I’m going to focus today on system trading, where you let the computer do the hard work for you. The unique advantage is that you can see past hypothetical results and potentially know what your level of expectations should be for the future. Today, I’m going to highlight Tony Ritenour with New Futures Trends and why his systems have done particularly well recently. His auto trading systems don’t seem to overtrade, are very selective in trade execution, and seem to get an early jump on the markets when compared to other systems. Please read below for my interview with Tony on July 10th, 2011.
Drew: How would you define system trading?
Tony: System trading is basically a set of entry and exit rules programmed to execute trades in a trade manager automatically. The advantage of systems is you can test those rules over the past data and create hypothetical results to see how you would fare. I think if a lot of traders could actually write there rules down and back test them they would see results that might motivate them to learn new ideas. I can’t imagine anyone would take an idea and execute it with real money without knowing the approximate parameters of winners and losers they might experience. I guess if anything systems give you confidence.
Drew: Why do your systems seem to fair better currently versus other trend following systems?
Tony: When I began programming, I viewed net profit as the key to success. When I put this into practice, I soon learned it’s not profit that should be considered first but draw down. My systems by nature take fewer trades than many other systems, so it helps to avoid choppy trading environments. Furthermore, by changing over to a portfolio of systems, the trading curve became less reliant on one type of logic. As an example, Ezekiel [program] uses three different types of systems that help to smooth the results.
Drew: What kind of volatility filters are you using?
Tony: I don’t use volatility filters per say. What I have identified in watching the markets for years is [the importance of the] intra day. There are maybe six patterns that each day could be identified by. What I do is try and develop systems that try and capture what I feel are the 7-8 trading days of profit. By using multiple trading systems in a portfolio, I can use the system to look at just one environment and let the others focus on the other environments [v]ery rarely do the systems in Ezekiel’s trade on the same day.
Drew: What was your drive to become a system developer?
Tony: As a student of the market I was not initially focused on futures or trading systems. I began as an investor and moved to a discretionary trader. I began to focus on futures for the leverage without having to rely on options and deal with time decay and volatility. It’s hard enough to trade market direction without all the variables in option trading. With three young children at home it became harder to stare at the market all day, so I began to computerize my systems. It then was a natural transition to look for a reputable brokerage firm to house those strategies and execute and monitor the positions, so I could free up my time. That’s what led me to Daniels. Now I offer the same systems I trade for lease through Daniels.
Drew: Explain your systems.
Tony: My systems are actually very simple in nature. I feel any computerized system should follow the real rules you would trade by with a discretionary trader, but the computer will enhance the system by making you stick to those rules. Basically, I like to use price movement and not rely on indicators. Indicators are good for filters showing the past but really have no forward-looking characteristics. All the systems currently offered in Ezekiel are traded during the day, and don’t hold positions overnight. I have no restrictions on profit. I do have variable stops on each system so the risk is potentially minimized and the systems range from as little as $300.00 per contract risk to $600.00 per contract risk per trade.
End of interview.
Please remember to visit our complete list of systems in our Strategy Center.
Or visit Tony’s website directly.
Anatomy of Automated System Execution
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Risk Disclosure
STOP ORDERS DO NOT NECESSARILY LIMIT YOUR LOSS TO THE STOP PRICE BECAUSE STOP ORDERS, IF THE PRICE IS HIT, BECOME MARKET ORDERS AND, DEPENDING ON MARKET CONDITIONS, THE ACTUAL FILL PRICE CAN BE DIFFERENT FROM THE STOP PRICE. IF A MARKET REACHED ITS DAILY PRICE FLUCTUATION LIMIT, A "LIMIT MOVE", IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE A STOP LOSS ORDER.
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADE PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF THE HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.
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Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. The risk of loss in trading futures contracts or commodity options can be substantial, and therefore investors should understand the risks involved in taking leveraged positions and must assume responsibility for the risks associated with such investments and for their results.
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