Global Cross-Asset Time Series Momentum in Bond and Equity Markets
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Cross-Asset Signals and Time Series Momentum
Aleksi Pitkkjjrvi; Matti Suominen; Lauri Vaittinen
- FIAalto University
- ?Aalto University School of Business
- ?Independent
Strategy in a nutshell
This strategy uses bond and equity indexes from 20 leading industrial countries. Past 12-month returns are used as predictors: if equities fell and bonds rose, the investor goes long bonds; if both rose, the investor goes long equities. Otherwise, capital is held in a USD margin account earning the risk-free rate. Positions are held for one month with a target volatility of 10%, and country exposures are equally weighted.
Economic rationale
The cross-asset momentum effect arises from slow-moving capital in bond and equity markets due to inattention, delays in decision-making, and market frictions. Positive bond returns reduce borrowing costs and increase collateral, allowing more investment in equities. Falling interest rates enable greater leverage for equities. Equity returns also influence future lending, affecting bond yields, while equity performance impacts bond returns through changes in the risk-free rate.
Backtest performance
Full Python code
import numpy as np
from AlgorithmImports import *
class GlobalCrossAssetTimeSeriesMomentum(QCAlgorithm):
def Initialize(self):
self.SetStartDate(2000, 1, 1)
self.SetCash(100000)
self.symbols = {
"ASX_YAP1" : "ASX_XT1", # 10 Year Commonwealth Treasury Bond Futures, Continuous Contract #1 (Australia)
"LIFFE_FCE1" : "MX_CGB1", # Ten-Year Government of Canada Bond Futures, Continuous Contract #1 (Canada)
"EUREX_FSTX1" : "EUREX_FGBL1", # Euro-Bund (10Y) Futures, Continuous Contract #1 (Germany)
"SGX_NK1" : "SGX_JB1", # SGX 10-Year Mini Japanese Government Bond Futures, Continuous Contract #1 (Japan)
"LIFFE_Z1" : "LIFFE_R1", # Long Gilt Futures, Continuous Contract #1 (U.K.)
"CME_ES1" : "CME_TY1" # 10 Yr Note Futures, Continuous Contract #1 (USA)
}
self.data = {}
self.period = 12*21
self.SetWarmUp(self.period)
self.leverage_cap = 5
for eq in self.symbols:
bond = self.symbols[eq]
data = self.AddData(QuantpediaFutures, eq, Resolution.Daily)
self.data[eq] = RollingWindow[float](self.period)
data.SetFeeModel(CustomFeeModel())
data.SetLeverage(self.leverage_cap)
data = self.AddData(QuantpediaFutures, bond, Resolution.Daily)
self.data[bond] = RollingWindow[float](self.period)
data.SetFeeModel(CustomFeeModel())
data.SetLeverage(self.leverage_cap)
first_key = [x for x in self.symbols.keys()][0]
self.rebalance_flag: bool = False
self.Schedule.On(self.DateRules.MonthStart(first_key), self.TimeRules.At(0, 0), self.Rebalance)
def OnData(self, data):
for eq in self.symbols:
bond = self.symbols[eq]
if eq in data and bond in data:
if data[eq] and data[bond]:
eq_price = data[eq].Value
bond_price = data[bond].Value
if eq_price != 0 and bond_price != 0:
self.data[eq].Add(eq_price)
self.data[bond].Add(bond_price)
if not self.rebalance_flag:
return
self.rebalance_flag = False
volatility = {}
for eq in self.symbols:
bond = self.symbols[eq]
if all([self.data[x].IsReady and self.Securities[x].GetLastData() and self.Time.date() < QuantpediaFutures.get_last_update_date()[x] for x in [eq, bond]]):
eq_prices = np.array([x for x in self.data[eq]])
bond_prices = np.array([x for x in self.data[bond]])
eq_return = eq_prices[0] / eq_prices[-1] - 1
bond_return = bond_prices[0] / bond_prices[-1] - 1
if eq_return < 0 and bond_return > 0:
bond_returns = bond_prices[:-1] / bond_prices[1:] - 1
volatility[bond] = np.std(bond_returns) * np.sqrt(252)
elif eq_return > 0 and bond_return > 0:
eq_returns = eq_prices[:-1] / eq_prices[1:] - 1
volatility[eq] = np.std(eq_returns) * np.sqrt(252)
if len(volatility) == 0: return
mean_vol = np.mean([x[1] for x in volatility.items()])
# leverage = (0.0833 / total_vol_annualized) * 100
leverage = min((0.1 / mean_vol), self.leverage_cap)
self.Liquidate()
count = len(volatility)
for symbol in volatility:
if data.contains_key(symbol) and data[symbol]:
# self.SetHoldings(symbol, 0.1667 * (1/count) * leverage)
self.SetHoldings(symbol, leverage / count)
def Rebalance(self):
self.rebalance_flag = True
# Quantpedia data.
# NOTE: IMPORTANT: Data order must be ascending (datewise)
class QuantpediaFutures(PythonData):
_last_update_date:Dict[Symbol, datetime.date] = {}
@staticmethod
def get_last_update_date() -> Dict[Symbol, datetime.date]:
return QuantpediaFutures._last_update_date
def GetSource(self, config, date, isLiveMode):
return SubscriptionDataSource("data.quantpedia.com/backtesting_data/futures/{0}.csv".format(config.Symbol.Value), SubscriptionTransportMedium.RemoteFile, FileFormat.Csv)
def Reader(self, config, line, date, isLiveMode):
data = QuantpediaFutures()
data.Symbol = config.Symbol
if not line[0].isdigit(): return None
split = line.split(';')
data.Time = datetime.strptime(split[0], "%d.%m.%Y") + timedelta(days=1)
data['back_adjusted'] = float(split[1])
data['spliced'] = float(split[2])
data.Value = float(split[1])
if config.Symbol.Value not in QuantpediaFutures._last_update_date:
QuantpediaFutures._last_update_date[config.Symbol.Value] = datetime(1,1,1).date()
if data.Time.date() > QuantpediaFutures._last_update_date[config.Symbol.Value]:
QuantpediaFutures._last_update_date[config.Symbol.Value] = data.Time.date()
return data
# Custom fee model.
class CustomFeeModel(FeeModel):
def GetOrderFee(self, parameters):
fee = parameters.Security.Price * parameters.Order.AbsoluteQuantity * 0.00005
return OrderFee(CashAmount(fee, "USD"))