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Trend Following 5-Minute EMA Crossover Strategy

Author: ChaoZhang, Date: 2023-11-16 15:36:36
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Overview

This is a 5-minute timeframe trend following strategy based on fast and slow EMA crossovers, with limit orders and trailing stop loss to automatically catch trends. It is suitable for medium-term trend trading, using EMA filter to determine overall trend direction and fast/slow EMA crossovers to pinpoint specific entry timing. Its advantages are accurate trend judgement and effective trend following. Disadvantages include occasional false breakouts and whipsaws.

Strategy Logic

  1. Use fast and slow EMA lines, go long when fast EMA crosses above slow EMA, go short when crossing below
  2. Apply EMA macro filter, only take longs above EMA and shorts below EMA to avoid false signals
  3. Enter trades with limit orders to ensure ideal entry price is met
  4. Apply dynamic trailing stop loss after entry to lock in profits and cut losses

Specifically:

  1. Calculate fast and slow EMA based on chosen periods
  2. Only take long/short positions when price is above/below EMA if filter is enabled
  3. Go long when fast EMA crosses above slow EMA, go short on downward crossover
  4. Place limit buy orders for longs and limit sell orders for shorts
  5. Initiate trailing stop loss based on highest high/lowest low after entry

The above covers the basic trading logic of this strategy.

Advantages

  1. EMA filters determine overall trend, prevents trading against major trend
  2. Fast/slow EMA with limits prevents chasing tops/bottoms
  3. Dynamic trailing stop locks in profits effectively
  4. Good risk control with ~2% stop loss
  5. Smaller drawdowns, good at following trends
  6. Simple and easy to understand logic, optimizable

Risks

  1. Whipsaws and false breakout risks, possibility of being trapped
  2. Incorrect EMA periods may cause missed trends
  3. Stop loss too wide, may exceed normal volatility
  4. Trailing stop too aggressive, could exit prematurely
  5. Suboptimal stop loss/take profit ratios, missing big moves

Solutions:

  1. Optimize EMA parameters to find best periods
  2. Widen stops moderately to prevent excessive stops
  3. Carefully determine trailing start point and trail percentage
  4. Test different stop/take ratios to find optimum

Optimization Opportunities

  1. Optimize EMA periods to find best combinations
  2. Try different EMA types like weighted moving average
  3. Test other indicators like MACD for improved performance
  4. Attempt EMA filtering on higher timeframes
  5. Optimize limit order entry price range
  6. Optimize stop loss and take profit points/ratios
  7. Experiment with more advanced trailing methods
  8. Add trend strength indicator for situational awareness
  9. Consider more filters to further avoid false signals

Conclusion

Overall this is a very effective medium-term trend following strategy. Its clear logic of using EMA crossovers for entries, limit orders to prevent chasing, and trailing stops to lock profits is simple and robust. With proper parameter tuning it can achieve higher win rates and profitability. Risks like improper EMA periods and excessive stops need to be monitored. But in general this is an efficient quantifiable trend trading system.

/*backtest
start: 2022-11-09 00:00:00
end: 2023-11-15 00:00:00
period: 1d
basePeriod: 1h
exchanges: [{"eid":"Futures_Binance","currency":"BTC_USDT"}]
*/

// This source code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/
// © jordanfray

//@version=5
strategy(title="5 Minute EMA Strategy", overlay=true, max_bars_back=500, default_qty_type=strategy.percent_of_equity, default_qty_value=100,initial_capital=100000, commission_type=strategy.commission.percent, commission_value=0.05, backtest_fill_limits_assumption=2)

// Indenting Classs
indent_1 = " "
indent_2 = "  "
indent_3 = "   "
indent_4 = "    "

// Group Titles
group_one_title = "EMA Settings"
group_two_title = "Entry Settings"
group_three_title = "Trade Filters"

// Input Tips

ocean_blue = color.new(#0C6090,0)
sky_blue = color.new(#00A5FF,0)
green = color.new(#2DBD85,0)
red = color.new(#E02A4A,0)
light_blue = color.new(#00A5FF,85)
light_green = color.new(#2DBD85,85)
light_red = color.new(#E02A4A,85)
light_yellow = color.new(#FFF900,85)
white = color.new(#ffffff,0)
light_gray = color.new(#000000,70)
transparent = color.new(#000000,100)

// Strategy Settings - EMA
fast_EMA_length = input.int(defval=20, minval=1, title="Fast Length", group=group_one_title)
fast_EMA_type = input.string(defval="EMA", options = ["EMA", "SMA", "RMA", "WMA"], title=indent_4+"Type", group=group_one_title)
fast_EMA_source = input.source(defval=close, title=indent_4+"Source", group=group_one_title)
fast_EMA = switch fast_EMA_type
    "EMA" => ta.ema(fast_EMA_source, fast_EMA_length)
    "SMA" => ta.sma(fast_EMA_source, fast_EMA_length)
    "RMA" => ta.rma(fast_EMA_source, fast_EMA_length)
    "WMA" => ta.wma(fast_EMA_source, fast_EMA_length)
    => na
plot(fast_EMA, title="Fast EMA", linewidth=1, color=green, editable=true)

slow_EMA_length = input.int(defval=100, minval=1, title="Slow Length", group=group_one_title)
slow_EMA_type = input.string(defval="EMA", options = ["EMA", "SMA", "RMA", "WMA"], title=indent_4+"Type", group=group_one_title)
slow_EMA_source = input.source(defval=close, title=indent_4+"Source", group=group_one_title)
slow_EMA = switch slow_EMA_type
    "EMA" => ta.ema(slow_EMA_source, slow_EMA_length)
    "SMA" => ta.sma(slow_EMA_source, slow_EMA_length)
    "RMA" => ta.rma(slow_EMA_source, slow_EMA_length)
    "WMA" => ta.wma(slow_EMA_source, slow_EMA_length)
    => na
plot(slow_EMA, title="Slow EMA", linewidth=1, color=sky_blue, editable=true)


// EMA Macro Filter
enable_EMA_filter = input.bool(defval=false, title="Use EMA Filter", group=group_three_title)
EMA_filter_timeframe = input.timeframe(defval="", title=indent_4+"Timeframe", group=group_three_title)
EMA_filter_length = input.int(defval=300, minval=1, step=10, title=indent_4+"Length", group=group_three_title)
EMA_filter_source = input.source(defval=hl2, title=indent_4+"Source", group=group_three_title)
ema_filter = ta.ema(EMA_filter_source, EMA_filter_length)
ema_filter_smoothed = request.security(syminfo.tickerid, EMA_filter_timeframe, ema_filter[barstate.isrealtime ? 1 : 0], gaps=barmerge.gaps_on)
plot(enable_EMA_filter ? ema_filter_smoothed: na, title="EMA Macro Filter", linewidth=2, color=white, editable=true)


// Entry Settings
stop_loss_val = input.float(defval=2.0, title="Stop Loss (%)", step=0.1, group=group_two_title)/100
take_profit_val = input.float(defval=2.0, title="Take Profit (%)", step=0.1, group=group_two_title)/100
long_entry_limit_lookback = input.int(defval=3, title="Long Entry Limit Lookback", minval=1, step=1, group=group_two_title)
short_entry_limit_lookback = input.int(defval=3, title="Short Entry Limit Lookback", minval=1, step=1, group=group_two_title)
limit_order_long_price = ta.lowest(low, long_entry_limit_lookback)
limit_order_short_price = ta.highest(high, short_entry_limit_lookback)
start_trailing_after = input.float(defval=1, title="Start Trailing After (%)", step=0.1, group=group_two_title)/100
trail_behind = input.float(defval=1, title="Trail Behind (%)", step=0.1, group=group_two_title)/100
long_start_trailing_val = strategy.position_avg_price + (strategy.position_avg_price * start_trailing_after)
short_start_trailing_val = strategy.position_avg_price - (strategy.position_avg_price * start_trailing_after)
long_trail_behind_val = close - (strategy.position_avg_price * (trail_behind/100))
short_trail_behind_val = close + (strategy.position_avg_price * (trail_behind/100))
currently_in_a_long_postion = strategy.position_size > 0
currently_in_a_short_postion = strategy.position_size < 0
long_profit_target = strategy.position_avg_price * (1 + take_profit_val)
long_stop_loss = strategy.position_avg_price * (1.0 - stop_loss_val)
short_profit_target = strategy.position_avg_price * (1 - take_profit_val)
short_stop_loss = strategy.position_avg_price * (1 + stop_loss_val)

bars_since_entry = bar_index - strategy.opentrades.entry_bar_index(strategy.opentrades - 1)
plot(bars_since_entry, editable=false, title="Bars Since Entry", color=green)

long_run_up = currently_in_a_long_postion and bars_since_entry > 0 ? ta.highest(high, bars_since_entry) : high
long_trailing_stop = currently_in_a_long_postion and bars_since_entry > 0 and long_run_up > long_start_trailing_val ? long_run_up - (long_run_up * trail_behind) : long_stop_loss
long_run_up_line = plot(long_run_up, style=plot.style_stepline, editable=false, color=currently_in_a_long_postion ? green : transparent)
long_trailing_stop_line = plot(long_trailing_stop, style=plot.style_stepline, editable=false, color=currently_in_a_long_postion ? long_trailing_stop > strategy.position_avg_price ? green : red : transparent)

short_run_up = currently_in_a_short_postion and bars_since_entry > 0 ? ta.lowest(low, bars_since_entry) : low
short_trailing_stop = currently_in_a_short_postion and bars_since_entry > 0 and short_run_up < short_start_trailing_val ? short_run_up + (short_run_up * trail_behind) : short_stop_loss
// short_run_up_line = plot(short_run_up, style=plot.style_stepline, editable=false, color=currently_in_a_short_postion ? green : transparent)
short_trailing_stop_line = plot(short_trailing_stop, style=plot.style_stepline, editable=false, color=currently_in_a_short_postion ? short_trailing_stop < strategy.position_avg_price ? green : red : transparent)


// Trade Conditions
fast_EMA_cross_down_slow_EMA = ta.crossunder(fast_EMA,slow_EMA)
fast_EMA_cross_up_slow_EMA = ta.crossover(fast_EMA,slow_EMA)
plotshape(fast_EMA_cross_down_slow_EMA ? close : na, title="Short Entry Symbol", color=red, style=shape.triangledown, location=location.belowbar)
plotshape(fast_EMA_cross_up_slow_EMA ? close : na, title="Long Entry Symbol", color=green, style=shape.triangleup, location=location.abovebar)
fast_EMA_is_above_slow_EMA = fast_EMA > slow_EMA
fast_EMA_is_below_slow_EMA = fast_EMA < slow_EMA
ema_macro_filter_longs_only = fast_EMA > ema_filter_smoothed and slow_EMA > ema_filter_smoothed
ema_macro_filter_shorts_only = fast_EMA < ema_filter_smoothed and slow_EMA < ema_filter_smoothed

long_position_take_profit = ta.cross(close, long_trailing_stop) or close > long_profit_target
short_position_take_profit = ta.cross(close, short_trailing_stop) or close > short_profit_target

long_conditions_met = enable_EMA_filter ? ema_macro_filter_longs_only and fast_EMA_cross_up_slow_EMA and fast_EMA_is_above_slow_EMA and not currently_in_a_short_postion : fast_EMA_cross_up_slow_EMA and not currently_in_a_short_postion
short_conditions_met = enable_EMA_filter ? ema_macro_filter_shorts_only and fast_EMA_cross_down_slow_EMA and fast_EMA_is_below_slow_EMA and not currently_in_a_long_postion : fast_EMA_cross_down_slow_EMA and fast_EMA_is_below_slow_EMA and not currently_in_a_long_postion

// Long Entry
strategy.entry(id="Long", direction=strategy.long, limit=limit_order_long_price, when=long_conditions_met)
strategy.cancel(id="Cancel Long", when=ta.crossover(fast_EMA,slow_EMA))
strategy.exit(id="Close Long", from_entry="Long", stop=long_trailing_stop, limit=long_profit_target, when=long_position_take_profit)

// Short Entry 
strategy.entry(id="Short", direction=strategy.short, limit=limit_order_short_price, when=short_conditions_met)
strategy.cancel(id="Cancel Short", when=ta.crossunder(fast_EMA,slow_EMA))
strategy.exit(id="Close Short", from_entry="Short", stop=short_trailing_stop, limit=short_profit_target, when=short_position_take_profit)

entry = plot(strategy.position_avg_price, editable=false, title="Entry", style=plot.style_stepline, color=currently_in_a_long_postion or currently_in_a_short_postion ? color.blue : transparent, linewidth=1)
fill(entry,long_trailing_stop_line, editable=false, color=currently_in_a_long_postion ? long_trailing_stop > strategy.position_avg_price ? light_green : light_red : transparent)
fill(entry,short_trailing_stop_line, editable=false, color=currently_in_a_short_postion ? short_trailing_stop < strategy.position_avg_price ? light_green : light_red : transparent)
//ltp = plot(currently_in_a_long_postion ? long_profit_target : na, style=plot.style_stepline, title="Take Profit", color=currently_in_a_long_postion ? green : transparent, linewidth=1)
//lsl = plot(currently_in_a_long_postion ? long_stop_loss : na, style=plot.style_stepline, title="Take Profit", color=currently_in_a_long_postion ? red : transparent, linewidth=1)
//fill(entry,ltp, color= currently_in_a_long_postion ? light_green : light_red)
//fill(entry,lsl, color= currently_in_a_long_postion ? light_red : light_green)

//stp = plot(currently_in_a_short_postion ? short_profit_target : na, style=plot.style_stepline, title="Take Profit", color=currently_in_a_short_postion ? green : transparent, linewidth=1)
//ssl = plot(currently_in_a_short_postion ? short_stop_loss : na, style=plot.style_stepline, title="Take Profit", color=currently_in_a_short_postion ? red : transparent, linewidth=1)
//fill(entry,stp, color= currently_in_a_short_postion ? light_green : light_red)
//fill(entry,ssl, color= currently_in_a_short_postion ? light_red : light_green)
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