How Does Systematic Trading Work?
A trader or investor looking to apply this approach to their investment strategy has to first define what the goal for their systematic approach is. To explain this process more efficiently, let's look at setting up a systematic trading strategy aimed at replicating a certain index, including stocks and futures, from high-liquidity markets. Trading systematically in this instance may look like this:
- Use fundamental analysis to determine worthwhile futures and stocks.
- Identify a strategy to approximate your chosen index by analyzing stocks, futures, and the index, as well as correlations between them.
- Specify the strategy with real-time market data.
- Backtest the approach, including costs and risk controls.
- Apply your strategy, continuously control risk, and use an algorithm to identify optimal trading opportunities.
Naturally, this example is highly simplified. In the real world, systematic, algorithmic, and quantitative approaches are much more differentiated and feature a wide range of factors and rules-based components much too complex to explain in detail here.
Backtesting means exactly what the name suggests: After setting up a systematic trading strategy, the trader feeds the program historical data to check how well the algorithm does. The results show how the strategy would have held its own in this historical market simulation. It is effectively a "fantasy football"-style beta test for the algorithm, before a trader ventures into live trading with their new strategy. It prevents a systematic trader from potentially losing significant amounts of money and assets by using an untested algorithm in an actual market situation. However, backtesting results do not guarantee a strategy that will rake in profits in a live market situation.
Sophisticated Alternative Investments Aren’t Just for Institutions Anymore
Which Assets Can Be Traded Systematically?
Equity, ETFs, cash bonds, options, futures, swaps – the list goes on and on. Basically, there are no asset classes which don't offer an opportunity to apply an approach based on system and trading rules. You can choose to apply high-frequency trading (HFT) principles or hold on to the assets forever. There are hardly any boundaries that could restrict you when constructing your portfolio and choosing an appropriate short-term or long-term strategy.
CARL has identified hedge funds as a perfect investment instrument to apply quantitative trading methods to. With our sophisticated strategies, you have complete control over all of your investments, you benefit from monthly liquidity, and you can expect 15%+ targeted returns.
Quant Hedge Funds and Systematic Trading – Are They the Same Thing?
To a certain extent, quantitative and systematic trading sound extremely similar: They rely on a fixed set of trading rules and logic to follow, which determine their trading behavior. However, systematic trading systems stick to their plan while traders make the investments automatically or manually. This manual approach to investment is one main difference when compared to investing using quant trading approaches. Over time, quant trading has developed into computational trading using algorithm-based models.
The other big difference is the foundation that the trader uses for their unique strategy. The quantitative approach is based on vast collections of data and analysis from various sources, such as form data mining or fundamental and statistical data. The human element is cut out of the process entirely. An investor is responsible for picking a particular strategy. Everything that follows, like analyzing and putting in trading orders, is done by the chosen quantitative strategies.
How Algorithmic Trading Enters the Picture
Quantitative trading strategies are a subset of algorithmic trading. Your systematic approach is put into a computer program to create an algorithm. The algorithm then checks your pre-defined market environment, such as a specific section of the stock market, from the perspective of your pre-defined trading rules. The system then provides the investor or trader with output that notifies them of opportunities to invest, buying or selling specific assets. Depending on the coding skills of the programmer, the buying-selling aspect of the algorithm may be automated, as well.
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Systematic Trading – More Sophisticated With Carl
A systematic strategy is a good starting point for achieving financial growth and stability. However, CARL has combined systematic trading with quantitative research and automated methods to maximize your returns. Our approach yields a wide range of quantitative hedge fund strategies for you to choose from. Set up your account with CARL today and find an optimal game plan for investing that fits your level of acceptable risk as well as your financial goals.