MT4 Strategy Tester & Changing Tick Values

[ivolux23]

Hey guys,

Awesome product you have guys

But there is something I just that noticed that could make all the backtest results very limited.

How do you deal with ever-changing tick values for currencies?

I do backtest for 5 years and as you can imagine tick values has changed significantly during this time. This makes a massive diffrance in real results vs backtest results, much more so that slipage or varaible spread ever will.

One workaround could be using account base currency the same as base currency for the pair you are testing? Is this something you do guys?

Thanks for you help.
Ivo

[tickstory]

Hi Ivolux23,

Thanks for your nice feedback!
Regarding the movement of currency's tick value, you are right about account currency potentially making a significant impact on your results. As noted in the article "Testing Features and Limits in Metatrader 4" (https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/1512):

The deposit currency can be changed, but conversion prices are set, and the current available ones are used

I think the best solution is as you suggested and to change your account currency to the base currency. At least you will get a better sense of your EAs performance rather than it being affected by your chosen account currency.

Hope this helps.

[ivolux23]

Thanks for your help.
Yes will use account currency same as base currency for tested Pair form now on, just to make sure tick value stayed 1.000 thoughout the tested period.

Just another quick question.

Once I have exported fxt file to my mt4 using tickstory but then close mt4 or even shut down the computer do I need to export the fxt file again on tickstory or I can just launch the mt4 from tickstry and old fxt file will be there?

Cheers,
Ivo

[tickstory]

Hi Ivo,

You only need to export data once for a given period and this data will be available even after you reboot (etc). It is recommended that you use a MT4 terminal that is logged out for your back-testing purposes as this will avoid any backfills of data from your broker.

Regards.