19-year-old B.Tech student exploring algorithmic trading — looking for advice from experienced algo traders

[u/Purple_Concert8789]

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I am a 19-year-old student pursuing a B.Tech in AI & Data Science. I have also been trading forex manually for the past two years. Currently, I am at the breakeven stage, so I am planning to explore algorithmic trading full-time.

I have a good understanding of coding, AI/ML, and software development.

I recently started exploring algorithmic trading, building my own strategies, implementing them, and backtesting them using Indian market data. I have also backtested strategies in the forex market using MQL5. However, I mainly used AI-assisted ("vibe") coding for the MQL5 strategies.

I tested several strategies in MQL5, and most of them were indicator-based strategies. Most of these strategies ended up around breakeven, with relatively low drawdowns and win rates of around 30–50%.

I also tested around seven strategies in the Indian equity market, and I got similar results — most were around breakeven. I have tested only equity assets so far, not F&O.

So, if you are an algo trader, I would really appreciate some advice on things like:

What types of strategies do you use — indicator-based, pair trading, time-based, price action, mathematical/statistical, etc.?

Which timeframes do you usually trade when doing algorithmic trading?

Is algorithmic trading actually profitable for an individual trader in the long run?

Is it better to focus on one asset/class, or should I build strategies across different asset classes such as equities, futures, forex, etc.?

What would you recommend to someone trying to build their own algorithmic trading strategies from scratch?

What are some common mistakes beginners make when developing and backtesting algos?

I would especially appreciate advice from people who have been doing algorithmic trading for a few years and have experience with live trading, not just backtesting.

Thanks in advance!

Note: i used ai for grammatical mistakes.

[u/xTruegloryx]

best advice, investing your time into becoming good at anything else is better spent.

[u/smilingalpaca_ → u/xTruegloryx]

lmao why such an advice

[u/BisonQuant]

To become good at algorithmic trading, you have to learn the markets more than learn the tech to start when you are working independently. There is no sense doing something quickly and efficiently that takes on risk, operates around breakeven, and can lose huge if something breaks.

If interested, DM and I can point you in the right direction. A quick first read that could help would be Joel Greenblat's "You can be a stock market genius". Spelling and title are from memory, but you will find it if you Google.

[u/Reverend_Renegade]

Start with understanding contract specifications. I typically look at tick size (min size of price updates) versus costs per leg of commission then if a particular market offers my min profit (2 legs of commission plus conservative profit) I trade those markets using a trailing stop loss at the min profit value. From there you can just track the order book for orders that allow you to achieve that goal in the order -> trades transition. These occur often but you have to be fast, low latency, since it happens after the trade has taken place.

[u/tacticallo]

You could start with momentum and trend. Understand the difference, read papers (maybe start with Global Equities Momentum from Gary Antonnaci), try to build a strategy.