Crossing Up vs Crossing Down
Compare the Crossing Up and Crossing Down tabs side by side — signal direction, price-to-average relationship, and how to read each one.
The Price Crossovers screener is divided into two tabs that represent opposite market conditions.
| Crossing Up | Crossing Down | |
|---|---|---|
| Signal direction | Bullish | Bearish |
| Price movement | Above moving average | Below moving average |
| Implication | Buyers gaining control | Sellers gaining control |
| Common use | Long setups, trend continuation | Short setups, breakdowns |
Crossing Up Tab
The Crossing Up tab displays instruments whose price has recently moved above the selected moving average. This is generally interpreted as a bullish signal: it may indicate that a pullback has ended, a new uptrend is beginning, or an existing trend is resuming. You can see it live in the daily Indices crossing-up screener.
A crossing-up event is more meaningful when:
- The broader timeframe trend is already bullish (positive W% and D%)
- The crossover occurs after a shallow, controlled pullback
- Price closes decisively above the moving average rather than just touching it
Example
An index has been trading below its EMA(20) during a pullback. Buyers step in, price rallies, and closes above the EMA. The instrument appears in the Crossing Up tab. If D% and 4h% are also positive, the signal has multi-timeframe confirmation.
Crossing Down Tab
The Crossing Down tab displays instruments whose price has recently moved below the selected moving average. This is generally interpreted as a bearish signal: it may indicate that a rally has failed, a new downtrend is beginning, or a breakdown is underway. See the daily Forex crossing-down screener for a live example.
A crossing-down event is more meaningful when:
- The broader timeframe trend is already bearish (negative W% and D%)
- Selling pressure has been building with declining performance readings
- Price closes decisively below the moving average
Example
A currency pair has been trending above its EMA(20). Selling pressure increases, price drops, and closes below the EMA. The pair appears in the Crossing Down tab. Negative D% and 4h% readings confirm that weakness is present across multiple timeframes.
Using Performance Columns for Confirmation
Both tabs display the same performance metrics. Use them to assess the quality of the crossover signal.
Strong bullish signal (Crossing Up): Chg%, D%, 4h%, and W% are all positive: momentum aligns with the crossover direction.
Strong bearish signal (Crossing Down): Chg%, D%, 4h%, and W% are all negative: weakness is confirmed across all timeframes.
Mixed readings (e.g., positive weekly but negative intraday) may indicate early reversals or low-conviction setups worth monitoring but not acting on immediately.
When to Use Each Tab
Use the Crossing Up tab when looking for bullish breakout candidates, trend continuation setups, or pullback recoveries in uptrends.
Use the Crossing Down tab when looking for bearish breakdown candidates, weakening uptrends to avoid, or short-selling opportunities.