Simple ExitShortStop Strategy

[stevescott05]

I'm having difficulty getting my exits to work the way I intend them to. Basically, I want a short/long position closed out the instant price action crosses an SMA. Using EnterShortStop, this works for the entry, but not the exit thus far.

string orderID = Instrument.FullName + " " + BarsPeriod.Value; 
 
// Condition set 1
if (SMA(TrendFastMAperiod)[1] < SMA(TrendSlowMAperiod)[1]
&& SMA(ExitMAperiod)[1] > SMA(EntryMAperiod)[1]
&& Position.Quantity < TotalContracts)
{
EnterShortStop(NumContracts, SMA(EntryMAperiod)[1] - TicksFromMA * TickSize, "S1_short " + orderID);
//ExitShortStop(0, true, Position.Quantity, SMA(ExitMAperiod)[1], "S1_short " + orderID + " Stop", "S1_short " + orderID);
SetStopLoss("S1_Short " + orderID, CalculationMode.Ticks, Stop, false);
}
 
//Condition set 2
if (CrossAbove(DefaultInput[0], SMA(ExitMAperiod), 1)
&& Position.MarketPosition == MarketPosition.Short)
{
ExitShort("S1_Short " + orderID);
} 

You can see I commented out the last ExitShortStop attempt I made.

I can use ExitShort currently, shown in Condition 2, however it always takes me out in strange places (subsequent bars, open of current bar, strange), always later than I want.

Anyone able to show me some code using ExitShortStop to accomplish what I'm shooting for here?

Thanks in advance

Steve

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

Steve, when you run this with TraceOrders = true in the Initialize() you'll most likely find orders ignored as you run into the 'Internal Order Handling Rules' with - http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/H...verview36.html

This is because your SetStopLoss is used together with the ExitShortStop you attempt to place (botton section of the link above).

For NinjaTrader 7, we add the 'Unmanaged Order Submission' feature -

New Unmanaged Order Submission
In 6.5 some users were burdened with our "Internal Order Handling" rules. We have introduced unmanaged order submission which bypasses the convenience of our order handling layer. This lower level of programming allows you to do what you want relative to order submission/management without any limitations other than any imposed by your broker. There are only three methods, SubmitOrder(), ChangeOrder() and CancelOrder(). You then get the flexibility of managing your orders how you see fit and optionally handling rejections.

http://www.ninjatrader.com/webnew/NT7/NinjaTrader7.html

[stevescott05]

if --> else if

I attempted to resolve the OrderHandling Issue by using something like this, but to no avail:

// Suppose I'm looking to go long, I used something very similar to this
 
if (Position.AvgPrice - TicksFromMA * TickSize > SMA(ExitMAperiod)[1]
&& Position.MarketPosition == MarketPosition.Long)
{
SetStopLoss("S1_Long " + orderID, CalculationMode.Ticks, Stop, false);
}
else if (Position.AvgPrice - TicksFromMA * TickSize < SMA(ExitMAperiod)[1] 
&& Position.MarketPosition == MarketPosition.Long)
{
ExitLongStop(0, true, Position.Quantity, SMA(ExitMAperiod)[1], "S1_Long " + orderID + " Stop", "S1_Long " + orderID);
} 

Why doesn't that solve the Order Problem? Shouldn't only one of the Exit orders be active at a time since they are in an if-else state? Only one set of conditions is satisfied at any given time, so only one should be active, no ignoring should occur (so I thought anyhow)....

The results I've been seeing are always pretty much the same: One entry at the beginning of my historical data with either (1) a long, flat, dotted line connecting the entry to an exit point 50 days later after price returned to same level. Or, (2) no dotted line, and no additional trade activity, because the order never closed by exit order (and I have it set to only trade one contract at a time).

What to do? Anyone have an idea how to code this? I just want the order closed immediately upon crossing an SMA. I don't want to see an exit on the open after a bar which closed after CrossAbove() or CrossBelow() the SMA. That's already too late for me. I want to see markers in the middle of the bar where it crossed the SMA.

Again, thanks in advance for any and all ideas!

Steve

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

stevescott05, since you cannot cancel SetStopLoss you would need to work with IOrder objects on this to CancelOrder() your offending stop before you place the 'SMACrossExit' - http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/H...ncelOrder.html

http://www.ninjatrader-support2.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7499

To backtest your strategy with more realistic intrabar fills, please see this sample here - http://www.ninjatrader-support2.com/...ead.php?t=6652