ASX Stock Pairs Trade Journal

[Freddy]

As an old programmer, this looks like a orrult database. Suggest you try a refresh of all pairs. Not sure if you can do this at Stock List level.

 

[Freddy]

Sorry, that word is "corrupt".

 

[Freddy]

Watch Selfwealth - article in AFR today suggesting a commission of only $9.50 per trade regardless of size. They don't say if this is for CFD trades though.

 

[VSntchr]

As an old programmer, this looks like a orrult database. Suggest you try a refresh of all pairs. Not sure if you can do this at Stock List level.

Thanks for the suggestion.
I have tried reinstalling PTF and SQL, and even starting with a completely fresh database.
I found an old error that SKC had that was around the way that windows set the date format - so I tried switching to US format, still no fix though.

When I ran process monitor I found that it was having some trouble finding the registry key -
HKCU\Control Panel\International\Calendars\TwoDigitYearMax
As it said "NAME NOT FOUND".

So perhaps it is a date/calendar issue, but I am not sure how to fix.
In any case, PTF support is offering me a remoteview session tomorrow to try and fix.
Certainly has been a difficult week - spent half the time troubleshooting IT issues, which is not good for the PnL, or the stress levels!

 

[SilverRanger]

Watch Selfwealth - article in AFR today suggesting a commission of only $9.50 per trade regardless of size. They don't say if this is for CFD trades though.

Doesn't sound like they offer margin lending either, presumably no shorts too. But even then the flat rate commission will be quite attractive to some.

 

[Freddy]

IQFEED finally got back to me after two emails to them. Here is the content of their email relating to provision of real time feed of ASX prices..

"Unfortunately we will not be obtaining this data as the decision was made based on customer demand to add the LSE London Stock Exchange Instead. This data will be added in the next week or so.

Sorry about that."

So that possibility is dead. Unless we make up a petition to see how many people we can get on board.

 

[VSntchr]

I think there are alternatives out there already. Have you done a google search on pairs trading software?
- ArbMaker - demo available to have a play. I've downloaded but not yet tested it.

Did you ever get around to trying it SKC?

 

[mjim]

Does the "pair" of 2 futures months like June/ Sept on ASX index futures ( SPI) move at all? worth trading?

 

[skc]

Did you ever get around to trying it SKC?

Probably spent 1-2 hours on it and didn't get very far. The only impression I'd share is that the learning curve was longer than 1-2 hours... that's probably also saying that there's a fair bit of customisation and options available that take time to not only explore, but probably a week or 2 to forward walk and see how it react to prices.

P.S. It was a long time ago I can't even remember if it was ASX friendly.

Does the "pair" of 2 futures months like June/ Sept on ASX index futures ( SPI) move at all? worth trading?

There aren't any pairs futures traders here I don't think.

 

[VSntchr]

Probably spent 1-2 hours on it and didn't get very far. The only impression I'd share is that the learning curve was longer than 1-2 hours... that's probably also saying that there's a fair bit of customisation and options available that take time to not only explore, but probably a week or 2 to forward walk and see how it react to prices.

P.S. It was a long time ago I can't even remember if it was ASX friendly.

Ive spent about 2 hours so far and my conclusions are similar...so your memory is good!

It is ASX friendly, although I am struggling to successfully add and backtest pairs and am coming close to the "too hard basket". With that said, the communications I've had with the co-founder have been positive and he seems like a good guy.

 

[Freddy]

Today was a real winner with EHE dropping dramatically and initiating multiple pairs. With 6 trades going, EHE finally put up an announcement saying that the rumour they were under investigation by government was untrue and "voila" up went the shares from buy at 4.70 to sell at 5.25. Good old PTF. Sell side shares were RMD, SHL, VRT, SRX, REG and ANN.

 

[VSntchr]

Today was a real winner with EHE dropping dramatically and initiating multiple pairs. With 6 trades going, EHE finally put up an announcement saying that the rumour they were under investigation by government was untrue and "voila" up went the shares from buy at 4.70 to sell at 5.25. Good old PTF. Sell side shares were RMD, SHL, VRT, SRX, REG and ANN.

Nice work Freddy, glad you had some good profitable trades.
I have been watching the sector closely for a little while and actually had JHC/REG in mind and only just missed out on taking it yesterday - would have been a very quick trade! I did however take EHE once it stabilised today and paired it against JHC. Mostly out now though - so got my quick trade in the sector after all.

I'm quite disappointed in having not traded the sector more actively, however I tend to tread with extreme caution when a sector is under attack as things could get quite wild and unexpected things could happen.

If your not sure what's going on with EHE (REG, JHC also), then perhaps check out the EHE thread where McLovin and VES are posting some great opinion on the situation. I would be very careful pairing up anything in aged care against peers which are not directly aligned (despite being in the health sector) such as the ones you have listed, especially while their is heightened perception of regulator risk. However, just my opinion and based on previous posts what you've been doing is working well - so keep at it

 

[Freddy]

Vsnthcr, if you still have access to PTF, would you kindly do me a favour?

Top Left Button(Pear)>>Alerts >> and set it up and send yourself a test message. Then let me know if it actually works on your system. It fails on mine.

I have noted your recommendation for health sector and will be careful. Currently running 8 pairs in this sector but only in theory to see what happens. Balance is a small loss right now of -$0.59. That is based on $10k per leg.

 

[VSntchr]

Vsnthcr, if you still have access to PTF, would you kindly do me a favour?
Top Left Button(Pear)>>Alerts >> and set it up and send yourself a test message. Then let me know if it actually works on your system. It fails on mine.
.

I don't have alerts set up and not exactly sure how to do so. I tried to send a test email, but without the settings regarding "outgoing email server" etc, I expect (and it hasn't) it not to work.

 

[Freddy]

I have just taken a snapshot of my Home page, then deleted all pairs and rebuilt from scratch.

I did this as Yahoo became stuck on a date of 10/6/2016 being a long weekend.

The results are alarming.

There are now pairs I should NOT have been on.
There are values that don't come near the values I started trades (taking note of 20 minute delay).

I am at the point where I feel I cannot feel confident in using PTF any more.

I have sent this information off to Aman at PTF, so let's see what result I receive.

 

[skc]

I have just taken a snapshot of my Home page, then deleted all pairs and rebuilt from scratch.

I did this as Yahoo became stuck on a date of 10/6/2016 being a long weekend.

The results are alarming.

There are now pairs I should NOT have been on.
There are values that don't come near the values I started trades (taking note of 20 minute delay).

I am at the point where I feel I cannot feel confident in using PTF any more.

I have sent this information off to Aman at PTF, so let's see what result I receive.

PTF always have problems on holidays.

The trick is to always check the pairs chart after a public holiday. If you get data that's "stuck" etc, refresh the pair.

Indeed I refresh all pairs after public holiday as a matter of course.

You should then shut down PTF, and re-start it. All pairs will be reloaded with signals through the last 12 moths going off. It should be back to normal.

 

[Freddy]

PTF has just got back to me and asked me for some screen dumps and they will get their programmers to rectify this problem we experience after long weekends.

As I have just rebuilt, I do not have any examples to show them.

Do any of you have some pair charts that I could send them? Alternatively, send to support@pairtradefinder.com.

Here is a copy of the return email I received from them.

We are sorry that you have to had this experience that questions your trust in our product. We definitely would like to make things better and for that would appreciate the help that you could provide us here. I am sure that there would be an explanation of whatever you are experiencing. To straighten things out we would request you to send us screen shots with your inputs so we can take this up with our developer on priority and get it sorted out. We do hope to make it up to you and appreciate your feedback and time.

Best,
Aman

Let's see what they come back with.

 

[VSntchr]

PTF always have problems on holidays.

The trick is to always check the pairs chart after a public holiday. If you get data that's "stuck" etc, refresh the pair.

+1. Worked for me too. I remembered the advice you have given me previously.

PTF has just got back to me and asked me for some screen dumps and they will get their programmers to rectify this problem we experience after long weekends.

As I have just rebuilt, I do not have any examples to show them.

Do any of you have some pair charts that I could send them? Alternatively, send to support@pairtradefinder.com.

Interested to see what they come up with for you - if anything.
My recent issues with PTF were extremely frustrating. I was essentially operating with the data feed updating once or twice a day for two weeks.
After working with PTF support, Optus support and a friend who is A+ with SQL...no one could ultimately identify the problem. It randomly resolved itself the other day and has been working (no more error messages in the log file) ever since. Ultimately the experience was not completely worthless as I expanded my IT knowledge considerably!

 

[skc]

PTF has just got back to me and asked me for some screen dumps and they will get their programmers to rectify this problem we experience after long weekends.

As I have just rebuilt, I do not have any examples to show them.

Do any of you have some pair charts that I could send them? Alternatively, send to support@pairtradefinder.com.

Here is a copy of the return email I received from them.

We are sorry that you have to had this experience that questions your trust in our product. We definitely would like to make things better and for that would appreciate the help that you could provide us here. I am sure that there would be an explanation of whatever you are experiencing. To straighten things out we would request you to send us screen shots with your inputs so we can take this up with our developer on priority and get it sorted out. We do hope to make it up to you and appreciate your feedback and time.

Best,
Aman

Let's see what they come back with.

My PTF has been cleaned so sorry can't help you with the screen dump there.

 

[VSntchr]

Sometimes the analyst up/downgrades really just like to kick you in the butt...

BLD/CSR got me good this week with a downgrade on BLD and upgrade on CSR
Then
CHC/DXS also got me with CHC downgraded while DXS had a positive note released