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Autotrading using Multicharts ?


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Autotrading using Multicharts ?

  #1 (permalink)
 buylosellhi 
new york
 
Experience: None
Platform: SierraChart
Posts: 77 since Dec 2010
Thanks Given: 4
Thanks Received: 44

Hi,
I'm considering using Multicharts for autotrading my strategy. I'd love to get some feedback re: the following:

1) does the strategy run smoothly and does it ever 'miss' or skip signals - because of fast mkt conditions or any other reason ?
2) is it easy to combine manual overlay with autotrading ? I'm asking this because in Ninja, its rather cumbersome to combine the two unless you program ATM strategy in a script which is a bit quirky. So if i have a strategy running and I manually flatten my position. Does the strategy keep running thinking its still in the market and execute trades on exit signal ? or does it take into account real world positions ? and do I have to restart the strategy (again, in Ninja, manually flattening by pressing 'Close' flattens the position, cancels all open orders and disables all running strategies)

thanks in advance for your feedback

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  #2 (permalink)
 weidner 
Portland, OR
 
Experience: Intermediate
Platform: TWS, ToS, Tasty
Broker: IB, TDA, Tasty, Tradestation
Trading: Options, futures, futures spreads, dividend stocks
Posts: 1 since Dec 2011
Thanks Given: 5
Thanks Received: 0

I am also new to autotrading, but I wanted to post what I've seen so far, so I can learn as well.

With Multicharts, I have not seen any missed signals so far. I have seen one instance where the system went long two contracts when I have my settings limited to one. Not sure if I had a bad setting there or not, but that only happened once.

I do not know how to resume the strategy if I lose my connection, etc. Multicharts seems to know that the strategy is not synced to the broker, but I don't know if it can resume. I would like to know this as well.

I can't speak to your other questions. But I plan to follow the thread if anyone else can.

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  #3 (permalink)
 harriscfd 
Melbourne Victoria Australia
 
Experience: Beginner
Platform: multicharts
Broker: IGmarkets & Etrade but trying IB
Trading: CFDs and trying options on the ASX
Posts: 3 since Aug 2012
Thanks Given: 1
Thanks Received: 0


Hi, I am new as well and have been using the Multicharts demo system on LMAX to see if i can get autotrading to work for me. So far I have had troble getting Multicharts to use my profit target numbers. for example using standard strategies with profit target of 70 pts on the DAX the system keeps exiting at 40 which is the stop loss i had set? So i am confused!

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  #4 (permalink)
Bimi
London
 
Posts: 118 since Mar 2010
Thanks Given: 42
Thanks Received: 58


buylosellhi View Post
Hi,
I'm considering using Multicharts for autotrading my strategy. I'd love to get some feedback re: the following:

1) does the strategy run smoothly and does it ever 'miss' or skip signals - because of fast mkt conditions or any other reason ?
2) is it easy to combine manual overlay with autotrading ? I'm asking this because in Ninja, its rather cumbersome to combine the two unless you program ATM strategy in a script which is a bit quirky. So if i have a strategy running and I manually flatten my position. Does the strategy keep running thinking its still in the market and execute trades on exit signal ? or does it take into account real world positions ? and do I have to restart the strategy (again, in Ninja, manually flattening by pressing 'Close' flattens the position, cancels all open orders and disables all running strategies)

thanks in advance for your feedback

don't mix autotrading with manual trading, you are asking for trouble.

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  #5 (permalink)
Doctor Leo
St. Petersburg, Russia
 
Posts: 30 since Nov 2010
Thanks Given: 6
Thanks Received: 19

buylosellhi, to address your questions:

1. When used for live trading MC does exactly the same it would do while backtesting. Therefore if you have an uninterrupted connection, reliable data feed and trading platform you should be fine most of the time. Of course there appear technical issues from time to time which should be resolved manually and then automated trading can be restored. I advise you to always use the synchronous mode and force set the initial position if you resume your trading with open positions intact.

2. You can monitor your positions and take any appropriate actions manually from inside MC using an Order and Position Tracker window, chart trading and trading bar. However sometimes it's more convenient to use an alternative software for this purpose, for example I use NinjaTrader for monitoring my futures positions. In order to run two clients concurrently you need to obtain a permission from your broker which would then issue you a 2nd login to the same account. If you use IB it's even easier as they allow to generate a new user account which you can use for this purpose. However be advised that they will charge you some extra for the data feed on this auxiliary account.

If you plan to work with IB I strongly recommend to use their gateway, not TWS itself, especially if you plan to leave your trading machine working 24/5 because of reliability issues. I also highly recommend to rent a dedicated server at some reliable data centre for live trading.

Some time ago I wrote an article on this very subject here, it is quite obsolete now as today we have MC version 8, and I was discussing version 5.5, but some general guidelines are still valid. Hope it is allowed to post links to materials like this here.

Feel free to ask any additional questions.

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  #6 (permalink)
 swz168 
Nuremberg, Germany
 
Experience: None
Platform: MultiCharts
Trading: Fx
Posts: 49 since Jun 2010
Thanks Given: 32
Thanks Received: 59


Bimi View Post
don't mix autotrading with manual trading, you are asking for trouble.

Mixing autotrading and with manual trading is tricky. But so is strategy development and optimization.

You can sync positions within you strategy in Multicharts, but of course it must be well designed. Eg. you should know the difference between IOG or end of bar mode. Or if you entered a position manually, after the position sync, does the strategy know where to exit? Is it necessary to assign a new stoploss or take profit value? Or doesn't the strategy have a SL or TP by design?

With the position sync function in Multicharts, you can have semi auto strategies. But I only use this for cases like software crashes or other situations where you have to restart you system or MC. If that is the case, I just restart Multicharts and switch on the strategy, and I don't have to worry about open positions at my broker.

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  #7 (permalink)
Doctor Leo
St. Petersburg, Russia
 
Posts: 30 since Nov 2010
Thanks Given: 6
Thanks Received: 19


swz168 View Post
Or if you entered a position manually, after the position sync, does the strategy know where to exit?

Yes it does provided you have coded all your entry and exit logic before. With chart trading turned on you can see how stop orders are immediately placed when you switch on automated trading. BTW don't forget to cancel orders previously existed in the trading platform otherwise you risk to have a reversal instead of just a stop.

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  #8 (permalink)
 swz168 
Nuremberg, Germany
 
Experience: None
Platform: MultiCharts
Trading: Fx
Posts: 49 since Jun 2010
Thanks Given: 32
Thanks Received: 59


buylosellhi View Post
Hi,

2) is it easy to combine manual overlay with autotrading ? I'm asking this because in Ninja, its rather cumbersome to combine the two unless you program ATM strategy in a script which is a bit quirky. So if i have a strategy running and I manually flatten my position. Does the strategy keep running thinking its still in the market and execute trades on exit signal ? or does it take into account real world positions ? and do I have to restart the strategy (again, in Ninja, manually flattening by pressing 'Close' flattens the position, cancels all open orders and disables all running strategies)

thanks in advance for your feedback

Read my post above. It took me two nights to code and test position syncing so that semi trading gets possible. Once you know how to do, it is easy to realize semi autotrading. And once you have learnt it how to do it is fast to integrate syncing in new strategies.

Study the signals (inside Powerlanguage editor) "from broker to strategy" and "from strategy to broker MP Synchronizer". That way you can see how syncing works. Then can code your own sync functions for your needs. Here are some wiki links to the main functions:

https://www.multicharts.com/trading-software/index.php/MarketPosition_at_Broker
https://www.multicharts.com/trading-software/index.php/MarketPosition
https://www.multicharts.com/trading-software/index.php/ChangeMarketPosition
https://www.multicharts.com/trading-software/index.php/PlaceMarketOrder


btw, I'm using MC, not the .Net version.

Edit: Of course, check all the logics possible and constellations on demo account!

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Last Updated on December 5, 2012


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