{"id":5216,"date":"2020-07-31T17:20:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T14:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roboforex.com\/blog\/?p=5216"},"modified":"2026-05-26T10:51:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T07:51:42","slug":"testing-the-parabolic-expert-advisor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roboforex.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/31\/testing-the-parabolic-expert-advisor\/","title":{"rendered":"Testing the Parabolic Expert Advisor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, we will get acquainted with a trading algorithm<\/a> based on Parabolic SAR<\/a> but with a simpler system. The Parabolic expert advisor<\/a><\/strong> is a simple robot that makes trades only by the signals<\/a> of the Parabolic indicator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>The algorithm of the trading robot<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I am sure that many of you know what a classical indicator Parabolic SAR<\/a> looks like. This is a trend indicator<\/a> that is drawn right on the price chart as a sequence of dots along the chart itself. The current positions of the dots related to the chart – below or above it – indicates the current trend: ascending or descending, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is how it looks on the chart:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Parabolic<\/a>
Parabolic Expert Advisor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The moment when the indicator changes the position related to the price chart is the main signal that the Parabolic expert advisor uses. If the indicator gives an opposite trading signal but the previous trade has not been closed by the Stop Loss<\/a> or Take Profit<\/a>, the robot closes it forcefully and opens an opposite position at the same price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from Parabolic SAR, the indicator also uses the ATR indicator<\/a> to define the optimum position of the TP for each trade. For this, the current ATR<\/a> value is multiplied by the factor set in the parameters and added to\/subtracted from the entry point depending on the type of the trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parabolic places the stop Loss<\/a> in a classical way of the Parabolic SAR indicator, using its dots. Trailing Stop<\/a> works the same way here: when a position is open, check for new dots of the indicator, and if one appears, place the SL behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Feedback on Parabolic<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The author of the robot meant it o be an example of mathematical indicators<\/a> in use and a handbook for beginner programmers. The code speaks for itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing is that the expert advisor opens trades at the current market price only, i.e. without pending orders<\/a>, however, several parts of the code are meant for using them with any expert advisor that can trade market and pending orders of both types. This demonstrates that some blocks of the initial code were written as a template that anyone may use for writing their own trading algorithm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also optimize the expert advisor manually by correcting its code: as long as its blocks look like templates, it will not require much effort. The robot seems to be made of plasticine so that anyone can change it to their taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Parabolic expert advisor: technical characteristics<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to certain sources, the robot suits best for trading<\/a> on M15 of any currency pair<\/a>. However, after I tested it on various timeframes<\/a> of the same currency pair<\/a> and in the same period, it became clear that the expert advisor shows the best performance on H1. Anyway, we will get back to it in the section about testing and optimizing the robot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other trading characteristics, such as the minimum deposit<\/a> size, leverage<\/a>, etc., you will have to select yourself based on the timeframe<\/a> you use and the number of instruments you trade simultaneously: for each instrument, you will have just one position open, and your deposit plus leverage<\/a> must be enough for opening an order<\/a> of the size set in the parameters of the expert advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Parabolic expert advisor: parameters<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n