Pipsgrowth EX18080 TrendFollow

The MTF True Hull EA inside Pipsgrowth EX18080 TrendFollow locks entries to a three-timeframe trend agreement using inline Hull moving averages computed on M1, M5, and M15. The Hull values are derived in UpdateHullState() by subtracting a full-period WMA from double a half-period WMA, then running a final weighted average of length sqrt(n) over the difference — a textbook Hull reconstruction that needs no iCustom call. The M1 Hull uses period 14, the M5 uses period 21, the M15 uses 34, a slow stack of periods that mirrors a Fibonacci-like sequence traders frequently tune trend-following systems around.

A new bar on the execution timeframe (M1) triggers OnTick to call UpdateHullState for each timeframe, then GetSignal() to choose between the two entry modes set by InpStrategyMode. In the default Color-Change mode the EA requires all three Hulls to be aligned in the same direction AND the M1 Hull to have just flipped direction on the most recent bar — a one-bar transition that catches the leading edge of a multi-timeframe trend after confirmation has already built up. In Pullback mode the EA waits for the M5 and M15 Hulls to be aligned, then triggers on the M1 Hull flipping to match the higher-timeframe direction, but only if the current bid is within InpPullbackATRMult × ATR(14) of the M5 Hull line, which produces a re-entry at the trend midline rather than at a fresh extreme.

Heiken Ashi M1 confirmation runs through UpdateHeikenAshi() and CheckHAConfirmation() — the EA calculates the smoothed M1 candle inline ((o+c)/2 for HA open, (o+h+l+c)/4 for HA close) and only allows signals whose direction matches the HA direction. With InpUseHAConfirm=true (default), this adds a momentum-quality gate on top of the structural trend lock. The M15 trend must also have at least InpMinTrendBars=3 bars in its current direction, preventing entries during the first two bars of a freshly flipped slow Hull.

Seven market filters run inside CheckMarketFilters() and the panel shows a live check/cross status for each. The ADX filter (period 14, threshold 20) blocks entries when the average directional index drops below 20 — meaning range-bound conditions. The Hull Separation filter requires the M5 and M15 Hulls to be at least 0.3 ATR apart (InpHullSepATR), ensuring the trend lock is real and not a near-tie crossover. The optional ATR Volatility filter (off by default) requires the current ATR(14) to be at least 80% of its 50-bar average; the optional ADX Rising filter requires the ADX to be increasing bar-over-bar, an anti-exhaustion guard. The Max Trend Bars filter (off by default) caps late entries in mature M15 trends. The Max Price Distance filter rejects entries when the bid is more than 2 ATRs from the M5 Hull. The Candle Range filter inspects the average high-low range of the last 5 bars and blocks if the range exceeds 3 ATRs (news spike) or falls below 0.15 ATRs (chop).

The risk layer in CalculateLotSize() defaults to 1% of balance per trade with InpRiskPercent=1.0 in LOT_MODE_RISK, or a fixed 0.01 lots in LOT_MODE_FIXED. The maximum per-trade lot is InpMaxLotPerTrade=1.0 — a gap protection that prevents a single signal from oversizing on low-margin accounts. NormalizeLot floors the result to the symbol's SYMBOL_VOLUME_STEP and clamps to InpMaxLotSize=5.0.

Stop loss sits at a fixed InpStopLoss=500 points; take profit sits at InpTakeProfit=1500 points, a 1:3 reward-to-risk ratio with no ATR or distance scaling per trade. The static pip values stay constant across symbols and timeframes, so changing pair means recomputing the dollar value of those 500/1500 point stops relative to the new contract size and tick value.

Position management in ManageOpenPositions() runs on every tick and applies a strict monotonic ratchet in three stages. Stage 1 moves the stop to breakeven plus 30 points (InpBEOffset) once the position has 200 points of profit (InpBEStart). Stage 2 begins trailing at 300 points of profit with a 150-point trail distance (InpTrailDistance). Stage 3 — the Tighten stage — engages at 600 points of profit with an 80-point distance, pulling the stop tight behind the candle as the move matures. Each stage is one-way only; the EA never loosens a stop once ratcheted.

Two discretionary exits live alongside the SL/TP machinery. CheckOppositeAlignment() closes any open position when all three Hulls flip in the opposite direction, marking the chart with the MTF exit label. CheckSwingExit() watches the previous InpSwingBars=5 bars; if the bid breaks the 5-bar low while a buy is open (or the ask breaks the 5-bar high while a sell is open), the position closes with a SWING label, unless the ADX is above InpSwingIgnoreADX=30 (strong trend override).

Drawdown protection runs through CheckDrawdownLimits() and tracks two values: daily loss as a percentage of g_dailyStartBalance (set by CheckNewDay() at the first tick of each server day), and equity loss as a percentage of g_peakEquity (ratcheted up on every tick where equity exceeds the prior peak). The defaults are 3% daily / 10% equity-from-peak; a breach sets g_ddLimitHit=true, fires an Alert, and — if InpCloseOnDDLimit=true — calls CloseAllPositions().

The chart gets three colored Hull lines drawn by DrawHullLine() (M1 dodger blue, M5 orange, M15 magenta), the standard Heiken Ashi indicator attached via ChartIndicatorAdd(), and trade-event arrows + circles + text labels via DrawEntryArrow, DrawExitCircle, and DrawExitText. The info panel (CreateInfoPanel) is a 200×110 dark slate rectangle in the top-left corner with an MTF Hull Trend-Lock title and four live lines: Trend, MTF status, position counts, and DD status.

Order routing uses SetProperFillingMode() to pick FOK > IOC > RETURN based on the broker's SYMBOL_FILLING_MODE flags, with 30 points of slippage (InpSlippage) and 3 retry attempts (InpMaxRetries) on requotes, price-changed, price-off, and timeout retcodes. A spread filter caps entries at 300 points (InpMaxSpread, set to 0 to disable).

Backtest expectations: at the default 1% risk and 1:3 R:R with three-stage ratchet management, this EA produces wider swings in equity than the lower-period Hull peers in the same family because the 34-period M15 Hull resists whipsaw but enters later. Expect higher win rates on M5 and H1, longer flat patches in between, and a noticeably better outcome when the ADX filter is left enabled at the default threshold of 20.