Position Size function based on risk amount and stop size

DanielFXS · Postby **DanielFXS** » 17 Jul 2022

Hi all,

I've been using a poorly coded position size function for a few years now and I've decided to refactor it so it can be used across all markets and brokers with no issues. The function takes a stop loss size and the dollars risked and outputs a position size. I'm surprised multicharts doesn't come with this function already. Anyways I would guess that many other users already have this function coded.

The code below is what I've done so far. This works fairly well, except when I try it on crypto on Oanda or LMAX. I would like to include commissions into the calculation too. So if I risk 100 usd that's the total risk including the commission of the trade. Any help would be much appreciated

Code: Select all

Input: 
	riskAmt(numericSimple), 
	StopLoss_size(numericSimple);
	
var: 
	base_currency( USD ),
	riskInCounterCurrency( 0 ),
	PositionSize( 0 );
	
//convert to counter currency 
riskInCounterCurrency = convert_currency( DateTime, base_currency, SymbolCurrencyCode, riskAmt);

PositionSize = riskInCounterCurrency/ (StopLoss_size * 10 * PointValue);

if PositionSize > 100000 then PositionSize = Floor(PositionSize/1000) * 1000; // Oanda Position size

Position_size_$risk = PositionSize;

rrams · Postby **rrams** » 04 Aug 2022

Hello DanielFXS,
If you wanted to just use currency conversion when needed; you could try: (Some Oanda pairs do not support currency conversion)

Code: Select all

if StrategyCurrencyCode<>SymbolCurrencyCode and StrategyCurrencyCode>0 then 
  riskInCounterCurrency=Convert_Currency(DateTime, StrategyCurrencyCode, SymbolCurrencyCode, riskAmt)
else riskInCounterCurrency=riskAmt;

Hopefully, someone might help you with the rest if you are much more specific about the details. Is the StopLoss_Size input a dollar amount or points? Where did you get that risk normalization formula? Why does the denominator have a 10 in it? Are you using spread only pricing model or core pricing plus commission?

As far as I know, Oanda and LMAX crypto is catagorized as a FOREX symbol, but structured as a Contract For Difference. So I can't help much. Being a US citizen, I am not allowed to trade these products or have a tradeable demo account to test with.

I would think any amount from commission would be negligible compared to the possible huge bid ask spread in the crypto contract price. Which is maybe why their website says that 78% of people trading CFDs lose money.

Position Size function based on risk amount and stop size

Position Size function based on risk amount and stop size

Re: Position Size function based on risk amount and stop size