Moving averages are a type of mathematical smoothing technique that uses a set of data points to determine the current trend of a given metric. These measurements are used in everything from financial forecasting to finding the best time to buy or sell stocks. There are many types of moving averages, but the two most popular types are the simple and exponential moving averages. The SMA is calculated by taking the average price over a set interval, while EMA takes into account previous prices as well.