atrTrader
An Expert Advisor that uses the Average True Range (ATR) indicator to determine trade entries and exits, typically entering when price movement exceeds ATR-based thresholds in the direction of a trend. It adjusts stop loss and take profit levels dynamically based on ATR volatility, allowing the EA to adapt to changing market conditions. The EA is designed for trend-following on medium to higher timeframes where ATR provides meaningful volatility measurements.
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 concept of the atrTrader strategy is using the ATR indicator to measure market volatility as a dynamic basis for entry, exit, and position sizing decisions. Entry conditions typically involve price breaking above or below the previous bar's high/low plus an ATR multiplier, signaling that trend momentum is sufficiently strong. Exit conditions include dynamic stop loss and take profit based on ATR multiples, with stops placed at an ATR multiplier distance opposite the entry direction and take profit set according to a risk-reward ratio. Position sizing is calculated through ATR-based risk per trade, determining lot size based on account balance and ATR value to maintain a consistent risk percentage per trade. In terms of money management, the EA uses a fixed fractional risk model, controlling the potential loss of each trade to a specific percentage of account equity while leveraging ATR's dynamic nature to adjust position sizes across different volatility environments.
Strengths
- ATR dynamically adjusts stop loss and take profit, adapting to different market volatility environments
- Fixed fractional risk model ensures consistent money management across trades
- Trend following strategy logic is clear and parameters are highly interpretable
Weaknesses
- Trend following strategy tends to generate frequent false signals and consecutive losses in ranging markets
- ATR may lag during extreme market conditions, causing stop loss settings to be insufficiently timely
- Lacks market regime filtering mechanism, unable to distinguish between trending and ranging markets
Possible improvements
- Add trend filtering indicators (such as ADX or MA direction) to reduce false signals in ranging markets
- Implement a trailing stop feature to lock in floating profits as the trade moves in favor
Risk assessment
Overall risk: Medium
- Trend strategy produces consecutive losses in ranging markets without market regime filter
- ATR lag may cause stops to be too wide or too narrow during sudden market events
Evaluation scores
Parameters
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
ATR_Period | 14 | ATR indicator period |
ATR_Multiplier_SL | 2.0 | stop lossATR multiplier |
ATR_Multiplier_TP | 3.0 | take profitATR multiplier |
Risk_Percent | 2.0 | Risk percentage per trade |
LotSize | 0.1 | Fixed lot size (if not using dynamic position sizing) |
MagicNumber | 57157 | EA magic number for order identification |
Timeframe | H1 | Default trading timeframe |
Similar Trend Following EAs
Backtests are historical simulations and do not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.