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Strategy vault / Multi-timeframe

Long and Short Opening Strategy Based on Multi Timeframe Moving Average and MACD

This strategy takes full advantage of the functions of the multi timeframe exponential moving average (MTF EMA) to determine the trend direction and the MACD indicator to generate trading signals, while setting stop…

Author
ChaoZhang
Complexity
Intermediate · 240 lines
Parameters
48
Backtest bar
1h · intraday
Tested on
BTC/USDT · futures

IMG

Overview

This strategy takes full advantage of the functions of the multi timeframe exponential moving average (MTF EMA) to determine the trend direction and the MACD indicator to generate trading signals, while setting stop loss and take profit prices with the ATR indicator. The strategy is suitable for digital and fiat currency pairs with strong trends and performs better in markets with strong trends.

Strategy Principle

1. Trend Judgment Using MTF EMA

The multi timeframe exponential moving average (MTF EMA) can display moving averages of multiple timeframes on the same chart to determine the overall long/short status of an asset. This strategy adopts 1-hour and 15-minute MTF EMAs.

When the price is above the 1-hour MTF EMA and the 1-hour MTF EMA is below the 15-minute MTF EMA, it is defined as an uptrend. When the price is below the 1-hour MTF EMA and the 1-hour MTF EMA is above the 15-minute MTF EMA, it is defined as a downtrend.

2. MACD Generating Trading Signals

When the MACD line crosses above the Signal line from below, a buy signal is generated. When it crosses below from above, a sell signal is generated. At the same time, a crossover limit is set for the MACD line and Signal line to avoid false signals.

3. Setting Stop Loss and Take Profit with ATR

The ATR indicator is used to set stop loss and take profit prices. ATR can dynamically set reasonable stop loss and take profit distances based on market volatility. At the same time, the multiples of stop loss and take profit are set based on the backtest of highs and lows to make them more flexible.

Trading Strategy

Open Positions Signals

Long signal: Uptrend and MACD crossing above Signal line and crossover value less than limit Short signal: Downtrend and MACD crossing below Signal line and crossover value greater than limit

Close Positions Signals

Long take profit: Price breaks through ATR take profit price Long stop loss: Price breaks through ATR stop loss price Short take profit: Price breaks through ATR take profit price Short stop loss: Price breaks through ATR stop loss price

Advantage Analysis

The biggest advantage of this strategy is that it fully utilizes the strengths of the MTF EMA in determining trends and the MACD in generating trading signals. MTF EMA can clearly judge the overall trend direction and avoid frequent trading in choppy markets. The MACD indicator can better capture short-term changes in price patterns and generate trading signals. Using both together ensures capturing the trend while obtaining more trading opportunities. In addition, using the ATR indicator to dynamically track stop loss and take profit can effectively control the risk of individual trades.

Risks and Solutions

There are two main risks to this strategy: First, in the absence of a clear trend, MTF EMA may generate incorrect signals, leading to losses; Second, the MACD indicator often generates misleading signals when prices change dramatically, which can lead to over-trading. For the first risk, the MTF EMA parameters can be adjusted appropriately to better match price trend changes; The second risk can be mitigated by setting crossover limits for the MACD indicator.

Optimization Directions

The following aspects of the strategy could be optimized:

  1. Adjust the cycle parameters of MTF EMA to match the price characteristics of different trading instruments better

  2. Optimize the fast and slow moving average and signal line parameters of the MACD indicator for better signals

  3. Test different ATR cycle parameters and stop loss/take profit multiples for the best returns

  4. Add other auxiliary indicators to filter signals

Summary

This long and short opening strategy combines the methods of MTF EMA for trend judgment, MACD for trading signal generation, and ATR for dynamic stop loss and take profit. It can achieve good returns in markets with obvious trends. There is plenty of room for optimizing this strategy's parameters and optimization to achieve better performance. However, it is necessary to control risks and avoid blind trading in choppy markets.

Parameters

NameDefaultWhat it controls
v_input_1trueFrom Day
v_input_24From Month
v_input_32022From Year
v_input_4trueTo Day
v_input_55To Month
v_input_62022To Year
v_input_7false═════════════════════ SOURCE ═════════════════════
v_input_8trueSource hl2 or (open+close)/2 ?
v_input_9false════════════════════ MTF EMA ════════════════════
v_input_1060MTF EMA 1
v_input_1170EMA Period 1
v_input_1215MTF EMA 2
v_input_1368EMA Period 2
v_input_14false═════════════════════ MACD ══════════════════════
v_input_1513MACD fast moving average
v_input_1618MACD slow moving average
v_input_1724MACD signal line moving average
v_input_189MACD EMA period
v_input_19trueUse EMA (otherwise SMA)
v_input_20falseUse normal MACD
v_input_21180LONG MACD and signal crossover limit
v_input_22falseShow MACD ribbon?
v_input_233MACD ribbon multiplier
v_input_24false═══════════════════ STOCHASTIC ════════════════════
v_input_25trueStochastic On?
v_input_2610K
v_input_27trueD
v_input_283Smooth
v_input_2930Stoch value crossover
v_input_30trueavg price length
v_input_31false═════════════════ LONG SL ═════════════════
v_input_325Max Intraday Loss(%)
v_input_33falseLong Stop Loss when MTF EMA cross?
v_input_34falseLong Stop Loss (%) on?
v_input_354.7Long Stop Loss (%)
v_input_36trueLong Stop Loss ATR?
v_input_37trueLook back for High/Lows?
v_input_3818How far to look back for High/Lows:
v_input_399Long ATR Lenghth
v_input_404.3Long ATR Stop x ?
v_input_41false═════════════════ LONG TP ═════════════════
v_input_42trueLong Take Profit (%) on?
v_input_435.3Long Take Profit (%)
v_input_44true1 Long Take Profit On?
v_input_45trueLook back for High/Lows?
v_input_4612How far to look back for High/Lows for 1 TP
v_input_4724Long ATR Lenghth 1 TP
v_input_485.5First Long ATR Take Profit x ?

Source Pine Script

/*backtest
start: 2023-12-01 00:00:00
end: 2023-12-31 23:59:59
period: 1h
basePeriod: 15m
exchanges: [{"eid":"Futures_Binance","currency":"BTC_USDT"}]
*/

// This source code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/
// © Steven A. Zmuda Burke / stevenz17
//@version=4
// From Date Inputs
fromDay = input(defval = 01, title = "From Day", minval = 1, maxval = 31)
fromMonth = input(defval = 04, title = "From Month", minval = 1, maxval = 12)
fromYear = input(defval = 2022, title = "From Year", minval = 1970)
 
// To Date Inputs
toDay = input(defval = 01, title = "To Day", minval = 1, maxval = 31)
toMonth = input(defval = 05, title = "To Month", minval = 1, maxval = 12)
toYear = input(defval = 2022, title = "To Year", minval = 1970)
 
// Calculate start/end date and time condition
startDate = timestamp(fromYear, fromMonth, fromDay, 00, 00)
finishDate = timestamp(toYear, toMonth, toDay, 00, 00)
time_cond = true

// Input
strategy("LONG", overlay=true, initial_capital=1000, default_qty_type=strategy.percent_of_equity, default_qty_value=100, slippage=1, commission_type=strategy.commission.percent, 
     commission_value=0.015)
SOURCE = input(title = "═════════════════════ SOURCE ═════════════════════", defval = false, type = input.bool)
sourcehl2 = input(title="Source hl2 or (open+close)/2 ?",type=input.bool,defval=true)
source = sourcehl2 ? hl2 : ((open+close)/2)

//MTF EMA
MTFEMA = input(title = "════════════════════ MTF EMA ════════════════════", defval = false, type = input.bool)

res1=input(title="MTF EMA 1", type=input.resolution, defval="60")
len1 = input(title = "EMA Period 1", type=input.integer, defval=70, minval=1)
ema1 = ema(source, len1)
emaStep1 = security (syminfo.tickerid, res1, ema1, barmerge.gaps_off, barmerge.lookahead_off)
mtf1 = emaStep1

res2=input(title="MTF EMA 2", type=input.resolution, defval="15")
len2 = input(title = "EMA Period 2", type=input.integer, defval=68, minval=1)
ema2 = ema(source, len2)
emaStep2 = security (syminfo.tickerid, res2, ema2, barmerge.gaps_off, barmerge.lookahead_off)
mtf2 = emaStep2

t1 = plot(mtf1, linewidth=4, color= color.aqua, title="EMA")
t2 = plot(mtf2, linewidth=4, color= color.navy, title="EMA")
fill(t1, t2, transp = 70, color = mtf1 > mtf2 ? color.red : color.green)

///MACD
MACD= input(title = "═════════════════════ MACD ══════════════════════", defval = false, type = input.bool)
MACDsource=close
fastLength = input(13, minval=1, title="MACD fast moving average")
slowLength=input(18,minval=1, title="MACD slow moving average")
signalLength=input(24,minval=1, title="MACD signal line moving average")
MacdEmaLength =input(9, title="MACD EMA period", minval=1)
useEma = input(true, title="Use EMA (otherwise SMA)")
useOldAlgo = input(false, title="Use normal MACD")
Lmacsig=input(title="LONG MACD and signal crossover limit",type=input.integer,defval=180)

// Fast line
ma1= useEma ? ema(MACDsource, fastLength) : sma(MACDsource, fastLength) 
ma2 = useEma ?  ema(ma1,fastLength) :  sma(ma1,fastLength) 
fastMA = ((2 * ma1) - ma2)

// Slow line
mas1=  useEma ? ema(MACDsource , slowLength) :  sma(MACDsource , slowLength)
mas2 =  useEma ? ema(mas1 , slowLength): sma(mas1 , slowLength)
slowMA = ((2 * mas1) - mas2)

// MACD line
macd = fastMA - slowMA

// Signal line
emasig1 = ema(macd, signalLength)
emasig2 = ema(emasig1, signalLength)
signal = useOldAlgo ? sma(macd, signalLength) : (2 * emasig1) - emasig2

hist = macd - signal

histline = hist > 0 ? color.green : color.red

//MACD ribbon
macdribbon=input(title="Show MACD ribbon?",type=input.bool,defval=false)
macdx=input(title="MACD ribbon multiplier", type=input.integer, defval=3, minval=1)

leadLine1 = macdribbon ? macd*macdx + source : na
leadLine2 = macdribbon ? signal*macdx + source : na
leadLine3 = hist + source

//MACD plot
p3 = plot(leadLine1, color= color.green, title="MACD", transp = 100, linewidth = 8)
p4 = plot(leadLine2, color= color.red, title="Signal", transp = 100, linewidth = 8)
fill(p3, p4, transp = 20, color = leadLine1 > leadLine2 ? #53b987 : #eb4d5c)

plot((leadLine3), color = histline, title="Histogram", linewidth = 3) 


l="TEst"

upHist = (hist > 0) ? hist : 0
downHist = (hist <= 0) ? hist : 0

p1 = plot(upHist, color=color.green, transp=40, style=plot.style_columns, title='Positive delta')
p2 = plot(downHist, color=color.green, transp=40, style=plot.style_columns, title='Negative delta') 

zeroLine = plot(macd, color=color.black, transp=0, linewidth=2, title='MACD line')
signalLine = plot(signal, color=color.gray, transp=0, linewidth=2, title='Signal')

ribbonDiff = color.green
fill(zeroLine, signalLine, color=ribbonDiff)

circleYPosition = signal
plot(ema(macd,MacdEmaLength) , color=color.red, transp=0, linewidth=2, title='EMA on MACD line')

ribbonDiff2 = hist > 0 ? color.green : color.red
plot(crossunder(signal,macd) ? circleYPosition : na,style=plot.style_circles, linewidth=4, color=ribbonDiff, title='Dots')


//STOCHASTIC
stochchch= input(title = "═══════════════════ STOCHASTIC ════════════════════", defval = false, type = input.bool)
StochOn = input(title="Stochastic On?",type=input.bool,defval=true)
periodK = input(10, title="K", minval=1)
periodD = input(1, title="D", minval=1)
smoothK = input(3, title="Smooth", minval=1)
stochlimit = input(30, title="Stoch value crossover", minval=1)
k = sma(stoch(close, high, low, periodK), smoothK)
d = sma(k, periodD)

stochSignal = StochOn ? (d < stochlimit ? true : false) : true

pp= input(1, title="avg price length", minval=1)
p = ema (source, pp)
K = k + p

plot(k, title="%K", color=#0094FF)
plot(d, title="%D", color=#FF6A00)
h0 = hline(72, "Upper Band", color=#606060)
h1 = hline(20, "Lower Band", color=#606060)
fill(h0, h1, color=#9915FF, transp=80, title="Background")



//Long 
LS= "════════════════════════════════ LONG CONDITIONS ═══════════════════════════"

uptrend = close > mtf1 and mtf1 < mtf2
downtrend = close < mtf1 and mtf1 > mtf2 

crossMACD = crossunder(macd,signal) 

LongBuy = uptrend and stochSignal? crossMACD and signal < Lmacsig and macd < Lmacsig : na

LONG = strategy.position_size > 0
SHORT = strategy.position_size < 0
FLAT = strategy.position_size == 0 

plotshape(LongBuy, style=shape.xcross, text="LONG", color=color.green)

//ATR & TP/SL

ATRTPSLX= input(title = "═════════════════ LONG SL ═════════════════", defval = false, type = input.bool)

maxIdLossPcnt = input(5, "Max Intraday Loss(%)", type=input.float, minval=0.0, step=0.1)
// strategy.risk.max_intraday_loss(maxIdLossPcnt, strategy.percent_of_equity)

SSL2=input(title="Long Stop Loss when MTF EMA cross?",type=input.bool,defval=false)

SSLOP = LONG  and crossunder(source, mtf1) 

SlossPercOn = input(title="Long Stop Loss (%) on?",type=input.bool,defval=false)
SlossPerc = input(title="Long Stop Loss (%)", type=input.float, minval=0.0, step=0.1, defval=4.7) * 0.01
SSpricePerc = LONG and SlossPercOn? strategy.position_avg_price * (-1 - SlossPerc) : na
plot(series = SSpricePerc, linewidth=2, color= color.maroon,style=plot.style_linebr, title="Long Stop Loss %") 
SSLX = LONG and crossunder(source, SSpricePerc)

SSLatr= input(title="Long Stop Loss ATR?",type=input.bool,defval=true)
useStructure=input(title="Look back for High/Lows?",type=input.bool,defval=true)
Slookback=input(title="How far to look back for High/Lows:",type=input.integer,defval=18,minval=1)
SatrLenghth=input(title="Long ATR Lenghth",type=input.integer,defval=9,minval=1)
SatrStopMultiplier=input(title="Long ATR Stop x ?", type=input.float,defval=4.3, minval=0.1,step=0.1)

Satr = atr(SatrLenghth)
LongStop = SSLatr ? ((useStructure ? lowest(low, Slookback) : source) - Satr * SatrStopMultiplier) : na

SStop = crossunder(source,LongStop)

plot(Satr, color=color.blue, title="ATR", transp=100)
plot(series = uptrend ? LongStop : na, color=color.red, style=plot.style_linebr, title="Long Trailing Stop", transp=0)


ATRTPSLXX= input(title = "═════════════════ LONG TP ═════════════════", defval = false, type = input.bool)

TpPercOn = input(title="Long Take Profit (%) on?",type=input.bool,defval=true)
TpPerc = input(title="Long Take Profit (%)", type=input.float, minval=0.0, step=0.1, defval=5.3) * 0.01
TppricePerc = LONG and TpPercOn? strategy.position_avg_price * (-1 + TpPerc) : na
plot(series = TppricePerc, linewidth=2, color= color.lime,style=plot.style_linebr, title="Long Take Profit %") 
TPLX = LONG and crossunder(source, TppricePerc)

TP1=input(title="1 Long Take Profit On?",type=input.bool,defval=true)

useStructure1=input(title="Look back for High/Lows?",type=input.bool,defval=true)
STplookback=input(title="How far to look back for High/Lows for 1 TP",type=input.integer,defval=12,minval=1)
STpatrLenghth=input(title="Long ATR Lenghth 1 TP",type=input.integer,defval=24,minval=1)
SatrProfitMultiplier = input(title="First Long ATR Take Profit x ?", type=input.float,defval=5.5, minval=0.1,step=0.1)
STpatr = atr(STpatrLenghth)
LongTakeProfit = (useStructure1 ? highest(high, STplookback) : source) + STpatr * SatrProfitMultiplier
LongTP = TP1 ? crossover(source, LongTakeProfit): false
plot(series = uptrend ? LongTakeProfit: na , color=color.green, style=plot.style_linebr, title="Long Trailing Take Profit", transp=0)


// Bar color
barcolor(cross(macd, signal) ? (macd - signal > 0 ? (uptrend and macd < 0 and signal < 0 ? color.yellow : na) : (downtrend and macd > 0 and signal > 0 ? color.blue : na)) : na)

// Strategy ATR

GOLONG = LongBuy and SSLatr and FLAT

if GOLONG and TP1
    strategy.entry(id="Entry LONG 1TP", long=true,comment="Entry Long")
    strategy.exit("Long Profit or Loss 1TP","Entry LONG 1TP", limit=LongTakeProfit, stop=LongStop)
if SSLX
    strategy.close(id="Entry LONG 1TP", comment="% Long SL EXIT")
if TPLX
    strategy.close(id="Entry LONG 1TP", comment="% Long TP EXIT")
    
if SSLOP and SSL2
    strategy.close(id="Entry LONG 1TP", comment="MTF EMA cross EXIT")    
    
if (not time_cond)
    strategy.close_all()
    strategy.cancel_all()    


//plot(strategy.equity, title="equity", color=red, linewidth=2, style=areabr)

//@version=4

Published by ChaoZhang on the FMZ strategy square · last modified 2024-01-03. Collected in the Quant Trading Vault. Unvalidated research: re-test with your own data and costs before trusting it.

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