EMA crossover
Worked example: EMA(20/50) confirmed cross. Freeze these rules before replay, then record every eligible signal—including the ones you skip.
- CHART
- H4
- CLOCK
- UTC
- DECISION
- Completed candles only
Build the same chart
Market scope
- EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY and AUD/USD H4 UTC candles; both directions.
- Only completed H4 closes update the signal; load 200 bars before the first decision.
- One position per pair and no discretionary regime overlay.
Settings
- Plot EMA(20) and EMA(50), both applied to close, plus Wilder ATR(14).
- Define a cross only when the prior completed bar had fast EMA on or below slow EMA and the signal bar has fast EMA above it; mirror for shorts.
- Record absolute EMA separation divided by ATR to identify flat crosses.
Check eligibility first
- Fast/slow EMA separation on the signal close must be at least 0.05 × ATR(14).
- The signal candle's range must not exceed 2.0 × ATR(14).
- No position is already open and the next 24 hours contain no scheduled high-impact event for either currency.
Wait for the close
The previous completed bar has EMA(20) at or below EMA(50); the signal close has EMA(20) above EMA(50). Separation is at least 0.05 × ATR(14) and the signal range is no more than 2.0 × ATR. Enter at the next H4 open.
The previous completed bar has EMA(20) at or above EMA(50); the signal close has EMA(20) below EMA(50). Separation is at least 0.05 × ATR(14) and the signal range is no more than 2.0 × ATR. Enter at the next H4 open.
Stop and invalidation
Initial stop is 1.5 × ATR(14) from fill; risk 0.50% of equity and round down to 0.01 lot.
Never widen the stop to keep a losing idea alive. Recalculate size from the actual entry-to-stop distance before entry.
No-trade filters
- EMA separation is below 0.05 × ATR(14) or the signal candle exceeds 2.0 × ATR.
- A position is already open in the pair or a high-impact event for either currency is scheduled in the next 24 hours.
- The next-open gap exceeds 0.50 × ATR or EMA separation falls back below the threshold before entry.
Choose before entry
This card's fixed method
Exit at the next H4 open after the first completed opposite EMA cross. The initial stop remains active; there is no fixed profit target.
Test separately—never mix mid-trade
- Separate variant only: EMA(10/30).
- Separate variant only: SMA(20/50) control with every other rule unchanged.
- Separate variant only: fixed 2R target instead of opposite-cross exit.
Match the setup
Open a H4 chart and add EMA(20), EMA(50), ATR(14) from Insert or Navigator with the exact inputs above. Draw required price levels before the reaction and check external filters separately. MT4 and MT5 candles use broker-server time, so verify that their H4 bar boundaries match this card's UTC candles before comparing results.
Open a H4 chart and add EMA(20), EMA(50), ATR(14) from Insert > Indicators or Navigator. Match applied price and Wilder periods, then make decisions from completed candles only. MT4 and MT5 candles use broker-server time, so verify that their H4 bar boundaries match this card's UTC candles before comparing results.
Set the chart to H4, add EMA(20), EMA(50), ATR(14), and match the feed and inputs. Display UTC and confirm that the selected feed uses the same H4 bar boundaries. In Bar Replay, write the decision before advancing.
Before placing a demo trade
Frozen replay costs
Use a constant 1.2-pip spread, 0.2-pip adverse slippage on each market fill, zero commission and a 0.5-pip deduction per rollover.
Practice template only—not a live trade signal or proof the method works. Test plenty of charts, including signals you skip.
Guided practice: https://wickatlas.com/tools/forex-trading-simulator?strategy=ema-crossover&coach=1&preset=ema-sma-transition-retest#guided-replay