Futures Trading

Trading Under Uncertainty: A Distribution-Based Strategy for Futures Markets Using FutureQuant Transformer ArXiv ID: 2505.05595 “View on arXiv” Authors: Wenhao Guo, Yuda Wang, Zeqiao Huang, Changjiang Zhang, Shumin ma Abstract In the complex landscape of traditional futures trading, where vast data and variables like real-time Limit Order Books (LOB) complicate price predictions, we introduce the FutureQuant Transformer model, leveraging attention mechanisms to navigate these challenges. Unlike conventional models focused on point predictions, the FutureQuant model excels in forecasting the range and volatility of future prices, thus offering richer insights for trading strategies. Its ability to parse and learn from intricate market patterns allows for enhanced decision-making, significantly improving risk management and achieving a notable average gain of 0.1193% per 30-minute trade over state-of-the-art models with a simple algorithm using factors such as RSI, ATR, and Bollinger Bands. This innovation marks a substantial leap forward in predictive analytics within the volatile domain of futures trading. ...

Less is more: AI Decision-Making using Dynamic Deep Neural Networks for Short-Term Stock Index Prediction ArXiv ID: 2408.11740 “View on arXiv” Authors: Unknown Abstract In this paper we introduce a multi-agent deep-learning method which trades in the Futures markets based on the US S&P 500 index. The method (referred to as Model A) is an innovation founded on existing well-established machine-learning models which sample market prices and associated derivatives in order to decide whether the investment should be long/short or closed (zero exposure), on a day-to-day decision. We compare the predictions with some conventional machine-learning methods namely, Long Short-Term Memory, Random Forest and Gradient-Boosted-Trees. Results are benchmarked against a passive model in which the Futures contracts are held (long) continuously with the same exposure (level of investment). Historical tests are based on daily daytime trading carried out over a period of 6 calendar years (2018-23). We find that Model A outperforms the passive investment in key performance metrics, placing it within the top quartile performance of US Large Cap active fund managers. Model A also outperforms the three machine-learning classification comparators over this period. We observe that Model A is extremely efficient (doing less and getting more) with an exposure to the market of only 41.95% compared to the 100% market exposure of the passive investment, and thus provides increased profitability with reduced risk. ...