Download software Tutorial videos
Subscription & data-feed pricing Class schedule


New account application Trading resources
Margin rates Stock & option commissions

Attention: Discussion forums are read-only for extended maintenance until further notice.
Welcome Guest, please sign in to participate in a discussion. Search | Active Topics |

MA calculation Rate this Topic:
Previous Topic · Next Topic Watch this topic · Print this topic ·
garp
Posted : Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:33:23 AM
Registered User
Joined: 3/4/2005
Posts: 40
Hi guys,
First, I'd like to compliment you on the fine presentations at Trader Expo in Chicago.

Now a question:
In looking at the chart for GOOG, I noticed something that doesn't make sense. I have GOOG set up with a bunch of indicator, one of which is a 5 EMA. Starting with Aug 19, 2004, the dat of the IPO, I show the following close values and moving average calculation
08/19/2004 close_______________:100.33
08/20/2004 close_______________:108.31
08/23/2004 close_______________:109.40
08/24/2004 close_______________:104.87
08/25/2004 close_______________:106.00
Sum____________________________:528.91
Average, 528.91/5 :105.78

However, TC-Net shows 0.00 as a value for 8/25 - which is bogus, and 106.21 for a MA on 8/26. So, Where's the value for 8/25?

Also, since it's an exponential MA, the value for 8/26 should be ((107.91-105.78) * 2/6 )+ 105.78 = 106.49, which TC-Net calculates as 106.21. I'm using Wilder's formula for EMA from his book, "New Concepts in Technical Trading Systems", which is: EMA(current) = ( (Price(current) - EMA(prev) ) x Multiplier) + EMA(prev)

Where multiplier is: 2 / (1 + N) where N is the specified number of periods.

G


Doug_H
Posted : Wednesday, August 17, 2005 2:20:50 AM


Worden Trainer

Joined: 10/1/2004
Posts: 4,308
It looks like the EMA is being calculated on the previous 5 days, so 8/26 is the first day where there are 5 previous days. I checked with KKD, and the same phenomenon appears when it IPO'd back on April 5, 2000. I will forward this on to the appropriate people to confirm that this is by design, and if so, why the EMA starts on day 6 instead of day 5. I will also check on the EMA calculation to confirm the result for GOOG on 8/26/04.

- Doug
Teaching Online!
Bruce_L
Posted : Wednesday, August 17, 2005 7:09:54 AM


Worden Trainer

Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 65,138
TeleChart currently does not start displaying the values of Exponential Moving Averages until it has at least the EMA Period plus one bars of data to use for the caluculation (Personal Criteria Formulas require 5 times the EMA Period bars of data).

You are seeding your EMA formula with the 5-Period Simple Moving Average of Price (105.78) being used as the previous EMA on the sixth bar. TeleChart is seeding its formula with the first available Price (100.33) being used as the previous EMA on the second bar.

-Bruce
Personal Criteria Formulas
TC2000 Support Articles
garp
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 2:33:24 AM
Registered User
Joined: 3/4/2005
Posts: 40
Doug, Bruce,
I recomputed the 5 EMA and got 106.20 versus TC-Net's 106.21. The missing penny is probably a rounding error on my part as I calculated it by hand.

But when I specify a simple moving average, I would expect a value of 105.78 (528.91/5) for day 6, i.e., 8/26. However, TC-Net gives a 107.30. So why the difference?

G
Bruce_L
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 4:17:24 AM


Worden Trainer

Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 65,138
Here's what I get when running the calculations by hand:

(108.31 + 109.40 + 104.87 + 106.00 + 107.91) / 5 = 536.49 / 5 = 107.298

-Bruce
Personal Criteria Formulas
TC2000 Support Articles
garp
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 9:47:44 AM
Registered User
Joined: 3/4/2005
Posts: 40
You dropped off the first term. The 6th day MA is the average of the first 5 periods.
I get:
(100.33 + 108.31 + 109.40 + 104.87 + 106.00)/5=528.91/5=105.78

G
Bruce_L
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 9:50:52 AM


Worden Trainer

Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 65,138
The sixth day 5-Period Simple Moving Average is five days long and includes the sixth day. While it doesn't show on the chart, the 5-Period Simple Moving Average would be five days long and include the fifth day.

-Bruce
Personal Criteria Formulas
TC2000 Support Articles
garp
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:28:48 AM
Registered User
Joined: 3/4/2005
Posts: 40
So the sixth day MA is the sum of the previous 5 days divided by the period. It cannot include the sixth day because the close is not yet finalized. Thus I do not understand why the sixth day MA is computed on days 2,3,4,5,6. What happens to day 1?

I'm developing a ATS based on IB's API and using TC-Net to check my buy and sell signals. I'm getting data inconsistencies so I need to nail this down. Thanks for the help.
G
Bruce_L
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:31:06 AM


Worden Trainer

Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 65,138
No. The 5-Period Simple Moving Average taken on the sixth day is the sum of the most recent 5 days, including the current day (day 6), divided by the period:

Current 5-Period SMA:
AVGC5

Previous bar's 5-Period SMA:
AVGC5.1

It seems like you want the second formula. It can be created as a Custom Indicator:

Select Chart Template | Add Indicator | Indicator.
-Visible: Checked
-Center Zero Line: Unchecked
-Plot using price scale: Checked
-Smoothing Average: 1
-Indicator Formula:

AVGC5.1

You can also create it as a Personal Criteria Formula. You may wish to review the following video and forum topic:

How to create a Personal Criteria Forumula (PCF)
Handy PCF example formulas to help you learn the syntax of PCFs!

-Bruce
Personal Criteria Formulas
TC2000 Support Articles
garp
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:43:34 AM
Registered User
Joined: 3/4/2005
Posts: 40
So let me finally nail this down.
The simple MA for day 6 includes days 2,3,4,5,6 and is 107.30
The simple MA for day 5 includes days 1,2,3,4,5 and is 105.78, but is not displayed.

Please confirm.

G
Bruce_L
Posted : Thursday, August 18, 2005 10:44:47 AM


Worden Trainer

Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 65,138
Exactly.

-Bruce
Personal Criteria Formulas
TC2000 Support Articles
Users browsing this topic
Guest-1

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.