Commodity momentum and reversal: Do they exist, and if so, why?

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Edit and run Quant Buffet Python for Commodity momentum and reversal: Do they exist, and if so, why? in the browser. Results update live with equity, drawdown, and metrics charts. Allowed: backtest.data, backtest.engine, backtest.metrics, numpy, pandas. Define ASSETS and make_on_day(prices). Shortcut: Ctrl+Enter. API docs →

Ready — edit code, then Run backtest.
IDE · 44 lines
Quant Buffet syntax cheat sheet (copy / insert)

Paste these fragments into the editor. The sandbox rejects QuantConnect, os, and network libraries.

Required imports
Only these libraries are allowed in the sandbox.
from __future__ import annotations

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd

from backtest.data import load_daily_prices
from backtest.engine import EngineConfig, PortfolioEngine
from backtest.metrics import compute_metrics
ASSETS list (whitelisted ETFs)
Module-level list. Tickers must be in the Quant Buffet whitelist.
ASSETS = ["SPY", "QQQ", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
make_on_day contract
Must return (on_day, ready). on_day calls engine.set_target_weights.
def make_on_day(prices: pd.DataFrame):
    cols = [c for c in ASSETS if c in prices.columns]
    sma = prices[cols].rolling(200, min_periods=200).mean()
    state = {"last": None}

    def on_day(engine: PortfolioEngine, dt: pd.Timestamp) -> None:
        if sma.loc[dt].isna().all():
            return
        key = (dt.year, dt.month)
        if state["last"] == key:
            return
        state["last"] = key
        long = [
            s for s in cols
            if pd.notna(prices.at[dt, s]) and pd.notna(sma.at[dt, s])
            and prices.at[dt, s] > sma.at[dt, s]
        ]
        weights = {} if not long else {s: 1.0 / len(long) for s in long}
        engine.set_target_weights(dt, weights)

    ready = sma.dropna(how="all").index.min() if sma.notna().any().any() else None
    return on_day, ready
Set target weights
Weights should sum to about 1.0. Empty dict = 100% cash.
engine.set_target_weights(dt, {"SPY": 0.60, "BIL": 0.40})

Live backtest performance

CAGR
-7.24%
Sharpe
-0.19
Max DD
-94.18%
Vol
24.34%
Sortino
-0.28
Beta
0.34

Showing saved draft baseline until you re-run.

Equity curve (indexed = 100)

Accent = strategy · dashed grey = buy-and-hold benchmark

2004-122026-0893910
Drawdown
Worst -92.4%-92%
Metrics bar chart
CAGRSharpeSortinoVol|DD|Grey = baseline · Accent = live run
Monthly returns
2021-052026-08 · last 24 months

Export to your platform

Transform Quant Buffet lab code (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine) into native classes for a third-party IDE — then copy and paste.

Run in: QuantConnect Cloud or LEAN CLI · QCAlgorithm with Equity securities and monthly rebalance.

Detected pattern: Mean reversionAssets: SPY, TLT, GLD, BIL
# Generated from Quant Buffet → QuantConnect LEAN
# Strategy: Commodity momentum and reversal: Do they exist, and if so, why?
# Detected pattern: Mean reversion
# Source uses Quant Buffet lab APIs (ASSETS + make_on_day / PortfolioEngine).
# Review fees, data, and risk before live trading — educational export only.

from AlgorithmImports import *


class QuantBuffetExport(QCAlgorithm):
    def Initialize(self):
        self.SetStartDate(2010, 1, 1)
        self.SetCash(100000)
        tickers = ["SPY", "TLT", "GLD", "BIL"]
        self.symbols = []
        for t in tickers:
            if "-" in t:  # crypto proxy e.g. BTC-USD
                self.symbols.append(self.AddCrypto(t.replace("-USD", ""), Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
            else:
                self.symbols.append(self.AddEquity(t, Resolution.Daily).Symbol)
        self.Schedule.On(
            self.DateRules.MonthStart(self.symbols[0]),
            self.TimeRules.AfterMarketOpen(self.symbols[0], 30),
            self.Rebalance,
        )
        # Logic: Buy when return z-score < -1 over 20 days.

    def Rebalance(self):
        import numpy as np
        picks = []
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            hist = self.History(symbol, 20 + 5, Resolution.Daily)
            if hist.empty: continue
            close = hist["close"]
            if hasattr(close, "unstack"):
                close = close.unstack(level=0).iloc[:, 0]
            rets = close.pct_change().dropna()
            if len(rets) < 20: continue
            window = rets.iloc[-20:]
            z = (window.iloc[-1] - window.mean()) / (window.std() or 1e-9)
            if z < -1:
                picks.append(symbol)
        w = 1.0 / len(picks) if picks else 0.0
        for symbol in self.symbols:
            self.SetHoldings(symbol, w if symbol in picks else 0.0)

Exported code uses the platform’s native classes and libraries. Install dependencies in your third-party IDE, then run. Validate before live trading.

Academic paper

Commodity momentum and reversal: Do they exist, and if so, why?

AuthorsMeng Han

InstituteBeijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University; University of Groningen; Beijing Normal University

Teaser

Enter when short-horizon z-score is deeply negative; exit near zero. Universe: GLD, SLV, DBC, GSG, USO, UNG, DBA. Parameters: lookback=20; entry_z=-1.0; exit_z=0.0; rebalance=daily. Rebalanced on the engine's template schedule with 5 bps commission and 2 bps slippage.

Strategy in a nutshell

Abstract Questions as to why differences in momentum and reversal patterns seem to emerge in commodity futures compared with spot markets, and how these patterns can be explained, remain unanswered. To investigate these questions, I examine 23 commodities over a period of 60 years. I first show that including the net convenience yield in the definition of commodity spot returns reconciles the differences in the results for commodity spot and futures markets. Both commodity futures and spot markets exhibit quantitatively consistent momentum and reversal effects. An initial momentum effect is followed by a reversal effect and then another momentum effect. These observed patterns in commodities can be jointly explained by a combination of traditional asset pricing factors and a basis factor r

Economic rationale

Short-horizon overreaction produces temporary dislocations that reverse toward a local mean. Related evidence from “Commodity momentum and reversal: Do they exist, and if so, why?”: Abstract Questions as to why differences in momentum and reversal patterns seem to emerge in commodity futures compared with spot markets, and how these patterns can be explained, remain unanswered. To investigate these questions, I examine 23 commodities over a period of 60 years. I first show that including the net convenience yield in the definition of commodity spot returns reconciles the differences in the results for commodity spot and futures markets. Both commodity futures and spot marke

Backtest performance

Annualised return-7.24%
Volatility24.34%
Beta0.34
Sharpe ratio-0.19
Sortino ratio-0.28
Maximum drawdown-94.18%