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OBV Mean Reversion Strategy

On Balance Volume (OBV) tracks cumulative volume flow to determine whether buyers or sellers are dominant. This strategy waits for OBV to diverge sharply from its average and then trades in anticipation of a return to typical levels.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 79%. It performs best in the stocks market.

A buy signal occurs when OBV falls below its average minus Multiplier times the standard deviation and price is below the moving average. A sell signal is generated when OBV rises above the upper band with price above the average. Positions close when OBV crosses back through its mean line.

The approach is useful for traders who consider volume flows in addition to price action. Stops are placed a set percentage away to handle situations where volume continues to accelerate.

Details

  • Entry Criteria:
    • Long: OBV < Avg - Multiplier * StdDev && Close < MA
    • Short: OBV > Avg + Multiplier * StdDev && Close > MA
  • Long/Short: Both sides.
  • Exit Criteria:
    • Long: Exit when OBV > Avg
    • Short: Exit when OBV < Avg
  • Stops: Yes, percent stop-loss.
  • Default Values:
    • AveragePeriod = 20
    • Multiplier = 2.0m
    • CandleType = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
  • Filters:
    • Category: Mean Reversion
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: OBV
    • Stops: Yes
    • Complexity: Intermediate
    • Timeframe: Intraday
    • Seasonality: No
    • Neural networks: No
    • Divergence: No
    • Risk Level: Medium
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>
/// OBV Mean Reversion Strategy (244).
/// Enter when OBV deviates from its average by a certain multiple of standard deviation.
/// Exit when OBV returns to its average.
/// </summary>
public class ObvMeanReversionStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _averagePeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _multiplier;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private OnBalanceVolume _obv;
	private SimpleMovingAverage _obvAverage;
	private StandardDeviation _obvStdDev;
	
	private decimal? _currentObv;
	private decimal? _obvAvgValue;
	private decimal? _obvStdDevValue;

	/// <summary>
	/// Period for OBV average calculation.
	/// </summary>
	public int AveragePeriod
	{
		get => _averagePeriod.Value;
		set => _averagePeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Standard deviation multiplier for entry.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal Multiplier
	{
		get => _multiplier.Value;
		set => _multiplier.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Type of candles to use.
	/// </summary>
	public DataType CandleType
	{
		get => _candleType.Value;
		set => _candleType.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ObvMeanReversionStrategy"/>.
	/// </summary>
	public ObvMeanReversionStrategy()
	{
		_averagePeriod = Param(nameof(AveragePeriod), 20)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Average Period", "Period for OBV average calculation", "Strategy Parameters")
			
			.SetOptimize(10, 30, 5);

		_multiplier = Param(nameof(Multiplier), 2.0m)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("StdDev Multiplier", "Standard deviation multiplier for entry", "Strategy Parameters")
			
			.SetOptimize(1.0m, 3.0m, 0.5m);

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

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

		_currentObv = default;
		_obvAvgValue = default;
		_obvStdDevValue = default;
	}


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

		// Create indicators
		_obv = new OnBalanceVolume();
		_obvAverage = new SMA { Length = AveragePeriod };
		_obvStdDev = new StandardDeviation { Length = AveragePeriod };

		// Create candle subscription
		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);

		// Create processing chain
		subscription
			.BindEx(_obv, ProcessObv)
			.Start();

		// Setup chart visualization if available
		var area = CreateChartArea();
		if (area != null)
		{
			DrawCandles(area, subscription);
			DrawIndicator(area, _obv);
			DrawOwnTrades(area);
		}

		// Enable position protection
		StartProtection(
			takeProfit: new Unit(5, UnitTypes.Percent),
			stopLoss: new Unit(2, UnitTypes.Percent)
		);
	}

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

		// Extract OBV value
		_currentObv = obvValue.ToDecimal();

		// Process OBV through average and standard deviation indicators
		var avgIndicatorValue = _obvAverage.Process(obvValue);
		var stdDevIndicatorValue = _obvStdDev.Process(obvValue);
		
		_obvAvgValue = avgIndicatorValue.ToDecimal();
		_obvStdDevValue = stdDevIndicatorValue.ToDecimal();
		
		// Check if strategy is ready for trading
		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading() || !_obvAverage.IsFormed || !_obvStdDev.IsFormed)
			return;

		// Ensure we have all needed values
		if (!_currentObv.HasValue || !_obvAvgValue.HasValue || !_obvStdDevValue.HasValue)
			return;

		// Calculate bands
		var upperBand = _obvAvgValue.Value + Multiplier * _obvStdDevValue.Value;
		var lowerBand = _obvAvgValue.Value - Multiplier * _obvStdDevValue.Value;

		LogInfo($"OBV: {_currentObv}, OBV Avg: {_obvAvgValue}, Upper: {upperBand}, Lower: {lowerBand}");

		// Entry logic
		if (Position == 0)
		{
			// Long Entry: OBV is below lower band (OBV oversold)
			if (_currentObv.Value < lowerBand)
			{
				LogInfo($"Buy Signal - OBV ({_currentObv}) < Lower Band ({lowerBand})");
				BuyMarket(Volume);
			}
			// Short Entry: OBV is above upper band (OBV overbought)
			else if (_currentObv.Value > upperBand)
			{
				LogInfo($"Sell Signal - OBV ({_currentObv}) > Upper Band ({upperBand})");
				SellMarket(Volume);
			}
		}
		// Exit logic
		else if (Position > 0 && _currentObv.Value > _obvAvgValue.Value)
		{
			// Exit Long: OBV returned to average
			LogInfo($"Exit Long - OBV ({_currentObv}) > OBV Avg ({_obvAvgValue})");
			SellMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
		}
		else if (Position < 0 && _currentObv.Value < _obvAvgValue.Value)
		{
			// Exit Short: OBV returned to average
			LogInfo($"Exit Short - OBV ({_currentObv}) < OBV Avg ({_obvAvgValue})");
			BuyMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
		}
	}
}