The Moving Average (MA) is one of the simplest yet highly effective technical indicators. It’s used to smooth out price movements over a specific period, making it easier for traders to identify trends or the overall direction of price movement. This makes the MA a popular tool among both novice and professional traders.
Types of Moving Averages
- Simple Moving Average (SMA)The SMA calculates the average closing price over a set period. For example, a 20-day SMA calculates the average closing price over the last 20 days. SMA is often used to identify long-term trends and tends to be slower in reacting to recent price changes.
- Weighted Moving Average (WMA)WMA gives more weight to recent prices compared to older ones, making it more sensitive to near-term price changes than the SMA.
- Exponential Moving Average (EMA)Like WMA, the EMA assigns more weight to recent prices, but it uses a different calculation method. EMA is often seen as more accurate in reflecting recent price trends because it responds faster to price changes than the SMA.
How to Use the Moving Average
Here’s how you can activate and use the Moving Average on your trading chart:
Displaying the Moving Average Indicator:
- Open your trading platform and select the indicators menu.
- Choose the trend category, then select Moving Average.
- Set the desired MA period, for example, 21, 34, or 90 days.
- Choose the type of Moving Average (SMA, WMA, or EMA). Typically, traders prefer Exponential Moving Average (EMA) because it responds more quickly to price changes.
Setting Up the Moving Average:
- Adjust the parameters according to your strategy, such as using three EMAs with periods of 21, 34, and 90.
- Once the MA is displayed on the chart, you’ll see several MA lines representing the average price over different time periods.
Identifying Crossover Points:
- EMA 21 and EMA 34: When the shorter EMA (21) crosses above the longer EMA (34), this is a bullish signal (buy opportunity). Conversely, when EMA 21 crosses below EMA 34, it’s a bearish signal (sell opportunity).
- EMA 34 and EMA 90: Crossovers between EMA 34 and EMA 90 can confirm stronger, longer-term trend changes.
Entry Strategies Using Moving Average
- Bullish CrossoverWhen the shorter EMA (e.g., EMA 21) crosses above the longer EMA (e.g., EMA 34), it indicates a potential trend reversal from bearish to bullish. This signal is suitable for entering a buy position.
- Bearish CrossoverIf the shorter EMA crosses below the longer EMA, it suggests a potential trend reversal from bullish to bearish, signaling an opportunity to open a sell position.
Choosing the Right Periods
The most commonly used Moving Average periods are 21, 34, and 90 days. These periods can be adjusted based on the trader’s time frame and strategy. Shorter periods generate faster signals but may also produce more noise, while longer periods are more stable but slower to provide signals.
Using Moving Averages allows traders to easily identify market trends and determine optimal entry or exit points. Combining several MAs with different periods can help ensure that you follow the correct market trend and enter or exit positions at the right time.