Portfolio diversification reduces risk by spreading capital across multiple uncorrelated or negatively correlated assets, strategies, and timeframes. True diversification requires correlation analysis — holding 10 tech stocks is not diversified. The goal is to generate returns from multiple independent sources rather than relying on a single trade or strategy.
Asset class diversification: equities, bonds, commodities, crypto, real estate. Strategy diversification: trend-following, mean-reversion, carry, momentum. Timeframe diversification: intraday, swing, position trading. Geographic diversification: US, European, Asian markets. Correlation analysis: measure how assets move together.
Allocate capital across 3-5 uncorrelated strategies. No single position should exceed 5-10% of total portfolio. Rebalance when allocations drift by more than 25% from target. Include both long and short strategies for true hedging.
If one asset class dominates portfolio P&L (either direction), rebalance. Review correlations quarterly — correlations change during crises. Reduce exposure to asset classes exhibiting increased correlation during stress.
Portfolio-level decision — applies to the overall trading business
Diversification reduces returns during optimal conditions for a single strategy, but dramatically improves risk-adjusted returns and survivability. During market crises, correlations often spike toward 1.0 — true diversification requires assets that change correlation behaviour.
Hedging is the practice of taking offsetting positions to reduce exposure to adverse price movements in your primary holdings. Rather than closing a profitable position or accepting full downside risk, hedging allows traders to protect capital during uncertain periods while maintaining their core exposure. Effective hedging balances protection cost against the risk being mitigated.
Volatility-based position sizing adjusts trade size according to an asset's current volatility, ensuring that each position carries a consistent dollar risk regardless of how volatile the instrument is. By dividing fixed risk by the asset's average true range or standard deviation, traders normalise risk across different assets and market conditions, preventing outsized losses during volatile periods.
A maximum drawdown limit is a predefined loss threshold that triggers mandatory action — reducing size, stopping trading, or reviewing strategy. Common limits: daily max loss (e.g., 3%), weekly max loss (e.g., 5%), monthly max loss (e.g., 10%), and total max drawdown (e.g., 20%). Professional trading firms and prop firms enforce strict drawdown rules.
The Kelly Criterion is a mathematical formula for determining the optimal bet size to maximise long-term growth rate. Kelly = (bp - q) / b, where b = odds received, p = probability of winning, q = probability of losing. While theoretically optimal, full Kelly is too aggressive for most traders — half-Kelly or quarter-Kelly is more practical.