Being able to optimize the timeframes is really cool, Lenar. Tradestation can't do that, NeoTicker can and now we know MetaTrader4, too.
I can tell you that the alternative platforms list discussed on our Yahoo group
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheRumpledOne
(only about 20% of the members have migrated here so far) has narrowed to NeoTicker and MetaTrader4 I would say.
Lenar wrote:michal.kreslik wrote:Also, the FX traders here are interested in knowing if it is possible to include the FX spread in the simulation. With Tradestation, the only trading costs you may include in the backtest are commissions and slippage.
Thanks,
Michal
im not sure that understood you well. Please give me more details, Michal.
OK, in a nutshell:
- you need to subtract the costs of trading when you backtest
- in Forex, the principal cost of trading is the spread, i.e. the difference between the Bid and the Ask prices
- in EURUSD, the spread is typically 3 points
- is it possible to subtract the spread of 3 points from every closed out trade in backtest?
Strangely enough, you can't subtract spread in Tradestation. You can only subtract commissions or slippage in dollars, which is a workaround for USD-priced pairs, but that doesn't work for other pairs.
Example:
- EURUSD, 1 lot, spread 3 points = spread is $30 a trade
- GBPUSD, 1 lot, spread 4 points = spread is $40 a trade
- USDCHF, 1 lot, spread 4 points = spread is CHF 40 a trade
- EURGBP, 1 lot, spread 3 points = spread is GBP 30 a trade
etc.
The trick is to be able to denominate the spread in the price currency, which is not always USD.
Michal