W SMA future: the 20, 50 and 200-week averages of the future
W SMA20, W SMA50 and W SMA200 future are the 20, 50 and 200-week simple moving averages of the main future — for example FDAX or NQ: the average of its last 20, 50 or 200 weekly closing prices. They are the averages of the weekly futures chart. Basics turns this week's value into a horizontal line on your intraday chart. On futures (main, mini, micro, nano) the lines are the future's own prices; on CFD and index charts they are converted with the current cash-future difference. This page explains what the lines show and what a quarterly roll does to them.
On this page
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- 1Tuesday 13 October 09:00–12:00 — FDAX reaches W SMA20 future (25,552) and stalls there for three hours, with a high of 25,589. From 12:00 it turns lower.
- 2Wednesday 14 October 14:00 — the second try ends at exactly the same high, 25,589. The hourly candle closes 127 points lower, at 25,462, and on Thursday morning FDAX trades at 25,237.
- 3Thursday 15 October 21:00 — the third try breaks through: FDAX closes the evening above the line at 25,616 and reaches 25,827 on Friday.
Part of Basics
Free TradingView indicator with all session, week and month levels for index, futures and CFD charts.
Install Basics (free) →What the weekly futures averages show
A simple moving average (SMA) of 20 weeks adds up the last 20 weekly closing prices and divides by 20. W SMA future does this with the weekly closes of the main future, such as FDAX, ES or NQ — the same average you get with a 20-period SMA on the weekly futures chart.
- W SMA20 — about five months: the trend of the past season.
- W SMA50 — about a year: the medium to long-term trend.
- W SMA200 — almost four years: the very long-term trend, a level that is often far away.
This week counts too: until the week closes, the current price takes the place of this week's close. So the line moves a little during the week, and Basics draws one line per trading day with the value of that day.
Why traders watch them
- The averages of the weekly futures chart. Many futures traders keep a weekly chart open next to their intraday chart. When price reaches a weekly average, it often reacts — as on FDAX on 13 and 14 October in the example above.
- Few touches, more meaning. A weekly average moves slowly and price reaches it only a few times a year. Such a test can mark a turning point; a clean break often starts a bigger move.
- Hard to see intraday. On a 5-minute or 1-hour chart a normal 20-period average covers 20 candles, not 20 weeks. Basics draws the weekly value as a line, so you know where it is without switching to the weekly chart.
After a quarterly roll
W SMA future is not back-adjusted: after a roll to the next contract, the average still contains the weekly closes of the old contract — for 20, 50 or 200 weeks. A weekly average therefore carries old contracts much longer than a daily one, and it can sit some distance from what a back-adjusted weekly chart shows. For each average Basics also has a back-adjusted version, switched off by default: W SMA future b-adj.
How Basics shows them
The weekly futures averages appear on every supported chart. On futures (main, mini, micro, nano) they are the main future's prices as they are — on a micro such as MNQ you see the averages of NQ. On CFD and index charts they are converted with the current cash-future difference. The same averages exist for the official index as W SMA index (solid), and for days as D SMA future.
| Default look | W SMA20 black · W SMA50 blue · W SMA200 red — dashed, width 3 |
|---|---|
| Labels on the chart | W SMA20 future, W SMA50 future, W SMA200 future (renamable) |
| Switched on by default | Yes, all three (the b-adj versions: no) |
| Value | The average of the last 20, 50 or 200 weekly closes of the main future, with the current price as this week's close; not back-adjusted |
| Price on your chart | Futures (main, mini, micro, nano): the main future's price as it is. CFD and index charts: converted with the current cash-future difference |
| Where the lines start | Each trading day gets its own line, starting before the stock market opens — on US futures at 18:00 New York the evening before |
| Timeframes | Charts from 1 minute up to the weekly chart, on seconds charts too, unless the level needs more history than the chart loads; not on monthly charts |
| Markets | Nasdaq-100, S&P 500, Dow, Russell 2000, DAX, FTSE 100 and AEX — all tickers |
| Lookback | 1 — today only (up to 20 sessions, set in the indicator settings) |
The same average on the weekly chart
On the weekly FDAX chart the 20-week average runs right through the last weeks of the example. In the week of 12 October FDAX was turned back at it twice before it broke above it. Basics puts this value on your intraday chart, so you see those tests coming.
The same average on NQ
Same week, a line that held once and then broke. Click the chart to enlarge it.
Why don't I see the lines?
- You are on a monthly chart.The lines are drawn on charts from 1 minute up to the weekly chart.
- Price is far away from them.Lines are hidden while the level is more than 5 % from the current price, so they don't squeeze the chart — W SMA50 and W SMA200 often are. You can change this under General → Level visibility range.
- They are switched off.Check the W SMA20, W SMA50 and W SMA200 future boxes and the master switch Show all objects in 'Futures SMAs' group in the indicator settings.
- Your ticker is not recognised.See the supported tickers — and if yours is missing, let me know: requests are very welcome.
What you can change
In the indicator settings (the gear icon next to Basics on your chart), under Futures SMAs:
| Show / hide | W SMA20, W SMA50 and W SMA200 future checkboxes · Futures SMAs |
|---|---|
| Back-adjusted version | W SMA future b-adj, a checkbox per average, off by default |
| Colour, width, style | Any colour · width 1–5 · solid, dashed or dotted |
| Label text | Default W SMA20 future, W SMA50 future and W SMA200 future |
| Lookback | 1–20 sessions (default 1: today only) |
| Label size, line end, visibility range | Shared with all lines · General |
Charts and defaults on this page: Basics v11.72.8 · updated 21 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 20-week moving average of a future?
The average of the last 20 weekly closes of the main future — about five months of trading. It is what a 20-period SMA shows on the weekly futures chart.
Why does my weekly FDAX chart show a different value?
Check the B-ADJ button (back-adjustment). W SMA future is not back-adjusted; W SMA future b-adj is the back-adjusted version. Because a weekly average always spans at least one quarterly roll, the two almost always differ.
What is the difference between W SMA future and W SMA index?
W SMA future averages the weekly closes of the main future; W SMA index averages the official weekly closing prices of the index.
Does it work on MNQ, FDXM or a CFD?
Yes. On mini, micro and nano futures you see the averages of the main future. On a CFD such as GER40, and on a chart of the index itself, they are converted with the current cash-future difference.
Related levels
See the weekly futures averages on your own chart
Basics is free on TradingView. Add it to any supported chart — for example FDXM or MNQ — and the 20, 50 and 200-week futures averages appear without any setup.