FAQs
Algo Trading
What is algorithmic trading?
Algorithmic trading - often called algo trading, systematic trading, or quant trading - is a rule-based approach to executing trade orders based on changes in market conditions such as price and trading volume. Essentially, it’s asking a computer to trade on your behalf, using predefined rules.
What are the benefits of algorithmic trading?
Algo trading has many benefits versus discretionary trading:
Traders can backtest trading logic using historical data, giving them more confidence in their trading approach.
Algo trading systems quickly react and adapt to changing market conditions without human input.
Traders can build a more diversified portfolio across stocks, interest rates, currencies, commodities, and cryptos.
Algo traders can use algorithmic trading systems for analysis, incorporating fundamental and non-fundamental data (‘quantamentals’).
Where can I learn more about algo trading?
We publish new videos every month on the Peak Trading Research YouTube channel, which includes our free Peak Algo Trading Full Course.
Peak10 Strategies
What are the Peak10 strategies?
The Peak10 strategies are a rotating list of EasyLanguage trading strategies that have been performing exceptionally well in real-time on new, out-of-sample data.
This Peak10 list represents some of the best strategies built and tested by Peak Trading Research.
How do you decide which strategies make the Peak10 list?
We’ve tested millions of breakout, momentum, mean reversion, and price pattern strategies.
We track the best strategies to see how they perform in real-time on new market data.
This is a process called 'incubation' and it’s the gold standard for systematic strategy evaluation.
Every month we compile a list of high-performing strategies.
To be included in our monthly Peak10 list, strategies must meet two criteria:
1.) Peak10 strategies must have exceptional long-term performance (10+ years)
2.) Peak10 strategies must have had positive performance the month prior.
Based on feedback from our trader community, we prefer to show some new strategies every month versus showing the same high-performing strategies month after month.
Are the Peak10 strategies always new? Or do you rotate the same winners?
Our goal is to always show our traders the best real-time strategies we have.
That means that winning strategies can show up in the Peak10 list month after month.
Remember, this is a good thing. It means that the strategies that we’ve shared with you are generating trading profits for you in real time.
All that said, we typically share 2-5 new strategies every month.
What trading platforms are supported?
Peak10 strategies can be easily imported into any EasyLanguage platform like TradeStation or Multicharts.
The trade logic can also be translated into any proprietary trading platform built using coding languages like Python, R, or C#. This is why we also provide clients with .TXT files every month.
What is EasyLanguage?
EasyLanguage is a popular coding language built specifically for traders. You can download a Learning EasyLanguage Essentials guide here.
How do I use Peak10 strategies to trade?
Two clicks: 1.) Import the ELD files to your local platform, 2.) Automate the strategies to trade in real time.
Every Peak10 strategy package includes a Quick Start guide to help you get started.
What futures contracts and markets do you cover?
Peak10 strategies cover all major U.S. commodity futures markets (currently 30+ markets).
Do you build custom performance reports for clients?
We do not. You can easily upload our strategies in TradeStation or MultiCharts and do whatever performance analysis you’d like. We provide you with the full, unlocked system code.
Do you build strategies for stock markets, FX, interest rates, options, or spreads?
No.
Do I need to know how to code to use the Peak10 strategies?
You do not need to know how to code to run these strategies.
Many Peak Algo clients have zero coding experience and use our Peak10 systems as a way to learn to code.
We provide you with fully-coded trading systems … whether you use them for learning, analysis, or fully-automated trading is up to you.
Are you worried about the Peak10 strategies breaking if too many traders use them?
No.
Futures markets are incredibly deep and liquid. There’s no evidence that our systems are impacting markets, but it’s something we monitor.
Many of our clients will make modifications to our strategies before trading them, e.g., different input values, new filters, or different exits.
Does Peak Trading Research trade these strategies?
We reserve the right to trade any Peak10 strategies and we deploy risk in futures and options using many of these strategies and strategy concepts from our Peak10 strategies. This is stated in our disclaimers.
What is Peak Trading Research?
Peak Trading Research is a leading research provider in commodity markets. Peak’s research combines deep commodity trading experience with proprietary technology to offer unparalleled insights into agriculture, energy, and metals commodity markets. You can follow us on LinkedIn here and Twitter here.
How can I cancel my Peak10 subscription?
It’s easy. You receive payment confirmation emails from our subscription management company Moonclerk (search for ‘Moonclerk’ in your inbox). At the bottom of every email is an option “To manage your plan, please visit:”. Choose that option and you can easily cancel your plan.