April 1

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Posted by: Olymp Trade,
 April 1, 2021

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Olymp Trade indicator MA (Moving Average) Tutorials

Moving Average (MA) is a trend indicator in technical analysis, that many strategies are based on. It is a line on the chart, which shows the average value of an asset over a period of time.

The time period is the key variable of the moving average. It determines the number of values ​​that are used for calculation.

The type of moving average and the number of periods that are used for smoothing (they are called the construction period, a window or moving length) are chosen by traders at their discretion and depend on the trading strategy.

Construction and analysis


To construct the moving average and use it in the analysis, you can take any of the stock prices, the opening price, the closing price, the maximum price, the minimum price, the average price or the weighted average one. But traders mostly use the closing price.

There are a lot of varieties of MA. We will focus on two of them, which are most widely used on Olymp Trade platform:

1. SMA. Simple moving average.
2. EMA. Exponential moving average.

All moving averages in the picture are 10-period ones (the period is set by default).

The SMA and the EMA differ from each other in terms of the calculation (formula) of averaging the price. Therefore, different moving averages look different on the same period.

Methods of use


1. To define the direction of the trend. If the moving average is rising, it makes sense to buy, if it is falling, it’s better to sell. In this case, the entry and exit points in the market are determined with the help of other strategies, for example, “Sliding averages” (based on a faster moving one).

2. The Moving Average upward reversal with a positive slope of the price chart is considered to be a signal of the beginning of the uptrend. The Moving Average downward reversal with a negative slope of the price chart is considered to be a signal of the beginning of the downtrend.

3. Round periods Moving Averages (50, 100, 200) can be taken as dynamic support and resistance levels.

4. Depending on whether the moving averages in the period point upwards or downwards, traders determine the up- and downtrends: short-term (up to 50), medium-term (from 50 to 100) and long-term (100 and more).

5. The moments of the largest discrepancy between two averages with different parameters (fast and slow) give us a signal of a possible trend reversal.

MA Indicator

Disadvantages


When people use the moving average method to trade with the trend, there’s always a certain lag at the entry point, and, accordingly, a considerable part of the trend movement may be lost.

Using moving averages when the market is flat gives a lot of false signals and leads to losses.

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