Articles on manual and algorithmic trading in MetaTrader 5

We revisit the Ilan grid Expert Advisor and integrate Q-learning in MQL5 to build an adaptive version for MetaTrader 5. The article shows how to define state features, discretize them for a Q-table, select actions with ε-greedy, and shape rewards for averaging and exits. You will implement saving/loading the Q-table, tune learning parameters, and test on EURUSD/AUDUSD in the Strategy Tester to evaluate stability and drawdown risks.

In this article, we will delve into the detailed preparation of our indicator for Expert Advisor (EA) development. Our discussion will encompass further refinements to the current version of the indicator to enhance its accuracy and functionality. Additionally, we will introduce new features that mark exit points, addressing a limitation of the previous version, which only identified entry points.

Generating new indicators from existing ones offers a powerful way to enhance trading analysis. By defining a mathematical function that integrates the outputs of existing indicators, traders can create hybrid indicators that consolidate multiple signals into a single, efficient tool. This article introduces a new indicator built from three oscillators using a modified version of the Pearson correlation function, which we call the Pseudo Pearson Correlation (PPC). The PPC indicator aims to quantify the dynamic relationship between oscillators and apply it within a practical trading strategy.

In this article, we upgrade the MQL5 Multi-Timeframe Scanner Dashboard with movable and toggle features. We enable dragging the dashboard and a minimize/maximize option for better screen use. We implement and test these enhancements for improved trading flexibility.

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.

In financial markets, the laws of retracement remain among the most undeniable forces. It is a rule of thumb that price will always retrace—whether in large moves or even within the smallest tick patterns, which often appear as a zigzag. However, the retracement pattern itself is never fixed; it remains uncertain and subject to anticipation. This uncertainty explains why traders rely on multiple Fibonacci levels, each carrying a certain probability of influence. In this discussion, we introduce a refined strategy that applies Fibonacci techniques to address the challenges of trading shortly after major economic event announcements. By combining retracement principles with event-driven market behavior, we aim to uncover more reliable entry and exit opportunities. Join to explore the full discussion and see how Fibonacci can be adapted to post-event trading.

The article describes a variant of options emulation through an underlying asset implemented in the MQL5 programming language. The pros and cons of the chosen approach are compared with real exchange options using the example of the FORTS futures market of the MOEX Moscow exchange and the Bybit crypto exchange.

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.

The previously developed risk manager contained only basic functionality. Let's try to consider possible ways of its development, allowing us to improve trading results without interfering with the logic of trading strategies.

In this article, we prepare our MQL5 trading system for strategy testing by embedding economic calendar data as a resource for non-live analysis. We implement event loading and filtering for time, currency, and impact, then validate it in the Strategy Tester. This enables effective backtesting of news-driven strategies.

We have already made some progress in developing a multi-currency EA with several strategies working in parallel. Considering the accumulated experience, let's review the architecture of our solution and try to improve it before we go too far ahead.

This article enhances our Economic Calendar dashboard by implementing real-time news updates to keep market information current and actionable. We integrate live data fetching techniques in MQL5 to update events on the dashboard continuously, improving the responsiveness of the interface. This update ensures that we can access the latest economic news directly from the dashboard, optimizing trading decisions based on the freshest data.

The number of strategies that can be integrated into an Expert Advisor is virtually limitless. However, each additional strategy increases the complexity of the algorithm. By incorporating multiple strategies, an Expert Advisor can better adapt to varying market conditions, potentially enhancing its profitability. Today, we will explore how to implement MQL5 for one of the prominent strategies developed by Richard Donchian, as we continue to enhance the functionality of our Trend Constraint Expert.

Today, we delve into incorporating useful trading metrics within a specialized window integrated into the Admin Panel EA. This discussion focuses on the implementation of MQL5 to develop an Analytics Panel and highlights the value of the data it provides to trading administrators. The impact is largely educational, as valuable lessons are drawn from the development process, benefiting both upcoming and experienced developers. This feature demonstrates the limitless opportunities this development series offers in equipping trade managers with advanced software tools. Additionally, we'll explore the implementation of the PieChart and ChartCanvas classes as part of the continued expansion of the Trading Administrator panel’s capabilities.

The article presents a new metaheuristic method based on a fractal approach to partitioning the search space for solving optimization problems. The algorithm sequentially identifies and separates promising areas, creating a self-similar fractal structure that concentrates computing resources on the most promising areas. A unique mutation mechanism aimed at better solutions ensures an optimal balance between exploration and exploitation of the search space, significantly increasing the efficiency of the algorithm.

Today we will take our order system to the next level. But before that, we need to solve a few problems. Now we have some questions that are related to how we want to work and what things we do during the trading day.

In this article, we create buttons for currency pair filters, importance levels, time filters, and a cancel option to improve dashboard control. These buttons are programmed to respond dynamically to user actions, allowing seamless interaction. We also automate their behavior to reflect real-time changes on the dashboard. This enhances the overall functionality, mobility, and responsiveness of the panel.

Stop-loss and take-profit placement is usually the least-measured decision in a trading system. This Expert Advisor reads your closed history, replays M1 price between each entry and exit to measure Maximum Adverse and Favorable Excursion per trade, and splits winners from losers. From the distributions and trade efficiency it derives data-driven stop and target levels - measured from your own account, not a rule of thumb. Analysis only; it does not trade.

In this article, we enhance the Trade Management Panel of our multi-functional Admin Panel. We introduce a powerful helper function that simplifies the code, improving readability, maintainability, and efficiency. We will also demonstrate how to seamlessly integrate additional buttons and enhance the interface to handle a wider range of trading tasks. Whether managing positions, adjusting orders, or simplifying user interactions, this guide will help you develop a robust, user-friendly Trade Management Panel.

This article presents CPyramidEngine, a reusable MQL5 class that adds disciplined pyramiding to any Expert Advisor with about six lines of integration. The engine enforces three constraints: strictly decreasing lot sizes, a single unified stop that advances after each add-on, and broker-level validation of every modification. It explains common failure modes in naive implementations and shows how to keep total account risk quantifiable and controlled as positions are added.

This article extends the chart‑object detector into a modular monitoring and execution layer. It defines objective interaction rules (touch, cross, breakout) for trendlines, Fibonacci levels, channels, rectangles, and pitchforks, then routes events through an interaction detector, alert manager, and optional trade executor. Orders use object geometry for stop‑loss and take‑profit. The result is a reproducible pipeline that converts static drawings into actionable alerts and, if enabled, trades.

Unlock your potential! You're surrounded by opportunities. Discover 3 top secrets to kickstart your MQL5 journey or take it to the next level. Let's dive into discussion of tips and tricks for beginners and pros alike.

In this article we will implement the C_Mouse class. It provides the ability to program at the highest level. However, talking about high-level or low-level programming languages is not about including obscene words or jargon in the code. It's the other way around. When we talk about high-level or low-level programming, we mean how easy or difficult the code is for other programmers to understand.

Many programmers might assume we should abandon using Excel and move directly to Python, using some packages that allow Python to generate an Excel file for later analysis of results. However, as mentioned in the previous article, although this solution is the simplest for many programmers, it will not be accepted by some users. And in this particular case, the user is always right. As programmers, we must find a way to make everything work.

This article is about orthogonal polynomials. Their use can become the basis for a more accurate and effective analysis of market information allowing traders to make more informed decisions.

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.

In this article, we enhance the MQL5 Economic Calendar by introducing a draggable dashboard that allows us to reposition the interface for better chart visibility. We implement hover effects for buttons to improve interactivity and ensure seamless navigation with a dynamically positioned scrollbar.

The article presents a step-by-step development of a multi-threaded trading robot with machine learning in Python and MetaTrader 5. The system architecture is considered – from data collection and creation of technical indicators to training XGBoost models with portfolio risk management. The implementation of data augmentation, feature clustering via Gaussian Mixture Models, and flow coordination for parallel trading of multiple currency pairs is described in detail.

In this article, we build a correlation matrix dashboard in MQL5 to compute asset relationships using Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall methods over a set timeframe and bars. The system offers standard mode with color thresholds and p-value stars, plus heatmap mode with gradient visuals for correlation strengths. It includes an interactive UI with timeframe selectors, mode toggles, and a dynamic legend for efficient analysis of symbol interdependencies.

The article describes an MQL5 EA that automates Wyckoff accumulation and distribution via a finite state machine. It confirms spring to SOS and upthrust to SOW before placing LPS or LPSY entries, using relative tick volume as the confirmation metric. Readers get the state model, detection criteria, code organization, and MetaTrader 5 testing procedure.

In this article, we will continue our articles about Design Patterns after learning how much this topic is more important for us as developers to develop extendable, reliable applications not only by the MQL5 programming language but others as well. We will learn about another type of Design Patterns which is the structural one to learn how to design systems by using what we have as classes to form larger structures.

As one of the most powerful Price Action analysis toolkits, the Metrics Board is designed to streamline market analysis by instantly providing essential market metrics with just a click of a button. Each button serves a specific function, whether it’s analyzing high/low trends, volume, or other key indicators. This tool delivers accurate, real-time data when you need it most. Let’s dive deeper into its features in this article.