MACD MT4 Indicator & MACD Signals
Developed by Gerald Appel,
The Moving Average Convergence/Divergence is one of the simplest, reliable, and most commonly used MT4 Indicators.
It is a momentum MT4 Indicator and also a trend-following MT4 Indicator.
Construction
The construction of this MT4 Indicator calculates the difference between two moving averages and then plots that as the 'Fast' line: the a second 'Signal' line is then calculated from the resulting 'Fast' line and then drawn on the same panel window as the 'Fast' line.
- 'Fast' line - Blue Line
- 'Signal' line - Red Line
The 'standard' MACD values for the 'Fast' line is a 12-period exponential MA & a 26-period exponential MA & a 9-period exponential moving applied to the fast line, this plots 'Signal' line.
- Fast-line = difference between 12 and 26 exponential moving averages
- Signal Line = Moving Average of this difference of 9-periods
MetaTrader 4 Indicator & How to Generate Trade Signals
The MACD is commonly used as a trend-following MT4 Indicator and works most effectively when analyzing trending market movements. The three common methods of using MACD to generate signals are:
FX Crossovers Trading Signals:
Fast-line/Signal-line Crossover:
- A buy signal is generated when Fast Line crosses above Signal Line
- A sell signal is generated when FastLine crosses below Signal Line.
However, in a strong trending market this signal gives a lot of whipsaw fakeouts, the best cross-over to use would thus be the Zero Line Crossover Signal that is less prone to whipsaw fakeouts.
Zero Line Crossover Signals:
- When the Fast Line crosses above zero center line a buy signal is generated.
- when the FastLine crosses below zero center line a sell signal is generated.
Divergence Trading:
Looking for divergences between the MACD & price can prove to be very effective in spotting the potential reversal and/or trend continuation points in price movement. There 2 types of divergences:
- Classic Divergence Signals
- Hidden Divergence Signals
Overbought/Oversold Conditions:
MACD is also used to spot potential overbought-oversold conditions in price action movements.
These levels are generated if the shorter MACD Lines separate dramatically from the median, this is an indication that price action is over-extending and it'll soon return to more realistic levels.
MACD and MA Cross over Strategy
This MetaTrader 4 Indicator can be combined with others to form a system. A good combination with the MA cross-over system. A signal is generated when both give a signal in same direction.
MetaTrader 4 Indicator
