High-frequency trading, popularly known as HFT, has become a popular trading method that employs powerful computer programs to execute a huge number of orders quickly. By using complex algorithms, HFT can evaluate multiple markets, study market conditions, and transact orders in a fraction of a second. Today, the trades that can be executed fastest are considered highly profitable compared to the slower ones.
Though HFT is adored for its speed and efficiency, adding liquidity to the market, removing small bid-ask spreads, high turnover rates, and order-to-trade ratios, high-frequency trading with EAs is not risk-free. Here, we will understand HFT and develop risk-mitigating strategies for HFT with EAs.
How Does High-Frequency Trading Work?
This automated trading uses algorithms to find the best trading opportunities. Many financial institutions and investors execute large trades quickly and record massive profits on Options Trading App. Due to the complete automation, HFT has made trading very easy. High-frequency trading is also used in the cryptocurrency market. HFT uses algorithms to analyze crypto data and helps traders transact enormous trades within seconds. Meta Trader 5 is another platform for trading forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, etc.
High-Frequency Trading (HFT): The Advantages
The traders use HFT Algo Trading Software to analyze critical data and decide their course of action within a few seconds. The best part of HFT is that it can handle large volumes of trades in a niche of time. HFT also keeps tracking the changing market conditions and finding arbitrage opportunities.
The speed and ease make HFT the best. Many banks, financial institutions, and institutional investors use HFT to quickly execute a large volume of trades. Even the exchanges wanted to add liquidity to the market. For example, the New York Stock Exchange has a liquidity providers group or SLPs (supplemental liquidity providers) that add competition and liquidity. They also provide incentives to the companies in the form of fees or rebates. By adding market liquidity, HFT has eliminated bid-ask spreads.
High-Frequency Trading (HFT): The Limitations
HFT has been quite controversial since its inception. The reason is that HFT is replacing broker-dealers with mathematical models and algorithms. Computer-made decisions have taken over humandecisions and interactions. HFT helps traders make quick decisions, generally within milliseconds. This can lead to big market moves. In 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had the biggest intraday point drop, dropping 10% in only 20 minutes.
Another drawback of HFT is that it enables the big organizations to profit at the small individuals' expense, called ghost liquidity. Since the traders cannot trade liquidity, it has become a major cause of dispute.
The Power of EA in High-Frequency Trading
The use of expert advisors (EA) has resulted in a powerful amalgamation of technology and trading. The proprietary trading firms have been using this new tool, EAs, to create unique trading strategies for winning. EAs are automated trading systems that assess markets, find trade opportunities and place orders. The algorithms are pre-set with specific criteria to execute different trading strategies. EAs are quick and highly efficient. Here are the benefits of EA:
> High- Efficiency
EA can conduct quick and efficient market analysis. EA can easily manage large amounts of data, identify patterns, execute trades, and do everything swiftly. This helps the prop firms to detect instruments and timeframes simultaneously.
> Emotion-Less Trading
The emotion-free trading based on data and rationality rather than human emotions is more lucrative. Since EAs are algorithmic based, it is free from partiality due to the emotional side. The prop firms use EA to execute disciplined trades, free from impulsive and emotional decisions.
> Continuous Market Observation
EAs enable ongoing market monitoring. When traders can continually see financial markets operate all day and night, they are always aware and updated. This helps the prop firms to select appropriate trading strategies, remain responsive to market changes, and enjoy a competitive edge.
> Optimization
The prop firms backtest and optimize strategies based on past data. EAs help companies make changes in algorithms and improve results under different market scenarios.
EAs can be more effective and usable when the users have clearly defined trading goals. Also, the firms must choose the right EA from a wide range of EAs available. They must choose EA according to their goals, risks, and strategies. The traders must keep monitoring the EAs to ensure the EAs change with the market change. Also, rather than overly relying on EAs, keep the angle of human decision-making alive. Using strong data encryption techniques and network availability can also eliminate trading failures. Know about Meta Trader 5 Automation that enables traders to build and run automated trading programs like developing, testing, and optimizing trading robots.
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EA Risk Management Strategies for HFT
It is important to consider the risk management aspect in trading. The EAs can help to lower the risk by ordering positions, stopping losses, and increasing the overall risk level. Risk management in the EA is an algorithm that describes hidden losses, potential actions when the risk limit is met, etc.
1: Know the list of associated risks
- Risk per trade: How much a trader can lose for one order or series.
- Risk per day: This means how much a trader can lose per day.
- Risk per week: This kind of risk means how much a trader can lose per week.
- Risk per month: This means the risk losses per month.
You must keep analyzing the market conditions and know about the drawdown reasons.
2:Know the maximum drawdown:
This risk finds the maximum drawdown on the account. It is usually 30% of the deposit amount. Due to the long exit, deep drawdowns are not desirable. When reaching the maximum drawdown, the EA does not function. Then, the traders optimize the trading system.
3:Build risk management strategy:
Decide the risk percentage of a deposit per trade. When you come near to its limit, start trading. For example, when the deposit is $10000, at a 1% risk per trade, it would be $100. Also, set a risk per day and close the same when you reach this limit. In this case of a deposit of $10000, the daily risk will be 5% or $500. Set a risk per week, like 10% of the deposit or $1000. Set a risk per month, too, like 20% of the deposit or $2000. Set a maximum drawdown of 30% of the deposit or $3000.
Proper risk management will have a stable equity. With periodic stop losses, the equity line will fall. When fixed losses are small, the profits are high.
Wrapping Up
Due to the supreme technological development and innovation like Meta Trader 4, our financial industry has evolved multiple-fold. The algorithms can now locate market opportunities and make trading faster. HFT can execute big orders quickly and easily. However, HFT comes with drawbacks, too. Risk management strategies can handle the dangers of major market moves, liquidity problems, etc.
EA has helped to revolutionize trading, by adding precision and efficiency. The trading firms have been using EAs and Options trading Strategy Builder to become successful in the market. Choose your EA based on your goals, keep monitoring the same, integrate the same with risk management, and achieve better outcomes!
