Strategy performance in backtester versus live markets

In this section, let's first tackle a very common problem encountered by a lot of algorithmic trading participants that lack sophistication in their backtesters/simulators. Since backtesters are a cornerstone in building, analyzing, and comparing algorithmic trading strategies irrespective of position holding times, if backtested results are not realized in live trading markets, it's difficult to get off the ground or continue trading. Typically, the shorter the position holding period and the larger the trading sizes, the greater the chance that simulation results are different from results actually achieved in live trading markets. Backtesters are often the most complex software component in a lot of high frequency trading (HFT) business because of the need to simulate very accurately. Also, the more complex or...