Filters to avoid for short-term strategies (and what to use instead)¶
This is not a “never use these” page. It’s a “don’t let these distract you” page.
Short-term trading (intraday, momentum, mean reversion) is usually dominated by: - liquidity - volatility - time-of-day - the day’s catalyst/attention
So the filters that matter most are the ones that shape behavior, not the ones that make a scanner feel “smart”.
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1) “Story” filters that don’t change intraday behavior¶
Some filters are interesting, but they often don’t improve execution for short-term strategies.
If a filter doesn’t change tradability or behavior, it’s usually not the first lever to pull.
2) Over-specific filters (curve-fitting magnets)¶
If your scanner only works with super specific values, it’s likely fragile.
Example smell tests: - it “only works” with one exact number - small changes destroy performance - it works only in one market regime
Use: lane + liquidity + session first, then tighten slowly.
3) Filters you can’t explain¶
If you can’t explain what a filter does and why it helps, don’t build it into the core.
What to use instead (the boring winners)¶
If you want a stable short-term workflow, prioritize: - price range - dollar volume / average daily volume - time of day - gap % / relative activity (for “stocks in play”) - float (optional)
See: Filters that matter
Practical workflow: “remove junk without overfitting”¶
- Run the scanner/alert
- Identify the worst symbols or lowest-quality names
- Ask: what category is this?
- Add one constraint that removes that category
- Repeat
OddsMaker can help you see what hurts you, but don’t treat it like a profit oracle: - OddsMaker tutorial
FAQ¶
Are fundamentals filters useless for day trading?¶
Not useless, but often secondary. If your short-term workflow is unstable, fundamentals filters won’t fix a missing lane or bad liquidity.
What’s the fastest way to improve a short-term scanner?¶
Define a lane (price + liquidity + time) and keep the rules simple enough that you can validate them quickly.
Next¶
Next step
Turn this into a repeatable workflow
If you only do one thing next, tighten your lane and reduce noise. That's how Trade Ideas becomes usable.
