Quote from tradingjournals:
SPY @ 181.38. Short signal from model xx.
It is 110 minutes since the signal came. SPY now at 180.91. The reward part is $0.47. Is this too little, too much, just fine? Some analysis would need to be done.
Before I do, I want to write some (random) thoughts:
1. The historical arithmetic return on SP is ~ 12.5% with a standard deviation of ~ 22.5%. The mean/STD ratio is therefore 0.55. I believe this is an important number to keep in mind. If one cannot have a long side trading system that on a yearly basis does not get a return higher than 12.5% with a ratio of 0.55, and if the sole aim of the system is to trade it alone and to beat the market, the merits of it are limited at best. If it is part of other systems, then there might be merits but these could be marginal and not easy to explain to others.
2. What some may not realize is that the short side is a lot tougher than the long side, as one would have to fight the positive mean in the market, obtain a positive mean for the system that justifies its trading, and do so at a ratio that is higher than 0.55 (as a minimum) if one's aim is to only trade on short side and trade this system only. In such conditions, such short system would need to essentially make 25% (because one would have to fight the positive mean of SP) and get the positive results at a normalized standard deviation of 22.5%. Short side systems are however useful even at a reduced mean, because of their negative correlation to the market, so they add return and reduce variance.
3. Current SPY volty is 0.75%. With 390 minutes of trading and a current spy at 181, this translates to 1.81*0.75/SQRT(390) volty per minute, which is around 6.8 cents per minute.
2:46PM: SPY at 180.75 area. This is a point where a system would suggest some profit taking. I did not analyze things in detail, but from a volume point of view, there would be trapped early morning bears at 180.74 who would be waiting to get out. I also think the market is now in a mood of shorting the rallies and I expect sellers at black line and above for rest of day.