HOW TO TRADE WITH EMA STRATEGYExponential Moving Average Strategy
(Trading Rules – Sell Trade)
Our exponential moving average strategy is comprised of two elements. The first degree to capture a new trend is to use two exponential moving averages as an entry filter.
By using one moving average with a longer period and one with a shorter period, we automate the strategy. This removes any form of subjectivity from our trading process.
Step #1: Plot on your chart the 20 and 50 EMA
The first step is to properly set up our charts with the right moving averages. We can identify the EMA crossover at the later stage. The exponential moving average strategy uses the 20 and 50 periods EMA.
Most standard trading platforms come with default moving average indicators. It should not be a problem to locate the EMA either on your MT4 platform or Tradingview.
Step #2: Wait for the EMA crossover and for the price to trade below the 20 and 50 EMA.
The second rule of this moving average strategy is the need for the price to trade below both 20 and 50 EMA. Secondly, we need to wait for the EMA crossover, which will add weight to the bullish case.
We refer to the EMA crossover for a sell trade when the 20-EMA crosses below the 50-EMA.
By looking at the EMA crossover, we create an automatic buy and sell signals.
Since the market is prone to false breakouts, we need more evidence than a simple EMA crossover. At this stage, we don’t know if the bearish sentiment is strong enough to push the price further after we sell to make a profit.
To avoid the false breakout, we added a new confluence to support our view. This brings us to the next step of the strategy.
Step #3: Wait for the zone between 20 and 50 EMA to be tested once on a sell trade (twice on a buy trade) then look for selling opportunities.
The conviction behind this moving average strategy relies on multiple factors. After the EMA crossover happened, we need to exercise more patience. We will wait for one successive and successful retest of the zone between the 20 and 50 EMA on a sell order but twp retests on a buy order.
The two successful retests of the zone between 20 and 50 EMA give the market enough time to develop a trend on a buy order. However, because the market goes down much faster, we sell on the 1st retest of the zone between 20 and 50. After the EMA crossover happened. .
Never forget that no price is too high to buy in trading. And no price is too low to sell.
Note* When we refer to the “zone between 20 and 50EMA,” we actually don’t mean that the price needs to trade in the space between the two moving averages.
We just wanted to cover the whole price spectrum between the two EMAs. This is because the price will only briefly touch the shorter moving average (20-EMA). But this is still a successful retest.
Now, we still need to define where exactly we are going to buy. This brings us to the next step of the strategy.
Step #4: Sell at the market when we retest the zone between 20 and 50 EMA for the third time.
If the price successfully retests the zone between 20 and 50 EMA for the third time, we go ahead and sell at the market price. We now have enough evidence that the bearish momentum is strong to continue pushing this market lower.
Now, we still need to define where to place our protective stop loss and where to take profits. This brings us to the next step of the strategy.
Step #5: Place the protective Stop Los 20 pips above the 50 EMA
After the EMA crossover happened, and after we had two successive retests, we know the trend is down. As long as we trade below both exponential moving averages the trend remains intact.
In this regard, we place our protective stop loss 20 pips above the 50 EMA. We added a buffer of 20 pips because we understand we’re not living in a perfect world. The market is prone to do false breakouts.
Step #6: You pick your own TP strategy or Take Profit once we break and close above the 50-EMA
If we waited for the EMA crossover to happen on the other side, we would have given back some of the potential profits. We need to consider the fact that the exponential moving averages are a lagging indicator.
The exponential moving average formula used to plot our EMAs allow us to still take profits right at the time the market is about to reverse.
Note** The above was an example of a SELL trade. Use the same rules – but in reverse – for a BUY trade. However, because the market goes down much faster, we sell on the 1st retest of the zone between 20 and 50. After the EMA crossover happened.
The exponential moving average strategy is a classic example of how to construct a simple EMA crossover system. With this exponential moving average system, we’re not trying to predict the market. But rather to react to the current market condition which is a much better way to trade the market.
The advantage of our trading strategy stands in the exponential moving average formula. It plots a much smoother EMA that gives better entries and exits.
