Golden Cross
The 50-day moving average crossing above the 200-day moving average — a widely-watched long-term bullish signal.
A Golden Cross occurs when a shorter-term moving average (typically the 50-day SMA) crosses above a longer-term one (typically the 200-day SMA). It signals that medium-term momentum has turned bullish relative to the long-term baseline.
In practice, the Golden Cross is a lagging confirmation of a trend already underway — by the time it prints, price has often already moved significantly. It is most useful as a filter for higher-probability long setups rather than a precise entry trigger. A Golden Cross during a period of rising volume carries more weight than one in low-liquidity conditions.
Related Terms
Death Cross
The 50-day moving average crossing below the 200-day moving average — a widely-watched long-term bearish signal.
IntermediateMoving Average
The average closing price over N periods, updated each bar — smooths noise and exposes the underlying trend direction.
BeginnerTrend
The persistent directional bias of price over a defined timeframe — up, down, or sideways.
BeginnerUptrend
A market structure defined by a sequence of higher highs and higher lows, signalling persistent buying pressure.
Beginner