What does the "and open next trade at normal time" and "re-open immediately" mean?
If a trade is re-opened "at normal time" it simply means when the option would have expired, re-open the position. Re-open immediately, means at the end of the same trading day, open the position up with the same logic (such as 30 days to expiration, 40 delta, etc) as when the trade was first opened.
When technical open conditions are in place, it will always open when the next technical open triggers, which is considered the normal time, so in these instances “Immediately” will be greyed out.
When are calculations made for trades?
While we send alerts and update the "Today" tab intraday to give traders early notification, the mechanics of the TradeMachine® are that it uses end of day prices for every back-test entry and exit (every trigger).
Why can't I deleted a Saved Backtest?
Any backtest with a name beginning with "CML" is restricted from deletion.
When creating your own strategies, ensure that you do not label them with "CML," as this will prevent you from modifying or deleting them in the future.
Does running a backtest in TradeMachine® show my expected profit or loss on a new trade?
No. A backtest shows how a strategy would have performed historically under the selected rules, settings, and time period. It is not a pre-trade projection or a forecast of a new trade’s profit or loss.
Results such as average trade return, win rate, and total return describe the historical trades in that test. For example, a historical average return of 20% does not mean a new trade is expected to earn 20%.
Can I see the profit or loss for individual trades in a backtest?
Yes. TradeMachine® provides individual trade results for the historical trades included in your selected backtest. These results reflect the strategy, settings, and date range used in that test.
Does TradeMachine® place trades for me?
No. TradeMachine® is a stock and options research and backtesting platform. It does not connect to your brokerage account, submit orders, or execute or manage real trades on your behalf.
Backtest trades are historical simulations. Alerts identify when specified strategy conditions are met; they are not trade orders or personalized investment recommendations.
If you choose to trade, you are responsible for placing, monitoring, and closing your positions through your brokerage account.