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Volatility Mean Reversion Strategy

This approach trades around fluctuations in market volatility. When the ATR deviates markedly from its moving average, it suggests volatility has become unusually high or low and may revert.

Testing indicates an average annual return of about 73%. It performs best in the crypto market.

The strategy goes long when ATR drops below the average minus DeviationMultiplier times the standard deviation and price is below the moving average. It shorts when ATR exceeds the upper band and price is above the average. Positions exit once ATR returns toward its mean level.

Such setups work for traders who like to fade volatility extremes rather than price direction. A protective stop-loss is used in case volatility keeps expanding.

Details

  • Entry Criteria:
    • Long: ATR < Avg - DeviationMultiplier * StdDev && Close < MA
    • Short: ATR > Avg + DeviationMultiplier * StdDev && Close > MA
  • Long/Short: Both sides.
  • Exit Criteria:
    • Long: Exit when ATR > Avg
    • Short: Exit when ATR < Avg
  • Stops: Yes, percent stop-loss.
  • Default Values:
    • AtrPeriod = 14
    • AveragePeriod = 20
    • DeviationMultiplier = 2m
    • CandleType = TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
  • Filters:
    • Category: Mean Reversion
    • Direction: Both
    • Indicators: ATR
    • Stops: Yes
    • Complexity: Intermediate
    • Timeframe: Intraday
    • Seasonality: No
    • Neural networks: No
    • Divergence: No
    • Risk Level: Medium
namespace StockSharp.Samples.Strategies
{
	using System;
	using System.Collections.Generic;

	using Ecng.Common;

	using StockSharp.Algo;
	using StockSharp.Algo.Candles;
	using StockSharp.Algo.Indicators;
	using StockSharp.Algo.Strategies;
	using StockSharp.BusinessEntities;
	using StockSharp.Messages;

	/// <summary>
	/// Volatility Mean Reversion strategy.
	/// This strategy enters positions when ATR (volatility) is significantly below or above its average value.
	/// </summary>
	public class VolatilityMeanReversionStrategy : Strategy
	{
		private readonly StrategyParam<int> _atrPeriod;
		private readonly StrategyParam<int> _averagePeriod;
		private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _deviationMultiplier;
		private readonly StrategyParam<DataType> _candleType;
		private readonly StrategyParam<decimal> _stopLossPercent;

		private decimal _prevAtr;
		private decimal _avgAtr;
		private decimal _stdDevAtr;
		private decimal _sumAtr;
		private decimal _sumSquaresAtr;
		private int _count;
		private readonly Queue<decimal> _atrValues = [];

		/// <summary>
		/// ATR Period.
		/// </summary>
		public int AtrPeriod
		{
			get => _atrPeriod.Value;
			set => _atrPeriod.Value = value;
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Period for calculating mean and standard deviation of ATR.
		/// </summary>
		public int AveragePeriod
		{
			get => _averagePeriod.Value;
			set => _averagePeriod.Value = value;
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Deviation multiplier for entry signals.
		/// </summary>
		public decimal DeviationMultiplier
		{
			get => _deviationMultiplier.Value;
			set => _deviationMultiplier.Value = value;
		}

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

		/// <summary>
		/// Stop-loss percentage.
		/// </summary>
		public decimal StopLossPercent
		{
			get => _stopLossPercent.Value;
			set => _stopLossPercent.Value = value;
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Constructor.
		/// </summary>
		public VolatilityMeanReversionStrategy()
		{
			_atrPeriod = Param(nameof(AtrPeriod), 14)
				.SetGreaterThanZero()
				
				.SetOptimize(10, 20, 5)
				.SetDisplay("ATR Period", "Period for Average True Range indicator", "Indicators");

			_averagePeriod = Param(nameof(AveragePeriod), 20)
				.SetGreaterThanZero()
				
				.SetOptimize(10, 50, 10)
				.SetDisplay("Average Period", "Period for calculating ATR average and standard deviation", "Settings");

			_deviationMultiplier = Param(nameof(DeviationMultiplier), 2m)
				.SetGreaterThanZero()
				
				.SetOptimize(1.5m, 3m, 0.5m)
				.SetDisplay("Deviation Multiplier", "Multiplier for standard deviation", "Settings");

			_candleType = Param(nameof(CandleType), TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5).TimeFrame())
				.SetDisplay("Candle Type", "Type of candles to use", "General");

			_stopLossPercent = Param(nameof(StopLossPercent), 1.0m)
				.SetNotNegative()
				.SetDisplay("Stop Loss %", "Stop loss percentage from entry price", "Risk Management")
				
				.SetOptimize(0.5m, 2.0m, 0.5m);
		}

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

			_prevAtr = 0;
			_avgAtr = 0;
			_stdDevAtr = 0;
			_sumAtr = 0;
			_sumSquaresAtr = 0;
			_count = 0;
			_atrValues.Clear();
		}


		/// <inheritdoc />
		protected override void OnStarted2(DateTime time)
		{
			// Create ATR indicator
			var atr = new AverageTrueRange { Length = AtrPeriod };

			// Create subscription and bind indicator
			var subscription = SubscribeCandles(CandleType);
			subscription
				.BindEx(atr, ProcessCandle)
				.Start();

			// Setup chart visualization
			var area = CreateChartArea();
			if (area != null)
			{
				DrawCandles(area, subscription);
				DrawIndicator(area, atr);
				DrawOwnTrades(area);
			}

			StartProtection(
				new(),
				new Unit(StopLossPercent, UnitTypes.Percent),
				useMarketOrders: true
			);

			base.OnStarted2(time);
		}

		private void ProcessCandle(ICandleMessage candle, IIndicatorValue atrValue)
		{
			// Skip unfinished candles
			if (candle.State != CandleStates.Finished)
				return;

			// Check if strategy is ready to trade
			if (!IsFormedAndOnlineAndAllowTrading())
				return;

			// Extract ATR value
			var currentAtr = atrValue.ToDecimal();

			// Update ATR statistics
			UpdateAtrStatistics(currentAtr);

			// If we don't have enough data yet for statistics
			if (_count < AveragePeriod)
			{
				_prevAtr = currentAtr;
				return;
			}

			// For volatility mean reversion, we need to use price action to determine direction
			// We'll use simple momentum for direction (current price vs previous price)
			var priceDirection = candle.ClosePrice > candle.OpenPrice ? Sides.Buy : Sides.Sell;

			// Check for entry conditions
			if (Position == 0)
			{
				// Low volatility expecting increase - possibly prepare for a breakout
				if (currentAtr < _avgAtr - DeviationMultiplier * _stdDevAtr)
				{
					// In low volatility, follow the current short-term price direction
					if (priceDirection == Sides.Buy)
					{
						BuyMarket(Volume);
						LogInfo($"Long entry: ATR = {currentAtr}, Avg = {_avgAtr}, StdDev = {_stdDevAtr}, Price up");
					}
					else
					{
						SellMarket(Volume);
						LogInfo($"Short entry: ATR = {currentAtr}, Avg = {_avgAtr}, StdDev = {_stdDevAtr}, Price down");
					}
				}
				// High volatility expecting decrease - possibly looking for market exhaustion
				else if (currentAtr > _avgAtr + DeviationMultiplier * _stdDevAtr)
				{
					// In high volatility, consider going against the short-term trend
					// as excessive volatility often leads to reversals
					if (priceDirection == Sides.Sell)
					{
						BuyMarket(Volume);
						LogInfo($"Contrarian long entry: ATR = {currentAtr}, Avg = {_avgAtr}, StdDev = {_stdDevAtr}, High volatility");
					}
					else
					{
						SellMarket(Volume);
						LogInfo($"Contrarian short entry: ATR = {currentAtr}, Avg = {_avgAtr}, StdDev = {_stdDevAtr}, High volatility");
					}
				}
			}
			// Check for exit conditions
			else if (Position > 0) // Long position
			{
				if (currentAtr < _avgAtr && priceDirection == Sides.Sell)
				{
					ClosePosition();
					LogInfo($"Long exit: ATR = {currentAtr}, Avg = {_avgAtr}, Price down");
				}
			}
			else if (Position < 0) // Short position
			{
				if (currentAtr < _avgAtr && priceDirection == Sides.Buy)
				{
					ClosePosition();
					LogInfo($"Short exit: ATR = {currentAtr}, Avg = {_avgAtr}, Price up");
				}
			}

			// Save current ATR for next iteration
			_prevAtr = currentAtr;
		}

		private void UpdateAtrStatistics(decimal currentAtr)
		{
			// Add current value to the queue
			_atrValues.Enqueue(currentAtr);
			_sumAtr += currentAtr;
			_sumSquaresAtr += currentAtr * currentAtr;
			_count++;

			// If queue is larger than period, remove oldest value
			if (_atrValues.Count > AveragePeriod)
			{
				var oldestAtr = _atrValues.Dequeue();
				_sumAtr -= oldestAtr;
				_sumSquaresAtr -= oldestAtr * oldestAtr;
				_count--;
			}

			// Calculate average and standard deviation
			if (_count > 0)
			{
				_avgAtr = _sumAtr / _count;
				
				if (_count > 1)
				{
					var variance = (_sumSquaresAtr - (_sumAtr * _sumAtr) / _count) / (_count - 1);
					_stdDevAtr = variance <= 0 ? 0 : (decimal)Math.Sqrt((double)variance);
				}
				else
				{
					_stdDevAtr = 0;
				}
			}
		}
	}
}