MACD Forex Trading Whipsaws & Fake Out Signals on Bearish & Bullish Territory

Since the MACD indicator is a leading indicator which sometimes gives whipsaws, we shall look at an example of a whipsaw generated by this MACD indicator, so as to illustrate why it's always good to wait for a confirmation forex trading signal.

MACD Indicator Forex Trading Whipsaw - Forex Trading Whipsaws

The MACD indicator gave a buy signal, when this buy signal was generated and the MACD indicator line was still below the zero center line mark. At this point the buy signal had not been confirmed and it resulted into a whipsaw as illustrated by the moving averages which continued to move downwards.

A forex whipsaw signal is as a result of dramatic rise and fall in the price in a short time and in such a manner that skews the data used in calculating the moving averages that plot the MACD indicator data. These types of whipsaw moves are usually brought about because of some news event that can produce market noise.

Forex traders should have the ability to gauge a forex whipsaw and withstand the whipsaw; a forex trading whipsaw might result into an upswing session and then a downswing session. To minimize the risk of trading forex whipsaws, it's good to wait for confirmation of forex signals by waiting for MACD to cross above or below the zero center-line mark.

Combining MACD Crossover with Center-Line Crossover to Prevent Forex Whipsaws

Buy forex trading signal - When there is a crossover, followed by a steep rise in price and then a center-line crossover the buy signal is confirmed.

Sell forex trading signal - When there is a crossover, followed by a steep decline in price and then a center-line crossover the sell signal is confirmed.

• 1. Buy Forex Signal in Bearish Territory Whipsaw

When a buy signal is generated in a bearish territory, it might result into a whip saw especially if it is not followed soon by a MACD center line crossover.

In the example below, MACD indicator gives a buy signal even though it is in bearish territory, the MACD indicator then turns downwards and starts moving down again resulting into a forex whipsaw. By waiting for center line crossover it is possible to avoid the whipsaw.

However, in this case there was a brief center line crossing: this forex whipsaw would have been hard to trade using this MACD indicator alone, that is why it is good to combine the use of MACD indicator with another forex technical indicator. In the example below MACD is combined with the moving average forex indicators technical analysis.

MACD Forex Whipsaw - Buy Forex Trading Signal in Bearish Territory

• 2. Sell Forex Signal in Bullish Territory Whipsaw

When a sell signal is generated in a bullish territory, it might result into a whip saw especially if it is not followed soon by a MACD center-line crossover.

In the example below, the MACD indicator gives a sell signal even though it is in bullish territory, the MACD indicator then turns up and starts moving upwards again resulting into a forex whipsaw. By waiting for center-line crossover it is possible to avoid the forex whipsaw. In the example below by combining this MACD indicator with the Moving Average Crossover Forex Trading Strategy you would have avoided this whipsaw.

MACD Forex Whipsaw - Sell Forex Trading Signal in Bullish Territory

To avoid forex whipsaws completely when trading the forex market with this MACD Indicator it is best to use the Center-line Crossover Signal as the Official Buy or Sell Signal of the MACD Indicator.