Setting a Trailing Stop?

[timmbbo]

1)
Hi there, how do I set an initial stop, and a trailing stop? Say I want to enter an order with a 5 tick stop loss. Then, for every two ticks in profit, I want to set a trailing stop 3 ticks behind my current position. I would think the code would go something like?

SetStopLoss(CalculationMode.Ticks, 5);
SetTrailStop("", CalculationMode.Ticks, 3, false);

However, I can use both the SetStopLoss, and the SetTrailStop together. How to do? Thanks

[NinjaTrader_PaulH]

Hello timmbbo,

Thanks for your post.

Correct, in the managed approach you cannot use the SetTrailStop and SetStopLoss methods on the same order.

What you could do in this case is to exclusively use SetStopLoss(), initially setting it to 5 ticks and then later by comparing the current price to entry price adjusting the value of the SetStopLoss through your code. Note that you will need to use CalculateOnBarClose = false so that you are working with the current price

Once in a position, you can obtain the entry price from Position.AvgPrice.
For example if you were long:

if (Position.MarketPosition == MarketPosition.Long)
{
if (Close[0] >= Position.AvgPrice + 2 * TickSize)
{
SetStopLoss(CalculationMode.Price, Close[0] - 3 * TickSize);// set 3 ticks behind current price
}
}

Note I have shown a very simple starting example, for it to work effectively you would need to use bools so that the trail stop does not go backwards when price reverses and so that the setstop is continually adjusted up as price continues up in the matter you desire.

[timmbbo]

Paul, thanks - is helpful. Setting CalculateOnBarClose to false, as you recommend, then has other consequences for my code. I do have a section of code that I want executed upon bar close. So, it then appears I need one section of code executed upon bar close, and another section of code executed upon tick.

How do I accommodate executing code both upon Bar Close and Upon Tick? Thanks

[NinjaTrader_PaulH]

Hello timmbbo,

Thanks for your reply.

To have a code section only run once per bar, you can use the system bool FirstTickOfBar

if (FirstTickOfBar)
{
// code processed here only once per bar
}
//code here is executed on every tick

Reference: http://ninjatrader.com/support/helpG...ttickofbar.htm

For further study on the subject: http://ninjatrader.com/support/forum...ad.php?t=19387

[timmbbo]

Thanks Paul. I have my little script now executing properly.

[timmbbo]

Paul, I have a follow up on this. My code is:

EnterLong(1);
Print(Position.MarketPosition);
Print(MarketPosition.Long);
if (Position.MarketPosition == MarketPosition.Long) {
....

The output is:
Flat
Long

So, my If clause never hits, even though I'm successfully in a Long position. I can see the long position executed on the chart, so I know it's there. Suggestions? Thanks

[NinjaTrader_PaulH]

Hello timmbbo,

Thanks for your question.

I believe the answer is related to the timing of the asynchronous events which I mention in your other thread here: http://ninjatrader.com/support/forum...ad.php?t=95788

[timmbbo]

Yep, those two threads are related. Thanks, Paul.