Algorithmic Trading
Build and deploy automated trading systems that trade 24/7
Popular Algorithmic Strategies
Mean Reversion
Trade assets returning to average price
Implementation:
- 1.Calculate rolling mean and standard deviation
- 2.Enter when price > 2 SD from mean
- 3.Exit at mean or opposite band
- 4.Use Bollinger Bands or Z-score
Details:
- Markets:Stocks, ETFs, Forex pairs
- Timeframe:Minutes to days
- Win Rate:55-65%
Momentum Trading
Follow strong directional moves
Implementation:
- 1.Calculate rate of change or RSI
- 2.Enter on momentum breakout
- 3.Use trailing stops
- 4.Filter with volume confirmation
Details:
- Markets:Stocks, Crypto, Futures
- Timeframe:Hours to weeks
- Win Rate:40-50%
Arbitrage
Exploit price differences across markets
Implementation:
- 1.Monitor price across exchanges
- 2.Calculate profit after fees
- 3.Execute simultaneous trades
- 4.Manage execution risk
Details:
- Markets:Crypto, Forex, Stocks
- Timeframe:Milliseconds to minutes
- Win Rate:80-95%
Market Making
Provide liquidity, capture spreads
Implementation:
- 1.Quote bid and ask prices
- 2.Manage inventory risk
- 3.Adjust spreads dynamically
- 4.Handle adverse selection
Details:
- Markets:All liquid markets
- Timeframe:Continuous
- Win Rate:51-55%
Statistical Arbitrage
Trade correlated asset pairs
Implementation:
- 1.Find cointegrated pairs
- 2.Calculate spread z-score
- 3.Trade spread mean reversion
- 4.Dynamic hedge ratios
Details:
- Markets:Stocks, ETFs, Futures
- Timeframe:Days to weeks
- Win Rate:60-70%
Machine Learning
AI-powered predictions
Implementation:
- 1.Feature engineering
- 2.Train models (RF, XGBoost, LSTM)
- 3.Cross-validation
- 4.Walk-forward analysis
Details:
- Markets:All markets
- Timeframe:Any
- Win Rate:Varies
Programming Languages for Algo Trading
Python
Pros:
- • Easy to learn
- • Rich libraries
- • Great for research
Cons:
- • Slower execution
- • GIL limitations
Libraries: pandas, numpy, backtrader, zipline, scikit-learn
Best for: Research, backtesting, ML
C++
Pros:
- • Fastest execution
- • Low latency
- • Hardware control
Cons:
- • Complex
- • Longer development
Libraries: QuickFIX, QuantLib, Boost
Best for: HFT, market making
Java
Pros:
- • Fast
- • Reliable
- • Enterprise ready
Cons:
- • Verbose
- • Memory overhead
Libraries: JQuantLib, AlgoTrader, Marketcetera
Best for: Institutional trading
JavaScript/Node
Pros:
- • Async
- • Web integration
- • Real-time
Cons:
- • Not traditional
- • Limited libraries
Libraries: ccxt, technicalindicators, gekko
Best for: Crypto trading, web apps
Algorithm Development Workflow
Strategy Development
- Define trading rules
- Research market behavior
- Code initial algorithm
- Handle edge cases
Backtesting
- Historical data collection
- Simulate trades
- Calculate performance metrics
- Optimize parameters
Risk Management
- Position sizing rules
- Stop loss implementation
- Portfolio allocation
- Drawdown limits
Paper Trading
- Live data connection
- Simulated execution
- Performance tracking
- Bug identification
Live Trading
- Start with small size
- Monitor continuously
- Log all activity
- Scale gradually
Monitoring & Maintenance
- Performance analysis
- System health checks
- Market regime detection
- Strategy updates
Algorithmic Trading Platforms
Platform | Type | Markets | Language | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
MetaTrader 4/5 | Retail | Forex, CFDs | MQL4/5 | Free platform |
NinjaTrader | Professional | Futures, Forex | C# | $60-1000/month |
QuantConnect | Cloud-based | Stocks, Options, Crypto | C#, Python | Free to $200/month |
Interactive Brokers API | Broker API | All markets | Multiple | Free with account |
TradingView | Web-based | All markets | Pine Script | $15-60/month |
Custom Solution | Self-hosted | Any | Any | Infrastructure costs |
Infrastructure Requirements
Data Feed
Options: Polygon.io, Alpha Vantage, Yahoo Finance, Exchange APIs
Importance: Critical - garbage in, garbage out
Execution
Options: Broker APIs, FIX protocol, Direct market access
Importance: Speed and reliability crucial
Compute
Options: Local server, Cloud (AWS, GCP), VPS
Importance: Depends on strategy frequency
Database
Options: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, InfluxDB, Redis
Importance: Store historical data and state
Monitoring
Options: Grafana, Custom dashboards, Alerts
Importance: Prevent disasters, track performance
Common Algo Trading Pitfalls
Technical Pitfalls
- • Overfitting to historical data
- • Look-ahead bias in backtesting
- • Ignoring transaction costs
- • Not handling edge cases
- • Poor error handling
Business Pitfalls
- • Inadequate risk management
- • Insufficient capital
- • Market regime changes
- • Regulatory compliance
- • Technology failures
Getting Started with Algo Trading
1. Learn
Programming & markets
2. Strategy
Develop trading logic
3. Backtest
Validate historically
4. Paper Trade
Test live without risk
5. Go Live
Start small & scale