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OBV Divergence Strategy

On-Balance Volume tracks cumulative trading volume with the idea that volume precedes price. When price forms a new high but OBV fails to confirm—or vice versa—a reversal may be brewing. This strategy uses that divergence to fade unsustainable moves.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 112%. It performs best in the forex market.

For each candle OBV is updated and compared with the prior reading. A bullish signal emerges if price makes a lower low while OBV prints a higher low. A bearish signal occurs when price rallies to a higher high but OBV lags. A moving average provides an exit point, while a percentage stop keeps losses controlled.

The approach attempts to capture mean reversion following volume exhaustion and often holds trades only until price crosses back over the average line.

Details

  • Entry Criteria: Price/OBV divergence.
  • Long/Short: Both.
  • Exit Criteria: Price crossing moving average or stop-loss.
  • Stops: Yes, percentage based.
  • Default Values:
    • DivergencePeriod = 5
    • MAPeriod = 20
    • CandleType = 5 minute
    • StopLossPercent = 2
  • Filters:
    • Category: Divergence
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: OBV, MA
    • Stops: Yes
    • Complexity: Intermediate
    • Timeframe: Intraday
    • Seasonality: No
    • Neural networks: No
    • Divergence: Yes
    • Risk level: Medium
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;

using Ecng.Common;

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

namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;

/// <summary>
/// OBV (On-Balance Volume) Divergence strategy.
/// Bullish divergence: the low falls below the lows of the previous DivergencePeriod candles while OBV stays above its value
/// at the earlier low. Bearish divergence: the high rises above their highs while OBV stays below its value at the earlier high.
/// A divergence opens a position while flat; it closes when the close crosses back over the moving average or at the percent stop.
/// </summary>
public class ObvDivergenceStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _divergencePeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _maPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLossPercent;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private readonly List<(decimal High, decimal Low, decimal Obv)> _history = [];
	private decimal _obv;
	private decimal? _prevClose;

	/// <summary>
	/// Number of previous candles the new extreme is compared with.
	/// </summary>
	public int DivergencePeriod
	{
		get => _divergencePeriod.Value;
		set => _divergencePeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// MA Period.
	/// </summary>
	public int MAPeriod
	{
		get => _maPeriod.Value;
		set => _maPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Stop-loss percentage.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal StopLossPercent
	{
		get => _stopLossPercent.Value;
		set => _stopLossPercent.Value = value;
	}

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

	/// <summary>
	/// Constructor.
	/// </summary>
	public ObvDivergenceStrategy()
	{
		_divergencePeriod = Param(nameof(DivergencePeriod), 5)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Divergence Period", "Previous candles the new extreme is compared with", "Indicators");

		_maPeriod = Param(nameof(MAPeriod), 20)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("MA Period", "Period for SMA exit signal", "Indicators");

		_stopLossPercent = Param(nameof(StopLossPercent), 2m)
			.SetNotNegative()
			.SetDisplay("Stop Loss %", "Stop loss percentage from entry price", "Risk");

		_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();
		_history.Clear();
		_obv = 0;
		_prevClose = null;
	}

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

		_history.Clear();
		_obv = 0;
		_prevClose = null;

		var sma = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = MAPeriod };

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

		StartProtection(new Unit(), new Unit(StopLossPercent, UnitTypes.Percent), useMarketOrders: true, isLocalStop: true);

		// The stop has to see prices between candles, not only at their close.
		foreach (var field in new[] { Level1Fields.BestBidPrice, Level1Fields.BestAskPrice })
		{
			var quotes = new Subscription(DataType.Level1, Security);
			quotes.MarketData.BuildField = field;
			SubscribeLevel1(quotes).Bind(ObserveProtectionQuote).Start();
		}

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

	private void ObserveProtectionQuote(Level1ChangeMessage quote)
	{
		// The high-level handler activates native protection before this callback, also between signal bars.
	}

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

		var close = candle.ClosePrice;

		if (_prevClose is decimal prevClose)
		{
			if (close > prevClose)
				_obv += candle.TotalVolume;
			else if (close < prevClose)
				_obv -= candle.TotalVolume;
		}

		_prevClose = close;

		// Compare this candle with the DivergencePeriod candles before it.
		var previous = _history.ToArray();

		_history.Add((candle.HighPrice, candle.LowPrice, _obv));

		if (_history.Count > DivergencePeriod)
			_history.RemoveAt(0);

		if (previous.Length < DivergencePeriod || !smaValue.IsFormed)
			return;

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		var ma = smaValue.GetValue<decimal>();

		if (Position > 0)
		{
			if (close > ma)
				SellMarket(Position);

			return;
		}

		if (Position < 0)
		{
			if (close < ma)
				BuyMarket(-Position);

			return;
		}

		var lowest = previous.MinBy(c => c.Low);
		var highest = previous.MaxBy(c => c.High);

		var bullish = candle.LowPrice < lowest.Low && _obv > lowest.Obv;
		var bearish = candle.HighPrice > highest.High && _obv < highest.Obv;

		if (bullish && !bearish)
			BuyMarket(Volume);
		else if (bearish && !bullish)
			SellMarket(Volume);
	}
}