Alpha

Supported Models

Introduction

This page describes the pre-built Alpha models in LEAN. The number of models grows over time. To add a model to LEAN, make a pull request to the GitHub repository. If none of these models perform exactly how you want, create a custom Alpha model.

Null Model

The NullAlphaModel doesn't emit any insights. It's the default Alpha model.

// NullAlphaModel doesn't emit insights.
AddAlpha(new NullAlphaModel());
# NullAlphaModel doesn't emit insights.
self.add_alpha(NullAlphaModel())

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

Constant Model

The ConstantAlphaModel always returns the same insight for each security.

// Emit price UP insight that expires in 30 days.
	AddAlpha(new ConstantAlphaModel(InsightType.Price, InsightDirection.Up, TimeSpan.FromDays(30)));
# Emit price UP insight that expires in 30 days.
	self.add_alpha(ConstantAlphaModel(InsightType.PRICE, InsightDirection.UP, timedelta(30)))

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
typeInsightTypeThe type of insight
directionInsightDirectionThe direction of the insight
periodTimeSpantimedeltaThe period over which the insight will come to fruition
magnitudedouble?float/NoneTypeThe predicted change in magnitude as a +/- percentagenullNone
confidencedouble?float/NoneTypeThe confidence in the insightnullNone
weightdouble?float/NoneTypeThe portfolio weight of the insightsnullNone

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

Historical Returns Model

The HistoricalReturnsAlphaModel buys securities that have a positive trailing return and sells securities that have a negative trailing return. It sets the magnitude of the Insight objects to the trailing rate of change.

// Add HistoricalReturnsAlphaModel to leverage historical return data for generating alpha signals, identifying trends based on past performance.
AddAlpha(new HistoricalReturnsAlphaModel());
# Add HistoricalReturnsAlphaModel to leverage historical return data for generating alpha signals, identifying trends based on past performance.
self.add_alpha(HistoricalReturnsAlphaModel())

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
lookbackintHistorical return lookback period1
resolutionResolutionThe resolution of historical dataResolution.DailyResolution.DAILY

This model cancels all the active insights it has emit for a security when the security has a 0% historical return.

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

EMA Cross Model

The EmaCrossAlphaModel uses an exponential moving average (EMA) cross to create insights. When the fast EMA crosses above the slow EMA, it emits up insights. When the fast EMA crosses below the slow EMA, it emits down insights. It sets the duration of Insight objects to be the product of the resolution and fastPeriodfast_period arguments.

// Add EmaCrossAlphaModel to generate trading insights based on the crossing of fast and slow exponential moving averages identifying trends and potential reversals. The duration of insights is set by the resolution and fast_period to ensure timely and relevant trading signals.
AddAlpha(new EmaCrossAlphaModel());
# Add EmaCrossAlphaModel to generate trading insights based on the crossing of fast and slow exponential moving averages identifying trends and potential reversals. The duration of insights is set by the resolution and fast_period to ensure timely and relevant trading signals.
self.add_alpha(EmaCrossAlphaModel())

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
fastPeriodfast_periodintThe fast EMA period12
slowPeriodslow_periodintThe slow EMA period26
resolutionResolutionThe resolution of data sent into the EMA indicatorsResolution.DailyResolution.DAILY

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

MACD Model

The MacdAlphaModel emits insights based on moving average convergence divergence (MACD) crossovers. If the MACD signal line is 1% above the security price, the model emits an up insight. If the MACD signal line is 1% below the security price, the model emits a down insight. If the MACD signal line is within 1% of the security price, the model cancels all the active insights it has emitted for the security.

// Use MacdAlphaModel to generate insights based on MACD crossovers, emitting up signals when the MACD signal line is 1% above the security price and down signals when it is 1% below, while canceling insights if within 1% capturing significant trend changes while avoiding noise from minor fluctuations.
AddAlpha(new MacdAlphaModel());
# Use MacdAlphaModel to generate insights based on MACD crossovers, emitting up signals when the MACD signal line is 1% above the security price and down signals when it is 1% below, while canceling insights if within 1% capturing significant trend changes while avoiding noise from minor fluctuations.
self.add_alpha(MacdAlphaModel())

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
fastPeriodfast_periodintThe MACD fast period12
slowPeriodslow_periodintThe MACD slow period26
signalPeriodsignal_periodintThe smoothing period for the MACD signal9
movingAverageTypemoving_average_typeMovingAverageTypeThe type of moving average to use in the MACDMovingAverageType.ExponentialEXPONENTIAL
resolutionResolutionThe resolution of data sent into the MACD indicatorResolution.DailyResolution.DAILY

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

RSI Model

The RsiAlphaModel generates insights based on the relative strength index (RSI) indicator values. When the RSI value passes above 70, the model emits a down insight. When the RSI value passes below 30, the model emits an up insight. The model uses the Wilder moving average type and sets the duration of Insight objects to be the product of the resolution and period arguments.

// The RsiAlphaModel generates insights based on the RSI indicator: emits a down insight when RSI exceeds 70 (overbought) and an up insight when RSI falls below 30 (oversold). This helps identify potential price reversals based on momentum.
AddAlpha(new RsiAlphaModel());
# The RsiAlphaModel generates insights based on the RSI indicator: emits a down insight when RSI exceeds 70 (overbought) and an up insight when RSI falls below 30 (oversold). This helps identify potential price reversals based on momentum.
self.add_alpha(RsiAlphaModel())

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
periodintThe RSI indicator period14
resolutionResolutionThe resolution of data sent into the RSI indicatorResolution.DailyResolution.DAILY

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

Base Pairs Trading Model

The BasePairsTradingAlphaModel analyzes every possible pair combination from securities that the Universe Selection model selects. This model calculates a ratio between the two securities by dividing their historical prices over a lookback window. It then calculates the mean of this ratio by taking the 500-period EMA of the quotient. When the ratio diverges far enough from the mean ratio, this model emits generates alternating long ratio/short ratio insights emitted as a group to capture the reversion of the ratio.

// Use BasePairsTradingAlphaModel to analyze security pairs from the universe, generating long/short insights based on deviations from a 500-period EMA of their price ratio to capture mean-reversion opportunities.
AddAlpha(new BasePairsTradingAlphaModel());
# Use BasePairsTradingAlphaModel to analyze security pairs from the universe, generating long/short insights based on deviations from a 500-period EMA of their price ratio to capture mean-reversion opportunities.
self.add_alpha(BasePairsTradingAlphaModel())

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
lookbackintLookback period of the analysis1
resolutionResolutionAnalysis resolutionResolution.DailyResolution.DAILY
thresholddecimalfloatThe percent [0, 100] deviation of the ratio from the mean before emitting an insight1

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

Pearson Correlation Pairs Trading Model

The PearsonCorrelationPairsTradingAlphaModel ranks every pair combination by its Pearson correlation coefficient and trades the pair with the highest correlation. This model follows the same insight logic as the BasePairsTradingModel.

// Add PearsonCorrelationPairsTradingAlphaModel to rank and trade the most correlated security pairs based on Pearson correlation coefficients, using a similar insight logic as BasePairsTradingModel to capture mean-reversion opportunities.
AddAlpha(new PearsonCorrelationPairsTradingAlphaModel());
# Add PearsonCorrelationPairsTradingAlphaModel to rank and trade the most correlated security pairs based on Pearson correlation coefficients, using a similar insight logic as BasePairsTradingModel to capture mean-reversion opportunities.
self.add_alpha(PearsonCorrelationPairsTradingAlphaModel())

The following table describes the arguments the model accepts:

ArgumentData TypeDescriptionDefault Value
lookbackintLookback period of the analysis15
resolutionResolutionAnalysis resolutionResolution.MinuteResolution.MINUTE
thresholddecimalfloatThe percent [0, 100] deviation of the ratio from the mean before emitting an insight1
minimumCorrelationminimum_correlationdoublefloatThe minimum correlation to consider a tradable pair0.5

To view the implementation of this model, see the LEAN GitHub repositoryLEAN GitHub repository.

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