Time Series Momentum Combined with Volatility Filters in Futures Markets
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Strategy in a nutshell
The strategy trades seven futures using MACD signals combined with a volatility filter. In calm markets, it follows trends, while in volatile markets, it reverses signals. Positions are equally weighted and rebalanced daily.
Economic rationale
Research shows trend-following works best in low volatility but fails when volatility spikes, as prices often reverse. By switching rules across regimes, the strategy adapts to changing market conditions.
Backtest performance
Annualised return5.47%
Volatility5.51%
Beta0.069
Sharpe ratio0.99
Sortino ratio-0.793
Maximum drawdown-4.88%
Win rate48%
Full Python code
import numpy as np
from AlgorithmImports import *
from collections import deque
class TimeSeriesMomentumVolatilityFilters(QCAlgorithm):
def Initialize(self):
self.SetStartDate(2010, 1, 1)
self.SetCash(100000)
self.symbols = [
'ICE_DX1', # US Dollar Index Futures, Continuous Contract #1
'CME_TY1', # 10 Yr Note Futures, Continuous Contract #1
'CME_ES1', # E-mini S&P 500 Futures, Continuous Contract #1
'CME_EC1', # Euro FX Futures, Continuous Contract #1
'CME_BP1', # British Pound Futures, Continuous Contract #1
'CME_HG1' # Copper Futures, Continuous Contract
]
self.period = 12*21
self.vol_period = 21
self.SetWarmUp(self.period)
self.optimalization_count = 100
self.data = {}
self.macd = {}
self.macd_signal = {}
self.volatility = {}
for symbol in self.symbols:
data = self.AddData(QuantpediaFutures, symbol, Resolution.Daily)
data.SetFeeModel(CustomFeeModel())
self.data[symbol] = deque(maxlen=self.period+self.vol_period+1)
self.volatility[symbol] = deque(maxlen=self.period)
self.macd_signal[symbol] = deque(maxlen=self.period)
self.macd['ICE_DX1'] = self.MACD('ICE_DX1', 1, 250, 1)
self.macd['CME_TY1'] = self.MACD('CME_TY1', 1, 250, 1)
self.macd['CME_HG1'] = self.MACD('CME_HG1', 1, 250, 1)
self.macd['CME_EC1'] = self.MACD('CME_EC1', 1, 61, 1)
self.macd['CME_BP1'] = self.MACD('CME_BP1', 1, 61, 1)
self.macd['CME_ES1'] = self.MACD('CME_ES1', 3, 250, 1)
def OnData(self, data):
for symbol in self.data:
symbol_obj = self.Symbol(symbol)
if symbol_obj in data.Keys:
if data[symbol_obj]:
price = data[symbol_obj].Value
if price != 0:
self.data[symbol].append(price)
if self.IsWarmingUp: return
self.Liquidate()
# Optimalization
optimal_treshold = {}
for symbol in self.symbols:
if self.securities[symbol].get_last_data() and self.time.date() > QuantpediaFutures.get_last_update_date()[symbol]:
self.liquidate(symbol)
continue
macd = self.macd[symbol]
closes = np.array([x for x in self.data[symbol]])
if macd.IsReady and len(closes) >= self.vol_period:
# MACD SIGNAL = if short term MA is UNDER long term MA == 1 else -1
self.macd_signal[symbol].append(1 if macd.Slow > macd.Fast else -1)
daily_return = closes[:-1] / closes[1:] - 1
vol = np.std(daily_return) * np.sqrt(252)
self.volatility[symbol].append(vol)
if len(closes) == self.data[symbol].maxlen and len(self.macd_signal[symbol]) == self.macd_signal[symbol].maxlen:
values = np.array(closes)
daily_changes = (values[1:] - values[:-1]) / values[:-1]
vol_min = min(self.volatility[symbol])
vol_max = max(self.volatility[symbol])
vol_range = vol_max - vol_min
vol_step = vol_range / self.optimalization_count
avg_return = {}
treshhold_value = vol_min
while treshhold_value <= vol_max:
vol_vector = np.array([-1 if x <= treshhold_value else 1 for x in self.volatility[symbol]])
returns = vol_vector * self.macd_signal[symbol] * daily_changes[-self.period:]
avg_return[treshhold_value] = np.average([x for x in returns])
treshhold_value += vol_step
optimal_treshold[symbol] = max(avg_return, key=avg_return.get)
if len(optimal_treshold) == 0: return
# Trading
count = len(optimal_treshold)
for symbol, threshold in optimal_treshold.items():
vol = self.volatility[symbol][-1]
if symbol in data and data[symbol]:
# low volatility enviroment
if vol <= threshold:
if self.macd[symbol].Fast > self.macd[symbol].Slow:
self.SetHoldings(symbol, 1/count)
else:
self.SetHoldings(symbol, -1/count)
# high volatility enviroment
else:
if self.macd[symbol].Fast > self.macd[symbol].Slow:
self.SetHoldings(symbol, -1/count)
else:
self.SetHoldings(symbol, 1/count)
# 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"))