Moving Average Ribbon

What Is a Moving Average Ribbon?

Moving average ribbons are a series of moving averages (MA) of different lengths that are plotted on the same chart to create a ribbon-like indicator. Traders can determine the strength of a trend by looking at the distance between the moving averages, as well as identify key areas of support or resistance by looking at the price in relation to the ribbon.

The ribbons can also be used to signal potential trend changes when the price moves through the ribbons, or the ribbons cross each other.

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Formula for a Moving Average Ribbon

Moving Average Ribbon = Multiple SMAs where: SMAs = Simple moving averages SMA = Price 1 + Price 2 + Price 3 + ⋯ Price n n n = Number of periods \begin{aligned} &\text{Moving Average Ribbon} = \text{Multiple SMAs} \\ &\textbf{where:} \\ &\text{SMAs} = \text{Simple moving averages} \\ &\text{SMA} = \frac{ \text{Price}_1 + \text{Price}_2 + \text{Price}_3 + \cdots \text{Price}_n }{ n } \\ &n = \text{Number of periods} \\ \end{aligned} Moving Average Ribbon=Multiple SMAswhere:SMAs=Simple moving averagesSMA=nPrice1+Price2+Price3+⋯Pricenn=Number of periods

How to Calculate a Moving Average Ribbon

1. Determine how many MAs will be used.
2. Choose their lengths/lookback periods.
3. Calculate the simple moving average for each

What Does a Moving Average Ribbon Tell You?

Moving average ribbons are often made up of six to eight moving averages of different lengths, although some traders may choose fewer or more. Traders often use a simple moving average ribbon that is set at 10-period intervals, such as 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, and 60-period moving averages. The interval doesn't need to be 10-periods, it could be five, or 15, any other interval.

The responsiveness of the indicator can be adjusted by changing the number of time periods used in the moving averages, or by changing the type of moving average from a simple moving average (SMA) to an exponential moving average (EMA).

The fewer the number of periods used to create the averages, the more sensitive the ribbon is to slight price changes. For example, a series of 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45-period moving averages will react quicker to short-term price changes than 150, 160, 170, 180-period moving averages. The latter would be favored by a longer-term investor who only wants to highlight major turning points in the asset.

When the price is above the ribbon, or at least above most of the MAs, it helps confirm a rising price trend. MAs that are angled upwards also aid in confirming an uptrend.

When the price is below the MAs, or at least most of them, and the MAs are angled downwards, it helps to confirm a falling price.

Special Considerations

Traders can adjust the indicator so that it provides support and resistance areas. Alter the lookback periods of the MAs so that the bottom of the ribbon, for example, provided support to a rising price trend in the past. In the future, the ribbon may act as support again. The same concept applies to downtrends and resistance.

When the ribbon contracts, that indicates the price has entered a consolidation or pullback phase.

When the ribbons cross, that can indicate a potential trend change. Some traders may wait for all the ribbons to cross to confirm a price reversal, while others may only need to see a few of the MAs cross before taking action.

Moving Average Ribbon Example

The following chart shows an example of a moving average ribbon in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).

Image by Sabrina Jiang © Investopedia 2021

In the example above, you can identify bullish or bearish trends by looking at when the indicators start to crossover lower or higher, which changes their color from green to red and red to green, respectively, on this charting platform. The widening of the lines suggests that the trend's strength is increasing while narrowing lines suggest that the trend is losing its momentum.

Moving Average Ribbon vs. Guppy Multiple Moving Average

Individual traders will determine how many MAs make up their moving average ribbon, and will also determine the lookback period of those MAs. The Guppy Multiple Moving Average is more structured in that it has a set number of MAs with set lookback periods. While these can still be altered by the trader, the default settings for the Guppy are 12 MAs, with periods of three, five, eight, 10, 12, 15, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 60.

Limitations of Using a Moving Average Ribbon

The more MAs there are on a chart, the harder it becomes to determine which ones are relevant. For example, if a trader is primarily focused on the bottom MA in a rising trend, then the other MAs are just cluttering the chart.

While ribbon contraction, crosses, and expansion can aid in assessing trend strength, pullbacks, and reversals, MAs are always lagging. This means that the price may have already moved significantly before the ribbon signals the price change.

The ribbon may provide support and resistance at times, but not at others. Also, as indicated above, one time the middle of the ribbon may provide support, while the next time it is the top or bottom of the ribbon. When support is broken, and the price has moved through all the ribbons, this would usually be considered a trend reversal, especially if the MAs have crosses each other as well, but such moves don't always result in a price reversal. The pullback may have just been deeper than the MAs, and following the pullback the original trend resumes.

Moving average ribbons are best used in conjunction with other forms of analysis, such as price action, other technical indicators, and fundamental analysis for longer-term traders.