ApeX Indicator ICT Macros is a free MetaTrader 5 indicator that marks the eight ICT macro windows, two in the London session and six in New York. Each window gets a shaded box with top, middle and bottom lines that carry on until the next macro, and once it closes it is labelled Accumulation, Manipulation or Expansion. It can warn you before the next macro starts.
How do I install it?
- Download it free from the Downloads page of the ApeX shop.
- In MetaTrader 5 choose File › Open Data Folder, open MQL5 › Indicators and copy the file there.
- Right-click Indicators in the Navigator and choose Refresh, then drag it onto an M1 to M15 chart and press OK. The ApeX Indicator bar appears with an ICTM chip.
It works on any account, live or demo. Like every ApeX indicator it shares the ApeX Indicator bar: ● ICTM shows or hides it, and with ApeX Trade Manager on the same chart the Combine switch docks the bar onto the trade manager panel. The bar in detail →
What does it draw on the chart?
The eight windows, all in New York time and each switched on by default:
| Session | Macro windows |
|---|---|
| London | 02:33–03:00 · 04:03–04:30 |
| New York | 08:50–09:10 · 09:50–10:10 · 10:50–11:10 · 11:50–12:10 · 13:10–13:40 · 15:15–15:45 |
- Box — covers the window from its high to its low, with the window's time written above it.
- Top, mid and bottom lines — the window's high, its midpoint (dashed) and its low. With extending lines on, they carry on to the start of the next macro, so you can see price react to them afterwards.
- Colour and label — the box and lines take the colour of the window's type, and the type is written under the box once the window has closed.
It draws only on M1 to M15 charts; on higher timeframes the windows are too short to see, so it shows a note on the chart instead. Everything is calculated from M1 candles, so the boxes are the same on M1, M5 and M15. By default it looks back five days.
What do Accumulation, Manipulation and Expansion mean?
Before each window starts, the indicator notes the latest swing high and swing low on M1. When the window ends it checks whether price broke beyond them during the window:
- Accumulation (grey) — neither side was taken. Price ranged inside the existing structure.
- Expansion (blue) — one side was taken. Price pushed out of the range in one direction.
- Manipulation (red) — both sides were taken. Price ran the stops above and below within the same window.
The labels describe what already happened in a window. They are not a signal to buy or sell.
How does it know the time?
All eight macro times are New York times, as ICT defines them, including the two that fall in the London session. Your chart runs on your broker's server time. By default the indicator works out the difference itself (Auto), assuming the server follows US daylight saving like most forex brokers. Check one New York window against a time you know: the 09:50 box should start 20 minutes after the New York stock market opens at 09:30. If the boxes are off by an hour, change Server follows US DST; if they are off by more, switch to Manual and enter your server's winter GMT offset.
How does the advance alert work?
30 minutes before the next switched-on macro (weekends are skipped), a dotted vertical line appears at its start time and you get one alert with the start time and how many minutes are left. On its own the indicator uses MetaTrader's alert window. When its bar is combined with ApeX Trade Manager, the alert goes through the trade manager's notifications instead.
Settings
Open the settings through Indicators List on the chart's right-click menu. Defaults are shown after each name.
Macro windows
- New York Daylight Saving Time (DST) — on, at the top of the settings. Keeps all eight windows on New York's clock through its summer time.
- Each of the eight windows has its own group with five switches, all on: the window itself, Top Line, Mid Line, Bottom Line and Extending Lines.
Macro classification
- Length — 13. How many M1 candles on each side a swing needs to count. Smaller values react to smaller swings, so more windows end up as Expansion or Manipulation.
- Swing Area — Body. Measures swings and breaks with candle bodies; Wick uses the full candle.
- Accumulation / Manipulation / Expansion — grey, red and blue. Macro Texts — Small. The choices are Off, Small, Normal and Large.
- Alert Macro Times in Advance (Minutes) — on, 30 minutes.
Time zone (server)
- Server GMT offset mode — Auto. Manual uses the next setting. Manual: server GMT offset (winter, hours) — 2.
- Server follows US DST (most FX brokers) — on.
Drawing
- Macro background alpha — 26 of 255. Line width — 1 px. Draw behind candles — on.
- Hide bitmaps when — Never (default, recommended). Redraw delay after chart is idle — 120 ms.
- History to scan (days) — 5. Max simultaneous bitmaps — 40.
Questions
Why is nothing drawn on my chart?
Check the timeframe first: it draws only on M1 to M15. Then check that M1 history is loaded for the symbol, because every window is built from M1 candles.
The boxes are an hour off. What should I change?
Usually a daylight saving mismatch. If your broker does not move its server clock with US summer time, turn off Server follows US DST. If the shift appears only in some weeks of the year, check that New York Daylight Saving Time (DST) is on.
Is it really free? Does it trade?
Yes, it is free on any account. It does not trade and is not part of the auto trading in ApeX Trade Manager; it only marks the windows and alerts you.