multi-tf-backtesting

name	multi-tf-backtesting
description	Multi-timeframe backtesting combining 15Min + 1Hour model signals. Trigger when: (1) multi-TF backtest, (2) combining timeframe signals in backtest, (3) validating multi-TF strategy, (4) --multi-tf CLI flag.
author	Claude Code
date	"2026-03-25T00:00:00.000Z"

Multi-Timeframe Backtesting

Experiment Overview

Item	Details
Date	2026-03-25
Goal	Validate multi-TF signal aggregation strategy in backtesting (same as live trading)
Environment	Python 3.12, v5.3.2, BacktestEngine + WalkForwardValidator
Status	Success

Context

Training (v5.2.0+) produces separate 15Min and 1Hour models per symbol. The live trader uses MultiTimeframePricePredictor to aggregate signals via weighted voting. But backtesting ran each model independently — no way to validate the combined multi-TF strategy that actually runs in production.

Solution: Add run_multi_tf() to BacktestEngine that replicates live trading's aggregation logic.

Verified Workflow

1. Signal Aggregation (shared function)

from alpaca_trading.prediction.aggregation import aggregate_timeframe_predictions

preds = [
    {'direction': 1, 'magnitude': 0.02, 'confidence': 0.8, 'weight': 0.15, 'size_mult': 0.5},  # 15Min
    {'direction': 1, 'magnitude': 0.03, 'confidence': 0.9, 'weight': 0.25, 'size_mult': 0.75}, # 1Hour
]
result = aggregate_timeframe_predictions(preds)
# result: {direction: 1, magnitude: ..., confidence: ..., agreement_ratio: 1.0, ...}

Weights from TIMEFRAME_WEIGHTS: 15Min=0.15, 1Hour=0.25.

2. Bar Synchronization (15Min → 1Hour)

import numpy as np
from alpaca_trading.signals.multi_timeframe import resample_to_timeframe

hourly_data = resample_to_timeframe(data_15min, '1Hour')
# Map each 15min bar to its corresponding hourly bar
tf_bar_map = np.searchsorted(hourly_data.index, data_15min.index, side='right') - 1

The 1Hour prediction is only recomputed when tf_bar_map[bar_idx] changes (i.e., at hour boundaries). Cached otherwise.

3. CLI Usage

# Single symbol
python scripts/run_backtest.py --multi-tf --symbol WST --model-dir models/rl_symbols/

# Walk-forward
python scripts/run_backtest.py --multi-tf --symbol WST --model-dir models/rl_symbols/ --walk-forward 5

# Batch (all symbols with paired models)
python scripts/run_backtest.py --multi-tf --all --model-dir models/rl_symbols_staging/mar18/trained_models/

Model pairs auto-discovered by SYMBOL_TIMEFRAME.pt naming convention.

4. Engine Method

engine = BacktestEngine(config)
result = engine.run_multi_tf(
    models={'15Min': model_15, '1Hour': model_1h},
    data=data_15min,
    symbol='WST',
)
# result.multi_tf_diagnostics has per-TF action counts, agreement ratios

Failed Attempts (Critical)

Attempt	Why it Failed	Lesson Learned
Dynamic attr on BacktestResult	slots=True prevents dynamic attributes	Added multi_tf_diagnostics field to dataclass
Patching BacktestObservationBuilder at engine module level	Lazy imports in method don't create module-level references	Patch at source module (alpaca_trading.gpu.inference_obs_builder)
Importing aggregation.py through prediction/__init__.py in tests	Circular import chain: prediction → signals → training → trading → signals	Use importlib.util to import aggregation.py directly in tests

Final Parameters

# Timeframe weights (from TIMEFRAME_WEIGHTS)
15Min: 0.15
1Hour: 0.25

# Aggregation
direction_threshold: 0.3       # >0.3 → BUY, <-0.3 → SELL, else HOLD
agreement_boost_threshold: 0.7  # 70%+ agreement triggers boost
agreement_boost_factor: 1.1     # +10% confidence boost

# Observation builders
builder: BacktestObservationBuilder  # Pre-computed, ~100x faster
window: 100
# DO NOT use InferenceObservationBuilder (too slow for backtest)
# DO NOT enable predator-prey validation (requires live Markov state)

# Start index
min_start: max(window, first_15min_idx_where_hourly_bar >= window)
# ~390 15Min bars ≈ 15 trading days of history required

Key Insights

• DRY aggregation: Extract pure functions from live trading classes — backtest reuses identical logic without duplicating code
• Bar synchronization via searchsorted: np.searchsorted(coarse_index, fine_index, side='right') - 1 maps each fine bar to its most recent coarse bar
• Cached coarser predictions: Only recompute when the coarse bar index changes — significant performance win (4x fewer 1Hour predictions)
• slots=True dataclasses: Cannot add attributes dynamically — must add fields to the dataclass definition
• Circular import workaround: The prediction/__init__.py → multi_tf_predictor.py → signals chain causes circular imports. Import aggregation.py directly via importlib.util in tests, or use lazy imports inside methods.

References

• alpaca_trading/prediction/aggregation.py: Shared aggregation function
• alpaca_trading/prediction/multi_tf_predictor.py: Live trading multi-TF (source of aggregation logic)
• alpaca_trading/backtest/engine.py: BacktestEngine.run_multi_tf()
• alpaca_trading/backtest/walk_forward.py: WalkForwardValidator.run_single_model_multi_tf()
• scripts/run_backtest.py: --multi-tf CLI flag
• tests/test_multi_tf_backtest.py: 23 tests
• alpaca_trading/signals/multi_timeframe.py: resample_to_timeframe(), TIMEFRAME_WEIGHTS