MSL Trade Master
- Indicators
-
Andrei Lukoianov
ANDREI LUKOIANOV · MarketStructureLab
Trader since 2008 | Algorithmic trading since 2018
From a trading idea to a clear, systematic approach - Version: 1.0
- Activations: 10
Trade Master
Check the direction before entering. Get an alert when it changes.
You have found a level, a pattern, or another area of interest. The next question is: does your idea follow the current market direction or go against it?
Trade Master provides a clear visual reference directly on your MetaTrader 5 chart. A green ribbon shows a bullish state, while a red-pink ribbon shows a bearish state. A contrasting marker highlights direction changes, and terminal alerts help you notice them.
The indicator is designed for traders who want to check direction quickly without a crowded chart.
One Reference for Three Tasks
Assess an idea before entering
Compare your planned trade direction with the ribbon color. You can immediately see whether your idea matches the indicator’s current state.
Follow the developing move
The ribbon stays on the chart and helps you monitor direction as price moves. A pullback does not necessarily change its color: the previous state is maintained while price remains inside the calculation channel.
Notice a change
A new marker appears when the indicator switches to the opposite state. This is a reason to check the chart and reassess your trading idea.
Clear at a Glance
- Green ribbon — bullish state.
- Red-pink ribbon — bearish state.
- Green marker below a candle — a change to a bullish state.
- Red-pink marker above a candle — a change to a bearish state.
The ribbon shows the state. The marker highlights a change. Your rules determine the action.
More Control Over Sensitivity
Trade Master offers four calculation methods in one tool:
- EMA — Exponential Moving Average.
- HMA — Hull Moving Average.
- JMA — smoothing with additional Phase and Power settings.
- McGinley — McGinley adaptive moving average.
Change the moving average type and period to adjust the indicator’s response to your chosen instrument and trading approach. A shorter period generally produces a faster response, while a longer period produces smoother behavior.
The default setting is JMA with a period of 20. You can start with the standard settings and assess them on a familiar chart.
How Direction Is Determined
The indicator calculates two moving averages: one using candle highs and the other using candle lows.
When price moves above the upper average, the indicator switches to a bullish state. When price moves below the lower average, it switches to a bearish state. Between the boundaries, the previous state is maintained.
This gives you one consistent reference, without having to interpret every candle from the beginning.
Adjust the Chart to Your Preferences
The three-layer neon ribbon makes direction visible while keeping price easy to see. Its width is calculated relative to ATR and changes with market volatility.
You can:
- Choose the bullish and bearish colors.
- Make the ribbon softer or more prominent.
- Show or hide the bright center line.
- Adjust marker size and distance.
- Color candles according to the indicator’s state.
Use your preferred timeframe: Trade Master calculates on the current chart without an M30 restriction. Sufficient price history is required.
Alerts That Fit Your Workflow
Monitor direction changes through terminal alerts. Choose when you want to be notified:
- During the candle — when the current state changes.
- After the candle closes — based on the last completed bar.
This lets you receive notifications in a way that suits your analysis process.
Input Parameters
Trend Engine
- Engine Type — moving average method: EMA, HMA, JMA, or McGinley. Default: JMA.
- Engine Length — calculation period, from 2 to 300. Default: 20.
- Source — price source for the hidden center average. Direction and the visible ribbon are calculated using High/Low.
- Ribbon ATR Length — ATR period used for ribbon width and marker distance. Default: 14.
Jurik Settings
- Jurik Phase — JMA phase setting, from −100 to 100. Default: 0.
- Jurik Power — JMA smoothing parameter, from 1 to 8. Default: 2.
Neon Ribbon
- Bullish Color — bullish state color. Default: bright green.
- Bearish Color — bearish state color. Default: red-pink.
- Ribbon Width — ribbon width relative to ATR. Default: 0.28.
- Ribbon Transparency — ribbon transparency. Higher values make the ribbon softer and less visible. Default: 74.
- Show Bright Core — display the bright center line and highlight. Enabled by default.
- Core Transparency — center line transparency. Default: 25.
Direction Markers
- Show Direction Markers — display markers when the state changes. Enabled by default.
- Marker Distance — distance between the candle high or low and the marker, measured in ATR. Default: 0.55.
- Marker Size — marker size: Tiny, Small, or Normal. Default: Small.
Candles
- Color Candles — color candles according to the indicator’s state. Disabled by default.
- Candle Transparency — candle coloring transparency. Default: 20.
Alerts
- Enable Direction Alerts — terminal alerts for direction changes. Enabled by default.
- Direction Alerts On Closed Bars Only — send alerts only for closed candles. Disabled by default. This setting controls notifications; the ribbon and current markers continue to update as price moves.
How the Indicator Behaves
Sideways markets may produce frequent state changes. Markers show changes in the indicator’s direction.
Trade Master is a visual analysis tool.
