Best MACD Settings for Daily Chart

Table of Contents

What is the MACD?

MACD, short for Moving Average Convergence Divergence, is a technical analysis indicator used by traders in the Forex market to identify potential trend changes, momentum shifts, and buy/sell signals. Developed by Gerald Appel in the 1970s, the MACD uses a combination of exponential moving averages to generate signals based on the differences between short-term and long-term price trends. By providing insight into both the strength and direction of the current trend, the MACD is a tool for traders looking to make informed decisions about their trades. In this intro, we’ll explore the basics of the MACD and how it can be used in Forex trading.

What is the Best MACD Settings for Daily Chart?

The best MACD settings for daily chart forex trading can vary depending on a trader’s personal preference, trading style, and market conditions. However, here are some commonly used MACD settings for daily chart forex trading:

Periods: The default settings for MACD are 12, 26, and 9. Traders may adjust the periods to their liking, such as 8, 17, and 9 or 10, 20, and 7.
Timeframe: For daily chart forex trading, the timeframe is already set to one day.
Type: The type of moving averages used in the calculation of MACD can be adjusted. The default is usually simple moving averages (SMA), but traders may also use exponential moving averages (EMA) or weighted moving averages (WMA).

Best MACD Settings for Daily Chart Strategy

Here is an example of a MACD trading strategy for the daily chart in forex:

Identify the trend: Before using MACD, it’s important to identify the direction of the trend on the daily chart.
MACD Settings: Set the MACD indicator on your trading platform with the preferred settings. For this example, let’s use the default MACD settings of 12, 26, and 9.
Buy signal: When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, it’s a bullish signal. This indicates that the momentum is turning positive, and it’s a good time to enter a long position. The confirmation of the buy signal is when the MACD histogram is above the zero line.
Sell signal: When the MACD line crosses below the signal line, it’s a bearish signal. This indicates that the momentum is turning negative, and it’s a good time to exit a long position or enter a short position. The confirmation of the sell signal is when the MACD histogram is below the zero line.

Buy Signal

Here is an example of a buy signal using MACD with default settings on the daily chart in forex:

Look for a bullish crossover: The MACD line (blue line) should cross above the signal line (orange line). This indicates a potential shift in momentum towards the upside.
Confirm with the histogram: The MACD histogram should be above the zero line, indicating that the momentum is turning positive.
Enter a long position: Once the above criteria are met, consider entering a long position at the current market price or on a pullback.

Sell Signal

Here is an example of a sell signal using MACD with default settings on the daily chart in forex:

Look for a bearish crossover: The MACD line (blue line) should cross below the signal line (orange line). This indicates a potential shift in momentum towards the downside.
Confirm with the histogram: The MACD histogram should be below the zero line, indicating that the momentum is turning negative.
Enter a short position: Once the above criteria are met, consider entering a short position at the current market price or on a pullback.

Best MACD Settings for Daily Chart Pros & Cons

Pros

Easy to use: MACD is a popular and widely used technical indicator that is available on most trading platforms. The default settings are a good starting point for traders who are new to using MACD in their analysis.
Trend identification: MACD can help identify the direction of the trend by using moving averages to filter out short-term noise in the market.
Momentum indicator: MACD is a momentum indicator that can help traders identify potential shifts in momentum before they occur, which can help in making trading decisions.
Customizable settings: Traders can customize the settings of the MACD indicator to fit their individual trading style and goals.

Cons

Lagging indicator: MACD is a lagging indicator, which means that it may not provide signals until after a trend has already begun.
False signals: Like all technical indicators, MACD can provide false signals that may result in drawdown. Traders should use proper risk management techniques and always confirm signals.
Not suitable for all market conditions: MACD may not work well in choppy or ranging markets, where there is no clear trend or momentum.
Can be overused: Traders may become overly reliant on MACD and ignore other important aspects of technical analysis, such as price action or support and resistance levels. It’s important to use MACD as a tool in conjunction with other analysis techniques.

Conclusion

In conclusion, MACD is a popular technical indicator used by forex traders to identify potential shifts in momentum and trend direction. Using the default settings on the daily chart can be a good starting point for traders who are new to MACD.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that MACD is a lagging indicator and may not provide signals until after a trend has already begun.

Additionally, traders should use proper risk management techniques and consider individual trading style and goals when deciding whether or not to use MACD in analysis.

The Forex Geek

Self-confessed Forex Geek spending my days researching and testing everything forex related. I have many years of experience in the forex industry having reviewed thousands of forex robots, brokers, strategies, courses and more. I share my knowledge with you for free to help you learn more about the crazy world of forex trading! Read more about me.