| |
| |
|
Investing Information |
|
|
|
Moving Average Convergence Divergence ( MACD ) Charts
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence charts, or MACD charts for short, are a technical indicator that is derived from the more simple moving average. The MACD charts are oscillating indicators, meaning that they move above and below a centerline or zero point. As with other oscillating and momentum indicators, a very high value indicates that the stock is overbought and will likely drop soon. Conversely, a consistently low value indicates that the stock is oversold and is likely to climb. THE 12-DAY AND 26-DAY EMAS The MACD charts are based on 3 exponential moving averages, or EMA. These averages can be of any period, though the most common combination, and the one we will focus on, are the 12-26-9 MACD charts. There are 2 parts to the MACD. We will focus first on the first part, which is based on the stock's 12-Day and 26-Day EMA. The 12-Day EMA is the faster EMA while the 26-Day is slower. The logic behind using a faster and slower EMA is that this can be used to gauge momentum. When the faster (in this case 12-Day) EMA is above the slower 26-Day EMA, the stock is in an uptrend, and vice versa. If the 12-Day EMA is increasing much faster than the 26-Day EMA, the uptrend is becoming stronger and more pronounced. Conversely, when the 12-Day EMA starts slowing down, and the 26-Day begins to near it, the stock movement's momentum is beginning to fade, indicating the end of the uptrend. THE MACD LINE The MACD charts use these 2 EMA by taking the difference between them and plotting a new line. Very often, this new line is depicted as a thick black line in the middle chart. When the 12-Day and 26-Day EMA are at the same value, the MACD line is at zero. When the 12-Day EMA is higher than the 26-Day EMA, the MACD line will be in positive territory. The further the 12-Day EMA is from the 26-Day EMA, the further the MACD line is from its centerline or zero value. THE 9-DAY EMA This line on its own doesn't tell much more than a moving average. It becomes more useful when we take into account its 9-Day EMA. This is the third value when we talk of 12-26-9 MACD charts. Note that the 9-Day EMA is an EMA of the MACD line, not of the stock price. This EMA (the thin blue line alongside the MACD line) acts like a normal EMA and smoothes the MACD line. The 9-Day EMA acts as a signal line or trigger line for the MACD. When the MACD line crosses above the 9-Day EMA from below, it indicates that the downtrend is over and a new uptrend is forming. Time to consider bullish strategies. Conversely, when the MACD line drops below its 9-Day EMA, a new downtrend is forming and its time to implement bearish strategies. THE MACD HISTOGRAM So far, we have covered the most simple form of interpreting the MACD charts. We now look at the MACD histogram. Just as the MACD line is the difference between the 12-Day and 26-Day EMA, the MACD histogram is basically the difference between the MACD line and its 9-Day EMA. So when the MACD line crosses above its 9-Day EMA, the MACD histogram will cross above zero. In order words, a bullish signal is obtained when the MACD histogram crosses above zero, and a bearish signal is obtained when it crosses below zero. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE DIVERGENCE The MACD histogram forms valleys and peaks. Sometimes, multiple peaks are formed, with each subsequent peak becoming lower and lower. These progressively lower peaks constitue what is known as a negative divergence. A negative divergence on the MACD histogram is an indication that the current uptrend might reverse in the near future. This could happen even though the actual stock price seems to be making higher peaks in the chart. Basically, the MACD histogram negative divergence is a warning that the stock might turn down soon. Similarly, the positive divergence on the MACD histogram predicts the subsequent uptrend. However, sometimes these divergences can create false alarms. If we follow these signals, we could have bought into a downtrend. As such, I would like to remind you that individual indicators such as the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) charts should not be used on their own, but rather with one or two additional indicators of different types, in order to confirm any signals and prevent false alarms. Steven is the webmaster of http://www.option-trading-guide.com If you would like to learn more about Option Trading or Technical Analysis, do visit for various strategies and resources to help your stock market investments.
MORE RESOURCES:
Investing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What My Horse Had For Breakfast Let's see, he had some oats, fresh alfalfa and his vitamins. I know from the mixture that is great food and he will win the seventh race this afternoon. Your Worst Enemy To Successful Investing - The Media How do you make your investment decisions and where do you get your information? If you're like most of the people I know, you look to the experts.That's fine, however it's important to be aware that for every expert, there's an opinion and for every opinion there's an expert. Trading Tips No 7: Developing a Casino Mentality for the Day Trader I submit that the successful day trader would profit well to adopt a casino mentality. At first glance, this sounds reckless and nothing more than a gambling attitude - but it's not. Investing In or Owning Drug Lab Properties Clean Up (includes the insides and the outside of a building)Air out the buildingRemoval of contaminated materials: Carpets, carpet pads, Linoleum, drapes and blinds, air-filters, refrigerators, range, water heater, all tenant clothing and their furniture.Removal needs to be to a site that accepts contaminated product. Hedge Fund 101 - Make Money with Hedge Funds Investors are always looking for the best investments that will yield the most profit. Any investor who can afford the extra cost should consider investing in Hedge Funds. Risk and Reward If you are doing your own investing in the stock market, what would be the first question you would ask yourself before you make any trade or investment? If your answer is how fundamentally sound the stock is, or whether the stock just broke out of a trading range on a chart, or the fact that the stock has gone down 50% in the last 6 months, or whether the volatility is low now so it is a good time to buy or sell, then you are probably on the road to ruin. These strategies have nothing in common with each other and there are all kinds of different criteria that I did not mention that have nothing in common with each other. Powerful Hidden Techniques Mystery Formula - The Covered Call Option Trading Buy-Write Strategy For better or worse, most option trading investors purchase stocks with the intent of holding their shares for an extended period of time.We do this mainly because the media and industry professionals have drilled into our heads, year after year, time after time, that it’s best to buy and hold. What is an Investor Ready Business Plan A Business Plan, as all good entrepreneurs starting out in life should know is the foundation, or rather a springboard, towards the establishment and growth of a new business. A business plan is an essential tool for companies raising capital - and your business plan needs to be Investor Ready. Trading Commodity Futures Using Support and Resistance - Paper Trading Setting Up a Paper Trading AccountQuestion: I cannot trade with "real money" as yet; however, how do I go about setting up a paper trade account?Answer: You can paper trade various ways and it really does not require that you have anything more specialized than a notebook to track your trades and access to charts.Begin by funding your paper trading account with the amount of money you think you will really begin with, whether it is $2000 or $20,000. Property Investment Just Got Exciting There is an area in Brazil that has lower crime & lower property prices than where your are probably sitting right now!Demand from the increasing retirement population and from those who have benefited from their own property markets are now pushing overseas property prices up. Brazilian property prices are still very low and offer the overseas property buyer quality real estate in stunning locations. Investing in World Markets There are many different ways to invest in world markets: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, commodities or currencies. Sometimes people refer to these options as investment vehicles (or method of investment). It Must Be Joe Cockers Market Agonizing displays of poor theatrics failed to entertain my mind one recent Saturday evening. I scrolled across several television channels hoping for an engaging program. A Gadfly On A Dinosaurs Butt, Or The Hood-winking Of The American Investor Have you ever noticed how some words in the English language are so perfectly named for what they describe? And how some words seem to be, I guess you could say, backwards? For instance, the word sunflower! How wonderfully aptly named is the sunflower, that beautiful yellow flower that follows the sun from sunrise to sunset.And then there are those words in the English language where there meaning appears to be backward, so to speak - like parkway and driveway. Short Term Savings Products When you invest, it simply means that you are putting your funds in products, in this case short-term savings vehicles, which will allow you to reap high financial rewards.Here is a list of the more common short term savings products you should consider investing in. Why have Investment Plans for the Stock Market If you do not have an investment plan in the stock market you are subject to impulses, urges, hunches, premonitions, strong feelings, greed, panic, fear, indecision, and just plain foolishness. In my opinion, without a plan, without that clear conception of a total stock market investment strategy, the chances of successful investing in the stock market are pretty slim. Keep Stock Market Investment Profits Have you had one of those huge investment winners - a stock that went from $2.00 to $80. Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer Rich people: fortunate, lucky, selfish, and arrogant? Or highly educated, caring, brilliant individuals? Becoming rich isn't hard, but it does require a bit of time and knowledge. Having time to get rich, educating oneself, and buying assets are the three key factors in attaining untold wealth. The Convertible Craze Brightens The Future Of Equities Convertibles are stealing the show with their safe investment image in today's "protective" market. They seem to be overshadowing the stocks and bonds, and this holds true for the mediocre issuers. Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 2) How to Collect Rare Coins For Fun and ProfitTime has proven that collectors tend to make the most money in rare coins because they search out "undervalued coins" and buy during market lulls. Buying in today's market climate offers you superb upside profit potential. How Eating Bitumen Made Me a Better Stock Trader Stock market trading is a fascinating activity.There are so many layers to it.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
