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Neural Network Template Strategy

Overview

This strategy replicates the behaviour of the MQL5 expert advisor template that feeds RSI and MACD features into a neural network. Because StockSharp does not ship with the custom network loader from the original project, the strategy replaces the black-box network with a deterministic scoring model while keeping the same market structure and risk controls. The goal is to capture momentum when both RSI and MACD agree on direction and the projected move is large enough to justify a trade.

Indicators and data

  • Relative Strength Index (RSI, 12 periods) calculated on candle close, mirroring the original typical price input.
  • Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD 12/48/12) used as a momentum histogram and confidence proxy.
  • Timeframe configurable; default is 5-minute candles to match the source expert.

Trading logic

  1. On every finished candle the strategy updates rolling queues of RSI and MACD histogram values with the window controlled by BarsToPattern.
  2. The RSI deviation from 50 and the MACD histogram deviation from its rolling mean are combined into a confidence score using a hyperbolic tangent to emulate the network's squashing function.
  3. If the absolute confidence exceeds TradeLevel and the projected move converted to points is beyond MinTargetPoints, the strategy issues a market order in the direction suggested by the score.
  4. A dynamic take-profit equal to the projected move multiplied by ProfitMultiply and capped by MaxTakeProfitPoints is stored for manual exit handling. A symmetric stop-loss in points mirrors the original behaviour.
  5. While a position is open the strategy checks every finished candle: if price hits the stored stop or target it closes the position at market and resets the internal state.

Parameters

Parameter Description
BarsToPattern Number of candles stored in the rolling window used to calculate RSI and MACD statistics.
TradeLevel Minimum confidence (0-1) required to open a position.
ProfitMultiply Multiplier applied to the projected move before capping it with MaxTakeProfitPoints.
MinTargetPoints Minimum number of price points required from the projection to enter a trade.
MaxTakeProfitPoints Maximum distance, in points, allowed for the take-profit.
StopLossPoints Distance, in points, of the protective stop relative to the entry price.
TradeVolume Volume sent with every market order.
CandleType Candle data type or timeframe to subscribe to.

Notes

  • The confidence model is intentionally deterministic to keep the behaviour transparent while preserving the structure of the original neural-network approach.
  • Take-profit and stop-loss levels are managed manually so that each trade keeps its own dynamic targets, similar to how the MQL5 version uses the network output.
  • The strategy only evaluates new entries when no position is open, replicating the single-position constraint of the source expert advisor.
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>
/// Momentum strategy inspired by a neural-network driven template from MQL5.
/// </summary>
public class NeuralNetworkTemplateStrategy : Strategy
{
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _barsToPattern;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _maxTakeProfitPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _minTargetPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<int> _stopLossPoints;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _profitMultiply;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _tradeLevel;
	private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _volume;
	private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;

	private RelativeStrengthIndex _rsi = null!;
	private MovingAverageConvergenceDivergenceSignal _macd = null!;

	private readonly Queue<decimal> _rsiHistory = new();
	private readonly Queue<decimal> _macdHistory = new();

	private decimal _rsiSum;
	private decimal _macdSum;
	private decimal? _targetPrice;
	private decimal? _stopPrice;
	private int _positionDirection;

	/// <summary>
	/// Number of candles used for pattern recognition.
	/// </summary>
	public int BarsToPattern
	{
		get => _barsToPattern.Value;
		set => _barsToPattern.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Upper bound for calculated take-profit in points.
	/// </summary>
	public int MaxTakeProfitPoints
	{
		get => _maxTakeProfitPoints.Value;
		set => _maxTakeProfitPoints.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Minimum projected move required to open a trade.
	/// </summary>
	public int MinTargetPoints
	{
		get => _minTargetPoints.Value;
		set => _minTargetPoints.Value = value;
	}

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

	/// <summary>
	/// Multiplier applied to the projected move returned by the scoring model.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal ProfitMultiply
	{
		get => _profitMultiply.Value;
		set => _profitMultiply.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Required confidence level before opening a new position.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TradeLevel
	{
		get => _tradeLevel.Value;
		set => _tradeLevel.Value = value;
	}

	/// <summary>
	/// Trading volume for every market order.
	/// </summary>
	public decimal TradeVolume
	{
		get => _volume.Value;
		set => _volume.Value = value;
	}

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

	/// <summary>
	/// Initializes a new instance of <see cref="NeuralNetworkTemplateStrategy"/>.
	/// </summary>
	public NeuralNetworkTemplateStrategy()
	{
		_barsToPattern = Param(nameof(BarsToPattern), 3)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Bars", "Candles analysed", "Model")
			;

		_maxTakeProfitPoints = Param(nameof(MaxTakeProfitPoints), 500)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Max TP", "Maximum take-profit in points", "Risk");

		_minTargetPoints = Param(nameof(MinTargetPoints), 1)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Min Target", "Minimum projected move in points", "Model");

		_stopLossPoints = Param(nameof(StopLossPoints), 300)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Stop-Loss", "Stop-loss distance in points", "Risk");

		_profitMultiply = Param(nameof(ProfitMultiply), 0.8m)
			.SetNotNegative()
			.SetDisplay("Profit Mult", "Take-profit multiplier", "Model");

		_tradeLevel = Param(nameof(TradeLevel), 0.1m)
			.SetRange(0m, 1m)
			.SetDisplay("Trade Level", "Required confidence", "Model");

		_volume = Param(nameof(TradeVolume), 0.1m)
			.SetGreaterThanZero()
			.SetDisplay("Volume", "Order volume", "Trading");

		_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5).TimeFrame())
			.SetDisplay("TF", "Working timeframe", "General");
	}

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

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

		_rsi = null!;
		_macd = null!;
		_rsiHistory.Clear();
		_macdHistory.Clear();
		_rsiSum = 0m;
		_macdSum = 0m;
		_targetPrice = null;
		_stopPrice = null;
		_positionDirection = 0;
	}

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

		_rsi = new RelativeStrengthIndex { Length = 12 };
		_macd = new MovingAverageConvergenceDivergenceSignal
		{
			Macd =
			{
				ShortMa = { Length = 12 },
				LongMa = { Length = 48 }
			},
			SignalMa = { Length = 12 }
		};

		var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
		subscription
			.BindEx(_rsi, _macd, ProcessCandle)
			.Start();

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

	private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle, IIndicatorValue rsiValue, IIndicatorValue macdValue)
	{
		if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
			return;

		ManageOpenPosition(candle);

		if (!_rsi.IsFormed || !_macd.IsFormed)
			return;

		var rsiDecimal = rsiValue.ToDecimal();

		if (macdValue is not MovingAverageConvergenceDivergenceSignalValue macdComponents)
			return;

		if (macdComponents.Macd is not decimal macdLine ||
			macdComponents.Signal is not decimal signalLine)
			return;

		UpdateHistory(rsiDecimal, macdLine - signalLine);

		if (Position != 0)
			return;

		EvaluateEntry(candle, rsiDecimal, macdLine, signalLine);
	}

	private void UpdateHistory(decimal rsiValue, decimal macdHistogram)
	{
		_rsiHistory.Enqueue(rsiValue);
		_rsiSum += rsiValue;
		if (_rsiHistory.Count > BarsToPattern)
			_rsiSum -= _rsiHistory.Dequeue();

		_macdHistory.Enqueue(macdHistogram);
		_macdSum += macdHistogram;
		if (_macdHistory.Count > BarsToPattern)
			_macdSum -= _macdHistory.Dequeue();
	}

	private void EvaluateEntry(ICandleMessage candle, decimal rsiValue, decimal macdLine, decimal signalLine)
	{
		if (_rsiHistory.Count < BarsToPattern || _macdHistory.Count < BarsToPattern)
			return;

		var priceStep = Security?.PriceStep ?? 1m;
		if (priceStep <= 0m)
			priceStep = 1m;

		var normalizedRsi = Clamp((rsiValue - 50m) / 50m, -1m, 1m);
		var macdHistogram = macdLine - signalLine;
		var macdAverage = _macdHistory.Count == 0 ? 0m : _macdSum / _macdHistory.Count;
		var macdDeviation = macdHistogram - macdAverage;
		var normalizedMomentum = (decimal)Math.Tanh((double)(macdDeviation * 5m));

		var combinedScore = normalizedRsi * 0.6m + normalizedMomentum * 0.4m;
		var confidence = Math.Min(1m, Math.Abs(combinedScore));
		var projectedMove = macdDeviation * BarsToPattern;
		var projectedPoints = projectedMove / priceStep;

		if (combinedScore > 0m)
		{
			if (confidence < TradeLevel)
				return;

			if (projectedPoints < MinTargetPoints)
				return;

			var takeProfit = candle.ClosePrice + Math.Min(projectedMove * ProfitMultiply, MaxTakeProfitPoints * priceStep);
			var stopLoss = candle.ClosePrice - StopLossPoints * priceStep;

			if (takeProfit <= candle.ClosePrice)
				return;

			BuyMarket(TradeVolume);
			_targetPrice = takeProfit;
			_stopPrice = stopLoss;
			_positionDirection = 1;
		}
		else if (combinedScore < 0m)
		{
			if (confidence < TradeLevel)
				return;

			if (projectedPoints > -MinTargetPoints)
				return;

			var takeProfit = candle.ClosePrice + Math.Max(projectedMove * ProfitMultiply, -MaxTakeProfitPoints * priceStep);
			var stopLoss = candle.ClosePrice + StopLossPoints * priceStep;

			if (takeProfit >= candle.ClosePrice)
				return;

			SellMarket(TradeVolume);
			_targetPrice = takeProfit;
			_stopPrice = stopLoss;
			_positionDirection = -1;
		}
	}

	private void ManageOpenPosition(ICandleMessage candle)
	{
		if (Position > 0m)
		{
			if (_stopPrice.HasValue && candle.LowPrice <= _stopPrice.Value)
			{
				SellMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
				ResetTargets();
				return;
			}

			if (_targetPrice.HasValue && candle.HighPrice >= _targetPrice.Value)
			{
				SellMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
				ResetTargets();
			}
		}
		else if (Position < 0m)
		{
			if (_stopPrice.HasValue && candle.HighPrice >= _stopPrice.Value)
			{
				BuyMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
				ResetTargets();
				return;
			}

			if (_targetPrice.HasValue && candle.LowPrice <= _targetPrice.Value)
			{
				BuyMarket(Math.Abs(Position));
				ResetTargets();
			}
		}
		else if (_positionDirection != 0)
		{
			ResetTargets();
		}
	}

	private void ResetTargets()
	{
		_targetPrice = null;
		_stopPrice = null;
		_positionDirection = 0;
	}

	private static decimal Clamp(decimal value, decimal min, decimal max)
	{
		if (value < min)
			return min;

		if (value > max)
			return max;

		return value;
	}
}