Mean Reversion 2024: A Guide to Smart Trading Strategies

what is mean reversion trading

Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money. Options and futures are complex instruments which come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Before you invest, you should consider whether you understand how options and futures work, the risks of trading these instruments and whether you can afford to lose more than your original investment. A trader looking to profit from sql dba developer resume profile columbus, ohio we get it done the divergence could buy the underperforming forex pair, while simultaneously shorting the stronger pair. It doesn’t matter to the trader which asset falls or rises, as they seek to profit on the mean reversion. Market anomalies and unforeseen events, known as Black Swan events, can disrupt the expected reversion to the mean.

There are advantages and disadvantages with every trading strategy, and mean reversion is no exception. It’s up to the individual to assess their own skill level, investing goals trading pyschology articles and risk attitude to consider whether this popular approach is suitable. This means that when one asset in the pair deviates from the other – either rising or falling out of step – you can look to profit from the likely mean reversion.

Mean Reversion Trading Strategies Explained

what is mean reversion trading

Trading in futures involves a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. An RSI above 70 suggests overbought conditions, while below 30 indicates oversold conditions. For those who get antsy during the snail-paced climbs of trending markets, the brisk nature of reversal trading could be a refreshing change. When prices deviate significantly from its average or ‘mean’ price, it tends to to revert to its historical norm. Explore the range of markets you can trade – and learn how they work – with IG Academy’s free ’introducing the financial markets’ course. This is because when two highly correlated pairs move out of standard synchronicity, history suggests they will eventually regress to the mean.

Traders should assess the prevailing market conditions, considering whether they are conducive to the strategies applied for mean reversion trading. Market behavior analysis helps in predicting the likelihood of a reversion. Price deviation refers to the extent to which an asset’s price has moved away from its historical mean. Traders use support, resistance levels, and historical price averages to determine potential entries and exits. When security is oversold, it has moved substantially below its historical mean, whereas an overbought condition suggests the opposite.

IG International Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Discover the range of markets and learn how they work – with IG Academy’s online course. You need the right skills and the right mindset to allow such a strategy to work. Traders often fall prey to biases like confirmation bias, where they seek information that aligns with their beliefs and ignore contradictory data.

Price Deviation and Historical Mean

You can draw a straight line from point A to point B on a map, but that’s not how the trip goes; it’s full of detours, twists, and turns. Sometimes, you might even feel lost, but eventually, you find your way back to your intended path. Risk arbitrage, also known as merger arbitrage, is a strategy that exploits the price discrepancies between the current market price of a stock and the price of the same stock post-merger. Standard deviation and variance are two critical statistical tools used in the theory of mean reversion.

  1. So, when you’re trading any mean trading strategy, remember this inherent risk with the strategy and manage your risk accordingly.
  2. At the heart of the theory of mean reversion is the concept of equilibrium.
  3. Indeed, some day traders use algorithmic strategies to execute high-frequency trades based on mean-reversion algorithms.
  4. Additionally, mean reversion can inform strategies for managing volatility and hedging against price deviations.

By focusing on asset selection, risk control, and precise entry and exit points, traders can strive to capture the profit potential that this approach to the markets offers. While compelling for many, traders need to recognize that mean reversion is just one approach among many and operates best under certain market conditions. It is not a foolproof theory and requires rigorous analysis and risk management to be employed effectively. Technical indicators are pivotal in this strategy, aiding traders in making educated decisions. Successfully applying mean reversion requires a deep understanding of market forces, a robust trading plan, and adapting strategies based on market conditions. Most traders use a stop-loss to limit potential losses for occasions when the strategy fails.

Mean reversion trading in down trending stocks

One step further, traders can make use of Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), a technical indicator of momentum that uses moving averages to establish a trend’s strength. The MACD uses three moving averages – over the long term, the short term and the average difference between the two – to demonstrate potentially overbought or oversold price conditions. In this scenario, GOOG’s price has notably ascended above its historical mean. By scrutinizing historical data and technical analysis, the trader hypothesizes this surge as a temporary deviation, not a fundamental change in value. Hence, they anticipate that GOOG’s price will revert to its historical mean and decide to short sell, predicting a price decline. Appropriate stop-loss levels are strategically set to mitigate potential losses due to the volatile nature of stocks.

It’s not discussed much but another risk factor is, believe it or not, yourself, as in your frame of mind and trading psychology. Figure out the right amount to risk and don’t commit anything more than that. All of the examples above demonstrate this approach of waiting for confirmation and not just blindly jumping in. The oversold reading in the RSI made for a perfect entry point to catch the rally. A good trade setup would have been on the down candle after the highest swing point.

Turning Trends into Treasure: The Power of Mean Reversion

This concept is rooted in the statistical phenomenon known as regression toward the mean. Traders who use this strategy typically look for opportunities to buy or sell assets when prices deviate significantly from their historical mean in anticipation of their eventual return to it. Market conditions greatly impact the effectiveness of mean reversion trading. In stable market environments, assets follow a standard deviation from the mean, with prices oscillating within a predictable range.

Get in Touch With a Financial Advisor

Quantitative models like the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process and the GARCH model are employed to model and estimate mean reversion in financial variables. The Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model is used to estimate the volatility of returns. The Random Walk Theory posits that the prices of securities move randomly and that past movement naga grappling and bjj tournaments north american grappling association cannot predict future movement. Get ready to receive cutting-edge analysis, top-notch education, and actionable tips straight to your inbox. With that said, we will be using the 50 EMA and the RSI on the hourly time frame in this example. My analysis, research, and testing stems from 25 years of trading experience and my Certification with the International Federation of Technical Analysts.

However, a change in returns also could be a sign that a company no longer has the same prospects it once did, in which case it is less likely that mean reversion would occur. With CFD trading, you predict price movements rather than own the shares yourself. This process is leveraged, so you could gain or lose money quickly – including the potential to lose more than your deposit. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that when you’re making your predictions, past performance isn’t a guarantee of future patterns. If you’re looking to profit from the divergence, you could buy the underperforming forex pair, while simultaneously shorting the stronger pair. Let’s take the Google chart that we used above, but repurpose it with channels instead of moving averages, this time.