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Strategy vault / Trend following

EMAC Exponential Moving Average Cross Optimized Strategy

The EMAC Exponential Moving Average Cross Optimized Strategy is an optimized version based on the basic EMAC strategy. It incorporates trend judgment, multiple moving average filtering, and stop loss/take profit…

Author
ChaoZhang
Complexity
Intermediate · 135 lines
Parameters
26
Backtest bar
1d · swing
Tested on
BTC/USDT · futures

IMG

Overview

The EMAC Exponential Moving Average Cross Optimized Strategy is an optimized version based on the basic EMAC strategy. It incorporates trend judgment, multiple moving average filtering, and stop loss/take profit exits, aiming to follow mid-to-long term trends.

Strategy Logic

  1. Judge recent trend direction: calculate the increase/decrease percentage of close price over past 26 weeks to determine uptrend, downtrend or sideways.

  2. Multiple moving average filter: calculate 10-period, 20-period, 34-period EMA and wait for them to cross above 50-period SMA to trigger buy signals.

  3. ATR stop loss: when entry signal appears, set stop loss at entry bar's low or high minus 2.5ATR.

  4. Trailing stop loss: gradually move up stop loss line as price rises.

  5. Take profit: when entry signal appears, set target at close price plus 3ATR.

  6. MA pullback exit: actively exit when price breaks back below 10-day EMA.

Advantages

  1. Multiple MA filter increases signal reliability, avoiding false breakouts.

  2. ATR stop loss allows reasonable stop distance based on market volatility.

  3. Trailing stop locks in some profits as it moves up.

  4. Reasonable profit target avoids giving back too much profit.

  5. MA pullback exit allows timely exit when trend reverses.

Risks and Solutions

  1. EMA crosses may whipsaw in sideways markets, causing consecutive losses. Can increase EMA periods or add MA crossover filter.

  2. Large ATR values can cause stops too far away, increasing loss risk. Can optimize with ATR moving averages or reduction coefficients.

  3. Overnight gap risk not considered. Can add logic to avoid signals during non-trading periods.

  4. Market regime not considered. Can add market trend filter as a strategy switch.

Optimization Directions

  1. Test EMA combinations to find optimal lengths for different products.

  2. Test ATR moving averages or reduction coefficients to optimize stop distance.

  3. Add logic to avoid signals during non-trading periods.

  4. Add market trend filter as a strategy switch when market is unfavorable.

  5. Backtest parameter combinations over many years to find optimal stability.

Summary

The EMAC Exponential Moving Average Cross Optimized Strategy combines trend judgment, multiple MA filtering and dynamic stops to follow mid-to-long term trends. Compared to the original version it has undergone parameter optimization to improve real-trading performance. But further optimizations and enhancements are needed by adding more logic to handle different market situations, reducing risks and improving stability and profitability.

Parameters

NameDefaultWhat it controls
v_input_12015Start Year
v_input_20R Static or Percent: Percent | Static
v_input_32000R Size Static
v_input_43R Size Percent
v_input_5WTrend Timeframe
v_input_626# of Bars for Trend
v_input_715Trend Growth %
v_input_80Trend Required: Red | Yellow | Orange | Green
v_input_910MA1 Period
v_input_100MA1 Type: EMA | SMA | WMA
v_input_1120MA2 Period
v_input_120MA2 Type: EMA | SMA | WMA
v_input_1334MA3 Period
v_input_140MA3 Type: EMA | SMA | WMA
v_input_15100MA4 Period
v_input_160MA4 Type: SMA | EMA | WMA
v_input_17200MA5 Period
v_input_180MA5 Type: SMA | EMA | WMA
v_input_190Enable Short MA Cross Filter: No | Yes
v_input_200Enable Long MA Cross Filter: No | Yes
v_input_212.5Stop ATR Multiple
v_input_223Target Multiple
v_input_230Enable ATR Stops: No | Yes
v_input_240Enable Stops: No | Yes
v_input_250Enable Targets: No | Yes
v_input_260Enable Early Exit: Yes | No

Source Pine Script

/*backtest
start: 2023-10-01 00:00:00
end: 2023-10-31 23:59:59
period: 1d
basePeriod: 1h
exchanges: [{"eid":"Futures_Binance","currency":"BTC_USDT"}]
*/

//@version=4
//Author = Dustin Drummond https://www.tradingview.com/u/Dustin_D_RLT/
//Strategy based in part on original 10ema Basic Swing Trade Strategy by Matt Delong: https://www.tradingview.com/u/MattDeLong/
//Link to original 10ema Basic Swing Trade Strategy: https://www.tradingview.com/script/8yhGnGCM-10ema-Basic-Swing-Trade-Strategy/
//This is the Original EMAC - Exponential Moving Average Cross Strategy built as a class for reallifetrading dot com and so has all the default settings and has not been optimized
//I would not recomend using this strategy with the default settings and is for educational purposes only
//For the fully optimized version please come back around the same time tomorrow 6/16/21 for the EMAC - Exponential Moving Average Cross - Optimized
//EMAC - Exponential Moving Average Cross
strategy(title="EMAC - Exponential Moving Average Cross", shorttitle = "EMAC", overlay = true, calc_on_every_tick=false, default_qty_value = 100, initial_capital = 100000, default_qty_type = strategy.fixed, pyramiding = 0, process_orders_on_close=true)
//creates a time filter to prevent "too many orders error" and allows user to see Strategy results per year by changing input in settings in Stratey Tester
startYear = input(2015, title="Start Year", minval=1980, step=1)
timeFilter = true
//R Size (Risk Amount)
rStaticOrPercent = input(title="R Static or Percent", defval="Percent", options=["Static", "Percent"])
rSizeStatic = input(2000, title="R Size Static", minval=1, step=100)
rSizePercent = input(3, title="R Size Percent", minval=.01, step=.01)
rSize = rStaticOrPercent == "Static" ? rSizeStatic : rStaticOrPercent == "Percent" ? (rSizePercent * .01 * strategy.equity) : 1
//Recent Trend Indicator "See the standalone version for detailed description"
res = input(title="Trend Timeframe", type=input.resolution, defval="W")
trend = input(26, minval=1, title="# of Bars for Trend")
trendMult = input(15, minval=0, title="Trend Growth %", step=.25) / 100
currentClose = security(syminfo.tickerid, res, close)
pastClose = security(syminfo.tickerid, res, close[trend])
//Trend Indicator
upTrend = (currentClose >= (pastClose * (1 + trendMult)))
downTrend = (currentClose <= (pastClose * (1 - trendMult)))
sidewaysUpTrend = (currentClose < (pastClose * (1 + trendMult)) and (currentClose > pastClose))
sidewaysDownTrend = (currentClose > (pastClose * (1 - trendMult)) and (currentClose < pastClose))
//Plot Trend on Chart
plotshape(upTrend, "Up Trend", style=shape.square, location=location.top, color=color.green, size=size.small)
plotshape(downTrend, "Down Trend", style=shape.square, location=location.top, color=color.red, size=size.small)
plotshape(sidewaysUpTrend, "Sideways Up Trend", style=shape.square, location=location.top, color=color.yellow, size=size.small)
plotshape(sidewaysDownTrend, "Sideways Down Trend", style=shape.square, location=location.top, color=color.orange, size=size.small)
//What trend signals to use in entrySignal
trendRequired = input(title="Trend Required", defval="Red", options=["Green", "Yellow", "Orange", "Red"])
goTrend = trendRequired == "Orange" ? upTrend or sidewaysUpTrend or sidewaysDownTrend : trendRequired == "Yellow" ? upTrend or sidewaysUpTrend : trendRequired == "Green" ? upTrend : trendRequired == "Red" ? upTrend or sidewaysUpTrend or sidewaysDownTrend or downTrend : na
//MAs Inputs Defalt is 10 EMA, 20 EMA, 50 EMA, 100 SMA and 200 SMA
ma1Length = input(10, title="MA1 Period", minval=1, step=1)
ma1Type = input(title="MA1 Type", defval="EMA", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA"])
ma2Length = input(20, title="MA2 Period", minval=1, step=1)
ma2Type = input(title="MA2 Type", defval="EMA", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA"])
ma3Length = input(34, title="MA3 Period", minval=1, step=1)
ma3Type = input(title="MA3 Type", defval="EMA", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA"])
ma4Length = input(100, title="MA4 Period", minval=1, step=1)
ma4Type = input(title="MA4 Type", defval="SMA", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA"])
ma5Length = input(200, title="MA5 Period", minval=1, step=1)
ma5Type = input(title="MA5 Type", defval="SMA", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA"])
//MAs defined
ma1 = ma1Type == "EMA" ? ema(close, ma1Length) : ma1Type == "SMA" ? sma(close, ma1Length) : wma(close, ma1Length)
ma2 = ma2Type == "EMA" ? ema(close, ma2Length) : ma2Type == "SMA" ? sma(close, ma2Length) : wma(close, ma2Length)
ma3 = ma3Type == "EMA" ? ema(close, ma3Length) : ma3Type == "SMA" ? sma(close, ma3Length) : wma(close, ma3Length)
ma4 = ma4Type == "SMA" ? sma(close, ma4Length) : ma4Type == "EMA" ? ema(close, ma4Length) : wma(close, ma4Length)
ma5 = ma5Type == "SMA" ? sma(close, ma5Length) : ma5Type == "EMA" ? ema(close, ma5Length) : wma(close, ma5Length)
//Plot MAs
plot(ma1, title="MA1", color=color.yellow, linewidth=1, style=plot.style_line)
plot(ma2, title="MA2", color=color.purple, linewidth=1, style=plot.style_line)
plot(ma3, title="MA3", color=#00FFFF, linewidth=1, style=plot.style_line)
plot(ma4, title="MA4", color=color.blue, linewidth=2, style=plot.style_line)
plot(ma5, title="MA5", color=color.orange, linewidth=2, style=plot.style_line)
//Allows user to toggle on/off ma1 > ma2 filter
enableShortMAs = input(title="Enable Short MA Cross Filter", defval="No", options=["Yes", "No"])
shortMACross = enableShortMAs == "Yes" and ma1 > ma2 or enableShortMAs == "No"
//Allows user to toggle on/off ma4 > ma5 filter
enableLongMAs = input(title="Enable Long MA Cross Filter", defval="No", options=["Yes", "No"])
longMACross = enableLongMAs == "Yes" and ma4 >= ma5 or enableLongMAs == "No"
//Entry Signals
entrySignal = (strategy.position_size <= 0 and close[1] < ma1[1] and close > ma1 and close > ma2 and close > ma3 and shortMACross and ma1 > ma3 and longMACross and goTrend)
secondSignal = (strategy.position_size > 0 and close[1] < ma1[1] and close > ma1 and close > ma2 and close > ma3 and shortMACross and ma1 > ma3 and longMACross and goTrend)
plotshape(entrySignal, style=shape.triangleup, location=location.belowbar, color=color.green, size=size.small)
plotshape(secondSignal, style=shape.triangleup, location=location.belowbar, color=color.lime, size=size.small)
//ATR for Stops
atrValue = (atr(14))
//to test ATR enable next line
//plot(atrValue, linewidth=1, color=color.black, style=plot.style_line)
atrMult = input(2.5, minval=.25, step=.25, title="Stop ATR Multiple")
//Only target3Mult is used in current strategy target1 and target2 might be used in the future with pyramiding
//target1Mult = input(1.0, minval=.25, step=.25, title="Targert 1 Multiple")
//target2Mult = input(2.0, minval=.25, step=.25, title="Targert 2 Multiple")
target3Mult = input(3.0, minval=.25, step=.25, title="Target Multiple")
enableAtrStop = input(title="Enable ATR Stops", defval="No", options=["Yes", "No"])
//Intitial Recomended Stop Location
atrStop = entrySignal and ((high - (atrMult * atrValue)) < low) ? (high - (atrMult * atrValue)) : low
//oneAtrStop is used for testing only enable next 2 lines to test
//oneAtrStop = entrySignal ? (high - atrValue) : na
//plot(oneAtrStop, "One ATR Stop", linewidth=2, color=color.orange, style=plot.style_linebr)
initialStop = entrySignal and enableAtrStop == "Yes" ? atrStop : entrySignal ? low : na
//Stops changed to stoploss to hold value for orders the next line is old code "bug"
//plot(initialStop, "Initial Stop", linewidth=2, color=color.red, style=plot.style_linebr)
//Set Initial Stop and hold value "debug code"
stoploss = valuewhen(entrySignal, initialStop, 0)
plot(stoploss, title="Stop", linewidth=2, color=color.red)
enableStops = input(title="Enable Stops", defval="No", options=["Yes", "No"])
yesStops = enableStops == "Yes" ? 1 : enableStops == "No" ? 0 : na
//Calculate size of trade based on R Size
//Original buggy code: 
//positionSize = (rSize/(close - initialStop))
//Added a minimum order size of 1 "debug code"
positionSize = (rSize/(close - initialStop)) > 1 ? (rSize/(close - initialStop)) : 1
//Targets
//Enable or Disable Targets
enableTargets = input(title="Enable Targets", defval="No", options=["Yes", "No"])
yesTargets = enableTargets == "Yes" ? 1 : enableTargets == "No" ? 0 : na
//Only target3 is used in current strategy target1 and target2 might be used in the future with pyramiding
//target1 = entrySignal ? (close + ((close - initialStop) * target1Mult)) : na
//target2 = entrySignal ? (close + ((close - initialStop) * target2Mult)) : na
target3 = entrySignal ? (close + ((close - initialStop) * target3Mult)) : na
//plot(target1, "Target 1", linewidth=2, color=color.green, style=plot.style_linebr)
//plot(target2, "Target 2", linewidth=2, color=color.green, style=plot.style_linebr)
plot(target3, "Target 3", linewidth=2, color=color.green, style=plot.style_linebr)
//Set Target and hold value "debug code"
t3 = valuewhen(entrySignal, target3, 0)
//To test t3 and see plot enable next line
//plot(t3, title="Target", linewidth=2, color=color.green)
//MA1 Cross Exit
enableEarlyExit = input(title="Enable Early Exit", defval="Yes", options=["Yes", "No"])
earlyExit = enableEarlyExit == "Yes" ? 1 : enableEarlyExit == "No" ? 0 : na
ma1CrossExit = strategy.position_size > 0 and close < ma1
//Entry Order
strategy.order("Entry", long = true, qty = positionSize, when = (strategy.position_size <= 0 and entrySignal and timeFilter))
//Early Exit Order
strategy.close_all(when = ma1CrossExit and timeFilter and earlyExit, comment = "MA1 Cross Exit")
//Stop and Target Orders
//strategy.cancel orders are needed to prevent bug with Early Exit Order
strategy.order("Stop Loss", false, qty = strategy.position_size, stop=stoploss, oca_name="Exit",  when = timeFilter and yesStops, comment = "Stop Loss")
strategy.cancel("Stop Loss", when = ma1CrossExit and timeFilter and earlyExit)
strategy.order("Target", false, qty = strategy.position_size, limit=t3, oca_name="Exit",  when = timeFilter and yesTargets, comment = "Target")
strategy.cancel("Target", when = ma1CrossExit and timeFilter and earlyExit)

Published by ChaoZhang on the FMZ strategy square · last modified 2023-11-07. Collected in the Quant Trading Vault. Unvalidated research: re-test with your own data and costs before trusting it.

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