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Volatility Short-Term (SPY RSI + Vixation Strategies) (SVIX VXX BIL)
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A symphony is an automated trading strategy — Learn more about symphonies here

About

A daily-rebalanced, RSI-driven, short-term volatility timing strategy using three tickers (SVIX, VXX for volatility bets and BIL for safety). It reads SPY’s RSI signals across short windows to tilt toward or away from volatility bets, with an additional Vixation module that uses broader equity signals for extra hedging opportunities.
NutHow it works
- The plan watches SPY (the S&P 500 fund) and measures a simple momentum-like signal called RSI (roughly: is SPY overheated or too cheap recently). It looks at SPY’s RSI over very short windows (about 2–10 days). - If SPY looks oversold (low RSI, e.g., below about 25) on some windows, the strategy tends to tilt toward volatility hedges SVIX or VXX, which tend to rise when market volatility spikes. The exact weight varies depending on how strong the signal is. - If SPY looks overbought (high RSI, e.g., above about 80) on some windows, the model shifts away from heavy volatility bets and often rises cash-like exposure via BIL (short-term Treasuries) to protect capital. - In calmer signals, a balanced mix keeps some exposure to volatility hedges but trims risk by allocating more toward cash-like assets. - A separate “Vixation” module uses other popular ETFs (including sector/leveraged ETFs) and conditions like extreme moves in those assets to trigger additional volatility hedges or alternative bets, again with BIL as a hedging anchor when volatility conditions appear milder. - The design uses three tickers (SVIX, VXX, BIL) to avoid putting all risk into a single instrument and to reduce cross-account wash trading. Rebalancing happens daily so weights can adapt to new signals. - The intended outcome is to profit from short-term spikes in volatility (when signals indicate it’s coming) while preserving capital in quieter times by holding safer assets. A mid-term VIX variant is mentioned as an optional setup for different horizons.
CheckmarkValue prop
Out-of-sample volatility-timing strategy using SPY RSI signals with SVIX/VXX hedges and BIL cash protection. It delivers superior risk-adjusted returns (higher Sharpe and Calmar) and stronger annualized upside versus the S&P 500, with disciplined risk controls.
1M
3M
6M
YTD
1Y
3Y
Max
Performance
Compared to selected benchmarks
AlphaBetaR2R
0.520.820.320.57
Performance Metrics
Cumulative ReturnAnnualized ReturnTrailing 1M ReturnTrailing 3M ReturnSharpe Ratio
54.12%11.59%-1.77%0.2%0.71
921.13%80.23%2.51%18.92%2.44
Initial Investment
$10,000.00
Final Value
$102,113.40
Regulatory Fees
$207.66
Total Slippage
$1,225.67
Invest in this strategy
OOS Start Date
Apr 23, 2025
Trading Setting
Daily
Type
Stocks
Category
Volatility timing, short-term strategy, spy rsi signals, vix proxies, bil hedge, multi-ticket risk controls
Tickers in this symphonyThis symphony trades 12 assets in total
Ticker
Type
BIL
State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
Stocks
BIL
State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
Stocks
FAS
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3x ETF
Stocks
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Stocks
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Stocks
SVIX
-1x Short VIX Futures ETF
Stocks
SVXY
ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF
Stocks
TQQQ
ProShares UltraPro QQQ
Stocks
VIXY
ProShares VIX Short-Term Futures ETF
Stocks
VXX
iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN
Stocks

FAQ

A Composer symphony is an automated trading strategy that executes trades based on parameters of your choice. Some symphonies are similar to holding one ETF in normal conditions and rotating to a different ETF when market conditions shift, for example a 5% drop in the S&P 500, while others use complex rules with dozens of triggers. However, complex doesn’t always mean better. A simple, well-structured symphony can be just as effective as an intricate one. Learn more about how symphonies work here.

The symphony is currently performing the same as yesterday today. Performance updates in real time during market hours.

The symphony is currently allocated toBILandSVIX. Holdings automatically adjust as market conditions change based on the strategy's rules.

Year-to-date, the symphony has returned 81.53%. You can adjust the performance chart above to view returns across different time horizons.

The maximum drawdown for the symphony is 7.10%. The maximum drawdown measures the largest peak-to-trough decline. It's an important metric to evaluate risk and the strategy's behavior during market stress.

To invest in the symphony, simply click the Invest button on this page. You'll need to open an account with Composer if you don't have one yet, then you can start investing. Composer will automatically execute the trades for you based on the strategy's rules. Composer also supports trading individual stocks, ETFs, and options.