Disadvantages
Complexity:
Developing and maintaining algorithmic trading systems can be complex and require significant technical expertise.
Technical Failures:
Algorithms are not infallible, and technical failures can lead to significant losses, especially during market anomalies. False signals can occur in ranging or choppy markets.
Over-Optimization:
It's possible to over-optimize algorithms based on historical data, which can result in poor performance in real-time trading.
Lack of Adaptability:
Algo trading systems may struggle to adapt to unexpected market conditions or events not accounted for in the algorithms.
Market Impact:
Large institutions using algo trading can sometimes impact the markets they are trading in, causing market volatility or "flash crashes.“
Loss of Human Judgment:
Algorithms don't possess the ability to make nuanced judgments or adapt to breaking news or unexpected events in the same way human traders can.