Spread Stability Metrics
Spread stability metrics are quantitative measures used to evaluate the consistency of the price difference between two assets. These metrics go beyond simple correlation to assess the reliability of the mean reversion process.
They include calculations of the spread's variance, the half-life of the mean reversion, and the frequency of crossing the mean. A stable spread is one that exhibits predictable behavior, allowing for more accurate sizing and entry timing.
Traders monitor these metrics to detect when a pair is becoming unstable, which serves as an early warning to reduce position size or exit the trade. In volatile markets, maintaining a high level of spread stability is the key to minimizing risk and ensuring consistent returns from a pairs trading strategy.