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    Simple Moving Average (SMA)
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      Simple Moving Average (SMA)

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        Article summary

        The Simple Moving Average (SMA) indicator is an arithmetic mean of security's price over a number of time periods. The fewer time periods are used, the more responsive the moving average to the price changes. SMA results as a smoothed line that makes it easier to identify the price trend.

        SMA = (A1 + A2 ... + An) / n

        where:
        An – the price of an asset at period n
        n – the number of total periods

        SMA explained in under a minute

        Want a simple visual explanation of the SMA indicator? Watch this short video to see how it works in action.

        Simple Moving Average
        Simple Moving Average 


        INPUTS

        Price
        The following data sources are available for the price:
        • Open. The Open Price of every bar for the specified period.
        • High. The High Price of every bar for the specified period. 
        • Low. The Low Price of every bar for the specified period.
        • Close. The Close Price of every bar for the specified period. 
        • Median. The Median Price of every bar for the specified period - (High + Low) / 2.
        • Typical. The sum of High, Low, and Close prices divided by 3 for the specified period- (High + Low + Close) / 3.
        • OHLC average. The arithmetical mean of High, Low, Open, and Close prices for the specified period - (Open + High + Low + Close) / 4.
        • Volume. The Close Price of every bar + average volume of an asset for the specified period.
        InputDescription
        LengthThe number of bars used to calculate SMA
        DisplaceThe number of bars the indicator to be shifted to

        PLOTS

        The plot renders the data you are working with on the chart. You can show/hide a plot by clicking the corresponding item in the settings. Every plot has a set of basic settings that you can change: color, weight, and type.

        PlotDescription
        SMAThe Simple Moving Average plot
        Color

        Click the color rectangle under the plot's name to open the palette. Use the slider at the bottom to set the opacity of the color.

        Palette

        To create a custom color:

        1. Clickto open the color picker
        2. By using the slider at the bottom, adjust the main color
        3. Then, set a shade for the main color on the palette

        The custom-created colors are added to your palette. To remove a custom color, drag it out of the palette.

        Weight
        Change the value (in px) to adjust the thickness of the plot.
        Type
        The following plot types are available:
        • Linear. The plot is displayed as a line.
        • Column. The plot is displayed as a histogram.
        • Difference. The plot is displayed as a line which represents the difference between High and Low prices of the bar.
        • Points. The plot is displayed as points.
        • Text above candle. The plot is displayed as the price labels above candles on the chart.
        • Text below candle. The plot is displayed as the price labels below candles on the chart.
        • Triangle above candle. The plot is displayed as triangles above candles on the chart.
        • Color candle. The candles on candle-type charts are highlighted with specified colors.

        OVERLAYING

        Check Overlaying to display the indicator on the chart. Otherwise, the indicator is shown in a study pane down below.

        Note: To reset the settings, click Restore to Default next to the SETTINGS: INDICATOR'S TITLE
        What's Next