Five Contemporary Trading Skills to Gain in 2021

By Chainika Thakar

The trading domain is as dynamic as the rest of the world. It is swiftly adapting to technological advancements and moving to the algorithmic trading domain. Considering the rapid change, it is imperative for the trader of today to upskill themselves. Estimates indicate that between 2021-2025, the algorithmic trading market is set to grow by $3.7 billion.

So, to be future-ready, let us take a look at the list of the top five skills which are essential to a trader in 2021 and beyond.

You can see the table below for a quick glance at the 5 trading skills which are covered in this blog:

• Quantitative analysis
• Python
• Backtesting
• Machine learning
• Risk management

Going ahead in this article, let us explore each of these key areas of expertise, understand what they mean and identify areas of improvements for ourselves.

Quantitative analysis

Quantitative analysis is a statistical/scientific study of the market based on technical indicators such as moving averages, oscillators etc. In simple words, quantitative analysts do statistical backtesting of the strategy while using the technical indicators very much like technical analysis.

The course helps learners understand how to apply backtesting in quantitative analysis, ensuring strategies are thoroughly tested before real-world application. By mastering backtesting techniques, you can refine your strategies for more accurate predictions and improved market performance.

Technical analysis is a study of forecasting the price of financial securities by analyzing the historical market data. Technical analysis employs models and trading rules based on price and volume. For example, technical analysis uses relative strength index, moving averages, oscillators, or chart patterns & waves.

In case of quantitative analysis, the performance of the market is found out by making use of neural networks, machine learning, and other statistical tools for developing a trading strategy which can be quantified. Learn more about how neural network in trading can help enhance your skills. For quantifying the analysis, an expertise in mathematical and statistical research tools and methods is required. Usually, quantitative analysis helps the traders more than technical analysis since it provides a scientific outcome to help develop an algorithm with an entry, an exit and position sizing.

For instance, quantitative analysis uses the candlestick pattern to run a statistical test and then finds out if the strategy can be run on the basis of analysis which can be quantified.

This video helps you learn about both quantitative analysis and technical analysis in detail:

The skills covered in quantitative analysis are:

• Python
• Machine learning
• Mathematical skills
• Financial skills
• Object oriented programming
• Portfolio theory
• Calculus
• Linear algebra and differential equations
• Database management
• Backtesting

Next in line is Python language. Let us find out how Python supports trading.

Suggested read: How to become a quantitative analyst?

Python

A programming language is a prerequisite for any new aged trader who wants to make use of technological and computational advancements such as machine learning or backtesting on historical data. Before choosing a programming language, there are several important concepts taken into consideration, such as cost, performance, resilience, modularity and various other trading strategy parameters.

On the basis of the requirements of the trading system, the choice of programming language is decided. In December 2020, Python became the second most popular language. The image below shows the ratings received by Python are much more than the rest of the computer languages except for the language “C” which is at the top.

Python language helps the trader with quick and easy coding for importing data and for data visualization in the form of graphs. The graphical representation makes it much easier to interpret the data for analysis. Moreover, Python has such APIs and libraries for machine learning as well as data science that make the analysis smoother as compared to other languages.

Do experts from the algorithmic trading domain use Python in their Trading? This video explains why, and shares the reason why Python is preferred in trading:

The skills covered in python are:

• Data structures
• Data types and variables
• Object Oriented Programming
• Machine learning
• Neural networks
• Natural language processing
• Analytical skills in data science

Another trading skill is backtesting which helps the trader to analyse the trading strategy on the historical data. Let's find out more about backtesting next.

Suggested read: Python for trading: An introduction

Backtesting

Backtesting is the process of testing a trading strategy using historical data to determine the effectiveness of that strategy. Backtest results usually show the strategy’s performance in terms of popular performance metrics like sharpe ratio, sortino ratio. The performance metrics usually help to quantify the return over risk. If the results meet the necessary criteria, the strategy can be implemented with a reasonable degree of confidence. If the results are less favorable, the parameters for the strategy can be modified, adjusted and optimized to achieve a desirable result.

There are mainly two forms of backtesting systems:

• Vectorized backtesting
• Event-Driven backtesting

Vectorized backtesting

Vectorized backtesting is the initial phase of backtesting a strategy. In vectorized backtesting, all aspects of market interaction are not fully simulated. But, approximations are made to determine the potential strategy’s performance.

You can utilise vectorized backtesting to test the core strategy ideas before going in for rigorous backtesting in a more realistic environment. For instance, you can run your strategy on the backtesting platform, generate trading signals and calculate strategy returns just to find out how efficient the strategy is. For learning the vectorised backtesting in detail, you can go to this course on Python in trading.

These backtesting systems are often written in Python, R or MatLab. The speed of development is more important than the speed of execution during the initial phase of strategy creation while you are testing out crude but multiple strategy ideas.

Event-Driven backtesting

In event-driven backtesting, the automated trading strategy is connected to a real-time market feed. The trade executions are completed on the paper/simulator, but not on the real exchange. The strategy receives the market feed and then analyses this data to trigger an event which, in turn, generates a trading signal. These systems generally run in a continuous loop to receive events and handle them appropriately.

The main advantage is that the event-driven trading strategies for backtesting can have sub-components such as historic data handler and broker simulator, allowing the backtesting to be performed in a manner very similar to the live execution.

With a platform like Blueshift, it is easy to backtest your trading ideas or strategies with Python language and perform algorithmic trading. Because of the simplicity of python language, backtesting is easier with Blueshift.

When you have trading ideas but no platform to backtest them, there is no assurance that the trading strategies built from these ideas will provide a beneficial outcome. The beneficial outcome, here, implies less or no losses and more gains from trading strategy.

In this demo, you will learn from the experts about developing and backtesting your trading strategy:

Having to backtest requires following skills:

• Data analysis
• Know how of performance metrics such as drawdown, sharpe ratio
• Programming skill

Next, let us find out about machine learning.

Suggested reads:

1. How to backtest a trading strategy
2. Forex trading strategies and backtesting techniques
3. Pair Trading Strategy And Backtesting Using Quantstrat [EPAT PROJECT]

Machine learning

Machine learning, as the name suggests, is the ability of a machine to learn, even without programming it explicitly. It is a type of artificial Intelligence which is based on algorithms to detect patterns in data and adjust the program actions accordingly. Basically, it is a subfield of artificial intelligence.

Machine learning algorithm uses the “learning” model. A learning model allows the algorithm to learn the input and output combination and then make its own decision with the new data.

In trading, the linear regression model, which is a machine learning model, helps to predict the price of financial securities. Also, a machine learning algorithm uses minimum human effort or intervention for getting any complex task done. Machine learning algorithms can be developed using Python which is already a key skill. Also, Python is preferred over other languages owing to its advantages which we discussed above.

You can find out about using machine learning for trading in this short guide:

But how do you go about live trading using machine learning?
Well, this guide can provide you with thorough learning about it:

Skills for machine learning include:

• Neural networks
• Natural language processing
• Applied mathematics
• Machine learning algorithms such as Random forests, logistic regression, linear regression etc.
• Programming

Now, we will go further and find out about risk management as an important skill in trading.

Suggested reads:

1. Machine learning basics
2. Trading using machine learning in Python
3. Machine learning classification strategy in Python
4. Top 10 machine learning algorithms for beginners
5. Machine learning for stock price prediction using regression

Risk management

Risk management in trading is essential to control the risk of bearing the losses arising from stock market trade. Risk management involves the identification, evaluation and mitigation of risks. The risk usually arises when the market moves in the opposite direction from the expectations.

So, it is really important to set your expectations on the basis of a thorough analysis of the market and post anticipation of all the risks. In risk management, trends are the most important factor. A trend implies the general direction or momentum of the market, asset price or other such measures.

The most popular risk management strategies and elements to make your trades successful while evading risks are as follows:

• Portfolio optimization - Portfolio optimization is the process of constructing portfolios to maximize expected return while minimizing the risk. It involves analyzing portfolios with different proportions of investments by calculating the risk and the return for each of the portfolios.
• Hedging - Hedging is an investment strategy designed to offset a potential loss. For hedging, financial instruments like insurance, future contracts, swaps, options etc. can be used to hedge.
• 1% rule and 2% investing rule - 1% and 2% rule in trading imply the maximum amount of the risk which is feasible on per trade should be either 1% or 2%. This helps you to avoid the excessive loss that may happen otherwise.
• Monitoring the trade while utilising advanced technology - Trades should be monitored using the technology such as algorithmic trading and backtesting.
• Avoiding unclear trade setups - If you are using the moving indicators like EMA, MA, etc. and one of them shows a clear trade setup but does not agree with the trade setups of other indicators, it creates confusion. In such a scenario, it is best to wait for the right trade and not make any decisions when you are not sure about it.
• Stop loss - Stop loss is a buy or sell order which gets triggered when the stock price reaches a specified price known as the stop price. This helps the trader avoid continuous monitoring of the market.

Do you struggle with managing the portfolios?
Do you wish to improve your protfolio management abilities?
This tutorial on risk management for traders might just be what you need:

Skills needed for risk management are:

• Experience in trading
• Programming skills
• Portfolio management
• Market monitoring

Suggested read: Introduction to risk management in trading

Conclusion

Since the world is moving rapidly towards advancements and improvements, we have provided an overview of the five contemporary trading skills for the traders of today. With the trading skills and their timely implementation, one can get the maximum benefits. Traders with different kinds of trading practices such as intraday trading, trend trading etc. can benefit from these trading skills.

If you too desire to equip yourself with lifelong skills which will always help you in upgrading your trading strategies. With topics such as Statistics & Econometrics, Financial Computing & Technology, Machine Learning, this algo trading course ensures that you are proficient in every skill required to excel in the field of trading. Check out EPAT now!

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