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Lunch Break Fade Strategy

Lunch Break Fade targets reversals that develop during the slow midday period. After the morning session, trends often pause or pull back as volume dries up around lunchtime.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 127%. It performs best in the stocks market.

The strategy fades the morning move around noon, entering counter to the prevailing direction and covering before volume returns.

A percent stop manages risk if the trend resumes instead of fading.

Details

  • Entry Criteria: indicator signal
  • Long/Short: Both
  • Exit Criteria: stop-loss or opposite signal
  • Stops: Yes, percent based
  • Default Values:
    • CandleType = 15 minute
    • StopLoss = 2%
  • Filters:
    • Category: Intraday
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: Price Action
    • 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>
/// Strategy that trades on the price movement fade during the lunch break.
/// Fades the prior trend around midday, with MA confirmation and cooldown.
/// </summary>
public class LunchBreakFadeStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _maPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _cooldownBars;

	private SimpleMovingAverage _ma;

	private decimal _prevClose;
	private decimal _prevPrevClose;
	private int _cooldown;

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

	/// <summary>
	/// Moving average period.
	/// </summary>
	public int MaPeriod
	{
		get => _maPeriod.Value;
		set => _maPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Cooldown bars between trades.
	/// </summary>
	public int CooldownBars
	{
		get => _cooldownBars.Value;
		set => _cooldownBars.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LunchBreakFadeStrategy"/>.
	/// </summary>
	public LunchBreakFadeStrategy()
	{
		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles to use", "General");

		_maPeriod = Param(nameof(MaPeriod), 20)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("MA Period", "Moving average period", "Strategy");

		_cooldownBars = Param(nameof(CooldownBars), 30)
			.SetDisplay("Cooldown Bars", "Bars between trades", "General")
			.SetRange(5, 500);
	}

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

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
		base.OnReseted();
		_ma = default;
		_prevClose = 0;
		_prevPrevClose = 0;
		_cooldown = 0;
	}

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

		_ma = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = MaPeriod };

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

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

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

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		var close = candle.ClosePrice;
		var hour = candle.OpenTime.Hour;

		if (_prevClose == 0)
		{
			_prevClose = close;
			return;
		}

		if (_prevPrevClose == 0)
		{
			_prevPrevClose = _prevClose;
			_prevClose = close;
			return;
		}

		if (_cooldown > 0)
		{
			_cooldown--;
			_prevPrevClose = _prevClose;
			_prevClose = close;
			return;
		}

		// Lunch zone: hours 11-14
		var isLunchTime = hour >= 11 && hour <= 14;

		if (isLunchTime)
		{
			var priorUptrend = _prevClose > _prevPrevClose;
			var priorDowntrend = _prevClose < _prevPrevClose;
			var currentBearish = close < candle.OpenPrice;
			var currentBullish = close > candle.OpenPrice;

			// Fade uptrend at lunch: short
			if (priorUptrend && currentBearish && Position == 0)
			{
				SellMarket();
				_cooldown = CooldownBars;
			}
			// Fade downtrend at lunch: long
			else if (priorDowntrend && currentBullish && Position == 0)
			{
				BuyMarket();
				_cooldown = CooldownBars;
			}
		}

		// Exit on MA cross
		if (Position > 0 && close < maValue)
		{
			SellMarket();
			_cooldown = CooldownBars;
		}
		else if (Position < 0 && close > maValue)
		{
			BuyMarket();
			_cooldown = CooldownBars;
		}

		_prevPrevClose = _prevClose;
		_prevClose = close;
	}
}