Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Kinetick for NinjaTrader-Streaming Real Time Quotes and Historical Market Data is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

This is your page updates for NinjaTrader 7.0 (powered by rithmic)
You could look in the mean time at the video showing the enchantments for NinjaTrader 7.0
http://bit.ly/ak5kai

if you want to demo the NinjaTrader 7.0 please submit your name at: http://bit.ly/cMIaZB

Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

NinjaTrader 7.0 (seven) Download, Demo and Review is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

There are things that should be important to all traders, such as: Stability of platforms, execution time, and stable data feed, and above all good support from the tech support desk.  But, it is also important that you choose a platform that meets your needs as a trader: day, swing or long term trader.

Also, choose an interface that you feel comfortable with and above all meets your trader’s needs and experience. Don’t just go with one that is considered popular…go with the one that meets your needs. Having more bells and whistles does not mean “better trader” or “profitable trading”….go slow…you can always switch from one to another.

The following are platforms that we use at Optimus Trading Group, and we have listed them so you can choose the ones that are appropriate for you.  There are plenty more platforms out there, but we feel that within these you would be able to find what you are looking for.

The following link shows a complete charts review of Futures Trading Platforms

There is a substantial risk of loss in futures trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Futures Trading Platforms Comparison is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

1) If you are using an analytic charting and trading tool and pay subscription for it, you might not need a platform that requires charting.  Why get futures and commodities charting twice and get charged for it?

There are many platforms that are free that don’t require fees at all.

Try Rithmic R-Trader if you are an Emini SP trader and require fast execution. Keep in mind that the exchange charges trading technology companies for the use of quotes if it’s implemented on charts.

2)      Ask “how much is a phone execution?”  There are a number of things that can happen when you trade online, you might not be by the computer, your internet might be down or the platform might be down.  Some brokers take advantage of situation like this when you have to call in. This is how they make up for the “discount” rates they offer. Ask what the call in fee is.

3) Commissions – Ask a broker specifically which platform has the cheapest commissions. Ask for a selection and decide which one is the best on considering your trading preferences.

4) Feed – Ask what is the feed and the speed of the platform. If the platform is slow, your cost would be the slippage that you pay on each transaction or unfilled orders.  Obviously, you also want to be sure you have good connectivity on your end.

THERE IS A RISK OF LOSS IN FUTURES TRADING. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

How to Save on your Futures Trading? is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

1)      Decide which time of the day you want to trade. Some traders trade during the first one hour or two of the early session. Some feel that gives them a better  chance as oppose to day trading the whole entire day.  In the early morning sessions you will find there is more liquidity due to institutional flow, as oppose to the more retail flow that could dominate in the afternoon hours.

2)      Price Feed-here is what you are looking for when it comes from the exchange: unfiltered data from the exchange.

(You can consider :  NinjaTrader and R-Trader Rithmic )

3)      Back up broker – platforms will go down. It’s not “if”, but “when”. It’s technology, and it’s never perfect. You will need to know a broker, and or a trade desk person who can help you immediately help you. The “down” time can be because your net connection went down, or the data is down, it’s irrelevant. But, being ready and establishing a rapport with someone who can immediately tell you where you stand, is priceless.

4)      Stability – Go with a platform that is commonly used by traders, and is commonly discussed amongst traders. Always look for feed back about reliablity and stability. Some platforms require more memory to operate, so you need to use those that are compatible with your computer.

5)      Be conscious of commissions- Single dollars might not seem a lot, but it adds up pretty quickly and can have a tremendous effect on your trading results. Save! Save! Save!

Commissions should be competitive, but your level of service, frequency of trading should all be all taken into consideration. Expect to negotiate commissions that do have a tremendous effect on your trading.

6)      Study and Decide- Day trader is very analytical and requires strong precision. Also, day trading requires being “glued” to the screen a bit. Be objective about your time availability and always use ONLY Risk Capital.

THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS IN FUTURES TRADING AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

E-mini Day Trading Strategies – What Do Traders Overlook? is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

Essentially, a trader with $5K, could trade up to 10 contracts.
Let’s do the math: if a trader loses more than 5 full points ($50 per point), its:
5 pointsX10 Contracts x $50 a point = $2,500 (50% of $5,000)
How long does a customer last with this mentality of trading? A week?a month?
Does a trader have a chance to withstand drawdowns in his/her account?

New traders, always look at day trading from the reward side. Trade more contracts; go for less points, etc.
But, brokers should warn new comers, what day trading is all about, and how difficult it is, and how carefully they should proceed. It’s called fiduciary duty!

Traders, STOP being attracted to low margins because futures are leveraged as is. You have good trading platfroms in the market place, good commissions rates, and above all you have the chance to develop your skills as a trader without being “pushed”.
Everything starts from common sense. Do what is right for your capital, not your greed factor.
THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS IN FUTURES TRADING. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

Trading with $500 Day Trading Margins for Emini S&P Futures is NOT Recommended is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

I am not here to suggest that a pretty platform would make someone a better trader nor do I want to decrease the risk involved in trading futures that are higly leveraged, but I do suggest that a platform with a better visual appeal would enable to make someone trading decision easier, and take out some hesitation because the visual design would allow to make a clear reference to a given methodology while having the ability to execute.
This is a theory I had until I ran into a book that fascinated me called “The Three Skills of Top Trading” by Hank Pruden. Excellent book!

In the book there is a reference to a “Design” of a system, any mechanical reference I assume to an interface design. The book refers to Daniel H. Pink’s analysis of left-brain right-trading analysis: “…the new age calls for systems that are not only functional but also arresting, even beautiful. In technical analysis and trading, designing your systems to transcend function and engage you will lead to personal rewards both emotional and financial.”

NinjaTrader, in my honest opinion is one of the better  interface designs for a self trader.
It has a logic that unfolds as you open up the platform.
• First, it starts as a “plain vanilla” platform that allows you to choose connections, then
• Allows you to choose how you want to see the quotes: Depth of Markets or Charts
• From the Dom it allows you to automate your trading with multiple contracts
And so both, the unfolding is very logical and once you have a few functionalists open, you are left with a cool layout of a platform.
This allows for better trading experience, and a platform which is easy to get its logic…once you “play” with your new “toy”.

Test NinjaTrader Now!

past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors.

NinjaTrader-A Visual Design of Functionality and Engagement is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

Click on the logo above to receive NinjaTrader powered by Rithmic

One of the biggest challenges in visual design and architecture is to create a simple yet functional infrastructure. Same applies to trading platforms. The challenge is to create a functional and visual design that would not only be easy to navigate, but also appeal in its look and finally would be easy to execute on.

Additionally, any given software must also encompass features that would allow a trader to have full control of trading but automating certain variables such as profits targets, stop losses, scaling out of trades, etc. NinjaTrader has done a quality job in our opinion where the programmers and interface designers have understood with  comprehension the needs of the traders.
Some of the features that NinjaTrader offers:

1) Advance Trade Management (ATM) – this allows a trader to pre program the exits as they relate to stops and profit targets. Also, a trader could exit multiple positions at different price levels if reached.
2) Automated Trading – you can program NinjaTrader to execute your own methodology in their own script or you can connect to other automated services for execution.
3) Trading from the charts- first you can have a number of overlay studies on the chart, a display of your entries on the charts, a display of your automated entries and exists, a sound bite associated with your trade, etc.
4) Prebuilt indicator Scan-NinjaTrader has access to more than 100 indicators that can scan the market for you. You can use one or all for your entry or exit methodology.
5) 3rd party indicators-NinjaTrader has a library of educators who share their own methodology that could be directly implemented into the platform.
6) Multiple data streams- you can choose multiple data feeds based on your preference of feed and the instrument traded.
7) Playback functionality- you can record an entire days action play it back while you apply your methodology. This is a perfect tool for those who want to test their method.
Above all, NinjaTrader is a good platform from a functionality and stability stand point. I recommended that you try the platform via its simulator that is available for free and play around with it until you feel comfortable.

To receive a free account demo with live prices and historical prices please go here: http://www.optimusfutures.com/ninja_trader_request.html

THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS IN FUTURES TRADING. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. YOU CAN LOSE MORE THAN YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT.STOP LOSS ORDERS MAY NOT LIMIT YOUR LOSSES TO THE AMOUNT INTENDED. CERTAIN MARKET CONDITIONS MAY GET DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE SUCH ORDERS. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A RISK OF LOSS IN FUTURES TRADING

NinjaTrader Platform Software Review and Download is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders