How to read the FloatingPL indicator

[Englewood85]

I'm using the built-in Stochastic strategy on the USD/GBP. I'm displaying the 1 hour chart. Here is the strategy's code:

#
# TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. (c) 2013-2020
#

input priceH = high;
input priceL = low;
input priceC = close;
input kPeriod = 10;
input slowing_period = 3;
input over_bought = 80;
input over_sold = 20;
input averageType = AverageType.SIMPLE;

def fullK = reference StochasticFull("k period" = kPeriod, "price h" = priceH, "price l" = priceL, "price c" = priceC, "slowing period" = slowing_period, "average type" = averageType).FullK;

AddOrder(OrderType.BUY_AUTO, fullK crosses above over_sold, tickColor = GetColor(8), arrowColor = GetColor(8), name = "StochasticLE");
AddOrder(OrderType.SELL_AUTO, fullK crosses below over_bought, tickColor = GetColor(6), arrowColor = GetColor(6), name = "StochasticSE");

I also have the FloatingPL indicator displayed on the lower graph.

1. Some bars are light green, some are dark green. What does this signify?
2. On 09/15 at 9:00 AM, there is a sell signal. On 09/17 at 2:00 AM, there is a buy signal.
a. Is the 09/15 sell signal a sell to open or sell to close? How can you tell?
b. If the 09/15 signal is sell to open, how can there be green FloatingPL bars all the way until the 09/17 buy signal? During most of that time, the price is
higher than the 09/15 sell price, which means most of the FloatingPL bars should be red right?
c. If the 09/15 signal is sell to close, this means that there is no open position between 09/15 thru 09/17, which means there shouldn't be green or red
FloatingPL bars, but there are green bars (light and dark) present. How can this be?

 

[BenTen]

Since you're new to backtesting strategy, the easiest way to read the signals and its P/L report is to separate buying (go long) and shorting (going short) into two different strategies.

Go long (buy to open and sell to close)

AddOrder(OrderType.BUY_TO_OPEN, fullK crosses above over_sold, tickColor = GetColor(8), arrowColor = GetColor(8), name = "StochasticLE");
AddOrder(OrderType.SELL_TO_CLOSE, fullK crosses below over_bought, tickColor = GetColor(6), arrowColor = GetColor(6), name = "StochasticSE");

Go short (sell to open and buy to close)

AddOrder(OrderType.Sell_TO_OPEN, fullK crosses above over_sold, tickColor = GetColor(8), arrowColor = GetColor(8), name = "StochasticLE");
AddOrder(OrderType.Buy_TO_CLOSE, fullK crosses below over_bought, tickColor = GetColor(6), arrowColor = GetColor(6), name = "StochasticSE");

I hope that helps.

 

[Englewood85]

@BenTen I tried your suggestion many times and I get the same exact performance report in each case. I tried this with EUR/USD. I changed to a new currency, then back to EUR/USD to refresh the chart just to be sure. I still get the same result using both types of code. Is there a refresh button that you're supposed to click? I noticed how the orders are opposite and I did enter it correctly.

I don't know what I'm overlooking.

 

[BenTen]

@Englewood85 I just notice the conditions for buy and sell are the same for both scenarios. That is why the P/L reports are the same.

This should be the correct code for your short strategy.

AddOrder(OrderType.Sell_TO_OPEN, fullK crosses above over_bought, tickColor = GetColor(8), arrowColor = GetColor(8), name = "STO");
AddOrder(OrderType.Buy_TO_CLOSE, fullK crosses below over_sold, tickColor = GetColor(6), arrowColor = GetColor(6), name = "BTC");

 

[Englewood85]

Thank you. Here is my code now. This is not showing up on my chart for some reason.

#
# TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. (c) 2013-2020
#

input priceH = high;
input priceL = low;
input priceC = close;
input kPeriod = 10;
input slowing_period = 3;
input over_bought = 80;
input over_sold = 20;
input averageType = AverageType.SIMPLE;

def fullK = reference StochasticFull("k period" = kPeriod, "price h" = priceH, "price l" = priceL, "price c" = priceC, "slowing period" = slowing_period, "average type" = averageType).FullK;


AddOrder(OrderType.BUY_TO_OPEN, fullK crosses above over_sold, tickColor = GetColor(8), arrowColor = GetColor(8), name = "BTC");
AddOrder(OrderType.SELL_TO_CLOSE, fullK crosses below over_bought, tickColor = GetColor(6), arrowColor = GetColor(6), name = "STO");

#AddOrder(OrderType.Sell_TO_OPEN, fullK crosses above over_bought, tickColor = GetColor(8), arrowColor = GetColor(8), name = "STO");
#AddOrder(OrderType.Buy_TO_CLOSE, fullK crosses below over_sold, tickColor = GetColor(6), arrowColor = GetColor(6), name = "BTC");

 

[BenTen]

@Englewood85 Make sure you're adding it as a strategy and not study.

 

[Englewood85]

As far as I can tell, I do have it as a strategy. I used the same method with another strategy and that other one worked. The difference between a study and a strategy is the presence of the AddOrder( ) right? Just to be sure, what steps are you taking to add this as a strategy and not a study?

 

[BenTen]

@Englewood85 Correct. I added it as a strategy and it works for me.

 

[Englewood85]

What are you doing to add it as a strategy?

 

[BenTen]

@Englewood85 What do you mean? Don't tell me you've been adding this as an indicator instead of strategy.

 

[Englewood85]

That was the mistake I was making. Your picture helped. Thank you for posting that. I was able to download performance reports. I downloaded AUTO, Buy to Open and Sell to Open. I am trying to reconcile the BTO and STO tabs with the AUTO tab.

On the EUR/USD 1 hour chart, I am trying to make sense out of the trades from 09.15.2020 - 09.17.2020.

1. For the BTO trades on these dates, I can locate them on the AUTO tab.
2. I am unable to identify a single STO trade between these dates on the AUTO tab.
3. On the AUTO tab between these dates, there are trades that I can't make sense out of.
4. I understand the Trade P/L column, but I can't make sense out of how the P/L column is calculated either.

I can't find adequate documentation that would answer my questions. Can you offer any insight into this and/or direct me to any good sources?