This simple strat fires up on green bars, down on red bars. cannot get any simpler. So, it's a good example to check how returns are calculated.
First, the internal firing mechanism for the strategy.entry function is something hardcore. As result, the entry points can be confusing, and seem to appear in a wrong bar (as the 2nd and 3rd signals are good examples), but i'll put that aside to keep it simple. And, because i don't yet get it myself ;)
The example is simple, so that numbers can be followed easy. Chart in BTC/USD, so USD is the "base" currency used by strat to calculate. A contract/unit is the value of 1 unit in base currency. 1 Apple share is 600$, 1 bitcoin is 600$, 1 oz gold is 1330 bucks. So, here in each bar, the value of 1 contract is the value of the BTC in USD. simple as that.
The strat properties, can be passed as input fields (line 2) or accessed/changed in the right click->properties pop-up. To make it easier, initial capital is 1000 bucks, and "order size" is 1 contract. This means that the strat will open a position of 1 BTC when it fires. Value "Initial capital" makes no difference at all, at least with these choices. It's just for show. Try to put 1$ and 1 contract, the strat will still trade anyway. It manages to trade 1 contract(or BTC) values at ~600$, with a single dollar. nice ;)
Check the chart. see the little blue "BarUp +1" ? that's it, strat goes long 1 BTC. there's a little blue triangle on the bar, points to the value of entry. Then later, on second move, the "BarDn -2", the strat goes short 2BTC. 1BTC to close the long +1 more to open a short. The profit here is the difference between the value of the long opening and the long closing. The extra BTC (shorted) is part of the next position. Since this dumb strat just reverses the direction, there are always +2, -2 , +2.... 1 to close previous position, 1 to open another. At the strategy tester tab, the option "list of trades" shows in details each of the moves Checking each move and comparing what we see with the chart itself helps to achieve ilumination :)
Bonus feature: as soon as you get it, try to increase the option "pyramiding" and see how the strat adds more contracts, and how it reverses the positions. sometimes it even makes sense!!!! :)
But how is it possible to use USD instead of how many contracts bought?
Karina_2000
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dear @Blodroed, contracts always show up as the unit. Therefore, just change the calculation from contract to USDT in the setting..
CRCola
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@Karina_2000, What setting? I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out where to go to stop ordering 60 or 120 contracts in my strategy, and just buy 6% or 12% of my equity.
Don-Pedros
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Thank you for helping out a noob :). I am trying out a strat (which is the first thing that I am doing here). As I understand the pyramid setting, it should add contracts, as profit rises. Right? But it doesn't.
block_muncher
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I like this implementation of checking a date much better than what I had been using. And your explanation of contract size helps. Do pro traders enter positions via contract size like that? I was always entering 10k and then saying to enter.exit as 100% of equity (an option in the Strategy Settings UI under Order Size.
nospamman
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i think the reason it fires on the wrong bar is cause the strategy takes the close of the previous candle and executes on the open of the current candle.
hope that helps!
vtdsf2rhhd
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With Heikin-Ashi, you can get huge returns! Thank you!