Exp_Fractal_Force_Index
This EA trades based on the combination of Fractal breakouts and Force Index momentum signals. It enters long positions when price breaks above a fractal high with confirming positive Force Index, and enters short positions on fractal low breakouts with negative Force Index. The strategy aims to capture momentum-driven moves confirmed by both price structure and volume-weighted force.
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 | — | — | — | — | — | No trades |
| GBPUSD | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | No trades |
| USDJPY | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | No trades |
| XAUUSD | -100.00% | -100.00% | 100.00% | 5 | 40.00% | -1.78 | -1.00 | 2 | −$2,136.57 | Account stopped out |
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.
Against the other Momentum EAs with a reliable result on the same market: XAUUSD: better than 0% of 75
Month by month
| Market | Months with a gain | Best month | Worst month |
|---|---|---|---|
| XAUUSD | 33% | +0.12% 2025-12 | -100.00% 2026-01 |
From the backtest equity curve, sampled about every two days; only reliable results.
Blow-up risk: High
- Hit a stop-out in our backtest (equity below 10%) on XAUUSD
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 concept combines Bill Williams' Fractal indicator with the Force Index, using fractals to identify key price breakout levels while the Force Index confirms the directional momentum strength of the breakout. Entry conditions: long positions require price closing above the nearest upper fractal with a positive Force Index, while short positions require price closing below the nearest lower fractal with a negative Force Index. Exit conditions typically include an opposing fractal breakout signal, Force Index reversal crossing the zero line, or fixed stop-loss and take-profit targets. Position sizing likely uses either fixed lots or a percentage-based calculation depending on the input parameters configured by the user. Money management requires reasonable stop-losses since the strategy depends on fractal breakouts, which can produce false signals causing significant losses if not properly managed. The strategy performs best in trending markets and may generate numerous false signals with consecutive losses in ranging or choppy market conditions due to frequent invalid fractal breakouts.
Strengths
- Dual-indicator combination filters false signals effectively — fractals confirm price structure breakouts while Force Index confirms momentum direction, reducing invalid breakout entries
- Fractal indicator is self-adaptive to market volatility without requiring manual support/resistance level adjustment, providing some adaptability across different market conditions
- Clear and intuitive logic with quantifiable entry conditions that are easy to backtest and optimize
- Force Index incorporates volume information, reflecting real market participation better than pure price-based indicators
Weaknesses
- Fractal indicator is inherently lagging — a fractal requires at least 2 confirming bars to form, meaning the optimal entry price has often already passed by the time the signal is confirmed
- In ranging markets, fractals form and break frequently while Force Index oscillates around zero, leading to excessive trade frequency and commission drain
- Default stop-loss value of 0 (common in such EAs) can lead to excessive single-trade losses with insufficient risk control
- Spread and slippage impacts are not accounted for, which can significantly erode profits in short-term fractal breakout trading
Possible improvements
- Add ATR-based dynamic stop-loss and take-profit mechanism that adapts to market volatility, avoiding the failure of fixed-pip stops across different volatility regimes
- Add a trend filter (e.g., ADX or higher-timeframe moving average) to trade fractal breakouts only when a clear trend exists, reducing false signals in ranging markets
- Add maximum drawdown limits and daily maximum trade count restrictions to prevent overtrading and rapid capital drawdown during extreme market conditions
Risk assessment
Overall risk: Medium
- Lagging fractal breakout signals may result in suboptimal entry prices, requiring wider stop-losses to avoid being stopped out by normal price retracements
- Without default stop-loss settings, false breakouts can lead to large single-trade losses
- Consecutive false signals in ranging markets can accumulate small losses into significant drawdowns
- Improper Force Index parameter settings may distort momentum confirmation, leading to mistimed entries
Evaluation scores
Parameters
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
LotSize | 0.1 | Fixed trading lot size |
StopLoss | 0 | Stop loss in points, 0 means no stop loss |
TakeProfit | 0 | Take profit points (10 points) |
ForceIndexPeriod | 13 | Force Index calculation period |
MagicNumber | 0 | EA magic number for identifying orders |
Timeframe | 0 | Trading timeframe, 0 to disable |
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Backtests are historical simulations and do not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.