In this study, we propose a stock trading system based on optimized technical analysis parameters for creating buy-sell points using genetic algorithms. The model is developed utilizing Apache Spark big data platform. The optimized parameters are then passed to a deep MLP neural network for buy-sell-hold predictions. Dow 30 stocks are chosen for model validation. Each Dow stock is trained separately using daily close prices between 1996-2016 and tested between 2007-2016. The results indicate that optimizing the technical indicator parameters not only enhances the stock trading performance but also provides a model that might be used as an alternative to Buy and Hold and other standard technical analysis models. (c) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.