Quote from ksmetana:
Julian, we understand that when your trade is triggered you send a limit order to enter. If the limit order is not filled, you cancel the trade.
I assume your backtester assumes that when your entry price is breached, you are filled. Meaning, if your bid is put at 1200, you're IN the trade when 1199.75 is touched.
We get that.
We are talking about exits.
If your program puts a sell limit order out at 1200.50, and 1200.75 is touched, you have been executed.
We get that.
**If your program is counting a touch of your bid / offer as an execution, your results are flawed.***
Then we get to stops. A stop price does not guarantee your exit at your stop price. This is known as SLIPPAGE. You have a stop at 1199. Your executed exit price is 1198.75 or even 1198.50. This is known as SLIPPAGE.
You need to enter slippage into your system to account for situations where you do not get your ideal stop price.