Buy
Enters a long position as specified by the parameters. The entry point is visually indicated on a chart by an Arrow and a Tick. The Arrow identifies the time and the Tick identifies the price value of the entry point. Labels, displaying the entry name and the number of contracts or shares traded, are displayed below the Buy Arrow.
When a Buy order is filled, any open short positions will also be closed.
Usage
Buy[("EntryLabel")] [TradeSize] EntryType;
Parameters inside the square brackets are optional - if these aren't defined, the default is used.
Parameters
- EntryLabel - an optional parameter; assigns a name that will be displayed in the name label below the entry, and can be used to identify the particular entry and to tie an exit to it.
- An exit can only be tied to an entry within the same signal; for more information, see Sell.
- If EntryLabel is not specified, the name "Buy" will be used for the first entry, "Buy#2" for the second entry, "Buy#3" for the third entry, etc.
- TradeSize - an optional parameter; a numerical expression, specifying the number of contracts or shares to buy; the expression must be followed by one of the following equivalent words: Share, Shares, Contract or Contracts.
- If TradeSize value equals 0 or is negative, a long position will not be entered but any open short positions will be closed.
- If TradeSize is not specified, the trade size value set by the user in the Properties tab of the Strategy Properties window will be used.
- EntryType - a required parameter; specifies the timing and price of entry. See below for more information about the EntryType.
Entry types
There are four kinds of EntryType:
Enter this bar on close
This Bar On Close
Where:
- On - is a skip word and can be omitted.
A Buy Arrow will be placed at the current bar's Close tick.
Enter next bar at open
Next Bar At Open
or
Next Bar At Market
Where:
- Words "Market" and "Open" are interchangeable.
- At - is a skip word and can be omitted.
A Buy Arrow will be placed at the next bar's Open tick.
Enter next bar at limit
Next Bar Price Limit
Where:
- Price - a numerical expression, specifying the Limit Price.
- At - a skip word word and can be omitted.
A Buy Arrow will be placed on the next bar at the first tick with a price value less than or equal to Price; if there are no such ticks within the next bar, the order will be cancelled.
Enter next bar at stop
Next Bar At Price Stop
Where:
- Price - a numerical expression, specifying the Stop Price.
- At - a skip word and can be omitted.
A Buy Arrow will be placed on the next bar at the first tick with a price value equal to or greater than the Price; if there are no such ticks within the next bar, the order will be cancelled.
Examples
Buy a user-set number of shares at Market price on close of this bar:
Buy This Bar On Close;
Buy 1 share at Market price on open of next bar and label the entry "Entry":
Buy("Entry")1 Share Next Bar At Open;
Buy 1 contract at Market price on open of next bar and label the entry "Entry":
Buy("Entry")1 Contract Next Bar Market;
Buy 2 shares within the next bar on the first tick with a price of 100 or less:
Buy 2 Shares Next Bar At 100 Limit;
Buy 10 contracts within the next bar on the first tick with a price of 50 or more:
Buy 10 Contracts Next Bar 50 Stop;