Topic: Ambiguous Bars - and how to resolve them?

Hello there,

Im looking for help.  Every attempt made to import data into FSB (regardless of the source) has resulted in 99% Ambiguous Bars. 

According to the user manual (below) "We mark a bar “ambiguous” when the backtester cannot decide for sure what order to execute first."  is the reason for the ambiguity.

How can I resolve this 'indecision'

Thanks...


Ambiguous Bars

Forex Strategy Builder performs backtest of a strategy using historical bar data. It calculates each bar starting from the oldest one and finishes with the newest bar. The program interpolates every single bar using a special interpolation algorithm chosen by the user. The interpolation method serves to designate a route that the market price follows inside a bar.

FSB knows four facts about that route;

    The interpolation starts from the Open price of the bar;
    The route passes through the High price;
    The route passes through the Low price;
    The interpolation ends at the Close price;

FSB doesn't know:

    Whether the price touches the High price before the Low price or in the opposite order;
    Whether the price fluctuates up and down and passes through specific prices one time or several times.

This uncearines

We mark a bar “ambiguous” when the backtester cannot decide for sure what order to execute first.

Re: Ambiguous Bars - and how to resolve them?

The number of ambiguous bars depends on the strategy entry and exit rules and not on the data source.

99% ambiguous bars means that your strategy doesn't set trading direction correctly.

One example is: Enter long at Moving Average. At first it looks correct - we'll open long position at MA, but FSB applies mirrored logic for short positions. Therefore FSB will try opening a short position at the same time (at MA). Since FSB see that the entry rule is ambiguous (enter both long and short at the same time) it marks the bar Ambiguous.
To prevent such logical incorrectness, we have to add additional rules for determination of the trading direction.

Re: Ambiguous Bars - and how to resolve them?

Thank you.... Now that makes a lot of sense to me.

You have a great product here, with amazing support.  Keep up the great work!!!

Re: Ambiguous Bars - and how to resolve them?

You can find more info on that topic here: Reliable Backtesting