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Bollinger Squeeze

Strategy based on Bollinger Bands squeeze

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 100%. It performs best in the forex market.

Bollinger Squeeze waits for narrow band width indicating low volatility. A break outside the bands starts a trade in that direction and it exits when momentum fails or an opposite break appears.

The squeeze condition hints at an upcoming volatility expansion. Once triggered, the trade rides the breakout and relies on an ATR stop or band crossover to exit.

Details

  • Entry Criteria: Signals based on Bollinger.
  • Long/Short: Both directions.
  • Exit Criteria: Opposite signal.
  • Stops: No.
  • Default Values:
    • BollingerPeriod = 20
    • BollingerDeviation = 2m
    • SqueezeThreshold = 0.1m
    • CandleType = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
  • Filters:
    • Category: Trend
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: Bollinger
    • Stops: No
    • Complexity: Basic
    • Timeframe: Intraday (5m)
    • 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>
/// Strategy based on Bollinger Bands squeeze.
/// Detects when bands narrow (squeeze) and trades the breakout direction.
/// </summary>
public class BollingerSqueezeStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _bollingerPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _bollingerDeviation;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private decimal _prevBandWidth;
	private bool _hasPrevValues;
	private int _cooldown;

	/// <summary>
	/// Bollinger Bands period.
	/// </summary>
	public int BollingerPeriod
	{
		get => _bollingerPeriod.Value;
		set => _bollingerPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Bollinger Bands deviation multiplier.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal BollingerDeviation
	{
		get => _bollingerDeviation.Value;
		set => _bollingerDeviation.Value = value;
	}

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

	/// <summary>
	/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="BollingerSqueezeStrategy"/>.
	/// </summary>
	public BollingerSqueezeStrategy()
	{
		_bollingerPeriod = Param(nameof(BollingerPeriod), 20)
			.SetDisplay("Bollinger Period", "Period for Bollinger Bands", "Indicators")
			.SetOptimize(15, 30, 5);

		_bollingerDeviation = Param(nameof(BollingerDeviation), 1.8m)
			.SetDisplay("Bollinger Deviation", "Standard deviation multiplier", "Indicators");

		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles to use", "General");
	}

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

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
		base.OnReseted();
		_prevBandWidth = default;
		_hasPrevValues = default;
		_cooldown = default;
	}

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

		var bb = new BollingerBands
		{
			Length = BollingerPeriod,
			Width = BollingerDeviation
		};

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
		subscription
			.BindEx(bb, ProcessCandle)
			.Start();

		var area = CreateChartArea();
		if (area != null)
		{
			DrawCandles(area, subscription);
			DrawIndicator(area, bb);
			DrawOwnTrades(area);
		}
	}

	private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle, IIndicatorValue bbValue)
	{
		if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		var bb = (IBollingerBandsValue)bbValue;

		if (bb.UpBand is not decimal upper ||
			bb.LowBand is not decimal lower ||
			bb.MovingAverage is not decimal middle)
			return;

		if (middle == 0)
			return;

		var bandWidth = (upper - lower) / middle;

		if (!_hasPrevValues)
		{
			_hasPrevValues = true;
			_prevBandWidth = bandWidth;
			return;
		}

		if (_cooldown > 0)
		{
			_cooldown--;
			_prevBandWidth = bandWidth;
			return;
		}

		var price = candle.ClosePrice;

		// Price crosses above upper band = buy (breakout)
		if (price > upper && Position <= 0)
		{
			var volume = Volume + Math.Abs(Position);
			BuyMarket(volume);
			_cooldown = 10;
		}
		// Price crosses below lower band = sell (breakout)
		else if (price < lower && Position >= 0)
		{
			var volume = Volume + Math.Abs(Position);
			SellMarket(volume);
			_cooldown = 10;
		}

		_prevBandWidth = bandWidth;
	}
}