Traders' Tips from TASC Magazine

Trend Trigger Factor

M. H. Pee's article, "Trend Trigger Factor," introduces an indicator of the same name. The formula for this indicator and the steps to include it into MetaStock are below:

To enter this indicator into MetaStock:

1. In the Tools menu, select Indicator Builder.
2. Click New to open the Indicator Editor for a new indicator.
3. Type the name of the formula.
4. Click in the larger window and type in the following formula.

Name: Trend Trigger Factor

Formula:

x:=Input("number of periods",2,100,15);
bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100

As Mr. Pee's article also included the signals to trade this indicator, it is possible to construct a system test and an expert advisor for it. These formulas and the procedure for creating them follow.

To create the system test:

1. In the Tools menu, select the Enhanced System Tester
2. Click New to open the system tester editor
3. Select the Buy Order tab and insert this formula:

   x:=15;
   bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
   sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
   ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
   Cross(ttf,100)
   

4. Select the Sell Order tab and insert this formula:

   x:=15;
   bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
   sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
   ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
   Cross(-100,ttf)
   

5. Select the Sell Short Order tab and insert this formula:

   x:=15;
   bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
   sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
   ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
   Cross(-100,ttf)
   

6. Select the Buy to Cover Order tab and insert this formula:

   x:=15;
   bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
   sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
   ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
   Cross(ttf,100)
   

Click Ok to close the editor.

To create the expert advisor:

1. In the Tools menu, select the Expert Advisor
2. Click New to open the expert editor
3. Select the Highlights tab
4. Click New to make a new highlight
5. Enter the name as: Long
6. Set the color to Green
7. Enter the following formula for the condition:

   x:=15;
   bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
   sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
   ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
   ttf>100
   

8. Click ok to close the highlight editor
9. Repeat steps 4-8 to make the short highlight listed below

Name: Short

Color: Red

Condition:

x:=15;
bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
ttf<-100


10. Select the Symbols tab
11. Click New to make a new symbol
12. Enter the name as Buy
13. Enter the following formula for the condition:

    x:=15;
    bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
    sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
    ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
    Cross(ttf,100)
    

14. Select the Graphics tab
15. Set the symbol to the up arrow and the color to green
16. Click Ok to close the symbol editor
17. Repeat steps 11-16 to make the sell symbol listed below

Name: Sell

Condition:

x:=15;
bp:=HHV(H,x)-Ref(LLV(L,x),-x);
sp:=Ref(HHV(H,x),-x)-LLV(L,x);
ttf:=((bp-sp)/(0.5*(bp+sp)))*100;
Cross(-100,ttf)


Symbol: Sell Arrow

Color: Red

18. click Ok to close the expert editor

William Golson
Equis International