Every day on CNBC-TV they show a 200-day moving average line superimposed on the stock price history. It seems they give great credence to this manufactured line as it represents 10 months of price action. What is it? Does it really mean anything?
The line represents the addition of the closing prices of that particular stock, mutual fund or index for the past 200 trading sessions that have been added up and divided by 200. That is then placed on the chart at that point. For example if the price of the equity started at zero and went up exactly one point for 200 days the average would be 100. A dot is then place on the chart at 100 even though the equity price is now at 200. Each day the new closing price is added after dropping off price number 1 and the new group is added up and divided by 200. This is done each day. Nothing complicated.
Does this mean anything?
This is considered to be a very useful technical indicator, but like all technical indicators you must understand how to use it. There is one rule for any technical indicator: no single one is a Holy Grail for predicting future price action of a stock, fund or index. WAIT! Don't throw out the baby with the bath water.
The 200-day MA is not a predictor, but it does establish the current trend of whatever you wish to measure that has a recurring event. You can use it for the average price of housing, cost of gold, global weather temperature, medical costs, etc., etc. that can then be plotted on a chart.
You don't have to stay with 200 days. You may modify it to any number of days or time periods you wish from two on out past 200. Many technical analysts use 10, 20, 50, 100 and then plot these on the same chart simultaneously to see when one crosses over another. These are called oscillators and thousands of traders use them to determine buy and sell signals.
Because the 200-day MA is composed of 200 price entries it has been determined that it works best when used with something that has many factors represented. In the stock market this is indexes and mutual funds. Mutual funds are composed of many stocks or bonds and the price action of any single equity does not cause a major price swing.
If you will keep in mind that the 200-day MA will show only the major long term trend it can be a very useful investment tool.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
Copyright 2005
http://www.mutualfundmagic.com; 1-888-345-7870
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carWe all know the expression, "My country, right or wrong",... Read More
The ABC's of Stock Trading SuccessStock trading success...why is it... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
Where is the beef? Or maybe it should be where... Read More
If you don't know what a Roth IRA is then... Read More
There are many important things you need to know to... Read More
Stock trading remains a very competitive field and the stock... Read More
Duck! No I don't mean a quack, quack. I meant... Read More
This is a rather simple strategy with which I am... Read More
Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions... Read More
The broker told me not to sell because the mutual... Read More
One of the great truisms of Wall Street is "Don't... Read More
I am taking the time to help others learn the... Read More
According to Investopedia Inc. the penny stock market has seen... Read More
The higher the market goes the more confusing are the... Read More
Inverted interest rates? What's that? Who cares? Even if you... Read More
Forget making a profit; instead focus on the income provided... Read More
Do you own any mutual funds? In an IRA or... Read More
First let's see what protectionism is. According to Mr. Webster... Read More
Because there are so many stocks that are NOT paying... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More
There are red lights, green lights, blue lights and spot... Read More
Have you bought any mutual funds this year or late... Read More
Money management starts with protecting your capital, realizing profits and... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..One Saturday morning, while he was sitting at his computer... Read More
Every day I hear from the "experts" on CNBC-TV and... Read More
Caught in a whirlpool and being sucked under. No life... Read More
When you become interested in a stock or mutual fund... Read More
Have you been listening to the talking heads on CNBC-TV?... Read More
Three little pigs went to the market to stock up... Read More
Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions... Read More
If there is one term over-used when talking about making... Read More
Sometimes the best way of lowering exposure to risk is... Read More
Dollar cost averaging is one of the most popular ideas... Read More
For the last few weeks we have seen the stock... Read More
Someday you may want to retire and continue to live... Read More
The ABC's of Stock Trading SuccessStock trading success...why is it... Read More
I am sure that if you have a brokerage account... Read More
There is so much involved in developing peak performance, that... Read More
Why? Because I am going to shatter your conventional wisdom... Read More
When purchasing mutual funds we are cautioned to read the... Read More
If you don't know where you are going any road... Read More
The World Bank claims that some two billion of the... Read More
Are you attracted to the idea of being in control... Read More
When most analysts, financial planners, fund specialists and investors try... Read More
There is a current movie entitled "Eternal Sunshine of the... Read More
Every Wall Street analyst, financial planner and broker will tell... Read More
During the day I watch CNBC-TV, the stock market channel.... Read More
Do you have a nest egg? You know, a place... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |