Statistical Arbitrage
Statistical Arbitrage — Short-horizon RV on co-moving securities using factor neutralization.
Definition
Statistical Arbitrage refers to short-horizon RV on co-moving securities using factor neutralization. Keep that definition fixed when comparing series, managers, or regimes — renaming the same tape does not create a new signal.
Why it matters
It shows up in factor research, attribution, and capacity debates — whether a return slice is skill, style, or fee drag. When short-horizon RV on co-moving securities using factor neutralization shifts, related hedges, limits, and narratives usually need an explicit update rather than a quiet assumption.
Case
Suppose a desk is positioned for the opposite of what statistical arbitrage is saying. If short-horizon RV on co-moving securities using factor neutralization moves against that book, the first question is not “is the story clever?” but whether size, hedges, and stop logic still match the observation.
How to read it
Check definition stability across universes, costs, and regimes before treating a backtest as portable. Prefer a short written null hypothesis for Statistical Arbitrage: what would falsify the current reading in the next window?