Automated Trader vs Manual Trader

Quote from WmWaster:

After all, what do you prefer - automated trading or manual trading?

What trading strategies do you employ?
(From your name, it seems you involve in scalp trading)


I am a manual trader. I do not have the desire to automate any part of my trading at this time. The way I answered your question is my way of being honest. I think us "chicken peckers" are a dying breed. Without utilizing some form of automation either in order entry or trading signals the "chicken peckers" will be left to die in the next chicken fight!!
 
Quote from scalper21:
I have friend who knows someone who works on the IT staff for Getco Trading(successful trading firm in Chicago). They changed their bonus structure for 2005. They gave less of a bonus to the traders and much bigger bonus to the IT and Quant staff!
To digress a little here ... Makes perfect sense to me. It is laughable how some of the chronic ET losers (they know who they are) seem to think that Quants are on the decline. Could it per chance be a case of sour grapes on their behalf :D

Anyway, back on track, thank you for your post. Please continue this thread...
 
Quote from traderdragon:

I love it when people try to convince themselves that the auto-traders cant and are not doing as well or better than the discretionary traders. Please keep it up.


Yes, and automated trading can work very well, but imo you do have to baby sit the system when it is "on". It would not be wise for a person to let an automated system trade without real-time oversight.
 
Why not turn the basic question around?
What about manual losers versus automated losers?

Answers may be statistically much more significant as these categories hugely outshadow winners.
 
Quote from nononsense:

Why not turn the basic question around?
What about manual losers versus automated losers?

Answers may be statistically much more significant as these categories hugely outshadow winners.


Great point - nice way of describing a proper perspective. I would also say, why would someone even TURN ON an automated system until they have done almost everything possible to make sure the system is tight. Now can we say that about most manual traders. :)
 
Quote from traderdragon:

I love it when people try to convince themselves that the auto-traders cant and are not doing as well or better than the discretionary traders. Please keep it up.

Actually any stance is welcome.
We're not against any stance.

So why do you feel auto-traders can outperform discretionary traders?

To clarify, we're talking aobut some of the best discretionary traders who can, say, gain millions in a year or so.

Can any auto-traders manage to achieve such great achievements?

I would like to hear more about your side.

Thank you. :)
 
Quote from 5Pillars:

Yes, and automated trading can work very well, but imo you do have to baby sit the system when it is "on". It would not be wise for a person to let an automated system trade without real-time oversight.

In your viewpoint, why do you feel you need to babysit your automated system?

As to "very well", how well an automated system performs?

I would like to hear more about the performance automated system. My impression, so far, is they can gain consistently in long-term, which is successful. But it seems NO auotmated system in the world can get close to what some of the greatest manual traders manage to achieve - superb returns rates (eg millions with small capital); high accuracy (eg 80-90%); very long winning streak (eg over 100 days) or very low drawdown.

Any ideas or opinions are appreciated.
and that's the reason of this thread.
 
Quote from nononsense:

Why not turn the basic question around?
What about manual losers versus automated losers?

Answers may be statistically much more significant as these categories hugely outshadow winners.

It's because we are only interested in winners. :D
Just like we love to learn from winners, NOT losers.

And it's a thread which intends to hear how people feel about the performance of automated systems, and how do their performance compare with some of the best manual traders.
 
No matter how you cut the slabs of raw meat...A trader still has gotta monitor the trades...


Quote from WmWaster:

Hi. Ideas gatheirng time. :D
I would like to hear people's opinions on several issues.

1)
How do you compare between automated system and manual trading? What're their pros and cons?

2)
What makes you feel automated trading is the best way to go, if you think so?

3)
Do you think automated system can beat manual trader?

Can automated system get close to or even suprpass what some successfully manual trader achieve (eg traders from $10k something to millions in a few years)?

Thank you!
 
Quote from WmWaster:

In your viewpoint, why do you feel you need to babysit your automated system?

As to "very well", how well an automated system performs?


__________________________________________________________________________


Would you let a high 6 figure or 7 figure account run automated without watching the operations realtime? NOT ME!

Also some automated trade systems use the systems own server to hold "stop-limits" that are not native to the exchange - so if you lose power or have any technical problem you may lose all your order synchronization.

You could hire someone to watch your systems while you go play golf - that would be a way so that YOU do not have to watch your systems realtime everyday. :)
 
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