An review of an excellent task schedule management software: VisualCron

It is a long time I have been searching a professional task schedule software with low cost. In my company we use a very profession software to manage automatic jobs. So I want to have similar software on my personal PC which do a lot of financial analysis daily. Several softwares such as "Job Scheduler" and "TORQUE" were tried. I found those softwares either very hard to use or very expensive. Finally I found VisualCron from google. After carefully browsing through the visualcron website(http://www.visualcron.com/) I found most features I wanted. And I can afford it! Downloaded, installed it, then I start to set up the tasks to run daily. It is very easy to set up: for example, it will not take more than five minutes to set up a series of tasks which have interdependency.

I have used VisualCron for more than one month and feel very good: it is stable ( never crashed since I started one month ago), uses very small memory ( only around 30M in memory ) and no memory leak. I recommend visualcron to those who want professional task schedule software but do not want to waste time on learning how to set up it: visualcron is really easy to pick up!

Enjoy it!

Performance of the strategy for past week

Past week we adjusted our positions. F had almost 30% weight before adjust. We believe its up space is not too much. So we reduced it weight by half. Also we use existing cash to buy four other stocks: DAZ, HOT, UBSI and SNDK. We will publish the exact weights of each stocks we are holding in next several weeks.

Except for the new added stocks, our portfolio performed pretty well for the past week. Here is a summary of the performance for the portfolio:

Report of our position's profit, and loss for period from 09-Apr-2010 to 16-Apr-2010 :

EL: from 65.46 to 67.89, P&L is 3.71% .

CREE: from 79.08 to 82.12, P&L is 3.84% .

PRGO: from 59 to 60.35, P&L is 2.29% .

F: from 12.72 to 13.42, P&L is 5.50% .

HUN: from 12.63 to 12.07, P&L is -4.43% .

NYB: from 17.43 to 17.56, P&L is 0.75% .

PNRA: from 82.82 to 83.74, P&L is 1.11% .

TRA: from 45.8 to 45.76, P&L is -0.09% .

For period from 09-Apr-2010 to 16-Apr-2010:

The biggest winner is: F, the return is 5.50%;

The biggest loser is: HUN, the return is -4.43%.

Total position changes: P&L is 2.02% .

For period from 09-Apr-2010 to 16-Apr-2010, RUI from 658.39 to 658.39, changed -0.12%


For period from 09-Apr-2010 to 16-Apr-2010, GSPC from 1194.37 to 1194.37, changed -0.19%


Report of our position's profit, and loss for period from 05-Mar-2010 to 16-Apr-2010 :

EL: from 61.66 to 67.89, P&L is 10.10% .

CREE: from 68.8 to 82.12, P&L is 19.36% .

PRGO: from 50.73 to 60.35, P&L is 18.96% .

F: from 13 to 13.42, P&L is 3.23% .

HUN: from 13.67 to 12.07, P&L is -11.70% .

NYB: from 15.6 to 17.56, P&L is 12.56% .

PNRA: from 78.04 to 83.74, P&L is 7.30% .

TRA: from 44.61 to 45.76, P&L is 2.58% .

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 16-Apr-2010:

The biggest winner is: CREE, the return is 19.36%;

The biggest loser is: HUN, the return is -11.70%.

Total position changes: P&L is 9.33% .

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 16-Apr-2010, RUI from 626.78 to 626.78, changed 4.91%


For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 16-Apr-2010, GSPC from 1138.7 to 1138.7, changed 4.69%

Please leave your suggestions or views.

Performance of the strategy for past week

For past week, our strategy outperformed market. Here is a summary of the performance:

From 01-Apr-2010 to 09-Apr-2010 :

EL: from 65.58 to 65.46, P&L is -0.18% .

CREE: from 70.6 to 79.08, P&L is 12.01% .

PRGO: from 59.08 to 59, P&L is -0.14% .

F: from 12.63 to 12.72, P&L is 0.71% .

HUN: from 12.35 to 12.63, P&L is 2.27% .

NYB: from 16.64 to 17.43, P&L is 4.75% .

PNRA: from 76.38 to 82.82, P&L is 8.43% .

TRA: from 45.81 to 45.72, P&L is -0.20% .

For period from 01-Apr-2010 to 09-Apr-2010:

The biggest winner is: CREE, the return is 12.01%;

The biggest loser is: TRA, the return is -0.20%.

Total position changes 2.78% .

For period from 01-Apr-2010 to 09-Apr-2010, RUI from 648.72 to 648.72, changed 1.49%

For period from 01-Apr-2010 to 09-Apr-2010, GSPC from 1178.1 to 1178.1, changed 1.38%

From 05-Mar-2010 to 09-Apr-2010 :

EL: from 61.66 to 65.46, P&L is 6.16% .

CREE: from 68.8 to 79.08, P&L is 14.94% .

PRGO: from 50.73 to 59, P&L is 16.30% .

F: from 13 to 12.72, P&L is -2.15% .

HUN: from 13.67 to 12.63, P&L is -7.61% .

NYB: from 15.6 to 17.43, P&L is 11.73% .

PNRA: from 78.04 to 82.82, P&L is 6.13% .

TRA: from 45.24 to 45.72, P&L is 1.06% .

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 09-Apr-2010:

The biggest winner is: PRGO, the return is 16.30%;

The biggest loser is: HUN, the return is -7.61%.

Total position changes P&L is 5.57% .

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 09-Apr-2010, RUI from 626.78 to 626.78, changed 5.04%

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 09-Apr-2010, GSPC from 1138.7 to 1138.7, changed 4.89%

Performance of the strategy for past week

For past week, our portfolio had loss while the macro market was up. The main driver for the loss was from Ford's offer of warrants. The offering diluted Ford shares by 10%. So its big drop can be explained.

Here is the summary of the performance:

For period from 26-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010 :

EL: from 63.92 to 65.58, P&L is 2.60% .

CREE: from 70.13 to 70.6, P&L is 0.67% .

PRGO: from 56.79 to 59.08, P&L is 4.03% .

F: from 13.86 to 12.63, P&L is -8.87% .

HUN: from 12.7 to 12.35, P&L is -2.76% .

NYB: from 16.35 to 16.64, P&L is 1.77% .

PNRA: from 76.91 to 76.38, P&L is -0.69% .

TRA: from 45.86 to 45.81, P&L is -0.11% .

For period from 26-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010:

The largest winner is: PRGO, the return is 4.03%;

The largest loser is: F, the return is -8.87%.

Total position changes: from 25917.67 to 25498.72, P&L is -1.62% .

For period from 26-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010, RUI from 642.06 to 642.06, changed 1.04%

For period from 26-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010, GSPC from 1166.59 to 1166.59, changed 0.99%

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010 :

EL: from 61.66 to 65.58, P&L is 6.36% .

CREE: from 68.8 to 70.6, P&L is 2.62% .

PRGO: from 50.73 to 59.08, P&L is 16.46% .

F: from 13 to 12.63, P&L is -2.85% .

HUN: from 13.67 to 12.35, P&L is -9.66% .

NYB: from 15.6 to 16.64, P&L is 6.67% .

PNRA: from 78.04 to 76.38, P&L is -2.13% .

TRA: from 45.24 to 45.81, P&L is 1.26% .

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010:

The largest winner is: PRGO, the return is 16.46%;

The largest loser is: HUN, the return is -9.66%.

Total position changes: from 24825.54 to 25498.72, P&L is 2.71% .

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010, RUI from 626.78 to 626.78, changed 3.50%

For period from 05-Mar-2010 to 01-Apr-2010, GSPC from 1138.7 to 1138.7, changed 3.46%

Weekly update of the performance on Mar 27,2010

Have to say market was pretty bull for the past several weeks. But our portfolio outperform the whole market very much. Here is a summary of the performance:

Profit and loss for period from 05-Mar-2010 to 26-Mar-2010( 3 weeks ) :

EL: from 61.66 to 63.92, P&L is 3.66526% .

CREE: from 68.8 to 70.13, P&L is 1.93314% .

PRGO: from 50.73 to 56.79, P&L is 11.9456% .

F: from 13 to 13.86, P&L is 6.61538% .

HUN: from 13.67 to 12.7, P&L is -7.09583% .

NYB: from 15.6 to 16.35, P&L is 4.80769% .

PNRA: from 78.04 to 76.91, P&L is -1.44798% .

TRA: from 45.34 to 45.96, P&L is 1.36745% .

Total position changes: P&L is 4.39846% .

During the same period, the performance of the main index:

SP500: 1138.7 to 1166.59, profitted by 2.45%.

Russell1000: 626.78 to 642.06, profitted by 2.44%.

Profit and loss for period from 19-Mar-2010 to 26-Mar-2010(one week) :

EL: from 63.13 to 63.92, P&L is 1.25139% .

CREE: from 70.03 to 70.13, P&L is 0.142796% .

PRGO: from 50.38 to 56.79, P&L is 12.7233% .

F: from 13.29 to 13.86, P&L is 4.28894% .

HUN: from 12.77 to 12.7, P&L is -0.54816% .

NYB: from 16.37 to 16.35, P&L is -0.122175% .

PNRA: from 78.99 to 76.91, P&L is -2.63324% .

TRA: from 45.7 to 45.96, P&L is 0.568928% .

Total position changes:P&L is 2.50084% .

During the same period, the performance of the main index:

SP500: 1159.90 to 1166.59, profitted by 0.58%.

Russell1000: 638.39 to 642.06, profitted by 0.57%.

Weekly update of the performance

For past week, our portfolio lost 0.64%. Here is the details:

EL: from 63.51 to 63.13, P&L is -0.598331% .

CREE: from 70.95 to 70.03, P&L is -1.29669% .

PRGO: from 50.68 to 50.38, P&L is -0.591949% .

F: from 13.34 to 13.29, P&L is -0.374813% .

HUN: from 13.5 to 12.77, P&L is -5.40741% .

NYB: from 16.33 to 16.37, P&L is 0.244948% .

PNRA: from 79.15 to 78.99, P&L is -0.202148% .

TRA: from 46.23 to 45.7, P&L is -1.14644% .

The total return of the portfolio is 1.85132% since our midterm momentum strategy goes live two weeks ago. Compared to major index: Russell 1000, 1.85%; DOW, 0.81%; SP500, 1.86%. We need to be patient now. Anyway, it still catches up with major index.

Performance of the strategy for past week

Our first strategy has been live for a week. It performed pretty well. Here is the break down of the performance of the stocks:

EL: from 61.66 to 63.51, P&L is 3% .

CREE: from 68.8 to 70.95, P&L is 3.13% .

PRGO: from 50.73 to 50.68, P&L is -0.1% .

F: from 13 to 13.34, P&L is 2.62% .

HUN: from 13.67 to 13.5, P&L is -1.24% .

NYB: from 15.6 to 16.33, P&L is 4.68% .

PNRA: from 78.04 to 79.15, P&L is 1.42% .

TRA: from 45.44 to 46.33, P&L is 1.96% .

The total profit was 2.51% for the whole portfolio. During the same period, SP500 index changed from 1138.7 to 1149.99, which profited 0.99%; DOW changed from 10566.2 to 10624.69, which profited .055%.

To make our comparison more relevant, let us see the performance of Russell 1000 index, which is the universe of our stock screening. For Russell 1000 index, it changed from 626.78 to 633.55, which profited 1.08%.

We need to be patient to see further results. If it keeps performing this way, we will be very happy.

Our first strategy rolled out and the current holdings

Today we rolled out our first strategy. The strategy leveraged the investing experience of our group members quantitatively and qualitatively as well. We would like to publish our stock selection and holding on this blog. The performance of the strategy will also be updated weekly. Please write to us for any questions you might have on the strategy or current market.

Here is the selection:

Stock Weight

EL 11.50%

CREE 7.40%

PRGO 10.60%

F 28.70%

HUN 5.00%

NYB 21.10%

PNRA 7.90%

TRA 7.90%

We had built our position at the open of market this morning. Later on we might update our holdings according to market condition and will publish the updates here then.