LDTH Oil Spread Brent–WTI Indicator

How the two data lines are calculated

The spread is Close(A)−Close(B), with A used for Brent and B for WTI. The program pairs only bars on the current chart timeframe with identical opening timestamps and valid closing prices. Swapping A and B reverses the spread direction.

The blue solid line shows valid close-price differences; the orange dashed line shows their simple moving average (SMA). Confirmed closes are the default: both symbols must have a later bar before the previous bar is considered closed. The final bar before a market closure may remain unconfirmed until trading resumes.

If confirmed-close mode is disabled, current-bar readings change with quotes and are provisional. Offline, the program shows confirmed historical bars only. It reads both histories from the broker terminal, displays a waiting state when data is not ready and retries.

The moving average counts valid observations

SMA(N) uses the latest N valid, time-matched spread observations. A gap adds no observation and does not reset the accumulated window; both spread and SMA remain empty at the gap. Calculation resumes with the latest N genuine valid values when pairing resumes.

The program expands its history lookback until enough warm-up observations are available or accessible chart history is exhausted. The SMA stays empty when observations are insufficient; it does not label a shorter average as an N-period SMA.

For a synthetic example with N=3, spreads of 4, 5, missing and 6 give an SMA of (4+5+6)÷3=5 at the final valid timestamp. The missing timestamp has no reading. This illustrates the calculation and is not market data.

On H1, SMA(120) means 120 valid paired observations, not necessarily 120 consecutive hours. After an interruption it may still include earlier observations. A historical average is not a current fair-value estimate or evidence that the spread will revert.

Grey dotted links do not create quotes

Grey dotted objects link genuine valid endpoints across short gaps. They are display aids, do not populate the spread or SMA data and do not enter the SMA calculation. The data window remains empty at a gap.

The default limit is three missing host-chart slots, with an additional elapsed-time check. Longer gaps, excessive elapsed time or missing endpoints remain disconnected. SMA warm-up blanks are not bridged on their own, and the right edge is not extrapolated into the future.

Set InpGapBridgeBars=0 to disable the links; the allowed range is 0–24. Links are drawn within the visible range and a small margin and rebuilt after scrolling or zooming. Removal cleans up only that instance’s links. Logs identify pairing gaps without deciding whether a closure or missing history caused them.

Default settings and an H1 example

The original algorithm defaults are InpSymbolA=UKOIL, InpSymbolB=USOIL, InpMAPeriod=20, InpClosedBarsOnly=true, InpMaxBars=5000 and InpGapBridgeBars=3. Use the exact names from your broker’s Market Watch; UKOIL/USOIL are not universal broker symbol names.

H1 with A=BRENT, B=WTI and SMA=120 is a configuration example in the original package instructions, not a default or trading recommendation. Attach the program to an A or B chart; it calculates on that chart timeframe. The SMA period accepts 1–10000 and the display limit 2–100000 chart bars. A display limit does not establish that sufficient history is available.

Install and check the data

The MT5 personal package uses LDTH_Oil_Spread_EA to connect your account and attach the spread subwindow automatically. Follow the included instructions and allow https://portal.landuth.com in WebRequest settings for authorisation. A chart cannot run two EAs; use an A or B symbol chart without another EA. The program does not apply a chart template automatically.

The standalone original MQ4/MQ5 source archive is not the personal customer package. Download the released MT5 package from the client centre. MT4 is not yet available for public download.

Before use, check the exact A/B names, quote currencies, units, contract types, expiries and rollover methods, then load both histories on matching timeframes. The program rejects known mismatched profit currencies, but does not convert currencies or units or verify every contract difference.

Compare A close−B close against the displayed spread for matching closed bars. Temporarily set the SMA to 3 and check the latest three valid paired observations by hand, then restore your chosen settings. If the spread appears without its SMA, check the valid observation count. For waiting or pairing problems, inspect both histories and the terminal log.

Price, membership and version scope

The confirmed single-purchase terms are USD 50 including tax for permanent use of the current major version purchased. This does not include every future major version permanently. The product is included while membership is active; membership expiry does not create a permanent licence.

The commercial product version is 1.0.0, the released MT5 account connector is 1.002, and the original calculation algorithm is v1.10. These identifiers refer to the product, package release and algorithm respectively. MT5 can be purchased and downloaded from the client centre; MT4 is still under acceptance testing.

Purpose and trading limits

This is a spread observation and research tool. It does not place trades, alter orders or positions, calculate hedge sizes, execute arbitrage or manage account risk.

Readings use the two bar closes, not bid/ask prices that can be executed simultaneously. They exclude trading spreads, commissions, financing and slippage. Broker sessions, history, contracts and rollovers affect results; unmatched gaps remain empty.

For education and research only, not investment advice. Moving averages, deviations or past reversion do not guarantee future direction or returns and do not establish risk-free arbitrage. Trading can result in loss of principal.

Installation and account connection

Download your personal package for the matching platform from the client centre and read the included instructions. Follow those instructions for MT4/MT5 installation and add https://portal.landuth.com to the WebRequest allowed URLs. Personal installation packages contain private account-authorisation data; do not share them.

Available packages, licences and purchase status are checked by the client centre. This description does not grant access or start a trial.

Trial, licence and updates

The first successful claim starts each product’s continuous 30-day trial. Downloading, reinstalling or changing platforms does not restart it. Each product allows up to three installations, shared across MT4 and MT5.

Licence authorisation data remain valid for up to seven days and renew online; trial authorisation data do not remain valid beyond the original trial expiry. Offline refunds or revocation take effect no later than the current authorisation data expire.

After the server confirms payment and grants matching access, the existing installation obtains the new licence online without reinstalling. This licence-state update is separate from a software-version update, whose installation timing is chosen by the user.