What is Algo Trading?
In capital markets,
Algo trading means using a software enabled with taking decisions to trade under pre-defined constraints.
Software may provide in-built algos or also called strategies which take market feed and indicators as inputs. Algo works under certain constraints to achieve or maximize an objective. Some software also gives its user the flexibility to write own algos.
For example, we take example of a simple two-leg algorithm.
Constraints:-
Buy Instrument A in a quantity
Hedge it against Instrument B by selling Instrument B in b quantity
such that price difference is p
Software will run an algo which shall process the incoming feed of Instruments A and B.
Whenever price difference of Best Ask Price of A and Best Buy Price of B is p
Algo will send a corresponding buy order for A and sell order for B. Thus if trade happens, price difference of p can be achieved.
Trader can run the reverse algo of selling A and buying B at price difference P.
The difference of p and P is the profit earned by trader.
Exchange and setup charges when excluded will give the net profit of the trader.
The example given above is the basis of Cash-Future, Future-Future algorithms.
Experts in trading should only use algo trading systems. Though there are some algos (eg. IOC algos) which are risk-free when run under some experts supervision.
What are different algo types?
- Arbitrage Algos
Cash vs Future
Future vs Future or Calendar Spread
Conversion Reversal
Butterfly strategy
Box strategy
2Leg, 3Leg, 4 Leg Ratio Spread - Execution Algos
VWAP
TWAP
SOR - Quant Based Algos
Mathematical model based - Charting algos
Indicator Based
Components of Algo Trading Software
- GUI Trader Application
- User Management system
- Risk Management system (RMS)
- Market Data Handler
- Order Management System (OMS)
- Exchange Adaptors
- Algo Logic
What are the factors that govern performance in algo trading?
Hardware
- Server
- Ethernet card
- Switch
- FPGA
Network
- Distance to the exchange servers (Colocation plays a big part)
- Topology and rules
- Cabling
- Internet
Exchange-side latency
- Market Data (Format, Protocol used to transmit)
- Turnaround time
- Matching time
- Supported order rate
- Queueing mechanism
- Post trade risk management
Software latency (Following three are also called Tick-To-Trade)
- Feed processing
- Computation logic
- Order sending
- Algo logic
- Trading skills
This kind of software is the future of financial markets.
Thanks a lot for this article!