Agreed... I've not come across any implementation for trailing stops that has better results in the long run. I can't even find an initial stop that improves the performance of the system I use (its quick in and out looking for the first part of the turn). One solution I use for the "give back" is to identify the average run up and the 1 standard deviation of that run up and set an alert to sell options OTM against that position. This way I have something paying for the likely turn, but still have room to run.
Hi!
I've been developing and trading fully automated trend following strategies now for some time (since 2004).
Several times I have encountered clients that tell me a trailing stop would be usefull. Mostly they react that way after a trade that has given back a significant part of the profits gained since the openning.
I have researched, studied, programmed and backtested all sorts of trailing stops almost as many times as these people come back to me with the idea but never found a way to make them make my strategies better.
I'm about to conclude that (quite simply) trailing stops never help trend following strategies.
Anyone has a better view?
Any help will be appreciated,
Horace