How Do You Determine the Long-term Trend?

How do you determine the long-term trend on a daily price chart?

Do you currently consider the S&Ps to be in an uptrend?

Do you employ long-term trend filters in your trading?

 

i can usually see it when it is formed.

 

I used to struggle with this... but then I realized (through education) it doesn't really matter.

All that matters is that you have a well defined plan/edge and you follow it. There are as many methods as there are traders.

To me trend is up if we are trading above a 20 period EMA.

 

A common way... slope of 200 day moving average... but not especially useful for taking trading risk most of the time

 

What is your time frame? Are you an investor or a trader?

 

When I put an ema . QT puts 9 as default. Has 9 got any significance?

 

Usually, you will know it after it has completed.

 

True!

A "long-term trend" can change in but a moment.

More importantly, what will you do?

 

trading , good trading that is, shouldn't depend on this as it's impossible to do .. if one could determine a 'trend' one wouldn't need anything else - just an entry with the determined trend and you are a winner .. however some papers recommend trading 180 or 364 day high - your chances of winning will increase but it's too long for me personally..

 

PnF Point and Figure charts