Moving Average (MA) is a technical analysis tool which is used by traders and investors in order to analyze price data. It is also used to find out the prevailing trends in financial markets like cryptocurrencies or forex. Moving Average calculates the price of an asset over a specified period of time. This specified period is called time frame or window. Moving Averages can be used to identify entry and exit points, support\resistance level and potential trend reversals.
Moving averages give an overview of the market to the investors. By following moving averages and by looking at the market trends the traders make their decision about their investment. By observing multiple moving averages, the traders can predict the momentum of the market. The element of flexibility is there in Moving Averages and this flexibility permits the investors to adopt different strategies according to the behavior of the market.
1. Double Moving Average Crossover:
The double moving average crossover is a popular strategy which uses two Moving Averages having different time frames. A combination of a short term and long-term averages are employed by the investors, such as a 50-day Moving Averages and a 200-day Moving Averages. Traders can use two same and different Moving Averages. They can use SMA with an exponential moving average (EMA).
In this strategy, the investors try to find out a crossover between the moving averages. When a short-term moving average crosses above a long-time moving average, a bullish signal occurs. This bullish signal is also known as Golden cross which indicates that there is an opportunity of potential buying. When the shorter time moving average crosses below the longer-term moving average, a bearish signal occurs which indicates that there is potential selling opportunity.
2. Moving Average Ribbon
Moving Average Ribbon is a combination of many moving averages having varying lengths. The number of ribbons depend upon individual preferences. Generally, a ribbon consists of four to eight SMAs. The intervals between the MAs can also be adjusted to suit various trading environments. For example, the default ribbon consists of four SMAs, with 20, 50, 100, and 200 periods.
Moving Average Ribbon strategy involves tracking expansions and contractions of the moving average ribbon. A strengthening market trend is shown, an expanding ribbon, where shorter moving averages are moving away from the longer ones during price increase. Contrarily, a contracting ribbon, where moving averages converge or overlap, suggests a consolidation or pullback.
3. Moving Average Envelopes
Moving Average Envelopes is a trading strategy in which a single moving average is utilized with moving average envelopes. This single moving average is surrounded by two envelopes or boundaries which are set above and below it at a specified percentage. The central moving average can be adjusted as per the desire of the trader. It can either be an SMA or an EMA. Common setups use a 20-day SMA with envelopes set at 2.5% or 5% away from it. In order to capture more price fluctuations, the percentage is not fixed and can be adjusted. This percentage is based on the volatility of market. So, this percentage can be adjusted by looking at the market volatility in order to get maximum benefit out of it.
Overbought and oversold market conditions can be determined by Moving Average Envelopes strategy. As asset might be overbought when the price crosses above the upper envelope which suggests that there is potential sell opportunity. Contrarily, an asset might be oversold when the price drops below the lower envelope which indicates a potential buying opportunity.
Moving Average Envelopes vs. Bollinger Bands (BB)
Bollinger Bands are a technical analysis tool which are used to identify market volatility in order to create opportunities for trading. Moving Average Envelopes and Bollinger Bands (BB) are similar in some ways as both of these use a central 20-day SMA. They both have two boundaries set below and above it. There definitely are certain points where they differ from each other.
Bollinger Bands use two band sets that deviate from the Moving Average by a standard deviation. when the price crosses above or below the envelopes Moving average envelopes provide signals. As the price moves closer or further from the bands, Bollinger Bands can also suggest overbought and oversold conditions. Bollinger Bands do provide awareness about the volatility of market as the two bands contract or expand.
4. Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)
Moving Average Convergence Divergence is an indicator which consists of two lines. 1st line is MACD line while 2nd line is signal line. Signal line is a 9-period EMA of the MACD line. The interactions between these lines and the histogram, which represents the difference between them, make this trading strategy effective for analysing shifts in market momentum.
Divergences can either be bullish or bearish. The price forms lower lows while the MACD forms higher lows, signalling a potential reversal to the upside in a bullish divergence. Contrarily, the price forms higher highs while the MACD forms lower highs, indicating a potential reversal to the downside in a bearish divergence.
Conclusion
Without any doubt, these trading strategies make traders able to analyse the market trends and change in momentum. As these market strategies are perceived subjectively, we cannot rely on them completely. The element of risk is always there. In order to minimize this element of risk, traders should combine these strategies in order to get maximum benefit out of them.
