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ExFractals Strategy

Overview

The ExFractals strategy is a breakout system that combines Williams-style fractal levels with the ExVol average body momentum filter. The algorithm continuously monitors the most recent confirmed fractal highs and lows, averages them in pairs, and opens trades when price closes beyond those averaged levels while the ExVol reading confirms the direction of the move.

Trading Logic

  1. Fractal detection
    • Candles are processed once they close.
    • Upward (bearish) and downward (bullish) fractals are detected once the middle candle in a five-candle window is a strict extreme compared with its neighbors.
    • The strategy stores the two latest confirmed fractals per side together with their timestamps.
    • Each side produces an actionable level equal to the average of the last two fractal prices. Duplicate timestamps are ignored to prevent using the same fractal twice.
  2. ExVol filter
    • The ExVol value equals the simple average of the candle body (close minus open) expressed in price steps during the selected lookback period.
    • A negative ExVol indicates persistent bullish candles (positive close-to-open), and a positive ExVol indicates persistent bearish candles.
  3. Entry conditions
    • Long: the last close is above the averaged upper fractal level and ExVol is negative. Any active short position is closed and a new long position is opened.
    • Short: the last close is below the averaged lower fractal level and ExVol is positive. Any active long position is closed and a new short position is opened.
  4. Risk and exit rules
    • Fixed stop-loss and take-profit targets are placed at configurable pip distances from the entry price.
    • Optional trailing stops move only after the trade gains at least trailing stop + trailing step pips. The stop is pulled up/down to maintain a constant trailing distance while respecting the minimum trailing step.
    • If price hits the stop-loss or take-profit the whole position is closed.

Parameters

Name Description Default
Candle Type Candle data type/time-frame used by the strategy. 1 hour time-frame
ExVol Period Number of closed candles used to average the candle body (ExVol). 15
Stop Loss Stop-loss distance in pips from the entry price. Set to 0 to disable. 40
Take Profit Take-profit distance in pips from the entry price. Set to 0 to disable. 100
Trailing Stop Trailing stop distance in pips. Set to 0 to disable trailing. 30
Trailing Step Additional price movement (in pips) required before moving the trailing stop. Must be positive when trailing is enabled. 5
Volume Default order volume inherited from the base Strategy class. 1

Additional Notes

  • The trailing logic mirrors the MetaTrader implementation: the stop is not adjusted until the position is at least TrailingStop + TrailingStep pips in profit.
  • ExVol calculations rely on the instrument PriceStep; if the step is not available a default value of 0.0001 is used.
  • The strategy issues market orders via BuyMarket and SellMarket, automatically reversing any existing position before opening a new one.
  • Ensure that your data feed provides enough historical candles to form the initial fractal pairs (at least five closed candles).
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Collections.Generic;

using Ecng.Common;
using Ecng.Collections;
using Ecng.Serialization;

using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
using StockSharp.BusinessEntities;
using StockSharp.Messages;

namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;

/// <summary>
/// Fractal breakout strategy that averages recent fractal levels and filters entries with ExVol momentum.
/// </summary>
public class ExFractalsStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _exPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLossPips;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _takeProfitPips;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _trailingStopPips;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _trailingStepPips;

	private readonly Queue<decimal> _bodyQueue = new();

	private decimal _bodySum;

	private decimal _h1;
	private decimal _h2;
	private decimal _h3;
	private decimal _h4;
	private decimal _h5;

	private decimal _l1;
	private decimal _l2;
	private decimal _l3;
	private decimal _l4;
	private decimal _l5;

	private DateTimeOffset _t1;
	private DateTimeOffset _t2;
	private DateTimeOffset _t3;
	private DateTimeOffset _t4;
	private DateTimeOffset _t5;

	private decimal? _upFractal1;
	private decimal? _upFractal2;
	private DateTimeOffset? _upTime1;
	private DateTimeOffset? _upTime2;

	private decimal? _downFractal1;
	private decimal? _downFractal2;
	private DateTimeOffset? _downTime1;
	private DateTimeOffset? _downTime2;

	private decimal? _longEntryPrice;
	private decimal? _shortEntryPrice;
	private decimal? _longStop;
	private decimal? _longTake;
	private decimal? _shortStop;
	private decimal? _shortTake;

	/// <summary>
	/// Candle type used by the strategy.
	/// </summary>
	public DataType CandleType
	{
		get => _candleType.Value;
		set => _candleType.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Lookback period for the ExVol average body indicator.
	/// </summary>
	public int ExPeriod
	{
		get => _exPeriod.Value;
		set => _exPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Stop-loss distance in pips.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal StopLossPips
	{
		get => _stopLossPips.Value;
		set => _stopLossPips.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Take-profit distance in pips.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TakeProfitPips
	{
		get => _takeProfitPips.Value;
		set => _takeProfitPips.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Trailing stop distance in pips.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TrailingStopPips
	{
		get => _trailingStopPips.Value;
		set => _trailingStopPips.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Minimum price improvement before the trailing stop is moved.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TrailingStepPips
	{
		get => _trailingStepPips.Value;
		set => _trailingStepPips.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Initialize <see cref="ExFractalsStrategy"/>.
	/// </summary>
	public ExFractalsStrategy()
	{
		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromHours(1).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles", "General");

		_exPeriod = Param(nameof(ExPeriod), 15)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("ExVol Period", "Average body lookback", "Indicators");

		_stopLossPips = Param(nameof(StopLossPips), 40m)
			.SetDisplay("Stop Loss", "Stop-loss in pips", "Risk");

		_takeProfitPips = Param(nameof(TakeProfitPips), 100m)
			.SetDisplay("Take Profit", "Take-profit in pips", "Risk");

		_trailingStopPips = Param(nameof(TrailingStopPips), 30m)
			.SetDisplay("Trailing Stop", "Trailing distance in pips", "Risk");

		_trailingStepPips = Param(nameof(TrailingStepPips), 5m)
			.SetDisplay("Trailing Step", "Extra movement before trailing", "Risk");

		Volume = 1m;
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	public override IEnumerable<(Security sec, DataType dt)> GetWorkingSecurities()
	{
		return [(Security, CandleType)];
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
		base.OnReseted();

		_bodyQueue.Clear();
		_bodySum = 0m;

		_h1 = _h2 = _h3 = _h4 = _h5 = 0m;
		_l1 = _l2 = _l3 = _l4 = _l5 = 0m;

		_t1 = _t2 = _t3 = _t4 = _t5 = default;

		_upFractal1 = _upFractal2 = null;
		_downFractal1 = _downFractal2 = null;
		_upTime1 = _upTime2 = null;
		_downTime1 = _downTime2 = null;

		_longEntryPrice = _shortEntryPrice = null;
		_longStop = _longTake = null;
		_shortStop = _shortTake = null;
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
	{
		base.OnStarted2(time);

		if (TrailingStopPips > 0m && TrailingStepPips <= 0m)
		{
			throw new InvalidOperationException("Trailing step must be positive when trailing stop is enabled.");
		}

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
		subscription.Bind(ProcessCandle).Start();
	}

	private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle)
	{
		// Shift candle history buffers so the third slot represents the confirmed fractal bar.
		_h1 = _h2;
		_h2 = _h3;
		_h3 = _h4;
		_h4 = _h5;
		_h5 = candle.HighPrice;

		_l1 = _l2;
		_l2 = _l3;
		_l3 = _l4;
		_l4 = _l5;
		_l5 = candle.LowPrice;

		_t1 = _t2;
		_t2 = _t3;
		_t3 = _t4;
		_t4 = _t5;
		_t5 = candle.OpenTime;

		if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
		{
			return;
		}

		// Detect new fractal values when enough candles are collected.
		if (_t3 != default)
		{
			if (_h3 > _h1 && _h3 > _h2 && _h3 > _h4 && _h3 > _h5)
			{
				RegisterUpFractal(_h3, _t3);
			}

			if (_l3 < _l1 && _l3 < _l2 && _l3 < _l4 && _l3 < _l5)
			{
				RegisterDownFractal(_l3, _t3);
			}
		}

		var step = Security?.PriceStep ?? 0.0001m;
		if (step <= 0m)
		{
			step = 0.0001m;
		}

		var body = (candle.ClosePrice - candle.OpenPrice) / step;
		_bodyQueue.Enqueue(body);
		_bodySum += body;
		if (_bodyQueue.Count > ExPeriod)
		{
			_bodySum -= _bodyQueue.Dequeue();
		}

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		decimal? exVol = _bodyQueue.Count >= ExPeriod ? _bodySum / ExPeriod : null;
		var upperLevel = GetUpperLevel();
		var lowerLevel = GetLowerLevel();
		var price = candle.ClosePrice;

		if (exVol is decimal exVolValue && upperLevel is decimal up && price > up && exVolValue < 0m && Position <= 0)
		{
			var volume = Volume + Math.Max(0m, -Position);
			if (volume > 0m)
			{
				BuyMarket(volume);
				InitializeLongTargets(price, step);
			}
		}
		else if (exVol is decimal exVolValue2 && lowerLevel is decimal down && price < down && exVolValue2 > 0m && Position >= 0)
		{
			var volume = Volume + Math.Max(0m, Position);
			if (volume > 0m)
			{
				SellMarket(volume);
				InitializeShortTargets(price, step);
			}
		}

		ManagePosition(price, step);
	}

	private void RegisterUpFractal(decimal price, DateTimeOffset time)
	{
		if (_upFractal1 is null)
		{
			_upFractal1 = price;
			_upTime1 = time;
			return;
		}

		if (_upTime1 == time)
		{
			_upFractal1 = price;
			return;
		}

		if (_upFractal2 is null)
		{
			_upFractal2 = price;
			_upTime2 = time;
			return;
		}

		if (_upTime2 == time)
		{
			_upFractal2 = price;
			return;
		}

		_upFractal1 = _upFractal2;
		_upTime1 = _upTime2;
		_upFractal2 = price;
		_upTime2 = time;
	}

	private void RegisterDownFractal(decimal price, DateTimeOffset time)
	{
		if (_downFractal1 is null)
		{
			_downFractal1 = price;
			_downTime1 = time;
			return;
		}

		if (_downTime1 == time)
		{
			_downFractal1 = price;
			return;
		}

		if (_downFractal2 is null)
		{
			_downFractal2 = price;
			_downTime2 = time;
			return;
		}

		if (_downTime2 == time)
		{
			_downFractal2 = price;
			return;
		}

		_downFractal1 = _downFractal2;
		_downTime1 = _downTime2;
		_downFractal2 = price;
		_downTime2 = time;
	}

	private decimal? GetUpperLevel()
	{
		if (_upFractal1 is decimal first && _upFractal2 is decimal second && _upTime1 != _upTime2)
		{
			return (first + second) / 2m;
		}

		return null;
	}

	private decimal? GetLowerLevel()
	{
		if (_downFractal1 is decimal first && _downFractal2 is decimal second && _downTime1 != _downTime2)
		{
			return (first + second) / 2m;
		}

		return null;
	}

	private void InitializeLongTargets(decimal price, decimal step)
	{
		_longEntryPrice = price;
		_longStop = StopLossPips > 0m ? price - StopLossPips * step : null;
		_longTake = TakeProfitPips > 0m ? price + TakeProfitPips * step : null;

		_shortEntryPrice = null;
		_shortStop = null;
		_shortTake = null;
	}

	private void InitializeShortTargets(decimal price, decimal step)
	{
		_shortEntryPrice = price;
		_shortStop = StopLossPips > 0m ? price + StopLossPips * step : null;
		_shortTake = TakeProfitPips > 0m ? price - TakeProfitPips * step : null;

		_longEntryPrice = null;
		_longStop = null;
		_longTake = null;
	}

	private void ManagePosition(decimal price, decimal step)
	{
		if (Position > 0)
		{
			ApplyLongTrailing(price, step);

			if (_longTake is decimal take && price >= take)
			{
				SellMarket(Position);
				ResetLongState();
				return;
			}

			if (_longStop is decimal stop && price <= stop)
			{
				SellMarket(Position);
				ResetLongState();
				return;
			}
		}
		else if (Position < 0)
		{
			ApplyShortTrailing(price, step);

			if (_shortTake is decimal take && price <= take)
			{
				BuyMarket(-Position);
				ResetShortState();
				return;
			}

			if (_shortStop is decimal stop && price >= stop)
			{
				BuyMarket(-Position);
				ResetShortState();
				return;
			}
		}
		else
		{
			ResetLongState();
			ResetShortState();
		}
	}

	private void ApplyLongTrailing(decimal price, decimal step)
	{
		if (_longEntryPrice is not decimal entry || TrailingStopPips <= 0m)
		{
			return;
		}

		var trailingDistance = TrailingStopPips * step;
		var trailingStep = TrailingStepPips * step;

		if (price - entry <= trailingDistance + trailingStep)
		{
			return;
		}

		var threshold = price - (trailingDistance + trailingStep);
		if (_longStop is null || _longStop < threshold)
		{
			_longStop = price - trailingDistance;
		}
	}

	private void ApplyShortTrailing(decimal price, decimal step)
	{
		if (_shortEntryPrice is not decimal entry || TrailingStopPips <= 0m)
		{
			return;
		}

		var trailingDistance = TrailingStopPips * step;
		var trailingStep = TrailingStepPips * step;

		if (entry - price <= trailingDistance + trailingStep)
		{
			return;
		}

		var threshold = price + trailingDistance + trailingStep;
		if (_shortStop is null || _shortStop > threshold)
		{
			_shortStop = price + trailingDistance;
		}
	}

	private void ResetLongState()
	{
		_longEntryPrice = null;
		_longStop = null;
		_longTake = null;
	}

	private void ResetShortState()
	{
		_shortEntryPrice = null;
		_shortStop = null;
		_shortTake = null;
	}
}