World Famous Comics: Statistical Arbitrage: Algorithmic Trading Insights and Techniques (Wiley Finance)
Statistical Arbitrage: Algorithmic Trading Insights and Techniques (Wiley Finance)
By: Andrew Pole Publisher: Wiley Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Wiley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 230 Publication Date: October 05, 2007
Product Description: While statistical arbitrage has faced some tough timesas markets experienced dramatic changes in dynamics beginning in 2000new developments in algorithmic trading have allowed it to rise from the ashes of that fire. Based on the results of author Andrew Poles own research and experience running a statistical arbitrage hedge fund for eight yearsin partnership with a group whose own history stretches back to the dawn of what was first called pairs tradingthis unique guide provides detailed insights into the nuances of a proven investment strategy. Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, Statistical Arbitrage contains comprehensive analysis that will appeal to both investors looking for an overview of this discipline, as well as quants looking for critical insights into modeling, risk management, and implementation of the strategy.
The 5 star reviews are fake this is not a book for serious people, let me quote page 54, "if the distinction between PCA and factor analysis seems hazy, good. It is. And we will say no more about it". This book may be useful for someone who has never heard of statistical arbitrage before, but the "serious investors" mentioned in the 5 star reviews won't find anything worth reading here.
This is the first item I have ever reviewed on Amazon, because this is the first time I feel someone's friends are doing such a disservice to the Amazon community.
You will enjoy this book. This is a great introduction to statistical arbitrage with interesting historical elements and many insights. It is well written and a pleasure to read.
Unable to Confirm? I haven't read Mr. Pole's book. But I google my name from time to time, and found it on Page 1 (in the Wiley PDF preprint, which I assume is the same as the released version). Mr. Pole states that he was "unable to confirm" the origins of pair trading (and, by extension, statistical arbitrage). I do not know Mr. Pole, and I know of no efforts he may have made to contact me. So much for Page 1. I read no further.
In contrast, Rick Bookstaber, who interviewed many people who were at Morgan at the time, was able to confirm those origins. I would refer you to his fine book, "A Demon of our Own Design," which is not only well researched and a great read, but (for those value seekers out there) is priced substantially lower than Mr. Pole's book. I would have thought Mr. Bookstaber put all this nonsense to rest. Must I write my own book?
Gerald ("Gerry") Bamberger
there is high dispersion on the rating of this book what makes the high dispersion? seems either the 1star or the 5star bunch is fake. who do u believe? i persoanlly found this book terrible, one of the biggest disappointments on my reading list. save the trees man
If you are a quant, don't buy this book Like some other people, I got attracted by the title and ordered it even before it was released. Indeed, unlike the earlier publications such as Pairs Trading: Quantitative Methods and Analysis (Wiley Finance) and Applied Quantitative Methods for Trading and Investment (The Wiley Finance Series) , this book is probably the very first one dedicated entirely to Statistical Arbitrage.
Regrettably, its quantitative content is well below that of abovementioned books. As the author himself put it, "... nearly all temptation to compose a technical treatise has been resisted." As a result, all the technical stuff I learned from it can be summarized as follows: 1) the traded spread is very often non-stationary, but can be treated as locally stationary and 2) after 2004, the spread began exhibiting much sharper reversions to the mean ("catastrophe process") which complicated the trading.
None of these ideas, however, are presented in more or less strict quantitative form. I hoped that the bibliography would provide clues as to the particular models employed, but to no avail: the list of sources is quite short (22 items) with the majority of quantitative sources being obsolete (over ten years old).
All in all, this book is very much like a popular article and is not worth its price from a quant's perspective.
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