Senkou Span A
The Senkou Span A is the average of the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen, projected 26 periods ahead, and forms the first boundary of the Ichimoku cloud.
The Senkou Span A (first leading line) is computed as the average of the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen: (Tenkan + Kijun) / 2, then plotted 26 periods into the future. This projection is what gives Ichimoku its forward-looking character: the cloud you see ahead of the latest candle was built from prices 26 periods ago. Together with the Senkou Span B, it bounds the Kumo, the indicator's central support and resistance zone.
How to read and use it
Because it is built from 9 and 26 periods, the Senkou Span A is the fast boundary of the cloud: it reacts before the Senkou Span B. When it moves above Span B, the cloud turns bullish; when it drops below, the cloud turns bearish : this flip is called a Kumo twist and often marks a transition zone. In Screener.Trading, Ichimoku rules let you compare price against the cloud boundaries, for instance to detect assets that just closed above the Senkou Span A.
A thin cloud (Span A close to Span B) is easy to cross; a thick cloud offers stronger support or resistance.
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- GlossarySenkou Span BThe Senkou Span B is the midpoint of the last 52 periods' range, projected 26 periods ahead, forming the slow boundary of the Ichimoku cloud.
- GlossaryKumo (Ichimoku cloud)The Kumo, or Ichimoku cloud, is the area between the Senkou Spans A and B, projected forward, which materialises support and resistance and sets the market's bullish or bearish bias.
- GlossaryTenkan-senThe Tenkan-sen, or Ichimoku conversion line, is the average of the highest high and lowest low over the last 9 periods, used as a short-term trend gauge.
- GlossaryKijun-senThe Kijun-sen, or Ichimoku base line, is the average of the highest high and lowest low over the last 26 periods, seen as the market's medium-term equilibrium level.
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