Ultimate Algorithmic Trading System Toolbox + Website

The accessible, beneficial guide to developing algorithmic trading solutions

The Ultimate Algorithmic Trading System Toolbox is the complete package savvy investors have been looking for. An integration of explanation and tutorial, this guide takes you from utter novice to out-the-door trading solution as you learn the tools and techniques of the trade. You'll explore the broad spectrum of today's technological offerings, and use several to develop trading ideas using the provided source code and the author's own library, and get practical advice on popular software packages including TradeStation, TradersStudio, MultiCharts, Excel, and more. You'll stop making repetitive mistakes as you learn to recognize which paths you should not go down, and you'll discover that you don't need to be a programmer to take advantage of the latest technology. The companion website provides up-to-date TradeStation code, Excel spreadsheets, and instructional video, and gives you access to the author himself to help you interpret and implement the included algorithms.

Algorithmic system trading isn't really all that new, but the technology that lets you program, evaluate, and implement trading ideas is rapidly evolving. This book helps you take advantage of these new capabilities to develop the trading solution you've been looking for.

• Exploit trading technology without a computer science degree

• Evaluate different trading systems' strengths and weaknesses

• Stop making the same trading mistakes over and over again

• Develop a complete trading solution using provided source code and libraries

New technology has enabled the average trader to easily implement their ideas at very low cost, breathing new life into systems that were once not viable. If you're ready to take advantage of the new trading environment but don't know where to start, The Ultimate Algorithmic Trading System Toolbox will help you get on board quickly and easily.

Autorentext

GEORGE PRUITT is director of research for Futures Truth Magazine. In addition to coding more than 1,000 different trading methodologies, he has written for Futures, ActiveTrader, and SFO Magazine, had his research published by The Wall Street Journal and Barron's, and coauthored The Ultimate Trading Guide and Building Winning Trading Systems with TradeStation.

Klappentext
Technological advances now enable the average trader to easily implement their ideas at very low cost, which has breathed new life into trading systems that were once impractical. If you're ready to create state-of-the-art algorithms based on your trading ideas but don't know where to start, The Ultimate Algorithmic Trading System Toolbox is your key to writing flawless codes quickly and easily. Through an accessible, in-depth exploration of a broad spectrum of the most up-to-date, readily available testing and trading platforms, this turnkey resource gives you all the knowledge and tools you need to go from theory to practice to profits. You don't need any programming experience to program, evaluate, and implement your original trading ideas thanks to the author's illustrative guidance, seasoned advice on today's most popular software packages, and source code from his own library. A wealth of trading systems are presented inside, many from idea to "out-the-door" solution, but it will be up to you to piece together your own ultimate trading system with the tools provided. Specifically written to be a valuable tool to keep at your side while hammering out the algorithms for boundless success in today's markets, this dependable toolbox gives you:

• Practical advice and expert tips for getting the most out of platforms such as TradeStation, TradersStudio, MultiCharts, Excel, and more
• Handy appendices with sample codes, keywords, data access, and more to save you time building your algorithms
• A companion website with the latest TradeStation code, Excel spreadsheets, instructional videos, and access to the author for guidance interpreting and implementing algorithms Give your trading ideas the chance they deserve with accurate back testing, proper optimization, and The Ultimate Algorithmic Trading System Toolbox.

Inhalt
About the author ix

Introduction to the Ultimate Algorithmic Trading Systems Toolbox xiii

Chapter 1 Introduction to Trading: Algorithm Development 1

What Is an Algorithm? 1

How to Get My Trading Idea into Pseudocode 12

Summary 23

Chapter 2 Stochastics and Averages and RSI! Oh, My! 25

Oscillators 26

Price-Based Indicators 58

Summary 75

Chapter 3 Complete Trading Algorithms 77

Trend-Trading Battle Royale 86

Portfolio Composition 100

Multi-Algorithm Strategy (MAS) 108

Summary 112

Chapter 4 Introduction to AmiBroker's AFL 113

Quick Start 113

Price Bar Interface 118

AFL Array Programming 120

Syntax 129

AFL Wizard 133

AmiBroker Loop Programming 139

Summary 140

Chapter 5 Using Microsoft Excel to Backtest Your Algorithm 145

VBA Functions and Subroutines 147

Data 148

Software Structure 149

Programming Environment 154

Summary 163

Chapter 6 Using Python to Backtest Your Algorithm 167

Why Python? 167

Python Installation 169

PSB Installation 169

PSB Structure 171

Getting Down to Business 193

Summary 202

Chapter 7 An Introduction To Easy language 203

TradeStation IDE 204

Syntax 209

Samples of Easy Language 221

Summary 224

Chapter 8 Genetic Optimization, Walk Forward, and Monte Carlo Start Trade Analysis 227

Utilizing TradeStation and AmiBroker 227

Computers, Evolution, and Problem Solving 230

Population 231

Initial Population Setup Using VBA Excel 232

Testing Fitness of Chromosomes Using VBA Excel 232

Selection 233

Reproduction 238

Mutation 240

Using Genetic Algorithms in Trading System Development 243

Preventing Over-Curve-Fitting 247

Walk-Forward Optimizer: Is It Worth the Extra Work and Time? 249

Monte Carlo Analysis 258

Start Trade Drawdown 264

Summary 269

Chapter 9 An Introduction to Portfolio Maestro, Money Management, and Portfolio Analysis 271

Fixed Fractional 272

Portfolio Maestro 272

Summary 290

Appendix A AmiBroker 293

Keywords 293

Flow Control Structures 294

Functions 295

Utilizing Exploration for Debugging 295

Position Sizing in Futures Mode 298

Appendix B Excel System Backtester 301

Data Arrays 301

Keywords 302

Functions and Subroutines 302

Appendix C Python System Backtester 309

Data Arrays or Lists 309

Keywords and Identifiers 310

Classes 310

Indicator Classes and Functions 315

Python-Specific Keywords 320

Appendix D Tradestation and Easy language 323

Importing ELD file from Book Website 323

Keywords and Functions 324

Sample Algorithm Codes 325

Appendix E 335

About the Companion Website 337

Index 339