Metastock does that automatically. You can adjust the display via TOOLS -- OPTIONS -- CHART OPTIONS, and check "IGNORE WEEKEND DATA".

If you want the 20 day MA not including today, use the REF() function.

MA20:=mov(c,20,s);
ref(MA20,-1);

Hi Torben

There is one method I know of that might help you produce an MA for the last 20 market-open days rather than for the last 20 days that a security was actually traded. Unfortunately this method does not lend itself to being exploited by an exploration.

The Security() function gives you the ability to call a security and plot it on an index. Not only can you plot the price of the security with missing data but you can plot most indicators based on the price too, including most moving averages. The Security() function will "fill in" the missing data bar prices from the target security something like this - ValueWhen(1, C<>"N/A", C). In other words the Security() function (plotting on an index with all data bars) will plot the last available price of the target security on each bar of the index until there's a new valid price available. The result is that your target security price plot will "flat line" when there is missing data, but the flat-line elements form the missing-bar prices that you need for the SMA data array.

The problem with this ability of the Security() function is that there's no way that i know of to use it to your advantage when exploring a portfolio or folder of securities - it can really only be used by calling one security at a time while using an index as the active chart. I've puzzled over how to use this (Security() function) characteristic in an exploration a number of times and never yet come up with an acceptable solution.

Roy

Hi Johnathan

I don't think so but I'll look at it and come back to you if there's anything new to report.

Roy