Advantages and disadvantages of trading robots

5 ביולי 2022

Hello everyone
Today I want to discuss Trading Robots with you.
In trading, any trading method takes place, especially trading using a robot that is devoid of emotions and performs everything that is assigned to it with the accuracy of a tick.
Robots have many pros and cons, let's figure everything out in order.

Advantages
Speed. Any program is able to monitor more tools than a person. In addition, the program easily performs dozens of calculations and can analyze the market and make a deal in a matter of seconds, which the human brain is simply unable to do.
A trader cannot learn hundreds of strategies and rules and use them simultaneously in the market, trading manually. On the other hand, the program is able to safely use complex systems.

Accuracy. If the code is written correctly, if the strategy is well chosen, the robot will follow the rules accurately. An ordinary trader can choose the wrong tool, mix up the numbers, put a comma in the wrong place, the robot is absolutely accurate in its actions.

Fatigue and scalability. Any trader needs rest, no one is able to sit at the monitor and constantly trade correctly. Unlike a human, a robot just doesn't get tired. He is able to work all day, seven days a week and does not ask for time off. If you use a robot, you can be free all day and go about your business while the robot does all the work for you without fatigue.

Functionality. If a person finds a new strategy, he will need time to study it. And even after spending time studying, there is no guarantee that a person will understand everything that he studied the first time. But the robot will be taught easily, it is enough to write a line of code, and it will do everything, without errors, from the first time and you can add as much as you want and almost anything.

The robot is not subject to emotions. Perhaps the biggest problem of a trader is emotions. Every trader, especially a beginner, experienced strong emotions when he lost or when he earned. It will not be possible to correct your psychology and get rid of emotions in a second, but fortunately, the robot does not have such problems. The core of the robot is built on clear rules, the robot simply does not know how to deviate from them, and the robot does not know emotions. The robot doesn't care how many losing trades there were before or will be after, all it knows are the rules, and it adheres to them.
It is not easy to create a robot, but everyone can do it if they put enough effort and spend time.

Disadvantages
The complexity of making a robot (writing a program). Everyone can create a profitable trading strategy, but not everyone knows how to program and create robots. If you can program, you may have to learn a new programming language.
There is an opportunity to buy a ready-made robot or order a robot to be written to you. In the first case, you will not know what is hidden in the black box, you will not be able to configure it. In the second case, there is no guarantee that the programmer will understand your idea and do everything right.

The trading robot can only use technical analysis. A trader can read the news and understand the meaning that is hidden between the lines. The trader knows how to understand, but the robot does not. The robot understands only dry figures and therefore it uses technical analysis perfectly, but is not able to go beyond these limits.

In addition, there will be situations when you clearly see one scenario, and the robot simply does not see it. At the same time, it is impossible to stop trading the robot if it is profitable at a distance. The only thing that can be done is to analyze this situation and, if necessary, make changes to the algorithm, while carrying out the entire testing process anew.

A trading robot cannot make decisions in non-standard situations. It only fulfills the logic inherent in it, and in case of problems it will not be able to change anything.
Of course, the program can include the robot's reaction to some situations, but it is impossible to foresee everything. For example, if the Internet connection is lost, the robot will not be able to continue trading or at least close an open position. A trader trading manually, in this case, would call the broker and close the position, or restore the Internet. The computer may freeze, the program may close with an error, the broker may not accept the application or accept it, but with a long delay. The trading robot will not be able to react to all events and this may lead to unplanned losses.

The lack of emotions, one of the advantages of a trading robot, is also a minus. The robot can drain your entire capital in one day without any embarrassment. This must be taken into account when creating a robot. For example, allow the robot to trade only a part of your capital, or make it so that when a certain threshold is reached, the robot notifies you and (or) stops trading.

Conclusion
Concluding the consideration of the pros and cons of using trading robots, I want to say that the negative sides can be largely offset by a professional approach to creating a robot whose algorithm will take into account actions in non-standard situations. But at the same time, of course, there is no escape from the complexity factor in the process of creating robots, this is the main deterrent, which can only be overcome by spending considerable time on mastering programming.

Traders, if you liked this idea or if you have your own opinion about it, write in the comments. I will be glad 👩‍💻