Exp_i-CAi_StDev
This EA trades based on signals from the custom i-CAi_StDev indicator, which combines a smoothed moving average with standard deviation bands. It supports three signal modes (point signals, direct line direction, or disabled) for both entry and exit, and includes money management with multiple margin modes.
Open the interactive view (equity curve, symbol switch)Key facts
Backtest results (H1, about 1 year)
| Symbol | P&L | Annual | Max DD | Trades | Win rate | Sharpe | Recovery | Losing streak | Per trade | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | Not convertible yet |
| GBPUSD | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | Not convertible yet |
| USDJPY | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | Not convertible yet |
| XAUUSD | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | Not convertible yet |
Why this EA never traded: no entry rule survived the conversion.
Converted from MQL5 to Python and run with the same rules for every EA. Positions use MT5 lot sizes (100,000 units per FX lot, 100 oz per gold lot) with 1:100 leverage, one order at a time, and a stop-out below 10% of the starting balance. Sharpe is computed from the equity curve. Results marked as unreliable are shown for completeness only.
Blow-up risk: No blow-up pattern found
None of the usual blow-up patterns were found in the code, and the account was not stopped out in our backtests. That is not a guarantee: any EA can lose money.
High: stopped out in our backtest, or martingale/grid sizing without a stop loss. Elevated: martingale or grid sizing with a stop loss, or several positions at once without a stop loss. What the label means and what we found →
Strategy analysis
The core strategy of this EA is a trend-following trading system based on the i-CAi_StDev indicator. This indicator applies a configurable smoothing method (SMA/EMA/JJMA/JurX etc.) to price data, then overlays standard deviation multiples (dK1=1.5, dK2=2.5) to construct bands. Entry conditions are split into three modes: POINT mode triggers when indicator buffers 3/5 (buy) or 2/4 (sell) show non-empty dot signals; DIRECT mode triggers on main line turning points (buy on upward crossover, sell on downward crossover); WITHOUT mode disables the corresponding direction's entries. Exit conditions similarly support three modes - buy closing can use sell dot signals or main line declining logic, while sell closing can use buy dot signals or main line rising logic. Position sizing leverages the TradeAlgorithms.mqh library's BuyPositionOpen/SellPositionOpen functions, supporting multiple money management modes including free margin-based, balance-based, and loss-adjusted margin calculations controlled by the MMMode parameter with risk ratio set via MM. Stop loss and take profit default to 1000 and 2000 points respectively, providing a basic risk control framework. The EA includes a new bar check mechanism and a recount flag to avoid redundant signal calculations on the same bar.
Strengths
- Supports three signal modes (point/direct/disabled) with independent entry and exit configuration, offering high flexibility
- Uses standard deviation bands for trend judgment combined with multiple smoothing algorithms, providing a statistical foundation
- Built-in new bar check mechanism (IsNewBar) prevents repeated entries on the same bar, reducing overtrading risk
- Multiple money management modes available, supporting position sizing based on free margin, balance, and other methods
Weaknesses
- Default stop loss of 1000 points and take profit of 2000 points are quite large on H4 timeframe, potentially leading to significant drawdowns
- No spread filter or volatility filter mechanism, which may produce unfavorable trades in high-spread or low-volatility environments
- Depends on external libraries TradeAlgorithms.mqh and SmoothAlgorithms.mqh, reducing code portability
- The DIRECT mode turning point detection uses only 3-bar comparison, which can easily generate false signals
Possible improvements
- Add spread filter and ATR volatility filter to avoid opening positions under unfavorable market conditions
- Implement a trailing stop feature to lock in profits during trending markets
- Optimize the DIRECT mode turning point detection logic by increasing confirmation bars or adding indicator-based false signal filtering
Risk assessment
Overall risk: Medium
- Stop loss of 1000 points on H4 is relatively large, creating high per-trade risk exposure
- No spread filter mechanism, high-spread instruments may cause excessive slippage on entry
- Simple turning point detection in DIRECT mode may frequently trigger false signals leading to consecutive losses
- SignalBar=1 uses completed bar signals, but the Recount mechanism may recalculate repeatedly when data is incomplete
Evaluation scores
Parameters
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
MM | 0.1 | Money management ratio, controls trade lot size |
MMMode | LOT | Lot calculation mode: Fixed lot or margin-based ratio |
StopLoss_ | 1000 | Stop loss in points |
TakeProfit_ | 2000 | Take profit in points |
Deviation_ | 10 | Maximum slippage deviation |
BuyPosOpen | POINT | Buy entry signal mode |
SellPosOpen | POINT | Sell position opening signal mode |
BuyPosClose | DIRECT | Buy exit signal mode |
SellPosClose | DIRECT | Sell position closing signal mode |
InpInd_Timeframe | PERIOD_H4 | CandlesticksBW indicator timeframe |
XMA_Method | MODE_SMA_ | Smoothing method (SMA/EMA/JJMA, etc.) |
XLength | 12 | Smoothing period length |
XPhase | 15 | Smoothing phase parameter, affects JJMA/VIDYA/AMA behavior |
IPC | PRICE_CLOSE_ | Applied price type |
dK1 | 1.5 | Standard deviation multiplier 1 (inner channel) |
dK2 | 2.5 | Standard deviation multiplier 2 (outer channel) |
std_period | 9 | Standard deviation period |
SignalBar | 1 | Signal bar index (0=current, 1=last closed bar) |
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Backtests are historical simulations and do not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.