Pair Trading Strategy Journal

Discussion in 'Journals' started by jonnysharp, Aug 18, 2008.

  1. BD1

    BD1

    coreed I am not sure if you are understanding what I am doing. I am sticking to the system and trying to make this as mechanical as possible and maximizing the profit potential of each pair. This is just a nuance of the P&L math of the ratio over time. If you look at the slope of the MA line in the chart I attached I exited this trade when the ratio was at 1.18 which is lower than the MA is at anytime tomorrow. So I locked in a profit higher than the MA line for tomorrow. I only do this when the MA line is sloping up/down like this. When the line is sloping the P&L at the MA line is changing everyday.

    I have always thought a nice upgrade to PTF would show the P&L in the future along the MA line. I just calc it manually like I said looking ahead one day. If I can lock in a higher profit today than is actually possible tomorrow just following the MA line then I do it. It's a very mechanical process.

    Yes GS could upgrade the long (but they could also upgrade the short). This system is about mean reversion with no news hitting the pairs which of course you know. Waiting for an upgrade/downgrade is not part of the system. (Actually with the upward trend of the market over the past year with more upgrades vs downgrades, many of my losing trades have occurred with shorts getting upgraded in the middle of a trade. Upgrades to the longs have not offset this during this trend, at least for me).

    When I exit like this I track the P&L difference when PTF gives the exit signal and for the past 8 months this has increased my P&L on well over 80% of the trades. Mechanically it has to increase the P&L except for gaps well beyond the MA line.
     
    #1961     Mar 16, 2010
  2. Thanks Davidg29. Much appreciated. I am going to do what you have suggested. I have got too many shares uploaded-s&p 500, Nasdaq 100, FTSE100 . I get too many buy/sell signals and even it is so difficult to spot the exit signal when it comes. Is there an easy way to find exit signal for the trade you have done.

    Can you suggest what shares I should enter and clear the vast population I have created. Thanks again.
     
    #1962     Mar 17, 2010
  3. coreed

    coreed

    You're right BD1. I jumped the gun. Posted without considering all the facts. You have a proven methodology that works for you as your posted track record shows.
     
    #1963     Mar 17, 2010
  4. new trades this morning

    long bbt / short snv
    long sfg / short afl
    long eca / short kwk
    long eat/ short jack
     
    #1964     Mar 17, 2010
  5. coreed

    coreed

    Sold IP @ 26.64 (6.3%)
    Covered SPP @ 4.41 (-1.85%)

    Sold FCS @ 10.6 (4.33%)
    Covered CY @ 12.36 (-.41%)

    16 trades posted to forum:

    13 wins
    3 losses
     
    #1965     Mar 17, 2010
  6. coreed

    coreed

    Sold DLX @ 20.26 (4.33%)
    Covered HPY @ 17.85 (-2.65%)

    17 Trades posted to forum

    14 wins
    3 losses
     
    #1966     Mar 18, 2010
  7. coreed

    coreed

    New Trade: NYSE Gold Producers

    Bought GG @ 39.99
    Sold AU @ 39.08
     
    #1967     Mar 18, 2010
  8. coreed

    coreed

    Sold NOV @ 43.10 (-2.99%)
    Covered FTI @ 61.18 (-1.61%)

    18 trades posted to forum

    14 wins
    4 losses
     
    #1968     Mar 19, 2010
  9. Thanks for posting your trades. Please continue. I am papertrading them as well.
     
    #1969     Mar 19, 2010
  10. Magnas

    Magnas

    I was travelling and didn’t have access to internet. That is why I missed few exit signals. I have closed following trades today (all numbers based on 10000 investment, no commission):

    AMR – DAL for profit 651.55 USD
    DFG – MET for profit 462.93 USD
    EGLE – ESEA for profit 846.56 USD

    Still holding following pairs:

    DRQ – NOV
    BEAV – GD
    AMB – PLD
    BR – LPS (this one had already profitable exit, but I missed it).

    Stats:
    Opened pairs so far: 8
    Closed for profit: 4
    Closed for loss: 0

    M.
     
    #1970     Mar 19, 2010