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Alpha Decay Profile

Medium · machine_learning · Quant Researcher interview question · pandas, statistics, finance, correlation

Alpha decay quantifies how the predictive power of a trading signal diminishes over time, which is critical for determining optimal holding periods and turnover rates. This profile is typically analyzed by calculating the Information Coefficient (IC) at various time lags to measure the correlation between signals and future returns. Task Calculate the mean Information Coefficient (IC) for a trading signal at lags of 1, 5, 10, and 20 days. You are provided with a dictionary containing aligned li