Traded futures on Tradestation for many years. Switched to AMPfutures for 6 years and went back to TS 6 mos. ago Very unhappy. Huge account balance requirements due to volatile markets. Looking for a decent broker that supports multi-platforms, with REASONABLE $$ requirements?
Can you help answer these questions from other members on futures io?
It would depend on which platform you like and/or need.
Check out Edge Clear. I moved from TradeStation to Edge Clear using MultiCharts as a platform. All of my indicators and strategies transferred and compiled just fine with MultiCharts.
Tradestation usually requires SPAN margin (the Exchange minimum), but I agree this past month or two some of the margins were raised to crazy levels.
I noticed Heating Oil, for example, is about 2x SPAN minimum. I don't expect that to last, but it makes it a ton harder to trade Heating Oil now.
Of course, the volatility in HO is extreme. One day in March it lost over $42K per contract in ONE day!
I would agree with previous poster that Multicharts would be good alternative, and will give you access to other brokers. Plus, code will translate well.
BUT, do be aware that some strategies will perform differently when you start to use non-Tradestation data in Multicharts. That is mainly due to rollover effects. I've had good strategies in TS fall apart in MC, and vice versa.
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