Moving Average Formula:
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The Moving Average (MA) is a statistical calculation used to analyze data points by creating a series of averages of different subsets of the full data set. It is commonly used in finance, economics, and technical analysis.
The calculator uses the simple moving average formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the arithmetic mean of a given set of prices over the specified number of periods.
Details: Moving averages help smooth out price data to identify trends. They are fundamental tools in technical analysis and are used to create trading signals.
Tips: Enter prices separated by commas (e.g., "10, 12, 15, 14, 13"). All values must be valid numbers. The calculator will compute the average of all provided prices.
Q1: What's the difference between simple and exponential moving average?
A: Simple MA gives equal weight to all prices, while exponential MA gives more weight to recent prices.
Q2: How many periods should I use for moving average?
A: Common periods are 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200. Shorter periods react faster to price changes.
Q3: Can moving average predict future prices?
A: No, it only shows the average of past prices and helps identify trends, but doesn't predict future movements.
Q4: Why use moving averages in trading?
A: They help identify trend direction, provide support/resistance levels, and generate buy/sell signals.
Q5: What are the limitations of moving averages?
A: They are lagging indicators, meaning they follow price action rather than predict it.