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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Moving Average Convergence Divergence or MACD

Moving Average Convergence/Divergence or MACD is one of the most widely used indicators by all kinds of traders trading all kinds of instruments. MACD is a lagging indicator which can be used to analyze the strength of the trend, to find overbought and oversold conditions and to generate buy and sell signals.

Moving Average Convergence / Divergence is created by subtracting a long-term exponential moving average or EMA (typical 26-day) from a short-term EMA (typical 12-day) of a security. Know more about Exponential Moving Average or EMA. Using shorter term EMAs will produce a responsive MACD ideal for short-term traders and using longer term EMAs will produce less-responsive MACD. MACD oscillates above and below zero with no upper or lower limits. When MACD is above zero and is raising bullish trend is identified and when MACD is below zero bearish trend is identified. Usually a 9-day EMA of MACD is also plotted with 12-day MACD, which act as a trigger line for generating buy and sell signals.

Moving Average Convergence/Divergence is considered as a very good trading indicator because it combines momentum and trend. Being a lagging indicator it often generates reliable results, it is simple, they indicate trend weakening and possible trend reversals and they can be applied to any charts. The using of EMA instead of simple moving average also reduced the lagging. But MACD does not have any upper or lower limits, is less effective in finding overbought and oversold conditions and is often less effective for long-term trading.

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