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Stochastic Breakout Strategy

This breakout approach monitors the Stochastic oscillator for sharp moves away from its recent average. When the %K line breaks above or below a volatility-adjusted threshold, it signals a burst of momentum that may start a trend.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 181%. It performs best in the crypto market.

A long position is triggered when %K crosses above the upper threshold after a period of contraction. A short position is taken when %K breaks below the lower threshold. The trade is closed when the oscillator drifts back toward its average or hits a protective stop.

The strategy is designed for intraday traders who want early entry into momentum swings. Using volatility-based bands helps filter noise so only decisive moves create signals.

Details

  • Entry Criteria:
    • Long: %K > Avg + DeviationMultiplier * StdDev
    • Short: %K < Avg - DeviationMultiplier * StdDev
  • Long/Short: Both sides.
  • Exit Criteria:
    • Long: Exit when %K < Avg
    • Short: Exit when %K > Avg
  • Stops: Yes, percent stop-loss.
  • Default Values:
    • StochasticPeriod = 14
    • KPeriod = 3
    • LookbackPeriod = 20
    • DeviationMultiplier = 2
    • StopLossPercent = 2
    • CandleType = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5) Avg and StdDev are the average and the standard deviation of the last LookbackPeriod %K values, the current one included. The stop is a fixed StopLossPercent of the entry price, watched between candles as well; 0 disables it. %K is the stochastic over the first period smoothed over KPeriod candles; %D plays no part in the rules, so DPeriod is gone. An entry signal against an open position reverses it.
  • Filters:
    • Category: Breakout
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: Stochastic Oscillator
    • 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>
/// Stochastic Breakout strategy.
/// The bands lie DeviationMultiplier standard deviations around the average of the last LookbackPeriod %K values, the current one included.
/// %K above the upper band goes long and %K below the lower band goes short,
/// reversing an opposite position. A long closes once %K is back below its average and a short once it is back above it, and a percent stop limits the loss.
/// </summary>
public class StochasticBreakoutStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _stochasticPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _kPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _lookbackPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _deviationMultiplier;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLossPercent;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private readonly Queue<decimal> _values = [];

	/// <summary>
	/// Lookback period of the raw stochastic.
	/// </summary>
	public int StochasticPeriod
	{
		get => _stochasticPeriod.Value;
		set => _stochasticPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Smoothing period of %K.
	/// </summary>
	public int KPeriod
	{
		get => _kPeriod.Value;
		set => _kPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Values of %K the average and the standard deviation span.
	/// </summary>
	public int LookbackPeriod
	{
		get => _lookbackPeriod.Value;
		set => _lookbackPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Standard deviations between the average and a band.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal DeviationMultiplier
	{
		get => _deviationMultiplier.Value;
		set => _deviationMultiplier.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 StochasticBreakoutStrategy()
	{
		_stochasticPeriod = Param(nameof(StochasticPeriod), 14)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Stochastic Period", "Lookback period of the raw stochastic", "Indicators");

		_kPeriod = Param(nameof(KPeriod), 3)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("%K Period", "Smoothing period of %K", "Indicators");

		_lookbackPeriod = Param(nameof(LookbackPeriod), 20)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Average Period", "Values of %K the average and the standard deviation span", "Indicators");

		_deviationMultiplier = Param(nameof(DeviationMultiplier), 2m)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Multiplier", "Standard deviations between the average and a band", "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();
		_values.Clear();
	}

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

		_values.Clear();

		var stochastic = new StochasticOscillator
		{
			K = { Length = StochasticPeriod },
			D = { Length = KPeriod },
		};

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
		subscription
			.BindEx(stochastic, 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);
			DrawOwnTrades(area);

			var oscillators = CreateChartArea();
			if (oscillators != null)
			{
				DrawIndicator(oscillators, stochastic);
			}
		}
	}

	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 stochasticValue)
	{
		if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

		// The smoothed %K is the moving average the core oscillator exposes as D.
		if (!stochasticValue.IsFormed || stochasticValue is not IStochasticOscillatorValue { D: decimal value })
			return;

		_values.Enqueue(value);

		if (_values.Count > LookbackPeriod)
			_values.Dequeue();

		if (_values.Count < LookbackPeriod)
			return;

		if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
			return;

		var mean = _values.Average();
		var deviation = (decimal)Math.Sqrt((double)_values.Average(v => (v - mean) * (v - mean)));
		var upper = mean + DeviationMultiplier * deviation;
		var lower = mean - DeviationMultiplier * deviation;

		if (value > upper && Position <= 0)
			BuyMarket(Volume + Math.Abs(Position));
		else if (value < lower && Position >= 0)
			SellMarket(Volume + Math.Abs(Position));
		else if (Position > 0 && value < mean)
			SellMarket(Position);
		else if (Position < 0 && value > mean)
			BuyMarket(-Position);
	}
}