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5/8 MA Cross Strategy

Overview

The 5/8 MA Cross strategy is a StockSharp port of the MetaTrader expert advisor "5_8 MACross". It compares a fast exponential moving average (EMA) calculated on closing prices with a slower EMA calculated on opening prices. The system acts on the crossover between the two averages and can be applied to any symbol and timeframe that provides standard time-based candles.

Indicators

  • Fast EMA – configurable length (default 5) calculated from the candle close price.
  • Slow EMA – configurable length (default 8) calculated from the candle open price.

Trading Logic

  1. The strategy processes only finished candles to avoid partial data.
  2. A long entry is generated when the fast EMA was below or equal to the slow EMA on the previous candle and crosses above it on the current candle.
  3. A short entry is generated when the fast EMA was above or equal to the slow EMA on the previous candle and crosses below it on the current candle.
  4. When a signal appears the strategy reverses its exposure: it closes any open position and sends a market order sized to end up with Volume contracts in the new direction.

Risk Management

  • Take Profit – optional target expressed in price points. The point size is derived from the security price step; for three- and five-digit quotations the value is automatically multiplied by 10 to emulate MetaTrader pip handling.
  • Stop Loss – optional protective stop, also expressed in price points from the entry price.
  • Trailing Stop – optional distance in price points. After a position is opened the strategy tracks the highest high (for longs) or lowest low (for shorts) and moves the stop only in the profitable direction. If an initial stop loss is not specified the trailing stop will still initialize protection immediately after entry.
  • If either the take profit or the (trailing) stop is hit on a closing price the position is exited at market.

Parameters

Name Description Default
FastLength Period of the fast EMA (close-based). 5
SlowLength Period of the slow EMA (open-based). 8
TakeProfitPoints Take profit distance in price points. 40
StopLossPoints Stop loss distance in price points (0 disables the stop). 0
TrailingStopPoints Trailing stop distance in price points (0 disables trailing). 0
CandleType Candle type / timeframe used for calculations. 1-minute time frame
Volume Order volume inherited from the base Strategy class. 0.1

Differences Compared to the MQL Version

  • MetaTrader-specific hedging checks and account information calls are omitted because StockSharp handles position accounting differently.
  • Signals are evaluated on closed candles rather than on the very first tick of a new bar; this improves stability in event-driven environments.
  • Trailing logic uses the candle high/low to advance the stop instead of the current bid/ask tick, providing deterministic behaviour for historical processing.

Usage Notes

  • Configure Volume in the strategy properties to match the desired lot size.
  • Combine the strategy with StockSharp protection modules or additional filters if portfolio-level risk management is required.
  • The strategy does not place pending orders; all entries and exits are executed with market orders generated by the crossover and risk logic above.
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>
/// 5/8 exponential moving average crossover strategy converted from MetaTrader.
/// Uses a fast EMA on close prices and a slower EMA on open prices with manual stop, take profit, and trailing logic.
/// </summary>
public class FiveEightMaCrossStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _fastLength;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _slowLength;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _takeProfitPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLossPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _trailingStopPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private ExponentialMovingAverage _fastMa = null!;
	private ExponentialMovingAverage _slowMa = null!;

	private decimal _prevFast;
	private decimal _prevSlow;
	private bool _isInitialized;

	private decimal _pointValue;
	private decimal? _entryPrice;
	private decimal? _stopPrice;
	private decimal? _takePrice;
	private decimal _trailDistance;
	private decimal _maxPrice;
	private decimal _minPrice;

	/// <summary>
	/// Fast EMA length.
	/// </summary>
	public int FastLength
	{
		get => _fastLength.Value;
		set => _fastLength.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Slow EMA length.
	/// </summary>
	public int SlowLength
	{
		get => _slowLength.Value;
		set => _slowLength.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Take profit distance expressed in price points.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TakeProfitPoints
	{
		get => _takeProfitPoints.Value;
		set => _takeProfitPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Stop loss distance expressed in price points.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal StopLossPoints
	{
		get => _stopLossPoints.Value;
		set => _stopLossPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Trailing stop distance expressed in price points.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TrailingStopPoints
	{
		get => _trailingStopPoints.Value;
		set => _trailingStopPoints.Value = value;
	}

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

	/// <summary>
	/// Initialize <see cref="FiveEightMaCrossStrategy"/>.
	/// </summary>
	public FiveEightMaCrossStrategy()
	{
		_fastLength = Param(nameof(FastLength), 8)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Fast EMA Length", "Length of the EMA calculated on closing prices", "Indicators")
			
			.SetOptimize(3, 20, 1);

		_slowLength = Param(nameof(SlowLength), 21)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Slow EMA Length", "Length of the EMA calculated on opening prices", "Indicators")
			
			.SetOptimize(5, 30, 1);

		_takeProfitPoints = Param(nameof(TakeProfitPoints), 40m)
			.SetDisplay("Take Profit (points)", "Take profit distance expressed in price points", "Risk Management")
			.SetNotNegative()
			
			.SetOptimize(10m, 100m, 10m);

		_stopLossPoints = Param(nameof(StopLossPoints), 0m)
			.SetDisplay("Stop Loss (points)", "Stop loss distance expressed in price points", "Risk Management")
			.SetNotNegative()
			
			.SetOptimize(0m, 100m, 10m);

		_trailingStopPoints = Param(nameof(TrailingStopPoints), 0m)
			.SetDisplay("Trailing Stop (points)", "Trailing stop distance expressed in price points", "Risk Management")
			.SetNotNegative()
			
			.SetOptimize(0m, 100m, 10m);

		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromHours(1).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Candle type used for calculations", "General");

		Volume = 0.1m;
	}

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

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
	base.OnReseted();

	_fastMa = null!;
	_slowMa = null!;
	_prevFast = 0m;
	_prevSlow = 0m;
	_isInitialized = false;
	_pointValue = 0m;
	ResetPositionState();
	}

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

	_fastMa = new EMA { Length = FastLength };
	_slowMa = new EMA { Length = SlowLength };

	_pointValue = CalculatePointValue();

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

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

	private decimal CalculatePointValue()
	{
	var step = Security?.PriceStep;

	if (step == null || step.Value <= 0m)
	return 1m;

	var stepValue = step.Value;
	var stepDouble = (double)stepValue;

	if (stepDouble <= 0d)
	return stepValue;

	var digitsDouble = Math.Log10(1d / stepDouble);
	var digits = (int)Math.Round(digitsDouble, MidpointRounding.AwayFromZero);
	var multiplier = (digits == 3 || digits == 5) ? 10m : 1m;

	return stepValue * multiplier;
	}

	private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle)
	{
	// Process only finished candles to avoid repainting.
	if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
	return;

	// Feed indicators with the corresponding price source.
	var fastValue = _fastMa.Process(new DecimalIndicatorValue(_fastMa, candle.ClosePrice, candle.OpenTime) { IsFinal = true }).ToDecimal();
	var slowValue = _slowMa.Process(new DecimalIndicatorValue(_slowMa, candle.OpenPrice, candle.OpenTime) { IsFinal = true }).ToDecimal();

	if (!_fastMa.IsFormed || !_slowMa.IsFormed)
	{
	_prevFast = fastValue;
	_prevSlow = slowValue;
	return;
	}

	HandleRiskManagement(candle);

	// indicators are processed manually

	if (!_isInitialized)
	{
	_prevFast = fastValue;
	_prevSlow = slowValue;
	_isInitialized = true;
	return;
	}

	var crossUp = _prevFast <= _prevSlow && fastValue > slowValue;
	var crossDown = _prevFast >= _prevSlow && fastValue < slowValue;

	if (crossUp && Position <= 0)
	{
	EnterLong(candle);
	}
	else if (crossDown && Position >= 0)
	{
	EnterShort(candle);
	}

	_prevFast = fastValue;
	_prevSlow = slowValue;
	}

	private void EnterLong(ICandleMessage candle)
	{
	var positionVolume = Position < 0 ? Math.Abs(Position) : 0m;
	var volume = Volume + positionVolume;

	if (volume <= 0m)
	return;

	ResetPositionState();

	// Enter long position with volume including any short covering.
	BuyMarket(volume);

	_entryPrice = candle.ClosePrice;
	_takePrice = TakeProfitPoints > 0m ? _entryPrice + TakeProfitPoints * _pointValue : null;
	_stopPrice = StopLossPoints > 0m ? _entryPrice - StopLossPoints * _pointValue : null;
	_trailDistance = TrailingStopPoints > 0m ? TrailingStopPoints * _pointValue : 0m;
	_maxPrice = candle.HighPrice;
	_minPrice = candle.LowPrice;

	if (_trailDistance > 0m)
	{
	var trailStart = _entryPrice.Value - _trailDistance;
	if (_stopPrice == null || trailStart > _stopPrice.Value)
	_stopPrice = trailStart;
	}
	}

	private void EnterShort(ICandleMessage candle)
	{
	var positionVolume = Position > 0 ? Position : 0m;
	var volume = Volume + positionVolume;

	if (volume <= 0m)
	return;

	ResetPositionState();

	// Enter short position with volume including any long exit.
	SellMarket(volume);

	_entryPrice = candle.ClosePrice;
	_takePrice = TakeProfitPoints > 0m ? _entryPrice - TakeProfitPoints * _pointValue : null;
	_stopPrice = StopLossPoints > 0m ? _entryPrice + StopLossPoints * _pointValue : null;
	_trailDistance = TrailingStopPoints > 0m ? TrailingStopPoints * _pointValue : 0m;
	_maxPrice = candle.HighPrice;
	_minPrice = candle.LowPrice;

	if (_trailDistance > 0m)
	{
	var trailStart = _entryPrice.Value + _trailDistance;
	if (_stopPrice == null || trailStart < _stopPrice.Value)
	_stopPrice = trailStart;
	}
	}

	private void HandleRiskManagement(ICandleMessage candle)
	{
	if (Position > 0 && _entryPrice.HasValue)
	{
	// Update trailing stop using the highest price reached since entry.
	_maxPrice = Math.Max(_maxPrice, candle.HighPrice);

	if (_trailDistance > 0m)
	{
	var trailCandidate = _maxPrice - _trailDistance;
	if (_stopPrice == null || trailCandidate > _stopPrice.Value)
	_stopPrice = trailCandidate;
	}

	if (_takePrice.HasValue && candle.ClosePrice >= _takePrice.Value)
	{
	SellMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
	ResetPositionState();
	return;
	}

	if (_stopPrice.HasValue && candle.ClosePrice <= _stopPrice.Value)
	{
	SellMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
	ResetPositionState();
	return;
	}
	}
	else if (Position < 0 && _entryPrice.HasValue)
	{
	// Update trailing stop using the lowest price reached since entry.
	_minPrice = Math.Min(_minPrice, candle.LowPrice);

	if (_trailDistance > 0m)
	{
	var trailCandidate = _minPrice + _trailDistance;
	if (_stopPrice == null || trailCandidate < _stopPrice.Value)
	_stopPrice = trailCandidate;
	}

	if (_takePrice.HasValue && candle.ClosePrice <= _takePrice.Value)
	{
	BuyMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
	ResetPositionState();
	return;
	}

	if (_stopPrice.HasValue && candle.ClosePrice >= _stopPrice.Value)
	{
	BuyMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
	ResetPositionState();
	}
	}
	}

	private void ResetPositionState()
	{
	_entryPrice = null;
	_stopPrice = null;
	_takePrice = null;
	_trailDistance = 0m;
	_maxPrice = 0m;
	_minPrice = 0m;
	}
}