Cross Correlation [Kioseff Trading]Hello!
This script "Cross Correlation" calculates up to ~10,000 lag-symbol pair cross correlation values simultaneously!
Cross correlation calculation for 20 symbols simultaneously
+/- Lag Range is theoretically infinite (configurable min/max)
Practically, calculate up to 10000 lag-symbol pairs
Results can be sorted by greatest absolute difference or greatest sum
Ability to "isolate" the symbol on your chart and check for cross correlation against a list of symbols
Script defaults to stock pairs when on a stock, Forex pairs when on a Forex pair, crypto when on a crypto coin, futures when on a futures contract.
A custom symbol list can be used for cross correlation checking
Can check any number of available historical data points for cross correlation
Practical Assessment
Ideally, we can calculate cross correlation to determine if, in a list of assets, any of the assets frequently lead or lag one another.
Example
Say we are comparing the log returns for the previous 10 days for SPY and XLU.
*A single time-interval corresponds to the timeframe of your chart i.e. 1-minute chart = 1-minute time interval. We're using days for this example.
(Example Results)
A lag value (k) +/-3 is used.
The cross correlation (normalized) for k = +3 is -0.787
The cross correlation (normalized) for k = -3 is 0.216
A positive "k" value indicates the correlation when Asset A (SPY) leads Asset B (XLU)
A negative "k" value indicates the correlation when Asset B (XLU) leads Asset A (SPY)
A normalized cross correlation of -0.787 for k = +3 indicates an "adequately strong" negative relationship when SPY leads XLU by 3 days.
When SPY increases or decreases - XLU frequently moves in the opposite direction 3 days later.
A cross correlation value of 0.216 at k = −3 indicates a "weak" positive correlation when XLU leads SPY by 3 days.
There's a slight tendency for SPY to move in the same direction as XLU 3 days later.
After the cross-correlation score is normalized it will fall between -1 and 1.
A cross-correlation score of 1 indicates a perfect directional relationship between asset A and asset B at the corresponding lag (k).
A cross correlation of -1 indicates a perfect inverse relationship between asset A and asset B at the corresponding lag (k).
A cross correlation of 0 indicates no correlation at the corresponding lag (k).
The image above shows the primary usage for the script!
The image above further explains the data points located in the table!
The image above shows the script "isolating" the symbol on my chart and checking the cross correlation between the symbol and a list of symbols!
Wrapping Up
With this information, hopefully you can find some meaningful lead-lag relationships amongst assets!
Thank you for checking this out (:
Cerca negli script per "spy"
relative performanceThis indicator is built to mesure the performance of a stock vs the index of choice. it is best use for the intraday session because it doesn't take gap into account when doing the calculation. This is how i made my math (using AAPL compared to SPY for simplicity)
(change AAPL / ATR AAPL) - (change SPY / ATR SPY) * beta factor * volume factor
change is calculated open to close for each candle instead of close to close. this is why gap does not affect the calculation
blue columns is an instant snap shot of the RP
red and green columns is the moving average of the blue columns
limit is the max value for the blue line when ploting them on the chart but doesn't affect the calculation
option:
indice: default with SPY but could use any stock
moving average choice: let you choose between EMA or SMA green and red columns
rolling average length : number of bar for the moving average
I made an auto adjust for the 5 min chart and the 2 min chart so you can swithc between both chart and have the same average (default value set to 6x 5min and 15x 2 min, giving you the average of the last 30min)
volume weighing let you choose if you want a volume factor or not. volume factor is only going to multiplie the result of the price move. it cannot move it from positive to negative.
this is the calculation
(volume AAPL / volume SMA AAPL) / (volume SPY / volume sma SPY)
meaning that a higher volume on the thicker compared to it's sma while having a lower volume on SPY will give you a big relative performance.
you can choose the number of bar in the average for the volume.
BETA factor work the same way that the volume factor does. you got to manualy enter your beta. default is set to 1.5
table
top line : blue square is you RP value (same has the blue columns bar) and your reference thicker
middle line : pourcentage move from the open (9:30 open) for your stock on the left and the reference on the right
bottom line : beta on the left and volume factor on the right
feel free to ask question or give modification idea!
Copy/Paste LevelsCopy/Paste Levels allows levels to be pasted onto your chart from a properly formatted source.
This tool streamlines the process of adding lines to your chart, and sharing lines from your chart.
More than one ticker at a time!
This indicator will only draw lines on charts it has values for!
This means you can input levels for every ticker you need all at once, one time, and only be displayed the levels for the current chart you are looking at. When you switch tickers, the levels for that ticker will display. (Assuming you have levels entered for that ticker)
The formatting is as follows:
Ticker,Color,Style,Width,Lvl1,Lvl2,Lvl3;
Ticker - Any ticker on Tradingview can be used in the field
Color - Available colors are: Red,Orange,Yellow,Green,Blue,Purple,White,Black,Gray
Style - Available styles are: Solid,Dashed,Dotted
Width - This can be any negative integer, ex.(-1,-2,-3,-4,-5)
Lvls - These can be any positive number (decimals allowed)
Semi-Colons separate sections, each section contains enough information to create at least 1 line.
Each additional level added within the same section will have the same styling parameters as the other levels in the section.
Example:
2 solid lines colored red with a thickness of 2 on QQQ, 1 at $300 and 1 at $400.
QQQ,RED,SOLID,-2,300,400;
IMPORTANT MUST READ!!!
Remember to not include any spaces between commas and the entries in each field!
ex. ; QQQ, red, dotted, -1, 325; <- Wrong
ex. ;QQQ,red,dotted,-1,325;)<- Right
However,
All fields must be filled out, to use default values in the fields, insert a space between the commas.
ex. ;QQQ,red,dotted,,325; <- Wrong
ex. ;QQQ,red,dotted, ,325; <- Right
While spaces can not be included line breaks can!
I recommend for easier typing and viewing to include a line break for each new line (if changing styling or ticker)
Example:
2 solid lines, one red at $300, one green at $400, both default width. Written in a single line AND using multiple lines, both give the same output.
QQQ,red,solid, ,300;QQQ,green,solid, ,400;
or
QQQ,red,solid, ,300;
QQQ,green,solid, ,400;
In this following screenshot you can see more examples of different formatting variations.
The textbox contains exactly what is pasted into the settings input box.
As you can see, capitalization does not matter.
Default Values:
Color = optimal contrast color, If this field is filled in with a space it will display the optimal contrast color of the users background.
Style = solid
Width = -1
More Examples:
Multi-Ticker: drawing 3 lines at $300, all default values, on 3 different tickers
SPY, , , ,300;QQQ, , , ,300;AAPL, , , ,300
or
SPY, , , ,300;
QQQ, , , ,300;
AAPL, , , ,300
Multiple levels: There is no limit* to the number of levels that can be included within 1 section.
* only TV default line limit per indicator (500)
This will be 4 lines all with the same styling at different values on 2 separate tickers.
SPY,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;QQQ,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400
or
SPY,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;
QQQ,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400
Semi-colons must separate sections, but are not required at the beginning or end, it makes no difference if they are or are not added.
SPY,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;
QQQ,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400
==
SPY,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;
QQQ,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;
==
;SPY,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;
QQQ,BLUE,SOLID,-2,100,200,300,400;
All the above output the same results.
Hope this is helpful for people,
Enjoy!
Triad Macro Gauge__________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Triad Macro Gauge (TMG) is designed to provide traders with a comprehensive view of the macroeconomic environment impacting financial markets. By synthesizing three critical market signals— VIX (volatility) , Credit Spreads (credit risk) , and the Stocks/Bonds Ratio (SPY/TLT) —this indicator offers a probabilistic assessment of market sentiment, helping traders identify bullish or bearish macro conditions.
Holistic Macro Analysis: Combines three distinct macroeconomic indicators for multi-dimensional insights.
Customization & Flexibility: Adjust weights, thresholds, lookback periods, and visualization styles.
Visual Clarity: Dynamic table, color-coded plots, and anomaly markers for quick interpretation.
Fully Consistent Scores: Identical values across all timeframes (4H, daily, weekly).
Actionable Signals: Clear bull/bear thresholds and volatility spike detection.
Optimized for timeframes ranging from 4 hour to 1 week , the TMG equips swing traders and long-term investors with a robust tool to navigate macroeconomic trends.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Key Indicators
__________________________________________________________________________________
VIX (CBOE:VIX): Measures market volatility (negatively weighted for bearish signals).
Credit Spreads (FRED:BAMLH0A0HYM2EY): Tracks high-yield bond spreads (negatively weighted).
Stocks/Bonds Ratio (SPY/TLT): Evaluates equity sentiment relative to treasuries (positively weighted).
__________________________________________________________________________________
Originality and Purpose
__________________________________________________________________________________
The TMG stands out by combining VIX, Credit Spreads, and SPY/TLT into a single, cohesive indicator. Its unique strength lies in its fully consistent scores across all timeframes, a critical feature for multi-timeframe analysis.
Purpose: To empower traders with a clear, actionable tool to:
Assess macro conditions
Spot market extremes
Anticipate reversals
__________________________________________________________________________________
How It Works
__________________________________________________________________________________
VIX Z-Score: Measures volatility deviations (inverted for bearish signals).
Credit Z-Score: Tracks credit spread deviations (inverted for bearish signals).
Ratio Z-Score: Assesses SPY/TLT strength (positively weighted for bullish signals).
TMG Score: Weighted composite of z-scores (bullish > +0.30, bearish < -0.30).
Anomaly Detection: Identifies extreme volatility spikes (z-score > 3.0).
All calculations are performed using daily data, ensuring that scores remain consistent across all chart timeframes.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Visualization & Interpretation
__________________________________________________________________________________
The script visualizes data through:
A dynamic table displaying TMG Score , VIX Z, Credit Z, Ratio Z, and Anomaly status, with color gradients (green for positive, red for negative, gray for neutral/N/A).
A plotted TMG Score in Area, Histogram, or Line mode , with adaptive opacity for clarity.
Bull/Bear thresholds as horizontal lines (+0.30/-0.30) to signal market conditions.
Anomaly markers (orange circles) for volatility spikes.
Crossover signals (triangles) for bull/bear threshold crossings.
The table provides an immediate snapshot of macro conditions, while the plot offers a visual trend analysis. All values are consistent across timeframes, simplifying multi-timeframe analysis.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Script Parameters
__________________________________________________________________________________
Extensive customization options:
Symbol Selection: Customize VIX, Credit Spreads, SPY, TLT symbols
Core Parameters: Adjust lookback periods, weights, smoothing
Anomaly Detection: Enable/disable with custom thresholds
Visual Style: Choose display modes and colors
__________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Triad Macro Gauge by Ox_kali is a cutting-edge tool for analyzing macroeconomic trends. By integrating VIX, Credit Spreads, and SPY/TLT, TMG provides traders with a clear, consistent, and actionable gauge of market sentiment.
Recommended for: Swing traders and long-term investors seeking to navigate macro-driven markets.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Credit & Inspiration
__________________________________________________________________________________
Special thanks to Caleb Franzen for his pioneering work on macroeconomic indicator blends – his research directly inspired the core framework of this tool.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Notes & Disclaimer
__________________________________________________________________________________
This is the initial public release (v2.5.9). Future updates may include additional features based on user feedback.
Please note that the Triad Macro Gauge is not a guarantee of future market performance and should be used with proper risk management. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Sector/Industry Relative StrengthOverview
The Sector/Industry Relative Strength (RS) Indicator is a powerful tool designed to help traders and investors analyze the performance of sectors and industries relative to the broader market (SPY). It provides real-time insights into sector and industry strength, helping you identify leading and lagging areas of the market.
Key Features
Sector and Industry Analysis:
Automatically detects the sector and industry of the current symbol.
Displays the corresponding sector and industry ETF.
Relative Strength (STS) Calculation:
Calculates the Sector/Industry Trend Strength (STS) by comparing the sector or industry ETF to SPY over the past 20 days.
STS is expressed as a percentile (0-100), indicating how strong the sector/industry ETF has been relative to SPY over the past 20 days.
Example: An STS of 70 means that during the past 20 days, the ETF’s relative strength against SPY was stronger than 70% of those days.
Sector Rank:
Ranks the current sector ETF against a predefined list of major sector ETFs.
Highlights whether the sector is outperforming or underperforming SPY (green if outperforming, red if underperforming).
Customizable Display:
Choose which elements to display (e.g., sector, industry, ETFs, STS, sector rank).
Customize table position, size, text alignment, and colors.
Real-Time Performance:
Tracks daily price changes for sector and industry ETFs.
Displays percentage change from open to close.
How to Use
Add the Indicator:
Apply the indicator to any stock or ETF chart.
The script will automatically detect the sector and industry of the selected symbol.
Interpret the Data:
Sector/Industry: Displays the current sector and industry.
ETF: Shows the corresponding sector and industry ETF.
STS (Sector/Industry Trend Strength): A percentile score (0-100) indicating the relative strength of the sector/industry ETF compared to SPY over the past 20 days.
Sector Rank: Ranks the sector ETF against other major sectors (e.g., "3/12" means the sector is ranked 3rd out of 12).
Customize the Display:
Use the input settings to:
Show/hide specific elements (e.g., sector, industry, ETFs, STS, sector rank).
Adjust the table position, size, and text alignment.
Change colors for positive/negative changes.
Make Informed Decisions:
Use the STS score and sector rank to identify potential trading opportunities.
Focus on sectors and industries with high STS scores and strong rankings (green).
Input Parameters
Table Settings:
Table Position: Choose where to display the table (Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right).
Table Size: Adjust the size of the table (Tiny, Small, Normal, Large).
Text Color: Customize the text color.
Background Color: Set the table background color.
Display Options:
Show ETFs: Toggle the display of sector and industry ETFs.
Show STS: Toggle the display of the Sector/Industry Trend Strength (STS) score.
Show Sector/Industry: Toggle the display of sector and industry information.
Show Sector Rank: Toggle the display of the sector rank.
Parameters:
Sector Rank Time Length: Set the number of days used for calculating the sector rank (default: 20).
Example Use Cases
Sector Rotation:
Identify sectors with high STS scores and strong rankings (green) to allocate capital.
Avoid sectors with low STS scores and weak rankings (red).
Industry Analysis:
Compare the STS scores of different industries within the same sector.
Use the STS score to gauge relative strength and identify potential opportunities.
Market Timing:
Use the STS score and sector rank to time entries and exits in sector-specific ETFs.
Combine with other technical indicators for confirmation.
Bollinger Bands (Nadaraya Smoothed) | Flux ChartsTicker: AMEX:SPY , Timeframe: 1m, Indicator settings: default
General Purpose
This script is an upgrade to the classic Bollinger Bands. The idea behind Bollinger bands is the detection of price movements outside of a stock's typical fluctuations. Bollinger Bands use a moving average over period n plus/minus the standard deviation over period n times a multiplier. When price closes above or below either band this can be considered an abnormal movement. This script allows for the classic Bollinger Band interpretation while de-noising or "smoothing" the bands.
Efficacy
Ticker: AMEX:SPY , Timeframe: 1m, Indicator settings: Standard Dev: 2; Level 1 : off; Level 2: off; labels: off
Upper Band Key:
Blue: Bollinger No smoothing
Orange: Bollinger SMA smoothing period of 10
Purple: Bollinger EMA smoothing period of 10
Red: Nadaraya Smoothed Bollinger bandwidth of 6
Here we chose periods so that each would have a similar offset from the original Bollinger's. Notice that the Red Band has a much smoother result while on average having a similar fit to the other smoothing techniques. Increasing the EMA's or SMA's period would result in them being smoother however the offset would increase making them less accurate to the original data.
Ticker: AMEX:SPY , Timeframe: 1m, Indicator settings: Standard Dev: 2; Level 1: off; Level 2: off; labels: off
Upper Band Key:
Blue: Bollinger No smoothing
Orange: Bollinger SMA smoothing period of 20
Purple: Bollinger EMA smoothing period of 20
Red: Nadaraya Smoothed Bollinger bandwidth of 6
This makes the Nadaraya estimator a particularly efficacious technique in this use case as it achieves a superior smoothness to fit ratio.
How to Use
This indicator is not intended to be used on its own. Its use case is to identify outlier movements and periods of consolidation. The Smoothing Factor when lowered results in a more reactive but noisy graph. This setting is also known as the "bandwidth" ; it essentially raises the amplitude of the kernel function causing a greater weighting to recent data similar to lowering the period of a SMA or EMA. The repaint smoothing simply draws on the Bollinger's each chart update. Typically repaint would be used for processing and displaying discrete data however currently it's simply another way to display the Bollinger Bands.
What makes this script unique.
Since Bollinger bands use standard deviation they have excess noise. By noise we mean minute fluctuations which most traders will not find useful in their strategies. The Nadaraya-Watson estimator, as used, is essentially a weighted average akin to an ema. A gaussian kernel is placed at the candlestick of interest. That candlestick's value will have the highest weight. From that point the other candlesticks' values effect on the average will decrease with the slope of the kernel function. This creates a localized mean of the Bollinger Bands allowing for reduced noise with minimal distortion of the original Bollinger data.
Performance ComparatorThis indicator allows to compare the performance (% change) of a given symbol with the larger market ( AMEX:SPY ) and/or with a custom symbol, which defaults to AMEX:XLK (an ETF tracking technology companies from the S&P 500).
The performance for the current symbol is displayed as a blue histogram, while performance for the AMEX:SPY and the custom symbol are respectively displayed as orange and white lines, making it easy to spot when the symbol outperformed the market.
Features:
Configurable time resolution (default: same as chart)
Comparison using change percentage or its EMA/WMA/SMA (default: EMA)
Configurable moving average length
Optionally hide AMEX:SPY or the custom symbol from the chart
Ray Dalio's All Weather Strategy - Portfolio CalculatorTHE ALL WEATHER STRATEGY INDICATOR: A GUIDE TO RAY DALIO'S LEGENDARY PORTFOLIO APPROACH
Introduction: The Genesis of Financial Resilience
In the sprawling corridors of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund managing over 150 billion dollars in assets, Ray Dalio conceived what would become one of the most influential investment strategies of the modern era. The All Weather Strategy, born from decades of market observation and rigorous backtesting, represents a paradigm shift from traditional portfolio construction methods that have dominated Wall Street since Harry Markowitz's seminal work on Modern Portfolio Theory in 1952.
Unlike conventional approaches that chase returns through market timing or stock picking, the All Weather Strategy embraces a fundamental truth that has humbled countless investors throughout history: nobody can consistently predict the future direction of markets. Instead of fighting this uncertainty, Dalio's approach harnesses it, creating a portfolio designed to perform reasonably well across all economic environments, hence the evocative name "All Weather."
The strategy emerged from Bridgewater's extensive research into economic cycles and asset class behavior, culminating in what Dalio describes as "the Holy Grail of investing" in his bestselling book "Principles" (Dalio, 2017). This Holy Grail isn't about achieving spectacular returns, but rather about achieving consistent, risk-adjusted returns that compound steadily over time, much like the tortoise defeating the hare in Aesop's timeless fable.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION
The All Weather Strategy's origins trace back to the tumultuous economic periods of the 1970s and 1980s, when traditional portfolio construction methods proved inadequate for navigating simultaneous inflation and recession. Raymond Thomas Dalio, born in 1949 in Queens, New York, founded Bridgewater Associates from his Manhattan apartment in 1975, initially focusing on currency and fixed-income consulting for corporate clients.
Dalio's early experiences during the 1970s stagflation period profoundly shaped his investment philosophy. Unlike many of his contemporaries who viewed inflation and deflation as opposing forces, Dalio recognized that both conditions could coexist with either economic growth or contraction, creating four distinct economic environments rather than the traditional two-factor models that dominated academic finance.
The conceptual breakthrough came in the late 1980s when Dalio began systematically analyzing asset class performance across different economic regimes. Working with a small team of researchers, Bridgewater developed sophisticated models that decomposed economic conditions into growth and inflation components, then mapped historical asset class returns against these regimes. This research revealed that traditional portfolio construction, heavily weighted toward stocks and bonds, left investors vulnerable to specific economic scenarios.
The formal All Weather Strategy emerged in 1996 when Bridgewater was approached by a wealthy family seeking a portfolio that could protect their wealth across various economic conditions without requiring active management or market timing. Unlike Bridgewater's flagship Pure Alpha fund, which relied on active trading and leverage, the All Weather approach needed to be completely passive and unleveraged while still providing adequate diversification.
Dalio and his team spent months developing and testing various allocation schemes, ultimately settling on the 30/40/15/7.5/7.5 framework that balances risk contributions rather than dollar amounts. This approach was revolutionary because it focused on risk budgeting—ensuring that no single asset class dominated the portfolio's risk profile—rather than the traditional approach of equal dollar allocations or market-cap weighting.
The strategy's first institutional implementation began in 1996 with a family office client, followed by gradual expansion to other wealthy families and eventually institutional investors. By 2005, Bridgewater was managing over $15 billion in All Weather assets, making it one of the largest systematic strategy implementations in institutional investing.
The 2008 financial crisis provided the ultimate test of the All Weather methodology. While the S&P 500 declined by 37% and many hedge funds suffered double-digit losses, the All Weather strategy generated positive returns, validating Dalio's risk-balancing approach. This performance during extreme market stress attracted significant institutional attention, leading to rapid asset growth in subsequent years.
The strategy's theoretical foundations evolved throughout the 2000s as Bridgewater's research team, led by co-chief investment officers Greg Jensen and Bob Prince, refined the economic framework and incorporated insights from behavioral economics and complexity theory. Their research, published in numerous institutional white papers, demonstrated that traditional portfolio optimization methods consistently underperformed simpler risk-balanced approaches across various time periods and market conditions.
Academic validation came through partnerships with leading business schools and collaboration with prominent economists. The strategy's risk parity principles influenced an entire generation of institutional investors, leading to the creation of numerous risk parity funds managing hundreds of billions in aggregate assets.
In recent years, the democratization of sophisticated financial tools has made All Weather-style investing accessible to individual investors through ETFs and systematic platforms. The availability of high-quality, low-cost ETFs covering each required asset class has eliminated many of the barriers that previously limited sophisticated portfolio construction to institutional investors.
The development of advanced portfolio management software and platforms like TradingView has further democratized access to institutional-quality analytics and implementation tools. The All Weather Strategy Indicator represents the culmination of this trend, providing individual investors with capabilities that previously required teams of portfolio managers and risk analysts.
Understanding the Four Economic Seasons
The All Weather Strategy's theoretical foundation rests on Dalio's observation that all economic environments can be characterized by two primary variables: economic growth and inflation. These variables create four distinct "economic seasons," each favoring different asset classes. Rising growth benefits stocks and commodities, while falling growth favors bonds. Rising inflation helps commodities and inflation-protected securities, while falling inflation benefits nominal bonds and stocks.
This framework, detailed extensively in Bridgewater's research papers from the 1990s, suggests that by holding assets that perform well in each economic season, an investor can create a portfolio that remains resilient regardless of which season unfolds. The elegance lies not in predicting which season will occur, but in being prepared for all of them simultaneously.
Academic research supports this multi-environment approach. Ang and Bekaert (2002) demonstrated that regime changes in economic conditions significantly impact asset returns, while Fama and French (2004) showed that different asset classes exhibit varying sensitivities to economic factors. The All Weather Strategy essentially operationalizes these academic insights into a practical investment framework.
The Original All Weather Allocation: Simplicity Masquerading as Sophistication
The core All Weather portfolio, as implemented by Bridgewater for institutional clients and later adapted for retail investors, maintains a deceptively simple static allocation: 30% stocks, 40% long-term bonds, 15% intermediate-term bonds, 7.5% commodities, and 7.5% Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). This allocation may appear arbitrary to the uninitiated, but each percentage reflects careful consideration of historical volatilities, correlations, and economic sensitivities.
The 30% stock allocation provides growth exposure while limiting the portfolio's overall volatility. Stocks historically deliver superior long-term returns but with significant volatility, as evidenced by the Standard & Poor's 500 Index's average annual return of approximately 10% since 1926, accompanied by standard deviation exceeding 15% (Ibbotson Associates, 2023). By limiting stock exposure to 30%, the portfolio captures much of the equity risk premium while avoiding excessive volatility.
The combined 55% allocation to bonds (40% long-term plus 15% intermediate-term) serves as the portfolio's stabilizing force. Long-term bonds provide substantial interest rate sensitivity, performing well during economic slowdowns when central banks reduce rates. Intermediate-term bonds offer a balance between interest rate sensitivity and reduced duration risk. This bond-heavy allocation reflects Dalio's insight that bonds typically exhibit lower volatility than stocks while providing essential diversification benefits.
The 7.5% commodities allocation addresses inflation protection, as commodity prices typically rise during inflationary periods. Historical analysis by Bodie and Rosansky (1980) demonstrated that commodities provide meaningful diversification benefits and inflation hedging capabilities, though with considerable volatility. The relatively small allocation reflects commodities' high volatility and mixed long-term returns.
Finally, the 7.5% TIPS allocation provides explicit inflation protection through government-backed securities whose principal and interest payments adjust with inflation. Introduced by the U.S. Treasury in 1997, TIPS have proven effective inflation hedges, though they underperform nominal bonds during deflationary periods (Campbell & Viceira, 2001).
Historical Performance: The Evidence Speaks
Analyzing the All Weather Strategy's historical performance reveals both its strengths and limitations. Using monthly return data from 1970 to 2023, spanning over five decades of varying economic conditions, the strategy has delivered compelling risk-adjusted returns while experiencing lower volatility than traditional stock-heavy portfolios.
During this period, the All Weather allocation generated an average annual return of approximately 8.2%, compared to 10.5% for the S&P 500 Index. However, the strategy's annual volatility measured just 9.1%, substantially lower than the S&P 500's 15.8% volatility. This translated to a Sharpe ratio of 0.67 for the All Weather Strategy versus 0.54 for the S&P 500, indicating superior risk-adjusted performance.
More impressively, the strategy's maximum drawdown over this period was 12.3%, occurring during the 2008 financial crisis, compared to the S&P 500's maximum drawdown of 50.9% during the same period. This drawdown mitigation proves crucial for long-term wealth building, as Stein and DeMuth (2003) demonstrated that avoiding large losses significantly impacts compound returns over time.
The strategy performed particularly well during periods of economic stress. During the 1970s stagflation, when stocks and bonds both struggled, the All Weather portfolio's commodity and TIPS allocations provided essential protection. Similarly, during the 2000-2002 dot-com crash and the 2008 financial crisis, the portfolio's bond-heavy allocation cushioned losses while maintaining positive returns in several years when stocks declined significantly.
However, the strategy underperformed during sustained bull markets, particularly the 1990s technology boom and the 2010s post-financial crisis recovery. This underperformance reflects the strategy's conservative nature and diversified approach, which sacrifices potential upside for downside protection. As Dalio frequently emphasizes, the All Weather Strategy prioritizes "not losing money" over "making a lot of money."
Implementing the All Weather Strategy: A Practical Guide
The All Weather Strategy Indicator transforms Dalio's institutional-grade approach into an accessible tool for individual investors. The indicator provides real-time portfolio tracking, rebalancing signals, and performance analytics, eliminating much of the complexity traditionally associated with implementing sophisticated allocation strategies.
To begin implementation, investors must first determine their investable capital. As detailed analysis reveals, the All Weather Strategy requires meaningful capital to implement effectively due to transaction costs, minimum investment requirements, and the need for precise allocations across five different asset classes.
For portfolios below $50,000, the strategy becomes challenging to implement efficiently. Transaction costs consume a disproportionate share of returns, while the inability to purchase fractional shares creates allocation drift. Consider an investor with $25,000 attempting to allocate 7.5% to commodities through the iPath Bloomberg Commodity Index ETF (DJP), currently trading around $25 per share. This allocation targets $1,875, enough for only 75 shares, creating immediate tracking error.
At $50,000, implementation becomes feasible but not optimal. The 30% stock allocation ($15,000) purchases approximately 37 shares of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at current prices around $400 per share. The 40% long-term bond allocation ($20,000) buys 200 shares of the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at approximately $100 per share. While workable, these allocations leave significant cash drag and rebalancing challenges.
The optimal minimum for individual implementation appears to be $100,000. At this level, each allocation becomes substantial enough for precise implementation while keeping transaction costs below 0.4% annually. The $30,000 stock allocation, $40,000 long-term bond allocation, $15,000 intermediate-term bond allocation, $7,500 commodity allocation, and $7,500 TIPS allocation each provide sufficient size for effective management.
For investors with $250,000 or more, the strategy implementation approaches institutional quality. Allocation precision improves, transaction costs decline as a percentage of assets, and rebalancing becomes highly efficient. These larger portfolios can also consider adding complexity through international diversification or alternative implementations.
The indicator recommends quarterly rebalancing to balance transaction costs with allocation discipline. Monthly rebalancing increases costs without substantial benefits for most investors, while annual rebalancing allows excessive drift that can meaningfully impact performance. Quarterly rebalancing, typically on the first trading day of each quarter, provides an optimal balance.
Understanding the Indicator's Functionality
The All Weather Strategy Indicator operates as a comprehensive portfolio management system, providing multiple analytical layers that professional money managers typically reserve for institutional clients. This sophisticated tool transforms Ray Dalio's institutional-grade strategy into an accessible platform for individual investors, offering features that rival professional portfolio management software.
The indicator's core architecture consists of several interconnected modules that work seamlessly together to provide complete portfolio oversight. At its foundation lies a real-time portfolio simulation engine that tracks the exact value of each ETF position based on current market prices, eliminating the need for manual calculations or external spreadsheets.
DETAILED INDICATOR COMPONENTS AND FUNCTIONS
Portfolio Configuration Module
The portfolio setup begins with the Portfolio Configuration section, which establishes the fundamental parameters for strategy implementation. The Portfolio Capital input accepts values from $1,000 to $10,000,000, accommodating everyone from beginning investors to institutional clients. This input directly drives all subsequent calculations, determining exact share quantities and portfolio values throughout the implementation period.
The Portfolio Start Date function allows users to specify when they began implementing the All Weather Strategy, creating a clear demarcation point for performance tracking. This feature proves essential for investors who want to track their actual implementation against theoretical performance, providing realistic assessment of strategy effectiveness including timing differences and implementation costs.
Rebalancing Frequency settings offer two options: Monthly and Quarterly. While monthly rebalancing provides more precise allocation control, quarterly rebalancing typically proves more cost-effective for most investors due to reduced transaction costs. The indicator automatically detects the first trading day of each period, ensuring rebalancing occurs at optimal times regardless of weekends, holidays, or market closures.
The Rebalancing Threshold parameter, adjustable from 0.5% to 10%, determines when allocation drift triggers rebalancing recommendations. Conservative settings like 1-2% maintain tight allocation control but increase trading frequency, while wider thresholds like 3-5% reduce trading costs but allow greater allocation drift. This flexibility accommodates different risk tolerances and cost structures.
Visual Display System
The Show All Weather Calculator toggle controls the main dashboard visibility, allowing users to focus on chart visualization when detailed metrics aren't needed. When enabled, this comprehensive dashboard displays current portfolio value, individual ETF allocations, target versus actual weights, rebalancing status, and performance metrics in a professionally formatted table.
Economic Environment Display provides context about current market conditions based on growth and inflation indicators. While simplified compared to Bridgewater's sophisticated regime detection, this feature helps users understand which economic "season" currently prevails and which asset classes should theoretically benefit.
Rebalancing Signals illuminate when portfolio drift exceeds user-defined thresholds, highlighting specific ETFs that require adjustment. These signals use color coding to indicate urgency: green for balanced allocations, yellow for moderate drift, and red for significant deviations requiring immediate attention.
Advanced Label System
The rebalancing label system represents one of the indicator's most innovative features, providing three distinct detail levels to accommodate different user needs and experience levels. The "None" setting displays simple symbols marking portfolio start and rebalancing events without cluttering the chart with text. This minimal approach suits experienced investors who understand the implications of each symbol.
"Basic" label mode shows essential information including portfolio values at each rebalancing point, enabling quick assessment of strategy performance over time. These labels display "START $X" for portfolio initiation and "RBL $Y" for rebalancing events, providing clear performance tracking without overwhelming detail.
"Detailed" labels provide comprehensive trading instructions including exact buy and sell quantities for each ETF. These labels might display "RBL $125,000 BUY 15 SPY SELL 25 TLT BUY 8 IEF NO TRADES DJP SELL 12 SCHP" providing complete implementation guidance. This feature essentially transforms the indicator into a personal portfolio manager, eliminating guesswork about exact trades required.
Professional Color Themes
Eight professionally designed color themes adapt the indicator's appearance to different aesthetic preferences and market analysis styles. The "Gold" theme reflects traditional wealth management aesthetics, while "EdgeTools" provides modern professional appearance. "Behavioral" uses psychologically informed colors that reinforce disciplined decision-making, while "Quant" employs high-contrast combinations favored by quantitative analysts.
"Ocean," "Fire," "Matrix," and "Arctic" themes provide distinctive visual identities for traders who prefer unique chart aesthetics. Each theme automatically adjusts for dark or light mode optimization, ensuring optimal readability across different TradingView configurations.
Real-Time Portfolio Tracking
The portfolio simulation engine continuously tracks five separate ETF positions: SPY for stocks, TLT for long-term bonds, IEF for intermediate-term bonds, DJP for commodities, and SCHP for TIPS. Each position's value updates in real-time based on current market prices, providing instant feedback about portfolio performance and allocation drift.
Current share calculations determine exact holdings based on the most recent rebalancing, while target shares reflect optimal allocation based on current portfolio value. Trade calculations show precisely how many shares to buy or sell during rebalancing, eliminating manual calculations and potential errors.
Performance Analytics Suite
The indicator's performance measurement capabilities rival professional portfolio analysis software. Sharpe ratio calculations incorporate current risk-free rates obtained from Treasury yield data, providing accurate risk-adjusted performance assessment. Volatility measurements use rolling periods to capture changing market conditions while maintaining statistical significance.
Portfolio return calculations track both absolute and relative performance, comparing the All Weather implementation against individual asset classes and benchmark indices. These metrics update continuously, providing real-time assessment of strategy effectiveness and implementation quality.
Data Quality Monitoring
Sophisticated data quality checks ensure reliable indicator operation across different market conditions and potential data interruptions. The system monitors all five ETF price feeds plus economic data sources, providing quality scores that alert users to potential data issues that might affect calculations.
When data quality degrades, the indicator automatically switches to fallback values or alternative data sources, maintaining functionality during temporary market data interruptions. This robust design ensures consistent operation even during volatile market conditions when data feeds occasionally experience disruptions.
Risk Management and Behavioral Considerations
Despite its sophisticated design, the All Weather Strategy faces behavioral challenges that have derailed countless well-intentioned investment plans. The strategy's conservative nature means it will underperform growth stocks during bull markets, potentially by substantial margins. Maintaining discipline during these periods requires understanding that the strategy optimizes for risk-adjusted returns over absolute returns.
Behavioral finance research by Kahneman and Tversky (1979) demonstrates that investors feel losses approximately twice as intensely as equivalent gains. This loss aversion creates powerful psychological pressure to abandon defensive strategies during bull markets when aggressive portfolios appear more attractive. The All Weather Strategy's bond-heavy allocation will seem overly conservative when technology stocks double in value, as occurred repeatedly during the 2010s.
Conversely, the strategy's defensive characteristics provide psychological comfort during market stress. When stocks crash 30-50%, as they periodically do, the All Weather portfolio's modest losses feel manageable rather than catastrophic. This emotional stability enables investors to maintain their investment discipline when others capitulate, often at the worst possible times.
Rebalancing discipline presents another behavioral challenge. Selling winners to buy losers contradicts natural human tendencies but remains essential for the strategy's success. When stocks have outperformed bonds for several quarters, rebalancing requires selling high-performing stock positions to purchase seemingly stagnant bond positions. This action feels counterintuitive but captures the strategy's systematic approach to risk management.
Tax considerations add complexity for taxable accounts. Frequent rebalancing generates taxable events that can erode after-tax returns, particularly for high-income investors facing elevated capital gains rates. Tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs provide ideal vehicles for All Weather implementation, eliminating tax friction from rebalancing activities.
Capital Requirements and Cost Analysis
Comprehensive cost analysis reveals the capital requirements for effective All Weather implementation. Annual expenses include management fees for each ETF, transaction costs from rebalancing, and bid-ask spreads from trading less liquid securities.
ETF expense ratios vary significantly across asset classes. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF charges 0.09% annually, while the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF charges 0.20%. The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF charges 0.15%, the Schwab US TIPS ETF charges 0.05%, and the iPath Bloomberg Commodity Index ETF charges 0.75%. Weighted by the All Weather allocations, total expense ratios average approximately 0.19% annually.
Transaction costs depend heavily on broker selection and account size. Premium brokers like Interactive Brokers charge $1-2 per trade, resulting in $20-40 annually for quarterly rebalancing. Discount brokers may charge higher per-trade fees but offer commission-free ETF trading for selected funds. Zero-commission brokers eliminate explicit trading costs but often impose wider bid-ask spreads that function as hidden fees.
Bid-ask spreads represent the difference between buying and selling prices for each security. Highly liquid ETFs like SPY maintain spreads of 1-2 basis points, while less liquid commodity ETFs may exhibit spreads of 5-10 basis points. These costs accumulate through rebalancing activities, typically totaling 10-15 basis points annually.
For a $100,000 portfolio, total annual costs including expense ratios, transaction fees, and spreads typically range from 0.35% to 0.45%, or $350-450 annually. These costs decline as a percentage of assets as portfolio size increases, reaching approximately 0.25% for portfolios exceeding $250,000.
Comparing costs to potential benefits reveals the strategy's value proposition. Historical analysis suggests the All Weather approach reduces portfolio volatility by 35-40% compared to stock-heavy allocations while maintaining competitive returns. This volatility reduction provides substantial value during market stress, potentially preventing behavioral mistakes that destroy long-term wealth.
Alternative Implementations and Customizations
While the original All Weather allocation provides an excellent starting point, investors may consider modifications based on personal circumstances, market conditions, or geographic considerations. International diversification represents one potential enhancement, adding exposure to developed and emerging market bonds and equities.
Geographic customization becomes important for non-US investors. European investors might replace US Treasury bonds with German Bunds or broader European government bond indices. Currency hedging decisions add complexity but may reduce volatility for investors whose spending occurs in non-dollar currencies.
Tax-location strategies optimize after-tax returns by placing tax-inefficient assets in tax-advantaged accounts while holding tax-efficient assets in taxable accounts. TIPS and commodity ETFs generate ordinary income taxed at higher rates, making them candidates for retirement account placement. Stock ETFs generate qualified dividends and long-term capital gains taxed at lower rates, making them suitable for taxable accounts.
Some investors prefer implementing the bond allocation through individual Treasury securities rather than ETFs, eliminating management fees while gaining precise maturity control. Treasury auctions provide access to new securities without bid-ask spreads, though this approach requires more sophisticated portfolio management.
Factor-based implementations replace broad market ETFs with factor-tilted alternatives. Value-tilted stock ETFs, quality-focused bond ETFs, or momentum-based commodity indices may enhance returns while maintaining the All Weather framework's diversification benefits. However, these modifications introduce additional complexity and potential tracking error.
Conclusion: Embracing the Long Game
The All Weather Strategy represents more than an investment approach; it embodies a philosophy of financial resilience that prioritizes sustainable wealth building over speculative gains. In an investment landscape increasingly dominated by algorithmic trading, meme stocks, and cryptocurrency volatility, Dalio's methodical approach offers a refreshing alternative grounded in economic theory and historical evidence.
The strategy's greatest strength lies not in its potential for extraordinary returns, but in its capacity to deliver reasonable returns across diverse economic environments while protecting capital during market stress. This characteristic becomes increasingly valuable as investors approach or enter retirement, when portfolio preservation assumes greater importance than aggressive growth.
Implementation requires discipline, adequate capital, and realistic expectations. The strategy will underperform growth-oriented approaches during bull markets while providing superior downside protection during bear markets. Investors must embrace this trade-off consciously, understanding that the strategy optimizes for long-term wealth building rather than short-term performance.
The All Weather Strategy Indicator democratizes access to institutional-quality portfolio management, providing individual investors with tools previously available only to wealthy families and institutions. By automating allocation tracking, rebalancing signals, and performance analysis, the indicator removes much of the complexity that has historically limited sophisticated strategy implementation.
For investors seeking a systematic, evidence-based approach to long-term wealth building, the All Weather Strategy provides a compelling framework. Its emphasis on diversification, risk management, and behavioral discipline aligns with the fundamental principles that have created lasting wealth throughout financial history. While the strategy may not generate headlines or inspire cocktail party conversations, it offers something more valuable: a reliable path toward financial security across all economic seasons.
As Dalio himself notes, "The biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent past is likely to persist, and they design their portfolios accordingly." The All Weather Strategy's enduring appeal lies in its rejection of this recency bias, instead embracing the uncertainty of markets while positioning for success regardless of which economic season unfolds.
STEP-BY-STEP INDICATOR SETUP GUIDE
Setting up the All Weather Strategy Indicator requires careful attention to each configuration parameter to ensure optimal implementation. This comprehensive setup guide walks through every setting and explains its impact on strategy performance.
Initial Setup Process
Begin by adding the indicator to your TradingView chart. Search for "Ray Dalio's All Weather Strategy" in the indicator library and apply it to any chart. The indicator operates independently of the underlying chart symbol, drawing data directly from the five required ETFs regardless of which security appears on the chart.
Portfolio Configuration Settings
Start with the Portfolio Capital input, which drives all subsequent calculations. Enter your exact investable capital, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000,000. This input determines share quantities, trade recommendations, and performance calculations. Conservative recommendations suggest minimum capitals of $50,000 for basic implementation or $100,000 for optimal precision.
Select your Portfolio Start Date carefully, as this establishes the baseline for all performance calculations. Choose the date when you actually began implementing the All Weather Strategy, not when you first learned about it. This date should reflect when you first purchased ETFs according to the target allocation, creating realistic performance tracking.
Choose your Rebalancing Frequency based on your cost structure and precision preferences. Monthly rebalancing provides tighter allocation control but increases transaction costs. Quarterly rebalancing offers the optimal balance for most investors between allocation precision and cost control. The indicator automatically detects appropriate trading days regardless of your selection.
Set the Rebalancing Threshold based on your tolerance for allocation drift and transaction costs. Conservative investors preferring tight control should use 1-2% thresholds, while cost-conscious investors may prefer 3-5% thresholds. Lower thresholds maintain more precise allocations but trigger more frequent trading.
Display Configuration Options
Enable Show All Weather Calculator to display the comprehensive dashboard containing portfolio values, allocations, and performance metrics. This dashboard provides essential information for portfolio management and should remain enabled for most users.
Show Economic Environment displays current economic regime classification based on growth and inflation indicators. While simplified compared to Bridgewater's sophisticated models, this feature provides useful context for understanding current market conditions.
Show Rebalancing Signals highlights when portfolio allocations drift beyond your threshold settings. These signals use color coding to indicate urgency levels, helping prioritize rebalancing activities.
Advanced Label Customization
Configure Show Rebalancing Labels based on your need for chart annotations. These labels mark important portfolio events and can provide valuable historical context, though they may clutter charts during extended time periods.
Select appropriate Label Detail Levels based on your experience and information needs. "None" provides minimal symbols suitable for experienced users. "Basic" shows portfolio values at key events. "Detailed" provides complete trading instructions including exact share quantities for each ETF.
Appearance Customization
Choose Color Themes based on your aesthetic preferences and trading style. "Gold" reflects traditional wealth management appearance, while "EdgeTools" provides modern professional styling. "Behavioral" uses psychologically informed colors that reinforce disciplined decision-making.
Enable Dark Mode Optimization if using TradingView's dark theme for optimal readability and contrast. This setting automatically adjusts all colors and transparency levels for the selected theme.
Set Main Line Width based on your chart resolution and visual preferences. Higher width values provide clearer allocation lines but may overwhelm smaller charts. Most users prefer width settings of 2-3 for optimal visibility.
Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues
If the indicator displays "Data not available" messages, verify that all five ETFs (SPY, TLT, IEF, DJP, SCHP) have valid price data on your selected timeframe. The indicator requires daily data availability for all components.
When rebalancing signals seem inconsistent, check your threshold settings and ensure sufficient time has passed since the last rebalancing event. The indicator only triggers signals on designated rebalancing days (first trading day of each period) when drift exceeds threshold levels.
If labels appear at unexpected chart locations, verify that your chart displays percentage values rather than price values. The indicator forces percentage formatting and 0-40% scaling for optimal allocation visualization.
COMPREHENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING
PRIMARY SOURCES AND RAY DALIO WORKS
Dalio, R. (2017). Principles: Life and work. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Dalio, R. (2018). A template for understanding big debt crises. Bridgewater Associates.
Dalio, R. (2021). Principles for dealing with the changing world order: Why nations succeed and fail. New York: Simon & Schuster.
BRIDGEWATER ASSOCIATES RESEARCH PAPERS
Jensen, G., Kertesz, A. & Prince, B. (2010). All Weather strategy: Bridgewater's approach to portfolio construction. Bridgewater Associates Research.
Prince, B. (2011). An in-depth look at the investment logic behind the All Weather strategy. Bridgewater Associates Daily Observations.
Bridgewater Associates. (2015). Risk parity in the context of larger portfolio construction. Institutional Research.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH ON RISK PARITY AND PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION
Ang, A. & Bekaert, G. (2002). International asset allocation with regime shifts. The Review of Financial Studies, 15(4), 1137-1187.
Bodie, Z. & Rosansky, V. I. (1980). Risk and return in commodity futures. Financial Analysts Journal, 36(3), 27-39.
Campbell, J. Y. & Viceira, L. M. (2001). Who should buy long-term bonds? American Economic Review, 91(1), 99-127.
Clarke, R., De Silva, H. & Thorley, S. (2013). Risk parity, maximum diversification, and minimum variance: An analytic perspective. Journal of Portfolio Management, 39(3), 39-53.
Fama, E. F. & French, K. R. (2004). The capital asset pricing model: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18(3), 25-46.
BEHAVIORAL FINANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES
Kahneman, D. & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263-292.
Thaler, R. H. & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Montier, J. (2007). Behavioural investing: A practitioner's guide to applying behavioural finance. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
MODERN PORTFOLIO THEORY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Markowitz, H. (1952). Portfolio selection. The Journal of Finance, 7(1), 77-91.
Sharpe, W. F. (1964). Capital asset prices: A theory of market equilibrium under conditions of risk. The Journal of Finance, 19(3), 425-442.
Black, F. & Litterman, R. (1992). Global portfolio optimization. Financial Analysts Journal, 48(5), 28-43.
PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION AND ETF ANALYSIS
Gastineau, G. L. (2010). The exchange-traded funds manual. 2nd ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Poterba, J. M. & Shoven, J. B. (2002). Exchange-traded funds: A new investment option for taxable investors. American Economic Review, 92(2), 422-427.
Israelsen, C. L. (2005). A refinement to the Sharpe ratio and information ratio. Journal of Asset Management, 5(6), 423-427.
ECONOMIC CYCLE ANALYSIS AND ASSET CLASS RESEARCH
Ilmanen, A. (2011). Expected returns: An investor's guide to harvesting market rewards. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
Swensen, D. F. (2009). Pioneering portfolio management: An unconventional approach to institutional investment. Rev. ed. New York: Free Press.
Siegel, J. J. (2014). Stocks for the long run: The definitive guide to financial market returns & long-term investment strategies. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES
Taleb, N. N. (2007). The black swan: The impact of the highly improbable. New York: Random House.
Lowenstein, R. (2000). When genius failed: The rise and fall of Long-Term Capital Management. New York: Random House.
Stein, D. M. & DeMuth, P. (2003). Systematic withdrawal from retirement portfolios: The impact of asset allocation decisions on portfolio longevity. AAII Journal, 25(7), 8-12.
CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Asness, C. S., Frazzini, A. & Pedersen, L. H. (2012). Leverage aversion and risk parity. Financial Analysts Journal, 68(1), 47-59.
Roncalli, T. (2013). Introduction to risk parity and budgeting. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Ibbotson Associates. (2023). Stocks, bonds, bills, and inflation 2023 yearbook. Chicago: Morningstar.
PERIODICALS AND ONGOING RESEARCH
Journal of Portfolio Management - Quarterly publication featuring cutting-edge research on portfolio construction and risk management
Financial Analysts Journal - Bi-monthly publication of the CFA Institute with practical investment research
Bridgewater Associates Daily Observations - Regular market commentary and research from the creators of the All Weather Strategy
RECOMMENDED READING SEQUENCE
For investors new to the All Weather Strategy, begin with Dalio's "Principles" for philosophical foundation, then proceed to the Bridgewater research papers for technical details. Supplement with Markowitz's original portfolio theory work and behavioral finance literature from Kahneman and Tversky.
Intermediate students should focus on academic papers by Ang & Bekaert on regime shifts, Clarke et al. on risk parity methods, and Ilmanen's comprehensive analysis of expected returns across asset classes.
Advanced practitioners will benefit from Roncalli's technical treatment of risk parity mathematics, Asness et al.'s academic critique of leverage aversion, and ongoing research in the Journal of Portfolio Management.
Volume Profile (Simple)Simple Volume Profile (Simple)
Master the Market's Structure with a Clear View of Volume
by mercaderoaurum
The Simple Volume Profile (Simple) indicator removes the guesswork by showing you exactly where the most significant trading activity has occurred. By visualizing the Point of Control (POC) and Value Area (VA) for today and yesterday, you can instantly identify the price levels that matter most, giving you a critical edge in your intraday trading.
This tool is specifically optimized for day trading SPY on a 1-minute chart, but it's fully customizable for any symbol or timeframe.
Key Features
Multi-Day Analysis: Automatically plots the volume profiles for the current and previous trading sessions, allowing you to see how today's market is reacting to yesterday's key levels.
Automatic Key Level Plotting: Instantly see the most important levels from each session:
Point of Control (POC): The single price level with the highest traded volume, acting as a powerful magnet for price.
Value Area High (VAH): The upper boundary of the area where 50% of the volume was traded. It often acts as resistance.
Value Area Low (VAL): The lower boundary of the 50% value area, often acting as support.
Extended Levels: The POC, VAH, and VAL from previous sessions are automatically extended into the current day, providing a clear map of potential support and resistance zones.
Customizable Sessions: While optimized for the US stock market, you can define any session time and time zone, making it a versatile tool for forex, crypto, and futures traders.
Core Trading Strategies
The Simple Volume Profile helps you understand market context. Instead of trading blind, you can now make decisions based on where the market has shown the most interest.
1. Identifying Support and Resistance
This is the most direct way to use the indicator. The extended lines from the previous day are your roadmap for the current session.
Previous Day's POC (pPOC): This is the most significant level. Watch for price to react strongly here. It can act as powerful support if approached from above or strong resistance if approached from below.
Previous Day's VAH (pVAH): Expect this level to act as initial resistance. A clean break above pVAH can signal a strong bullish trend.
Previous Day's VAL (pVAL): Expect this level to act as initial support. A firm break below pVAL can indicate a strong bearish trend.
Example Strategy: If SPY opens and rallies up to the previous day's VAH and stalls, this is a high-probability area to look for a short entry, with a stop loss just above the level.
2. The "Open-Drive" Rejection
How the market opens in relation to the previous day's value area is a powerful tell.
Open Above Yesterday's Value Area: If the market opens above the pVAH, it signals strength. The first pullback to test the pVAH is often a key long entry point. The level is expected to flip from resistance to support.
Open Below Yesterday's Value Area: If the market opens below the pVAL, it signals weakness. The first rally to test the pVAL is a potential short entry, as the level is likely to act as new resistance.
3. Fading the Extremes
When price pushes far outside the previous day's value area, it can become overextended.
Reversal at Highs: If price rallies significantly above the pVAH and then starts to lose momentum (e.g., forming bearish divergence on RSI or a topping pattern), it could be an opportunity to short the market, targeting a move back toward the pVAH or pPOC.
Reversal at Lows: Conversely, if price drops far below the pVAL and shows signs of bottoming, it can be a good opportunity to look for a long entry, targeting a reversion back to the value area.
Recommended Settings (SPY Intraday)
These settings are the default and are optimized for scalping or day trading SPY on a 1-minute chart.
Value Area (%): 50%. This creates a tighter, more sensitive value area, perfect for identifying the most critical intraday zones.
Number of Rows: 1000. This high resolution is essential for a low-volatility instrument like SPY, ensuring that the profile is detailed and the levels are precise.
Session Time: 0400-1800 in America/New_York. This captures the full pre-market and core session, which is crucial for understanding the day's complete volume story.
Ready to trade with an edge? Add the Simple Volume Profile (Multi-Day) to your chart now and see the market in a new light!
Options Strategy V2.0📈 Options Strategy V2.0 – Intraday Reversal-Resilient Momentum System
Overview:
This strategy is designed specifically for intraday SPY, TSLA, MSFT, etc. options trading (0DTE or 1DTE), using high-probability signals derived from a confluence of technical indicators: EMA crossovers, RSI thresholds, ATR-based risk control, and volume spikes. The strategy aims to capture strong directional moves while avoiding overtrading, thanks to a built-in cooldown logic and optional time/session filters.
⚙️ Core Concept
The strategy executes trades only in the direction of the prevailing trend, determined by short- and long-term Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). Entry signals are generated when the Relative Strength Index (RSI) confirms momentum in the direction of the trend, and volume spikes suggest institutional activity.
To increase adaptability and user control, it includes a highly customizable parameter set for both long and short entries independently.
📌 Key Features
✅ Trend-Following Logic
Long entries are only allowed when EMA(short) > EMA(long)
Short entries are only allowed when EMA(short) < EMA(long)
✅ RSI Confirmation
Long: Requires RSI crossover above a configurable threshold
Short: Requires RSI crossunder below a configurable threshold
Optional rejection filters: Entry blocked above/below specific RSI extremes
✅ Volume Spike Filter
Confirms institutional participation by comparing current volume to an average multiplied by a user-defined factor.
✅ ATR-Based Risk Management
Both Stop Loss (SL) and Take Profit (TP) are dynamically calculated using ATR × a multiplier.
TP/SL ratio is fully configurable.
✅ Cooldown Control
After every trade, the system waits for a set number of bars before allowing new entries.
This prevents overtrading and increases signal quality.
Optionally, cooldown is ignored for reversal trades, ensuring the system can react immediately to a confirmed trend change.
✅ Candle Body Filter (Noise Control)
Avoids trades on candles with too small bodies relative to wicks (often noise or indecision candles).
✅ VWAP Confirmation (Optional)
Ensures price is trading above VWAP for long entries, or below for short entries.
✅ Time & Session Filters
Trades only during regular market hours (09:30–16:00 EST).
No-trade zone (e.g., 14:15–15:45 EST) to avoid low-liquidity traps or late-day whipsaws.
✅ End-of-Day Auto Close
All open positions are force-closed at 15:55 EST, protecting against overnight risk (especially relevant for 0DTE options).
📊 Visual Aids
EMA plots show trend direction
VWAP line provides real-time mean-reversion context
Stop Loss and Take Profit lines appear dynamically with each trade
Alerts notify of entry signals and exit triggers
🔧 Customization Panel
Nearly every element of the strategy can be tailored:
EMA lengths (short and long, for both sides)
RSI thresholds and length
ATR length, SL multiplier, and TP/SL ratio
Volume spike sensitivity
Minimum EMA distance filter
Candle body ratio filter
Session restrictions
Cooldown logic (duration + reversal exception)
This makes the strategy extremely versatile, allowing both conservative and aggressive configurations depending on the trader’s profile and the market context.
📌 Example Use Case: SPY Options (0DTE or 1DTE)
This system was designed and tested specifically for SPY and other intraday options trading, where:
Delta is around 0.50 or higher
Trades are short-lived (often 1–5 candles)
You aim to trade 1–3 signals per day, filtering out weak entries
🚫 Important Notes
It is not a scalping strategy; it relies on confirmed breakouts with trend support
No pyramiding or re-entries without cooldown to preserve risk integrity
Should be used with real-time alerts and manual broker execution
📈 Alerts Included
📈 Long Entry Signal
📉 Short Entry Signal
⚠️ Auto-closed all positions at 15:55 EST
✅ Proven Settings – Real Trades + Backtest Results
The current version of the strategy includes the optimal settings I’ve arrived at through extensive backtesting, as well as 3 months of real trading with consistent profitability. These results reflect real-world execution under live market conditions using 0DTE SPY options, with disciplined trade management and risk control.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Options Strategy V2.0 is a robust, highly tunable intraday strategy that blends momentum, trend-following, and volume confirmation. It is ideal for disciplined traders focused on SPY or other 0DTE/1DTE options, and it includes guardrails to reduce false signals and improve execution timing.
Perfect for those who seek precision, flexibility, and risk-defined setups—not blind automation.
Intermarket Correlation Oscillator (ICO)The Intermarket Correlation Oscillator (ICO) is a TradingView indicator that helps traders analyze the relationship between two assets, such as stocks, indices, or cryptocurrencies, by measuring their price correlation. It displays this correlation as an oscillator ranging from -1 to +1, making it easy to spot whether the assets move together, oppositely, or independently. A value near +1 indicates strong positive correlation (assets move in the same direction), near -1 shows strong negative correlation (opposite movements), and near 0 suggests no correlation. This tool is ideal for confirming trends, spotting divergences, or identifying hedging opportunities across markets.
How It Works?
The ICO calculates the Pearson correlation coefficient between the chart’s primary asset (e.g., Apple stock) and a secondary asset you choose (e.g., SPY for the S&P 500) over a specified number of bars (default: 20). The oscillator is plotted in a separate pane below the chart, with key levels at +0.8 (overbought, strong positive correlation) and -0.8 (oversold, strong negative correlation). A midline at 0 helps gauge neutral correlation. When the oscillator crosses these levels or the midline, labels ("OB" for overbought, "OS" for oversold) and alerts notify you of significant shifts. Shaded zones highlight extreme correlations (red for overbought, green for oversold) if enabled.
Why Use the ICO?
Trend Confirmation: High positive correlation (e.g., SPY and QQQ both rising) confirms market trends.
Divergence Detection: Negative correlation (e.g., DXY rising while stocks fall) signals potential reversals.
Hedging: Identify negatively correlated assets to balance your portfolio.
Market Insights: Understand how assets like stocks, bonds, or crypto interact.
Easy Steps to Use the ICO in TradingView
Add the Indicator:
Open TradingView and load your chart (e.g., AAPL on a daily timeframe).
Go to the Pine Editor at the bottom of the TradingView window.
Copy and paste the ICO script provided earlier.
Click "Add to Chart" to display the oscillator below your price chart.
Configure Settings:
Click the gear icon next to the indicator’s name in the chart pane to open settings.
Secondary Symbol: Choose an asset to compare with your chart’s symbol (e.g., "SPY" for S&P 500, "DXY" for USD Index, or "BTCUSD" for Bitcoin). Default is SPY.
Correlation Lookback Period: Set the number of bars for calculation (default: 20). Use 10-14 for short-term trading or 50 for longer-term analysis.
Overbought/Oversold Levels: Adjust thresholds (default: +0.8 for overbought, -0.8 for oversold) to suit your strategy. Lower values (e.g., ±0.7) give more signals.
Show Midline/Zones: Check boxes to display the zero line and shaded overbought/oversold zones for visual clarity.
Interpret the Oscillator:
Above +0.8: Strong positive correlation (red zone). Assets move together.
Below -0.8: Strong negative correlation (green zone). Assets move oppositely.
Near 0: No clear relationship (midline reference).
Labels: "OB" or "OS" appears when crossing overbought/oversold levels, signaling potential correlation shifts.
Set Up Alerts:
Right-click the indicator, select "Add Alert."
Choose conditions like "Overbought Alert" (crossing above +0.8), "Oversold Alert" (crossing below -0.8), or zero-line crossings for bullish/bearish correlation shifts.
Configure notifications (e.g., email, SMS) to stay informed.
Apply to Trading:
Use positive correlation to confirm trades (e.g., buy AAPL if SPY is rising and correlation is high).
Spot divergences for reversals (e.g., stocks dropping while DXY rises with negative correlation).
Combine with other indicators like RSI or moving averages for stronger signals.
Tips for New Users
Start with related assets (e.g., SPY and QQQ for tech stocks) to see clear correlations.
Test on a demo account to understand signals before trading live.
Be aware that correlation is a lagging indicator; confirm signals with price action.
If the secondary symbol doesn’t load, ensure it’s valid on TradingView (e.g., use correct ticker format).
The ICO is a powerful, beginner-friendly tool to explore intermarket relationships, enhancing your trading decisions with clear visual cues and alerts.
DCA Investment Tracker Pro [tradeviZion]DCA Investment Tracker Pro: Educational DCA Analysis Tool
An educational indicator that helps analyze Dollar-Cost Averaging strategies by comparing actual performance with historical data calculations.
---
💡 Why I Created This Indicator
As someone who practices Dollar-Cost Averaging, I was frustrated with constantly switching between spreadsheets, calculators, and charts just to understand how my investments were really performing. I wanted to see everything in one place - my actual performance, what I should expect based on historical data, and most importantly, visualize where my strategy could take me over the long term .
What really motivated me was watching friends and family underestimate the incredible power of consistent investing. When Napoleon Bonaparte first learned about compound interest, he reportedly exclaimed "I wonder it has not swallowed the world" - and he was right! Yet most people can't visualize how their $500 monthly contributions today could become substantial wealth decades later.
Traditional DCA tracking tools exist, but they share similar limitations:
Require manual data entry and complex spreadsheets
Use fixed assumptions that don't reflect real market behavior
Can't show future projections overlaid on actual price charts
Lose the visual context of what's happening in the market
Make compound growth feel abstract rather than tangible
I wanted to create something different - a tool that automatically analyzes real market history, detects volatility periods, and shows you both current performance AND educational projections based on historical patterns right on your TradingView charts. As Warren Buffett said: "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." This tool helps you visualize your financial tree growing over time.
This isn't just another calculator - it's a visualization tool that makes the magic of compound growth impossible to ignore.
---
🎯 What This Indicator Does
This educational indicator provides DCA analysis tools. Users can input investment scenarios to study:
Theoretical Performance: Educational calculations based on historical return data
Comparative Analysis: Study differences between actual and theoretical scenarios
Historical Projections: Theoretical projections for educational analysis (not predictions)
Performance Metrics: CAGR, ROI, and other analytical metrics for study
Historical Analysis: Calculates historical return data for reference purposes
---
🚀 Key Features
Volatility-Adjusted Historical Return Calculation
Analyzes 3-20 years of actual price data for any symbol
Automatically detects high-volatility stocks (meme stocks, growth stocks)
Uses median returns for volatile stocks, standard CAGR for stable stocks
Provides conservative estimates when extreme outlier years are detected
Smart fallback to manual percentages when data insufficient
Customizable Performance Dashboard
Educational DCA performance analysis with compound growth calculations
Customizable table sizing (Tiny to Huge text options)
9 positioning options (Top/Middle/Bottom + Left/Center/Right)
Theme-adaptive colors (automatically adjusts to dark/light mode)
Multiple display layout options
Future Projection System
Visual future growth projections
Timeframe-aware calculations (Daily/Weekly/Monthly charts)
1-30 year projection options
Shows projected portfolio value and total investment amounts
Investment Insights
Performance vs benchmark comparison
ROI from initial investment tracking
Monthly average return analysis
Investment milestone alerts (25%, 50%, 100% gains)
Contribution tracking and next milestone indicators
---
📊 Step-by-Step Setup Guide
1. Investment Settings 💰
Initial Investment: Enter your starting lump sum (e.g., $60,000)
Monthly Contribution: Set your regular DCA amount (e.g., $500/month)
Return Calculation: Choose "Auto (Stock History)" for real data or "Manual" for fixed %
Historical Period: Select 3-20 years for auto calculations (default: 10 years)
Start Year: When you began investing (e.g., 2020)
Current Portfolio Value: Your actual portfolio worth today (e.g., $150,000)
2. Display Settings 📊
Table Sizes: Choose from Tiny, Small, Normal, Large, or Huge
Table Positions: 9 options - Top/Middle/Bottom + Left/Center/Right
Visibility Toggles: Show/hide Main Table and Stats Table independently
3. Future Projection 🔮
Enable Projections: Toggle on to see future growth visualization
Projection Years: Set 1-30 years ahead for analysis
Live Example - NASDAQ:META Analysis:
Settings shown: $60K initial + $500/month + Auto calculation + 10-year history + 2020 start + $150K current value
---
🔬 Pine Script Code Examples
Core DCA Calculations:
// Calculate total invested over time
months_elapsed = (year - start_year) * 12 + month - 1
total_invested = initial_investment + (monthly_contribution * months_elapsed)
// Compound growth formula for initial investment
theoretical_initial_growth = initial_investment * math.pow(1 + annual_return, years_elapsed)
// Future Value of Annuity for monthly contributions
monthly_rate = annual_return / 12
fv_contributions = monthly_contribution * ((math.pow(1 + monthly_rate, months_elapsed) - 1) / monthly_rate)
// Total expected value
theoretical_total = theoretical_initial_growth + fv_contributions
Volatility Detection Logic:
// Detect extreme years for volatility adjustment
extreme_years = 0
for i = 1 to historical_years
yearly_return = ((price_current / price_i_years_ago) - 1) * 100
if yearly_return > 100 or yearly_return < -50
extreme_years += 1
// Use median approach for high volatility stocks
high_volatility = (extreme_years / historical_years) > 0.2
calculated_return = high_volatility ? median_of_returns : standard_cagr
Performance Metrics:
// Calculate key performance indicators
absolute_gain = actual_value - total_invested
total_return_pct = (absolute_gain / total_invested) * 100
roi_initial = ((actual_value - initial_investment) / initial_investment) * 100
cagr = (math.pow(actual_value / initial_investment, 1 / years_elapsed) - 1) * 100
---
📊 Real-World Examples
See the indicator in action across different investment types:
Stable Index Investments:
AMEX:SPY (SPDR S&P 500) - Shows steady compound growth with standard CAGR calculations
Classic DCA success story: $60K initial + $500/month starting 2020. The indicator shows SPY's historical 10%+ returns, demonstrating how consistent broad market investing builds wealth over time. Notice the smooth theoretical growth line vs actual performance tracking.
MIL:VUAA (Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS) - Shows both data limitation and solution approaches
Data limitation example: VUAA shows "Manual (Auto Failed)" and "No Data" when default 10-year historical setting exceeds available data. The indicator gracefully falls back to manual percentage input while maintaining all DCA calculations and projections.
MIL:VUAA (Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS) - European ETF with successful 5-year auto calculation
Solution demonstration: By adjusting historical period to 5 years (matching available data), VUAA auto calculation works perfectly. Shows how users can optimize settings for newer assets. European market exposure with EUR denomination, demonstrating DCA effectiveness across different markets and currencies.
NYSE:BRK.B (Berkshire Hathaway) - Quality value investment with Warren Buffett's proven track record
Value investing approach: Berkshire Hathaway's legendary performance through DCA lens. The indicator demonstrates how quality companies compound wealth over decades. Lower volatility than tech stocks = standard CAGR calculations used.
High-Volatility Growth Stocks:
NASDAQ:NVDA (NVIDIA Corporation) - Demonstrates volatility-adjusted calculations for extreme price swings
High-volatility example: NVIDIA's explosive AI boom creates extreme years that trigger volatility detection. The indicator automatically switches to "Median (High Vol): 50%" calculations for conservative projections, protecting against unrealistic future estimates based on outlier performance periods.
NASDAQ:TSLA (Tesla) - Shows how 10-year analysis can stabilize volatile tech stocks
Stable long-term growth: Despite Tesla's reputation for volatility, the 10-year historical analysis (34.8% CAGR) shows consistent enough performance that volatility detection doesn't trigger. Demonstrates how longer timeframes can smooth out extreme periods for more reliable projections.
NASDAQ:META (Meta Platforms) - Shows stable tech stock analysis using standard CAGR calculations
Tech stock with stable growth: Despite being a tech stock and experiencing the 2022 crash, META's 10-year history shows consistent enough performance (23.98% CAGR) that volatility detection doesn't trigger. The indicator uses standard CAGR calculations, demonstrating how not all tech stocks require conservative median adjustments.
Notice how the indicator automatically detects high-volatility periods and switches to median-based calculations for more conservative projections, while stable investments use standard CAGR methods.
---
📈 Performance Metrics Explained
Current Portfolio Value: Your actual investment worth today
Expected Value: What you should have based on historical returns (Auto) or your target return (Manual)
Total Invested: Your actual money invested (initial + all monthly contributions)
Total Gains/Loss: Absolute dollar difference between current value and total invested
Total Return %: Percentage gain/loss on your total invested amount
ROI from Initial Investment: How your starting lump sum has performed
CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate of your initial investment (Note: This shows initial investment performance, not full DCA strategy)
vs Benchmark: How you're performing compared to the expected returns
---
⚠️ Important Notes & Limitations
Data Requirements: Auto mode requires sufficient historical data (minimum 3 years recommended)
CAGR Limitation: CAGR calculation is based on initial investment growth only, not the complete DCA strategy
Projection Accuracy: Future projections are theoretical and based on historical returns - actual results may vary
Timeframe Support: Works ONLY on Daily (1D), Weekly (1W), and Monthly (1M) charts - no other timeframes supported
Update Frequency: Update "Current Portfolio Value" regularly for accurate tracking
---
📚 Educational Use & Disclaimer
This analysis tool can be applied to various stock and ETF charts for educational study of DCA mathematical concepts and historical performance patterns.
Study Examples: Can be used with symbols like AMEX:SPY , NASDAQ:QQQ , AMEX:VTI , NASDAQ:AAPL , NASDAQ:MSFT , NASDAQ:GOOGL , NASDAQ:AMZN , NASDAQ:TSLA , NASDAQ:NVDA for learning purposes.
EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER: This indicator is a study tool for analyzing Dollar-Cost Averaging strategies. It does not provide investment advice, trading signals, or guarantees. All calculations are theoretical examples for educational purposes only. Past performance does not predict future results. Users should conduct their own research and consult qualified financial professionals before making any investment decisions.
---
© 2025 TradeVizion. All rights reserved.
Kelly Position Size CalculatorThis position sizing calculator implements the Kelly Criterion, developed by John L. Kelly Jr. at Bell Laboratories in 1956, to determine mathematically optimal position sizes for maximizing long-term wealth growth. Unlike arbitrary position sizing methods, this tool provides a scientifically solution based on your strategy's actual performance statistics and incorporates modern refinements from over six decades of academic research.
The Kelly Criterion addresses a fundamental question in capital allocation: "What fraction of capital should be allocated to each opportunity to maximize growth while avoiding ruin?" This question has profound implications for financial markets, where traders and investors constantly face decisions about optimal capital allocation (Van Tharp, 2007).
Theoretical Foundation
The Kelly Criterion for binary outcomes is expressed as f* = (bp - q) / b, where f* represents the optimal fraction of capital to allocate, b denotes the risk-reward ratio, p indicates the probability of success, and q represents the probability of loss (Kelly, 1956). This formula maximizes the expected logarithm of wealth, ensuring maximum long-term growth rate while avoiding the risk of ruin.
The mathematical elegance of Kelly's approach lies in its derivation from information theory. Kelly's original work was motivated by Claude Shannon's information theory (Shannon, 1948), recognizing that maximizing the logarithm of wealth is equivalent to maximizing the rate of information transmission. This connection between information theory and wealth accumulation provides a deep theoretical foundation for optimal position sizing.
The logarithmic utility function underlying the Kelly Criterion naturally embodies several desirable properties for capital management. It exhibits decreasing marginal utility, penalizes large losses more severely than it rewards equivalent gains, and focuses on geometric rather than arithmetic mean returns, which is appropriate for compounding scenarios (Thorp, 2006).
Scientific Implementation
This calculator extends beyond basic Kelly implementation by incorporating state of the art refinements from academic research:
Parameter Uncertainty Adjustment: Following Michaud (1989), the implementation applies Bayesian shrinkage to account for parameter estimation error inherent in small sample sizes. The adjustment formula f_adjusted = f_kelly × confidence_factor + f_conservative × (1 - confidence_factor) addresses the overconfidence bias documented by Baker and McHale (2012), where the confidence factor increases with sample size and the conservative estimate equals 0.25 (quarter Kelly).
Sample Size Confidence: The reliability of Kelly calculations depends critically on sample size. Research by Browne and Whitt (1996) provides theoretical guidance on minimum sample requirements, suggesting that at least 30 independent observations are necessary for meaningful parameter estimates, with 100 or more trades providing reliable estimates for most trading strategies.
Universal Asset Compatibility: The calculator employs intelligent asset detection using TradingView's built-in symbol information, automatically adapting calculations for different asset classes without manual configuration.
ASSET SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION
Equity Markets: For stocks and ETFs, position sizing follows the calculation Shares = floor(Kelly Fraction × Account Size / Share Price). This straightforward approach reflects whole share constraints while accommodating fractional share trading capabilities.
Foreign Exchange Markets: Forex markets require lot-based calculations following Lot Size = Kelly Fraction × Account Size / (100,000 × Base Currency Value). The calculator automatically handles major currency pairs with appropriate pip value calculations, following industry standards described by Archer (2010).
Futures Markets: Futures position sizing accounts for leverage and margin requirements through Contracts = floor(Kelly Fraction × Account Size / Margin Requirement). The calculator estimates margin requirements as a percentage of contract notional value, with specific adjustments for micro-futures contracts that have smaller sizes and reduced margin requirements (Kaufman, 2013).
Index and Commodity Markets: These markets combine characteristics of both equity and futures markets. The calculator automatically detects whether instruments are cash-settled or futures-based, applying appropriate sizing methodologies with correct point value calculations.
Risk Management Integration
The calculator integrates sophisticated risk assessment through two primary modes:
Stop Loss Integration: When fixed stop-loss levels are defined, risk calculation follows Risk per Trade = Position Size × Stop Loss Distance. This ensures that the Kelly fraction accounts for actual risk exposure rather than theoretical maximum loss, with stop-loss distance measured in appropriate units for each asset class.
Strategy Drawdown Assessment: For discretionary exit strategies, risk estimation uses maximum historical drawdown through Risk per Trade = Position Value × (Maximum Drawdown / 100). This approach assumes that individual trade losses will not exceed the strategy's historical maximum drawdown, providing a reasonable estimate for strategies with well-defined risk characteristics.
Fractional Kelly Approaches
Pure Kelly sizing can produce substantial volatility, leading many practitioners to adopt fractional Kelly approaches. MacLean, Sanegre, Zhao, and Ziemba (2004) analyze the trade-offs between growth rate and volatility, demonstrating that half-Kelly typically reduces volatility by approximately 75% while sacrificing only 25% of the growth rate.
The calculator provides three primary Kelly modes to accommodate different risk preferences and experience levels. Full Kelly maximizes growth rate while accepting higher volatility, making it suitable for experienced practitioners with strong risk tolerance and robust capital bases. Half Kelly offers a balanced approach popular among professional traders, providing optimal risk-return balance by reducing volatility significantly while maintaining substantial growth potential. Quarter Kelly implements a conservative approach with low volatility, recommended for risk-averse traders or those new to Kelly methodology who prefer gradual introduction to optimal position sizing principles.
Empirical Validation and Performance
Extensive academic research supports the theoretical advantages of Kelly sizing. Hakansson and Ziemba (1995) provide a comprehensive review of Kelly applications in finance, documenting superior long-term performance across various market conditions and asset classes. Estrada (2008) analyzes Kelly performance in international equity markets, finding that Kelly-based strategies consistently outperform fixed position sizing approaches over extended periods across 19 developed markets over a 30-year period.
Several prominent investment firms have successfully implemented Kelly-based position sizing. Pabrai (2007) documents the application of Kelly principles at Berkshire Hathaway, noting Warren Buffett's concentrated portfolio approach aligns closely with Kelly optimal sizing for high-conviction investments. Quantitative hedge funds, including Renaissance Technologies and AQR, have incorporated Kelly-based risk management into their systematic trading strategies.
Practical Implementation Guidelines
Successful Kelly implementation requires systematic application with attention to several critical factors:
Parameter Estimation: Accurate parameter estimation represents the greatest challenge in practical Kelly implementation. Brown (1976) notes that small errors in probability estimates can lead to significant deviations from optimal performance. The calculator addresses this through Bayesian adjustments and confidence measures.
Sample Size Requirements: Users should begin with conservative fractional Kelly approaches until achieving sufficient historical data. Strategies with fewer than 30 trades may produce unreliable Kelly estimates, regardless of adjustments. Full confidence typically requires 100 or more independent trade observations.
Market Regime Considerations: Parameters that accurately describe historical performance may not reflect future market conditions. Ziemba (2003) recommends regular parameter updates and conservative adjustments when market conditions change significantly.
Professional Features and Customization
The calculator provides comprehensive customization options for professional applications:
Multiple Color Schemes: Eight professional color themes (Gold, EdgeTools, Behavioral, Quant, Ocean, Fire, Matrix, Arctic) with dark and light theme compatibility ensure optimal visibility across different trading environments.
Flexible Display Options: Adjustable table size and position accommodate various chart layouts and user preferences, while maintaining analytical depth and clarity.
Comprehensive Results: The results table presents essential information including asset specifications, strategy statistics, Kelly calculations, sample confidence measures, position values, risk assessments, and final position sizes in appropriate units for each asset class.
Limitations and Considerations
Like any analytical tool, the Kelly Criterion has important limitations that users must understand:
Stationarity Assumption: The Kelly Criterion assumes that historical strategy statistics represent future performance characteristics. Non-stationary market conditions may invalidate this assumption, as noted by Lo and MacKinlay (1999).
Independence Requirement: Each trade should be independent to avoid correlation effects. Many trading strategies exhibit serial correlation in returns, which can affect optimal position sizing and may require adjustments for portfolio applications.
Parameter Sensitivity: Kelly calculations are sensitive to parameter accuracy. Regular calibration and conservative approaches are essential when parameter uncertainty is high.
Transaction Costs: The implementation incorporates user-defined transaction costs but assumes these remain constant across different position sizes and market conditions, following Ziemba (2003).
Advanced Applications and Extensions
Multi-Asset Portfolio Considerations: While this calculator optimizes individual position sizes, portfolio-level applications require additional considerations for correlation effects and aggregate risk management. Simplified portfolio approaches include treating positions independently with correlation adjustments.
Behavioral Factors: Behavioral finance research reveals systematic biases that can interfere with Kelly implementation. Kahneman and Tversky (1979) document loss aversion, overconfidence, and other cognitive biases that lead traders to deviate from optimal strategies. Successful implementation requires disciplined adherence to calculated recommendations.
Time-Varying Parameters: Advanced implementations may incorporate time-varying parameter models that adjust Kelly recommendations based on changing market conditions, though these require sophisticated econometric techniques and substantial computational resources.
Comprehensive Usage Instructions and Practical Examples
Implementation begins with loading the calculator on your desired trading instrument's chart. The system automatically detects asset type across stocks, forex, futures, and cryptocurrency markets while extracting current price information. Navigation to the indicator settings allows input of your specific strategy parameters.
Strategy statistics configuration requires careful attention to several key metrics. The win rate should be calculated from your backtest results using the formula of winning trades divided by total trades multiplied by 100. Average win represents the sum of all profitable trades divided by the number of winning trades, while average loss calculates the sum of all losing trades divided by the number of losing trades, entered as a positive number. The total historical trades parameter requires the complete number of trades in your backtest, with a minimum of 30 trades recommended for basic functionality and 100 or more trades optimal for statistical reliability. Account size should reflect your available trading capital, specifically the risk capital allocated for trading rather than total net worth.
Risk management configuration adapts to your specific trading approach. The stop loss setting should be enabled if you employ fixed stop-loss exits, with the stop loss distance specified in appropriate units depending on the asset class. For stocks, this distance is measured in dollars, for forex in pips, and for futures in ticks. When stop losses are not used, the maximum strategy drawdown percentage from your backtest provides the risk assessment baseline. Kelly mode selection offers three primary approaches: Full Kelly for aggressive growth with higher volatility suitable for experienced practitioners, Half Kelly for balanced risk-return optimization popular among professional traders, and Quarter Kelly for conservative approaches with reduced volatility.
Display customization ensures optimal integration with your trading environment. Eight professional color themes provide optimization for different chart backgrounds and personal preferences. Table position selection allows optimal placement within your chart layout, while table size adjustment ensures readability across different screen resolutions and viewing preferences.
Detailed Practical Examples
Example 1: SPY Swing Trading Strategy
Consider a professionally developed swing trading strategy for SPY (S&P 500 ETF) with backtesting results spanning 166 total trades. The strategy achieved 110 winning trades, representing a 66.3% win rate, with an average winning trade of $2,200 and average losing trade of $862. The maximum drawdown reached 31.4% during the testing period, and the available trading capital amounts to $25,000. This strategy employs discretionary exits without fixed stop losses.
Implementation requires loading the calculator on the SPY daily chart and configuring the parameters accordingly. The win rate input receives 66.3, while average win and loss inputs receive 2200 and 862 respectively. Total historical trades input requires 166, with account size set to 25000. The stop loss function remains disabled due to the discretionary exit approach, with maximum strategy drawdown set to 31.4%. Half Kelly mode provides the optimal balance between growth and risk management for this application.
The calculator generates several key outputs for this scenario. The risk-reward ratio calculates automatically to 2.55, while the Kelly fraction reaches approximately 53% before scientific adjustments. Sample confidence achieves 100% given the 166 trades providing high statistical confidence. The recommended position settles at approximately 27% after Half Kelly and Bayesian adjustment factors. Position value reaches approximately $6,750, translating to 16 shares at a $420 SPY price. Risk per trade amounts to approximately $2,110, representing 31.4% of position value, with expected value per trade reaching approximately $1,466. This recommendation represents the mathematically optimal balance between growth potential and risk management for this specific strategy profile.
Example 2: EURUSD Day Trading with Stop Losses
A high-frequency EURUSD day trading strategy demonstrates different parameter requirements compared to swing trading approaches. This strategy encompasses 89 total trades with a 58% win rate, generating an average winning trade of $180 and average losing trade of $95. The maximum drawdown reached 12% during testing, with available capital of $10,000. The strategy employs fixed stop losses at 25 pips and take profit targets at 45 pips, providing clear risk-reward parameters.
Implementation begins with loading the calculator on the EURUSD 1-hour chart for appropriate timeframe alignment. Parameter configuration includes win rate at 58, average win at 180, and average loss at 95. Total historical trades input receives 89, with account size set to 10000. The stop loss function is enabled with distance set to 25 pips, reflecting the fixed exit strategy. Quarter Kelly mode provides conservative positioning due to the smaller sample size compared to the previous example.
Results demonstrate the impact of smaller sample sizes on Kelly calculations. The risk-reward ratio calculates to 1.89, while the Kelly fraction reaches approximately 32% before adjustments. Sample confidence achieves 89%, providing moderate statistical confidence given the 89 trades. The recommended position settles at approximately 7% after Quarter Kelly application and Bayesian shrinkage adjustment for the smaller sample. Position value amounts to approximately $700, translating to 0.07 standard lots. Risk per trade reaches approximately $175, calculated as 25 pips multiplied by lot size and pip value, with expected value per trade at approximately $49. This conservative position sizing reflects the smaller sample size, with position sizes expected to increase as trade count surpasses 100 and statistical confidence improves.
Example 3: ES1! Futures Systematic Strategy
Systematic futures trading presents unique considerations for Kelly criterion application, as demonstrated by an E-mini S&P 500 futures strategy encompassing 234 total trades. This systematic approach achieved a 45% win rate with an average winning trade of $1,850 and average losing trade of $720. The maximum drawdown reached 18% during the testing period, with available capital of $50,000. The strategy employs 15-tick stop losses with contract specifications of $50 per tick, providing precise risk control mechanisms.
Implementation involves loading the calculator on the ES1! 15-minute chart to align with the systematic trading timeframe. Parameter configuration includes win rate at 45, average win at 1850, and average loss at 720. Total historical trades receives 234, providing robust statistical foundation, with account size set to 50000. The stop loss function is enabled with distance set to 15 ticks, reflecting the systematic exit methodology. Half Kelly mode balances growth potential with appropriate risk management for futures trading.
Results illustrate how favorable risk-reward ratios can support meaningful position sizing despite lower win rates. The risk-reward ratio calculates to 2.57, while the Kelly fraction reaches approximately 16%, lower than previous examples due to the sub-50% win rate. Sample confidence achieves 100% given the 234 trades providing high statistical confidence. The recommended position settles at approximately 8% after Half Kelly adjustment. Estimated margin per contract amounts to approximately $2,500, resulting in a single contract allocation. Position value reaches approximately $2,500, with risk per trade at $750, calculated as 15 ticks multiplied by $50 per tick. Expected value per trade amounts to approximately $508. Despite the lower win rate, the favorable risk-reward ratio supports meaningful position sizing, with single contract allocation reflecting appropriate leverage management for futures trading.
Example 4: MES1! Micro-Futures for Smaller Accounts
Micro-futures contracts provide enhanced accessibility for smaller trading accounts while maintaining identical strategy characteristics. Using the same systematic strategy statistics from the previous example but with available capital of $15,000 and micro-futures specifications of $5 per tick with reduced margin requirements, the implementation demonstrates improved position sizing granularity.
Kelly calculations remain identical to the full-sized contract example, maintaining the same risk-reward dynamics and statistical foundations. However, estimated margin per contract reduces to approximately $250 for micro-contracts, enabling allocation of 4-5 micro-contracts. Position value reaches approximately $1,200, while risk per trade calculates to $75, derived from 15 ticks multiplied by $5 per tick. This granularity advantage provides better position size precision for smaller accounts, enabling more accurate Kelly implementation without requiring large capital commitments.
Example 5: Bitcoin Swing Trading
Cryptocurrency markets present unique challenges requiring modified Kelly application approaches. A Bitcoin swing trading strategy on BTCUSD encompasses 67 total trades with a 71% win rate, generating average winning trades of $3,200 and average losing trades of $1,400. Maximum drawdown reached 28% during testing, with available capital of $30,000. The strategy employs technical analysis for exits without fixed stop losses, relying on price action and momentum indicators.
Implementation requires conservative approaches due to cryptocurrency volatility characteristics. Quarter Kelly mode is recommended despite the high win rate to account for crypto market unpredictability. Expected position sizing remains reduced due to the limited sample size of 67 trades, requiring additional caution until statistical confidence improves. Regular parameter updates are strongly recommended due to cryptocurrency market evolution and changing volatility patterns that can significantly impact strategy performance characteristics.
Advanced Usage Scenarios
Portfolio position sizing requires sophisticated consideration when running multiple strategies simultaneously. Each strategy should have its Kelly fraction calculated independently to maintain mathematical integrity. However, correlation adjustments become necessary when strategies exhibit related performance patterns. Moderately correlated strategies should receive individual position size reductions of 10-20% to account for overlapping risk exposure. Aggregate portfolio risk monitoring ensures total exposure remains within acceptable limits across all active strategies. Professional practitioners often consider using lower fractional Kelly approaches, such as Quarter Kelly, when running multiple strategies simultaneously to provide additional safety margins.
Parameter sensitivity analysis forms a critical component of professional Kelly implementation. Regular validation procedures should include monthly parameter updates using rolling 100-trade windows to capture evolving market conditions while maintaining statistical relevance. Sensitivity testing involves varying win rates by ±5% and average win/loss ratios by ±10% to assess recommendation stability under different parameter assumptions. Out-of-sample validation reserves 20% of historical data for parameter verification, ensuring that optimization doesn't create curve-fitted results. Regime change detection monitors actual performance against expected metrics, triggering parameter reassessment when significant deviations occur.
Risk management integration requires professional overlay considerations beyond pure Kelly calculations. Daily loss limits should cease trading when daily losses exceed twice the calculated risk per trade, preventing emotional decision-making during adverse periods. Maximum position limits should never exceed 25% of account value in any single position regardless of Kelly recommendations, maintaining diversification principles. Correlation monitoring reduces position sizes when holding multiple correlated positions that move together during market stress. Volatility adjustments consider reducing position sizes during periods of elevated VIX above 25 for equity strategies, adapting to changing market conditions.
Troubleshooting and Optimization
Professional implementation often encounters specific challenges requiring systematic troubleshooting approaches. Zero position size displays typically result from insufficient capital for minimum position sizes, negative expected values, or extremely conservative Kelly calculations. Solutions include increasing account size, verifying strategy statistics for accuracy, considering Quarter Kelly mode for conservative approaches, or reassessing overall strategy viability when fundamental issues exist.
Extremely high Kelly fractions exceeding 50% usually indicate underlying problems with parameter estimation. Common causes include unrealistic win rates, inflated risk-reward ratios, or curve-fitted backtest results that don't reflect genuine trading conditions. Solutions require verifying backtest methodology, including all transaction costs in calculations, testing strategies on out-of-sample data, and using conservative fractional Kelly approaches until parameter reliability improves.
Low sample confidence below 50% reflects insufficient historical trades for reliable parameter estimation. This situation demands gathering additional trading data, using Quarter Kelly approaches until reaching 100 or more trades, applying extra conservatism in position sizing, and considering paper trading to build statistical foundations without capital risk.
Inconsistent results across similar strategies often stem from parameter estimation differences, market regime changes, or strategy degradation over time. Professional solutions include standardizing backtest methodology across all strategies, updating parameters regularly to reflect current conditions, and monitoring live performance against expectations to identify deteriorating strategies.
Position sizes that appear inappropriately large or small require careful validation against traditional risk management principles. Professional standards recommend never risking more than 2-3% per trade regardless of Kelly calculations. Calibration should begin with Quarter Kelly approaches, gradually increasing as comfort and confidence develop. Most institutional traders utilize 25-50% of full Kelly recommendations to balance growth with prudent risk management.
Market condition adjustments require dynamic approaches to Kelly implementation. Trending markets may support full Kelly recommendations when directional momentum provides favorable conditions. Ranging or volatile markets typically warrant reducing to Half or Quarter Kelly to account for increased uncertainty. High correlation periods demand reducing individual position sizes when multiple positions move together, concentrating risk exposure. News and event periods often justify temporary position size reductions during high-impact releases that can create unpredictable market movements.
Performance monitoring requires systematic protocols to ensure Kelly implementation remains effective over time. Weekly reviews should compare actual versus expected win rates and average win/loss ratios to identify parameter drift or strategy degradation. Position size efficiency and execution quality monitoring ensures that calculated recommendations translate effectively into actual trading results. Tracking correlation between calculated and realized risk helps identify discrepancies between theoretical and practical risk exposure.
Monthly calibration provides more comprehensive parameter assessment using the most recent 100 trades to maintain statistical relevance while capturing current market conditions. Kelly mode appropriateness requires reassessment based on recent market volatility and performance characteristics, potentially shifting between Full, Half, and Quarter Kelly approaches as conditions change. Transaction cost evaluation ensures that commission structures, spreads, and slippage estimates remain accurate and current.
Quarterly strategic reviews encompass comprehensive strategy performance analysis comparing long-term results against expectations and identifying trends in effectiveness. Market regime assessment evaluates parameter stability across different market conditions, determining whether strategy characteristics remain consistent or require fundamental adjustments. Strategic modifications to position sizing methodology may become necessary as markets evolve or trading approaches mature, ensuring that Kelly implementation continues supporting optimal capital allocation objectives.
Professional Applications
This calculator serves diverse professional applications across the financial industry. Quantitative hedge funds utilize the implementation for systematic position sizing within algorithmic trading frameworks, where mathematical precision and consistent application prove essential for institutional capital management. Professional discretionary traders benefit from optimized position management that removes emotional bias while maintaining flexibility for market-specific adjustments. Portfolio managers employ the calculator for developing risk-adjusted allocation strategies that enhance returns while maintaining prudent risk controls across diverse asset classes and investment strategies.
Individual traders seeking mathematical optimization of capital allocation find the calculator provides institutional-grade methodology previously available only to professional money managers. The Kelly Criterion establishes theoretical foundation for optimal capital allocation across both single strategies and multiple trading systems, offering significant advantages over arbitrary position sizing methods that rely on intuition or fixed percentage approaches. Professional implementation ensures consistent application of mathematically sound principles while adapting to changing market conditions and strategy performance characteristics.
Conclusion
The Kelly Criterion represents one of the few mathematically optimal solutions to fundamental investment problems. When properly understood and carefully implemented, it provides significant competitive advantage in financial markets. This calculator implements modern refinements to Kelly's original formula while maintaining accessibility for practical trading applications.
Success with Kelly requires ongoing learning, systematic application, and continuous refinement based on market feedback and evolving research. Users who master Kelly principles and implement them systematically can expect superior risk-adjusted returns and more consistent capital growth over extended periods.
The extensive academic literature provides rich resources for deeper study, while practical experience builds the intuition necessary for effective implementation. Regular parameter updates, conservative approaches with limited data, and disciplined adherence to calculated recommendations are essential for optimal results.
References
Archer, M. D. (2010). Getting Started in Currency Trading: Winning in Today's Forex Market (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Baker, R. D., & McHale, I. G. (2012). An empirical Bayes approach to optimising betting strategies. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series D (The Statistician), 61(1), 75-92.
Breiman, L. (1961). Optimal gambling systems for favorable games. In J. Neyman (Ed.), Proceedings of the Fourth Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability (pp. 65-78). University of California Press.
Brown, D. B. (1976). Optimal portfolio growth: Logarithmic utility and the Kelly criterion. In W. T. Ziemba & R. G. Vickson (Eds.), Stochastic Optimization Models in Finance (pp. 1-23). Academic Press.
Browne, S., & Whitt, W. (1996). Portfolio choice and the Bayesian Kelly criterion. Advances in Applied Probability, 28(4), 1145-1176.
Estrada, J. (2008). Geometric mean maximization: An overlooked portfolio approach? The Journal of Investing, 17(4), 134-147.
Hakansson, N. H., & Ziemba, W. T. (1995). Capital growth theory. In R. A. Jarrow, V. Maksimovic, & W. T. Ziemba (Eds.), Handbooks in Operations Research and Management Science (Vol. 9, pp. 65-86). Elsevier.
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263-291.
Kaufman, P. J. (2013). Trading Systems and Methods (5th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Kelly Jr, J. L. (1956). A new interpretation of information rate. Bell System Technical Journal, 35(4), 917-926.
Lo, A. W., & MacKinlay, A. C. (1999). A Non-Random Walk Down Wall Street. Princeton University Press.
MacLean, L. C., Sanegre, E. O., Zhao, Y., & Ziemba, W. T. (2004). Capital growth with security. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 28(4), 937-954.
MacLean, L. C., Thorp, E. O., & Ziemba, W. T. (2011). The Kelly Capital Growth Investment Criterion: Theory and Practice. World Scientific.
Michaud, R. O. (1989). The Markowitz optimization enigma: Is 'optimized' optimal? Financial Analysts Journal, 45(1), 31-42.
Pabrai, M. (2007). The Dhandho Investor: The Low-Risk Value Method to High Returns. John Wiley & Sons.
Shannon, C. E. (1948). A mathematical theory of communication. Bell System Technical Journal, 27(3), 379-423.
Tharp, V. K. (2007). Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Thorp, E. O. (2006). The Kelly criterion in blackjack sports betting, and the stock market. In L. C. MacLean, E. O. Thorp, & W. T. Ziemba (Eds.), The Kelly Capital Growth Investment Criterion: Theory and Practice (pp. 789-832). World Scientific.
Van Tharp, K. (2007). Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Vince, R. (1992). The Mathematics of Money Management: Risk Analysis Techniques for Traders. John Wiley & Sons.
Vince, R., & Zhu, H. (2015). Optimal betting under parameter uncertainty. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 161, 19-31.
Ziemba, W. T. (2003). The Stochastic Programming Approach to Asset, Liability, and Wealth Management. The Research Foundation of AIMR.
Further Reading
For comprehensive understanding of Kelly Criterion applications and advanced implementations:
MacLean, L. C., Thorp, E. O., & Ziemba, W. T. (2011). The Kelly Capital Growth Investment Criterion: Theory and Practice. World Scientific.
Vince, R. (1992). The Mathematics of Money Management: Risk Analysis Techniques for Traders. John Wiley & Sons.
Thorp, E. O. (2017). A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street. Random House.
Cover, T. M., & Thomas, J. A. (2006). Elements of Information Theory (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Ziemba, W. T., & Vickson, R. G. (Eds.). (2006). Stochastic Optimization Models in Finance. World Scientific.
Internals Elite NYSE [Beta]Overview:
This indicator is designed to provide traders with a quick overview of key market internals and metrics in a single, easy-to-read table displayed directly on the chart. It incorporates a variety of metrics that help gauge market sentiment, momentum, and overall market conditions.
The table dynamically updates in real-time and uses color-coding to highlight significant changes or thresholds, allowing traders to quickly interpret the data and make informed trading decisions.
Features:
Market Internals:
TICK: Measures the difference between the number of stocks ticking up versus those ticking down on the NYSE. Green or red background indicates if it crosses a user-defined threshold.
Advance/Decline (ADD): Shows the net number of advancing versus declining stocks on the NYSE. Color-coded to show positive, negative, or neutral conditions.
Volatility Metrics:
VIX Change (%): Displays the percentage change in the Volatility Index (VIX), a key gauge of market fear or complacency. Color-coded for direction.
VIX Price: Displays the current VIX price with thresholds to indicate low, medium, or high volatility.
Other Market Metrics:
DXY Change (%): Percentage change in the US Dollar Index (DXY), indicating dollar strength or weakness.
VWAP Deviation (%): Percentage of stocks above VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price), helping traders assess intraday buying and selling pressure.
Asset-Specific Metrics:
BTCUSD Change (%): Percentage change in Bitcoin (BTC) price, useful for monitoring cryptocurrency sentiment.
SPY Change (%): Percentage change in the S&P 500 ETF (SPY), a proxy for the overall stock market.
Current Ticker Change (%): Percentage change in the currently selected ticker on the chart.
US10Y Change (%): Percentage change in the yield of the 10-Year US Treasury Note (TVC:US10Y), an important macroeconomic indicator.
Customizable Appearance:
Adjustable text size to suit your chart layout.
User-defined thresholds for key metrics (e.g., TICK, ADD, VWAP, VIX).
Dynamic Table Placement:
You can position the table anywhere on the chart: top-right, top-left, bottom-right, bottom-left, middle-right, or middle-left.
How to Use:
Add the Indicator to Your Chart:
Apply the indicator to your chart from the Pine Script editor in TradingView.
Customize the Inputs:
Adjust the thresholds for TICK, ADD, VWAP, and VIX according to your trading style.
Enable or disable the metrics you want to see in the table by toggling the display options for each metric (e.g., Show TICK, Show BTC, Show SPY).
Set the table placement to your preferred position on the chart.
Interpret the Table:
Look for color-coded cells to quickly identify significant changes or breaches of thresholds.
Positive values are typically shown in green, negative values in red, and neutral/insignificant changes in gray.
Use metrics like TICK and ADD to gauge market breadth and momentum.
Refer to VWAP deviation to assess intraday buying or selling pressure.
Monitor the VIX and US10Y changes to stay aware of macroeconomic and volatility shifts.
Incorporate Into Your Strategy:
Use the indicator alongside technical analysis to confirm setups or identify areas of caution.
Keep an eye on correlated metrics (e.g., VIX and SPY) for broader market context.
Use BTCUSD or DXY as additional indicators of risk-on/risk-off sentiment.
Ideal Users:
Day Traders: Quickly gauge intraday market conditions and momentum.
Swing Traders: Identify broader sentiment shifts using metrics like ADD, DXY, and US10Y.
Macro Investors: Stay updated on key macroeconomic indicators like the 10-Year Treasury yield (US10Y) and the US Dollar Index (DXY).
This indicator serves as a comprehensive tool for understanding market conditions at a glance, enabling traders to act decisively based on the latest data.
Advanced Economic Indicator by USCG_VetAdvanced Economic Indicator by USCG_Vet
tldr:
This comprehensive TradingView indicator combines multiple economic and financial metrics into a single, customizable composite index. By integrating key indicators such as the yield spread, commodity ratios, stock indices, and the Federal Reserve's QE/QT activities, it provides a holistic view of the economic landscape. Users can adjust the components and their weights to tailor the indicator to their analysis, aiding in forecasting economic conditions and market trends.
Detailed Description
Overview
The Advanced Economic Indicator is designed to provide traders and investors with a powerful tool to assess the overall economic environment. By aggregating a diverse set of economic indicators and financial market data into a single composite index, it helps identify potential turning points in the economy and financial markets.
Key Features:
Comprehensive Coverage: Includes 14 critical economic and financial indicators.
Customizable Components: Users can select which indicators to include.
Adjustable Weights: Assign weights to each component based on perceived significance.
Visual Signals: Clear plotting with threshold lines and background highlights.
Alerts: Set up alerts for when the composite index crosses user-defined thresholds.
Included Indicators
Yield Spread (10-Year Treasury Yield minus 3-Month Treasury Yield)
Copper/Gold Ratio
High Yield Spread (HYG/IEF Ratio)
Stock Market Performance (S&P 500 Index - SPX)
Bitcoin Performance (BLX)
Crude Oil Prices (CL1!)
Volatility Index (VIX)
U.S. Dollar Index (DXY)
Inflation Expectations (TIP ETF)
Consumer Confidence (XLY ETF)
Housing Market Index (XHB)
Manufacturing PMI (XLI ETF)
Unemployment Rate (Inverse SPY as Proxy)
Federal Reserve QE/QT Activities (Fed Balance Sheet - WALCL)
How to Use the Indicator
Configuring the Indicator:
Open Settings: Click on the gear icon (⚙️) next to the indicator's name.
Inputs Tab: You'll find a list of all components with checkboxes and weight inputs.
Including/Excluding Components
Checkboxes: Check or uncheck the box next to each component to include or exclude it from the composite index.
Default State: By default, all components are included.
Adjusting Component Weights:
Weight Inputs: Next to each component's checkbox is a weight input field.
Default Weights: Pre-assigned based on economic significance but fully adjustable.
Custom Weights: Enter your desired weight for each component to reflect your analysis.
Threshold Settings:
Bearish Threshold: Default is -1.0. Adjust to set the level below which the indicator signals potential economic downturns.
Bullish Threshold: Default is 1.0. Adjust to set the level above which the indicator signals potential economic upswings.
Setting the Timeframe:
Weekly Timeframe Recommended: Due to the inclusion of the Fed's balance sheet data (updated weekly), it's best to use this indicator on a weekly chart.
Changing Timeframe: Select 1W (weekly) from the timeframe options at the top of the chart.
Interpreting the Indicator:
Composite Index Line
Plot: The blue line represents the composite economic indicator.
Movement: Observe how the line moves relative to the threshold lines.
Threshold Lines
Zero Line (Gray Dotted): Indicates the neutral point.
Bearish Threshold (Red Dashed): Crossing below suggests potential economic weakness.
Bullish Threshold (Green Dashed): Crossing above suggests potential economic strength.
Background Highlights
Red Background: When the composite index is below the bearish threshold.
Green Background: When the composite index is above the bullish threshold.
No Color: When the composite index is between the thresholds.
Understanding the Components
1. Yield Spread
Description: The difference between the 10-year and 3-month U.S. Treasury yields.
Economic Significance: An inverted yield curve (negative spread) has historically preceded recessions.
2. Copper/Gold Ratio
Description: The price ratio of copper to gold.
Economic Significance: Copper is tied to industrial demand; gold is a safe-haven asset. The ratio indicates risk sentiment.
3. High Yield Spread (HYG/IEF Ratio)
Description: Ratio of high-yield corporate bonds (HYG) to intermediate-term Treasury bonds (IEF).
Economic Significance: Reflects investor appetite for risk; widening spreads can signal credit stress.
4. Stock Market Performance (SPX)
Description: S&P 500 Index levels.
Economic Significance: Broad measure of U.S. equity market performance.
5. Bitcoin Performance (BLX)
Description: Bitcoin Liquid Index price.
Economic Significance: Represents risk appetite in speculative assets.
6. Crude Oil Prices (CL1!)
Description: Front-month crude oil futures price.
Economic Significance: Influences inflation and consumer spending.
7. Volatility Index (VIX)
Description: Market's expectation of volatility (fear gauge).
Economic Significance: High VIX indicates market uncertainty; inverted in the indicator to align directionally.
8. U.S. Dollar Index (DXY)
Description: Value of the U.S. dollar relative to a basket of foreign currencies.
Economic Significance: Affects international trade and commodity prices; inverted in the indicator.
9. Inflation Expectations (TIP ETF)
Description: iShares TIPS Bond ETF prices.
Economic Significance: Reflects market expectations of inflation.
10. Consumer Confidence (XLY ETF)
Description: Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund prices.
Economic Significance: Proxy for consumer confidence and spending.
11. Housing Market Index (XHB)
Description: SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF prices.
Economic Significance: Indicator of the housing market's health.
12. Manufacturing PMI (XLI ETF)
Description: Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund prices.
Economic Significance: Proxy for manufacturing activity.
13. Unemployment Rate (Inverse SPY as Proxy)
Description: Inverse of the SPY ETF price.
Economic Significance: Represents unemployment trends; higher inverse SPY suggests higher unemployment.
14. Federal Reserve QE/QT Activities (Fed Balance Sheet - WALCL)
Description: Total assets held by the Federal Reserve.
Economic Significance: Indicates liquidity injections (QE) or withdrawals (QT); impacts interest rates and asset prices.
Customization and Advanced Usage
Adjusting Weights:
Purpose: Emphasize components you believe are more predictive or relevant.
Method: Increase or decrease the weight value next to each component.
Example: If you think the yield spread is particularly important, you might assign it a higher weight.
Disclaimer
This indicator is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Trading and investing involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Always conduct your own analysis and consult with a professional financial advisor before making investment decisions.
BetaBeta , also known as the Beta coefficient, is a measure that compares the volatility of an individual underlying or portfolio to the volatility of the entire market, typically represented by a market index like the S&P 500 or an investible product such as the SPY ETF (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust). A Beta value provides insight into how an asset's returns are expected to respond to market swings.
Interpretation of Beta Values
Beta = 1: The asset's volatility is in line with the market. If the market rises or falls, the asset is expected to move correspondingly.
Beta > 1: The asset is more volatile than the market. If the market rises or falls, the asset's price is expected to rise or fall more significantly.
Beta < 1 but > 0: The asset is less volatile than the market. It still moves in the same direction as the market but with less magnitude.
Beta = 0: The asset's returns are not correlated with the market's returns.
Beta < 0: The asset moves in the opposite direction to the market.
Example
A beta of 1.20 relative to the S&P 500 Index or SPY implies that if the S&P's return increases by 1%, the portfolio is expected to increase by 12.0%.
A beta of -0.10 relative to the S&P 500 Index or SPY implies that if the S&P's return increases by 1%, the portfolio is expected to decrease by 0.1%. In practical terms, this implies that the portfolio is expected to be predominantly 'market neutral' .
Calculation & Default Values
The Beta of an asset is calculated by dividing the covariance of the asset's returns with the market's returns by the variance of the market's returns over a certain period (standard period: 1 years, 250 trading days). Hint: It's noteworthy to mention that Beta can also be derived through linear regression analysis, although this technique is not employed in this Beta Indicator.
Formula: Beta = Covariance(Asset Returns, Market Returns) / Variance(Market Returns)
Reference Market: Essentially any reference market index or product can be used. The default reference is the SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust), primarily due to its investable nature and broad representation of the market. However, it's crucial to note that Beta can also be calculated by comparing specific underlyings, such as two different stocks or commodities, instead of comparing an asset to the broader market. This flexibility allows for a more tailored analysis of volatility and correlation, depending on the user's specific trading or investment focus.
Look-back Period: The standard look-back period is typically 1-5 years (250-1250 trading days), but this can be adjusted based on the user's preference and the specifics of the trading strategy. For robust estimations, use at least 250 trading days.
Option Delta: An optional feature in the Beta Indicator is the ability to select a specific Delta value if options are written on the underlying asset with Deltas less than 1, providing an estimation of the beta-weighted delta of the position. It involves multiplying the beta of the underlying asset by the delta of the option. This addition allows for a more precise assessment of the underlying asset's correspondence with the overall market in case you are an options trader. The default Delta value is set to 1, representing scenarios where no options on the underlying asset are being analyzed. This default setting aligns with analyzing the direct relationship between the asset itself and the market, without the layer of complexity introduced by options.
Calculation: Simple or Log Returns: In the calculation of Beta, users have the option to choose between using simple returns or log returns for both the asset and the market. The default setting is 'Simple Returns'.
Advantages of Using Beta
Risk Management: Beta provides a clear metric for understanding and managing the risk of a portfolio in relation to market movements.
Portfolio Diversification: By knowing the beta of various assets, investors can create a balanced portfolio that aligns with their risk tolerance and investment goals.
Performance Benchmarking: Beta allows investors to compare an asset's risk-adjusted performance against the market or other benchmarks.
Beta-Weighted Deltas for Options Traders
For options traders, understanding the beta-weighted delta is crucial. It involves multiplying the beta of the underlying asset by the delta of the option. This provides a more nuanced view of the option's risk relative to the overall market. However, it's important to note that the delta of an option is dynamic, changing with the asset's price, time to expiration, and other factors.
RedK Relative Strength Ribbon: RS Ribbon and RS ChartsRedK Relative Strength Ribbon (RedK RS_Ribbon) is TA tool that plots the Relative Strength of the current chart symbol against another symbol, or an index of choice. It enables us to see when a stock is gaining strength (or weakness) relative to (an index that represents) the market, and when it hits new highs or lows of that relative strength, which may lead to better trading decisions.
I searched TV for existing RS indicators but didn't find what I really wanted, so I put this together and added some additional features for my own use. It started as a simple RS line with new x-weeks Hi/Lo markers, then evolved into what you see here in v1.0 with the ability to plot a full RS chart in regular or HA candle types. Hope this will be useful to some other growth traders here on TV.
What is Relative Strength (RS)
------------------------------------
(RS is a comprehensive concept in TA, below is a quick summary - please research further if it's not already a familiar topic)
Relative Strength (RS) is a technical concept / indicator used mainly by growth / swing / momentum traders to compare the performance of one security or asset against another. RS measures the price performance of a specific security relative to a benchmark, such as an index or another asset. It's not to be confused with the famous Relative Strength Index (RSI) technical indicator
For example, In the context of comparing a stock's relative strength to the SPY (S&P 500) index, the relative strength calculation involves dividing the stock's price or price-related value (e.g., close price) by the corresponding value of the SPY index. The resulting ratio (and its trend over time) indicates the relative performance of the stock compared to the index.
Traders and investors use relative strength analysis to identify securities that have been showing relative strength or weakness compared to a benchmark, which can help in making investment decisions or identifying the "market leaders" and potential trading opportunities.
There are so many books and documentation about the RS concept and its importance to identify market leaders, especially when recovering from a bear market - if you're interested in the concept, please search more about it and review some of that literature. There's also a more detailed definition of Relative Strength in this article on Invstopedia
RedK RS_Ribbon features and options
---------------------------------------------------
The indicator settings provide many options and features - see the settings box below
- Change / choose base symbol
The default is to use SPY as the base symbol - so we're comparing the chart's symbol to a proxy of the S&P 500 - Some traders may prefer to use the QQQ - or other index or ETF that acts as a proxy for the industry / sector / market they are trading
- RS Calculation / RS line
we use the simple form of the RS calculation,
RS = closing price of current chart symbol / closing price of the base symbol (default is SPY) * 100
some RS documentation will use the Rate of Change (RoC) - but that's not what we're using here.
- The RS_Ribbon
* Once the RS line is plotted, it made sense to add couple of moving averages to it, to make it easier to observe the trend of the RS and the changes in that trend as you can see in the sample chart on top.
* The RS_Ribbon is made up of a fast and slow moving averages and will change color (green / red) based on detected trend RS direction - the 2 MA types and lengths can be changed until you get the setup that provides the best view for you of the RS trend over time. My preferred settings are used as defaults here.
- Identifying New (x)Week Hi/Lo RS Values
* Most traders would be interested when the calculated RS hits a new 52-week high or low value.
* There are cases where we may want to see when a new RS Hi/Lo has been hit for a different period - for example, a quarter (13 weeks)
* the number of weeks can be changed as well as adjusting the numbers of trading days per week (if needed for certain symbols/exchanges)
- Working with Different Timeframes
* Now these "markers" will only be available in the daily and weekly timeframes and there is a good reason for that, it's not the fact that i'm lazy :) and that enabling this in timeframes lower than 1D would have been some heavy lifting, but the reality is that with RS, we're really interested if a "day's close" hits a new RS high or low value against the moving window of x weeks (and the weeks close also) - if you think of this more, at lower TF, RS can hit a lower value that never end up registering on the daily closing and that causes a lot of visual confusion. So i took the "cleaner way out" of that issue.
* note that you can choose a different timeframe for the RS_Ribbon than the chart - if you do, please make sure the chart is at a lower timeframe than the indicator's - (and in that case remember to hide the candles because they won't make much sense)
i wanted to leverage TV's built-in multi-Timeframe (MTF) support with the caveat that using the indicator at lower TF with a chart at a higher TF (example chart at 1Wk and indicator at 1D) will show inaccurate results. If this sounds confusing, keep the indicator TF same as the chart.
the example here shows a 2-Hr chart against 1D RS_Ribbon
- Using RS Charts and RS Candles
* Beside the ability to plot the RS "closing" value with the RS line, the indicator provides the ability to show a "full" RS Chart with candles that represent the relative values of open, high, low. and close against the base symbol.
* the RS Charts can be used for regular chart analysis, for example, we can identify common chart patterns like Cup & Handle, VCP, Head & Shoulder..etc using these charts .. which can provide some edge over the price charts
* for the Heikin Ashi fans, I added the ability to choose classic or HA candles for the chart. note you have to enable the option to show the RS candles first before you choose the option to switch to HA.
The chart below shows a side-by-side comparison on the 2 RS chart types
Closing remarks
-----------------------
* RS is a good way to identify market/sector leaders (who will usually recover from a bear market before others) - and enable us to see the strength that comes from the broader makrket versus the one that comes from the stock's own performance and identify good trading opportunities
* I'll continue to update this work and alerts will come in next version - but wanted to check initial reaction and value
* as usual, if you decide to use this in your chart analysis, it's necessary to combine with other momentum, trend, ...etc indicators and do not make trading decision only based on the signales from a single indicator
Modern Portfolio Management IndicatorAfter weeks of grueling over this indicator, I am excited to be releasing it!
Intro:
This is not a sexy, technical or math based indicator that will give you buy and sell signals or anything fancy, but it is an indicator that I created in hopes to bridge a gap I have noticed. That gap is the lack of indicators and technical resources for those who also like to plan their investments. This indicator is tailored to those who are either established investors and to those who are looking to get into investing but don't really know where to start.
The premise of this indicator is based on Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). Before we get into the indicator itself, I think its important to provide a quick synopsis of MPT.
About MPT:
Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is an investment framework that was developed by Harry Markowitz in the 1950s. It is based on the idea that an investor can optimize their investment portfolio by considering the trade-off between risk and return. MPT emphasizes diversification and holds that the risk of an individual asset should be assessed in the context of its contribution to the overall portfolio's risk. The theory suggests that by diversifying investments across different asset classes with varying levels of risk, an investor can achieve a more efficient portfolio that maximizes returns for a given level of risk or minimizes risk for a desired level of return. MPT also introduced the concept of the efficient frontier, which represents the set of portfolios that offer the highest expected return for a given level of risk. MPT has been widely adopted and used by investors, financial advisors, and portfolio managers to construct and manage portfolios.
So how does this indicator help with MPT?
The thinking and theory that went behind this indicator was this: I wanted an indicator, or really just a "way" to test and back-test ticker performance over time and under various circumstances and help manage risk.
Over the last 3 years we have seen a massive bull market, followed by a pretty huge bear market, followed by a very unexpected bull market. We have been and continue to be plagued with economic and political uncertainty that seems to constantly be looming over everyone with each waking day. Some people have liquidated their retirement investments, while others are fomoing in to catch this current bull run. But which tickers are sound and how tickers and funds have compared amongst each other remains somewhat difficult to ascertain, absent manually reviewing and calculating each ticker individually.
That is where this indicator comes in. This indicator permits the user to define up to 5 equities that they are potentially interested in investing in, or are already invested in. The user can then select a specific period in time, say from the beginning of 2022 till now. The user can then define how much they want to invest in each company by number of shares, so if they want to buy 1 share a week, or 2 shares a month, they can input these variables into the indicator to draw conclusions. As many brokers are also now permitting fractional share trading, this ability is also integrated into the indicator. So for shares, you can put in, say, 0.25 shares of SPY and the indicator will accept this and account for this fractional share.
The indicator will then show you a portfolio summary of what your earnings and returns would be for the defined period. It will provide a percent return as well as the projected P&L based on your desired investment amount and frequency.
But it goes beyond just that, you can also have the indicator display a simple forecasting projection of the portfolio. It will show the projected P&L and % Return over various periods in time on each of the ticker (see image below):
The indicator will also break down your portfolio allocation, it will show where the majority of your holdings are and where the majority of your P&L in coming from (best performers will show a green fill and worst will show a red fill, see image below):
This colour coding also extends to the portfolio breakdown itself.
Dollar cost averaging (DCA) is incorporated into the indicator itself, by assuming ongoing contributions. If you want to stop contributions at a certain point, you just select your end time for contributions at the point in which you would stop contributing.
The indicator also provides some basic fundamental information about the company tickers (if applicable). Simply select the "Fundamental" chart and it will display a breakdown of the fundamentals, including dividends paid, market cap and earnings yield:
The indicator also provides a correlation assessment of each holding against each other holding. This emphasizes the profound role of diversification on portfolios. The less correlation you have in your portfolio among your holdings, the better diversified you are. As well, if you have holdings that are perfectly inverse other holdings, you have a pseudo hedge against the downturn of one of your holdings. This is even more helpful if the inverse is a company with solid fundamentals.
In the below example you will see NASDAQ:IRDM in the portfolio. You will be able to see that NASDAQ:IRDM has a slight inverse relationship to SPY:
Yet IRDM has solid fundamentals and is performing well fundamentally. Thus, this makes IRDIM a solid addition to your portfolio as it can potentially hedge against a downturn for SPY and is less risky than simply holding an inverse leveraged share on SPY which is most likely just going to cost you money than make you money.
Concluding remarks:
There are many fun and interesting things you can do with this indicator and I encourage you to try it out and have fun with it! The overall objective with the indicator is to help you plan for your portfolio and not necessarily to manage your portfolio. If you have a few stocks you are looking at and contemplating investing in, this will help you run some theoretical scenarios with this stock based on historical performance and also help give you a feel of how it will perform in the future based on past behaviour.
It is important to remember that past behaviour does not indicate future behaviour, but the indicator provides you with tools to get a feel for how a stock has performed under various circumstances and get a general feel of the fundamentals of the company you could potentially be investing in.
Please note, this indicator is not meant to replace full, fundamental analyses of individual companies. It is simply meant to give you a "gist" of how companies are fundamentally and how they have performed historically.
I hope you enjoy it!
Safe trades everyone!
Trend Correlation HeatmapHello everyone!
I am excited to release my trend correlation heatmap, or trend heatmap for short.
Per usual, I think its important to explain the theory before we get into the use of the indicator, so let's get into the theory!
The theory:
So what is a correlation?
Correlation is the relationship one variable has to another. Correlations are the basis of everything I do as a quantitative trader. From the correlation between the same variables (i.e. autocorrelation), the correlation between other variables (i.e. VIX and SPY, SPY High and SPY Low, DXY and ES1! close, etc.) and, as well, the correlation between price and time (time series correlation).
This may sound very familiar to you, especially if you are a user, observer or follower of my ideas and/or indicators. Ninety-five percent of my indicators are a function of one of those three things. Whether it be a time series based indicator (i.e.my time series indicator), whether it be autocorrelation (my autoregressive cloud indicator or my autocorrelation oscillator) or whether it be regressive in nature (i.e. my SPY Volume weighted close, or even my expected move which uses averages in lieu of regressive approaches but is foundational in regression principles. Or even my VIX oscillator which relies on the premise of correlations between tickers.) So correlation is extremely important to me and while its true I am more of a regression trader than anything, I would argue that I am more of a correlation trader, because correlations are the backbone of how I develop math models of stocks.
What I am trying to stress here is the importance of correlations. They really truly are foundational to any type of quantitative analysis for stocks. And as such, understanding the current relationship a stock has to time is pivotal for any meaningful analysis to be conducted.
So what is correlation to time and what does it tell us?
Correlation to time, otherwise known and commonly referred to as "Time Series", is the relationship a ticker's price has to the passing of time. It is displayed in the traditional Pearson Correlation Coefficient or R value and can be any value from -1 (strong negative relationship, i.e. a strong downtrend) to + 1 (i.e. a strong positive relationship, i.e. a strong uptrend). The higher or lower the value the stronger the up or downtrend is.
As such, correlation to time tells us two very important things. These are:
a) The direction of the stock; and
b) The strength of the trend.
Let's take a look at an example:
Above we have a chart of QQQ. We can see a trendline that seems to fit well. The questions we ask as traders are:
1. What is the likelihood QQQ breaks down from this trendline?
2. What is the likelihood QQQ continues up?
3. What is the likelihood QQQ does a false breakdown?
There are numerous mathematical approaches we can take to answer these questions. For example, 1 and 2 can be answered by use of a Cumulative Distribution Density analysis (CDDA) or even a linear or loglinear regression analysis and 3 can be answered, more or less, with a linear regression analysis and standard error ascertainment, or even just a general comparison using a data science approach (such as cosine similarity or Manhattan distance).
But, the reality is, all 3 of these questions can be visualized, at least in some way, by simply looking at the correlation to time. Let's look at this chart again, this time with the correlation heatmap applied:
If we look at the indicator we can see some pivotal things. These are:
1. We have 4, very strong uptrends that span both higher AND lower timeframes. We have a strong uptrend of 0.96 on the 5 minute, 50 candle period. We have a strong uptrend at the 300 candle lookback period on the 1 minute, we have a strong uptrend on the 100 day lookback on the daily timeframe period and we have a strong uptrend on the 5 minute on the 500 candle lookback period.
2. By comparison, we have 3 downtrends, all of which have correlations less than the 4 uptrends. All of the downtrends have a correlation above -0.8 (which we would want lower than -0.8 to be very strong), and all of the uptrends are greater than + 0.80.
3. We can also see that the uptrends are not confined to the smaller timeframes. We have multiple uptrends on multiple timeframes and both short term (50 to 100 candles) and long term (up to 500 candles).
4. The overall trend is strengthening to the upside manifested by a positive Max Change and a Positive Min change (to be discussed later more in-depth).
With this, we can see that QQQ is actually very strong and likely will continue at least some upside. If we let this play out:
We continued up, had one test and then bounced.
Now, I want to specify, this indicator is not a panacea for all trading. And in relation to the 3 questions posed, they are best answered, at least quantitatively, not only by correlation but also by the aforementioned methods (CDDA, etc.) but correlation will help you get a feel for the strength or weakness present with a stock.
What are some tangible applications of the indicator?
For me, this indicator is used in many ways. Let me outline some ways I generally apply this indicator in my day and swing trading:
1. Gauging the strength of the stock: The indictor tells you the most prevalent behavior of the stock. Are there more downtrends than uptrends present? Are the downtrends present on the larger timeframes vs uptrends on the shorter indicating a possible bullish reversal? or vice versa? Are the trends strengthening or weakening? All of these things can be visualized with the indicator.
2. Setting parameters for other indicators: If you trade EMAs or SMAs, you may have a "one size fits all" approach. However, its actually better to adjust your EMA or SMA length to the actual trend itself. Take a look at this:
This is QQQ on the 1 hour with the 200 EMA with 200 standard deviation bands added. If we look at the heatmap, we can see, yes indeed 200 has a fairly strong uptrend correlation of 0.70. But the strongest hourly uptrend is actually at 400 candles, with a correlation of 0.91. So what happens if we change the EMA length and standard deviation to 400? This:
The exact areas are circled and colour coded. You can see, the 400 offers more of a better reference point of supports and resistances as well as a better overall trend fit. And this is why I never advocate for getting married to a specific EMA. If you are an EMA 200 lover or 21 or 51, know that these are not always the best depending on the trend and situation.
Components of the indicator:
Ah okay, now for the boring stuff. Let's go over the functionality of the indicator. I tried to keep it simple, so it is pretty straight forward. If we open the menu here are our options:
We have the ability to toggle whichever timeframes we want. We also have the ability to toggle on or off the legend that displays the colour codes and the Max and Min highest change.
Max and Min highest change: The max and min highest change simply display the change in correlation over the previous 14 candles. An increasing Max change means that the Max trend is strengthening. If we see an increasing Max change and an increasing Min change (the Min correlation is moving up), this means the stock is bullish. Why? Because the min (i.e. ideally a big negative number) is going up closer to the positives. Therefore, the downtrend is weakening.
If we see both the Max and Min declining (red), that means the uptrend is weakening and downtrend is strengthening. Here are some examples:
Final Thoughts:
And that is the indicator and the theory behind the indicator.
In a nutshell, to summarize, the indicator simply tracks the correlation of a ticker to time on multiple timeframes. This will allow you to make judgements about strength, sentiment and also help you adjust which tools and timeframes you are using to perform your analyses.
As well, to make the indicator more user friendly, I tried to make the colours distinctively different. I was going to do different shades but it was a little difficult to visualize. As such, I have included a toggle-able legend with a breakdown of the colour codes!
That's it my friends, I hope you find it useful!
Safe trades and leave your questions, comments and feedback below!
Accelerating Dual Momentum ScoreThis is a score metric used by the Accelerating Dual Momentum strategy.
According to the website you referenced when you created, the strategy is as follows:
Strategy Rules
This strategy allocates 100% of of the portfolio to one asset each month.
1. On the last trading day of each month, calculate the “momentum score” for the S&P 500 ( SPY ) and the international small cap equities (SCZ). The momentum score is the average of the 1, 3, and 6-month total return for each asset.
2. If the momentum score of SCZ > SPY and is greater than 0, invest in SCZ.
3. If the momentum score of SPY > SCZ and is greater than 0, invest in SPY .
4. If neither momentum score is greater than 0, calculate the 1-month total return for long-term US Treasuries ( TLT ) and US TIPS (TIP). Invest in whichever has the higher return.
Source: portfoliodb.co
Volatility/Volume ImpactWe often hear statements such as follow the big volume to project possible price movements. Or low volatility is good for trend. How much of it is statistically right for different markets. I wrote this small script to study the impact of Volatility and Volume on price movements.
Concept is as below:
Compare volume with a reference median value. You can also use moving average or other types for this comparison.
If volume is higher than median, increment positive value impact with change in close price. If volume is less than median, then increment negative value impact with change in close price.
With this we derive pvd and nvd which are measure of price change when volume is higher and lower respectively. pvd measures the price change when volume is higher than median whereas nvd measures price change when volume is lower than median.
Calculate correlation of pvd and nvd with close price to see what is impacting the price by higher extent.
Colors are applied to plots which have higher correlation to price movement. For example, if pvd has higher correlation to price movement, then pvd is coloured green whereas nvd is coloured silver. Similarly if nvd has higher correlation to price then nvd is coloured in red whereas pvd is coloured in silver.
Similar calculation also applied for volatility.
With this, you can observe how price change is correlated to high/low volume and volatility.
Let us see some examples on different markets.
Example 1: AMEX:SPY
From the chart snapshot below, it looks evident that SPY always thrive when there is low volatility and LOW VOLUME!!
Example 2: NASDAQ:TSLA
The picture will be different if you look at individual stocks. For Tesla, the price movement is more correlated to high volume (unlike SPY where low volume days define the trend)
Example 3: KUCOIN:BTCUSDT
Unlike stocks and indices, high volatility defined the trend for BTC for long time. It thrived when volatility is more. We can see that high volume is still major influencer in BTC price movements.
Settings are very simple and self explanatory.
Hint: You can also move the indicator to chart overlay for better visualisation of comparison with close price.
Linear Regression Relative Strength[image/x/iZvwDWEY/
Relative Strength indicator comparing the current symbol to SPY (or any other benchmark). It may help to pick the right assets to complement the portfolio build around core ETFs such as SPY.
The general idea is to show if the current symbol outperforms or underperforms the benchmark (SPY by default) when bought some certain time ago. Relative performance is displayed as percent and is calculated for three different time ranges - short (1 mo by default), mid (1 quarter), and long (half a year). To smooth the volatility, the script uses linear regression to estimate the trend and takes the start and the end points of the linear regression line to compute the relative strength.
It is important to remember that the script shows the gain relative to SPY (or other selected benchmark), not the asset's gain. Therefore, it may indicate that the asset is profitable, but it still may lose value if SPY is in downtrend.
Therefore, it is crucial to check other indicators before making a decision. In the example above, standard linear regression for one quarter is used to indicate the direction of the trend.
Drawdown RangeHello death eaters, presenting a unique script which can be used for fundamental analysis or mean reversion based trades.
Process of deriving this table is as below:
Find out ATH for given day
Calculate the drawdown from ATH for the day and drawdown percentage
Based on the drawdown percentage, increment the count of basket which is based on input iNumber of ranges . For example, if number of ranges is 5, then there will be 5 baskets. First basket will fit drawdown percentage 0-20% and each subsequent ones will accommodate next 20% range.
Repeat the process from start to last bar. Once done, table will plot how much percentage of days belong to which basket.
For example, from the below chart of NASDAQ:AAPL
We can deduce following,
Historically stock has traded within 1% drawdown from ATH for 6.59% of time. This is the max amount of time stock has stayed in specific range of drawdown from ATH.
Stock has traded at the drawdown range of 82-83% from ATH for 0.17% of time. This is the least amount of time the stock has stayed in specific range of drawdown from ATH.
At present, stock is trading 2-3% below ATH and this has happened for about 2.46% of total days in trade
Maximum drawdown the stock has suffered is 83%
Lets take another example of NASDAQ:TSLA
Stock is trading at 21-22% below ATH. But, historically the max drawdown range where stock has traded is within 0-1%. Now, if we make this range to show 20 divisions instead of 100, it will look something like this:
Table suggests that stock is trading about 20-25% below ATH - which is right. But, table also suggests that stock has spent most number of days within this drawdown range when we divide it by 20 baskets instad of 100. I would probably wait for price to break out of this range before going long or short. At present, it seems a stage ranging stage. I might think about selling PUTs or covered CALLs outside this range.
Similarly, if you look at AMEX:SPY , 36% of the time, price has stayed within 5% from ATH - makes it a compelling bull case!!
NYSE:BABA is trading at 50-55% below ATH - which is the most it has retraced so far. In general, it is used to be within 15-20% from ATH
NOW, Bit of explanation on input options.
Number of Ranges : Says how many baskets the drawdown map needs to be divided into.
Reference : You can take ATH as reference or chose a time window between which the highest need to be considered for drawdown. This can be useful for megacaps which has gone beyond initial phase of uncertainity. There is no point looking at 80% drawdown AAPL had during 1990s. More approriate to look at it post 2000s where it started making higher impact and growth.
Cumulative Percentage : When this is unchecked, percentage division shows 0-nth percentage instad of percentage ranges. For example this is how it looks on SPY:
We can see that SPY has remained within 6% from ATH for more than 50% of the time.
Hope this is helpful. Happy trading :)
PS: this can be used in conjunction with Drawdown-Price-vs-Fundamentals to pick value stocks at discounted price while also keeping an eye on range tendencies of it.
Thanks to @mattX5 for the ideas and discussion today :)