Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market

In algorithmic trading, “overfitting” often arises during parameter optimization. To avoid scenarios where in-sample performance is excellent but out-of-sample performance fails to meet expectations, appropriate parameter combinations are crucial for enhancing the robustness of a strategy. To find t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hsio-Yi Lin, Chieh-Yow ChiangLin, Hsuan-Wei Tseng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/74/1/56
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850049417462153216
author Hsio-Yi Lin
Chieh-Yow ChiangLin
Hsuan-Wei Tseng
author_facet Hsio-Yi Lin
Chieh-Yow ChiangLin
Hsuan-Wei Tseng
author_sort Hsio-Yi Lin
collection DOAJ
description In algorithmic trading, “overfitting” often arises during parameter optimization. To avoid scenarios where in-sample performance is excellent but out-of-sample performance fails to meet expectations, appropriate parameter combinations are crucial for enhancing the robustness of a strategy. To find the appropriate parameter combinations, we identified “parameter plateaus” in the three-dimensional space generated by strategy performance metrics. These plateaus represent parameter combinations where the surrounding performance metrics are relatively similar, reducing the risk of drastic performance drops. Utilizing the four parameter selection methods designed in this study (weighted selection, Standard Deviation Selection, Island Area Selection, and Island Volume Selection), we selected parameter combinations in-sample and validated them out-of-sample, complemented by “rolling window analysis” for long-term profitability stability. We used historical backtesting data from the Taiwan Stock Index Futures, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2022. The data were paired with trading strategies developed based on the moving average technical indicator. Through the four parameter selection methods and the system backtesting approach using rolling windows, we identified parameter combinations in-sample and then validated them out-of-sample. The results showed that the performance metrics improved by more than 50% over those generated using traditional optimal point selection methods, demonstrating the superiority of the parameter selection methods proposed in this study.
format Article
id doaj-art-12cc278d52a94cab963c4b9bcae755d8
institution DOAJ
issn 2673-4591
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Engineering Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-12cc278d52a94cab963c4b9bcae755d82025-08-20T02:53:43ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912024-09-017415610.3390/engproc2024074056Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures MarketHsio-Yi Lin0Chieh-Yow ChiangLin1Hsuan-Wei Tseng2Department of Finance, National Pingtung University, Pingtung City 900, TaiwanDepartment of Finance & Information, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 824, TaiwanDepartment of Finance & Information, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 824, TaiwanIn algorithmic trading, “overfitting” often arises during parameter optimization. To avoid scenarios where in-sample performance is excellent but out-of-sample performance fails to meet expectations, appropriate parameter combinations are crucial for enhancing the robustness of a strategy. To find the appropriate parameter combinations, we identified “parameter plateaus” in the three-dimensional space generated by strategy performance metrics. These plateaus represent parameter combinations where the surrounding performance metrics are relatively similar, reducing the risk of drastic performance drops. Utilizing the four parameter selection methods designed in this study (weighted selection, Standard Deviation Selection, Island Area Selection, and Island Volume Selection), we selected parameter combinations in-sample and validated them out-of-sample, complemented by “rolling window analysis” for long-term profitability stability. We used historical backtesting data from the Taiwan Stock Index Futures, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2022. The data were paired with trading strategies developed based on the moving average technical indicator. Through the four parameter selection methods and the system backtesting approach using rolling windows, we identified parameter combinations in-sample and then validated them out-of-sample. The results showed that the performance metrics improved by more than 50% over those generated using traditional optimal point selection methods, demonstrating the superiority of the parameter selection methods proposed in this study.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/74/1/56program tradingwalk forward analysisparameter plateau
spellingShingle Hsio-Yi Lin
Chieh-Yow ChiangLin
Hsuan-Wei Tseng
Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market
Engineering Proceedings
program trading
walk forward analysis
parameter plateau
title Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market
title_full Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market
title_fullStr Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market
title_full_unstemmed Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market
title_short Optimal Parameter Selection and Indicator Design for Technical Analysis Strategies by Computer Software: An Empirical Analysis of the Taiwan Futures Market
title_sort optimal parameter selection and indicator design for technical analysis strategies by computer software an empirical analysis of the taiwan futures market
topic program trading
walk forward analysis
parameter plateau
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/74/1/56
work_keys_str_mv AT hsioyilin optimalparameterselectionandindicatordesignfortechnicalanalysisstrategiesbycomputersoftwareanempiricalanalysisofthetaiwanfuturesmarket
AT chiehyowchianglin optimalparameterselectionandindicatordesignfortechnicalanalysisstrategiesbycomputersoftwareanempiricalanalysisofthetaiwanfuturesmarket
AT hsuanweitseng optimalparameterselectionandindicatordesignfortechnicalanalysisstrategiesbycomputersoftwareanempiricalanalysisofthetaiwanfuturesmarket