Lesson 47 of 69
Moving averages (SMA and EMA)
7 min read
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Tools for the toolbox
Everything from here on is an addition to price action, not a replacement for it. Levels, zones, structure and are the foundation. Indicators are derived from price — they can only ever describe what price already did, in a smoother form. Add one at a time, and drop any that does not change a decision you make.
A moving average takes the closing prices of the last N candles and averages them, then plots that average as a line that updates with every new . Because it smooths out individual candles, it makes the underlying direction obvious at a glance.
vs
| SMA (simple) | EMA (exponential) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation | Every candle in the period counts equally | Recent candles are weighted more heavily |
| Behaviour | Smoother, slower to turn | Faster, hugs price more closely |
| Best for | Big-picture trend and long-term levels | Timing pullbacks on lower timeframes |
| Common settings | 50, 100, 200 | 9, 20, 21, 50 |
What traders actually use them for
- Trend filter: price above a rising 200 SMA means you look for buys only. Price below a falling 200 SMA means you look for sells only. That single rule removes most low-quality trades.
- Dynamic and : in a healthy trend, pullbacks often stall at the 20 or 50 EMA. It is a moving zone rather than a fixed line, so treat it as an area.
- Crossovers: a fast average crossing above a slow one (the 50 crossing the 200 is the famous golden cross) signals shifting up; the reverse crossing down is the death cross.
- Slope: a flat moving average means there is no trend. That is a signal to stand aside, not to hunt for one.
The beginner mistake
lag by design — they are made of old prices. In a range they whipsaw and produce endless false crossovers. Use them to define context and confirm what the chart already shows, and take your entry from a pattern at a level or zone.
Key takeaways
- A moving average smooths price into an average over a chosen period.
- EMAs weight recent prices, so they turn faster than SMAs.
- They lag by design — they describe, they do not predict.
- Best used as a trend filter, with entries taken from structure.
Knowledge check
3 quick questions — your best score is saved to your progress.
1. What does a moving average do?
2. How does an EMA differ from an SMA?
3. What is a common practical use?
Progress is saved on this device.
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