What is Trend Following | How to Trade Big Market Moves Like a Pro

YaMarkets 2025-07-21

How to enable security in MT5 CRM

The financial market is a highly dynamic terrain, constantly shifting between chaos and clarity. Traders who know how to read these patterns gain an edge. Trend following provides a way to ride the market's direction without needing to predict every turn. It focuses on aligning with momentum, holding trades while the trend stays strong, and exiting only when signs of reversal appear. This simple yet powerful approach has helped many seasoned traders capture big market moves like professionals.

What is Trend Following?

Trend following is a trading strategy that aims to capitalize on the sustained movement of an asset's price in one direction. Traders using this strategy aim to enter trades once a trend has formed and remain in them until signs of weakness or reversal emerge. Instead of predicting tops or bottoms, they respond to price action, allowing the market to dictate the direction.

A trend can be upward or downward. In an uptrend, prices consistently make higher highs and higher lows. In a downtrend, the pattern shifts to lower highs and lower lows. Trend followers do not attempt to outsmart the market; instead, they prefer to follow its lead. This strategy has found popularity in stocks, forex, crypto, and commodities trading alike.

Many experienced individuals trading with the best asian forex brokers rely heavily on trend-following methods to reduce noise and stay focused on high-probability moves. The approach requires discipline, patience, and the right tools to identify when a trend begins, remains strong, and finally comes to an end.

Some Popular Trend Indicators

To spot and trade trends efficiently, traders use technical indicators. These tools help provide clarity amid daily price fluctuations and can be layered to build confirmation.

Moving Averages (MA)

One of the most common tools in trend following is the moving average. The simple moving average (SMA) calculates the average price over a fixed period, smoothing out price action. Traders often use combinations like the 50-day and 200-day moving averages to gauge medium to long-term trends. When the shorter average crosses above the longer one, it may suggest that a bullish trend is starting.

MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)

The MACD helps identify both trend direction and momentum. It uses the relationship between two moving averages to generate buy and sell signals. When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, traders view this as a potential entry in a rising market.

Average Directional Index (ADX)

The ADX doesn't show the direction of a trend, but it does measure its strength. A reading above 25 often suggests a strong trend, while lower values indicate consolidation or choppy price action.

Parabolic SAR

This indicator provides potential exit points by plotting dots above or below the price. As the trend progresses, the dots move closer, signaling when momentum is possibly fading.

Combining these tools enables traders using the best trading broker platform to align with market movements more confidently and with reduced false signals.

How to Confirm a Trend

Confirming a trend before entering a position is vital for successful trading. Jumping in too early can lead to losses, and entering too late can reduce potential gains. Start by checking for a series of higher highs and higher lows in an uptrend or lower highs and lower lows in a downtrend. Price action alone can reveal a great deal about the current market sentiment. Then, use moving averages to see if the price is trading above or below them. In strong uptrends, prices typically remain above the 50-day moving average.

Next, look for agreement among indicators. For instance, if the MACD shows a bullish crossover while the ADX is above 25, and the price is above the 200-day moving average (MA), there is a high chance that a trend is in place. Volume can also help confirm strength. Rising volume alongside price movement reinforces the idea that traders support the direction.

Top forex brokers, including the best asian forex brokers, offer these tools so traders can use these techniques to ensure that a trend is real and supported by market forces, not short-lived spikes.

Some Examples of Trend-following Strategies

Several strategies are employed by trend-following traders. Each has its own rules and works across different timeframes and asset classes.

Moving Average Crossover Strategy

A simple yet effective strategy involves using two moving averages, like the 50-period and 200-period. A buy signal is generated when the shorter moving average crosses above the longer one. A sell signal appears when the reverse happens. This method enables traders to stay in positions as long as the trend persists.

Breakout Strategy

This strategy focuses on entering trades when price breaks through a significant level, such as a previous high or low. A breakout often signals the start of a new trend. When supported by volume and confirmation from indicators, breakouts can deliver substantial gains.

MACD Trend Entry

Using the MACD, traders enter when the MACD line crosses above the signal line and exit when the lines cross in the opposite direction. This method combines trend and momentum, making it a favorite for those using the best trading broker platform.

Trendlines and Channels

Drawing trendlines along the lows of an uptrend or highs of a downtrend gives a visual representation of market movement. Channels take this a step further by adding parallel lines. Traders enter when the price touches the lower boundary in an uptrend or the upper boundary in a downtrend, aiming to ride it back to the opposite side.

Each of these strategies can be used effectively across forex, crypto, stocks, or commodities. They’re beneficial for traders who want to keep things clear and systematic.

Backtesting Trends With Free Tools

Before committing capital, savvy traders test their strategies using historical data. Backtesting enables traders to assess how a trend-following strategy would have performed under past market conditions. This helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and ways to refine entries and exits.

Trading platforms like YaMarkets and TradingView offer free backtesting tools through scripts and strategy testers. By applying your indicators to historical charts, you can track how often your setup worked, the average win rate, and the drawdown. MetaTrader 5 (MT5) also offers a robust strategy tester, allowing you to simulate trades using historical price data.

Some of the best asian forex brokers offer demo accounts with these features built in. These allow traders to explore and test without risk. With time, traders can build a playbook of strategies tailored to specific pairs, timeframes, or asset classes.

Using the best trading broker platform, you get access to advanced charting, fast data feeds, and community-shared strategies that help you avoid guesswork and stick to proven methods.

Trade Trends on the YaMarkets Platform

When you're ready to apply your trend-following strategies, YaMarkets provides a solid foundation for trading with confidence. With the YaMarkets MT5 Advanced Charts, traders gain access to professional-grade tools built to analyze trends, test historical strategies, and spot entries with precision. These charts allow you to layer multiple indicators, track price movements, and assess trade outcomes using rich data directly on the platform.

YaMarkets also stands out as one of the best trading broker platform options for trend followers, offering tight spreads, fast execution, and dedicated support. As one of the best asian forex brokers, YaMarkets delivers a feature-rich environment for traders to grow. Backtesting a 200-day moving average crossover or identifying a MACD divergence? The MT5 suite makes it easier than ever to apply your trend-following edge. Get started today and see why so many traders trust YaMarkets to take their strategies to the next level.

 

Related blogs

Financial Commission Compensation Fund Shield

Yamarkets is a member of The Financial Commission, an international independent body responsible for resolving disputes in the Forex and CFD markets.

Robo AI Mobile App