trader-hand-skill
- Repo stars 17,717
- Author updated Live
- Author repo openfang
- Domain
- Data · trading · finance · stocks
- Compatible agents
-
- Claude Code
- Cursor
- Cline
- Codex
- Windsurf
- Gemini CLI
- +20
- Trust score
- 98 / 100 · audit passed
- Author / version / license
- @RightNow-AI · v1.0.0 · no license declared
- Token usage
- Moderate
- Setup complexity
- Manual integration
- External API key
- Required · Vendor-specific
- Operating systems
- macOS · Linux · Windows · WSL
- Runtime requirements
- Python
- Permissions
-
- Read-only
- Write / modify
- Shell exec
- Network behavior
- External requests
- Install commands
- 26 variants
Profile is derived at build time from SKILL.md and install vectors. Subject to drift from author intent.
---
name: trader-hand-skill
description: Expert knowledge for autonomous market intelligence and trading — technical analysis, risk manag…
category: data
runtime: Python
---
# trader-hand-skill output preview
## PART A: Task fit
- Use case: Expert knowledge for autonomous market intelligence and trading — technical analysis, risk management, Alpaca API, financial data sources Formula: RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + RS)) Where: RS = Average Gain / Average Loss over N periods (default N = 14) Step-by-step calculation: Worked example (14-period): Avg Gain over 14 periods = 1.02 requires Vendor-specifi….
- Inputs: target material, constraints, expected output, and acceptance criteria.
- Evidence boundary: follow “Reference Knowledge / 1. Technical Analysis Indicators Reference / RSI (Relative Strength Index)” and do not present inference as author intent.
## PART B: Execution result
- **01** The card summarizes the use case; runtime output centers on “Expert knowledge for autonomous market intelligence and trading — technical analysis, risk management, Alpaca API, financial data sources Formula: RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + RS)) Where: RS = Average Gain / Average Loss over N periods (default N = 14) Step-by-step calculation: Worked example (14-period): Avg Gain over 14 periods = 1.02 requires Vendor-specifi…”.
- **02** When the source has headings, the agent prioritizes “Reference Knowledge / 1. Technical Analysis Indicators Reference / RSI (Relative Strength Index)” so the result follows the author’s structure.
- **03** Typical output includes task judgment, concrete steps, required commands or file edits, validation, and follow-up options.
- **04** Risk context follows the fingerprint: read files, write/modify files, run shell commands; may access external network resources; requires Vendor-specific API keys.
## Running Rules
- read files, write/modify files, run shell commands; may access external network resources; requires Vendor-specific API keys.
- Validate with a small sample before expanding scope.
- Return the result, validation criteria, and next iteration options. The source does not require a stable slash command. After installation, invoke the skill by name and describe the task.
Name target files or source material, expected output, forbidden changes, and whether network or shell access is allowed. Permission fingerprint: read files, write/modify files, run shell commands.
Start with a small task and check whether the result follows “Reference Knowledge / 1. Technical Analysis Indicators Reference / RSI (Relative Strength Index)”. Inspect diffs, logs, previews, or tests before expanding scope.
Confirm the final output includes a concrete result, evidence, and next action. If it stays generic, tighten inputs, boundaries, and acceptance criteria.
---
name: trader-hand-skill
description: Expert knowledge for autonomous market intelligence and trading — technical analysis, risk manag…
category: data
source: RightNow-AI/openfang
---
# trader-hand-skill
## When to use
- Expert knowledge for autonomous market intelligence and trading — technical analysis, risk management, Alpaca API, fin…
- Use it when the task has clear inputs, repeatable steps, and validation criteria.
## What to provide
- Target material, scope, expected result, and forbidden changes.
- Whether network, commands, file writes, or external services are allowed.
## Execution rules
- Organize steps around “Reference Knowledge / 1. Technical Analysis Indicators Reference / RSI (Relative Strength Index)” and keep inference separate from source facts.
- read files, write/modify files, run shell commands; may access external network resources; requires Vendor-specific API keys.
- Validate with a small sample before expanding the task.
## Output requirements
- Return the deliverable, key evidence, validation method, and next action.
- Mark missing information as unknown; do not invent commands, platforms, or dependencies. The author source anchors workflow facts; repository files anchor sources and commands; Fluxly only adds fit, limitations, and quality judgment.
skill "trader-hand-skill" {
input -> user goal + target files + boundaries + acceptance criteria
context -> Reference Knowledge / 1. Technical Analysis Indicators Reference / RSI (Relative Strength Index)
rules -> SKILL.md triggers / order / output contract
runtime -> Python | read files, write/modify files, run shell commands | may access external network resources
guardrails -> requires Vendor-specific API keys + small-sample validation + diff/log review
output -> copyable result + checklist + next iteration
} Trading Expert Knowledge
Reference Knowledge
1. Technical Analysis Indicators Reference
RSI (Relative Strength Index)
Formula: RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + RS))
Where: RS = Average Gain / Average Loss over N periods (default N = 14)
Step-by-step calculation:
1. For each period, compute change = Close(t) - Close(t-1)
2. Gains = max(change, 0), Losses = abs(min(change, 0))
3. First average: simple mean of first 14 gains/losses
4. Subsequent: AvgGain = (PrevAvgGain * 13 + CurrentGain) / 14 (Wilder smoothing)
5. RS = AvgGain / AvgLoss
6. RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + RS))
Worked example (14-period):
Avg Gain over 14 periods = 1.02
Avg Loss over 14 periods = 0.68
RS = 1.02 / 0.68 = 1.50
RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + 1.50)) = 100 - 40 = 60.0
Interpretation:
- RSI < 30: Oversold territory (potential buy signal)
- RSI > 70: Overbought territory (potential sell signal)
- RSI = 50: Neutral — price momentum balanced
Advanced RSI Signals:
| Signal | Description | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Bearish divergence | Price makes new high, RSI makes lower high | Strong reversal warning |
| Bullish divergence | Price makes new low, RSI makes higher low | Strong reversal warning |
| Bullish failure swing | RSI drops below 30, bounces, pulls back above 30, breaks prior RSI high | Very strong buy |
| Bearish failure swing | RSI rises above 70, drops, bounces below 70, breaks prior RSI low | Very strong sell |
| Range shift | RSI oscillates 40-80 in uptrend, 20-60 in downtrend | Trend confirmation |
Best practices: Never use RSI as a sole signal. Combine with trend direction (moving averages) and volume. In strong trends, RSI can stay overbought/oversold for extended periods.
MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence)
MACD Line = EMA(12) - EMA(26)
Signal Line = EMA(9) of MACD Line
Histogram = MACD Line - Signal Line
EMA formula: EMA(t) = Price(t) * k + EMA(t-1) * (1 - k)
Where: k = 2 / (N + 1)
For EMA(12): k = 2/13 = 0.1538
For EMA(26): k = 2/27 = 0.0741
Worked example:
EMA(12) = 155.20
EMA(26) = 152.80
MACD Line = 155.20 - 152.80 = 2.40
Previous Signal Line = 1.80
Signal Line = 2.40 * (2/10) + 1.80 * (8/10) = 0.48 + 1.44 = 1.92
Histogram = 2.40 - 1.92 = 0.48 (positive = bullish momentum increasing)
Interpretation:
| Signal | Condition | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Bullish crossover | MACD crosses above Signal Line | Moderate buy |
| Bearish crossover | MACD crosses below Signal Line | Moderate sell |
| Zero-line bullish cross | MACD crosses above zero | Trend change to bullish |
| Zero-line bearish cross | MACD crosses below zero | Trend change to bearish |
| Histogram expansion | Bars growing taller | Momentum accelerating |
| Histogram contraction | Bars shrinking | Momentum weakening, reversal may come |
| Bullish divergence | Price new low, MACD higher low | Strong reversal signal |
| Bearish divergence | Price new high, MACD lower high | Strong reversal signal |
Bollinger Bands
Middle Band = SMA(20)
Upper Band = SMA(20) + 2 * StdDev(20)
Lower Band = SMA(20) - 2 * StdDev(20)
Bandwidth = (Upper - Lower) / Middle
%B = (Price - Lower) / (Upper - Lower)
Worked example:
SMA(20) = 150.00
StdDev(20) = 3.50
Upper = 150.00 + 2 * 3.50 = 157.00
Lower = 150.00 - 2 * 3.50 = 143.00
Bandwidth = (157.00 - 143.00) / 150.00 = 0.0933 (9.33%)
Current price = 155.00
%B = (155.00 - 143.00) / (157.00 - 143.00) = 12/14 = 0.857
Interpretation: Price is 85.7% of the way from lower to upper band — near upper band
Key Bollinger Band Signals:
| Signal | Condition | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Squeeze | Bandwidth at 6-month low | Volatility contraction, big move imminent |
| Squeeze breakout up | Price breaks above upper band after squeeze | Strong bullish breakout |
| Squeeze breakout down | Price breaks below lower band after squeeze | Strong bearish breakout |
| Walking the upper band | Price hugs upper band with middle band rising | Strong uptrend — do NOT short |
| Walking the lower band | Price hugs lower band with middle band falling | Strong downtrend — do NOT buy |
| Mean reversion touch | Price touches outer band, %B reverses | Potential reversion to middle band |
| W-bottom | Price hits lower band twice, second low has higher %B | Bullish reversal pattern |
| M-top | Price hits upper band twice, second high has lower %B | Bearish reversal pattern |
VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price)
VWAP = Cumulative(Typical Price * Volume) / Cumulative(Volume)
Typical Price = (High + Low + Close) / 3
Worked example (first 3 bars of the day):
Bar 1: TP = (101+99+100)/3 = 100.00, Vol = 10,000 -> cumTP*V = 1,000,000
Bar 2: TP = (102+100+101)/3 = 101.00, Vol = 15,000 -> cumTP*V = 2,515,000
Bar 3: TP = (103+101+102)/3 = 102.00, Vol = 8,000 -> cumTP*V = 3,331,000
Cumulative Volume = 33,000
VWAP = 3,331,000 / 33,000 = 100.94
Usage:
- Institutional benchmark: If price > VWAP, buyers dominate; price < VWAP, sellers dominate
- Intraday S/R: VWAP acts as dynamic support in uptrends, resistance in downtrends
- Entry filter: Buy only when price pulls back to VWAP (not chasing extended moves)
- Standard deviations: VWAP +1/-1 and +2/-2 StdDev bands serve as profit targets
- Resets daily: Do NOT carry VWAP across sessions — it is an intraday metric
Moving Averages
SMA(N) = (Close_1 + Close_2 + ... + Close_N) / N
EMA(N) = Close * (2/(N+1)) + PrevEMA * (1 - 2/(N+1))
Key Moving Averages:
EMA(9) — very short-term trend (scalping, day trading)
EMA(20) — short-term trend
EMA(50) — medium-term trend
SMA(100) — intermediate trend
SMA(200) — long-term trend (institutional benchmark)
Critical Cross Signals:
| Cross | Name | Meaning | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 MA > 200 MA | Golden Cross | Bullish trend reversal | High (lag ~2 weeks) |
| 50 MA < 200 MA | Death Cross | Bearish trend reversal | High (lag ~2 weeks) |
| 9 EMA > 21 EMA | Fast bullish cross | Short-term momentum shift | Moderate |
| Price > 200 SMA | Above long-term trend | Bullish regime | Very High |
| Price < 200 SMA | Below long-term trend | Bearish regime | Very High |
Moving Average Ribbon (20/50/100/200 MAs all fanning out): Indicates a very strong trend. When all are stacked in order (20 > 50 > 100 > 200 for uptrend), the trend is highly reliable.
ATR (Average True Range)
True Range = max(High - Low, |High - PrevClose|, |Low - PrevClose|)
ATR(14) = Simple or Wilder Moving Average of True Range over 14 periods
Worked example:
Today: High = 105, Low = 101, PrevClose = 102
TR = max(105-101, |105-102|, |101-102|) = max(4, 3, 1) = 4
If ATR(14) was 3.50 yesterday:
ATR(14) = (3.50 * 13 + 4) / 14 = (45.50 + 4) / 14 = 3.536
Practical Applications:
| Use Case | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stop-loss placement | Entry - 2 * ATR | Entry $100, ATR $2.50 -> Stop at $95.00 |
| Take-profit target | Entry + 3 * ATR | Entry $100, ATR $2.50 -> Target $107.50 |
| Position sizing | Risk$ / ATR | $200 risk / $2.50 ATR = 80 shares |
| Volatility filter | ATR > threshold | Only trade when ATR > daily average (avoid dead markets) |
| Trailing stop | Highest close - 3 * ATR | Locks in profit as price rises |
Volume Analysis
OBV (On-Balance Volume):
If Close > PrevClose: OBV = PrevOBV + Volume
If Close < PrevClose: OBV = PrevOBV - Volume
If Close = PrevClose: OBV = PrevOBV
Volume Rate of Change: VROC = (Volume - Volume_N_ago) / Volume_N_ago * 100
Volume Confirmation Rules:
| Price Action | Volume | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Price up | Volume up | Strong bullish — legitimate move |
| Price up | Volume down | Weak rally — likely to reverse |
| Price down | Volume up | Strong bearish — capitulation or breakdown |
| Price down | Volume down | Weak decline — may be nearing bottom |
| Breakout | Volume > 150% of 20-day avg | Confirmed breakout — take the trade |
| Breakout | Volume < average | Failed breakout likely — wait or fade |
| Volume climax | Extreme volume spike (3x+ average) | Potential exhaustion/reversal point |
Support & Resistance
Fibonacci Retracement Levels:
After a move from Low (L) to High (H):
23.6% level = H - (H - L) * 0.236
38.2% level = H - (H - L) * 0.382
50.0% level = H - (H - L) * 0.500
61.8% level = H - (H - L) * 0.618 (Golden Ratio — strongest level)
78.6% level = H - (H - L) * 0.786
Worked example (move from $80 to $120):
Range = $40
23.6% = 120 - 40 * 0.236 = 120 - 9.44 = $110.56
38.2% = 120 - 40 * 0.382 = 120 - 15.28 = $104.72
50.0% = 120 - 40 * 0.500 = 120 - 20.00 = $100.00
61.8% = 120 - 40 * 0.618 = 120 - 24.72 = $95.28 (most likely bounce)
78.6% = 120 - 40 * 0.786 = 120 - 31.44 = $88.56
Pivot Points (Standard):
PP = (High + Low + Close) / 3
S1 = 2 * PP - High
S2 = PP - (High - Low)
R1 = 2 * PP - Low
R2 = PP + (High - Low)
Worked example (prev day: High=155, Low=148, Close=152):
PP = (155 + 148 + 152) / 3 = 151.67
S1 = 2 * 151.67 - 155 = 148.33
S2 = 151.67 - (155 - 148) = 144.67
R1 = 2 * 151.67 - 148 = 155.33
R2 = 151.67 + (155 - 148) = 158.67
2. Candlestick Patterns
Single-Candle Patterns
| Pattern | Signal | Body | Wicks | Context Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doji | Indecision | Open = Close (or nearly) | Long both sides | At S/R level = reversal |
| Hammer | Bullish reversal | Small, at top of candle | Lower wick > 2x body | Must appear at bottom of downtrend |
| Inverted Hammer | Bullish reversal | Small, at bottom of candle | Upper wick > 2x body | At bottom of downtrend, needs confirmation |
| Shooting Star | Bearish reversal | Small, at bottom of candle | Upper wick > 2x body | Must appear at top of uptrend |
| Hanging Man | Bearish reversal | Small, at top of candle | Lower wick > 2x body | At top of uptrend (same shape as Hammer) |
| Marubozu (Bullish) | Strong continuation | Full green body, no wicks | None | Strong buying pressure |
| Marubozu (Bearish) | Strong continuation | Full red body, no wicks | None | Strong selling pressure |
| Spinning Top | Indecision | Small body centered | Equal wicks both sides | Trend may be losing steam |
| Dragonfly Doji | Bullish reversal | Open = Close = High | Long lower wick only | At support = strong reversal signal |
| Gravestone Doji | Bearish reversal | Open = Close = Low | Long upper wick only | At resistance = strong reversal signal |
Multi-Candle Patterns
| Pattern | Signal | Description | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullish Engulfing | Reversal up | Large green candle fully engulfs prior red candle | High at support |
| Bearish Engulfing | Reversal down | Large red candle fully engulfs prior green candle | High at resistance |
| Morning Star | Bullish reversal | Red candle, small body/doji with gap, large green candle | Very High |
| Evening Star | Bearish reversal | Green candle, small body/doji with gap, large red candle | Very High |
| Three White Soldiers | Strong bullish | Three consecutive large green candles, each closing higher | Very High |
| Three Black Crows | Strong bearish | Three consecutive large red candles, each closing lower | Very High |
| Bullish Harami | Potential reversal | Large red, then small green contained within red's body | Moderate (needs confirmation) |
| Bearish Harami | Potential reversal | Large green, then small red contained within green's body | Moderate (needs confirmation) |
| Tweezer Bottom | Bullish reversal | Two candles with matching lows at support | High |
| Tweezer Top | Bearish reversal | Two candles with matching highs at resistance | High |
| Piercing Line | Bullish reversal | Red candle, then green opens below red's low and closes above 50% of red's body | Moderate-High |
| Dark Cloud Cover | Bearish reversal | Green candle, then red opens above green's high and closes below 50% of green's body | Moderate-High |
3. Risk Management Formulas
Position Sizing (Fixed Fractional)
Position Size (shares) = Account Risk Amount / (Entry Price - Stop Loss Price)
Account Risk Amount = Portfolio Value * Risk Per Trade %
RULE: Never risk more than 1-2% of portfolio on a single trade.
Worked example:
Portfolio Value = $10,000
Risk Per Trade = 2% ($200)
Entry Price = $100.00
Stop Loss = $95.00 (based on 2x ATR below entry)
Risk per share = $100.00 - $95.00 = $5.00
Position Size = $200 / $5.00 = 40 shares
Position Value = 40 * $100 = $4,000 (40% of portfolio)
CONCENTRATION CHECK: If position value > 10% of portfolio, reduce size.
Adjusted: max position = $1,000 / $100 = 10 shares
Adjusted risk = 10 * $5.00 = $50 (only 0.5% of portfolio — acceptable)
Kelly Criterion (Optimal Bet Size)
Kelly % = W - ((1 - W) / R)
Where:
W = win rate (decimal)
R = average win / average loss ratio (reward-to-risk)
Worked example:
Win rate: 60% (W = 0.60)
Average win: $300, Average loss: $200
R = 300 / 200 = 1.5
Kelly = 0.60 - (0.40 / 1.5) = 0.60 - 0.267 = 0.333 (33.3%)
Full Kelly is too aggressive for real trading. Use fractions:
Half-Kelly = 0.333 / 2 = 16.7% of portfolio per trade
Quarter-Kelly = 0.333 / 4 = 8.3% of portfolio per trade (recommended)
If Kelly is negative, the system has NEGATIVE expectancy — do not trade it.
Value at Risk (VaR)
Parametric VaR = Portfolio Value * Portfolio Volatility * Z-score * sqrt(Time Horizon)
Z-scores: 90% confidence = 1.282
95% confidence = 1.645
99% confidence = 2.326
Worked example (daily VaR, 95% confidence):
Portfolio = $10,000
Daily volatility (stddev of daily returns) = 2.0%
VaR = $10,000 * 0.02 * 1.645 * sqrt(1) = $329.00
Meaning: 95% confident daily loss will not exceed $329.
Weekly VaR = $329 * sqrt(5) = $329 * 2.236 = $735.65
Monthly VaR = $329 * sqrt(21) = $329 * 4.583 = $1,507.81
Sharpe Ratio
Sharpe = (Rp - Rf) / StdDev(Rp) * sqrt(252)
Where:
Rp = mean daily portfolio return
Rf = daily risk-free rate (Treasury yield / 252)
StdDev(Rp) = standard deviation of daily returns
252 = trading days per year (annualization factor)
Worked example:
Mean daily return = 0.10% (0.001)
Annual Treasury yield = 5.0% -> daily Rf = 0.05/252 = 0.000198
StdDev of daily returns = 0.80% (0.008)
Daily Sharpe = (0.001 - 0.000198) / 0.008 = 0.100
Annualized Sharpe = 0.100 * sqrt(252) = 0.100 * 15.875 = 1.59
Ratings:
< 0.5 = Poor (not compensated for risk)
0.5-1.0 = Acceptable
1.0-2.0 = Good
2.0-3.0 = Very Good
> 3.0 = Excellent (verify — may indicate overfitting)
Sortino Ratio (Downside-Only Risk)
Sortino = (Rp - Rf) / DownsideDeviation * sqrt(252)
DownsideDeviation = sqrt(mean(min(Ri - Rf, 0)^2))
Better than Sharpe because it only penalizes downside volatility, not upside.
Sortino > 2.0 is considered very good.
Maximum Drawdown
For each point t in equity curve:
Peak(t) = max(Equity[0..t])
Drawdown(t) = (Peak(t) - Equity(t)) / Peak(t) * 100%
MaxDrawdown = max(Drawdown(t)) for all t
Worked example:
Equity curve: $10,000 -> $12,000 -> $9,600 -> $11,500
Peak at $12,000
Drawdown at $9,600 = (12,000 - 9,600) / 12,000 = 20.0%
Max Drawdown = 20.0%
Recovery Factor = Total Net Profit / Max Drawdown
If total profit = $3,000, MaxDD = $2,400 -> RF = 3,000/2,400 = 1.25
Calmar Ratio = Annual Return / Max Drawdown
If annual return = 25%, MaxDD = 20% -> Calmar = 1.25 (target > 1.0)
Profit Factor
Profit Factor = Gross Winning Trades / Gross Losing Trades
Worked example:
10 winning trades totaling $5,000
8 losing trades totaling $3,200
Profit Factor = 5,000 / 3,200 = 1.5625
Ratings: < 1.0 = losing system, 1.0-1.5 = marginal, 1.5-2.0 = good,
2.0-3.0 = very good, > 3.0 = excellent (verify with enough trades)
Expectancy Per Trade
Expectancy = (Win% * AvgWin) - (Loss% * AvgLoss)
Worked example:
Win rate: 55%, Average win: $150, Average loss: $100
Expectancy = (0.55 * 150) - (0.45 * 100) = 82.50 - 45.00 = $37.50/trade
Over 100 trades: expected profit = $3,750
Minimum for a viable system: Expectancy > 0 with at least 30 sample trades.
Risk/Reward Ratio
R:R = (Target Price - Entry Price) / (Entry Price - Stop Loss Price)
Worked example:
Entry = $100, Stop = $95, Target = $112
R:R = (112 - 100) / (100 - 95) = 12 / 5 = 2.4:1
Minimum acceptable R:R = 1.5:1
With 40% win rate and 2:1 R:R: Expectancy = 0.40*2 - 0.60*1 = +0.20 (profitable!)
With 40% win rate and 1:1 R:R: Expectancy = 0.40*1 - 0.60*1 = -0.20 (losing!)
4. Alpaca Trading API Reference
Authentication
# Paper trading (ALWAYS start here)
BASE_URL="https://paper-api.alpaca.markets"
# Live trading (only after paper validation)
# BASE_URL="https://api.alpaca.markets"
# Data API (same for both paper and live)
DATA_URL="https://data.alpaca.markets"
# Auth headers (required on every request)
HEADERS="-H 'APCA-API-KEY-ID: $ALPACA_API_KEY' -H 'APCA-API-SECRET-KEY: $ALPACA_SECRET_KEY'"
Account Information
# Get account details
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/account" $HEADERS
# Key fields: id, status, equity, cash, buying_power, portfolio_value,
# pattern_day_trader (bool), daytrade_count, last_equity
Get Current Positions
# All positions
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/positions" $HEADERS
# Returns array: symbol, qty, side, avg_entry_price, current_price,
# unrealized_pl, unrealized_plpc, market_value, cost_basis
# Single position
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/positions/AAPL" $HEADERS
Place Orders
# Market order (fills immediately at best available price)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"symbol":"AAPL","qty":"10","side":"buy","type":"market","time_in_force":"day"}'
# Limit order (fills only at your price or better)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"symbol":"AAPL","qty":"10","side":"buy","type":"limit","time_in_force":"gtc","limit_price":"150.00"}'
# Stop order (triggers market order when stop price hit)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"symbol":"AAPL","qty":"10","side":"sell","type":"stop","time_in_force":"gtc","stop_price":"145.00"}'
# Stop-limit order (triggers limit order when stop price hit)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"symbol":"AAPL","qty":"10","side":"sell","type":"stop_limit","time_in_force":"gtc","stop_price":"145.00","limit_price":"144.50"}'
# Trailing stop (dynamic stop that trails price by dollar or percent amount)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"symbol":"AAPL","qty":"10","side":"sell","type":"trailing_stop","time_in_force":"gtc","trail_percent":"5"}'
# Bracket order (entry + stop loss + take profit as one atomic order)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"symbol": "AAPL",
"qty": "10",
"side": "buy",
"type": "limit",
"time_in_force": "day",
"limit_price": "150.00",
"order_class": "bracket",
"stop_loss": {"stop_price": "145.00"},
"take_profit": {"limit_price": "165.00"}
}'
# OCO order (one-cancels-other: stop loss OR take profit, whichever hits first)
curl -s -X POST "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"symbol": "AAPL",
"qty": "10",
"side": "sell",
"type": "limit",
"time_in_force": "gtc",
"limit_price": "165.00",
"order_class": "oco",
"stop_loss": {"stop_price": "145.00"}
}'
Order parameters reference:
| Parameter | Values | Notes |
|---|---|---|
side |
buy, sell |
|
type |
market, limit, stop, stop_limit, trailing_stop |
|
time_in_force |
day, gtc, ioc, fok |
day = cancel at close, gtc = good til canceled |
order_class |
simple, bracket, oco, oto |
bracket = entry + stop + target |
qty |
String number | Whole shares for stocks |
notional |
String dollar amount | Alternative to qty (fractional shares) |
Manage Orders
# List open orders
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/orders?status=open" $HEADERS
# Get specific order
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/orders/{order_id}" $HEADERS
# Cancel specific order
curl -s -X DELETE "$BASE_URL/v2/orders/{order_id}" $HEADERS
# Cancel ALL open orders
curl -s -X DELETE "$BASE_URL/v2/orders" $HEADERS
Close Positions
# Close entire position in a symbol
curl -s -X DELETE "$BASE_URL/v2/positions/AAPL" $HEADERS
# Partially close (sell 5 of 10 shares)
curl -s -X DELETE "$BASE_URL/v2/positions/AAPL?qty=5" $HEADERS
# EMERGENCY: Close ALL positions
curl -s -X DELETE "$BASE_URL/v2/positions" $HEADERS
Market Data (free with Alpaca account)
# Latest quote (bid/ask)
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v2/stocks/AAPL/quotes/latest" $HEADERS
# Latest trade (last fill)
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v2/stocks/AAPL/trades/latest" $HEADERS
# Historical bars (OHLCV) — daily
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v2/stocks/AAPL/bars?timeframe=1Day&start=2024-01-01&limit=100" $HEADERS
# Intraday bars — 5-minute
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v2/stocks/AAPL/bars?timeframe=5Min&start=$(date -d 'today' +%Y-%m-%d)&limit=78" $HEADERS
# Multi-symbol snapshot
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v2/stocks/snapshots?symbols=AAPL,MSFT,GOOGL" $HEADERS
# Crypto bars
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v1beta3/crypto/us/bars?symbols=BTC/USD&timeframe=1Day&limit=30" $HEADERS
# Crypto latest quote
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v1beta3/crypto/us/latest/quotes?symbols=BTC/USD,ETH/USD" $HEADERS
Market Clock & Calendar
# Is market open right now?
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/clock" $HEADERS
# Returns: timestamp, is_open (bool), next_open, next_close
# Upcoming market calendar
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/calendar?start=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)&end=$(date -d '+7 days' +%Y-%m-%d)" $HEADERS
Crypto Trading Notes
- Symbols use slash format:
BTC/USD,ETH/USD,SOL/USD,DOGE/USD - 24/7 trading (no market hours restriction)
- Fractional quantities allowed (e.g.,
"qty": "0.001"for BTC) - Paper trading works identically to live
- Use
notionalfor dollar-based crypto orders:"notional": "100.00"buys $100 worth
Account Activity & History
# Trade history
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/account/activities/FILL?after=2024-01-01" $HEADERS
# Portfolio history
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/account/portfolio/history?period=1M&timeframe=1D" $HEADERS
# Returns: timestamp[], equity[], profit_loss[], profit_loss_pct[]
5. Free Financial Data Sources
Price Data (via web_search + web_fetch)
| Source | URL Pattern | Data Available |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo Finance | finance.yahoo.com/quote/AAPL |
Realtime quotes, charts, financials, analyst ratings |
| Google Finance | google.com/finance/quote/AAPL:NASDAQ |
Quotes, news, related stocks, earnings |
| CoinGecko | coingecko.com/en/coins/bitcoin |
Crypto prices, market cap, volume, 24h change |
| CoinMarketCap | coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/ |
Crypto prices, rankings, dominance, supply |
| MarketWatch | marketwatch.com/investing/stock/AAPL |
Quotes, news, analysis, options data |
| Finviz | finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=AAPL |
Technical + fundamental screener, charts |
| TradingView | tradingview.com/symbols/NASDAQ-AAPL/ |
Charts, technicals, community ideas |
Fundamental Data
| Source | URL Pattern | Data Available |
|---|---|---|
| Macrotrends | macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/AAPL/apple/pe-ratio |
P/E, revenue, margins, historical |
| Simply Wall St | Web search: "AAPL simply wall st" |
Visual fundamental analysis, fair value |
| SEC EDGAR | sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=AAPL&type=10-K |
Official 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K filings |
| Earnings Whispers | earningswhispers.com/stocks/AAPL |
Earnings estimates, surprise history, calendar |
| Stock Analysis | stockanalysis.com/stocks/AAPL/financials/ |
Clean financial statements, ratios |
| Wisesheets | Web search: "AAPL income statement" |
Financial data in spreadsheet format |
Sentiment & Alternative Data
| Source | URL | Data Available |
|---|---|---|
| CNN Fear & Greed | money.cnn.com/data/fear-and-greed/ |
Market sentiment index 0-100 (Extreme Fear to Extreme Greed) |
| CBOE VIX | Web search: "VIX index today" |
Volatility index (>30 = fear, <15 = complacency) |
| Finviz Map | finviz.com/map.ashx |
Market heatmap by sector/size |
| StockTwits | stocktwits.com/symbol/AAPL |
Social sentiment (bullish/bearish ratio) |
| Put/Call Ratio | Web search: "CBOE put call ratio today" |
Options sentiment (>1.0 = bearish, <0.7 = bullish) |
| Short Interest | finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=AAPL -> Short Float |
Percent of float sold short |
| Insider Trading | openinsider.com/screener |
CEO/CFO buy/sell patterns |
Macro Economic Data
| Source | URL | Data Available |
|---|---|---|
| FRED | fred.stlouisfed.org |
Interest rates, CPI, employment, GDP, M2, yield curve |
| Treasury.gov | treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/ |
Daily Treasury yield curve |
| CME FedWatch | Web search: "CME FedWatch tool" |
Federal funds rate probabilities |
| BLS | bls.gov/news.release/ |
Employment situation, CPI, PPI |
| ISM | Web search: "ISM manufacturing PMI" |
PMI (>50 = expansion, <50 = contraction) |
| Conference Board | Web search: "consumer confidence index" |
Consumer confidence, leading indicators |
| Earnings Calendar | earningswhispers.com/calendar |
Upcoming earnings dates |
| Economic Calendar | Web search: "economic calendar this week" |
Scheduled data releases |
Crypto-Specific Sources
| Source | URL | Data Available |
|---|---|---|
| CoinGecko | coingecko.com |
Prices, market cap, volume, DeFi TVL |
| DefiLlama | defillama.com |
Total Value Locked across all chains |
| Glassnode (free tier) | Web search: "bitcoin on-chain metrics" |
On-chain analytics (NUPL, MVRV, exchange flows) |
| Bitcoin Fear & Greed | alternative.me/crypto/fear-and-greed-index/ |
Crypto-specific sentiment 0-100 |
| Ultrasound Money | ultrasound.money |
ETH supply/burn metrics |
6. Confidence Calibration Guide (Superforecasting)
Calibration Principles (Philip Tetlock)
- A "70% confident" prediction should be right about 70% of the time
- Most people are overconfident: their "90%" predictions are right only ~70%
- Track your predictions systematically and compare predicted vs actual frequency
- Update incrementally (2-5% per new piece of evidence), not dramatically
Confidence Level Guide
| Level | Meaning | Evidence Required | Trading Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-30% | Slight lean | Single weak signal, limited data | No trade — insufficient edge |
| 40-50% | Toss-up with slight edge | Conflicting signals, moderate evidence | No trade — coin flip |
| 55-65% | Moderate conviction | Multiple aligned signals, historical precedent | Small position, wide stops |
| 70-80% | Strong conviction | Strong multi-factor alignment, catalyst identified | Standard position size |
| 85-95% | Very high conviction | Overwhelming evidence — be suspicious of yourself | Full position, but NEVER all-in |
Brier Score for Trade Predictions
Brier Score = mean((predicted_probability - actual_outcome)^2)
actual_outcome: 1 if prediction was correct, 0 if wrong
Worked example (5 predictions):
Pred 1: 80% confident -> correct (1) -> (0.80 - 1)^2 = 0.04
Pred 2: 60% confident -> wrong (0) -> (0.60 - 0)^2 = 0.36
Pred 3: 70% confident -> correct (1) -> (0.70 - 1)^2 = 0.09
Pred 4: 90% confident -> correct (1) -> (0.90 - 1)^2 = 0.01
Pred 5: 55% confident -> wrong (0) -> (0.55 - 0)^2 = 0.30
Brier Score = (0.04 + 0.36 + 0.09 + 0.01 + 0.30) / 5 = 0.16
Ratings: 0.00 = perfect, < 0.15 = excellent, 0.15-0.25 = good,
0.25 = coin flip, > 0.25 = worse than random
Calibration Self-Check Protocol
After accumulating 20+ trade predictions, group by confidence bucket:
- Are your 60% predictions right ~60% of the time?
- If your 60% predictions are right 80% of the time, you are underconfident — adjust up
- If your 80% predictions are right 55% of the time, you are overconfident — adjust down
- Recalibrate your confidence scale after every 50 resolved predictions
7. Trading Psychology & Cognitive Biases
Biases to Watch For
| Bias | Description | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation Bias | Seeking info that confirms your thesis | Always build the opposing case first (adversarial debate) |
| Anchoring | Over-weighting the first number you see (entry price, analyst target) | Start analysis from base rates and current data, not old prices |
| Recency Bias | Over-weighting recent events (last week's crash, last month's rally) | Look at longer timeframes — 6-month and 1-year charts minimum |
| Loss Aversion | Holding losers too long ("it'll come back"), cutting winners too fast | Use mechanical stop-losses and take-profit targets, set BEFORE entry |
| Overconfidence | Believing you are more right than you are | Track Brier scores, use Kelly fractions, never bet > 2% per trade |
| Narrative Bias | Compelling story = good trade (often false) | Focus on quantitative data, not stories. "Good company" != "good trade" |
| FOMO | Fear of missing out, chasing entries | Only enter at planned levels. The market is open 252 days a year |
| Sunk Cost | "I've lost so much, I can't sell now" | Each moment is a new decision. Ask: "Would I enter this trade NOW at current price?" |
| Hindsight Bias | "I knew that would happen" | Journal BEFORE trades with specific predictions, not after |
| Disposition Effect | Selling winners early to "lock in profits" but holding losers | Let winners run (trail stops), cut losers at planned stops |
| Gambler's Fallacy | "It's dropped 5 days in a row, it HAS to bounce" | Each day is independent. Trends persist more often than they reverse |
| Endowment Effect | Overvaluing positions you already own | Evaluate positions as if you were building from scratch today |
Discipline Rules
- Every trade has a written plan BEFORE entry: entry price, stop loss, target, position size, thesis
- Write down your reasoning BEFORE entering — if you cannot articulate the edge, do not trade
- Set stop-losses at order entry time, not "in your head"
- Review your journal weekly — look for patterns in wins AND losses
- Take breaks after big wins (overconfidence risk) AND big losses (emotional risk)
- Never average down on a losing position unless the original thesis explicitly planned for it
- Never move a stop-loss further away from your entry (only tighten, never widen)
- The market will be there tomorrow — missing a trade is not a loss, but a blown account is
8. Portfolio Construction
Asset Allocation Guidelines
| Style | Equities | Crypto | Fixed Income / Cash | Max Single Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 50-60% | 0-5% | 35-50% | 5% |
| Moderate | 60-75% | 5-15% | 10-35% | 8% |
| Aggressive | 70-85% | 10-25% | 5-20% | 10% |
| Speculative | 50-70% | 20-40% | 5-10% | 15% (with strict stops) |
Sector Diversification
Maximum 30% in any single sector:
- Technology, Healthcare, Financials, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples
- Energy, Industrials, Utilities, Real Estate, Materials, Communication Services
Correlation Awareness
Highly correlated positions amplify risk. Check correlations before adding:
| Pair | Typical Correlation | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| AAPL + MSFT + GOOGL | 0.7-0.9 | Concentrated large-cap tech |
| BTC + ETH + SOL | 0.8-0.95 | Concentrated crypto (moves together) |
| SPY + QQQ | 0.9+ | Nearly identical exposure |
| Stocks + Bonds | -0.2 to 0.3 | Genuinely diversifying |
| Gold + Stocks | -0.1 to 0.2 | Hedge in crisis |
| VIX + SPY | -0.8 | Inverse — VIX as hedge |
Rebalancing Rules
- Calendar: Rebalance quarterly (first trading day of quarter)
- Threshold: Rebalance when any allocation drifts > 5% from target
- Tax-aware: Prefer rebalancing via new contributions rather than selling (taxable accounts)
9. Cross-Platform Commands
Windows (PowerShell / Git Bash)
# Python might be `python` not `python3` on Windows
python -c "import json; ..."
# Use forward slashes in file paths or escape backslashes
# curl is available via Git Bash, PowerShell, or WSL
# Check if market is open (Windows Git Bash)
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/clock" -H "APCA-API-KEY-ID: $ALPACA_API_KEY" \
-H "APCA-API-SECRET-KEY: $ALPACA_SECRET_KEY" | python -c "
import sys, json
d = json.load(sys.stdin)
print('OPEN' if d['is_open'] else 'CLOSED', '| Next:', d.get('next_open','') or d.get('next_close',''))
"
macOS / Linux
python3 -c "import json; ..."
# curl, jq typically available by default
# Use jq for JSON processing:
curl -s URL | jq '.equity'
JSON Processing Without jq
# Pretty-print JSON
python3 -c "import sys,json; print(json.dumps(json.load(sys.stdin),indent=2))" < file.json
# Extract specific field
curl -s URL | python3 -c "import sys,json; d=json.load(sys.stdin); print(d['equity'])"
# Parse Alpaca positions into readable table
curl -s "$BASE_URL/v2/positions" $HEADERS | python3 -c "
import sys, json
positions = json.load(sys.stdin)
fmt = '{:<8} {:>6} {:>10} {:>10} {:>12} {:>8}'
print(fmt.format('Symbol','Qty','Entry','Current','P/L','P/L pct'))
print('-' * 60)
for p in positions:
print(fmt.format(p['symbol'], p['qty'], float(p['avg_entry_price']),
float(p['current_price']), float(p['unrealized_pl']),
round(float(p['unrealized_plpc'])*100,2)))
"
# Calculate RSI from historical bars
curl -s "$DATA_URL/v2/stocks/AAPL/bars?timeframe=1Day&limit=30" $HEADERS | python3 -c "
import sys, json
data = json.load(sys.stdin)
closes = [float(b['c']) for b in data['bars']]
changes = [closes[i]-closes[i-1] for i in range(1, len(closes))]
gains = [max(c,0) for c in changes[-14:]]
losses = [abs(min(c,0)) for c in changes[-14:]]
avg_gain = sum(gains)/14
avg_loss = sum(losses)/14
rs = avg_gain/avg_loss if avg_loss > 0 else 999
rsi = 100 - (100/(1+rs))
print(f'RSI(14) = {rsi:.1f}')
"
10. Pre-Trade Checklist
Before every trade, verify ALL of the following:
PRE-TRADE CHECKLIST
====================
[ ] 1. TREND: What is the higher-timeframe trend? (Daily chart 200 SMA)
- Trading WITH the trend? (preferred)
- Counter-trend? (requires stronger signal + tighter stops)
[ ] 2. SIGNAL: What specific setup triggered this trade?
- Indicator signal (RSI, MACD, etc.)
- Pattern (candlestick, chart pattern)
- Catalyst (earnings, news, sector rotation)
[ ] 3. ENTRY: Exact entry price or condition
- Limit order at specific level? Market order on breakout?
[ ] 4. STOP LOSS: Exact stop price
- Based on ATR (2-3x ATR from entry)
- Below key support (long) or above key resistance (short)
- NEVER wider than 2% of portfolio
[ ] 5. TARGET: Exact take-profit price
- Risk/Reward at least 1.5:1 (preferably 2:1+)
- At logical resistance (long) or support (short)
[ ] 6. POSITION SIZE: Calculated from risk management rules
- Risk amount = Portfolio * 1-2%
- Shares = Risk amount / (Entry - Stop)
- Total position < 10% of portfolio
[ ] 7. CORRELATION CHECK: Does this overlap with existing positions?
- Not adding to concentrated sector exposure
- Total portfolio heat (sum of open risk) < 6%
[ ] 8. CATALYST CHECK: Any upcoming events that could gap through stops?
- Earnings date? Fed meeting? CPI release?
- If yes: reduce size or wait until after event
[ ] 9. MARKET CONTEXT: Is the overall market favorable?
- Fear & Greed index level
- VIX level (>30 = caution, <15 = complacency risk)
- Market trend (SPY vs 200 SMA)
[ ] 10. CONFIDENCE: Rate 1-10 honestly
- Below 6? Skip the trade
- Record confidence for calibration tracking
11. Trade Journal Template
{
"trade_id": "T001",
"date_opened": "2025-01-15",
"date_closed": null,
"symbol": "AAPL",
"side": "long",
"entry_price": 150.00,
"stop_loss": 145.00,
"target": 162.00,
"position_size": 40,
"risk_amount": 200.00,
"risk_reward": 2.4,
"setup": "Bullish engulfing at 50 EMA + RSI divergence",
"confidence": 7,
"market_context": "SPY above 200 SMA, VIX at 18, F&G neutral (52)",
"pre_trade_thesis": "AAPL pulled back to 50 EMA support, RSI showing bullish divergence, earnings in 3 weeks should provide catalyst. Sector (tech) is leading.",
"result": {
"exit_price": null,
"exit_reason": null,
"pnl": null,
"pnl_percent": null,
"held_days": null,
"lessons": null
}
}
Store trade journals using memory_store for tracking and calibration review.
Decide Fit First
Design Intent
How To Use It
Boundaries And Review