Technical analysis · updated October 21, 2026
What are the golden cross and the death cross
A golden cross happens when the 50-day average rises above the 200-day average: the medium-term trend has moved above the long one. A death cross is the opposite: the short average drops below the long one.
How it works
Each day we compare the 50-day average price with the 200-day average. The day the short one crosses above the long one is a golden cross; the day it crosses below is a death cross. On our pages you see the current state: "short average above the long one" or the reverse.
How to read golden cross
The signal is slow: it comes after the price has already risen or fallen. It is used more as a filter than as a buy signal.
When golden cross can fool you
False signals: in a market with no direction, the averages cross often, with no trend behind them.
Related terms
Questions about golden cross
Does a golden cross mean the stock will rise?
No. It shows it has already risen in recent months. Sometimes the trend continues, sometimes it does not.
These explanations are for information only. They are not a recommendation to buy or sell.
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