How to identify the trend – Using the Moving Averages

Updated: January 5, 2021

In this basic tutorial, you’ll learn how to identify the trend using the Moving Averages. It’s a good idea because the Moving Average is a fantastic trend indicator.

Many strategies using the MAs to find entry signals, for example, the Moving Average Crossover Strategy.

Many of our automatic strategies use moving averages to identify the trend mechanically, and they do a great job.

How to identify the trend direction

The first basic rule is:

If Price is under the MA, then the Trend is Down

If Price is above the Ma, then the Trend is Up

This formula is not very accurate, many times the price is under the moving average, but the trend is still strong and up:

Generally, the price is too erratic, and you have to average it.

The best choice to identify the trend is to use two MA. You can use 20 and 50 periods of moving averages.

Until the Fast MA is over the Slow MA, the trend is up. As you can see, this time, the indicator read the trend accurately.

We could use a single moving average without the price crossover. Obviously, in this case, we have to use a very long period because in the short period the noise is too high. You also have to use this only in the daily and weekly charts.

Remember that the trend can exist only in high time-frame. We can use a 200 period MA in a weekly chart to analyze commodities.

If the value of the moving average rises respect of the precedent two candles, the trend is up and vice-versa.