

It works very well for support and resistance – especially on the daily and/or weekly time frame 100 period: There is something about round numbers that attract traders and that definitely holds true when it comes to the 100 moving average.

Most traders use it to ride trends because it’s the ideal compromise between too short and too long term. 50 period: The 50 moving average is the standard swing-trading moving average and very popular.During trends, price respects it so well and it also signals trend shifts. 20 / 21 period: The 21 moving average is my preferred choice when it comes to short-term swing trading.Here are 4 moving averages that are particularly important for swing traders: Thus, swing-traders should first choose a SMA and also use higher period moving averages to avoid noise and premature signals. Swing traders have a very different approach and they typically trade on the higher time frames (4H, Daily +) and also hold trades for longer periods of time. 50 period: Long-term moving average and best suited for identifying the longer-term direction.21 period: Medium-term and the most accurate moving average.Often used as a directional filter (more later) 9 or 10 period: Very popular and extremely fast-moving.When it comes to the period and the length, there are usually 3 specific moving averages you should think about using: That’s why it’s usually best for day-traders to stick with EMAs in the first place. When you are a short-term day trader, you need a moving average that is fast and reacts to price changes immediately. #3 The best moving average periods for day-trading Thus, go with the crowd and only use the popular moving averages. Moving averages work when a lot of traders use and act on their signals. You have to stick to the most commonly used moving averages to get the best results. This raises a very important point when trading with indicators: More than anything, moving averages “work” because they are a self-fulfilling prophecy, which means that price action respects moving averages because so many traders use them in their own trading. And secondly, you have to be clear about the purpose and why you are using moving averages in the first place. There are two parts to this answer: first, you have to choose whether you are a swing or a day trader. In my trading, I use an SMA because it allows me to stay in trades longer as a swing trader.Īfter choosing the type of your moving average, traders ask themselves which period setting is the right one that gives them the best signals?! The SMA provides less and later signals, but also less wrong signals during volatile times. The EMA gives you more and earlier signals, but it also gives you more false and premature signals. In the end, it comes down to what you feel comfortable with and what your trading style is (see next points). But, of course, this also means that the SMA gets you in trades later than the EMA. The SMA moves much slower and it can keep you in trades longer when there are short-lived price movements and erratic behavior. For example, when price retraces lower during a rally, the EMA will start turning down immediately and it can signal a change in the direction way too early. The EMA reacts faster when the price is changing direction, but this also means that the EMA is also more vulnerable when it comes to giving wrong signals too early. The pros of the EMA are also its cons – let me explain what this means: There is no better or worse when it comes to EMA vs. The EMA gives more weight to the most recent price action which means that when price changes direction, the EMA recognizes this sooner, while the SMA takes longer to turn when price turns. The EMA moves much faster and it changes its direction earlier than the SMA. There is really only one difference when it comes to EMA vs. The differences between the two are usually subtle, but the choice of the moving average can make a big impact on your trading. Step 1: What is the best moving average? EMA or SMA?Īt the beginning, all traders ask the same questions, whether they should use the EMA (exponential moving average) or the SMA (simple/smoothed moving average).
SCREENER 20 DAY EMA CROSSING 200 EMA HOW TO
In this article, I show you what you need to know when it comes to choosing the type and the length of the perfect moving average and the 3 ways how to use moving averages when making trading decisions. Moving averages are great if you know how to use them but most traders, however, make some fatal mistakes when it comes to trading with moving averages. Moving averages are without a doubt the most popular trading tools.
