Recession Tool
Overview
The Recession tool highlights the periods of recession as a shaded zone on your chart. NOTE: This indicator requires the FRED data exchange to be enabled on your account as it is the source of the recession data for each supported country.
In the following example the Recession indicator has been applied to the Unemployment chart (UNRATE from FRED), and set to display the USA - NBER recessions.
To add the tool to your chart, select the tool from the Price tool group, and left-click on the chart or indicator on which you wish to add the tool. Optuma will then draw the tool using the default settings.
Scripting Function: RECESSION()
Properties & Actions
Actions
Copy Data to Clipboard: Will copy the tool’s values to the clipboard which can then be inserted into a spreadsheet, for example, allowing for further analysis.
Download History: Manually re-download the historical data from the FRED exchange for the selected recession marker.
Add to Toolbar: Adds the selected tool to your custom toolbar.
Apply Settings to All: When multiple Recession tools have been applied to a chart, page or workbook, this action can be used to apply the settings of the one selected to other instances of the tool. This is a great time saver if an adjustment is made to the tool - such as line colour - as this allows all the other Recession tools in the chart, page or entire workbook to be updated instantly.
Copy Tool: Allows you to copy the selected tool, which can then be pasted onto a different chart window.
Move to Back: If the tool is displaying in front of other tools or indicators clicking this action will move the tool view to the background.
Move to Front: If the tool is displaying behind other tools or indicators on the chart, clicking this action will bring the tool to the forefront.
Restore Default Settings: Click this action if you have adjusted the default settings of the tool, and wish to return to the standard properties originally installed with Optuma.
Save Settings as Default: If you have adjusted any of the tool’s properties (colour, for example) you can save the adjustments as your new default setting. Each time you apply a new Recession Tool to a chart, the tool will display using the new settings.
Delete: Deletes the tool from the chart.
Properties
Tool Name: Allows you to adjust the name of the tool, as it’s displayed in the Structure Panel.
Report Data: Allows you to select the country you wish to display recession information for.
Data Plot Style: This option expands to show the following:
Plot Style - Allows you to change how the Recession tool is displayed on your chart. There are 6 options available: Line, Dot, Histogram, Step, Shaded, Shaded Step.
Line Style - The Line Style property allows you to adjust the type of the line displayed. There are 8 options available: Solid, Dots, Dash, Dash Dots, Long Dash, Long Dash Dot, Long Dash Dot Dot, Stippled.
Line Width - Allows you to adjust the width of the lines. Moving the slider bar to the right increases the thickness of the line.
Colour Scheme: Allows you to swap between Single Colour and Custom colour schemes.
Line Colour - Allows you to select the colour of the line. Clicking on the drop down arrow will display a colour swatch. Locate the desired colour and left-click it once to select it.
Offset: Moves the tool forward or backwards in time. The offset is measured in bars, so a value of 2 will push the tool forward 2 bars and -2 will move the tool back 2 bars.
Tool Transparency: Use this slider bar to adjust the transparency of the tool. Moving the slider to the left will increase the transparency of the tool.
Visible: Un-tick this checkbox to hide the tool from the chart.
Show In Price Scale: When selected the current Recession value (1 for True 0 for False) will be displayed in the Price Scale.