the reason indicators don't work isn't because they're lagging

[ionone]

True enough, but there are far fewer ways of using fingernail clippers than is so with indicators, and this reality's actually pretty significant, in context.

imagine a world where there are 10'000 different nail clippers, and everybody tries to clip their nails with them but none work. Only a few elected have the leisure to cut their nails.
thus everybody has very long nails, and most people think it's impossible to find working nail clippers XD

 

[wrbtrader]

I don't use indicators but there is one thing I like about them...

They can be easily backtested and forward tested.

wrbtrader

 

[easymon1]

easily backtested

mr wrb, and all backtest mavens, can you please suggest what backtesters would be easiest to implement this simple 3 Ducks strategy?
https://elitetrader.com/et/threads/...hich-it-is-regularly-fed-to-a-machine.348850/

 

[wrbtrader]

mr wrb, and all backtest mavens, can you please suggest what backtesters would be easiest to implement this simple 3 Ducks strategy?
https://elitetrader.com/et/threads/...hich-it-is-regularly-fed-to-a-machine.348850/

There's many threads here that anything and everything can be backtested. I strongly disagree and its the point of my sarcasm.

wrbtrader

 

[Steve Alexander]

imagine a world where there are 10'000 different nail clippers, and everybody tries to clip their nails with them but none work. Only a few elected have the leisure to cut their nails.
thus everybody has very long nails, and most people think it's impossible to find working nail clippers XD

Even if you had a dozen different nail clippers, none of them would be very good at sawing lumber. Almost all indicators work at the task they were designed for, which is not to predict stock prices; however, people persist in trying to use indicators to predict stock prices.

 

[Trader200K]

And I have seen folks used Kalman filter, modern estimation and optimum control, Fourier transform, phase conjugation, phase lock loop, digital signal processing, digital filtering, small signal theory.... to predict. None worked as far as I know. Finance is harder than engineering and science.

Engineering, at the 97% level, is deterministic by necessity and underlying natural law. Bridges, wings, controls, etc.

Trading with a hundred thousand people randomly and emotionally boogering with your inputs ... that where hard starts.

 

[ionone]

Even if you had a dozen different nail clippers, none of them would be very good at sawing lumber. Almost all indicators work at the task they were designed for, which is not to predict stock prices; however, people persist in trying to use indicators to predict stock prices.

well trading IS predicting prices

 

[themickey]

well trading IS predicting prices

Same ol' same ol'.
Another johnny come lately rocks up and we go through the same ol' tired motions, back to square one of arguments repeated a million times.