Machine-learning predictive strategy based on sklearn walk-forward training, feature engineering, and signal generation. Suitable for any OHLCV data.
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tessl review fix ./agent/src/skills/ml-strategy/SKILL.mdUse sklearn machine-learning models (RandomForest / GradientBoosting / Ridge) to predict the direction of future returns and generate trading signals. Walk-forward training is used to avoid future data leakage, and feature engineering extracts useful factors from OHLCV data.
1), < 0 is the negative class (0)predict_proba[:, 1] to [-1.0, 1.0], or use discrete signals from predict in {-1, 0, 1}. Output is guaranteed clean (no NaN, clipped to range)This is the recommended full pipeline. Copy and customise — safety is built in.
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
from sklearn.ensemble import RandomForestClassifier, GradientBoostingClassifier
from sklearn.linear_model import LogisticRegression
from sklearn.preprocessing import StandardScaler
def validate_data(df: pd.DataFrame, min_rows: int = 300) -> bool:
"""Check that OHLCV data meets minimum quality for ML training.
Args:
df: DataFrame with DatetimeIndex.
min_rows: Minimum number of rows required.
Returns:
True if data is usable.
"""
required = {"open", "high", "low", "close", "volume"}
if not required.issubset(df.columns):
return False
if len(df) < min_rows:
return False
if df["close"].isnull().mean() > 0.2:
return False
return True
def build_features(df: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
"""Build a machine-learning feature matrix from OHLCV data.
All features are guarded against division-by-zero and sanitized
(inf replaced with NaN) so downstream code never sees inf values.
Args:
df: DataFrame containing open, high, low, close, and volume columns.
Returns:
DataFrame with feature columns prefixed by 'f_'.
"""
c = df["close"]
v = df["volume"]
ret = c.pct_change()
features = pd.DataFrame(index=df.index)
features["f_ret_5d"] = c.pct_change(5)
features["f_ret_20d"] = c.pct_change(20)
features["f_vol_20d"] = ret.rolling(20).std()
features["f_ma_ratio"] = c / c.rolling(20).mean()
features["f_volume_ratio"] = v / v.rolling(20).mean()
# RSI(14) — guard: loss=0 in zero-volatility periods produces inf
delta = c.diff()
gain = delta.clip(lower=0).rolling(14).mean()
loss = (-delta.clip(upper=0)).rolling(14).mean()
rs = gain / loss.replace(0, np.nan)
features["f_rsi_14"] = 100 - (100 / (1 + rs))
# Bollinger Band position — guard: bb_upper == bb_lower when std=0
ma20 = c.rolling(20).mean()
std20 = c.rolling(20).std()
bb_upper = ma20 + 2 * std20
bb_lower = ma20 - 2 * std20
bb_range = (bb_upper - bb_lower).replace(0, np.nan)
features["f_bb_position"] = (c - bb_lower) / bb_range
# Intraday features
features["f_high_low_ratio"] = (df["high"] - df["low"]) / c
features["f_close_open_ratio"] = (c - df["open"]) / df["open"]
features["f_skew_20d"] = ret.rolling(20).skew()
# Sanitize: replace all inf with NaN (NaN handled by walk-forward)
features = features.replace([np.inf, -np.inf], np.nan)
return features
def walk_forward_predict(
features: pd.DataFrame,
labels: pd.Series,
min_train_size: int = 252,
retrain_freq: int = 20,
model_type: str = "random_forest",
window_type: str = "expanding",
sliding_size: int = 504,
) -> pd.Series:
"""Walk-forward training and prediction to avoid future data leakage.
Args:
features: Feature matrix aligned with labels by row index.
labels: Binary labels (0/1), representing the direction of future N-day returns.
min_train_size: Minimum training-set size in trading days.
retrain_freq: Retrain the model every N days.
model_type: One of "random_forest" / "gradient_boosting" / "ridge".
window_type: "expanding" uses all history; "sliding" uses a fixed lookback.
sliding_size: Lookback window size when window_type is "sliding".
Returns:
Predicted signal series with range [-1.0, 1.0], no NaN values.
"""
predictions = pd.Series(0.0, index=features.index)
model = None
scaler = None
for i in range(min_train_size, len(features)):
# Retrain every retrain_freq days
if model is None or (i - min_train_size) % retrain_freq == 0:
start = max(0, i - sliding_size) if window_type == "sliding" else 0
X_train = features.iloc[start:i].values
y_train = labels.iloc[start:i].values
# Drop rows with NaN
valid = ~(np.isnan(X_train).any(axis=1) | np.isnan(y_train))
X_train = X_train[valid]
y_train = y_train[valid]
if len(X_train) < 50:
continue
# Standardization: fit only on training set
scaler = StandardScaler()
X_train = scaler.fit_transform(X_train)
# Build the model
if model_type == "random_forest":
model = RandomForestClassifier(
n_estimators=100, max_depth=5, random_state=42,
)
elif model_type == "gradient_boosting":
model = GradientBoostingClassifier(
n_estimators=100, max_depth=3, learning_rate=0.05,
random_state=42,
)
elif model_type == "ridge":
model = LogisticRegression(penalty="l2", C=1.0, random_state=42)
else:
raise ValueError(f"Unsupported model_type: {model_type}")
model.fit(X_train, y_train)
# Predict today
X_today = features.iloc[i : i + 1].values
if np.isnan(X_today).any():
predictions.iloc[i] = 0.0
continue
X_today = scaler.transform(X_today)
if hasattr(model, "predict_proba"):
prob = model.predict_proba(X_today)[0, 1]
predictions.iloc[i] = prob * 2 - 1 # [0,1] -> [-1,1]
else:
predictions.iloc[i] = float(model.predict(X_today)[0])
# Output contract: no NaN, clipped to [-1, 1]
predictions = predictions.fillna(0.0).clip(-1.0, 1.0)
return predictions
class SignalEngine:
"""Complete ML strategy with built-in data validation and safety."""
def generate(self, data_map: dict) -> dict:
"""Generate signals for each symbol.
Args:
data_map: code -> OHLCV DataFrame.
Returns:
code -> signal Series in [-1.0, 1.0].
"""
signals = {}
for code, df in data_map.items():
if not validate_data(df):
print(f"[WARN] {code}: data quality insufficient, skipping")
continue
features = build_features(df)
labels = (df["close"].pct_change(5).shift(-5) > 0).astype(int)
signal = walk_forward_predict(features, labels)
signals[code] = signal
return signalsThe table below lists all default features. Add or remove features as needed — build_features() is the customisation point.
| Feature Name | Formula | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ret_5d | close.pct_change(5) | Past 5-day return (short-term momentum) |
| ret_20d | close.pct_change(20) | Past 20-day return (medium-term momentum) |
| vol_20d | returns.rolling(20).std() | 20-day volatility |
| rsi_14 | See RSI formula in code | Relative Strength Index (division-by-zero guarded) |
| ma_ratio | close / close.rolling(20).mean() | Degree of deviation from the 20-day moving average |
| volume_ratio | volume / volume.rolling(20).mean() | Volume ratio (current volume vs 20-day average) |
| bb_position | (close - bb_lower) / (bb_upper - bb_lower) | Bollinger Band position (zero-bandwidth guarded) |
| high_low_ratio | (high - low) / close | Intraday range ratio |
| close_open_ratio | (close - open) / open | Intraday return |
| skew_20d | returns.rolling(20).skew() | Return skewness |
| Model | Advantages | Disadvantages | Applicable Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| RandomForestClassifier | Hard to overfit, robust to hyperparameters, can output feature importance | Weaker at capturing trend-style features | Default first-choice model, medium data size |
| GradientBoostingClassifier | High accuracy, captures complex nonlinear relationships | Easy to overfit, slow to train, requires careful tuning | Sufficient data and tuning experience |
| Ridge / LogisticRegression | Fast training, interpretable, difficult to overfit | Captures only linear relationships | Fast baseline, few features, small dataset |
| Parameter | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| model_type | "random_forest" | Model type: random_forest / gradient_boosting / ridge |
| min_train_size | 252 | Minimum training-set size (starting length of the expanding window) |
| retrain_freq | 20 | Retraining frequency (every N trading days) |
| prediction_horizon | 5 | Prediction horizon (future N-day return) |
| n_estimators | 100 | Number of trees for tree-based models |
| max_depth | 5 | Maximum tree depth (prevents overfitting) |
| threshold | 0.0 | Signal filtering threshold (abs(signal) < threshold is set to 0) |
| window_type | "expanding" | Training window: expanding (all history) or sliding (fixed lookback) |
| sliding_size | 504 | Lookback size for sliding window (2 years of trading days) |
The pipeline code above already handles data leakage, standardization leakage, inf/NaN propagation, and retraining frequency. The following pitfalls still require your judgement:
max_depth > 10), too many features, or too small a training set. Keep max_depth=3~5 and feature count < 15class_weight="balanced" or SMOTE if neededpip install scikit-learn pandas numpypredict_proba[:, 1] mapped through prob * 2 - 1 to [-1.0, 1.0] (continuous-strength signal)predict() in {-1, 0, 1} (short, neutral, long)[-1.0, 1.0]8643fcd
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