ATR Exhaustion Strategy
A sudden surge in Average True Range indicates expanding volatility that can quickly fade. This strategy looks for ATR readings that spike above a moving average by a configurable multiplier. When coupled with a reversal candle it aims to capture the subsequent contraction.
Testing indicates an average annual return of about 139%. It performs best in the stocks market.
Each bar updates ATR and its own average. If ATR exceeds the average by the multiplier and the candle closes opposite the prior move, a trade is opened. The stop-loss uses an ATR multiple as well, anchoring risk to current volatility levels.
Positions typically rely on the stop for exit, seeking a swift retracement after the volatility burst subsides.
Details
- Entry Criteria: ATR spike above average with reversal candle.
- Long/Short: Both.
- Exit Criteria: Stop-loss.
- Stops: Yes, ATR based.
- Default Values:
AtrPeriod= 14AtrAvgPeriod= 20AtrMultiplier= 1.5MaPeriod= 20StopLoss= 2%CandleType= 5 minute
- Filters:
- Category: Reversal
- Direction: Both
- Indicators: ATR, MA
- Stops: Yes
- Complexity: Intermediate
- Timeframe: Intraday
- Seasonality: No
- Neural networks: No
- Divergence: No
- Risk level: Medium
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Ecng.Common;
using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
using StockSharp.BusinessEntities;
using StockSharp.Messages;
namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;
/// <summary>
/// ATR Exhaustion strategy.
/// Enters when ATR spikes (current ATR significantly higher than previous ATR).
/// ATR spike + bullish candle = buy.
/// ATR spike + bearish candle = sell.
/// Exits on SMA cross.
/// </summary>
public class AtrExhaustionStrategy : Strategy
{
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _atrPeriod;
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _maPeriod;
private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
private readonly StrategyParam<int> _cooldownBars;
private decimal _prevAtr;
private int _cooldown;
/// <summary>
/// ATR period.
/// </summary>
public int AtrPeriod
{
get => _atrPeriod.Value;
set => _atrPeriod.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// MA Period.
/// </summary>
public int MAPeriod
{
get => _maPeriod.Value;
set => _maPeriod.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Candle type.
/// </summary>
public DataType CandleType
{
get => _candleType.Value;
set => _candleType.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Cooldown bars.
/// </summary>
public int CooldownBars
{
get => _cooldownBars.Value;
set => _cooldownBars.Value = value;
}
/// <summary>
/// Constructor.
/// </summary>
public AtrExhaustionStrategy()
{
_atrPeriod = Param(nameof(AtrPeriod), 14)
.SetRange(7, 21)
.SetDisplay("ATR Period", "Period for ATR", "Indicators");
_maPeriod = Param(nameof(MAPeriod), 20)
.SetGreaterThanZero()
.SetDisplay("MA Period", "Period for SMA", "Indicators");
_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1).TimeFrame())
.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles to use", "General");
_cooldownBars = Param(nameof(CooldownBars), 500)
.SetRange(1, 1000)
.SetDisplay("Cooldown Bars", "Bars to wait between trades", "General");
}
/// <inheritdoc />
public override IEnumerable<(Security sec, DataType dt)> GetWorkingSecurities()
{
return [(Security, CandleType)];
}
/// <inheritdoc />
protected override void OnReseted()
{
base.OnReseted();
_prevAtr = default;
_cooldown = default;
}
/// <inheritdoc />
protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
{
base.OnStarted2(time);
_prevAtr = 0;
_cooldown = 0;
var sma = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = MAPeriod };
var atr = new AverageTrueRange { Length = AtrPeriod };
var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
subscription
.Bind(sma, atr, ProcessCandle)
.Start();
var area = CreateChartArea();
if (area != null)
{
DrawCandles(area, subscription);
DrawIndicator(area, sma);
DrawIndicator(area, atr);
DrawOwnTrades(area);
}
}
private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle, decimal smaValue, decimal atrValue)
{
if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
return;
if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
{
_prevAtr = atrValue;
return;
}
if (_prevAtr == 0)
{
_prevAtr = atrValue;
return;
}
if (_cooldown > 0)
{
_cooldown--;
_prevAtr = atrValue;
return;
}
// ATR spike: current ATR significantly higher than previous
var atrSpike = _prevAtr > 0 && atrValue > _prevAtr * 1.3m;
var isBullish = candle.ClosePrice > candle.OpenPrice;
var isBearish = candle.ClosePrice < candle.OpenPrice;
if (Position == 0 && atrSpike && isBullish)
{
BuyMarket();
_cooldown = CooldownBars;
}
else if (Position == 0 && atrSpike && isBearish)
{
SellMarket();
_cooldown = CooldownBars;
}
else if (Position > 0 && candle.ClosePrice < smaValue)
{
SellMarket();
_cooldown = CooldownBars;
}
else if (Position < 0 && candle.ClosePrice > smaValue)
{
BuyMarket();
_cooldown = CooldownBars;
}
_prevAtr = atrValue;
}
}
import clr
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Messages")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Algo")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Algo.Indicators")
clr.AddReference("StockSharp.Algo.Strategies")
from System import TimeSpan
from StockSharp.Messages import DataType, CandleStates
from StockSharp.Algo.Indicators import SimpleMovingAverage, AverageTrueRange
from StockSharp.Algo.Strategies import Strategy
class atr_exhaustion_strategy(Strategy):
"""
ATR Exhaustion strategy.
Enters when ATR spikes (current ATR significantly higher than previous ATR).
ATR spike + bullish candle = buy.
ATR spike + bearish candle = sell.
Exits on SMA cross.
"""
def __init__(self):
super(atr_exhaustion_strategy, self).__init__()
self._atr_period = self.Param("AtrPeriod", 14).SetDisplay("ATR Period", "Period for ATR", "Indicators")
self._ma_period = self.Param("MAPeriod", 20).SetDisplay("MA Period", "Period for SMA", "Indicators")
self._candle_type = self.Param("CandleType", DataType.TimeFrame(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1))).SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles to use", "General")
self._cooldown_bars = self.Param("CooldownBars", 500).SetDisplay("Cooldown Bars", "Bars to wait between trades", "General")
self._prev_atr = 0.0
self._cooldown = 0
@property
def candle_type(self):
return self._candle_type.Value
def OnReseted(self):
super(atr_exhaustion_strategy, self).OnReseted()
self._prev_atr = 0.0
self._cooldown = 0
def OnStarted2(self, time):
super(atr_exhaustion_strategy, self).OnStarted2(time)
self._prev_atr = 0.0
self._cooldown = 0
sma = SimpleMovingAverage()
sma.Length = self._ma_period.Value
atr = AverageTrueRange()
atr.Length = self._atr_period.Value
subscription = self.SubscribeCandles(self.candle_type)
subscription.Bind(sma, atr, self._process_candle).Start()
area = self.CreateChartArea()
if area is not None:
self.DrawCandles(area, subscription)
self.DrawIndicator(area, sma)
self.DrawIndicator(area, atr)
self.DrawOwnTrades(area)
def _process_candle(self, candle, sma_val, atr_val):
if candle.State != CandleStates.Finished:
return
if not self.IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading():
self._prev_atr = float(atr_val)
return
av = float(atr_val)
if self._prev_atr == 0:
self._prev_atr = av
return
if self._cooldown > 0:
self._cooldown -= 1
self._prev_atr = av
return
# ATR spike: current ATR significantly higher than previous
atr_spike = self._prev_atr > 0 and av > self._prev_atr * 1.3
is_bullish = candle.ClosePrice > candle.OpenPrice
is_bearish = candle.ClosePrice < candle.OpenPrice
sv = float(sma_val)
close = float(candle.ClosePrice)
cd = self._cooldown_bars.Value
if self.Position == 0 and atr_spike and is_bullish:
self.BuyMarket()
self._cooldown = cd
elif self.Position == 0 and atr_spike and is_bearish:
self.SellMarket()
self._cooldown = cd
elif self.Position > 0 and close < sv:
self.SellMarket()
self._cooldown = cd
elif self.Position < 0 and close > sv:
self.BuyMarket()
self._cooldown = cd
self._prev_atr = av
def CreateClone(self):
return atr_exhaustion_strategy()