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Basic ATR Stop Take

Overview

Basic ATR Stop Take ports the MetaTrader 4 expert advisor “Basic ATR stop_take expert adviser” to the StockSharp high-level strategy API. The system is intentionally minimal: it opens exactly one market position in the chosen direction, calculates an Average True Range (ATR) on the working candles, and attaches protective stop-loss and take-profit levels derived from ATR multipliers. Once the trade is closed by either level, the strategy immediately prepares for the next setup in the same direction.

Strategy logic

Indicator foundation

  • Average True Range (ATR) – computed on the subscribed candle type with a configurable lookback. The indicator measures recent volatility and scales both the stop and target distances.

Entry rules

  • Executes on the close of each finished candle after the ATR is fully formed.
  • If no position is open and the direction parameter is set to Buy, a market buy order is sent using the configured volume.
  • If no position is open and the direction parameter is set to Sell, a market sell order is sent with the configured volume.
  • Choosing None disables new entries while keeping existing positions managed until they close.

Exit rules

  • ATR stop-loss – distance equals ATR × Stop Factor. For longs the stop is placed below the entry; for shorts it is placed above the entry. When the candle’s extreme crosses the level, the position is closed at market.
  • ATR take-profit – distance equals ATR × Take Factor. For longs the profit target sits above the entry; for shorts it sits below. Reaching the level closes the trade at market.
  • If either multiplier is set to 0, the corresponding level is disabled; the strategy continues to monitor the remaining level if present.

Position management

  • Only one position is allowed at a time. After an exit the strategy waits for the next candle close before re-entering in the same direction.
  • StartProtection() is invoked during start-up so that external manual positions are monitored by the StockSharp protection subsystem.

Parameters

  • Trade Direction – side of the market to trade (None, Buy, or Sell).
  • Trade Volume – order volume for the single market entry.
  • ATR Period – number of candles used in the ATR calculation.
  • Stop Factor – ATR multiplier applied to the stop-loss distance. Zero disables the protective stop.
  • Take Factor – ATR multiplier applied to the take-profit distance. Zero disables the profit target.
  • Candle Type – timeframe of the candles used for ATR calculation and trade management.

Additional notes

  • The default parameters replicate the EA’s behavior (long-only mode, 0.01 lot volume, ATR period 14, stop factor 1.5, take factor 2.0).
  • Price comparisons use candle highs and lows, meaning stop-loss and take-profit triggers occur as soon as the level is pierced within the candle range.
  • The strategy does not stack or reverse positions; instead it always flattens and waits for the next bar close before placing a fresh order.
  • Only the C# implementation is provided in this package; there is no Python version for this strategy.
namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies;

using System;
using Ecng.Common;
using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
using StockSharp.Messages;

/// <summary>
/// Basic ATR Stop Take strategy: EMA trend with ATR-based stop/take levels.
/// Enters on EMA direction, manages position with ATR-distance stops.
/// </summary>
public class BasicAtrStopTakeStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _emaPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _atrPeriod;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopFactor;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _takeFactor;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _signalCooldownCandles;

	private decimal _entryPrice;
	private decimal _stopPrice;
	private decimal _takePrice;
	private bool _prevAboveEma;
	private bool _hasPrevSignal;
	private int _candlesSinceTrade;

	public DataType CandleType { get => _candleType.Value; set => _candleType.Value = value; }
	public int EmaPeriod { get => _emaPeriod.Value; set => _emaPeriod.Value = value; }
	public int AtrPeriod { get => _atrPeriod.Value; set => _atrPeriod.Value = value; }
	public decimal StopFactor { get => _stopFactor.Value; set => _stopFactor.Value = value; }
	public decimal TakeFactor { get => _takeFactor.Value; set => _takeFactor.Value = value; }
	public int SignalCooldownCandles { get => _signalCooldownCandles.Value; set => _signalCooldownCandles.Value = value; }

	public BasicAtrStopTakeStrategy()
	{
		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(15).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Candle timeframe", "General");
		_emaPeriod = Param(nameof(EmaPeriod), 50)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("EMA Period", "EMA trend period", "Indicators");
		_atrPeriod = Param(nameof(AtrPeriod), 14)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("ATR Period", "ATR period", "Indicators");
		_stopFactor = Param(nameof(StopFactor), 1.5m)
			.SetDisplay("Stop Factor", "ATR multiplier for stop loss", "Risk");
		_takeFactor = Param(nameof(TakeFactor), 2.0m)
			.SetDisplay("Take Factor", "ATR multiplier for take profit", "Risk");
		_signalCooldownCandles = Param(nameof(SignalCooldownCandles), 6)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Signal Cooldown", "Bars to wait between entries", "Trading");
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnReseted()
	{
		base.OnReseted();
		_entryPrice = 0m;
		_stopPrice = 0m;
		_takePrice = 0m;
		_prevAboveEma = false;
		_hasPrevSignal = false;
		_candlesSinceTrade = SignalCooldownCandles;
	}

	/// <inheritdoc />
	protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
	{
		base.OnStarted2(time);
		_entryPrice = 0;
		_hasPrevSignal = false;
		_candlesSinceTrade = SignalCooldownCandles;
		var ema = new ExponentialMovingAverage { Length = EmaPeriod };
		var atr = new AverageTrueRange { Length = AtrPeriod };
		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
		subscription.Bind(ema, atr, ProcessCandle).Start();
	}

	private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle, decimal ema, decimal atr)
	{
		if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished) return;
		var close = candle.ClosePrice;
		var aboveEma = close > ema;

		if (_candlesSinceTrade < SignalCooldownCandles)
			_candlesSinceTrade++;

		if (Position > 0 && _entryPrice > 0)
		{
			if (close <= _stopPrice || close >= _takePrice)
			{
				SellMarket();
				_entryPrice = 0;
				_stopPrice = 0;
				_takePrice = 0;
				_candlesSinceTrade = 0;
			}
		}
		else if (Position < 0 && _entryPrice > 0)
		{
			if (close >= _stopPrice || close <= _takePrice)
			{
				BuyMarket();
				_entryPrice = 0;
				_stopPrice = 0;
				_takePrice = 0;
				_candlesSinceTrade = 0;
			}
		}

		if (Position == 0 && atr > 0 && _hasPrevSignal && aboveEma != _prevAboveEma && _candlesSinceTrade >= SignalCooldownCandles)
		{
			if (aboveEma)
			{
				BuyMarket();
				_entryPrice = close;
				_stopPrice = close - atr * StopFactor;
				_takePrice = close + atr * TakeFactor;
				_candlesSinceTrade = 0;
			}
			else
			{
				SellMarket();
				_entryPrice = close;
				_stopPrice = close + atr * StopFactor;
				_takePrice = close - atr * TakeFactor;
				_candlesSinceTrade = 0;
			}
		}

		_prevAboveEma = aboveEma;
		_hasPrevSignal = true;
	}
}