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Module 1 · Chapter 6

Half-Life of Mean Reversion

Part of Foundations of Mean Reversion

1
What Is the Half-Life and Why It's Critical
Mean reversion describes an asset's tendency to return to its average price. This tendency is not instant. Assets diverge from their mean, then drift back. The speed of this drift back to the mean sha
5 min
2
Deriving Half-Life from an AR(1) Model
Half-life quantifies mean reversion speed. It measures the time for a deviation from the mean to halve. A shorter half-life shows faster mean reversion. Traders use half-life to find assets for mean r
6 min
3
Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Process and Its Half-Life Parameter
The Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) process models mean-reverting behavior. It describes a variable pulling back towards its long-term average. This process is a continuous-time stochastic process. It applies
5 min
4
Estimating Half-Life from Historical Data
The half-life of mean reversion quantifies how quickly a financial series returns to its long-term average. It measures the time a deviation from the mean needs to decay by 50%. A shorter half-life sh
5 min
5
Half-Life and Optimal Holding Period
Half-life quantifies mean reversion speed. It measures the time for a deviation from the mean to decay by half. A shorter half-life indicates faster mean reversion. A longer half-life suggests slower
5 min
6
Short Half-Life vs. Long Half-Life: Strategy Implications
Half-life quantifies mean reversion speed. It measures the time for a price deviation to decay by half. A shorter half-life indicates faster mean reversion. A longer half-life suggests slower mean rev
5 min
7
Rolling Half-Life Estimation for Regime Detection
Mean reversion strategies profit from prices returning to an average. The speed of this return directly impacts strategy profitability. Half-life quantifies this speed. It measures the time for a devi
5 min
8
Half-Life Across Asset Classes: Stocks, FX, Commodities
Mean reversion half-life quantifies price normalization speed. It measures the time for a deviation from the mean to decay by 50%. This metric varies across asset classes. Understanding these differen
5 min
9
The Relationship Between Half-Life and Trading Frequency
Half-life quantifies the speed of mean reversion. It measures the time for a deviation from the mean to decay by 50%. A shorter half-life indicates faster reversion. A longer half-life suggests slower
5 min
10
Using Half-Life to Size Positions and Set Stop Losses
Mean reversion strategies profit from price deviations returning to a long-term average. The half-life of mean reversion quantifies this tendency. It measures the time for a price deviation to dissipa
5 min