Make sure that there is enough time left in the day for the trade to develop. Since MACD can lag, as all moving average crossovers do, it might help to combine it with another indicator to confirm the probability of the price movement. For intraday traders using the 4-hour chart, the right MACD setting is 21, 55, and 8. The MACD histogram crosses the moving average in the same direction. There are fewer false entry points because the indicators filter each other’s signals. Although this system can also result in losses, they are compensated by bigger profits due to the strong trend.
The exit signal is when the MACD crosses in the other direction. The MACD is calculated by subtracting a 26-period exponential moving average from a 12-period EMA. A 9-period EMA is then plotted on top of the MACD line to act as a signal line. The MACD histogram represents the difference between the MACD and signal line. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence is a lagging indicator used to locate trends within the market.
They are simply basic examples of how the MACD can be used with other technical indicators to one’s advantage. A trader should always test the strategy himself before putting it to use. Besides this downside, the MACD indicator is extremely powerful and very well respected by traders. Being separated from the price chart keeps the price chart clean and still provides great insight into the momentum of the market.
Figure 1.1 MES(Micro e-mini S&P 500 futures) 5-minute chart December 8, 2022, with VWAP yellow line in the top panel and MACD in the bottom panel. Observe Figure 1.1 of MES for a setup that occurred on December 8, 2022. Note how the price just closed above the VWAP after the MACD gave a bullish crossover. All the above conditions in reverse will be applicable for a sell entry.
How is MACD calculated?
When the indicator “draws” the second minimum above the first one, you need to be ready to buy. MACD is among the standard tools of MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and the set up is done in just a few clicks.
Think of it like this, the momentum indicator shows the strength of price movements. Price momentum means the price is going in a certain direction with a lot of force. At a certain point, the momentum will switch from bull to bear or bear to bull. A crossover is a tipping point when buyers or sellers change their position in the market. Like a pendulum, momentum swings from one direction to the other, bullish or bearish. When the Moving averages cross, the histogram will also cross.
The moving average is simply creating an average of all the previous prices. The Stochastic is therefore a momentum indicator, and will not help you to indicate a trend. The last example shows how a potential scenario can happen. A trader can see that IF the price makes a higher high, but the MACD makes a lower high, there is divergence. A lower high in the MACD would indicate weakness on the buying side and a potential reversal.
Best MACD Settings for 4 Hour Chart
Divergence is when the price makes a higher high or a higher low, and the indicator makes a lower high or a lower low in the meantime. If you remember our RSI article, you might be spotting some MACD histogram divergence in the example above. Looking at the Moving Averages we can immediately see crossovers.
Let’s further discuss about it by each intraday time frame. The best MACD trading strategy is the one that works best for you, and this will differ based on the psychology and trading strategy of each individual trader. That said, there are a number of indicator combinations that work well with the MACD. This combines the crossover from the MACD with the overbought/oversold signals from the MFI. So, if the MFI gives a signal that an asset is overbought, we simply wait for a bearish cross in the MACD and then go short.
MACD Indicator set up
The right MACD settings for a 30-minute chart are typically slightly slower than those used for shorter time frames. A common setting for the MACD on a 30-minute chart is 12, 26, and 9. This means that the MACD line is calculated using a 12-period EMA minus a 26-period EMA, while the signal line is a 9-period EMA. First, the best time frames to trade forex should be considered.
Once the indicator has been set up and applied to the chart, you can start trading. There are both simple and more complex MACD trading strategies. To understand the MACD principle, let us look at some of these strategies.
Convergence and divergence between MACD and an asset’s price is an important MACD signal to watch for. When the blue line crosses from under to above the red line, it’s a buy signal. When the red line crosses from under to above the blue line, it’s a sell signal. When looking at a daily chart, one candle represents 24 hours of trading. MACD indicator means Moving Average Convergence and Divergence. These terms might sound familiar if you have read our article on Moving Averages already.
We’ll be explaining how the indicator helps you to make the right decisions. Charting presentations and scenarios are presented as examples only and were prepared with the benefit of hindsight. Figure 1.2 YM 5-minute chart December 6, 2022 with Super trend in the top panel along with prices and MACD in the bottom panel.
We now have the daily BTC/USDT chart with the MACD indicator on Binance. → Head towards the Exchanges section → Once there, tap the “fx” button to open the long list of indicators. Let’s break down our “rollercoaster” indicator once we have enabled it in the Good Crypto application.
Moving Average Convergence Divergence is a popular technical analysis indicator that helps traders identify potential market trends and trading opportunities. It is especially useful for intraday trading because it can show signs of potential trend reversals or changes in momentum in a shorter time frame. However, choosing the right MACD setting for intraday trading can be challenging.