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Hi I'm currently backtesting an event-driven strategies. Unlike factor strategy which has a regular rebalancing interval, event-driven strategy is conducted whenever there is an event. Since we do not know how many signals would pop up in the future in the past timepoint, I defined unit position size per one in-out betting.

I think there can be 2 possible ways to backtest such strategy.

  1. (I think this would be a common case) Align every event-driven signal into one single timeline and check the mean return of the event. For example, if I want to test buyback event driven strategy, regardless of the announcement of the buyback event, set announcement date as 0 and last holding moment as 20 (1-month holding strategy, for example). And average the returns per day and check how long does buyback alpha persist from the announcement date.
  2. (This is the case where I get confused) I want to calculate cumulative return of this strategy. (Final amount of money I can earn by conducting this strategy) However, since there is no fixed seed money at the very first time of the backtest, how can I calculate the return? Currently, I'm tracking
  • unrealized return(evaluated return)
  • realized return
  • unit position price(number of currently held position * unit position size)
  • unit position price averaged

and final return is calculated as (unrealized return + realized return) / unit position price averaged. But is it right way to calculate cumulative return of such strategy? How can I backtest cumulative return of a strategy without fixed seed money but flexible in-out position?

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  1. Typically events like those last a quarter or some variable time period. Then your position may get stop lossed half way through. So instead of forcing an alignment, just simulate a portfolio.
  2. Your strategy must start with some seed money, otherwise how can you calculate a return or do a trade? You start with some capital, and then simulate daily NAVs for your strategy and then link the daily returns to create a backyesr
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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for the answer. For the 2nd answer, I mean if I started with a seed amount of 100 then I started betting "10" per position, how should I deal with the 11th position if it is realized? | If I really want to know 'expected return per betting of the strategy", I'm curious whether such methodology is still available $\endgroup$
    – geonhwa
    Jun 30, 2022 at 7:23
  • $\begingroup$ By the way, this is how it’s done in real trading. If you want to make a new position, your code has to either sell one or resize them to fit (or borrow). Dealing with real world constraints is very important to developing a successful backtest $\endgroup$
    – Ilya Voytov
    Jul 1, 2022 at 12:17

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