Neuroshell Trader allows the use of combination ticker symbols which are simple combinations of other ticker symbol prices. When used in a chart, the combination ticker symbol is the primary data series, predictions and trading strategy are based on the ticker symbol combination and all trading statistics are calculated on the combination ticker symbol.
An example of a combination ticker symbol combination might be [5*YHOO-2.5*INTC+3*MSFT], which would result in a price stream on the chart that is 5*YHOO’s price minus 2.5*INTC’s price plus 3*MSFT’s price. Examples of valid combination ticker symbols are as follows:
[YHOO – INTC]
[5 * YHOO – 2.5 * INTC]
[5 * YHOO – 2.5 * INTC + 3 * MSFT]
[5 * YHOO – 2.5 * INTC + 3 * MSFT – 4 * DELL]
[YHOO / INTC]
[2 * YHOO / 3 * INTC]
Quotes may be used around ticker symbols to allow for ticker symbols that contain arithmetic operators like *, -, +, and /. An example of a combination ticker combination ticker symbol which uses quotes is as follows:
[“bl u5-dt”-“gb u5-dt”]
Without quotes, this example would have read as the ticker symbol bl u5 minus dt minus gb u5 minus dt. However with quotes, the dashes become part of the ticker symbol and thus the example reads bl u5-dt minus gb u5-dt.
It should be noted that combination ticker symbols are a useful method of creating hedging trading strategies. When using a ticker symbol like [5*YHOO ‘ 3*INTC], long positions would be equivalent to being long 5 shares of YHOO and short 3 shares of INTC. Conversely, short positions would be equivalent to being short 5 shares of YHOO and long 3 shares of INTC.
To create a combination ticker, simply create a new ticker symbol like [5*YHOO-2.5*INTC+3*MSFT]. To add a new ticker symbol, use the add ticker button found in the chart wizard when using eSignal.
Important Note:
Combination ticker symbols not in the formats listed above will not be recognized by NeuroShell Trader. Only combination tickers of a quadratic form like [ aX + bY + cZ + ‘] or the form [aX / bY] will be recognized. Combination tickers like [1+2+3+IBM] or [IBM/2 + DELL/2] or [2*4*IBM / 4 + 3*DELL + (IBM + 3)/DELL] or any other complicated arithmetic forms are not recognized.