e-mini stock index brokers

[alanc]

Hi guys

I use Saxo for Forex and moderately happy.

However, their mini trading platform is c##p,their day trading margins outrageous and commission charge twice (on entry and the stop, because their trading ticket is not linked)

Hence looking for a broker with a logical trading ticket for fast execution.

All advise welcome

Best trading to all
alan

[Matt Bowen]

Hi Alan,

I use Saxo for Forex and moderately happy.

However, their mini trading platform is c##p,their day trading margins outrageous and commission charge twice (on entry and the stop, because their trading ticket is not linked)

I can't say that I've ever heard of them before... but if you are looking at trading E-mini Futures then check out many different brokers before you settle with any one of them.

My suggestion is Open-E-Cry http://www.openecry.com 1-800-920-5808
Call up and ask to speak with Rick Tomsic (the owner) You can call him at:
1-614-764-4465 extension #4465. I have used OpenECry for over three years now
and I have not had any problems with them or their order execution software.

People always look for the cheapest price on transaction cost and that is the stupidest thing to do...because if a broker is screwing you on a 3 pip spread transaction you are paying $30 bucks per contract for his horrible service. Conversely, in the Futures markets you can have a broker charge you $2.80 round trip, but if you get shit fills and he cuts you for 1 ticks per side (very easy to do with limit orders) that's $25.00...so now your $2.80 commission is really costing you $27.80) People don't look at this stuff because half of them don't even know where the bid/ask prices are at any given time.

Also, for some of you that are new to E-mini trading...you might want to look at these E-mini education videos I posted last year:

http://www.mtptrader.com/showthread.php?t=360&highlight=e-mini

Sincere wishes for a good life
and (always!)... higher profit$,

Matt

[mrkam]

I use OpenECry as well. They have great reporting, which my accountant likes! Their DOM order entry screen is super, and fast if you disable the confirmations. I have also used MBTrading, which I like very much as well, and their commissions are close (a little more) to OEC. Nice patform, and quick as well. I think they have improved their reporting....

However!! I get disconnected from OEC several times a week and it takes several minutes to reconnect.... kind of tough if in a trade!!

Anyway, can't go wrong with those two I say!

Mark

[Biggo]

Hi guys

I use Saxo for Forex and moderately happy.

However, their mini trading platform is c##p,their day trading margins outrageous and commission charge twice (on entry and the stop, because their trading ticket is not linked)

Hence looking for a broker with a logical trading ticket for fast execution.

All advise welcome

Best trading to all
alan


Hi Alan

I use IB (interactive brokers). I have not had any issues with them at all.
They are a fully automated broker but with their universal account you can trade Stocks Options FX E minis Electronically traded futures etc all from one account. They also give free live data for US futures, stocks & FX if you spend more than $30 per month on commissions. I use their data & its great never crashes .


http://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/main.php

Cheers

[newguy]

does IB work with MTP for RT futures trading?

[Biggo]

does IB work with MTP for RT futures trading?


Hi Newguy

I am not sure if the standalone RT version of MTP might be able to use IB data I guess you should maybe e-mail Steve directly. I am sure this question has come up before, but I cant remember the answer.
I only have MTP EOD but use another charting program (ensign) that uses a simple plug-in to get IB data. :)

Cheers

[Steve Griffiths]

Hi Biggo,

Interesting, may I please ask that you email directly (via Support@MTPredictor.net )with your thoughts and experiences with Ensign with IB data.

I ask, because I am evaluating adding the automatic TS set-ups to Ensign and I am after feedback from current Ensign users.

Thanks

Steve

[alanc]

Gentlemen

Many thanks for responses.

Gives me a good starting point

Regards
Alan

[mattijschris]

Dear Biggo,

I also use IB and MTP EOD. I am still looking for good data. I would be very interested if you have any more info how to put IB data into Ensign and then how to put the data into MTP. How much is the price for Ensign?

Thanks for any info.

Mattijs Christiaanse

[Biggo]

Dear Biggo,

I also use IB and MTP EOD. I am still looking for good data. I would be very interested if you have any more info how to put IB data into Ensign and then how to put the data into MTP. How much is the price for Ensign?

Thanks for any info.

Mattijs Christiaanse


Hi Mattijs

I use IB data directly with Ensign. The program is ready set up to accept data from several data suppliers. Cost $39 per Month.

I can save a chart as an ASCII file then read it with my MTP EOD. This is obviousally not as good as streeming data & you can only do one chart at a time.

Cheers

[mattijschris]

Hi Biggo,

So you cannot export a lot of charts (say 100) and than run a scan with MTP. Is that right?

Mattijs

[Biggo]

Hi Biggo,

So you cannot export a lot of charts (say 100) and than run a scan with MTP. Is that right?

Mattijs


Hi Mattijs

The files that you save all go to the same folder so Yes you can scan multiple files at a time with MTP.
Below is a link to some code to save files on a quote page at a specified interval so I guess you could save charts at say 1 min intervals then run a scan on MTP. I dont use this so do not know if it works or not

http://www.ensignsoftware.com/espl/espl51.htm

Steve has very kindly said he will look at the possibility of adding MTP TSs to Ensign . But he needs to see if there is potential interest first as it would not be worth doing just for 1 user as I am sure you would appreciate.

Cheers

[mcdirt]

Hi Biggo,

What does the free data that IB supplies cover - Futures, Shares, Indices, Forex?

rgds McDirt

[Biggo]

Hi Biggo,

What does the free data that IB supplies cover - Futures, Shares, Indices, Forex?

rgds McDirt


Hi Mc Dirt

Hope you are well..

Full list of free IB data below

Interactive Brokers
Ensign Windows is listed by Interactive Brokers (IB) as a 3rd party Commercial Tool for Charting and Analysis. As a service to their customers, IB provides real-time streaming data for FREE or at the price charged by an exchange. This data can be used in Ensign Windows. For example, a non-professional subscription to US Stock & Commodities Exchanges can be received FREE (or a $10 or $20 monthly fee if monthly commissions are less than $30 USD). Using Ensign Windows with IB is a great way to trade, analyze the markets, and save money on data charges. For more information on using Ensign Window with the Interactive Brokers feed, click here.

Ensign Windows works great with the IB feed. Ensign Windows includes Chart history data from DTN Market Access in addition to the refresh history available from Interactive Brokers.. You will get great charts and real-time data. Your total cost for real-time data and Ensign Windows could be as low as $39.95 per month (add $10 or $20 to IB if you do not execute enough trades per month).

Chart history (refresh) coverage included with Ensign for the IB version:


Exchange
Tick
Intra-day Daily Weekly Monthly
U.S. Stocks and Indices yes yes yes yes yes
U.S. Futures yes yes yes yes yes
Mutual Funds no no yes no no
Canadian Stocks and Indices yes yes yes yes yes
Canadian Futures yes yes yes yes yes
London IPE yes yes yes yes yes
London LIFFE yes yes yes yes yes
EuroNext yes yes yes yes yes
EUREX (DTB) yes yes yes yes yes
Hong Kong HKFE IB IB IB no no
Singapore SGX yes yes yes yes yes
Spain MEFFRV IB IB IB no no
Sydney SNFE IB IB IB no no
FOREX yes yes yes no no
Worldwide Stocks IB IB yes yes yes
Worldwide Indexes IB IB yes yes yes

Ensign Windows can refresh tick and intra-day bar history from Interactive Brokers. With Interactive Brokers as the refresh source, the breadth of Ensign's refresh coverage for foreign exchanges includes the DTB, HKFE, MEFFRV, SGX, SNFE, Forex symbols and others.

Tick and intra-day chart data is current to the exchange's delay requirement when using DTN Market Access as the refresh source, and through the current tick when using Interactive Brokers as the refresh source. An 'IB' entry in the table means the refresh data is only available from Interactive Brokers. The Daily bar for today for some exchanges may not be available until after the market closes.

[Biggo]

Hi Mc Dirt

Sorry the cut n paste didnt work to well on that last post & altered the columns :o . The link to the relevent page is below

http://www.ensignsoftware.com/help/ib.htm

You can get a demo account with IB with 15 min delayed data if you want to check it out link below

http://www.ensignsoftware.com/tips/tradingtips47.htm#Interactive

Forgot to say you can only trade electronic traded futures & NOT pit traded futures with IB

Cheers:)

[mcdirt]

Hey Biggo,

Thanks for the info - looks pretty good & I'll have a look at the link you gave :)

rgds McDirt