MACD & Stochastic Double Cross System
by Shaun Overton
What would happen if we combined the indicators from different systems? Would they work together to make a stronger system or would they work against each other?
I recently covered a MACD Trading System and a Stochastic Trading System. Combining these two systems can give us stronger signals. This should, in theory, help to reduce false signals.
MACD & Stochastic Double Cross System
Once again, we will use the 200 unit simple moving average (SMA) to define the direction of the long term trend. It is always better to trade in the same direction of the general trend. Using the 200 unit SMA here will keep us from attempting to swim against the current.
Basically combining the two individual systems, this system will look for a MACD cross signal within two days of a Stochastic cross signal. Due to the nature of these indicators, it is important that the Stochastic cross happens first.
Targeting the situations where both systems agree should isolate only the very strongest signals, thus increasing the win rate.
Trading Rules
Chart and Instrument: Any
Period: Any
Market Condition: Trend
Go Long When:
Price Closes > 200 Day SMA
Bullish MACD Cross < 2 Days After Bullish Stochastic Cross
Go Short When:
Price Closes < 200 Day SMA
Bearish MACD Cross < 2 Days After Bearish Stochastic Cross
Exit Long When:
Bearish MACD Cross
Exit Short When:
Bullish MACD Cross
Strategy Analysis
Combining these two indicators works well because they are both derivatives of price, but they are calculated differently. The Stochastic Oscillator illustrates the price with respect to the range, while the MACD shows us the convergence or divergence of two different moving averages. While both are completely based on price action, they focus on two different aspects of that action.
The primary advantage of this system is that it isolates the signals where the two different systems agree.
Combining the two separate systems will strengthen the advantages and reduce the disadvantages of each system. Both the MACD and Stochastic Oscillator are prone to giving false signals, this system provides an excellent way to focus on only the strongest signals.
This focus on only the strongest signals is also the biggest weakness of this system. If we are going to hold out for only the very strongest signals, then there are going to be far less signals to trade. We will have to follow a wider variety of markets in order to find regular signals.
The SPX daily chart shows a signal using the SMA200, slow stochastics and MACD.
This chart of the SPX provides a great example of a long signal for this system. At the end of 2012, the SPX had just recently crossed above its 200 day SMA. Then, just a few days before the new year, we see a bullish Stochastic cross followed by a bullish MACD cross. This system would have caught the entire month of January, which was very positive for the SPX.
One interesting note is that it would not have gotten back into this uptrend in March like either of the systems would have done on their own because the signals were more than a few days apart.
This could be compensated for by expanding the limit on the number of days between signals. However, expanding this limit will also open the system up to more false signals. This is the type of risk/reward situation that each trader must determine for himself.
Why Not Three Indicators? Or Four? Or Five?
If the two indicators used in this system make it stronger than the one indicator systems we looked at before, does that mean that bringing in a third indicator would make this system even stronger? If that logic holds true, why not use a dozen indicators? This is the slippery slope of system design.
When designing trading systems, we must keep in mind that overusing indicators can result in a system that doesn’t find enough signals to trade profitably. Having a system that is profitable on 98% of its trades won’t do you any good if it only gets a signal once every 200 years. Keep this in mind when experimenting with the wide variety of indicators available.
Do you have any thoughts on this trading system? Share your comments and ideas in the section below.
