Which timeframe drives the signals and stop updates?

All indicator handles use H4 regardless of the chart timeframe. The terminal receives chart-symbol ticks; on a new H4 bar the EA reads completed indicator values. Trailing is evaluated at that boundary, not continuously at every price update. Lack of data can delay a bar decision.

Does trailing activation guarantee a profit?

No. With activation at one ATR and a gap of 1.5 ATR, the proposed stop can remain half an ATR beyond the entry in the loss direction. ATR is recalculated and the stop only tightens; execution gaps or rejection can still increase loss. This is not an entry-risk multiple frozen when the trade began.

Does a reverse crossover close the existing position?

No. The example contains no market-close routine. An existing matching position blocks new entries in both directions and is managed by its requested stop and trailing updates. A reverse-signal exit or fixed holding period would be a separate behavior to implement and test.

What evidence supports the published performance?

No reproducible report supports the former win-rate, drawdown or Sharpe numbers, so they are not used here. Keep broker data, exact source and inputs, costs, timeframe and out-of-sample results together if you test the example. A compiler pass establishes neither an edge nor a suitable market.

What deployment limits does the sample have?

Lots are fixed and must satisfy symbol minimum, maximum and step constraints. FOK execution, stop/freeze levels and tick-size alignment need broker checks. There is no percentage sizing, shared account-risk budget or news filter. Multiple charts share account exposure; on netting accounts a magic number cannot isolate contributions to one symbol position.

Complete .mq5 source code

MQL5 Swing Trading EA: H4 Signals and ATR Stop Logic

Read a single-symbol H4 Expert Advisor built around EMA crossovers, an RSI level filter and ATR-based initial and trailing stops. Positions have no fixed holding period. The sample has fixed lots and no published, reproducible performance report.

Build a custom MT5 Expert Advisor View the MQL5 code

Strategy logic

Entry conditions

A completed-bar fast EMA cross above the slow EMA with RSI above 50 permits a long; the reverse cross with RSI below 50 permits a short. The current spread must be below a fixed point threshold, not an ATR multiple. Only one matching symbol-and-magic position is allowed. There is no economic-calendar or independent news filter.

Exit conditions

Initial SL is 1.5 times the completed H4 ATR from the requested entry quote by default, not beyond the entry candle extreme. Once per new H4 bar, trailing activates at a favorable move of one current ATR and proposes a stop 1.5 current ATR behind price. At activation that can still be below break-even. There is no fixed TP, reverse-cross exit, or maximum holding duration; opposite signals are ignored while a matching position remains open.

MQL5 Expert Advisor Code

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|  SwingTradingEA.mq5                                              |
//|  MQL5 Swing Trading Expert Advisor                               |
//|  Uses EMA crossover + RSI filter + ATR-based stops               |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Pineify Example — Educational Use Only"
#property version   "1.00"
#property strict

//--- Input parameters
input int    FastEMA_Period   = 20;       // Fast EMA period
input int    SlowEMA_Period   = 50;       // Slow EMA period
input int    RSI_Period       = 14;       // RSI period
input int    ATR_Period       = 14;       // ATR period
input double ATR_SL_Mult      = 1.5;      // ATR multiplier for stop loss
input double ATR_Trail_Mult   = 1.0;      // ATR multiplier to activate trailing stop
input double LotSize          = 0.10;     // Fixed lot size
input int    MaxSpreadPoints  = 30;       // Max allowed spread in points
input ulong  MagicNumber      = 20240001; // EA magic number

//--- Indicator handles
int handleFastEMA = INVALID_HANDLE;
int handleSlowEMA = INVALID_HANDLE;
int handleRSI = INVALID_HANDLE;
int handleATR = INVALID_HANDLE;

//--- Global state
datetime lastBarTime = 0;

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialisation                                            |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
  {
   if(FastEMA_Period<=0 || SlowEMA_Period<=0 || RSI_Period<=0 || ATR_Period<=0
      || ATR_SL_Mult<=0 || ATR_Trail_Mult<=0 || LotSize<=0 || MaxSpreadPoints<0 || MagicNumber==0)
      return INIT_PARAMETERS_INCORRECT;
   handleFastEMA = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_H4, FastEMA_Period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   handleSlowEMA = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_H4, SlowEMA_Period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   handleRSI     = iRSI(_Symbol, PERIOD_H4, RSI_Period, PRICE_CLOSE);
   handleATR     = iATR(_Symbol, PERIOD_H4, ATR_Period);

   if(handleFastEMA == INVALID_HANDLE ||
      handleSlowEMA == INVALID_HANDLE ||
      handleRSI     == INVALID_HANDLE ||
      handleATR     == INVALID_HANDLE)
     {
      Print("Failed to create indicator handles. EA stopping.");
      return INIT_FAILED;
     }

   Print("SwingTradingEA initialised on ", _Symbol);
   return INIT_SUCCEEDED;
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization                                          |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
  {
   IndicatorRelease(handleFastEMA);
   IndicatorRelease(handleSlowEMA);
   IndicatorRelease(handleRSI);
   IndicatorRelease(handleATR);
   Print("SwingTradingEA removed. Reason: ", reason);
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Helper: get indicator value at shift                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
double GetValue(int handle, int shift)
  {
   double buf[];
   ArraySetAsSeries(buf, true);
   if(CopyBuffer(handle, 0, shift, 1, buf) <= 0)
      return EMPTY_VALUE;
   return buf[0];
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Helper: check if a position with magic exists                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
bool PositionExists(ENUM_POSITION_TYPE posType)
  {
   for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
     {
      ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
      if(PositionSelectByTicket(ticket))
         if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) == _Symbol &&
            PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC)  == MagicNumber &&
            PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE)   == posType)
            return true;
     }
   return false;
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Helper: send a market order                                      |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
bool SendOrder(ENUM_ORDER_TYPE orderType, double sl, double tp)
  {
   MqlTradeRequest  request = {};
   MqlTradeResult   result  = {};

   request.action    = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
   request.symbol    = _Symbol;
   request.volume    = LotSize;
   request.type      = orderType;
   request.price     = (orderType == ORDER_TYPE_BUY)
                       ? SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK)
                       : SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
   request.sl        = sl;
   request.tp        = tp;
   request.magic     = MagicNumber;
   request.comment   = "SwingEA";
   request.type_filling = ORDER_FILLING_FOK;

   if(!OrderSend(request, result) || result.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
     {
      Print("OrderSend failed. Error: ", GetLastError(),
            " Retcode: ", result.retcode);
      return false;
     }
   Print("Order placed. Ticket: ", result.order,
         " Type: ", EnumToString(orderType),
         " Price: ", result.price,
         " SL: ", sl);
   return true;
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Helper: update trailing stop for open positions                  |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void ManageTrailingStop()
  {
   double atr = GetValue(handleATR, 1);
   if(atr == EMPTY_VALUE || atr<=0) return;

   for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
     {
      ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
      if(!PositionSelectByTicket(ticket)) continue;
      if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) != _Symbol)    continue;
      if(PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC)  != MagicNumber) continue;

      double openPrice  = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_PRICE_OPEN);
      double currentSL  = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_SL);
      ENUM_POSITION_TYPE posType = (ENUM_POSITION_TYPE)PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE);

      if(posType == POSITION_TYPE_BUY)
        {
         double bid       = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
         double trailSL   = bid - ATR_SL_Mult * atr;
         double activateAt= openPrice + ATR_Trail_Mult * atr;
         if(bid >= activateAt && trailSL > currentSL + _Point)
           {
            MqlTradeRequest req = {}; MqlTradeResult res = {};
            req.action   = TRADE_ACTION_SLTP;
            req.position = ticket;
            req.symbol   = _Symbol;
            req.sl       = NormalizeDouble(trailSL, _Digits);
            req.tp       = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_TP);
            if(!OrderSend(req,res) || res.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
               Print("Trailing request failed: ",res.retcode);
           }
        }
      else if(posType == POSITION_TYPE_SELL)
        {
         double ask       = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
         double trailSL   = ask + ATR_SL_Mult * atr;
         double activateAt= openPrice - ATR_Trail_Mult * atr;
         if(ask <= activateAt && (currentSL == 0 || trailSL < currentSL - _Point))
           {
            MqlTradeRequest req = {}; MqlTradeResult res = {};
            req.action   = TRADE_ACTION_SLTP;
            req.position = ticket;
            req.symbol   = _Symbol;
            req.sl       = NormalizeDouble(trailSL, _Digits);
            req.tp       = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_TP);
            if(!OrderSend(req,res) || res.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
               Print("Trailing request failed: ",res.retcode);
           }
        }
     }
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function                                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
  {
   //--- Only act on new H4 bar
   datetime currentBar = iTime(_Symbol, PERIOD_H4, 0);
   if(currentBar == lastBarTime) return;
   if(currentBar<=0) return;

   //--- Manage trailing stops every new bar
   ManageTrailingStop();

   //--- Spread filter
   long spreadPoints = SymbolInfoInteger(_Symbol, SYMBOL_SPREAD);
   if(spreadPoints > MaxSpreadPoints)
     {
      lastBarTime=currentBar;
      Print("Spread too wide (", spreadPoints, " pts). Skipping bar.");
      return;
     }

   //--- Read indicator values (bar 1 = last closed bar)
   double fastNow  = GetValue(handleFastEMA, 1);
   double fastPrev = GetValue(handleFastEMA, 2);
   double slowNow  = GetValue(handleSlowEMA, 1);
   double slowPrev = GetValue(handleSlowEMA, 2);
   double rsi      = GetValue(handleRSI,     1);
   double atr      = GetValue(handleATR,     1);

   if(fastNow == EMPTY_VALUE || fastPrev == EMPTY_VALUE || slowPrev == EMPTY_VALUE || slowNow == EMPTY_VALUE ||
      rsi     == EMPTY_VALUE || atr     == EMPTY_VALUE || atr<=0)
      return;

   lastBarTime=currentBar;
   if(PositionExists(POSITION_TYPE_BUY) || PositionExists(POSITION_TYPE_SELL)) return;
   bool bullCross = (fastPrev <= slowPrev) && (fastNow > slowNow);
   bool bearCross = (fastPrev >= slowPrev) && (fastNow < slowNow);

   //--- Long entry
   if(bullCross && rsi > 50 && !PositionExists(POSITION_TYPE_BUY))
     {
      double ask = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
      double sl  = NormalizeDouble(ask - ATR_SL_Mult * atr, _Digits);
      SendOrder(ORDER_TYPE_BUY, sl, 0);
     }

   //--- Short entry
   if(bearCross && rsi < 50 && !PositionExists(POSITION_TYPE_SELL))
     {
      double bid = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
      double sl  = NormalizeDouble(bid + ATR_SL_Mult * atr, _Digits);
      SendOrder(ORDER_TYPE_SELL, sl, 0);
     }
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Copy this code into MetaEditor, save it in the MQL5/Experts folder, and compile with F7.

Generate a custom Multi-pair swing-trading EA

Describe the entry, exit, position, order, and risk rules you want. Pineify generates editable MQL5 source code that you can inspect and compile in MetaEditor.

Generate custom MQL5 code Read the MT5 testing guide

Pine Script vs MQL5: Same Strategy, Different Platforms

Aspect	Pine Script (TradingView)	MQL5 (MetaTrader 5)
Execution	Series evaluated on chart updates	Event handlers with explicit buffers
Deployment	Runs in TradingView with alerts	Runs in the MT5 terminal or on a VPS
Broker access	Strategy orders are simulated; live automation needs a separate integration	Direct broker connectivity
Backtesting	Strategy Tester for strategy scripts	Strategy Tester for Expert Advisors
Code complexity	Simpler, functional syntax	C++-like, more powerful

The calculation can be implemented on either platform, but the runtime model and buffer APIs differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related MQL5 pages

Mql5 Trend Following Ea→Moving Average Mql5 Indicator→Mql5 Risk Management Code→

Risk and testing note

These educational examples require independent compilation and testing. A compile pass or an illustrative setting does not establish execution correctness or profitability. Any reported performance must be supported by reproducible data and test settings; past results do not predict future returns. Trading involves significant risk of loss. This content is not financial advice.