---
# System prepended metadata

title: PID-1015

---

Algorithmic trading involves using computer programs to execute trades automatically based on pre-defined rules and algorithms. Python is a popular programming language for algorithmic trading due to its simplicity and the availability of many useful libraries. There are many resources available online to learn how to perform algorithmic trading using Python [1][2][3][4][5][6].

Here is a simple example of how to create an algorithmic trading strategy in Python using the Quantopian platform:

```python
# Import the libraries
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

# Define the initialize function
def initialize(context):
    # Define the stock to trade
    context.stock = sid(24)

    # Set the trading parameters
    context.params = {
        'short_window': 20,
        'long_window': 50
    }

    # Set the commission and slippage
    set_commission(commission.PerShare(cost=0.0075, min_trade_cost=1.0))
    set_slippage(slippage.VolumeShareSlippage(volume_limit=0.025, price_impact=0.1))

# Define the handle_data function
def handle_data(context, data):
    # Get the historical prices
    prices = data.history(context.stock, 'price', context.params['long_window'], '1d')

    # Calculate the short and long moving averages
    short_ma = np.mean(prices[-context.params['short_window']:])
    long_ma = np.mean(prices)

    # Buy or sell based on the moving average crossover
    if short_ma > long_ma:
        order_target_percent(context.stock, 1.0)
    else:
        order_target_percent(context.stock, -1.0)
```

This algorithm trades a single stock based on a simple moving average crossover strategy. It buys the stock when the short-term moving average crosses above the long-term moving average and sells the stock when the short-term moving average crosses below the long-term moving average. The `initialize()` function sets the trading parameters and the `handle_data()` function executes the trades based on the current market data [6].

It's important to note that algorithmic trading involves significant risks and should be approached with caution. It's also important to thoroughly test and backtest any trading strategy before using it in a live trading environment.