Some crossover tools use widely spaced averages; this one uses two close together. The MA cross indicator draws a 10-bar and a 13-bar exponential average and marks each bar where the 10 crosses the 13. With so little gap between them, the crosses come early and often.
This build ships as a compiled .ex4 for MT4 and .ex5 for MT5; the screenshots below come from EURUSD H1.
| Platforms | MT4 (.ex4) + MT5 (.ex5) |
|---|---|
| Chart window | Main price chart |
| Plots | 2: Moving Buy, Moving Sell |
| Alerts | popup, push notification, email, sound |
| Inputs | 8 |
What you get on the chart
Two lines and two marks on price.
The 10-bar line runs quicker, the 13-bar slower.
`Moving Buy` prints lawn green with arrow 233.
`Moving Sell` prints deep pink with arrow 234.
Marks sit half a bar range from the candle.
Nothing else is drawn.
- Moving Buy: arrow, lawn green, arrow code 233
- Moving Sell: arrow, deep pink, arrow code 234
How the source computes it
The averages
`FastEma` `10` and `SlowEma` `13` are exponential averages of the close. Both start from the oldest close on the chart.
The cross
A buy prints where the 10-bar line moves from at or below the 13 to above it. The sell is the mirror.
Spacing
The gap between mark and bar is half that bar’s range, so big bars get more room.
How to take it
Lawn green marks an upward cross.
Deep pink marks a downward cross.
Close lines give early but frequent crosses.
Wider settings slow the crosses down.
Each cross marks the bar it happened on.
Early bars on the chart are less reliable.
Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.
Every cross can send a message, so a choppy session sends several. `EnableAlerts` holds them, and only the popup delivers at first.
Every MA Cross Indicator input
Core settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
FastEma |
Quicker average length, `10`. | 10 |
SlowEma |
Slower average length, `13`. | 13 |
Alert settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
EnableAlerts |
Switch for cross messages, `true`. | on |
EnablePopup |
Popup, `true`. | on |
EnablePushNotify |
Mobile route, `false`. | off |
EnableEmail |
Email route, `false`. | off |
EnableSound |
Speaker, `false`. | off |
SoundFile |
Speaker clip, `”alert.wav”`. | alert.wav |
Chart and timeframe notes
A 10 and 13 pair turns fast on any chart. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, with a cross most days. On M15 crosses come several times a session. On H4 the pair works as a quick trend flag.
What it gets wrong
Two close averages whipsaw in ranges.
No filter or cooldown thins the marks.
Seeding from one close makes the earliest bars rough.
Only the popup delivers until you change it.
Copy the compiled MA Cross Indicator file into your MQL4/Indicators folder, and the MT5 build into MQL5/Indicators, then restart the terminal and drag it onto a chart. The step-by-step guide with screenshots is at how to install MT4 and MT5 indicators.
Download the MA Cross Indicator for MT4 and MT5
The zip holds the compiled MA Cross Indicator build for MT4 and MT5, plus a short README. Compiled files only, no source. Enter your email below and the download link arrives in your inbox.
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FAQ
What do SlowEma 13 and FastEma 10 trade off?
Speed against noise. With only three bars between them, the lines cross near the start of a move, but small wiggles in quiet markets swap them just as easily.
When does Moving Buy print on the chart?
On the bar where the 10-bar average moves from at or below the 13-bar average to above it. No other filter applies, so the chart shows every upward cross.
Can the FastEma and SlowEma pair be widened to 20 and 50?
Yes. Both lengths are inputs. Wider settings cross far less often and much later, which suits trend following on H4 and daily charts better than quick signals.
Why are Moving Buy marks on the oldest bars unreliable?
Both averages start from the oldest close rather than a simple average, so they need a few dozen bars to settle. Crosses in that early stretch mean less than later ones.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the MA Cross Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.
Category: this is part of our Trend collection. Also, truly, browse more Trend for MetaTrader, or explore every MT4 indicator and MT5 indicator on the site.
External references
- The core method is documented in Cross listing on Wikipedia.
- Additional market context is at Intellidex Indices at StockCharts ChartSchool.
About the author
Written by Dominic Walsh, a Forex trader and MT4/MT5 indicator, Expert Advisor and script developer. Every tool on forexmt4systems.com is tested on live charts before release and ships with ready-to-use compiled MT4 (.ex4) and MT5 (.ex5) files. Learn more about the trader and developer behind this site.
How we build, test and correct every tool: Editorial & Testing Policy. Trading carries risk; see the disclaimer.