I haven't found a trading platform that allows me to calculate the odds of a trade based on time of day. I'd love to know the odds of a trade at 3:30 pm if what I'm following is up 50 bps for the day. Same deal for midday: what are the odds of breaking out of the lull between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm? Is there a trading platform that lets me summarize statistically historical time of day patterns (opening gap, midday lull, market close) and helps set the odds for a trade? I'm looking for high-level native functionality built into the software.
It's hard for me to believe there isn't an application testing the probabilities of setups and time of day trades.
Last hours trading - a few minutes work! If you want to do anything right, always do it yourself! J_S
What are the few minutes work you're suggesting? I'm looking for historical odds going back five or ten years. The market close IS relatively easy to analyze, as is the midday lull. But hard to say that about opening gaps and the many intraday permutations one meets along the way.
Historical data is of limited value, which is why the all have to say... "past performance is not indicative of future results" You will get many sites that will sell you information, in many formats, and I am sure you will get what you want if you look for it, and pay enough. Not sure if it will do you any good though, you will only find that out yourself. FWIW, I think you are on the right track in relation to "time", but you might be going the complete wrong way about it, as looking to buy a "system" that will make you money, is like looking for the "golden goose"! What you want can be done, using Excel and relevant data sources, but again, I truly believe it will be wasted time and money. If you want to ask someone who has done a lot with data and automation, ask Handle123. J_S
I'm not looking for a trading system. What I want is an odds and payoff calculator for well-defined trading oppts. Points taken but the behavior around the midday lull, after a pronounced run-up, is undeniably ingrained. Greatly appreciate the heads up on Handle123!
If you want to make some real money, then look at the open only - many stay away as they think it is too volatile, but when trading for big money, volatility is your best friend. You are correct - the trading day has 3 key time periods, which is very easily identifiable by using charts, so, why do you think you need years of data? I think most people over complicate trading, but everyone to their own, as one should never let what others do concern one. You have not said anything about your objective and approach - as they will determine your requirements - which you might have worked out already? J_S
One bit of advice. As you embark on your journey of discovery, think of Dan Brown, as trading has many similarities with his famous book. Very clever man, Dan! J_S
Probably don't need years of data but a longer history is a corrective to the last twenty trading days. But once you set conditions on a price move - up 30, 40, 50, 75 bps before the close - you need a lot of data to fill the hoppers. I come from a quant sales background - DRI, BARRA, StarMine - and sold stock selection models for the last ten years - Haugen model, IQS. I daytrade futures and I'm trying to get a grip on the time of day patterns I've mentioned.