Global Currency Value Strategy Using OECD PPP Adjusted by CPI and Exchange Rates

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Edit and run Quant Buffet Python for Global Currency Value Strategy Using OECD PPP Adjusted by CPI and Exchange Rates in the browser. Results update live with equity, drawdown, and metrics charts. Allowed: backtest.data, backtest.engine, backtest.metrics, numpy, pandas. Define ASSETS and make_on_day(prices). Shortcut: Ctrl+Enter. API docs →

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IDE · 42 lines
Quant Buffet syntax cheat sheet (copy / insert)

Paste these fragments into the editor. The sandbox rejects QuantConnect, os, and network libraries.

Required imports
Only these libraries are allowed in the sandbox.
from __future__ import annotations

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

from backtest.data import load_daily_prices
from backtest.engine import EngineConfig, PortfolioEngine
from backtest.metrics import compute_metrics
ASSETS list (whitelisted ETFs)
Module-level list. Tickers must be in the Quant Buffet whitelist.
ASSETS = ["SPY", "QQQ", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
make_on_day contract
Must return (on_day, ready). on_day calls engine.set_target_weights.
def make_on_day(prices: pd.DataFrame):
    cols = [c for c in ASSETS if c in prices.columns]
    sma = prices[cols].rolling(200, min_periods=200).mean()
    state = {"last": None}

    def on_day(engine: PortfolioEngine, dt: pd.Timestamp) -> None:
        if sma.loc[dt].isna().all():
            return
        key = (dt.year, dt.month)
        if state["last"] == key:
            return
        state["last"] = key
        long = [
            s for s in cols
            if pd.notna(prices.at[dt, s]) and pd.notna(sma.at[dt, s])
            and prices.at[dt, s] > sma.at[dt, s]
        ]
        weights = {} if not long else {s: 1.0 / len(long) for s in long}
        engine.set_target_weights(dt, weights)

    ready = sma.dropna(how="all").index.min() if sma.notna().any().any() else None
    return on_day, ready
Set target weights
Weights should sum to about 1.0. Empty dict = 100% cash.
engine.set_target_weights(dt, {"SPY": 0.60, "BIL": 0.40})

Live backtest performance

CAGR
3.30%
Sharpe
0.27
Max DD
-51.95%
Vol
18.24%
Sortino
0.42
Beta
0.26
Up days
52%

Run the backtest to populate charts.

Export to your platform

Transform Quant Buffet lab code (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine) into native classes for a third-party IDE — then copy and paste.

Run in: QuantConnect Cloud or LEAN CLI · QCAlgorithm with Equity securities and monthly rebalance.

Detected pattern: Momentum rotationAssets: SPY, TLT, GLD, BIL
# Generated from Quant Buffet → QuantConnect LEAN
# Strategy: Global Currency Value Strategy Using OECD PPP Adjusted by CPI and Exchange Rates
# Detected pattern: Momentum rotation
# Source uses Quant Buffet lab APIs (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine).
# Review fees, data, and risk before live trading — educational export only.

from AlgorithmImports import *


class QuantBuffetExport(QCAlgorithm):
    def Initialize(self):
        self.SetStartDate(2010, 1, 1)
        self.SetCash(100000)
        tickers = ["SPY", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
        self.symbols = []
        for t in tickers:
            if "-" in t:  # crypto proxy e.g. BTC-USD
                self.symbols.append(self.AddCrypto(t.replace("-USD", ""), Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
            else:
                self.symbols.append(self.AddEquity(t, Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
        self.Schedule.On(
            self.DateRules.MonthStart(self.symbols[0]),
            self.TimeRules.AfterMarketOpen(self.symbols[0], 30),
            self.Rebalance,
        )
        # Logic: Hold top 1 by 126-day return; monthly.

    def Rebalance(self):
        scores = {}
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            hist = self.History(symbol, 126 + 5, Resolution.Daily)
            if hist.empty: continue
            close = hist["close"]
            if hasattr(close, "unstack"):
                close = close.unstack(level=0).iloc[:, 0]
            if len(close) < 126 + 1: continue
            scores[symbol] = float(close.iloc[-1] / close.iloc[-126 - 1] - 1)
        ranked = sorted(scores.items(), key=lambda kv: kv[1], reverse=True)[:1]
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            self.SetHoldings(symbol, 0)
        if ranked:
            w = 1.0 / len(ranked)
            for symbol, _ in ranked:
                self.SetHoldings(symbol, w)

Exported code uses the platform’s native classes and libraries. Install dependencies in your third-party IDE, then run. Validate before live trading.

Academic paper

Strategy in a nutshell

Build a portfolio with 10-20 currencies, using the latest OECD Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) for initial fair value against the USD. Adjust these values monthly based on CPI and exchange rate shifts to determine previous month's fair PPP value. Invest in the three most undervalued currencies and short the three most overvalued ones, based on PPP calculations. Allocate unused cash to overnight interest accounts. Rebalance the portfolio monthly or quarterly to adapt to changing market conditions. This strategy aims to capitalize on currency valuation disparities, leveraging PPP adjustments to guide investment decisions and maximize returns.

Economic rationale

Menkhoff, Sarno, Schmeling, and Schrimpf explored the predictive power of currency valuation based on real exchange rates. They found that such measures are informative for FX excess returns and spot exchange rate changes across currencies. This predictability primarily arises from persistent macroeconomic disparities among countries, indicating that currency value largely reflects varying risk premia, relatively stable over time. Contrary to conventional belief, trading based on simplistic currency valuation metrics isn't inherently profitable due to reversion to fundamental values. Deeper analysis reveals that refined valuation measures align more closely with original currency value concepts, predicting both excess returns and exchange rate reversals. Moreover, differing consumption baskets across nations allow for relative price level assessment, indicating "cheap" and "expensive" countries. Price differentials evolve slowly, enabling gains through exchange rate convergence with fair value in a rebalanced portfolio comprising undervalued and overvalued currencies.

Backtest performance

Annualised return3.30%
Volatility18.24%
Beta0.26
Sharpe ratio0.27
Sortino ratio0.42
Maximum drawdown-51.95%
Win rate52%