The Triangular Moving Average smooths price data to highlight the underlying trend, helping commodity traders spot direction changes and filter out market noise.
This page provides an explanation of the triangular moving average indicator in technical analysis.
What Is the Triangular Moving Average
The triangular moving average is a simple moving average that has been averaged again (i.e. averaging the average). This creates an extra smooth moving average line.
Triangular Moving Average Example Chart
This chart of the E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures contract shows the relation between a 10-day simple moving average and a 10-day triangular moving average.
Generally, simple moving averages are smooth, but the re-averaging makes the triangular moving average even smoother and more wavelike.
Potential buy and sell signals for the triangular moving average indicator are discussed on the simple moving average indicator page.
Where to Trade Commodities Using Technical Analysis
Further Reading on Trend Indicators
These trend tools complement Triangular Moving Average: Andrew’s Pitchfork, Gann Fans, and Typical Price Moving Average.
FAQs
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about moving averages.
Is moving average a good indicator?
Moving averages are the most common technical analysis indicator and very popular among traders to inform their trading strategies. The moving average is used as a technical analysis tool to smooth out prices by eliminating the impact of random, short-term fluctuations.
Traders rely on moving averages as a lagging – or trend-following – indicator because they are based on past prices.
Which moving average is best?
Determining which moving average is best depends on what you’re trading and whether you’re following short- or long-term trends. The two most popular moving averages are the simple moving average (SMA) and the exponential moving average (EMA).
Day-traders generally stick to EMAs for more and earlier signals. But while the SMA moves less and slower it also gives less wrong signals during periods of price volatility.
Technical analysis is most widely used in CFD and forex trading. If you’re ready to apply these techniques, browse our vetted CFD brokers or forex brokers.
Update history
This page was revised 5 times between August 2020 and April 2026.
Added broker recommendation section with embedded CFD broker examples to strengthen practical application guidance.
Streamlined Further Reading section by removing extensive cross-links to related indicators and trading guides, replacing with single focused sentence on complementary trend tools.
Added page structure with table of contents, broker comparison table, FAQ section addressing moving average effectiveness, and related technical analysis resources.
Added call-to-action component to Further Reading section.
Added explanatory chart comparison and new "How to Start Technical Trading" section with broker resources.
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