AFT8 the best and most advanced automated trading system for NinjaTrader

June 4, 2023 by AFT

Some claim! Yes, you heard it all before, and you should be skeptical. Use evidence-based decision-making, not emotion. Let us substantiate the facts below.

Firstly, get a pedigree of who we are. View About Algo Trading Systems. This is about real traders with real systems designed, invented, and developed in-house using decades of professional trading and institutional-grade quantitative development and knowledge.
Secondly, this is not a one-trick pony. It has many algorithms and billions of permutations for all different styles of trading: real swing, intermediate position trading, and day trading. Fully auto, semi-auto, and manual with automated exits, fault-tolerant, and even better, this is brought to retail so you may try them out free forever and decide if it’s for you or not.
Thirdly, let’s look at the technical specs and understand why NinjaTrader’s open architecture allows us to create the best and most advanced system for retail trading. Check out the developer, our sister company MicroTrends Ltd across the pond – the pioneer and inventor of hybrid trading with a quick history of NinjaTrader algorithmic trading systems. See how they put the other vendors in top place with their white-label systems, but this one is only available direct from the source!

10 Quick Points of the Best Trading System Features

AFT8 resolves all the challenges for automated trading, fully and semi-auto hybrid, which the other systems in retail cannot do.
AFT8 Proprietary Trade Engine Features

Manual, semi, or fully automated trading system
Interactive real-time controls to set algorithms
1. On/Off
2. Long/Short set bias
3. Semi-auto one trade and stop
4. Fully auto trade as per configured rules
5. Trader override and guidance and interaction with algo/trade management controller UI
Stop and start NT – the system will auto-start when the workspace is opened and data is connected.
1. Can start waiting for the trader to put on for auto
2. Can start in fully auto mode
Allows position compounding – adding to the same position or taking off. The system will adjust the stops and targets as required.
Allows trader to close positions and cancel orders without stopping the system
Allows restart of the NT system – will continue and work with orders and positions
Fault tolerance allows the system to detangle orders and positions on a restart or in a fast market. If all orders are canceled, it will put the order back on, not leaving an unguarded position.
True day trading, swing, and intermediate swing trading over the weekend for up to 3 months of a position. No matter how long you stop and start it, AFT8 will wake up and know what to do and continue onwards with your trading as long as there is a valid connection.
Memory-persisted state between stops and starts so that the system can keep track of trades per day, per session, and money management goals. This is a vital element which other systems do not do, meaning you could blow your trade plan rules. AFT8 won’t let you. You can bypass the fail-safes and reset the memory – transparent data folder access or controls.
Automatic data lag control will detect when the market is too fast and NT8 is lagging behind real-time data and prevent trading signals and executions of signal entries to prevent loss on slippage – news times, distance latency, and so on. Data lagging will be flagged visually in the market analyzers and can be set to 0.25s to 30s sensitivity. This is a vital element to stop trading during price shocks, news releases, and other scenarios which would enter with bad slippage and could blow your account. AFT8 safeguards trading against slippage and price shocks.

Plug and Play Turnkey Workspaces for Day Trading and Swing Trading

Turnkey baseline systems are made available for install, connect, and trading on sim
Designed for hybrid trading modes, man and machine, for real-time interaction
Baselines can be traded in fully automated mode to test and tweak to suit a trader
- Session Breakout/Day trading/Swing
- Trend Trading/Scalping
- Range Trading/Mean Reversion
Off-Piste, a trader can use their imagination and experiment and build their own rules using the algo building blocks inside the system and even code their own in too!

Unrivaled Trading Flexibility

Multi-Time Frame, Multi-Algo
Multiple algorithms on the same account
Multiple Advanced Trade Managers on the same account
Asymmetrical bars for entry and exits
Can combine or pause and enable with real-time controls to suit the conditions on the day

Cloud Multi-Time Frame Filter System – AlphaWebTrader Trendometer API

Futures, Stocks, ETF aggregated amalgamated horizontal and vertical trend correlations
Cloud API Non-Lagging for CPU, disk, and data. NT8 will not go down and data lag/render delay
Aggregated data is read by AFT8 from the AWT.Desktop in real-time with no lagging or overhead
Vertical trend correlation up to 24 time frames per instrument
Horizontal trend correlation futures, Stock, ETF for bias
Group strength and weakness
Order flow by market ATR speed, volume, and trend efficiency
Signal Flow – order flow is good, but signal flow is a step above history and real-time
HTF Structure, gaps, levels, and more.
See AlphaWebTrader for more details

Battle-Tested Trading Systems on Real Money with a Real Fund

AFT8 Desktop comes from real live money trading of a $5 million hedge fund account from 2017 onwards to 2022 on trade sizes up to 1% or $50K USD stop loss risk. Clear Point Capital. In 2023, due to a lack of time and development obligations to the fund, we decided to release it to retail and cut it down from swing to day trade and make a desktop version of it for NT8, to allow the most advanced system for NT8 ever. We chose that route instead of migrating AFT7, but AFT7 parts and components are being added in over time.

Not a One-Trick Pony

Time-Testing Approaches – Evolved
1. Session Breakout – daily, weekly, monthly – custom breakout
2. Trend Trading – USAR/Dynamic trend
3. Range Trading – Mean Reversion fibGrid Bands
4. News Trader – pending needs AWT API
5. Multi-Time Frame Trend systems – AWT API Trendo etc.
Many programmable systems available or even can add own code rules and compile into the system and use your rules and algo with the full off-the-shelf features

Build Your Own – Bring Your Own Algo
ATS & NT8 allows you to build your own and test for strategies and also for integration into AFT8 algos and leverage all the off-the-shelf features.

AFT8 Versus Traditional NT8 Strategies

NT Strategies do not provide this level of interaction and flexibility and cannot swing trade or self-recover. They require manual resolution of positions and orders to make safer before starting. AFT can start and resolve it all itself. NT Strategies don’t allow a trader to close positions and cancel orders without halting the strategy. AFT will also ship in the future with a strategy for backtesting, optimizing, and if preferred for trading, the most advanced ever built for NinjaTrader 8 Powered by ATS QuadroBase. This will be open source in the strategy to allow you to combine third-party and create your own algos combined with AFT8 sealed indicator components, with script development support in the Discord Trading Group.

Money Management – Challenges

Static or fixed fractional position sizing based on volatility stop-loss – fixed fractional or professional mode fund of funds position sizing and money management.

Off a user’s defined amount
Off the account
Or weighted balanced per asset stream – different values

Systematic Trading Systems – Trade Signal Generation & Execution

The system does all you need for manual, semi, or fully automated signal execution

Entry signal types
Exits
Stops and targets

Web Algo Trading Remote Control

On/Off of algorithms
Long/Short bias
Monitor and interact

There’s a lot more to come, and we don’t want to give it all away before we roll it out.
Note: Unlike our other white-label technologies used by well-known vendors in the ecosystem, we don’t license this to anyone else to resell!

AFT8 Update release v20230524

May 24, 2023 by AFT

AFT8 Update Released: AFT8 Version 2023.5.24.2 This version is running on the algo server in soak test mode—no filters, all signals 100% fully active with a variety of modes. It is operating in the live market as shown in the attached image in the futures trading group.

Note on Version Info: This is the last planned release before the official release. We need to assess feedback from users prior to rolling out the official RC1 version. So far, we are moving forward unless someone provides feedback with a showstopper. The RC1 update, likely to follow this release next week, will include a login and ATS Desktop Control Center. The plan is to combine all the AFT, AWT, and AST into one control center, replacing the AWT Desktop. This will allow one login for both web and desktop applications.

Updating: You can simply run the same installer in your downloads folder or get it again from the trading system downloads page. This installer never changes; its job is to get the latest AFT8 version from the cloud and install it. Once you have it, you don’t need to download it again. AFT8 App updates will also pop up a notification and allow in-place installation on your PC, assuming there is no overzealous antivirus running to block it.

Notes:
System Turnkey Workspaces will be overwritten.
System Settings and templates.
N.B: This is why you need to rename your templates/workspaces to preserve your settings.

AFT8 Changes

AFT8 Algo Trade Entry Position Sizer — Inline CheckBox for Algo Entry module controller for Position Sizing toggle On/Off for real-time settings.

AFT8 Algo Trade Manager Stop Risk Control — Trade Management Control Center – Control for stops and position size quantity. On for Controller, off for algo module control as configured.

AFT8 Update release v20230522

May 22, 2023 by AFT

AFT8 Update Released: AFT8 Version 2023.5.22.1.
This is the last planned release before the official release. We need to assess feedback from users prior to rolling out the official RC1 version. Download AFT8 here

Notes:
1) Workspaces were pruned down to make it easier, and templates are “lite” by default via removal of high-intensity CPU memory market grid for trendometer. The two tested working turnkey workspaces are: Turnkey Workspaces – semi/fully modes can be implemented.
Baseline versions for manual, semi-auto hybrid trading, and fully automated testing/tweaking to your tailor-fitted versions.
a) AFT8-SFG Breakout Trader-0000A – multi-time frame view, one instrument.
b) AFT8-SFG Breakout Trader-0000B – most popular four instrument view.
c) AFT8-Trend-Scalper-1000A – Proof of Concept version requires manual semi/auto hybrid use only, multi-time frame – this would probably benefit from the AWT API link in time.

2) Algo entry and Algo trade manager were split into two parts – this allows one or many algos on the same account and instrument, and one or many trade managers on one account instrument, allowing quick switching of modes of use or blending combinations and rules.

3) The Keltner FibGrid – we evolved a classic by combining our proprietary “Fib Grid” into a Keltner band so the grid is moving and anchored to the mid band. This can be seen in workspace “AFT8-Trend-Scalper-1000A”. For those traders experienced with divergence, you can see some setups at the extremes as well as other patterns and trend bias filtering.

4) Trade Manager – the trailing stops have been reworked so that lastTrailstop has the same parameters available as the initial trailing stop. Also, the layout and grouping have been reworked, plus additional functions for exits and filter control from the algo controller GUI in real-time.

Session Fib Grid Trend Power bias and Signal Age explained

October 21, 2022 by AFT

So, what are these numbers and where do they come from?

AFT8 TrendOmeter Grid for the NinjaTrader desktop trading platform – multi-session, multi-timeframe technicals, and trend correlations.

Fib Grid is a map/contextual view of the market, with price normalized as a percentage. This is an adaptive formula computed at the session start. Price moves within the grid, which is static all session. 0% is the open, F100% is the projected high, and -F100% is the projected low.
Trend Bias Power is a non-lagging real-time expression of the current trend/force. It is a volatility dynamic calculation on each market data change. Price moves within the grid of bands during the bar – 0% is the band, 100% is the outer volatility bands.
Signal Age marks when the trend began and if it’s valid or invalid, also known as a “black hole.”

TrendOmeter runs in the NT8 market analyzer and is aimed at high-spec, low-latency gaming desktop PCs and laptops, as it will lag up NinjaTrader 8 and slow down data processing on the system. AFT comes with lite workspaces to avoid this issue, and users can also use the AWT TrendOmeter system, which is lag-free and is a far more sophisticated system for web, desktop, and mobile. AFT8 will link via an API to AWT to allow filtering and signals off AWT.

Alpha Web Trader - TrendOmeter — Alpha Web Trader – TrendOmeter provides a lag-free aggregated instrument and multi-timeframe vertical and horizontal view of the market.

AlphaBias — https://alphawebtrader.com/alphabias shows the trend bias power and the Signal Age view in one screen.

AWT Advanced TrendOmeter is lag-free and will not slow down the PC or NinjaTrader. https://alphawebtrader.com/trendometer TrendOmeter here is showing 13 timeframes using Trend Bias Power. These timeframes are actually aggregations of related instruments and other timeframes combined from around 25 time series and different measurement studies. It is a pivot of the AlphaBias view: https://alphawebtrader.com/alphabias. AWT aggregates instruments such as SPY, VOO, IVV into one stream and aggregates the technicals for TrendOmeter and AlphaBias, so it would use the parent instrument, e.g., SPY, as the display. ES, SP, MES, for example. AWT also uses its own data stream and analytics engine, so it’s roughly equivalent to what you can see in AFT but never exact. AWT shows us breadth and depth based on correlations.

Trend Bias Power and Signal Age provide a 2D view of the trend. The signal age shows trend start and when the trend is invalid as a black hole.

Trend Bias Power % In the chart of the 720min with the USAR indicator, we can see the mid-band is 0%, the upper band 1 is +100%, and the lower band 1 is -100%. Price moves from the mid-band out, so we can normalize price as a percentage. The bands are volatility intervals from the band, so it moves and adapts with the market price cycles of range. TSI/TA comes from this. Trend Bias Power is similar to the Fib Grid in some parts based on volatility and the relation of price within, but it is calculated and moves with the market on each bar. The Trend Bias Power % band could be any number of technical studies. Some examples typically for Moving Averages we use 20, 21, 34, 55 SMA, EMA, WMA with a 1 ATR band to define the 100% above and below -100%. For USAR, we use 1ATR, 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0 with a 1ATR volatility band to define the 100% zone. AFT8 focuses on USAR, Keltner wave, and MA Bands in the AFT8 indicators. Our measurements TA% and TSI come from Trend Bias Power.
Signal Age measures when the trend started and how old it is. SA% comes from this, etc. A black hole is where the signal, for example, is short when the trend first began, but if the trend is contra trend signal direction and it is losing, then it is an invalid trend and marked as a black hole. It could mean the system is transitioning and reversing or in a pullback. So we can focus on the confluence of winning valid trends and ignore or wait for the black holes to go green or red. A mixed view would be green, black, and red. A significant trend direction would be all one color.

Fib Grid is a map of the market with price normalized as a percentage, computed at the session start. Price moves within the grid. Fib Grid’s 0% stays static, whereas the Trend Bias’s 0% moves as the anchor point, typically some kind of band average moves with price. SFG uses the daily, weekly, monthly typical ranges usually above and below, but it can use different. So 0 is the open, +100 is the projected high, and -100 is the projected low. Other fib numbers are put in as intervals and no trade zone, and the rest is just statistical.

Trend Bias Power, Signal Age, and Session Fib Grid combined give a good view of the session price position and the trend flow, etc. So now we can move away from the old, stuck-in-the-mud classical lagging systems and start to build a 3D view, especially with other related instruments and order/speed, and so on. Get started 100% free until you decide with AFT Trading System.

VIP Trading Group Live Market Trade Along

October 22, 2021 by AFT

ATS VIP Trading Group Live Market Trade-Along

Enter the ATS Trading Zone for focused, high-value live market information, AI-powered analysis, professional trading context, and practical education based on the ATS hybrid trading methodology.

The ATS VIP Group is designed for active VIP traders and approved trialists. It focuses exclusively on trading, technical analysis, market intelligence, trade planning, and performance improvement without the distraction of technical-support or general forum discussions.

Group content combines the experience of the ATS system inventor and trader with the ATS AI Trade Copilot, live market data, AWT technical tools, algorithmic chart streams, and merit-based trader statistics.

The path to success is Stoic Trading Focus: follow the process step by step without chaos, rushing, fear, greed, or emotional decision-making.

⚡ Access Trading Groups 🏆 Get Universal Access

ATS VIP Group Access

VIP Elite members: View access throughout the VIP server with posting access in designated areas, including 💬 general and 🏆 trades-n-stats.
Approved trialists: View-only access to the Trading Zone and other eligible VIP areas during their active access period.
Expired access: Members without an active subscription, renewal, trial, or qualifying license may be removed automatically by the ATS Bot.

The ATS group ecosystem includes the Algo Trading Systems Support Group, ATS VIP Trading Group, Algo Signal Trader VIP channels, and Alpha Trader News resources. The VIP Trading Group is the focused live-market environment.

Focused Daily Group Content

Trading Zone content is refreshed daily and may be automatically deleted after approximately 24 hours. This keeps the group focused, current, and easy to review during active trading hours.

💬 general: ATS trading methods, educational discussion, trader observations, and relevant market conversation.
🏆 trades-n-stats: Trading statistics, trade reviews, performance examples, educational posts, and merit-based trader contributions.
Technical support: Licensing, installation, billing, and troubleshooting questions must be submitted through the ATS Help Center rather than posted in the VIP trading channels.

Support posts placed in trading-only channels may be removed, and repeated misuse may result in temporary posting restrictions.

📈 Get into the ATS Trading Zone

No noise—just focused, high-value live market information designed to support disciplined decision-making.

Monday to Friday from 7:15 AM CT

📅 Economic News: Scheduled economic events, high-impact releases, and important market timing.
📰 Market News: Relevant headlines, earnings, geopolitical developments, and catalysts affecting the session.
🌡️ Sentiment: Broader risk sentiment, institutional context, volatility, and market positioning.
📈 Higher-Time-Frame Technicals: Important levels, gaps, trends, support, resistance, correlations, and directional context.

Trading Zone from 8:15 AM to 11:00–11:30 AM CT

AI Trade Copilot daily welcome and trading-focus reminder.
Market Radar covering the instruments and conditions most relevant to the session.
Economic news, market news, earnings, sentiment, and higher-time-frame analysis summaries.
Pre-session commentary before the New York equity-index futures open.
Intraday commentary as market structure, momentum, volatility, and correlations develop.
AWT technical information, market context, and educational explanations.
Enriched algorithmic signals with supporting filters and market context.
Session Breakout methodology observations and the recurring 10:00 AM CT Jiggle pattern when applicable.
ATS Trade Coach educational posts during the live market session.

VIP Elite members and approved trialists receive view access to the Trading Zone. The principal live commentary is delivered by the ATS system inventor and supported by the ATS AI Trade Copilot.

🎓 Trade Mastery During the Live Session

Additional educational information may be posted throughout the session to demonstrate the principles and practical application of the ATS Session Breakout hybrid trading methodology.

The objective is not to copy trades blindly. Traders learn how to combine algorithmic signals, automated trade management, market context, higher-time-frame analysis, AWT confirmation tools, disciplined risk management, and human decision-making.

Trade Goal: Maximize profit potential while minimizing drawdown, risk, and emotion.

New York Session Open Market Focus

The primary focus is the New York session open for U.S. equity-index futures and Micro futures, including the Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow, Mid-Cap, and Russell 2000 markets. Oil, gold, Bitcoin, and other correlated markets may also be referenced when they provide useful context.

The flagship trade plan focuses on Session Breakout trading, with particular attention given to ES, NQ, EMD, and RTY market structure, gaps, correlations, momentum, volatility, and algorithmic trade opportunities.

The ATS Five-Step Session Breakout Approach

Prepare before the open: Be at the trading desk before 8:15 AM CT and review economic news, earnings, market headlines, and scheduled volatility events.
Review the major indices: Examine overnight price action, higher-time-frame structure, previous-session levels, and pre-market gaps across the principal U.S. equity indices.
Establish market context: Determine whether the indices, gaps, trends, and sentiment are aligned, mixed, or diverging.
Confirm with ATS tools: Use AWT technicals, correlations, market bias, algorithmic signals, and the ATS AI Trade Copilot to evaluate the opportunity.
Trade the planned session: Focus on qualified opportunities from the 8:30 AM CT cash-session open through approximately 11:00–11:30 AM CT while following the trade plan and defined risk limits.

Live Market Algorithmic Trading Stream

The ATS live stream displays real-time algorithmic server charts, market signals, and baseline trade-management examples in simulation accounts. The stream provides a transparent market reference that traders can observe alongside their own ATS workspaces and trading plans.

Typical streaming availability runs from approximately Monday at 7:00 AM CT through the Friday market close, subject to holidays, maintenance, connectivity, and market conditions.

Real-time algorithmic server charts for key futures markets.
Session Breakout entries, exits, filters, and automated trade-management references.
Live market context delivered through Discord, Twitch, and YouTube when available.
Convenient viewing from a mobile device, laptop, tablet, or secondary screen alongside the primary trading computer.

ATS VIP Group real-time futures market streaming and Trading Zone.

Join the ATS VIP Trading Environment

Develop your trading edge with structured preparation, live market context, algorithmic tools, AI-assisted analysis, professional education, and a disciplined community focused on measurable trading improvement.

⚡ Visit the ATS Trading Group 🚀 Explore ATS Fast Track and Trade Mastery

⚠️ Terms and Risk Disclaimer

All group content, commentary, signals, statistics, streams, charts, examples, and educational materials are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. ATS does not provide financial, investment, or personalized trading advice.

Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every trader. Past, simulated, hypothetical, or streamed performance does not guarantee future results. Every trader remains solely responsible for evaluating market conditions, selecting trades, controlling risk, and making all trading decisions.

By accessing or using ATS groups, software, services, and educational content, you acknowledge and accept the applicable ATS terms, policies, and risk disclosures.

AFT Trader John Video Episode 15 – day trading Nasdaq Futures Market Round Up August week 3

August 23, 2021 by AFT

https://youtu.be/Xb5NubE8EKo

In this week’s video, Trader John goes through all the trades in the MNQ for the week with the AFT7 Opening Morning Breakout Trader for NinjaTrader 7 (Ninja 8 Beta). AFT7 is free to download and use in simulation mode for as long as you want. The AFT onboarding page and AFT Trading Group Discord server links are detailed below:

You can follow AFT Trader John in the live market each day in our free online day trading group.

AFT Trader John Weekly Trade Roundup Info: Each week, AFT Trader John will be showing a summary of the trades, futures trading systems, and methods with the Algo Futures Trader automated breakout strategy on the live market using the NinjaTrader Platform. Expect more depth and coverage each week as this new series starts to take shape.

Trade for Free Forever on Sim, Demo, Test & Practice Accounts Risk-Free!

AFT is 100% free forever for sim, demo, replay, backtesting, and forward testing for all futures.
AFT is 100% free forever for evaluation trading.
Prop Firms Trading Capital Providers.
Practice on the sim/demo until you are making a weekly/monthly profit.
Use risk capital to trade or get funded by a prop firm such as:
Trade part-time or full-time from home or the office, trade for a living, or supplement your salary.
AFT License required when NinjaTrader is connected to a real money live account with Global Simulation Mode: Off – Live Trading.
- AFT comes with a free 7-day live trading license. AFT Ultimate provides access to all AFT Features for AFT7 and AFT8.

Plug and Trade – Turnkey Trading Systems for Day Trading Futures

Simply install and connect. Learn and practice with ready-to-use turnkey settings and workspaces for Session Open Automated Breakout strategy and Trend Trading reversal and pullback continuation trading. Start NinjaTrader, connect to a futures data feed, and open an AFT Turnkey workspace. The trading systems will appear on the chart and are ready for simulator trading micro equity index futures.

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