MACD Trend Indicator: A Split Histogram Plus A Flip Dot

Written by Dominic Walsh · Published 16 Jun 2026 · Last updated 9 Sep 2026

The macd trend indicator splits the histogram into two coloured buffers instead of one grey series. Above zero it draws lime, below zero red. A yellow dot then marks the bar where the main line itself changed direction, which is a different event from a signal crossing.

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	Separate window (levels 0)
Plots	5: MACD, Signal, Hist+, Hist-, TrendFlip
Alerts	popup, push notification, email, sound
Inputs	9

What the Macd trend Indicator draws on the chart

MACD is the dodger blue main line and Signal is the orange red one.

Hist+ is the lime histogram above zero.

Hist- is the red histogram below it.

TrendFlip is a yellow dot on the bar where the main line turned.

• MACD: line, dodger blue, width 2
• Signal: line, orange red, width 2
• Hist+: histogram, lime, width 3
• Hist-: histogram, red, width 3
• TrendFlip: arrow, yellow, width 3, arrow code 159

How the Macd trend Indicator calculates its values

The two lines

iMACD supplies main and signal at `InpFastEMA` `12`, `InpSlowEMA` `26` and `InpSignalSMA` `9` on the close. Both go straight into plotted buffers with no further processing.

Splitting the histogram

hist takes main minus signal. Both BufHistPos and BufHistNeg receive that value, and the sign decides which one you see. Splitting it this way lets each half carry its own colour without a second calculation.

Marking the flip

The code also reads the main line one bar back. A flip means the current value moved the other way to the previous step. BufFlip then marks that bar, independently of where the signal line sits.

How to read the signals

Colour tells you which side of zero the gap sits on.

The yellow dot marks a turn in the main line, not a signal crossing.

A dot with the histogram still deep in one colour is an early warning.

Both events can happen on the same bar, and often do.

Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.

`InpEnableAlerts` starts on with `InpEnablePopup` and `InpEnableSound` both true, while `InpEnablePush` and `InpEnableEmail` begin false. `InpSoundFile` picks the clip. The test reads completed bars, one message per closed bar.

Every Macd trend Indicator input

Core settings

Setting	What it does	Default
InpFastEMA	Fast EMA. Fast average length, default `12`.	12
InpSlowEMA	Slow EMA. Slow average length, default `26`.	26
InpSignalSMA	Signal SMA period. Signal average length, default `9`.	9

Alert settings

Setting	What it does	Default
InpEnableAlerts	Master alert toggle. Master toggle for the histogram flip alerts, default `true`.	on
InpEnablePopup	Popup alert. Terminal dialog on a flip, default `true`.	on
InpEnablePush	Push notification. Phone push on a flip, default `false`.	off
InpEnableEmail	Email alert. Mail delivery on a flip, default `false`.	off
InpEnableSound	Sound alert. Sound playback on a flip, default `true`.	on
InpSoundFile	Sound file. Wav clip for the flip alert, default `alert.wav`.	alert.wav

Settings that fit your chart

A split histogram reads best where the pane has room to breathe. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, where `InpSlowEMA` at `26` covers a day. On M5 the colour changes several times an hour. On H4 each colour block covers a genuine leg of the move.

When the Macd trend Indicator fails

A turn in the main line can reverse on the next bar, so early dots are often wrong.

Colour reports the sign of the gap and nothing about its size.

Both the lines and the flip test lag price, because averages always do.

Copy the compiled Macd trend 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 Macd trend Indicator for MT4 and MT5

The zip holds the compiled Macd trend 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.

FAQ

What separates the Hist+ and Hist- plots?

Only the sign. Both receive main minus signal, and the lime buffer keeps it while positive with the red one taking over below zero. Splitting them lets each half hold its own colour without recalculating anything.

What does the TrendFlip dot mark?

A change of direction in the main line itself. The code compares the current value with the one before, so the dot appears when that step reverses. It is a separate event from the main line crossing its signal.

Can a TrendFlip dot appear without a crossing?

Yes, and that is the useful case. The main line can turn while still sitting well above the signal. The dot then gives an early warning that momentum has stopped building, before any crossing happens.

Does InpSignalSMA affect the flip test?

No. The flip reads only the main line, so `InpSignalSMA` `9` changes the signal line and the histogram without touching the dot. That is why the two events can disagree on the same bar.

Are results guaranteed?

No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Macd trend Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.