current symbols vs backtesting symbols from a scan

Coming from Futures backtesting/optimising, I find doing it for stocks quite harder.
Beside many reasons, symbols change for every scan and different symbols at diff time

I have NinjaTrader andf Multicharts which allows me to get datafeed for only 100 symbols and 500 symbosl for extra fee, but how can I scan
Nasdaq, which has 2700 stocks

Here are my 2 questions

What backtest software you all use for stocks? And how do you manage the limitation of 500 symbols

If I did backtest on a setup like RSI2 for the last 1 year, and it gave about 200 symbols it traded in the last year and when I scan now,
the symbols are diff, so how would the backtest results of the symbols from last year be beneficial to evaluate the symbols scan give me now

 

http://www.finviz.com/ perhaps

 

I know finviz.com very well but not sure what you trying to say about it
can you be detailed

 

Finviz and Morningstar let's me get around the 500 symbol limitations or anything that requires broad filters. ie. industry, capitalization, valuation, volatility. This generates watchlists of less than 100.

These narrowed watchlists can then be continously scanned within the 100 symbol limit...at lower frequencies....daily, weekly etc.

I take it you want realtime, all the time? If not, you just need to break down your sets with more pre-filters or pony up for higher data limits.

 

Thanks for details
but I screen by technical analysis, like example RSI2 or 200MA and a Pullback, and I think Morningstar has only fundamental stuff and finviz is better but cant do much backtest

no, i dont need real time data to do this test, i need historical data for atleast two years

 

That's fine. Even with technical analysis, you could have highly correlated stocks in a sector performing the same patterns. Surely, there are other ways to narrow your list. I am not being argumentative by the way. Just trying to stir up your creative juices in finding a solution.

Hopefully, somebody comes up with a real good solution for you. Btw, ActiveTick has a complete platform but you will have to program in Javascript. They have a live chat at their website.

 

thks and appreciate that. so if you find correlated stocks, how do you filter and minimise the #. pl give some example if you can

 

An example would be:

5-10 most volatile stocks as measured by vol/ATR within each of the ETF SPDRS. You can whip this up in Excel and internet downloads. This example ensures:

1) You have big movers to maximize your capital.
2) Benefits of diversification

On a separate note but regarding your 200MA and RSI2 indicators, stockcharts might have something for you to prescreen and send email alerts. Then, you can refresh your platform watchlist list by hand.

 

ok, thks. I have seen stockchats, but I use TC2000 which can do scan and email alerts. But both can not do backtest

 

@DTorSwing Which historical data are you needing exactly to do your backtesting? Tick, bar (what resolution)?