Follow The Trend XAU 3.0 – Advanced Trend Trading and Basket Management Robot.
We recommend the high-performance MA4Cross settings with a higher TF filter
FTT_XAU is a fully automated, intelligent algorithmic system built specifically for highly liquid markets such as Gold (XAUUSD). This algorithm revolutionizes trading by combining trend-following filters with highly advanced multi-position management (Grid / Pyramiding). Instead of relying on rigid Take Profit values, FTT utilizes Dynamic Basket Trailing, adjusting to current market volatility using the ATR indicator (75th Percentile).
Key Features and Capabilities:
- Adaptive Profit Trailing: The bot does not close positions at a fixed level. As the market moves in your favor, the bot "drags" the profit line behind it. The faster the market runs, the more profit you extract, and any significant pullback closes the basket with maximum squeezed profit.
- Intelligent Grid and Pyramiding: The system can average down losing positions (Grid) with a dynamic ATR-based step, and add to winning positions along the trend (Pyramiding), allowing you to compound gains from strong momentum.
- Auto Break-Even (AI Risk Management): When the profit reaches a defined fraction of your target, the bot draws an "iron floor" guaranteeing that you will no longer lose on this trade.
- Advanced Partial Close: The system can automatically drop some ballast (e.g., 50% of the volume) by combining the worst losing positions with the best winning ones (Sandwich Close), freeing up margin without taking a hit on the equity.
- Dual Trend Filters: Entries generated by EMA, MACD, or Moving Average crossovers are filtered through a higher timeframe. You only trade in the direction of the smart money.
- Capital Shield: Multi-level safety nets, including Daily Stop Loss, Basket Stop Loss, and a time limit (Max Duration), protect your account against unexpected black swan events.
Lots of tests https://www.youtube.com/@cLogic_algo
Test settings for ---2026--- are already available on YT - due to the limitations of the trial version, the result will be different
You can download INDICATOR for this cBot for free here:
https://ctrader.com/products/3620?u=cLogic
-----Detailed description in the attached photos-----
User Manual: Follow The Trend XAU (FTT_XAU_3.0)
1. Introduction
Follow The Trend XAU is an advanced algorithmic trading robot (cBot) written for the cTrader platform. Its primary task is to identify market trends and open positions accordingly. It features a highly sophisticated open position management module, handling order grids, profit pyramiding, and dynamic profit-taking (Trailing and Partial Close).
2. Installation and Setup
- Download or compile the bot file (.algo extension).
- Double-click the .algo file to install it in the cTrader platform.
- In the platform, go to the Automate tab.
- Find Follow_The_Trend_XAU in the list of robots.
- Right-click it and select Add Instance for your desired symbol (e.g., XAUUSD).
- Adjust the parameters in the right-hand panel and click the Play (Start) button to run the bot.
3. Detailed Parameter Description
Group: Setup (Basic settings)
- Label: A unique name for the bot. If you use multiple instances of the bot on the same account, ensure they have different labels (e.g., FTT_XAU_M15, FTT_EURUSD).
- Mode (Auto / Manual): In Auto mode, the bot opens positions from signals independently. In Manual mode, the bot only manages positions (Grid, Trailing), and you initiate entries yourself via the UI panel on the chart.
- Auto Trigger: Choice of the indicator generating entry signals (MACD, EMA, MA4Cross).
- Trend Filter Mode: PlayWithTrend allows trading only in the direction determined by the higher timeframe (Trend TimeFrame). Off disables this requirement.
- Trend Filter: Choice of filtering logic (e.g., MA4Cross examines the alignment of 4 moving averages).
- Trading Direction: Permission for positions (Buy Only, Sell Only, or Both).
Group: Profit Taking - Advanced
- Basket Trailing: (Yes/No) – Enables the dynamic "dragging" of the profit line.
- Basket Trail Trigger (USD): The basket profit value in dollars at which the Trailing function activates.
- Basket Trail Step (USD): The minimum distance (in dollars) at which the trailing line follows the current profit (if DolarTrailing mode is selected).
- Trailing Mode:
- DolarTrailing: Trailing follows the price by the fixed dollar amount specified above.
- Percentyl75: Trailing adjusts its distance dynamically based on historical ATR volatility.
- P75 - ATR Period / Percentile / Multiplier: Settings regulating the behavior of the dynamic ATR-based trailing.
- Auto BE ON/OFF: Activates the artificial intelligence risk management function.
- Auto BE Target %: If you set this to e.g., 25%, and the total target (Hard Cap or Trail Trigger) is 100 USD, the bot will set a Break-Even level (permanently guaranteeing +5 USD profit) when the basket reaches 25 USD in profit.
- Partial Close %: What percentage of the total volume should be closed upon reaching the trigger threshold (e.g., 30%). The bot will apply a "sandwich" cut – it will remove the worst loss by covering it with a portion of the best profit.
- Partial Close Trigger (USD): The profit level in dollars at which the volume reduction will be triggered.
- Hard Cap (TP-USD): The hard Take Profit threshold for the basket. When the profit reaches this value, everything is closed immediately. Enter 0 if you want profits to be realized solely by Trailing.
Group: Risk Management
- Main Lot Size (Base): The size of the first trade opening the basket.
- Max Lot Size: The upper limit for the size of a single position. Protects against a runaway martingale multiplier.
- Max Duration (Hours): The time after which the position basket, regardless of the result, will be unconditionally closed. Protects against being stuck in a dead market.
- Basket Stop Loss (USD): Protection against basket bankruptcy. The maximum amount you are willing to risk on a given direction (e.g., all Buy orders). If the floating loss reaches this level, the bot cuts the loss.
- Daily Stop Loss (USD): The maximum allowable cumulative loss within one calendar day. If reached, the bot stops trading for the rest of the day.
Group: Grid (Defense Net)
Grid is a mechanism for averaging the opening price when the market goes against you.
- Grid Volume Type: How the next position size is calculated. (STEP – increases by a fixed value, MARTINGALE – multiplies by a specific value, FIX_LOT – constant volume).
- Grid Mode: PriceDistance opens based on distance, ReEntryTrigger opens based on distance AND an additional indicator signal.
- Grid Max Levels: The maximum number of positions in a losing basket.
- Grid Price Step (USD): The fixed distance between consecutive Grid orders. (For markets like XAU, 2.0 means a difference of 2 dollars per ounce).
- Use ATR Grid Step: (Yes/No) – The distance for the grid is adjusted dynamically based on the ATR indicator, preventing the grid from opening too densely during high market volatility.
Technical Groups (MACD, Trend Filter, Trigger MA4, EMA Trigger)
Settings for precise periods (Fast, Slow, Cycle) for the indicators generating entry positions. These require optimization for a specific timeframe and market.
- Min Spread (USD/Price): Trend strength filter. The moving averages on the chart must be separated by a minimum specified value for the bot to consider the trend strong and reliable for entry.
Group: Pyramid (Profit Compounding)
Pyramiding adds subsequent positions when the market moves in your (profitable) direction.
- Pyramid Mode: Choice of pyramiding logic (e.g., ReEntry opens another position based on a signal aligned with the trend).
- Pyramid Levels Count: The maximum number of levels added in profit.
- Pyramid Price Step (USD): The required profit/distance in dollars from the last position to open the next position building the pyramid.
Group: Trading Hours & UI
- Trading Start / End: Setting the hours when the bot is allowed to enter the market. (Decimal format: e.g., 22.75 means 22:45).
- Block Entries Only: Blocking only new entries. The bot will still open Grid orders for existing positions outside trading hours to defend the basket.
- Show UI Panel: Enables the control panel on the chart.
- Panel Position: Interface location (e.g., Bottom Left).
4. Chart UI Panel Explanation
On the chart, the bot draws an interactive panel that provides massive flexibility for semi-automated or manual trading.
- Equity and PnL Bar: Shows the current equity status and the floating profit/loss only for positions controlled by the bot.
- BUY / SELL Buttons: Used to force the opening of a position. The bot will take care of the rest (set TP, Trailing, Grid if necessary). It rejects the command if the market does not allow entry due to insufficient margin (No Money warning).
- AI BE+5 USD Button: Manually forces the drawing of a Safety Line. If the price is sufficiently far from the opening price, the bot pulls up a safeguard that guarantees a minimum of +5 USD.
- AI 50% C Button: Forces a Partial Close (Volume cut). Displays direction selection buttons (BUY/SELL). Upon clicking, it closes 50% of the total volume, cutting equally from profitable and losing positions (optimizing the basket).
- CLOSE B / CLOSE S: Completely closes the entire basket for Buy or Sell positions, respectively. An emergency "Kill Switch".
5. Operational Tips and Best Practices
- Visualizing the Trailing Line: When the bot enters the profit phase and Basket Trailing is triggered, a thick green (for Buy) or red (for Sell) "Drag_Line" will appear on the chart. This line is interactive. You can grab it with your mouse and drag it up or down, manually deciding the profit-taking level (the Trailing logic will push it higher, but will never lower it below your manual setting).
- Margin Safety (No Money Warning): The bot has a built-in margin calculator. It will protect your account from opening a position too large or entering a Grid net that would exceed the Stop-Out level on your broker account. A red warning message will appear on the screen.
- Backtest Optimization: Before running the bot on a Live account, ensure you are performing tests with "Tick Data" selected in cTrader. Remember that Trailing and Partial Close perform best in volatile markets (e.g., Gold), where sudden moves in one direction can clear an entire open grid of orders in one go.
The tests shown are based on the past, but the future is unknown. I recommend at least two months of testing. Good results can be achieved with a semi-auto H1/M5-15 strategy on XAU. You should never trade against the trend. I do all tests on the ICM broker - each broker needs individual settings adjustments.
Trading gold and other financial instruments carries significant risk of loss. Past performance of this or any automated trading system does not guarantee future results. Follow The Trend XAU Edition is a tool to assist trading — not a guarantee of profit. Always test on a demo account before deploying with real capital. Never risk funds you cannot afford to lose.
