CapitalFlowsResearch: CB Levels

CapitalFlowsResearch: CB Levels — Policy Path Mapping for STIR & Rates Traders

CapitalFlowsResearch: CB Levels provides a structured, policy-anchored framework for interpreting short-term interest rate futures. Instead of treating STIR pricing as an abstract number, the indicator converts central bank settings—such as the official cash rate, expected hike/cut increments, and basis adjustments—into a clear ladder of explicit rate levels. These levels are then projected directly onto the price chart as horizontal reference bands.

The tool automatically builds a series of future policy steps (e.g., +25bp, +50bp, –25bp, etc.) based on user-defined increments and direction, allowing traders to visualise where the current contract sits relative to hypothetical central bank actions. By plotting settlement levels and multiple forward steps, the script creates a transparent “policy grid” that traders can anchor against when evaluating mispricings, risk/reward asymmetry, or scenario outcomes.

Discreet labels—placed periodically to avoid clutter—identify each policy step in bp terms, making the chart readable even when zoomed out. Whether the mode is set to Cuts or Hikes, the tool instantly recalibrates the entire ladder, offering a consistent structure for comparing different contracts or central bank paths.

In practice, CB Levels acts as a policy-path overlay for futures traders, helping them contextualise market pricing relative to central bank intent, quantify potential repricing ranges, and understand where key inflection levels lie—without revealing the underlying calculation methods that generate the steps.