I have attached the backtest of a bollinger band algorithm I started. If you clone the algorithm, you will see that I set it to buy when below the lower band, and short when above the upper. I then told it to exit the positions when between the bands. Or at least that's what I was trying to do. If I comment out the second elif that exits when between the bands, the returns are 50%, but with it the returns are 5%. I have several questions about this.
Why do the returns drop so significantly? Is it because I am holding the positions for a much shorter amount of time?
When I set the order_target_percent() to 0, does that sell the stock of JJ I have, or does it hold on to the stock?
Without the second elif statement, the long or short positions would be kept until the price went above the upper or below the lower bands respectively, right? In other words, if I were to remove the second elif statement and run the algo, when it goes long on the stock it will hold that position until the price rises above the upper band, right? If this is the case, does the order_target_percent() function sell the stock as fast as possible and then pick up the short position immediately after?
Is there anyone that would be willing to meet either in person (Houston, Texas) or virtually to talk about different algorithms, how to improve them, talk about the quantopian platform, or just be available for questions in general?
