SMA50 crossing below SMA200.
The filter checks for a cross event: SMA 50 was at or above SMA 200 on the prior bar and is now below SMA 200 on the current bar. This is a transition detection, not a simple comparison — it fires only on the first bar of the new bearish alignment, not on every bar where SMA 50 remains below SMA 200. on the Daily chart, SMA 50 spans 50 hours of trading (approximately 2.5 sessions) and SMA 200 spans 200 hours (roughly 10 sessions). The cross event is rare because moving averages change slowly — both averages must converge and then diverge in the opposite direction, which only happens when a sustained trend reversal has occurred.
The Death Cross generates significant media coverage and retail trading attention, which itself affects price action around the event. Research on the Daily timeframe shows mixed results — the cross often occurs after a stock has already declined significantly, and a bounce (the "dead cat bounce") frequently follows as oversold conditions are temporarily relieved. The 1-hour Death Cross is faster and occurs more frequently than the daily version, making it more suitable as an intraday or short-swing signal. The highest-quality Death Cross signals occur when they accompany other bearish conditions: price below VWAP, below all MAs (Below All MAs Bear), or RSI declining from overbought. A Death Cross in isolation — where price is still above SMA 200 — is rare by definition but signals a deteriorating trend before it fully breaks. See Golden Cross for the bullish equivalent, and MACD Bear Cross for a faster-moving bearish signal that often precedes the Death Cross.
Educational references. Videos may not match this screen's exact filters.
This screener finds stocks where SMA 50 has just crossed below SMA 200 — the Death Cross. The Death Cross is one of the most widely watched bearish technical events: it signals that the medium-term average has fallen below the long-term average, meaning the downtrend has persisted long enough to drag the 50-period average below the multi-year baseline. Currently 8 stocks match on the Daily chart. Swing traders and macro-oriented investors use it as a signal to exit long positions or initiate short positions with a longer holding horizon. Who uses this: traders looking for structural bearish trend transitions, not just short-term pullbacks. Failure mode: the Death Cross is a lagging indicator — by the time SMA 50 crosses below SMA 200, the stock may have already declined 20-30% from its peak, making the signal more of a confirmation than an entry; counter-trend rallies often occur immediately after the cross. Related screens: Golden Cross and MACD Bear Cross.