Golden Cross
When a short-term moving average crosses above a long-term one — a widely-cited bullish trend signal.
A golden cross occurs when a faster moving average (commonly the 50-day) crosses above a slower one (commonly the 200-day), interpreted as confirmation that momentum has turned durably bullish. It’s one of the most media-quoted technical signals.
The reality is more measured: because moving averages lag, a golden cross confirms a trend that’s already underway rather than predicting one, and it can whipsaw in choppy markets. Its long-term track record on major assets is mixed-to-modestly-positive, and its fame partly creates its own short-term effect as traders react to the headline. Context and confirmation matter more than the crossing itself. Its bearish mirror is the death cross.