archive of the former site EconWPA.wustl.edu

Please do not link or reference this page. Use one of the following URLs:
ideas.repec.org as http://ideas.repec.org/p/wpa/wuwpfi/0412018.html
econpapers.repec.org as http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/wpawuwpfi/0412018.htm

Simulated Trading-An Analysis of Pairs Trading

 
Paper:ewp-fin/0412018
From:    
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 05:53:31 -0600

Abstract:
In this report, we explain and analyze a trading strategy, popularly known as Pairs trading. We begin by explaining what a pair trading strategy entails. Since there are various ways of implementing the strategy, we describe the methodology selected by us in section 3. Thereafter, we look at the returns from the strategy and benchmark it to the S&P 500 index in Section 4. In section 5, we examine the risks involved in pairs trading. Section 6 looks at some of the limitations we faced while trading and Section 7 points out some mistakes we made. Finally, we discuss some risk control measures in Section 8 and conclude in Section 9 with comments on whether we would implement the strategy in real life and if so, with what changes.

Acrobat pdf files:(viewing .pdf)
      archive: 0412018.pdf  is 89636 bytes, 11-12-104, or 0412018.pdf.gz 
Access statistics for this paper at LogEc which is a part of the RePEc project as was/is EconWPA.
Translate to another language with babel.altavista.com EconWPA reference ewp-fin/0412018
RePEc reference RePEc:wpa:wuwpfi:0412018 send e-mail to

EconWPA began as a conversation between Bob Parks and Larry Blume on January 28, 1993. I located Paul Ginsparg's archive (then xxx.lanl.gov) and he graciously installed his software on a Sun Sparc system which was supporting the department of economics email and computation. EconWPA began accepting papers July 1, 1993 and had ftp, email, gopher and web interfaces. The web interface for submissions was engineered into existence in July 1995. A complete and catastrophic machine failure in 1999 caused the loss of EconWPA's email new paper announcment service at which time there were over 15,000 subscriptions with over 8,000 unique email addresses.

In 2005, Arts and Sciences commandeered the computing services that I had provided to the Department of Economics since 1987. Some might say that the department was sold out, others would (erroneously) claim that centralization is efficient, and still others would claim that I have few marketing skills.

I was told that I could keep operating EconWPA (as well as many other services including rfe.wustl.edu, barnett.wustl.edu, and three RePEc servers) but I would receive no support (hardware, software, or anthing else) and (as had been the case) no compensation. At that point, given the apparent low valuation of my activities by the department, and university, it made no sense for me to continue operating EconWPA or other services.

Thanks to all who have supported EconWPA in the past.

A Chinese curse states May you live in intersting times. I have. Bob Parks - Jan 2006