Access to unlimited historical data

Discussion in 'Data Sets and Feeds' started by Xenomorph, Jun 10, 2016.

  1. I followed the career of a trader named Jaffray Woodriff who was outlined in one of the 'Market Wizards' books. His story was interesting to me because he is still using the same system he developed in college. Just before graduating college he related that he had a eureka moment and backtested for 2 days without sleep on his school's computers. The trading system he created then is essentially the automated trading system he still uses today to make around 100 million a year in commissions.

    However, his story had some bumps in the road. Trading live did not work out so well for him initially and after a few years he took a job at a trading firm. He worked at the firm until he hammered out the bugs in his system.

    Here's my theory. I think while working at the firm he had unlimited access to probably well over a hundred thousand dollars worth of historical data that spanned decades. Using this resource he was able to find the flaws in his system and get firing on all eight cylinders. Then he left his job and most likely took a copy of their data with him. Of course, it didn't take long after that before he was able to buy his own data.
     
  2. I don't follow. What's the moral of this story and the purpose of this thread?
     
    mjl13, Laissez Faire and userque like this.
  3. You can't figure that out?
     
  4. conduit

    conduit

    I can't figure it out either. You make some dangerous insinuations without any factual backup, to the degree of accusing someone of stealing data. If your point was that historical data is the key to success then how you presented your point is very poor aside the fact that most would probably disagree with you anyway.

     
    mjl13 likes this.
  5. Yawn.
     
  6. Handle123

    Handle123

    I don't understand this part.

    "The trading system he created then is essentially the automated trading system he still uses today to make around 100 million a year in commissions."

    So he is looking to make nothing on the trade but provide liquidity to earn back rebates that will pay more than what he pays in commissions?
     
    K-Pia and nonlinear5 like this.
  7. He is in charge of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund.
     
  8. How does that answer Handle123's question?
     
  9. He earns performance fees ('commissions') on the profits of his fund.
     
  10. Handle123

    Handle123

    Whereas if he traded for himself he would earn 100%.
     
    #10     Jun 11, 2016