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Autocorrelation Reversal Strategy

This strategy analyzes short-term price autocorrelation to gauge whether recent moves are likely to reverse. Negative autocorrelation suggests successive price changes tend to alternate direction, creating mean-reverting conditions.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 124%. It performs best in the forex market.

When the calculated autocorrelation falls below the threshold and price is below a moving average, the system buys in anticipation of a bounce. If autocorrelation is negative and price is above the average, a short position is opened. Exits occur once price crosses the average or autocorrelation rises above the threshold.

The approach is suited for traders looking for statistical edges rather than chart patterns. A percentage stop-loss is applied to protect against sustained trends that violate the expected reversal.

Details

  • Entry Criteria:
    • Long: Autocorrelation < Threshold && Close < MA
    • Short: Autocorrelation < Threshold && Close > MA
  • Long/Short: Both sides.
  • Exit Criteria:
    • Long: Exit when Close > MA or autocorrelation > Threshold
    • Short: Exit when Close < MA or autocorrelation > Threshold
  • Stops: Yes, percent stop-loss.
  • Default Values:
    • AutoCorrPeriod = 20
    • AutoCorrThreshold = -0.3
    • StopLossPercent = 2 The autocorrelation is the lag-one autocorrelation of the close-to-close changes over the last AutoCorrPeriod closes, and MA is the simple moving average over the same AutoCorrPeriod candles. The stop is a fixed StopLossPercent of the entry price, watched between candles as well; 0 disables it. An entry signal against an open position reverses it.
    • CandleType = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
  • Filters:
    • Category: Mean Reversion
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: Autocorrelation, MA
    • Stops: Yes
    • Complexity: Intermediate
    • Timeframe: Intraday
    • Seasonality: No
    • Neural networks: No
    • Divergence: No
    • 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>
/// Autocorrelation Reversal strategy.
/// The autocorrelation is the lag-one autocorrelation of the close-to-close changes over the last AutoCorrPeriod closes. Below
/// AutoCorrThreshold a close under the AutoCorrPeriod simple moving average goes long and a close above it goes short, reversing an opposite
/// position. A long closes once the close is above the average or the autocorrelation rises above the threshold, a short mirrors it,
/// and a percent stop limits the loss.
/// </summary>
public class AutocorrelationReversionStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _autoCorrPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _autoCorrThreshold;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLossPercent;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private readonly Queue<decimal> _closes = [];

	/// <summary>
	/// Closes the autocorrelation and the average span.
	/// </summary>
	public int AutoCorrPeriod
	{
		get => _autoCorrPeriod.Value;
		set => _autoCorrPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Autocorrelation below which the market reverts.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal AutoCorrThreshold
	{
		get => _autoCorrThreshold.Value;
		set => _autoCorrThreshold.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Stop loss percentage from entry price.
	/// </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 AutocorrelationReversionStrategy()
	{
		_autoCorrPeriod = Param(nameof(AutoCorrPeriod), 20)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Autocorrelation Period", "Closes the autocorrelation and the average span", "Indicators");

		_autoCorrThreshold = Param(nameof(AutoCorrThreshold), -0.3m)
			.SetDisplay("Autocorrelation Threshold", "Autocorrelation below which the market reverts", "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();
		_closes.Clear();
	}

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

		_closes.Clear();

		var sma = new SimpleMovingAverage { Length = AutoCorrPeriod };

		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;

		_closes.Enqueue(close);

		if (_closes.Count > AutoCorrPeriod)
			_closes.Dequeue();

		if (_closes.Count < AutoCorrPeriod || !smaValue.IsFormed)
			return;

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		var autocorrelation = CalculateAutocorrelation();
		var sma = smaValue.GetValue<decimal>();
		var reverting = autocorrelation < AutoCorrThreshold;

		if (reverting && close < sma && Position <= 0)
			BuyMarket(Volume + Math.Abs(Position));
		else if (reverting && close > sma && Position >= 0)
			SellMarket(Volume + Math.Abs(Position));
		else if (Position > 0 && (close > sma || autocorrelation > AutoCorrThreshold))
			SellMarket(Position);
		else if (Position < 0 && (close < sma || autocorrelation > AutoCorrThreshold))
			BuyMarket(-Position);
	}

	private decimal CalculateAutocorrelation()
	{
		var closes = _closes.ToArray();
		var changes = new decimal[closes.Length - 1];

		for (var i = 1; i < closes.Length; i++)
			changes[i - 1] = closes[i] - closes[i - 1];

		var mean = changes.Average();
		var numerator = 0m;
		var denominator = 0m;

		for (var i = 0; i < changes.Length; i++)
		{
			var deviation = changes[i] - mean;
			denominator += deviation * deviation;

			if (i > 0)
				numerator += (changes[i - 1] - mean) * deviation;
		}

		return denominator == 0 ? 0 : numerator / denominator;
	}
}