair and overall USD strength
- Identify market sentiment shifts
- Filter trades by avoiding positions against USD momentum
Example Strategy Concept:
- If a USD-based pair (e.g., EUR/USD) is rising while the USDX is falling, this confirms EUR strength and USD weakness.
- If the USDX is rising but a USD-based pair is falling, this divergence may indicate strong relative performance of the non-USD currency.
- Moving averages on the USDX can be used to determine the overall USD trend direction.
Installation Guide
Installation for MT4
- Download the USDX indicator files.
- Open MetaTrader 4.
- Go to File → Open Data Folder.
- Open the MQL4 folder.
- Copy the indicator files into the folder.
- Restart MT4 or refresh the Navigator panel.
Installation for MT5
- Download the USDX indicator files.
- Open MetaTrader 5.
- Go to File → Open Data Folder.
- Open the MQL5 folder.
- Copy the indicator files into the folder.
- Restart MT5 or refresh the Navigator panel.
Conclusion
The USDX Indicator for MT4 & MT5 is an essential tool for traders who want to understand the broader strength of the US Dollar. By calculating and displaying the US Dollar Index directly in MetaTrader, it allows traders to make better-informed decisions, confirm trends, and improve overall market analysis.
Used alongside technical or price action strategies, the USDX Indicator can significantly enhance trading accuracy and confidence.
| USDX Indicator | MT4 |
| USDX Indicator | MT5 |
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