While using algorithmic trading , traders trust their hard-earned money to the trading software they use. The right piece of computer software is very important to ensure effective and accurate execution of the trade orders.

Faulty software, or one without the required features, may lead to huge losses. This article looks at key things to consider for picking the right software for algorithmic trading.

Basics of Algorithmic Trading: An algorithm is defined as a specific set of step-by-step instructions to complete a particular task. Be it the simple-yet-addictive computer game like Pac-Man or a spreadsheet that offers huge number of functions, each program follows a specific set of instructions based on an underlying algorithm.

Algorithmic trading is the process of using a computer program that follows a defined set of instructions for placing a trade order. The aim of the algorithmic trading program is to dynamically identify profitable opportunities and place the trades in order to generate profits at a speed and frequency that is impossible to match by a human trader.

Given the advantages of higher accuracy and lightning-fast execution speed, trading activities based on computer algorithms have gained tremendous popularity.

The Pros And Cons Of Automated Trading Systems. Algorithmic trading is dominated by large trading firms, such as hedge funds , investment banks, and proprietary trading firms. Given the abundant resource availability due to their large size, such firms usually build their own proprietary trading software, including large trading systems with dedicated data centers and support staff.

At an individual level, experienced proprietary traders and quants use algorithmic trading. Proprietary traders, who are less tech-savvy, may purchase readymade trading software for their algorithmic trading needs. The software is either offered by their brokers or purchased from third-party providers. Quants have a good knowledge of both trading and computer programming, and they develop trading software on their own.

What They Do and How They've Evolved. Purchasing ready-made software offers quick and timely access, while building your own allows full flexibility to customize to your needs. The automated trading software is often costly to purchase and it may be full of loopholes , which, if ignored, may lead you to losses. The high costs may take away the realistic profit potential from your algorithmic trading venture.

On the other hand, building algorithmic trading software on your own takes time, effort and a deep knowledge, and it still may not be foolproof. The risk involved in automatic trading is very high, which can lead to large losses. Regardless if one decides to buy or build, it becomes important to be familiar with the basic features needed. This delay could make or break your algorithmic trading venture.

One needs to keep this latency to the lowest possible level to ensure that you gets the most up-to-date and accurate information without any time gap.

Latency has been reduced to microseconds, and every attempt should be made to keep it as low as possible in the trading system. A few measures include having direct connectivity to the exchange to get data faster by eliminating the vendor in between; by improving your trading algorithm so that it takes less than 0.

While building software, be realistic about what you are implementing and be clear about the scenarios where it can fail. Thoroughly backtest it before putting it to use with real money. All readymade algorithmic trading software usually offers free limited functionality trial versions or limited trial periods with full functionality.

Explore them in full during these trials before buying anything.

Do not forget to go through the available documentation in detail. For building one, a good free source to explore algorithmic trading is Quantopian. It offers an online platform for testing and developing algorithmic trading. Individuals can try and customize any existing algorithm or write a completely new one. The platform also offers built-in algorithmic trading software to be tested against market data. Algorithmic trading software is costly to purchase and difficult to build on your own.

Purchasing ready-made ones offers quick and timely access, and building your own allows full flexibility to customize it to your needs. Before venturing with real money, one must fully understand the core functionality of bought or built algorithmic trading software. Failure to do so may be a costly loss difficult to recoup. Dictionary Term Of The Day. A measure of what it costs an investment company to operate a mutual fund. Latest Videos PeerStreet Offers New Way to Bet on Housing New to Buying Bitcoin?

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Picking The Right Algorithmic Trading Software By Shobhit Seth September 8, — 7: A Quick Primer to Algorithmic Trading An algorithm is defined as a specific set of step-by-step instructions to complete a particular task. Who Uses Algorithmic Trading Software? Algorithmic Trading Software - Build Or Buy? There are two ways to access algorithmic trading software: The Key Features Of Algorithmic Trading Software Availability of Market and Company Data: All trading algorithms are designed to act on real-time market data and price quotes.

A few programs are also customized to account for company fundamentals data like EPS and PE ratios. Any algorithmic trading software should have real-time market data feed , as well as a company data feed.

It should be available as a build-in into the system or should have a provision to easily integrate from alternate sources. Connectivity to Various Markets: Your software should be able to accept feeds of different formats.

Another option is to go with third party data vendors like Bloomberg and Reuters , which aggregate market data from different exchanges and provide it in a uniform format to end clients.

The algorithmic trading software should be able to process these aggregated feeds as needed. The smallest word of this list is the most important factor for algo-trading.

Latency is the time-delay introduced in the movement of data points from one application to the other. Consider the following sequence of events. Most algorithmic trading software offers standard built-in trade algorithms, such as those based on a crossover of the day moving average MA with the day MA. A trader may like to experiment by switching to the day MA with the day MA. Unless the software offers such customization of parameters, the trader may be constrained by the built-ins fixed functionality.

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Whether buying or building, the trading software should have a high degree of customization and configurability. Functionality to Write Custom Programs: Most trading software sold by the third-party vendors offers the ability to write your own custom programs within it. This allows a trader to experiment and try any trading concept she develops. Software that offers coding in the programming language of your choice is obviously preferred. Backtesting Feature on Historical Data: Backtesting simulation involves testing a trading strategy on historical data.

This mandatory feature also needs to be accompanied by an availability of historical data, on which the backtesting can be performed. Integration with Trading Interface: Algorithmic trading software places trades automatically based on the occurrence of a desired criteria. The software should have the necessary connectivity to the broker s network for placing the trade or a direct connectivity to the exchange to send the trade orders. Depending upon individual needs, the algorithmic trading software should have easy plug-n-play integration and available API s across such commonly used trading tools.

This ensures scalability , as well as integration. A few programming languages need dedicated platforms. While building or buying trading software, preference should be given to trading software that is platform-independent and supports platform-independent languages.

You never know how your trading will evolve few months down the line. The Stuff Under the Hood: It is the trader who should understand what is going under the hood. While buying trading software, one should ask for and take time to go through the detailed documentation that shows the underlying logic of a particular algorithmic trading software.

Avoid any trading software that is a complete black box and that claims to be secret moneymaking machine. The Bottom Line Algorithmic trading software is costly to purchase and difficult to build on your own.

The steps quantitative traders, and traders using algorithms, follow in order to create their algorithms. Much of the growth in algorithmic trading in Forex markets over the past years has been due to algorithms automating certain processes and reducing the hours needed to conduct foreign exchange Algorithmic trading makes use of computers to trade on a set of predetermined instructions to generate profits more efficiently than human traders.

Software has made day trading quick and automatic--all the more reason to be as painstaking as possible when choosing the right one for your needs. Algorithmic trading strategies, such as auto hedging, statistical analysis, algorithmic execution, direct market access and high frequency trading, can expose price inconsistencies, which pose Algorithmic HFT has a number of risks, and it also can amplify systemic risk because of its propensity to intensify market volatility.

Want to invest in software? Here are the most important factors affecting profits, revenues, and stock price of software companies. Automated forex trading software scans the market for favorable trades based on your input. Find out more about this valuable forex tool. Ever wanted to become an algorithmic trader with the ability to code your own trading robot? Discover the functions of various complexity levels of portfolio management software, and learn how traders utilize portfolio A trading platform is a piece of software that acts as a conduit for information between a trader and a broker.

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