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Strategy vault / Multi-timeframe

MZ MA Cross Multiple TimeFrame Strategy

This strategy mainly uses MA line crossovers across multiple timeframes to determine trend direction, and trades long or short when the trend is clear after filtering signals with specific criteria. It belongs to the…

Author
ChaoZhang
Complexity
Intermediate · 240 lines
Parameters
28
Backtest bar
1h · intraday
Tested on
BTC/USDT · futures

IMG

This strategy mainly uses MA line crossovers across multiple timeframes to determine trend direction, and trades long or short when the trend is clear after filtering signals with specific criteria. It belongs to the trend following strategy category.

Strategy Logic

  1. User inputs custom backtest time range.

  2. Choose to use Heikin-Ashi candles or normal candles.

  3. Define slow, fast and optional third MA line for uptrends.

  4. Customize MA type, timeframe and parameters for each MA line.

  5. Long signal when fast MA crosses above slow MA, short signal when crossing below.

  6. Optional to only long when close is above the third MA line.

  7. Use strategy.entry for automated trading.

  8. Fixed trade size or calculate based on account percentage.

Advantages

  1. Uses MTF structure, each MA has own timeframe to identify trends across timescales.

  2. Customizable MA types, can use Smooth MAs for stability or Fast MAs for responsiveness.

  3. Heikin-Ashi filters false breakouts.

  4. Optional third MA line filters whipsaws.

  5. Flexible MA periods suit different market environments.

  6. strategy.entry module automates trading.

  7. Backtest optimization finds best parameters.

Risks

  1. MA crosses prone to false signals, causing unnecessary trades. Can optimize periods or add filters.

  2. Whipsaws cause losses in choppy markets. Can widen MA spacing or lengthen periods.

  3. Fixed trade size doesn't control risk. Consider percentage of account size.

  4. Fees and slippage also impact profitability. Ensure high enough win rate.

Optimization

  1. Test different MA types for best combinations of stability and responsiveness.

  2. Optimize MA periods to balance trend identification and sensitivity.

  3. Refine entry conditions, consider stronger uptrend filters.

  4. Optimize periods for specific products.

  5. Add other indicators as filters, e.g. volume.

  6. Parameter optimization on backtest data to maximize performance.

Conclusion

The MTF MA crossover strategy is a common trend following system. Benefits include simplicity, flexibility and adaptability. But false signals remain a risk. Parameters and filters can be optimized via backtesting to find best combinations. More suitable for trending markets. Use cautiously or stop trading during choppy conditions. As a traditional trend following technique, MTF MA crossovers are still worth dedicated research and application.

Parameters

NameDefaultWhat it controls
v_input_1DChart Timeframe
v_input_2trueUse Heikin Ashi Candles
v_input_3trueFrom Month
v_input_4trueFrom Day
v_input_52021From Year
v_input_612Thru Month
v_input_730Thru Day
v_input_82021Thru Year
v_input_9trueShow Date Range
v_input_100Slow MA Type: LRC | EMA | DEMA | TEMA | SMA | WMA | MF | VAMA | TMA | HMA | JMA | Kijun v2 | EDSMA | McGinley
v_input_110Fast MA Type: EDSMA | EMA | DEMA | TEMA | LRC | WMA | MF | VAMA | TMA | HMA | JMA | Kijun v2 | SMA | McGinley
v_input_12falseUse Uptrend Conditional 3rd MA for Confirmation
v_input_130Uptrend Conditional MA Type: HMA | EMA | DEMA | TEMA | LRC | WMA | MF | VAMA | TMA | SMA | JMA | Kijun v2 | EDSMA | McGinley
v_input_14DSlow MA Resolution
v_input_15DFast MA Resolution
v_input_16DUptrend Conditional MA Resolution
v_input_1750Slow MA Length
v_input_1830Fast MA Length
v_input_19200Uptrend Conditional MA Length
v_input_20trueKijun MOD Divider
v_input_213* Jurik (JMA) Only - Phase
v_input_22true* Jurik (JMA) Only - Power
v_input_2310* Volatility Adjusted (VAMA) Only - Volatility lookback length
v_input_240.8Modular Filter, General Filter Only - Beta
v_input_25falseModular Filter Only - Feedback
v_input_260.5Modular Filter Only - Feedback Weighting
v_input_2720EDSMA - Super Smoother Filter Length
v_input_280EDSMA - Super Smoother Filter Poles: 2 | 3

Source Pine Script

/*backtest
start: 2023-11-08 00:00:00
end: 2023-11-15 00:00:00
period: 1h
basePeriod: 15m
exchanges: [{"eid":"Futures_Binance","currency":"BTC_USDT"}]
*/

//@version=4
strategy(shorttitle="MZ MA Cross",title="MA MTF Cross Strategy", overlay=true, calc_on_order_fills=false, calc_on_every_tick=false, default_qty_type=strategy.fixed, default_qty_value=5,commission_value=0.1)

timeFrameticker  = input('D',type=input.resolution, title="Chart Timeframe")
uha   =input(true, title="Use Heikin Ashi Candles")

// Use only Heikinashi Candles for all calculations
haclose = uha ? security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), timeFrameticker, close) : security(syminfo.tickerid, timeFrameticker, close)
haopen = uha ? security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), timeFrameticker, open) : security(syminfo.tickerid, timeFrameticker, open)
hahigh = uha ? security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), timeFrameticker, high) : security(syminfo.tickerid, timeFrameticker, high)
halow = uha ?security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), timeFrameticker, low) : security(syminfo.tickerid, timeFrameticker, low)

//Backtest dates
fromMonth = input(defval = 1,    title = "From Month",      type = input.integer, minval = 1, maxval = 12)
fromDay   = input(defval = 1,    title = "From Day",        type = input.integer, minval = 1, maxval = 31)
fromYear  = input(defval = 2021, title = "From Year",       type = input.integer, minval = 1970)
thruMonth = input(defval = 12,    title = "Thru Month",      type = input.integer, minval = 1, maxval = 12)
thruDay   = input(defval = 30,    title = "Thru Day",        type = input.integer, minval = 1, maxval = 31)
thruYear  = input(defval = 2021, title = "Thru Year",       type = input.integer, minval = 1970)

showDate  = input(defval = true, title = "Show Date Range", type = input.bool)

start     = timestamp(fromYear, fromMonth, fromDay, 00, 00)        // backtest start window
finish    = timestamp(thruYear, thruMonth, thruDay, 23, 59)        // backtest finish window
window()  => true

src = security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), timeFrameticker, close)

//  INPUT MA TYPE
slowMAtype = input(title="Slow MA Type", type=input.string, defval="LRC", options=["SMA","EMA","DEMA","TEMA","LRC","WMA","MF","VAMA","TMA","HMA", "JMA", "Kijun v2", "EDSMA","McGinley"])
fastMAtype = input(title="Fast MA Type", type=input.string, defval="EDSMA", options=["SMA","EMA","DEMA","TEMA","LRC","WMA","MF","VAMA","TMA","HMA", "JMA", "Kijun v2", "EDSMA","McGinley"])
upMAcond =input(false, title="Use Uptrend Conditional 3rd MA for Confirmation")
upMAtype=input(title="Uptrend Conditional MA Type", type=input.string, defval="HMA", options=["SMA","EMA","DEMA","TEMA","LRC","WMA","MF","VAMA","TMA","HMA", "JMA", "Kijun v2", "EDSMA","McGinley"])


//  INPUT RESOLUTION
slowMAresolution = input("D",type=input.resolution, title="Slow MA Resolution")
fastMAresolution = input("D",type=input.resolution, title="Fast MA Resolution")
upMAresolution = input("D",type=input.resolution, title="Uptrend Conditional MA Resolution")
haMAslow = uha ? security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), slowMAresolution, close) : security(syminfo.tickerid, slowMAresolution, close)
haMAfast = uha ?security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), fastMAresolution, close) : security(syminfo.tickerid, fastMAresolution, close)
haMAup =  uha ?security(heikinashi(syminfo.tickerid), upMAresolution, close) : security(syminfo.tickerid, upMAresolution, close)

//  INPUT LENGTHS
slowMAlength = input(50, minval=1, title="Slow MA Length")
fastMAlength = input(30, minval=1, title="Fast MA Length")
upMAlength =  input(200, minval=1, title="Uptrend Conditional MA Length")

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////                      MA Function                         //////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//           Pre-reqs
//
tema(src, len) =>
    ema1 = ema(src, len)
    ema2 = ema(ema1, len)
    ema3 = ema(ema2, len)
    (3 * ema1) - (3 * ema2) + ema3
kidiv = input(defval=1,maxval=4,  title="Kijun MOD Divider")

jurik_phase = input(title="* Jurik (JMA) Only - Phase", type=input.integer, defval=3)
jurik_power = input(title="* Jurik (JMA) Only - Power", type=input.integer, defval=1)
volatility_lookback = input(10, title="* Volatility Adjusted (VAMA) Only - Volatility lookback length")
//                  MF
beta = input(0.8,minval=0,maxval=1,step=0.1,  title="Modular Filter, General Filter Only - Beta")
feedback = input(false, title="Modular Filter Only - Feedback")
z = input(0.5,title="Modular Filter Only - Feedback Weighting",step=0.1, minval=0, maxval=1)
//EDSMA
ssfLength = input(title="EDSMA - Super Smoother Filter Length", type=input.integer, minval=1, defval=20)
ssfPoles = input(title="EDSMA - Super Smoother Filter Poles", type=input.integer, defval=2, options=[2, 3])

//----
//                  EDSMA
get2PoleSSF(src, length) =>
    PI = 2 * asin(1)
    arg = sqrt(2) * PI / length
    a1 = exp(-arg)
    b1 = 2 * a1 * cos(arg)
    c2 = b1
    c3 = -pow(a1, 2)
    c1 = 1 - c2 - c3
    
    ssf = 0.0
    ssf := c1 * src + c2 * nz(ssf[1]) + c3 * nz(ssf[2])

get3PoleSSF(src, length) =>
    PI = 2 * asin(1)

    arg = PI / length
    a1 = exp(-arg)
    b1 = 2 * a1 * cos(1.738 * arg)
    c1 = pow(a1, 2)

    coef2 = b1 + c1
    coef3 = -(c1 + b1 * c1)
    coef4 = pow(c1, 2)
    coef1 = 1 - coef2 - coef3 - coef4

    ssf = 0.0
    ssf := coef1 * src + coef2 * nz(ssf[1]) + coef3 * nz(ssf[2]) + coef4 * nz(ssf[3])

//          MA Main function
ma(type, src, len) =>
    float result = 0
    if type=="TMA"
        result := sma(sma(src, ceil(len / 2)), floor(len / 2) + 1)
    if type=="MF"
        ts=0.,b=0.,c=0.,os=0.
        //----
        alpha = 2/(len+1)
        a = feedback ? z*src + (1-z)*nz(ts[1],src) : src
        //----
        b := a > alpha*a+(1-alpha)*nz(b[1],a) ? a : alpha*a+(1-alpha)*nz(b[1],a)
        c := a < alpha*a+(1-alpha)*nz(c[1],a) ? a : alpha*a+(1-alpha)*nz(c[1],a)
        os := a == b ? 1 : a == c ? 0 : os[1]
        //----
        upper = beta*b+(1-beta)*c
        lower = beta*c+(1-beta)*b 
        ts := os*upper+(1-os)*lower
        result := ts
    if type=="LRC"
        result := linreg(src, len, 0)
    if type=="SMA" // Simple
        result := sma(src, len)
    if type=="EMA" // Exponential
        result := ema(src, len)
    if type=="DEMA" // Double Exponential
        e = ema(src, len)
        result := 2 * e - ema(e, len)
    if type=="TEMA" // Triple Exponential
        e = ema(src, len)
        result := 3 * (e - ema(e, len)) + ema(ema(e, len), len)
    if type=="WMA" // Weighted
        result := wma(src, len)
    if type=="VAMA" // Volatility Adjusted
        /// Copyright © 2019 to present, Joris Duyck (JD)
        mid=ema(src,len)
        dev=src-mid
        vol_up=highest(dev,volatility_lookback)
        vol_down=lowest(dev,volatility_lookback)
        result := mid+avg(vol_up,vol_down)
    if type=="HMA" // Hull
        result := wma(2 * wma(src, len / 2) - wma(src, len), round(sqrt(len)))
    if type=="JMA" // Jurik
        /// Copyright © 2018 Alex Orekhov (everget)
        /// Copyright © 2017 Jurik Research and Consulting.
        phaseRatio = jurik_phase < -100 ? 0.5 : jurik_phase > 100 ? 2.5 : jurik_phase / 100 + 1.5
        beta = 0.45 * (len - 1) / (0.45 * (len - 1) + 2)
        alpha = pow(beta, jurik_power)
        jma = 0.0
        e0 = 0.0
        e0 := (1 - alpha) * src + alpha * nz(e0[1])
        e1 = 0.0
        e1 := (src - e0) * (1 - beta) + beta * nz(e1[1])
        e2 = 0.0
        e2 := (e0 + phaseRatio * e1 - nz(jma[1])) * pow(1 - alpha, 2) + pow(alpha, 2) * nz(e2[1])
        jma := e2 + nz(jma[1])
        result := jma
    if type=="Kijun v2"
        kijun = avg(lowest(len), highest(len))//, (open + close)/2)
        conversionLine = avg(lowest(len/kidiv), highest(len/kidiv))
        delta = (kijun + conversionLine)/2
        result :=delta
    if type=="McGinley"
        mg = 0.0
        mg := na(mg[1]) ? ema(src, len) : mg[1] + (src - mg[1]) / (len * pow(src/mg[1], 4))
        result :=mg
    if type=="EDSMA"
    
        zeros = src - nz(src[2])
        avgZeros = (zeros + zeros[1]) / 2
        
        // Ehlers Super Smoother Filter 
        ssf = ssfPoles == 2
             ? get2PoleSSF(avgZeros, ssfLength)
             : get3PoleSSF(avgZeros, ssfLength)
        
        // Rescale filter in terms of Standard Deviations
        stdev = stdev(ssf, len)
        scaledFilter = stdev != 0
             ? ssf / stdev
             : 0
        
        alpha = 5 * abs(scaledFilter) / len
        
        edsma = 0.0
        edsma := alpha * src + (1 - alpha) * nz(edsma[1])
        result :=  edsma
    result
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


//  MA DEFINITION
slowMA = ma(slowMAtype, haMAslow , slowMAlength)
//fastMA = ma(fastMAtype, slowMA , fastMAlength)
fastMA = ma(fastMAtype, haMAfast , fastMAlength)
upMA = ma(upMAtype, haMAup , upMAlength)
closeMA = ma('SMA', src , 2)

//  Strategy Conditions
L1 = crossover(fastMA,slowMA)
L2 = close > upMA
S1 = crossunder(fastMA,slowMA)
S2 = close < upMA
longcondition = upMAcond ? L1 and L2 : L1
shortcondition = upMAcond ? S1 or S2 : S1

//  Plots
color_fill_uptrend = color.new(#4caf50, 80)
color_fill_downtrend = color.new(#c2185b, 80)
plot(slowMA, title='Slow MA', color=color.olive, linewidth=2)
plot(fastMA, title='Fast MA', color=color.teal, linewidth=2)
cls=plot(closeMA, title='Source Line', color=na, linewidth=1)
up = plot(upMA, title='Uptrend Conditional MA', color=color.purple, linewidth=2)
fill(up,cls, color = close > upMA ? color_fill_uptrend : color_fill_downtrend )

//plotshape(longcondition, style = shape.triangleup, color = color.green, location = location.belowbar, text = "Long", size = size.small)
//plotshape(shortcondition, style = shape.triangledown, color = color.red, location = location.abovebar, text = "Short", size = size.small)


strategy.entry(id="long", long = true, when = longcondition and window())
strategy.close("long", when = shortcondition and window())

//if (longcondition)
//    strategy.entry("BUY", strategy.long, when = window())

//if (shortcondition)
//    strategy.entry("SELL", strategy.short, when = window())

Published by ChaoZhang on the FMZ strategy square · last modified 2023-11-16. Collected in the Quant Trading Vault. Unvalidated research: re-test with your own data and costs before trusting it.

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