IG Markets Data in a stand-alone charting program - possible?

[Vixs]

Looking at trading some index and share CFDs using IG Markets, but having signed up for an account (unfunded) to check out the charting options available I am less than impressed by the charting options available and would not be happy or sane trading based on that.

I am familiar with MetaTrader4 and perhaps have been spoiled by having responsive, usable and customisable charts (shouldn't be too much to ask) but if I could get IG Markets feeds through to AmiBroker or MT4 I would be happier charting.

As it stands the web based solutions are crap and slow in comparison.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

 

[chops_a_must]

Get an IB account. And use that feed to set up charts for anything you would want to trade in IG or wherever.

 

[Vixs]

Get an IB account. And use that feed to set up charts for anything you would want to trade in IG or wherever.

Hi chops, cheers for the response.

I had discounted IB due to the $10k min account deposit, which is currently out of my league.

Either I had missed it in the past or it has been added since I last looked, but there are reduced requirements for people under 26 (3k USD or equivalent as opposed to 10k) which I could do.

I'll look into it.

I would appreciate any other input besides IB if someone else has suggestions. I am quite happy with IG's products and costs on the face of things, but I can't trade using that platform, I'd shoot myself by lunch!

 

[CanOz]

Hi chops, cheers for the response.

I had discounted IB due to the $10k min account deposit, which is currently out of my league.

Either I had missed it in the past or it has been added since I last looked, but there are reduced requirements for people under 26 (3k USD or equivalent as opposed to 10k) which I could do.

I'll look into it.

I would appreciate any other input besides IB if someone else has suggestions. I am quite happy with IG's products and costs on the face of things, but I can't trade using that platform, I'd shoot myself by lunch!

What exactly do you need? What are your requirements?

CanOz

 

[Vixs]

Hi CanOz,

Charts that can be manipulated easily through different timeframes, scroll back through historical data efficiently, be able to draw on the price chart as well as indicator charts. I don't care about being able to trade from the chart, just as long as the chart I am watching has the same price feed as the trading facility.

I don't think it's asking too much, but IG's basic charts lag and are slow to move through data, indicator windows are limited and can't be annotated, when scrolling through historical data you can't always see the full page of highs and lows as you can't zoom out further - you just get a cropped window.

I am not sure if their 'advanced charts' pack would resolve the issue, seeing as the fee is fully rebated after 2 round trip trades per month which would be no problem. My main issue is, again, that web-based solutions that are graphics heavy tend to be slow to respond, and when you're trying to manipulate it for hours on end it is a serious sanity killer.

I have looked at a few other providers but those that offer MT4 as a platform don't have as attractive pricing and fee structures.

 

[Gringotts Bank]

Hi CanOz,

Charts that can be manipulated easily through different timeframes, scroll back through historical data efficiently, be able to draw on the price chart as well as indicator charts. I don't care about being able to trade from the chart, just as long as the chart I am watching has the same price feed as the trading facility.

I don't think it's asking too much, but IG's basic charts lag and are slow to move through data, indicator windows are limited and can't be annotated, when scrolling through historical data you can't always see the full page of highs and lows as you can't zoom out further - you just get a cropped window.

I am not sure if their 'advanced charts' pack would resolve the issue, seeing as the fee is fully rebated after 2 round trip trades per month which would be no problem. My main issue is, again, that web-based solutions that are graphics heavy tend to be slow to respond, and when you're trying to manipulate it for hours on end it is a serious sanity killer.

I have looked at a few other providers but those that offer MT4 as a platform don't have as attractive pricing and fee structures.

This help? MT4 into Amibroker.

http://blog.tipster.ca/2012/02/data-from-mt4-to-amibroker-orders-from.html

 

[skc]

Ask IG about their L2 platform which has API streaming functionality which may or may not be suitable for your purpose...

They may not entertain you due to your account size, however.

 

[Vixs]

Hi Gringotts,

Not exactly what I'm after, but good to know all the same. I'll keep it in mind, cheers.

skc,

Thanks, I will give them a call and try and work out a solution.

 

[CanOz]

I haven't seen retail broker platform that had all the bells and whistles, that's why Amibroker and the other charting / trading platforms have a market.

If you're trading intraday you'll struggle to have an edge with IG...

If you're trading EOD then its probably worth it to get good data into Amibroker.



CanOz

 

[Vixs]

I haven't seen retail broker platform that had all the bells and whistles, that's why Amibroker and the other charting / trading platforms have a market.

If you're trading intraday you'll struggle to have an edge with IG...

If you're trading EOD then its probably worth it to get good data into Amibroker.



CanOz

I've found my preferred timeframes are 1H and 4H or higher, with my lack of substantial capital I'm not in a position to make smaller moves worthwhile.

With that said, precise entries aren't my biggest concern, just usability of platform to place an order with a SL, maybe a TP if I can't manage the trade.

Also not looking at short term equity moves, mostly just futures contract CFDs and spot FX. If I had the capital, I'd be trading actual futures. In time...

 

[CanOz]

I've found my preferred timeframes are 1H and 4H or higher, with my lack of substantial capital I'm not in a position to make smaller moves worthwhile.

With that said, precise entries aren't my biggest concern, just usability of platform to place an order with a SL, maybe a TP if I can't manage the trade.

Also not looking at short term equity moves, mostly just futures contract CFDs and spot FX. If I had the capital, I'd be trading actual futures. In time...

Have you trialed any other CFD platforms?

Keep in mind that unless these guys are offering direct market access to futures prices (i doubt it) then you're getting a synthetic market. No wonder they don't want their data exported...

CanOz

 

[chops_a_must]

Have you trialed any other CFD platforms?

Keep in mind that unless these guys are offering direct market access to futures prices (i doubt it) then you're getting a synthetic market. No wonder they don't want their data exported...

CanOz

From memory, TH proved this to be a myth, by getting his account closed - trading the same way through the CFD providers.

The only difference is the spreads iirc.

 

[CanOz]

From memory, TH proved this to be a myth, by getting his account closed - trading the same way through the CFD providers.

The only difference is the spreads iirc.

Yeah, but i thought he was just using the IB Depth of Market to determine his entries and just mirroring the position on the CFDs? He had some kind of edge going on the SPI then too....Since disappeared.

Anyway, maybe he'll comment.

I lost a heap on CFDs, the spreads were a killer. Sometimes your edge might only be a tick or two.

CanOz

 

[rnr]

Hi CanOz,

Charts that can be manipulated easily through different timeframes, scroll back through historical data efficiently, be able to draw on the price chart as well as indicator charts. I don't care about being able to trade from the chart, just as long as the chart I am watching has the same price feed as the trading facility.

I don't think it's asking too much, but IG's basic charts lag and are slow to move through data, indicator windows are limited and can't be annotated, when scrolling through historical data you can't always see the full page of highs and lows as you can't zoom out further - you just get a cropped window.

I am not sure if their 'advanced charts' pack would resolve the issue, seeing as the fee is fully rebated after 2 round trip trades per month which would be no problem. My main issue is, again, that web-based solutions that are graphics heavy tend to be slow to respond, and when you're trying to manipulate it for hours on end it is a serious sanity killer.

I have looked at a few other providers but those that offer MT4 as a platform don't have as attractive pricing and fee structures.

The advanced charting package used by IG Markets is ProRealTime which is a web based charting solution which has a number of standard indicators and also the ability to code your own indicators.
Programming is similar to AFL and not hard to find a Programming Guide on the web.

 

[Boggo]

Yeah, but i thought he was just using the IB Depth of Market to determine his entries and just mirroring the position on the CFDs? He had some kind of edge going on the SPI then too....Since disappeared.

Anyway, maybe he'll comment.

I lost a heap on CFDs, the spreads were a killer. Sometimes your edge might only be a tick or two.

CanOz

I run a setup that is along those lines, ie, I have one FX broker feed to MTPredictor via MetaTrader but I actually trade through another that doesn't have Metatrader.

Yes, the spreads are one of the handicaps.

A current position below that is active based on MTPredictor live charting.

(click to expand)

 

[peter2]

Nice Boggo; you get the benefit of the MTPredictor labeling the swings for you, position sizing the trades and showing you probable price targets for each trade. Sweet.

 

[CanOz]

Nice Boggo; you get the benefit of the MTPredictor labeling the swings for you, position sizing the trades and showing you probable price targets for each trade. Sweet.

Agree, that's pretty cool.

Doesn't solve the OP issue but does also confirm that if you want a decent platform you can get FX feed into it...

 

[Boggo]

Nice Boggo; you get the benefit of the MTPredictor labeling the swings for you, position sizing the trades and showing you probable price targets for each trade. Sweet.

Getting close to getting stopped out on this attempt now though

Chart scanning is running constantly in the background and an alert triggers when a potential setup appears.
One way of trying to get the upper hand, works sometimes

(click to expand)

 

[Boggo]

Doesn't solve the OP issue but does also confirm that if you want a decent platform you can get FX feed into it...

Yes, Forex seems to be the easiest to work with for "getting" feeds to external software.
There are some variations between feeds regarding how many decimal places etc which can require some rejigging of the settings.

Main issue with this method is that because of the spreads you can have difficulty getting in and out at the software entry/exit points which can impact on the Reward/Risk ratios.

 

[Vixs]

The advanced charting package used by IG Markets is ProRealTime which is a web based charting solution which has a number of standard indicators and also the ability to code your own indicators.
Programming is similar to AFL and not hard to find a Programming Guide on the web.

Thanks rnr, I've had a look at that but IG markets say they use IT-Finance charting for their advanced charting package.

I called up and was advised the first month is free so I'm going to have a look at it and see if it suits my needs.

I like the look of that MTPredictor chart setup boggo - I usually end up marking all that stuff on my charts manually as a visual guide to the trade and for later reference.