[Trading Strategy] Exponential Moving Average Cross

Versão em Português

Starting the series of analysis of trading strategies, let's start with the simplest one: Crossing Moving Average

WARNING: The content of this publication is educational. If you wish to use the techniques described below make sure you understand all the risks related to operations in the financial market.

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Strategy description

The trade strategy using the crossing of moving averages is one of the simplest ones that exist, where a fast moving average and a slow moving average are drawn on the price chart.

When the fast moving average crosses the slow moving average from the bottom up, it is a sign for purchase.

When the fast moving average crosses the slow moving average legend from top to bottom, it is a sign for sale.

In general, it is recommended by analysts that these signals of buy and sell provided by the crossing of the averages are used by following the trend of the price of the asset: If the general trend is up, the signal of purchase is used. If the overall trend is down, the sales signal is used.

This particular strategy will use exponential moving averages because this type of moving average has a faster reaction to the more recent price change.

It is also recommended that this strategy be used over time periods longer than 4 hours.

Used Indicators

EMA (12) - Exponential Moving Average of 12 periods, called fast average

EMA (24) - Exponential Moving Averageof 24 periods, called slow average

EMA (200) - Exponential Moving Average of 200 periods, as a trend indicator

Recommended Graph Period

4 hours

Operation Entry

Initially it should define the current trend of the graph, and for this the EMA (200) is used.

If the asset price is being traded above the EMA (200), it is indicative of a bullish trend.

If the asset price is being traded below the EMA (200), it is indicative of bearish trend.

This can be seen in the figure below:

The use of the crossing of moving averages in markets with lateral tendency generally do not have good results.

After the definition of the trend, the crossing of the fast and slow averages are verified, as previously described, and the point of entry in the operation is chosen:

In bullish markets

• Enter the buy operation (long) when the fast average (EMA 12) crosses the slow average (EMA 24) from the bottom up

In bearish markets

• Enter the sell operation (short) when the fast average (EMA 12) crosses the slow average (EMA 24) from top to bottom

This can be seen below:

Alternative Entry

With a little more risk, you can also consider entering the operation when the slow average (EMA 24) crosses the trend indicator (EMA 200) in one direction or another. This crossover may be a sign of a reversal of the price trend on a larger scale.

Operation Exit

There are two suggested ways to close the transaction using moving averages:

1 - Price reaching the fast average (EMA 12)

The exit point of the operation during a retraction to the fast average (EMA 12) is generally the exit point with the lowest risk, because in this movement, the price may either resume the previous direction or move in the opposite direction .

2 - Inverse crossing of moving averages

Another possible exit point of the operation is in crossing the averages in the reverse direction:

• In a buy operation (Long), when the fast average (EMA 12) crosses the slow average (EMA 24) from top to bottom
• In a sell operation (Short), when the fast average (EMA 12) crosses the slow average (EMA 24) from the bottom up

This exit presents a greater risk, since, as can be seen in the above drawing, because the moving averages are lagged indicators, the price change can be very large until the averages cross again.

Personal Strategy Considerations

Moving averages are good indicators of price trends, but have a slow reaction to price change and because of this, this strategy have a greater possibility of presenting signs of entry and exit in markets with a well defined trend.

Markets that are in lateral movement do not present good results with this technique, since the change of direction of the averages and their crossing happens too frequently.

Another problem is that the exit signals of the operation may appear too soon (exit by the touch of the price in the fast average) or too late (exit by the opposite crossing of the averages).

Therefore, it is important to consider a Stop Loss and Take Profit strategy, based on the history of the asset being traded. Leaving to exit the operation only when one of the exit signals appears can lead to large losses or small gains.

Also consider that, at times, averages can cross by only one candle, which will generate a false entry signal. Therefore, it is suggested that the use of crossing of averages be accompanied by some other indicator that helps to filter false entry signals.

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