Getting Started

Welcome to SFZ Capital Trading Terminal! This guide will help you get started with algorithmic trading.

Account Setup

Once your workspace is active, complete these steps before moving capital into live automation:

  1. Connect your Alpaca API keys - Link your Alpaca Markets account for trading
  2. Configure trading preferences - Set your default parameters and risk levels
  3. Start with paper trading - Test strategies risk-free before going live

Security Note: All API keys are encrypted using industry-standard AES-256 encryption and stored securely.

Creating Strategies

Build custom trading strategies using our visual Bot Creator interface.

Strategy Configuration

Each strategy requires the following parameters:

  • Name: Unique identifier for your strategy
  • Symbol(s): Assets to trade (e.g., AAPL, MSFT, BTC)
  • Indicator: Technical indicator for signals (RSI, MACD, EMA, etc.)
  • Entry/Exit Rules: Conditions for opening and closing positions
  • Capital Allocation: Maximum capital per trade
  • Risk Parameters: Stop loss and take profit levels

Strategy Build Workflow

Define Market Coverage

Select symbols, timeframes, and session windows before wiring any signal logic.

Encode Signal Logic

Combine indicators, entry conditions, exits, and confirmations into one repeatable flow.

Set Risk Guardrails

Lock in position sizing, max exposure, and stop logic before promoting a strategy.

Backtesting

Test your strategies against historical market data before risking real capital.

Backtest Parameters

  • Time Period: Select date range for historical data
  • Initial Capital: Starting balance for simulation
  • Strategy Settings: Use same parameters as your live strategy

Performance Metrics

Each backtest provides comprehensive analytics:

  • Total return and annualized return
  • Win rate and profit factor
  • Maximum drawdown
  • Sharpe ratio and Sortino ratio
  • Trade-by-trade breakdown

Backtest Workflow Checklist

Compare Market Regimes

Run the same strategy across trending, choppy, and high-volatility periods.

Review Execution Assumptions

Validate slippage, sizing, latency, and drawdown behavior before trusting the result.

Promote to Paper Trading

Move promising strategies into paper mode to confirm live data and order handling.

Important: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always validate strategies with paper trading.

Live Trading

Deploy your tested strategies to live markets with real capital.

Before Going Live

  1. Thoroughly backtest your strategy across different market conditions
  2. Paper trade for at least 1-2 weeks to validate real-time behavior
  3. Set appropriate stop-loss levels and position sizes
  4. Start with small capital allocation and scale gradually

Starting a Strategy

1. Navigate to Strategy Manager
2. Select your strategy
3. Toggle from "Paper" to "Live" mode
4. Click "Start" to begin trading
5. Monitor performance in real-time

Tip: Use the dashboard to monitor all your active strategies and receive alerts for important events.

Technical Indicators

The platform supports multiple technical indicators for strategy development.

Available Indicators (40+)

The platform provides a comprehensive library of technical indicators organized into five main categories:

📈 Moving Averages

SMA, EMA, WMA, HMA, DEMA, TEMA, KAMA, VWMA â€- Trend identification and smoothing

📊 Oscillators

RSI, MACD, Stochastic, CCI, Williams %R, MFI, ROC, Ultimate Oscillator â€- Momentum and overbought/oversold signals

🎯 Trend Indicators

ADX, SuperTrend, Parabolic SAR, Ichimoku Cloud, Aroon, TRIX â€- Trend direction and strength

📉 Volatility

Bollinger Bands, ATR, Keltner Channels, Donchian Channels, Standard Deviation â€- Market volatility measurement

📦 Volume Analysis

OBV, VWAP, CMF, A/D, Volume Profile, Volume SMA â€- Volume-based confirmation and analysis

ðŸ-" Pattern Recognition

Pivot Points, Fibonacci Retracements, Support/Resistance, Candlestick Patterns â€- Price action analysis

Risk Management

Protect your capital with built-in risk management tools.

Risk Controls

  • Stop Loss: Automatically exit positions when price drops below threshold
  • Take Profit: Lock in gains at target price levels
  • Position Sizing: Limit capital allocated per trade
  • Max Positions: Limit number of concurrent open positions
  • Daily Loss Limit: Stop trading after reaching daily loss threshold

Golden Rule: Never risk more than 1-2% of your total capital on a single trade. Proper position sizing is the foundation of successful trading.

Best Practices

  1. Always use stop-loss orders on every trade
  2. Diversify across multiple uncorrelated strategies
  3. Regularly review and adjust risk parameters
  4. Keep detailed trading logs for analysis
  5. Never trade with money you can't afford to lose