Difference between revisions of "Chart Backtesting VS Portfolio Backtesting"

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When backtesting one and the same strategy on a chart and in [['''Portfolio Trader''']] a user might encounter some discrepancies in the [[Using Performance Report|'''Strategy Performance Reports''']]. To achieve similar results in both applications one needs to verify the following:
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MultiCharts and [[Portfolio_Trader|Portfolio Trader]] serve different purposes, and backtesting on charts and in Portfolio is not supposed to match. Still there are some recommendations that can help bringing the backtesting on charts and in Portfolio as close to each other as possible.
  
 
==Instrument settings==
 
==Instrument settings==
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<br><div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">'''Important:''' Portfolio workspace should contain only 1 symbol in the [[Data_Numbers|'''Data 1''']] column!</div>
 
<br><div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">'''Important:''' Portfolio workspace should contain only 1 symbol in the [[Data_Numbers|'''Data 1''']] column!</div>
  
# [[Changing_Symbols|One and the same symbol]] from one and the same [[:Category:Built-in_Data_Sources|data source]] should be chosen in both MultiCharts and Portfolio;
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# [[Changing_Symbols|Only one symbol]] from one [[:Category:Built-in_Data_Sources|data source]] must be used and they must be identical in both the MultiCharts Chart and the Portfolio Trader;
 
# The following parameters should be set identically:
 
# The following parameters should be set identically:
 
#* Chart type - regular or [[:category:Non-Standard_Chart_Types|non-standard]];
 
#* Chart type - regular or [[:category:Non-Standard_Chart_Types|non-standard]];
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#* [[Quote_Field|Quote Field]];
 
#* [[Quote_Field|Quote Field]];
 
#* [[Sessions]];
 
#* [[Sessions]];
#* [[Chart_Resolution#Build_Volume_On_Selector|Build volume on]] (if the strategy uses volumes in it’s calculations);
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#* [[Chart_Resolution#Build_Volume_On_Selector|Build volume on]] (if the strategy uses volumes in its calculations);
 
#* [[Data_Range|Data Range]]* - should be specified as From…To and not Days/Bars Back;
 
#* [[Data_Range|Data Range]]* - should be specified as From…To and not Days/Bars Back;
 
#* [[Time_Zone|Time Zone]]*.
 
#* [[Time_Zone|Time Zone]]*.
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The following strategy settings should also match:
 
The following strategy settings should also match:
  
# on the [[Strategy_Properties|'''Properties''']] tab:
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# on the '''Properties''' tab:
 
#* [[Strategy_Properties#Setting_Costs.2FCapitalization|Commission Rule]];
 
#* [[Strategy_Properties#Setting_Costs.2FCapitalization|Commission Rule]];
 
#* [[Strategy_Properties#Setting_Costs.2FCapitalization|Slippage]];
 
#* [[Strategy_Properties#Setting_Costs.2FCapitalization|Slippage]];
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# on the '''Backtesting''' tab:
 
# on the '''Backtesting''' tab:
 
#* [[Limit_Order_Execution_Assumptions|Backtesting assumptions]];
 
#* [[Limit_Order_Execution_Assumptions|Backtesting assumptions]];
#* [[Realtime-History_Matching|Realtime-history matching]].
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#* [[Realtime-History_Matching|Realtime-history matching]];
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#* [[Bar Magnifier]] and [[Precise_Backtesting|Extended backtesting]] are unavailble for Portfolio, so on the chart it is required to disable these options.
  
With all these recommendations met the  backtesting results of Portoflio and charts should coincide.
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==Portfolio Trader specific settings==
  
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The following settings are unavailable on charts, therefore they need to be configured so that they don’t influence Portfolio backtesting. In the [[Portfolio_Settings|'''Money Management Settings''']] section:
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* Exposure = 100%
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* Max % of Capital at Risk per Position  = 100%
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* Margin value = 0
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* Max Potential Loss = 0
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<br>
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<div style="background-color: #ff9999;"> '''NOTE:''' Even with all of these recommendations implemented there’s a possibility that the backtesting results in both applications will not match. This is related to the code’s specific and one should review the strategy’s code to find the reason for the discrepancy. An example of how to do that can be found [[Why_an_Order_Was_or_Was_Not_Executed|'''here''']]. </div>
  
 
[[Category:FAQ]]
 
[[Category:FAQ]]

Latest revision as of 13:51, 10 August 2023

MultiCharts and Portfolio Trader serve different purposes, and backtesting on charts and in Portfolio is not supposed to match. Still there are some recommendations that can help bringing the backtesting on charts and in Portfolio as close to each other as possible.

Instrument settings


Important: Portfolio workspace should contain only 1 symbol in the Data 1 column!
  1. Only one symbol from one data source must be used and they must be identical in both the MultiCharts Chart and the Portfolio Trader;
  2. The following parameters should be set identically:

*Data Range and Time Zone for Portofio are specified in the common Data settings.

Signal settings

  1. Signals’ inputs on the chart should match those in Portfolio precisely;
  2. Intra-Bar Order Generation has to be disabled on charts, because this mode is not available in Portfolio.

Strategy settings

The following strategy settings should also match:

  1. on the Properties tab:
  2. on the Backtesting tab:

Portfolio Trader specific settings

The following settings are unavailable on charts, therefore they need to be configured so that they don’t influence Portfolio backtesting. In the Money Management Settings section:

  • Exposure = 100%
  • Max % of Capital at Risk per Position = 100%
  • Margin value = 0
  • Max Potential Loss = 0


NOTE: Even with all of these recommendations implemented there’s a possibility that the backtesting results in both applications will not match. This is related to the code’s specific and one should review the strategy’s code to find the reason for the discrepancy. An example of how to do that can be found here.