Articles on the MQL5 programming and use of trading robots
Expert Advisors created for the MetaTrader platform perform a variety of functions implemented by their developers. Trading robots can track financial symbols 24 hours a day, copy deals, create and send reports, analyze news and even provide specific custom graphical interface.
The articles describe programming techniques, mathematical ideas for data processing, tips on creating and ordering of trading robots.
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Neural Networks in Trading: Controlled Segmentation (Final Part)
We continue the work started in the previous article on building the RefMask3D framework using MQL5. This framework is designed to comprehensively study multimodal interaction and feature analysis in a point cloud, followed by target object identification based on a description provided in natural language.
Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 16): Impact of different quote histories on test results
The EA under development is expected to show good results when trading with different brokers. But for now we have been using quotes from a MetaQuotes demo account to perform tests. Let's see if our EA is ready to work on a trading account with different quotes compared to those used during testing and optimization.
Neural Networks in Trading: Contrastive Pattern Transformer
The Contrastive Transformer is designed to analyze markets both at the level of individual candlesticks and based on entire patterns. This helps improve the quality of market trend modeling. Moreover, the use of contrastive learning to align representations of candlesticks and patterns fosters self-regulation and improves the accuracy of forecasts.
Neural networks made easy (Part 51): Behavior-Guided Actor-Critic (BAC)
The last two articles considered the Soft Actor-Critic algorithm, which incorporates entropy regularization into the reward function. This approach balances environmental exploration and model exploitation, but it is only applicable to stochastic models. The current article proposes an alternative approach that is applicable to both stochastic and deterministic models.
Formulating Dynamic Multi-Pair EA (Part 6): Adaptive Spread Sensitivity for High-Frequency Symbol Switching
In this part, we will focus on designing an intelligent execution layer that continuously monitors and evaluates real-time spread conditions across multiple symbols. The EA dynamically adapts its symbol selection by enabling or disabling trading based on spread efficiency rather than fixed rules. This approach allows high-frequency multi-pair systems to prioritize cost-effective symbols.
Cross-validation and basics of causal inference in CatBoost models, export to ONNX format
The article proposes the method of creating bots using machine learning.
Risk-Based Trade Placement EA with On-Chart UI (Part 1): Designing the User Interface
Learn how to build a clean and professional on-chart control panel in MQL5 for a Risk-Based Trade Placement Expert Advisor. This step-by-step guide explains how to design a functional GUI that allows traders to input trade parameters, calculate lot size, and prepare for automated order placement.
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 26): Moving Averages and the Hurst Exponent
The Hurst Exponent is a measure of how much a time series auto-correlates over the long term. It is understood to be capturing the long-term properties of a time series and therefore carries some weight in time series analysis even outside of economic/ financial time series. We however, focus on its potential benefit to traders by examining how this metric could be paired with moving averages to build a potentially robust signal.
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 69): Using Patterns of SAR and the RVI
The Parabolic-SAR (SAR) and the Relative Vigour Index (RVI) are another pair of indicators that could be used in conjunction within an MQL5 Expert Advisor. This indicator pair, like those we’ve covered in the past, is also complementary since SAR defines the trend while RVI checks momentum. As usual, we use the MQL5 wizard to build and test any potential this indicator pairing may have.
Python-MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester (Part 03): MetaTrader 5-Like Trading Operations — Handling and Managing
In this article we introduce Python-MetaTrader5-like ways of handling trading operations such as opening, closing, and modifying orders in the simulator. To ensure the simulation behaves like MetaTrader 5, a strict validation layer for trade requests is implemented, taking into account symbol trading parameters and typical brokerage restrictions.
Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 86): U-Shaped Transformer
We continue to study timeseries forecasting algorithms. In this article, we will discuss another method: the U-shaped Transformer.
Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 85): Multivariate Time Series Forecasting
In this article, I would like to introduce you to a new complex timeseries forecasting method, which harmoniously combines the advantages of linear models and transformers.
Integrate Your Own LLM into EA (Part 5): Develop and Test Trading Strategy with LLMs (II)-LoRA-Tuning
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence today, language models (LLMs) are an important part of artificial intelligence, so we should think about how to integrate powerful LLMs into our algorithmic trading. For most people, it is difficult to fine-tune these powerful models according to their needs, deploy them locally, and then apply them to algorithmic trading. This series of articles will take a step-by-step approach to achieve this goal.
Trading with the MQL5 Economic Calendar (Part 8): Optimizing News-Driven Backtesting with Smart Event Filtering and Targeted Logs
In this article, we optimize our economic calendar with smart event filtering and targeted logging for faster, clearer backtesting in live and offline modes. We streamline event processing and focus logs on critical trade and dashboard events, enhancing strategy visualization. These improvements enable seamless testing and refinement of news-driven trading strategies.
A Generic Optimization Formulation (GOF) to Implement Custom Max with Constraints
In this article we will present a way to implement optimization problems with multiple objectives and constraints when selecting "Custom Max" in the Setting tab of the MetaTrader 5 terminal. As an example, the optimization problem could be: Maximize Profit Factor, Net Profit, and Recovery Factor, such that the Draw Down is less than 10%, the number of consecutive losses is less than 5, and the number of trades per week is more than 5.
Triangular and Sawtooth Waves: Analytical Tools for Traders
Wave analysis is one of the methods used in technical analysis. This article focuses on two less conventional wave patterns: triangular and sawtooth waves. These formations underpin a number of technical indicators designed for market price analysis.
How can century-old functions update your trading strategies?
This article considers the Rademacher and Walsh functions. We will explore ways to apply these functions to financial time series analysis and also consider various applications for them in trading.
Neural Networks in Trading: Node-Adaptive Graph Representation with NAFS
We invite you to get acquainted with the NAFS (Node-Adaptive Feature Smoothing) method, which is a non-parametric approach to creating node representations that does not require parameter training. NAFS extracts features of each node given its neighbors and then adaptively combines these features to form a final representation.
Neural Networks in Trading: Dual Clustering of Multivariate Time Series (DUET)
The DUET framework offers an innovative approach to time series analysis, combining temporal and channel clustering to uncover hidden patterns in the analyzed data. This allows models to adapt to changes over time and improve forecasting quality by eliminating noise.
Propensity score in causal inference
The article examines the topic of matching in causal inference. Matching is used to compare similar observations in a data set. This is necessary to correctly determine causal effects and get rid of bias. The author explains how this helps in building trading systems based on machine learning, which become more stable on new data they were not trained on. The propensity score plays a central role and is widely used in causal inference.
Neural networks made easy (Part 74): Trajectory prediction with adaptation
This article introduces a fairly effective method of multi-agent trajectory forecasting, which is able to adapt to various environmental conditions.
Neural Networks in Trading: Hybrid Graph Sequence Models (Final Part)
We continue exploring hybrid graph sequence models (GSM++), which integrate the advantages of different architectures, providing high analysis accuracy and efficient distribution of computing resources. These models effectively identify hidden patterns, reducing the impact of market noise and improving forecasting quality.
MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 9): Developing a First Run User Setup Wizard for Expert Advisors with Scrollable Guide
In this article, we develop an MQL5 First Run User Setup Wizard for Expert Advisors, featuring a scrollable guide with an interactive dashboard, dynamic text formatting, and visual controls like buttons and a checkbox allowing users to navigate instructions and configure trading parameters efficiently. Users of the program get to have insight of what the program is all about and what to do on the first run, more like an orientation model.
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 43): Reinforcement Learning with SARSA
SARSA, which is an abbreviation for State-Action-Reward-State-Action is another algorithm that can be used when implementing reinforcement learning. So, as we saw with Q-Learning and DQN, we look into how this could be explored and implemented as an independent model rather than just a training mechanism, in wizard assembled Expert Advisors.
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 49): Reinforcement Learning with Proximal Policy Optimization
Proximal Policy Optimization is another algorithm in reinforcement learning that updates the policy, often in network form, in very small incremental steps to ensure the model stability. We examine how this could be of use, as we have with previous articles, in a wizard assembled Expert Advisor.
Introduction to MQL5 (Part 22): Building an Expert Advisor for the 5-0 Harmonic Pattern
This article explains how to detect and trade the 5-0 harmonic pattern in MQL5, validate it using Fibonacci levels, and display it on the chart.
Alternative risk return metrics in MQL5
In this article we present the implementation of several risk return metrics billed as alternatives to the Sharpe ratio and examine hypothetical equity curves to analyze their characteristics.
MQL5 Trading Tools (Part 32): Crosshair, Magnifier, and Measure Mode
In this article, we extend the Tools Palette with a precision crosshair for MQL5 charts: reticle tick marks, full-width and full-height lines with axis labels, and a circular magnifier that renders zoomed candles. A double-click measure mode adds anchor markers, a diagonal connector, and a floating label with bars, pips, and price difference. Implementation details include a crosshair manager, eleven canvas layers, Bresenham line drawing, and theme-aware behavior that hides near the sidebar and fly out.
Data Science and ML (Part 43): Hidden Patterns Detection in Indicators Data Using Latent Gaussian Mixture Models (LGMM)
Have you ever looked at the chart and felt that strange sensation… that there’s a pattern hidden just beneath the surface? A secret code that might reveal where prices are headed if only you could crack it? Meet LGMM, the Market’s Hidden Pattern Detector. A machine learning model that helps identify those hidden patterns in the market.
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 24): Moving Averages
Moving Averages are a very common indicator that are used and understood by most Traders. We explore possible use cases that may not be so common within MQL5 Wizard assembled Expert Advisors.
Codex Pipelines, from Python to MQL5, for Indicator Selection: A Multi-Quarter Analysis of the XLF ETF with Machine Learning
We continue our look at how the selection of indicators can be pipelined when facing a ‘none-typical’ MetaTrader asset. MetaTrader 5 is primarily used to trade forex, and that is good given the liquidity on offer, however the case for trading outside of this ‘comfort-zone’, is growing bolder with not just the overnight rise of platforms like Robinhood, but also the relentless pursuit of an edge for most traders. We consider the XLF ETF for this article and also cap our revamped pipeline with a simple MLP.
Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 20): Putting in order the conveyor of automatic project optimization stages (I)
We have already created quite a few components that help arrange auto optimization. During the creation, we followed the traditional cyclical structure: from creating minimal working code to refactoring and obtaining improved code. It is time to start clearing up our database, which is also a key component in the system we are creating.
Developing a multi-currency Expert Advisor (Part 18): Automating group selection considering forward period
Let's continue to automate the steps we previously performed manually. This time we will return to the automation of the second stage, that is, the selection of the optimal group of single instances of trading strategies, supplementing it with the ability to take into account the results of instances in the forward period.
Developing a quality factor for Expert Advisors
In this article, we will see how to develop a quality score that your Expert Advisor can display in the strategy tester. We will look at two well-known calculation methods – Van Tharp and Sunny Harris.
Neural networks made easy (Part 71): Goal-Conditioned Predictive Coding (GCPC)
In previous articles, we discussed the Decision Transformer method and several algorithms derived from it. We experimented with different goal setting methods. During the experiments, we worked with various ways of setting goals. However, the model's study of the earlier passed trajectory always remained outside our attention. In this article. I want to introduce you to a method that fills this gap.
Applying L1 Trend Filtering in MetaTrader 5
This article explores the practical application of L1 trend filtering in MetaTrader 5, covering both its mathematical foundations and usage in MQL5 programs. The L1 filter enables extraction of piecewise-linear trends that preserve essential market structure while reducing price noise. The study analyzes parameter scaling, trend estimation behavior, and integration of the method into algorithmic trading strategies. Experimental results demonstrate how L1 trend filtering can enhance signal stability, trade timing, and overall robustness of trading systems.
MQL5 Wizard Techniques you should know (Part 67): Using Patterns of TRIX and the Williams Percent Range
The Triple Exponential Moving Average Oscillator (TRIX) and the Williams Percentage Range Oscillator are another pair of indicators that could be used in conjunction within an MQL5 Expert Advisor. This indicator pair, like those we’ve covered recently, is also complementary given that TRIX defines the trend while Williams Percent Range affirms support and Resistance levels. As always, we use the MQL5 wizard to prototype any potential these two may have.
Graph Theory: Traversal Depth-First Search (DFS) Applied in Trading
This article applies Depth-First Search to market structure by modeling swing highs and lows as graph nodes and tracking one structural path as deeply as conditions remain valid. When a key swing is broken, the algorithm backtracks and explores an alternative branch. Readers gain a practical framework to formalize structural bias and test whether the current path aligns with targets like liquidity pools or supply and demand zones.
Example of Stochastic Optimization and Optimal Control
This Expert Advisor, named SMOC (likely standing for Stochastic Model Optimal Control), is a simple example of an advanced algorithmic trading system for MetaTrader 5. It uses a combination of technical indicators, model predictive control, and dynamic risk management to make trading decisions. The EA incorporates adaptive parameters, volatility-based position sizing, and trend analysis to optimize its performance across varying market conditions.
Neural Networks Made Easy (Part 83): The "Conformer" Spatio-Temporal Continuous Attention Transformer Algorithm
This article introduces the Conformer algorithm originally developed for the purpose of weather forecasting, which in terms of variability and capriciousness can be compared to financial markets. Conformer is a complex method. It combines the advantages of attention models and ordinary differential equations.