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Looking for a new platform/broker for my futures spread trading....


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Looking for a new platform/broker for my futures spread trading....

  #1 (permalink)
SpreadOption
Austin, Texas
 
Posts: 2 since Jan 2015
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Folks,

Long-time lurker, first time poster. I'm hoping to crowd source your collective wisdom on a possible platform and broker switch. I've done a lot of research, but frankly, I'm just overwhelmed by the amount of options out there.

I trade spreads on virtually all of the U.S. futures markets, except for the very illiquid ones. I have been using IB for several years with TWS as my platform. I've tried out NT on a trial basis, but I've never actually used it for live trading.

I'm going to list my platform and broker requirements below. I welcome any and all recommendations.

Platform Requirements

1) Desktop and iPhone platforms. The iPhone platform should be fairly robust--at least as good as TWS mobile.

2) Charting of futures spreads on a settlement-to-settlement basis, including both intramarket calendar spreads and intermarket spreads (the latter presents a challenge on many platforms including TWS).

3) The ability to view existing futures spread positions in my portfolio as a spread--rather than as the individual legs--on both the desktop and mobile platforms. I have never figured out a way to get TWS Mobile to display spreads as a spread.

4) The ability to enter and exit futures spreads as a spread (rather than legging in) via limit, stop, and stop limit orders on the spread price.

Broker Requirements

Note: I don't necessarily need to switch brokers if you can recommend a platform that works with IB and fits all of the above criteria. But I'm willing to consider a broker switch if it would provide some advantage or give me access to a platform incompatible with IB.

1) Initial deposit requirement of no greater than $100,000.

2) Reasonably low commissions. I don't expect them to be as low as IB's commissions, but anything above $5/contract before exchange fees isn't going to cut it.

3) Responsive, intelligent customer support.

4) Sound financial condition. If I can't clearly tell that the broker is in good shape, there's no chance I'll use them.

5) Level 1 real-time market data for all major U.S. futures exchanges (excluding ICE) for no more than $25/month. I don't need deep-book data.

6) Delayed ICE data for free.

*******

Please let me know if you have any recommendations for a platform or broker. Thanks!

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  #3 (permalink)
 
Big Mike's Avatar
 Big Mike 
Manta, Ecuador
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Swing Trader
 
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Check out CTS T4 for the platform. They have mobile apps and handle spreads well.

If you have questions you can use the AMA thread here:



Mike

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  #4 (permalink)
SpreadOption
Austin, Texas
 
Posts: 2 since Jan 2015
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Big Mike View Post
Check out CTS T4 for the platform. They have mobile apps and handle spreads well.

If you have questions you can use the AMA thread here:

Mike

Thanks, Mike. Appreciate this.

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  #5 (permalink)
 
Big Mike's Avatar
 Big Mike 
Manta, Ecuador
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Swing Trader
 
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SpreadOption View Post
Thanks, Mike. Appreciate this.

You'll find some webinars on CTS in the webinars section as well. I'm sure a few of them have covered spreads.

Mike

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  #6 (permalink)
kuruvi
Austin, Texas
 
Posts: 5 since Dec 2015
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hi,
I am planning to build a PC for spread trading.
Any advice on system requirements for platforms like X_Trader, CTS T4
Thanks

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  #7 (permalink)
 
Big Mike's Avatar
 Big Mike 
Manta, Ecuador
Site Administrator
Developer
Swing Trader
 
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kuruvi View Post
hi,
I am planning to build a PC for spread trading.
Any advice on system requirements for platforms like X_Trader, CTS T4
Thanks

Read the tech support forum, there are countless example threads on builds.

Mike

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  #8 (permalink)
 
sam028's Avatar
 sam028 
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kuruvi View Post
hi,
I am planning to build a PC for spread trading.
Any advice on system requirements for platforms like X_Trader, CTS T4
Thanks

All depends on many instance spreader instances will run in parallel.
I have client using TT auto spreader multiple (dozens...) instances, 4 cores was not enough.
We're building an 8 cores (16 threads) 3 Ghz Xeon server now, we'll see...

Success requires no deodorant! (Sun Tzu)
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  #9 (permalink)
kuruvi
Austin, Texas
 
Posts: 5 since Dec 2015
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Thanks, I am considering Xeon E5-2630 with Asus X99-E WS motherboard. For trading platforms I am looking at TT's AutoSpreader, CTS T4, CQS IC

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  #10 (permalink)
 
SMCJB's Avatar
 SMCJB 
Houston TX
Legendary Market Wizard
 
Experience: Advanced
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sam028 View Post
All depends on many instance spreader instances will run in parallel.
I have client using TT auto spreader multiple (dozens...) instances, 4 cores was not enough.
We're building an 8 cores (16 threads) 3 Ghz Xeon server now, we'll see...

My primary TT auto spreader server (a Dell R620) has dual E5-2690's (2.9Ghz Xeons) and I can literally run 100s of autospreaders and not see a performance degradation. While 16 cores may seem like a lot these are actually older v1 Sandybridge-EP chips, I suspect v2 or even v3 chips would perform better even with less cores.

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