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Strategies / Momentum / 18 Bar Momentum Stop Reversal

18 Bar Momentum Stop Reversal

The strategy holds a long while 18 bar momentum is positive and rising, and a short while it is negative and falling. Each trade has a fixed stop 8% from a long entry or 7% from a short entry.

MomentumLong & shortSwingUSD/JPYDaily
1.35Profit factor
3,171,440Net profit USD
34.67%Win rate
1,324Trades
-441,300Max drawdown
2,395Avg trade

Best run of 6. USD/JPY, Daily, spread 1, from run pf:2026-10-11-USDJPY-D.tsv:5.

Entry rules, long

  1. The momentum is higher than on the previous bar.
  2. Signals are evaluated only after bar 25.

Entry rules, short

  1. The momentum is lower than on the previous bar.
  2. Signals are evaluated only after bar 25.

Exit rules

  1. The long stops out at a price 8% below the entry price.
  2. The short stops out at a price 7% above the entry price.

Test conditions

PeriodUp to 2026-10-11
InstrumentUSD/JPY, Daily
Spread1 points
Starting capital1,000,000
CostsSpread only. Commissions and overnight financing are not included.
BarsUp to 200,000 bars, fewer where the instrument has less history
Last tested2026-10-11

Every run

Markets and timeframes tested

MarketTimeframePFTradesWin %NetMax DD
USD/JPYBest runDaily1.35 1,32434.673,171,440 USD-441,300
USD/JPY1 hourn/a 14,71730.79613,870 USD-434,400
EUR/USDDailyn/a 1,32834.49114,054 USD-81,882
Brent CrudeDailyn/a 55534.0516,250 EUR-8,640
Nasdaq 100Dailyn/a 1,08231.7013,456 EUR-7,322
GoldDailyn/a 1,43731.662,180 EUR-995

Charts

Results by run

Net profitMax drawdown

The code

ProBuilder code, as tested

// ==============================================================
// 18 Bar Momentum Stop Reversal
// ProRealAlgos Strategy Library  |  prorealalgos.com
// Type: Momentum
// Direction: Long & short
// Timeframe tested: Daily
// ==============================================================

DEFPARAM CumulateOrders = false

mom = close - close[18]
momchg = mom - mom[1]

14 more lines: the entry and exit rules.

Setup

How to load it

  1. Copy the code with the copy button on the code block.
  2. In ProRealTime, open a chart of the instrument and timeframe you want to test, then open ProOrder > New trading system and choose "Create with programming".
  3. Paste the code, give the system a name and save it.
  4. Click "Backtest", set your own spread and position size, and run it before you consider trading it live.

Indicators used

Momentum
Read this firstKnown weaknesses2 points
  • Results include the spread only. Commissions and overnight financing are not included.
  • The code is published as it was backtested and has not been compiled again since.

Questions

About this strategy

Can I run 18 Bar Momentum Stop Reversal in ProOrder?

Yes. The code is ProBuilder and runs as an automated ProOrder system. Backtest it on your own account with your own spread and position size before trading it live.

Which markets was it tested on?

It was tested on 6 market and timeframe combinations. The best run was USD/JPY, Daily, with a profit factor of 1.35 over 1,324 trades.

How large was the drawdown?

The best run had a maximum drawdown of 441,300 USD at the tested position size, against a net result of 3,171,440 USD.

Does it trade long, short or both?

It trades both long and short.

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Past backtest results do not guarantee future results. This is not financial advice. Curated and maintained by ProRealAlgos. ProRealTime™ is a trademark of ProRealTime SAS. prorealalgos.comStatsDocs