Hi Team,
I have been using FSB software for several years. I have it connected to multiple Empty4 accounts using multiple strategies. I collect the tick data from my broker, ATCBrokers, into a separate database, then upload into FSB; The tick data is converted using a separate program and process.
Note: ATCBrokers uses a wholesale ECN data feed from FXCM and is very clean and low cost based on negotiated volume. In most trade conditions, I have zero spreads or very narrow spreads (I use 0.4-0.6 for EU). I have had zero issues with the data or ATCBrokers. They have a great support system and the owner and the staff are very helpful and friendly. Never an issue with withdrawals and scalping is allowed with no minimal time period required for being in a position. Additionally they have an "MKT" feed (WUSIWUG). I support a large global group of prop traders as their Head Market Analyst, Chief Trader and Strategy Developer, and have found ATCBrokers to have very good business operations supporting International and domestic accounts. They are in the process of becoming their own clearing house which will allow for reduction in clearing costs. I do not work for them and have had accounts with them now for about 6 years. Their tech team also developed a very cool Advanced 'one click' Order Entry window which will allow for multi-leg trading with preset stop, trail, b/e, and TP values. It is the primary tool our traders use for scalping.
You can upload Empty4 HST data files directly from Empty4 into FSB. Just make sure you have clean data from your broker and not downloaded from the meta history server. That data is not usable and has many missing bars. I am able to account for my broker's spreads (0.4-0.6 on EU as an example), along with slippage (minimal at best). I run new weekly data prior to each Sunday session to check for any variances in volatility and other market conditions/anomalies which may affect my strategies. I then compare the weekly results with historical results for any changes in volatility trends. My strategies are developed with settings for trade signals being issued at the opening of the bar. Curve fitting is not an issue.
Alternatively, you can import tick data from TrueFX.com and others, and then make adjustments to variables such as spread, slippage and commission (if any). The risk you run using other tick data is that the data will not be the same as your broker's data since there is no centralized exchange. However, using other's tick data will give you a baseline overview to work with.
Empty4 ea's and indicators must be re-written in C# and are not portable to FSB. There are, however, multiple indi's already written which are similar to Empty4 indi's. They use a different term for indicators of higher time periods, "HTF" = Higher Time Frame", which allows for testing for higher time periods from lower time periods. It beats Empty4 backtester hands down and can give insights into your strategies not seen from Empty4. FSB recently developed a new pro version, however, not all functions are available.
Once the strategies are completed in FSB, the strategy file is ported to the FST software (Forex Strategy Trader) which is connected to your Empty4 platform for auto trade execution into your Empty4 account.
You can automate multiple strategies to run simultaneous using magic numbers and assign unique instance numbers to each strategie to run in one Empty4 instance, or run in separate instances using multiple instances of FST.
What is also very advantageous to this program is FSB will allow you to make adjustments to strategies using filters such as sharpe ratio, minimize ambiguous bars, cut off bad data, maximum dd %, and other criteria. Example, you may find that the volatility on the EURUSD has increased over the past week and using your normal stop settings on your ea or strategy has been getting hit too much. Using FSB you can "dial" up or down your stop level to improve results. This is not readily done in Empty4. In FSB, it only takes a few minutes to run the scans. I do consider myself to be well versed in the program and its abilities and operation. For additional insights and diagnostics of your strategies, connect the Empty4 account to programs such as MT4i.com or MyFXBook.com.
If I can help anyone with questions on the use, please feel free to ask. Hope this helps.
Cheers, |
