How to get started with algo trading
Before you can use algorithmic trading, you first need a trading strategy. Therefore, you first need the technical and financial knowledge to identify a sound strategy for trading. Once you identify a trading strategy, you can use algo trading to implement that strategy through an automated process.
Now that you understand what algo trading is, let’s talk about how you can implement your knowledge and automate the trading process.
What do you need to start algorithmic trading?
Hardware & Software. Algo trading is computer-based, meaning, to benefit from this new technology, you need a PC or laptop, remote server hosting, cloud storage to back up data in case of emergency, a stable internet connection, and an extra power supply. You may also need special software (we’ll talk about this later).
Platform & Data. If your broker doesn’t provide a built-in trading platform, you will likely need to pay extra for one. The same goes for market data. Some brokers provide inadequate data, while others don’t even offer live or historical data. Because algo trading is heavily reliant on data and information, you will want to work with a good data provider.
Capital & Knowledge. As with other trading strategies, you need knowledge and trading capital. The size of your capital investment will vary depending on your financial situation, goals, and algo trading strategy. As for knowledge, the more financial and technical skills you have, the more prepared you will be for trading.
Algorithmic trading software
As you can guess from the name, you'll need an algorithm to start algo trading. In the trading community, these algorithms are called trading robots, or “bots” for short. There are three ways to get an algorithmic trading bot:
Create a trading bot from scratch
You can use APIs to establish your own automated trades, create algorithms, etc.
APIs allow secure and reliable trading as long as you understand how to set them up. The advantage is that you gain complete control over your bot and its functionality. However, this is only a good option for those with advanced technical knowledge. If you aren’t prepared to deal with the technical aspects of bots, creating a bot from scratch isn’t a good option.
Building an API from scratch requires at least a basic programming and coding background. Any programming language with HTTP support will fit your strategy well (Java, .NET, etc.)
Use a ready-made trading bot
For traders who don’t have a technical background, there are ready-made trading bots that anyone can use.
Software solutions like MetaTrader, Interactive Brokers, and AmiBroker are designed for traders without a technical background. Let's take MetaTrader4 as an example. It's a tried-and-true trading platform where you can find and use pre-made trading algorithms. On top of that, you get add-ons and indicators. Some of them are free, while others require a paid membership. MT4 can help you with chart analysis, strategic planning, and execution.
Ready-made bots are great because you can implement them almost instantly without any coding required. However, these bots do come at a price, and some of them can be quite expensive.
Use a trading bot marketplace
Instead of creating your own bot or paying a software provider for a ready-made bot, you can purchase bots on a trustworthy marketplace like 3Commas. Here, you can find well-rounded algo trading strategies that have already been tried and tested. Instead of worrying about APIs or the peculiarities of specific brokers, you can instead simply copy the strategies of veteran traders to make a profit. The platform offers a simple set of automated strategies to trade stock options, a 24/7 support team, and a free demo account. The demo account is completely free and allows you to test out trading strategies without using real funds.
