Quantitative trading is the ever-evolving marketing strategy in stocks. A quant is someone who analyzes the data in the market to provide accurate forecasts for better opportunities. Based on the word itself, it involves quantitative analysis- or using mathematical computations for analyzation.
During the analysis period, hundreds or thousands of stock securities may come up. These would then pave the way for better trading possibilities for the quants. Everything might be confusing, as each step requires understanding numbers.
Therefore, a successful quant trading also means developing various strategies that would provide metrics for interpretation. It would rely on indicators that would tell investors whether there is a gain or loss. These should be taken into consideration for future decisions.
Quantitative Trading Strategies
Trading strategies are essential in avoiding or mitigating risks. It would also ensure that traders have consistent results with their stocks. Over time, each quant trader is bound to develop his or her own techniques. Here are some methods and tips for starters:
Identify the Strategy
Research skills are vital for quant trading, especially for beginners. Before implementing a strategy, it’s important to study which ones work best for the chosen market. During this stage, try to acquire all possible data that would help test the effectivity of the techniques.
Keep notes of everything that would help not only the gains but also the losses as well. It would aid in optimizing strategies that would turn everything over for higher returns and lower risks. For beginners, try to search for one technique that worked best for stock traders. Then, tweak the methods to how it would fit your process and capital as well. Alternatively, you could read this Motley Fool review if you wanted some extra help in the stock market and knowing what is best as a starter.
Back Testing the Strategy
After testing the strategy, next comes backtesting. It’s the process that tells whether the prospective process would deliver financial gain when applied to historical and out-of-sample data.
The method does not guarantee success or profitability, but it can help with the optimization of the strategy. Backtesting would identify, prevent, and eliminate biases in the technique.
Quants need to develop a quantifiable metric that would determine the performance of the strategy. This can be accomplished through the use of software like Excel or MATLAB.
Executing the Strategy
An execution system provides a list of trades generated by the strategy and as implemented by the broker. There are a few factors to think about when executing the technique like brokerage, transaction costs, and performance. In doing so, always keep in mind that the means should be quantifiable.
The goal of strategy execution systems is to link brokerage to automation. Then, it should also lead to lowering of transaction costs, which include training and commissions.
Risk Management
Risk is and has always been a part of brokerage. It includes everything that may trigger losses like technology risks and brokerage losses.
One trade secret that veteran traders do is creating pre- and post-trade checks. It would provide stock security while keeping everything in check. Of course, it would still depend on the skills and capital of the quant.
Bear in mind that the loss can also come from one’s cognitive capability. Failure is always a part of trading, and traders should develop a healthy heart to prevent discouragement.
Creating and developing trading strategies for profit can be challenging. For others who always experience success, there is a risk of complete independence on the policy.
