GoldLab MACD Ribbon
- Experts
- Version: 1.0
- Activations: 5
Trend pullback EA for XAUUSD: 8/13/21/34/55 EMA ribbon alignment + MACD histogram turn after a pullback. Exits when the ribbon disorders.
GoldLab MACD Ribbon is an Expert Advisor that combines an EMA ribbon with the MACD histogram to join established trends after a pullback. It was designed for XAUUSD (Gold) and also runs on forex pairs and other CFDs. Every trade has a stop-loss.
How it trades
- Trend: the EMA ribbon (8, 13, 21, 34, 55) must be fully aligned - every faster EMA above the slower one for buys, below for sells. Mixed ribbon = no new trades.
- Pullback: within the last few bars price must have pulled back to the second ribbon line (EMA 13), and the close must still be on the trend side of the slowest EMA.
- Entry: the MACD histogram (MACD line minus signal) crosses zero back in the trend direction, or (optional) turns back in the trend direction while still on the pullback side of zero.
- Stop-loss: beyond the pullback extreme plus an ATR buffer, kept between a minimum and maximum ATR distance.
- Exits: take-profit as a multiple of the stop distance, break-even after the chosen profit, and a ribbon exit - the trade is closed when the ribbon loses its order (fast: EMA 8 crosses EMA 21, or medium: EMA 13 crosses EMA 34).
Risk management
- Risk % per trade (default 1% of equity) - the lot is calculated from the actual stop distance. A fixed lot can be used instead.
- Daily loss limit (default 3% of the day-start equity).
- Maximum spread filter and optional trading hours.
- Free-margin check, broker volume limits and stop/freeze levels are respected before every order. One position at a time; works on hedging and netting accounts.
Main inputs
| Group | Input | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy | Signal timeframe | H1 | Timeframe for the ribbon and MACD (chart timeframe can be anything) |
| Strategy | Ribbon EMAs | 8 / 13 / 21 / 34 / 55 | Must be in increasing order |
| Strategy | MACD fast / slow / signal | 12 / 26 / 9 | Histogram source |
| Strategy | Allow histogram turn | true | Enter on a turn, not only on a zero-cross |
| Strategy | Pullback lookback (bars) | 5 | Recent touch of EMA 13 required |
| Stops | ATR period / Stop buffer (x ATR) | 14 / 0.3 | Stop placement |
| Stops | Min / Max stop (x ATR) | 1.0 / 3.0 | Limits for the stop distance |
| Stops | Take-profit (x stop) | 2.0 | 0 = none |
| Stops | Ribbon exit | Fast | Fast, Medium or Off |
| Stops | Break-even (x stop) | 1.0 | 0 = off |
| Position size | Risk % / Fixed lot / Max lot | 1.0 / 0 / 10 | Position sizing |
| Safety | Daily loss limit % | 3.0 | 0 = off |
| Safety | Max spread (points) | 50 | 2-digit gold scale: 100 = 1.00 USD |
| Safety | Use hours / Start / End | false / 1 / 22 | Optional server-time window |
| Safety | Magic number | 26100801 | Change it to run several copies on one symbol |
Recommendations
- Symbol: XAUUSD (or your broker's gold symbol). Signal timeframe: M30, H1 or H4.
- Hedging or netting accounts; low-spread accounts preferred for gold.
- Start on a demo account with the default 1% risk and test the settings in the Strategy Tester with your broker's data first. A VPS is recommended for 24/5 operation.
Important No martingale, no grid, no averaging - every position has a stop-loss. The EA only trades when the ribbon shows a clean trend, so it can stay flat for long periods in sideways markets, and trend reversals right after entry will produce losses. Trading gold, forex and CFDs is high risk and you can lose your capital. No trading system wins every trade, and past or backtested results do not guarantee future results. Only trade money you can afford to lose and always test on a demo account first.
