Backtesting several Symbols with the same strategy at the same time
Author: mextrader
Creation Date: 4/28/2010 3:52 PM
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mextrader

#1
Is there a way for me to run the strategy on more than one symbol (stock) at the same time?
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Eugene

#2
Most likely, Strategy Window > Backtesting Strategies > Multi-Symbol Backtest in the Wealth-Lab User Guide is what you're asking for, if by saying "at the same time" you mean "portfolio backtest".
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mextrader

#3
You rule Eugene. Thank you.
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tinman

#4
This seems like such a simple thing, AND YET when I click on "Backtest on all Symbols" the results are that WealthLab CHOOSES the "best" (?) or perhaps "first" trade of all the symbols and hence only one position is open at a time. So instead of getting the results for each of the symbols in my dataset (as if I'd run them separately) I get a strange "intermingled" result.

All I want to do is backtest the same simple strategy on ALL the symbols in the dataset, as if I'd run each of them one at a time, and see the collated result.

How do I do that? Do I need to turn on "multiple positions allowed"? And if so, where do I find that option? I see it listed when using "New Strategy From Rules" but not for a code-based strategy. I've been tearing out my hair trying to find the answer to this which no doubt means it's incredibly obvious!

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I'm using WL6 via Fidelity.
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Eugene

#5
Hi, could you be a bit more specific please?

* What is your position sizing, Raw Profit or perhaps something like 100% of equity?
* Is the strategy rule-based or code-based?
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tinman

#6
Thanks for the quick reply.

It's a simple, single-position code-based strategy based on EMA crossover.
Position sizing is 95% equity. Could that be the problem?

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Eugene

#7
Yes. Check out Strategy Window > Backtesting Strategies > 100% of Equity Sizing in the User Guide.
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tinman

#8
I see. So apparently I have to fudge the Portfolio parameters so it can accomodate all the trades at once?

I did this by increasing Starting Capital to $10M and using Fixed Dollar of $100K/trade.

Seems to work! Not quite what I expected when I hit "Backtest on All Symbols" but okay. :-)
Maybe that button should say "Portfolio Backtest" or something like that...

Thanks!
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Cone

#9
QUOTE:
I see. So apparently I have to fudge the Portfolio parameters so it can accomodate all the trades at once?
There's no fudging about it. A "Portfolio" test means you have to use "real world" rules. If you want to use 95% of your capital for a single Position, then you you can't use 95% of Equity Sizing for more than 1 Position (unless you use margin).

On the other hand, if you just want to see what all the trades would look like if your applied $100K sizing, then use Raw Profit mode. Make sense?
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