The Algorithmic Advantage

Building Better Strategies with Good Science It was strangely comforting talking to Ernie Chan. Whilst I was completely out of my depth talking about AI and Machine Learning, I came away broadly reinforced in my own belief that great trading still requires a human touch, and that the best niche's in the market are best discovered by applying a certain kind of wisdom, experience and competitive...

In the domain of quantitative finance, the juxtaposition of mean reversion and trend-following strategies constitutes a pivotal dialogue in the formulation of robust trading paradigms. Each methodology is underpinned by unique theoretical and empirical foundations, presenting distinct opportunities and inherent vulnerabilities. However, when synthesized within a cohesive portfolio framework, these...

Wayne Himelsein, President and CIO of Logica Capital Advisors, has developed a robust approach to options trading centred on long volatility strategies that balance systematic rigor with human oversight. His methodology involves "gross long volatility," rejecting short volatility trades to ensure full protection during market downturns, and dynamically adjusting positions through a technique he ca...

The concept of the “Cockroach Portfolio” is a novel take on building a robust investment strategy that thrives across diverse market conditions. Drawing inspiration from one of nature's most resilient creatures, this approach emphasizes adaptability, diversification, and risk mitigation. Jason Buck runs Mutiny Funds with a core belief that: “Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.” Mutiny’...

One of the standout points from Eric’s approach is the focus on constructing a durable, all-weather portfolio. Eric designed his fund with the idea that it should be able to endure the most uncertain future scenarios, a goal he finds essential for long-term wealth preservation. His strategy blends managed futures, global equities, and laddered treasury bills, with a focus on equal risk contributio...

Today we spoke with Corey Hoffstein, a well-known market practitioner with a deep and broad knowledge across quantitative trading & trend following, but also across developing investment products for wider advisor distribution. I’m super interested in almost every aspect of the financial markets, because I feel like a broad and generalist knowledge helps me make better trading and business dec...

Gary Antonacci is back on the show after having released a new research paper with Carlo Zarattini from Concretum Research which constitutes a 100-year study on trend following US sectors. The strategy deployed in the paper has an impressive long-term track record, averaging an annual return of 18.2% with 12.6% volatility and a Sharpe Ratio of 1.39. Using Keltner and Donchian channels for entries...

The Power of Multi-Strategy Diversification Laurens Bensdorp’s trading philosophy revolves around diversification—not just in markets, but primarily in the strategies themselves. He is famous for referring to the art of building new strategies which compliment his existing suite as “designing models to fill potholes”. He trades across various styles, including trend following, rotational momentum...

In our second Trading Think Tank round table discussion we bring together two exceptional minds in the trading technology space to talk about building back-testing applications: in the blue corner representing Python - Jason Strimpel, an experienced quantitative risk manager, trader and technology leader, and in the red corner representing his own application (Real Test), Marsten Parker, a legenda...

Tom Basso, famously coined 'Mr. Serenity' in Jack Schwager's "New Market Wizards" book, joins us for an enlightening and entertaining discussion. On a particularly turbulent day in the market, with the VIX making one of its largest ever moves, Tom shares his calm and collected approach to trading. Tom’s trading approach is like a finely tuned orchestra, using seven different...

Andreas Clenow needs no introduction and has a lengthy history in the algorithmic trading industry. A Swed who has lived in Switzerland for quite some time he has recently published a fiction novel set in the underworld of the secretive Swiss banking industry. He says you can learn more about finance from that than his textbooks! His contribution to the field of systematic trading has been enormou...

Keep It Simple! In our latest podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Aspell, the Senior Portfolio Manager from Mt Lucas Management. Dave shared invaluable insights into his trading journey, the history and evolution of Mount Lucas, and the firm's unique approach to trading equities and futures. In this show we explore how Dave and his team trade, the super simple strategies they em...

In this absolute cracker of an interview, Perry highlighted how increased market participation and technological advancements have influenced the efficacy of trend following strategies. He also provided insights into the shifting dynamics of the market, emphasizing the need for longer calculation periods and more sophisticated risk management practices as the markets mature and become more volatil...

All the secrets of the Medallion fund revealed! Well, our speculations about the secret sauce anyway. Today, in a special tribute to Jim Simons, we are privileged to welcome the multi award winning journalist & author Greg Zuckerman to our podcast. Greg's detailed chronicle of Jim Simons' life in his book, "The Man Who Solved the Market," offers invaluable insights into Jim&#...

If you have questions, all the answers are here! In this first episode of a new series we are calling the 'Trading Think Tank' we sit down with a panel of experts and really deep-dive a single topic. In this show it's all things diversification. What do we really mean by diversification anyway? How many markets do we need to trade? If 'more is better', why exactly is that? What...

In an insightful episode of "The Algorithmic Advantage" podcast, we are joined by Gary Antonacci, a notable figure in the finance sector, best known for his innovative dual momentum investment strategy. With an illustrious background that includes an MBA from Harvard and substantial experience in various facets of the financial industry, Gary shares his journey from working in brokerage...

In this engaging podcast episode, Joris Bastien shares his unconventional journey into the world of quantitative trading, originating from his mathematical background and leading to innovative roles in the finance sector. Bastien discusses his transition from IT development to becoming a pivotal figure in trading system design, emphasizing his unique approach of leveraging quantitative hedge fund...

Recorded: 12 Dec 2023 In this episode of the Algorithmic Advantage podcast, we chat with our friend, legend ‘original turtle trader’, Jerry Parker. The discussion traverses Jerry's remarkable journey, beginning with his foundational experiences in the renowned Turtle Program, where he gained invaluable knowledge in trend following and risk management under the guidance of expert mentors. Jerry...

In this episode of The Algorithmic Advantage podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of quantitative trading with Dr. Tom Starke, a renowned expert in the field. With a rich background in physics (PHD) and engineering, Tom shares his unique journey from academic institutions and engineering firms to the dynamic arena of stock trading. His transition from a structured scientific career to the u...

In this insightful second episode with Horizon3, Sanj and Paul delve into the complexities of systematic trading and the evolving landscape of the financial markets. The discussion kicks off with a critical look at traditional trading dogmas, emphasizing the importance of diversification and the challenges faced in adapting strategies to the dynamic post-Global Financial Crisis environment. The co...

In this engaging episode of The Algorithmic Advantage, we explore the fascinating world of quantitative trading with experts Sanjeev Lakhanpal and Dr. Paul Netherwood from Horizon3 Investment Management. The discussion highlights Sanjeev's unique journey from physics to finance and Dr. Netherwood's transition from scientific research to trading systems development, illustrating the diverse...

In this enlightening episode, we tackle the often-misunderstood topic of discerning genuine trading opportunities from the noise in market data. We challenge the traditional reliance on visual methods like Technical Analysis, which can be misleading, and argue for the superiority of quantitative methods. We delve into the intricacies of serial correlation and its importance in identifying enduring...

In Episode 10 of "The Algorithmic Advantage," Alan Clement, a seasoned trader and strategy developer, joins the hosts for a deep dive into the world of systematic trading in equity markets. With his rich background in software development and finance, Alan shares invaluable insights into developing and implementing various trading strategies, including mean reversion, trend following, an...

The financial Markets are in a perpetual state of flux, constantly evolving with changes in technology, shifts in regulatory landscapes, and the dynamic entry and exit of market players, all while business cycles ebb and flow.   In the face of such uncertainty, how do we navigate these turbulent waters? How can we effectively process the barrage of information available? Does the conventional wisd...

Today we stepped away from talking specifically about trading strategies and chatted with Linus Nilsson about the database of about 4000+ hedge funds / CTA's that he maintains and makes available to the public. We thought this would be an important discussion because we all want to benchmark ourselves against other expert managers. It's an important aspect of 'setting our expectations&...