3 of the Best MACD trading strategies

In this blog post, we will explore 3 of the best MACD trading strategies that you can start using today. 

MACD is one of the most popular technical indicators used by traders across all markets.

And for good reason – it’s a versatile tool that can be used in a number of different ways.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these strategies will help you get more out of your trading.

What is MACD Indicator?

MACD is a technical analysis tool that stands for Moving Average Convergence Divergence.

MACD is used to measure the strength of a trend and can be used to identify trend changes.

MACD consists of two exponential moving averages (EMAs) and a histogram.

The two EMAs are used to identify the direction of the trend, while the histogram is used to identify the momentum of the trend. MACD is generally plotted on a price chart with a 26-day EMA and a 12-day EMA.

The MACD line is calculated by subtracting the 26-day EMA from the 12-day EMA.

A nine-day EMA of the MACD line, called the “signal line”, is then plotted on top of the MACD line, which acts as a trigger for buy and sell signals.

MACD buy signals occur when the MACD line crosses above the signal line, while MACD sell signals occur when the MACD line crosses below the signal line.

MACD can also be used to identify overbought and oversold conditions in the market.

An asset is deemed overbought when its price increases too rapidly and it becomes overvalued, while an asset is deemed oversold when its price decreases too rapidly and it becomes undervalued.

When an asset becomes overbought or oversold, it is usually an indication that there will be a reversal in price direction.

How does MACD work?

The MACD indicator is a momentum indicator that is used to gauge the strength and direction of a trend.

The MACD indicator is composed of two moving averages (the 12-period EMA and the 26-period EMA) and a histogram.

The MACD indicator is used to identify when a security is overbought or oversold, as well as to identify the direction of the trend.

The MACD indicator is calculated by subtracting the 26-period EMA from the 12-period EMA.

This difference is then plotted against a centerline (the 9-period EMA).

A buy signal is generated when the MACD line crosses above the centerline, and a sell signal is generated when the MACD line crosses below the centerline.

The MACD histogram is used to confirm signals generated by the MACD line.

A buy signal is confirmed when the histogram crosses above the centerline, and a sell signal is confirmed when the histogram crosses below the centerline.

3 of the Best MACD Trading Strategies

The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is a momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of prices.

The MACD is calculated by subtracting the 26-day exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-day EMA.

A nine-day EMA of the MACD, called the “signal line”, is then plotted on top of the MACD line, which acts as a trigger for buy and sell signals.

MACD trading strategies can be used for both intraday trading and swing trading.

Here are 3 of the Best MACD Trading Strategies:

1. MACD Crossover Trading Strategy
The MACD crossover trading strategy is perhaps the most common MACD strategy. It involves taking a long position when the MACD line crosses above the signal line, and taking a short position when it crosses below the signal line.

2. MACD Divergence Strategy
The MACD Divergence Strategy is a technical analysis tool that can be used to identify potential reversals in the market. This strategy looks for differences between the MACD indicator and price action, which can be used to signal when a trend is about to reverse.

3. MACD Histogram Reversal
The MACD Histogram is one of the most useful technical indicators for traders and investors. This indicator can help you spot reversals in the market, which can give you an edge in your trading.

MACD Strategy #1: MACD Crossover Trading Strategy

The MACD Crossover strategy is one of the most popular and easy to use MACD trading strategies.

This strategy is based on the MACD indicator crossing over the signal line.

When the MACD indicator crosses above the signal line, it is a bullish signal and indicates that the price is likely to continue to rise. When the MACD indicator crosses below the signal line, it is a bearish signal and indicates that the price is likely to continue to fall.

The MACD Crossover strategy can be used on any timeframe from 1 minute up to weekly charts.

However, it works best on longer timeframe charts such as 4 hour or daily charts.

This strategy can be used with any currency pair but some pairs tend to work better than others.

The EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY pairs are all good choices for this strategy.

MACD Trading Strategy #2: MACD Divergence Strategy

There are two types of MACD divergence: bullish and bearish.

Bullish MACD divergence occurs when the MACD indicator is making higher lows while price action is making lower lows.

This indicates that momentum is starting to shift to the upside and a reversal may be imminent.

Bearish MACD divergence occurs when the MACD indicator is making lower highs while price action is making higher highs.

This indicates that momentum is shifting to the downside and a reversal may occur.

The MACD Divergence Strategy can be used on any time frame, but it works best on longer time frames such as the 4-hour or daily chart.

This strategy can also be used on any asset, but it works best with assets that are highly volatile such as forex pairs or cryptocurrencies.

MACD Trading Strategy #3: MACD Histogram Reversal

The third MACD trading strategy is to look for histogram reversals.

A histogram reversal occurs when the MACD line crosses above or below the signal line, and the histogram bars change direction.

This can be a strong indication that the trend is about to change direction.

When looking for a histogram reversal, it’s important to wait for confirmation before entering a trade.

One way to confirm a reversal is to wait for the MACD line to cross back above or below the signal line after it has already crossed once.

This can often be seen as a “double top” or “double bottom” formation on the chart.

Another way to confirm a histogram reversal is to wait for the MACD line to move back above or below the zero line.

This indicates that the momentum behind the trend has changed and that it is now safe to enter a trade in the opposite direction.

Once you have found a potential histogram reversal, you can enter a trade using either a stop-loss order or a limit order.

A stop-loss order will protect your capital if the trend reverses against you, while a limit order will lock in your profits if the trend continues in your favor.

When is the Best Time to Use these 3 MACD Trading Strategies?

The MACD is a popular technical indicator that is used by many traders to find profitable trading opportunities. There are three main MACD trading strategies that traders use: the crossover, the divergence, and the convergence. Each of these strategies has its own set of rules and guidelines, and each can be used to trade different types of markets.

The crossover strategy is the most common MACD trading strategy.

It involves buying or selling when the MACD line crosses above or below the signal line.

The signal line is a moving average of the MACD line, and when these two lines cross, it indicates a change in momentum.

The divergence strategy looks for when the MACD line diverges from the price action.

This can be a sign that the price is about to move in the opposite direction of the current trend.

The convergence strategy looks for when the MACD line converges with the price action.

This can be a sign that the price is about to move in the same direction as the current trend.

Best Time Frame for Trading MACD Trading Strategies

The MACD trading strategy is a popular and effective way to trade the markets.

However, many traders struggle to find the best time frame for using this strategy.

The MACD trading strategy can be used on any time frame from 1 minute to monthly charts. However, most traders use it on the daily or weekly timeframe. The reason for this is that the MACD indicator is a trend following indicator.

That means it works best when the market is trending. On the daily and weekly timeframe, you can easily identify trend by looking at the price action.

The market tends to trend more on these longer timeframes, making them ideal for using the MACD trading strategy. If you are day trading, you can still use the MACD trading strategy.

However, you will need to be more careful about picking your trades. The reason for this is that the markets tend to be more choppy on shorter timeframes like the 1-minute and 5-minute charts.

The bottom line is that the best time frame for trading MACD trading strategies depends on your own preferences and style of trading. If you are a day trader, you can use shorter timeframes like the 1-minute and 5-minute charts.

If you are a swing trader or investor, then using longer timeframe like daily and weekly charts will give you better results.

3 of the Best MACD Trading Strategies Key Takeaways

The MACD is a technical indicator that can be used to identify trend reversals, measure market momentum, and generate trade signals.

There are a variety of different MACD trading strategies that traders can use to suit their individual trading style and risk tolerance.

Some common MACD trading strategies include the moving average crossover, divergence trading, and the MACD histogram.

When used in conjunction with other technical indicators and analysis tools, the MACD can be a powerful tool for traders to add to their arsenal.

MACD Trading Strategies Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the MACD?

The MACD is a technical indicator that measures the difference between two moving averages of a stock’s price. The MACD is calculated by subtracting the 26-day exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-day EMA.

2. How do I use the MACD to trade?

The MACD can be used as a trend following indicator or as a momentum indicator. As a trend following indicator, traders might buy when the MACD line crosses above the signal line or sell when it crosses below. As a momentum indicator, traders might buy when the MACD line is above zero or sell when it falls below zero.

3. Are there any secret MACD settings or parameters used by professional traders?

While there is no one “secret” setting for the MACD indicator, there are certain parameters that can be tweaked to suit your individual trading style. For example, some traders may prefer a faster moving average for the MACD line, while others may prefer a slower moving average. Ultimately, it is up to the trader to experiment with different settings and see what works best for them. So while there may not be any one magical setting for the MACD, there are definitely ways to customize it to fit your own trading.

4. What is the MACD Crossover Strategy success rate?

The MACD Crossover Strategy is a technical analysis tool that is used by traders to signal when a stock is getting ready to make a move. The MACD Crossover strategy has a success rate of about 70%, which means that it can be quite profitable for traders who know how to use it correctly.

5. What about MACD RSI Strategy? Is it effective?

MACD RSI Strategy is a technical analysis tool that uses two indicators to identify trend changes and to signal when a security is overbought or oversold. MACD, or moving average convergence divergence, is a momentum indicator that measures the difference between two exponential moving averages. RSI, or relative strength index, is a momentum indicator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

While MACD RSI strategy can be effective, it’s important to remember that no single indicator is perfect. There are many different ways to use MACD and RSI, and different traders will have different opinions on the best way to use them. As with any technical analysis tool, it’s important to test out different settings and combinations to see what works best for you.