Developed by Marc Chaikin, the Chaikin Money Flow compares total volume to the closing price and the daily highs and lows to determine how many issues are bought and sold of a particular security. It is based upon the assumption that a bullish stock will have a relatively high close price within its daily range and have increasing volume. However, if a stock consistently closed with a relatively low close price within its daily range with high volume, this would be indicative of a weak security. There is pressure to buy when a stock closes in the upper half of a period's range and there is selling pressure when a stock closes in the lower half of the period's trading range. Of course, the exact number of periods for the indicator should be varied according to the sensitivity sought and the time horizon of individual investor.

An obvious bearish signal is when Chaikin Money Flow is less than zero. A reading of less than zero indicates that a security is under selling pressure or experiencing distribution.

A second potentially bearish signal is the length of time that Chaikin Money Flow has remained less than zero. The longer it remains negative, the greater the evidence of sustained selling pressure or distribution. Extended periods below zero can indicate bearish sentiment towards the underlying security and downward pressure on the price is likely.

The third potentially bearish signal is the degree of selling pressure. This can be determined by the oscillator's absolute level. Readings on either side of the zero line or plus or minus 0.10 are usually not considered strong enough to warrant either a bullish or bearish signal. Once the indicator moves below -0.10, the degree selling pressure begins to warrant a bearish signal. Likewise, a move above +0.10 would be significant enough to warrant a bullish signal. Marc Chaikin considers a reading below -0.25 to be indicative of strong selling pressure. Conversely, a reading above +0.25 is considered to be indicative of strong buying pressure.

The Chaikin Money Flow is based upon the assumption that a bullish stock will have a relatively high close price within its daily range and have increasing volume. This condition would be indicative of a strong security. However, if it consistently closed with a relatively low close price within its daily range and high volume, this would be indicative of a weak security.