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Time series momentum and moving average trading rules

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  • Ben R. Marshall
  • Nhut H. Nguyen
  • Nuttawat Visaltanachoti

Abstract

We compare and contrast time series momentum (TSMOM) and moving average (MA) trading rules so as to better understand the sources of their profitability. These rules are closely related; however, there are important differences. TSMOM signals occur at points that coincide with a MA direction change, whereas MA buy (sell) signals only require price to move above (below) a MA. Our empirical results show MA rules frequently give earlier signals leading to meaningful return gains. Both rules perform best outside of large stock series which may explain the puzzle of their popularity with investors, yet lack of supportive evidence in academic studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben R. Marshall & Nhut H. Nguyen & Nuttawat Visaltanachoti, 2017. "Time series momentum and moving average trading rules," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 405-421, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:quantf:v:17:y:2017:i:3:p:405-421
    DOI: 10.1080/14697688.2016.1205209
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    2. Chang, C-L. & Hsu, S.-H. & McAleer, M.J., 2018. "Asymmetric Risk Impacts of Chinese Tourists to Taiwan," Econometric Institute Research Papers EI2018-18, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
    3. Yafeng Qin & Guoyao Pan & Min Bai, 2020. "Improving market timing of time series momentum in the Chinese stock market," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(43), pages 4711-4725, September.
    4. Hung, Chiayu & Lai, Hung-Neng, 2022. "Information asymmetry and the profitability of technical analysis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
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    6. Hutchinson, Mark C. & Kyziropoulos, Panagiotis E. & O’Brien, John & O’Reilly, Philip & Sharma, Tripti, 2022. "Technical trading rule profitability in currencies: It’s all about momentum," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Massoud Metghalchi & Linda A. Hayes & Farhang Niroomand, 2019. "A technical approach to equity investing in emerging markets," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(3), pages 389-403, July.
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    9. Hubert Dichtl, 2020. "Investing in the S&P 500 index: Can anything beat the buy‐and‐hold strategy?," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(2), pages 352-378, April.
    10. Jukka Ilomaki & Hannu Laurila & Michael McAleer, 2018. "Simple Market Timing with Moving Averages," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 18-048/III, Tinbergen Institute.
    11. Andreas Thomann, 2021. "Multi-asset scenario building for trend-following trading strategies," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 299(1), pages 293-315, April.
    12. Day, Min-Yuh & Ni, Yensen, 2023. "Be greedy when others are fearful: Evidence from a two-decade assessment of the NDX 100 and S&P 500 indexes," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    13. Jukka Ilomäki & Hannu Laurila & Michael McAleer, 2018. "Market Timing with Moving Averages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-25, June.
    14. Zakamulin, Valeriy & Giner, Javier, 2022. "Time series momentum in the US stock market: Empirical evidence and theoretical analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    15. Valeriy Zakamulin & Javier Giner, 2020. "Trend following with momentum versus moving averages: a tale of differences," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(6), pages 985-1007, June.
    16. Souropanis, Ioannis & Vivian, Andrew, 2023. "Forecasting realized volatility with wavelet decomposition," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    17. Ergun, Lerby & Molchanov, Alexander & Stork, Philip, 2023. "Technical trading rules, loss avoidance, and the business cycle," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
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    19. Robert Hudson & Andrew Urquhart, 2021. "Technical trading and cryptocurrencies," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 297(1), pages 191-220, February.
    20. Kerstin Lamert & Benjamin R. Auer & Ralf Wunderlich, 2023. "Discretization of continuous-time arbitrage strategies in financial markets with fractional Brownian motion," Papers 2311.15635, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2024.
    21. Chia-Lin Chang & Jukka Ilomäki & Hannu Laurila & Michael McAleer, 2018. "Moving Average Market Timing in European Energy Markets: Production Versus Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-24, November.
    22. Zakamulin, Valeriy & Giner, Javier, 2023. "Optimal trend-following with transaction costs," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    23. Hu, Shicheng & Zhang, Weijie & Li, Danping & Wu, Bing, 2023. "Incorporating improved directional change and regime change detection to formulate trading strategies in foreign exchange markets," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 622(C).

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