Anyone use moving average indicators?

Of course I do, moving average indicators are mighty useful when they are used in conjunction with other indicators and in light of sudden news and economic events. Remember, in light of black swan events, all technical indicators go out of the door!


JSOP, but wouldn't a moving average indicator be one that does NOT go out the door in a black swan event? By black swan event I think you are talking about some huge, very unusual event in the market. Let's say we have a 60% decline in the market later this year. Well, if you were using a moving average, and sold either when markets when below that moving average or when that moving average turned down, wouldn't you have avoided the vast majority of that drop?
 
JSOP, but wouldn't a moving average indicator be one that does NOT go out the door in a black swan event? By black swan event I think you are talking about some huge, very unusual event in the market. Let's say we have a 60% decline in the market later this year. Well, if you were using a moving average, and sold either when markets when below that moving average or when that moving average turned down, wouldn't you have avoided the vast majority of that drop?

Yes that's when the black swan event happened to move the market in the same direction as your trade. What if it moved the market to the opposite direction of your trade? Let's say the general trend had been going down and you were rightly short according to the signal given by the moving average indicator, and then all of sudden a positive black swan event happened that pushed the market WAY up through the roof, you would've been not only short-squeezed but possibly margin-called. That previous signal given by the MA indicator was moot. This is what I was trying to illustrate.
 
Moving averages are generally inferior as indicators because of lag. The technical term for lag is group delay because MAs are just lowpass filters. Look at the work of John Ehlers for some of his low lag and near-zero lag MAs.


Wowzers, panzerman, John Ehlers indicators look complex. Are you aware of any place that calculates them for you? I'd like to look at some charts with them. Thanks!
 
Yes that's when the black swan event happened to move the market in the same direction as your trade. What if it moved the market to the opposite direction of your trade? Let's say the general trend had been going down and you were rightly short according to the signal given by the moving average indicator, and then all of sudden a positive black swan event happened that pushed the market WAY up through the roof, you would've been not only short-squeezed but possibly margin-called. That previous signal given by the MA indicator was moot. This is what I was trying to illustrate.


Thanks JSOP. I think the key here would be to be watching the market like a hawk, and when it turned north, make sure you catch it as soon as it passes through the moving average so you cover (or go long) and thus miss the huge short squeeze? I think the big worry would be like an overnight change in the market. For example, you are long, and the market opens down 10%, and is already far below the applicable moving average level you are using. Do you sell? Hurts either way if you are wrong!
 
Saltynuts,

I use the most popular EMAs in my trading as places or EMAs price to be aware of when I am managing a trade. Once I enter a trade I want to know of these EMAs on the higher time frame or near my stop loss or will prevent my profit target from being hit. Sort of like a support or resistance thinking. I day trade, so I don't buy and hold for days like that.

As far as system involving moving averages. It could be possible, just have to back test some simple ideas and review the odds of the idea making money in the past.


Thanks SimpleMeLike. Do you know of any good (cheap also good, free even better) back-testing software or what not? Thanks!
 
No matter how you have bought into an instrument or why or for how long, attention to at least one MA can help avoid the worst of a bear market.

I would only take a long-term trend-following buy if all four of these criteria apply -
1 - 20EMA is above 50EMA
2 - 50EMA is above 200EMA
3 - 50EMA is sloping upwards
4 - last close was above 50EMA

Once I'm long, if any one or two of these fail, I'm probably going to sell. If two or three fail, I'm definitely getting out.

Same applies to index chart for stocks. Hard to justify being long US equities of the S&P doesn't meet 1-4 above.


Thanks tomorton! So, one might come up with a trading system something like, if all 4 are above, go long, if all 4 are below, go short, if they are mixed stay flat? Curious - did you come up with these by backtesting, or by just trial and error, or are these some popular moving averages to use? Thanks!
 
Thanks tomorton! So, one might come up with a trading system something like, if all 4 are above, go long, if all 4 are below, go short, if they are mixed stay flat? Curious - did you come up with these by backtesting, or by just trial and error, or are these some popular moving averages to use? Thanks!


Yes, If all 4 are fulfilled I would consider going long, but then also review the weekly charts to see how consistent and how long the trend is.

Getting my criteria lined up has been trial and error. The hardest part was -
1 - stopping chasing reversals
2 - eliminating all the other TA that people tell you is important, like s/r lines, trendlines, round numbers, MACD, RSI, stochastics, candlestick patterns and all the rest
 
Turkeyd, thanks. A few questions for you. "Stock D1 trading" - what does the D1 connotate? Is this for individual stock or indexes? When you say the 9sma/21ema/50sma/200sma works great, how do you use them?

"Day trading, 18sma + Envelope 18sma 0.04% and 9sma + BB 9 2.2 has been kicking ass."

What does the evelope 18sma 0.4% and 9sma + BB 9 2.2 mean? How do you combine these different indicators to use?

Thanks!

D1, Daily chart 1 candle is a day's movement.

Envelope or MAE, just put it on a 1 Min chart you'll find them, standard charting tools.

BB 9sma 2.2 setting will work for all Timeframes pretty much.

How to use gets TRICKY!!
 
Thanks SimpleMeLike. Do you know of any good (cheap also good, free even better) back-testing software or what not? Thanks!

Yes, NinjaTrader 8 (it free to trial for like 30 days) is what I been using to write some simple ideas to back test. It does take some time, but it is fun. You can always get 2 trials for free. Once you get historical (5 years or so) data downloaded to your computer, you can back test for free as much and as long as you want. You only pay when you ready to go live with your automated system.

I been using the free data and software for nearly 9 months to program and back testing ideas.
 
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