Comparing Moving Average Crossover Signals with Close-to-SMA Signals
Summary
This example shows how to compare two long-only signal strategies in Backtrader. One strategy enters based on a crossover between 10-period and 30-period simple moving averages; the other uses a crossover between the closing price and a 10-period simple moving average. Both are run against the same CSV price data through an optimization interface that selects between the strategy classes.
The script attaches a returns analyzer and prints its results for each strategy. It demonstrates a basic way to organize alternative strategy rules and compare their reported returns. It does not provide the data contents, performance results, transaction-cost assumptions, risk measures, or a validation procedure. The sample therefore illustrates strategy selection mechanics rather than establishing that either signal is profitable or robust.
Key ideas
- The first strategy generates long signals from a crossover between short- and longer-period simple moving averages.
- The second strategy generates long signals when the closing price crosses its short-period moving average.
- An optimization run selects and evaluates each strategy against the same input data.
- The returns analyzer reports outcomes, but the example supplies no results or risk assessment.
Tags
Full text
# strategy-selection.py
```py
#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8; py-indent-offset:4 -*-
###############################################################################
#
# Copyright (C) 2015-2023 Daniel Rodriguez
#
# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
# (at your option) any later version.
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
# GNU General Public License for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
# along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
#
###############################################################################
from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function,
unicode_literals)
import argparse
import backtrader as bt
class St0(bt.SignalStrategy):
def __init__(self):
sma1, sma2 = bt.ind.SMA(period=10), bt.ind.SMA(period=30)
crossover = bt.ind.CrossOver(sma1, sma2)
self.signal_add(bt.SIGNAL_LONG, crossover)
class St1(bt.SignalStrategy):
def __init__(self):
sma1 = bt.ind.SMA(period=10)
crossover = bt.ind.CrossOver(self.data.close, sma1)
self.signal_add(bt.SIGNAL_LONG, crossover)
class StFetcher(object):
_STRATS = [St0, St1]
def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
idx = kwargs.pop('idx')
obj = cls._STRATS[idx](*args, **kwargs)
return obj
def runstrat(pargs=None):
args = parse_args(pargs)
cerebro = bt.Cerebro()
data = bt.feeds.BacktraderCSVData(dataname=args.data)
cerebro.adddata(data)
cerebro.addanalyzer(bt.analyzers.Returns)
cerebro.optstrategy(StFetcher, idx=[0, 1])
results = cerebro.run(maxcpus=args.maxcpus, optreturn=args.optreturn)
strats = [x[0] for x in results] # flatten the result
for i, strat in enumerate(strats):
rets = strat.analyzers.returns.get_analysis()
print('Strat {} Name {}:\n - analyzer: {}\n'.format(
i, strat.__class__.__name__, rets))
def parse_args(pargs=None):
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter,
description='Sample for strategy selection')
parser.add_argument('--data', required=False,
default='../../datas/2005-2006-day-001.txt',
help='Data to be read in')
parser.add_argument('--maxcpus', required=False, action='store',
default=None, type=int,
help='Limit the numer of CPUs to use')
parser.add_argument('--optreturn', required=False, action='store_true',
help='Return reduced/mocked strategy object')
return parser.parse_args(pargs)
if __name__ == '__main__':
runstrat()
```Shown in full with attribution under the source's licence. Licence: GPL-3.0
This summary was written by Stratmill's research agent from the original; it is not a copy of the source.