Ch. 2Strategy #78

Strategy #78

Fractal Moving Average Breakout

Entry Logic

  • Entry trigger: Price breaks above a fractal high or below a fractal low that is also above/below a moving average.
  • Confirmation: A strong candle closes outside the fractal and the moving average.
  • Timeframe: 1-hour chart.
  • Location context: The breakout occurs in the direction of the moving average slope.
  • Market condition: A trending market.

Exit Logic

  • Profit target: 2R or the next significant support/resistance level.
  • Scaling out: Not recommended.
  • Trailing stop: Trail the stop on the other side of the moving average.
  • Signal failure: Exit if the breakout fails and price returns below the fractal.
  • Opposite signal: Exit on a reversal signal.
  • Time expiration: None.
  • Momentum loss: Exit if momentum fades after the breakout.

Stop Loss Structure

  • Hard stop: On the other side of the moving average.
  • Soft stop: A close back below the fractal.
  • Max dollar loss: $200 per trade.
  • Max percent loss: 2% of account.
  • Structural stop: On the other side of the moving average.

Risk Management Framework

  • Risk per trade: 1.5% of account.
  • Daily limit: 2 losing trades.
  • Weekly limit: 5% drawdown.
  • Max drawdown: 15%.
  • R:R requirement: Minimum 1.5:1.

Position Sizing Model

  • Sizing approach: Fixed fractional (1.5% of account).
  • Volatility adjustment: Adjust size based on ATR.
  • Conviction sizing: None.
  • Scaling in: Not recommended.
  • Scaling out: Not recommended.

Trade Filtering

  • Market conditions: Avoid choppy, sideways markets.
  • Setups: Only take clear fractal breakouts.
  • Instruments: Any liquid instrument.
  • Time restrictions: None.
  • Chop/news avoidance: Avoid trading around major news.

Context Framework

  • Trend direction: The trend is confirmed by the slope of the moving average.
  • VWAP relationship: Trade in the direction of VWAP.
  • MA relationship: The breakout is in the direction of the moving average.
  • Range location: The trade is taken on a breakout of a range.
  • Higher TF alignment: The higher timeframe chart should confirm the trend.

Trade Management Rules

  • Breakeven: Move stop to breakeven after a 1R move.
  • Scale out: Not recommended.
  • Add size: Not recommended.
  • Fast vs slow moves: Let the trade run in a strong trend.

Time Rules

  • Optimal window: Any time during a trending market.
  • Times to avoid: Choppy, non-trending periods.
  • Session notes: Works well in all sessions.

Setup Classification

  • A+ setup: A clear fractal breakout with high volume.
  • A setup: A decent fractal breakout.
  • B setup: A weak fractal breakout.
  • C setup: Avoid.

Market Selection Criteria

  • Instruments: Any liquid instrument.
  • Volume: High on the breakout.
  • Volatility: Moderate.

Statistical Edge Metrics

  • Win rate: 50%.
  • Avg win: 2.5R.
  • Avg loss: 1R.
  • Profit factor: 1.25.
  • Expectancy: 0.25R.

Failure Conditions

  • The strategy fails when the breakout is false.
  • Avoid taking trades if the fractal is not clear.

Psychological Rules

  • Be patient and wait for the fractal breakout.
  • Do not get faked out by false breakouts.

Advanced Components

  • Regime detection: Use a longer-term moving average to confirm the trend.
  • Filters: Only take trades in the direction of the longer-term trend.
  • Correlation: Be aware of market correlations.
  • MTF alignment: Check the higher timeframe chart for confirmation.

Location

  • Strongest: In a trending market.
  • Weakest: In a choppy, sideways market.