Short Moving Average
Short MA
A short-period average that reacts faster; crossing the long MA is a classic trend-shift signal.
How to read it
A short moving average tracks price closely with little lag, highlighting the near-term trend. It turns quickly with price but is noisier than a long MA, so it's usually read together with a slower average.
Trading signals
The classic signal is a short-MA / long-MA cross: the short crossing above the long is a bullish "golden cross", crossing below a bearish "death cross". A short MA also serves as a fast trailing reference for exits.
Parameters
Short MA Period is small (e.g. 9–20) for responsiveness; MA Type sets the weighting. Too short and it whipsaws on every wiggle.
- Short MA Period
- Bars in the short moving average.
- Short MA Type
- Averaging method for the short MA (SMA, EMA, …).