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Exp AFIRMA Strategy

Overview

The Exp AFIRMA Strategy reproduces the MetaTrader expert advisor Exp_AFIRMA.mq5 using the StockSharp high-level API. The original system relies on the AFIRMA indicator (Adaptive Finite Impulse Response Moving Average) that blends a windowed FIR smoother with a short ARMA forecast. The StockSharp version keeps the same market logic: it opens long positions when the ARMA component turns upward and exits or reverses when the forecast rolls over to the downside.

Trading decisions are made on completed candles from a configurable timeframe (default: H4). The strategy evaluates the ARMA values of several closed bars to confirm a slope change. Orders are placed at market with optional protective stops and targets implemented through StockSharp's risk management.

Trading Logic

  1. Indicator calculation
    • The built-in AfirmaIndicator recreates the two-stage AFIRMA filter. A windowed FIR smoother (length = Taps, bandwidth = Periods) produces a base moving average.
    • The ARMA forecast is computed through the same least-squares coefficients as in the MQL source. The indicator exposes both FIR and ARMA values; the strategy only consumes the ARMA component.
  2. Signal evaluation
    • At every finished candle the most recent ARMA value is stored. The parameter SignalBar (default: 1) specifies how many already closed bars should be skipped. For example, the default setting analyses bars [t-1, t-2, t-3] to trigger at the open of bar t.
    • Bullish setup: previous ARMA value is lower than its predecessor (ARMA[t-2] < ARMA[t-3]) and the newest value is above the previous (ARMA[t-1] > ARMA[t-2]). This closes short exposure and opens/extends a long position if allowed.
    • Bearish setup: previous ARMA value is higher than its predecessor while the newest value is below it. This closes long exposure and opens/extends a short position if permitted.
  3. Position management
    • Only one position is maintained. New entries bring the position toward ±TradeVolume. Existing exposure is flattened before flipping.
    • Optional risk protection uses StartProtection with price-based stop-loss and take-profit distances.

Parameters

Parameter Description
TradeVolume Base position size used for both long and short entries.
CandleType Timeframe/data type requested from the market data adapter (default: 4-hour candles).
Periods Reciprocal bandwidth of the FIR stage (1 / (2 * Periods)), identical to the original EA input.
Taps Number of FIR coefficients. Internally adjusted to the nearest odd value if needed.
Window Window function applied to the FIR filter (Rectangular, Hanning1, Hanning2, Blackman, BlackmanHarris).
SignalBar Number of already closed bars to look back for confirmation. 1 corresponds to the last fully closed bar.
EnableBuyEntries / EnableSellEntries Allow opening of long/short positions.
EnableBuyExits / EnableSellExits Allow closing of long/short positions on opposite signals.
StopLossPoints Optional protective stop expressed in price units.
TakeProfitPoints Optional protective target expressed in price units.

Notes on the Conversion

  • Money-management options (MM, MMMode, Deviation_) from the MetaTrader version are replaced with the simpler TradeVolume parameter. Use StockSharp portfolio settings for advanced sizing or slippage control.
  • The original EA sends stop-loss and take-profit values in points. Here they are provided in absolute price units so that the protection module can be reused across different instruments. Convert points to price by multiplying by the appropriate price step.
  • When SignalBar = 1 the strategy reads the last three completed ARMA values and opens orders on the next bar, matching the behaviour of the source code that relies on CopyBuffer with shift one. Setting SignalBar = 0 still works but uses the most recently closed bar because StockSharp calculations are performed on finished candles.
  • The AFIRMA indicator implementation matches the original math, including the supported window types and coefficient formulas, allowing you to display FIR and ARMA lines on a chart if desired.

Usage Tips

  1. Attach the strategy to a security and portfolio, configure TradeVolume, and select the candle timeframe through CandleType.
  2. Enable or disable long/short directions according to your trading plan.
  3. Set StopLossPoints and TakeProfitPoints if you want automated risk management; otherwise leave them at zero to trade without fixed exits.
  4. Monitor the generated chart to verify the AFIRMA lines and the executed trades when tuning Periods, Taps, and SignalBar.
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>
/// Exp AFIRMA strategy using EMA crossover as adaptive filter approximation.
/// Buys when fast EMA crosses above slow EMA, sells on reverse.
/// </summary>
public class ExpAfirmaStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _fastPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _slowPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _stopLossPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _takeProfitPoints;

	private ExponentialMovingAverage _fast;
	private ExponentialMovingAverage _slow;

	private decimal _prevFast;
	private decimal _prevSlow;
	private decimal _entryPrice;
	private int _cooldown;

	/// <summary>
	/// Fast EMA period.
	/// </summary>
	public int FastPeriod
	{
		get => _fastPeriod.Value;
		set => _fastPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Slow EMA period.
	/// </summary>
	public int SlowPeriod
	{
		get => _slowPeriod.Value;
		set => _slowPeriod.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Stop-loss distance in price steps.
	/// </summary>
	public int StopLossPoints
	{
		get => _stopLossPoints.Value;
		set => _stopLossPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Take-profit distance in price steps.
	/// </summary>
	public int TakeProfitPoints
	{
		get => _takeProfitPoints.Value;
		set => _takeProfitPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ExpAfirmaStrategy"/> class.
	/// </summary>
	public ExpAfirmaStrategy()
	{
		_fastPeriod = Param(nameof(FastPeriod), 21)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Fast Period", "Fast EMA period", "Indicator");

		_slowPeriod = Param(nameof(SlowPeriod), 100)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Slow Period", "Slow EMA period", "Indicator");

		_stopLossPoints = Param(nameof(StopLossPoints), 200)
			.SetNotNegative()
			.SetDisplay("Stop Loss", "Stop-loss in price steps", "Risk");

		_takeProfitPoints = Param(nameof(TakeProfitPoints), 400)
			.SetNotNegative()
			.SetDisplay("Take Profit", "Take-profit in price steps", "Risk");
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	public override IEnumerable<(Security sec, DataType dt)> GetWorkingSecurities()
	{
		yield return (Security, TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5).TimeFrame());
	}

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

		_fast = null;
		_slow = null;
		_prevFast = 0;
		_prevSlow = 0;
		_entryPrice = 0;
		_cooldown = 0;
	}

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

		_fast = new ExponentialMovingAverage { Length = FastPeriod };
		_slow = new ExponentialMovingAverage { Length = SlowPeriod };

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5).TimeFrame());
		subscription.Bind(_fast, _slow, ProcessCandle);
		subscription.Start();
	}

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

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

		if (_cooldown > 0)
		{
			_cooldown--;
			_prevFast = fastValue;
			_prevSlow = slowValue;
			return;
		}

		var close = candle.ClosePrice;
		var step = Security?.PriceStep ?? 1m;

		// Check SL/TP
		if (Position > 0 && _entryPrice > 0)
		{
			if (StopLossPoints > 0 && close <= _entryPrice - StopLossPoints * step)
			{
				SellMarket();
				_entryPrice = 0;
				_cooldown = 80;
				_prevFast = fastValue;
				_prevSlow = slowValue;
				return;
			}

			if (TakeProfitPoints > 0 && close >= _entryPrice + TakeProfitPoints * step)
			{
				SellMarket();
				_entryPrice = 0;
				_cooldown = 80;
				_prevFast = fastValue;
				_prevSlow = slowValue;
				return;
			}
		}
		else if (Position < 0 && _entryPrice > 0)
		{
			if (StopLossPoints > 0 && close >= _entryPrice + StopLossPoints * step)
			{
				BuyMarket();
				_entryPrice = 0;
				_cooldown = 80;
				_prevFast = fastValue;
				_prevSlow = slowValue;
				return;
			}

			if (TakeProfitPoints > 0 && close <= _entryPrice - TakeProfitPoints * step)
			{
				BuyMarket();
				_entryPrice = 0;
				_cooldown = 80;
				_prevFast = fastValue;
				_prevSlow = slowValue;
				return;
			}
		}

		// EMA crossover
		if (_prevFast <= _prevSlow && fastValue > slowValue && Position <= 0)
		{
			if (Position < 0)
				BuyMarket();

			BuyMarket();
			_entryPrice = close;
			_cooldown = 80;
		}
		else if (_prevFast >= _prevSlow && fastValue < slowValue && Position >= 0)
		{
			if (Position > 0)
				SellMarket();

			SellMarket();
			_entryPrice = close;
			_cooldown = 80;
		}

		_prevFast = fastValue;
		_prevSlow = slowValue;
	}
}