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.