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

we at Optimus Trading Group have developed a tool that could allow educators to provide their prospects and existing customers to demo the NinjaTrader platform.The customers will get 30 days of real live data, which will allow them to evaluate whether futures trading is for them, and/or whether the methodology the educator teaches has value in it.  The form will look like this: http://www.optimusfutures.com/ntlicense/form.html

The form could be customized and the educator could also receive the name of the person who signed on their site.   This is a great value for educators and students who are learning the futures market.

Demo Trading Tool for Trading Educators Using NinjaTrader is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

If you are looking for a NinjaTrader programmer, we highly recommend Dean Reese from Black Wave Technologies.

www.blackwavetechnologies.com

All the projects that have been conducted for us have been done with accuracy and within a very reasonable time period.

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

Trading the Emini S&P Strategies requires a methodology to trade successfully, but there are other elements and factors that traders should not overlook. These are not elements that would help you choose a direction, but if you adhere to these rules, it would help you focus on your methodology only.

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 the best 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.

Here are 2 great platforms for it:  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 day traders, and is commonly discussed amongst traders. You can find it on forums, discussions boards, etc. This is not a guarantee, but the more know platforms would be more accommodating for most traders from a feature and a stability stand point.

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. Don’t expect to negotiate unless commissions do have a tremendous effect on your trading.

6)      Study and Decide- What methodology best fits my personality? Day trader is very analytical and requires strong precision, while swing trading looks at a bigger picture as far as analysis. Also, day trading requires being “glued” to the screen a bit. Be objective about your time availability.

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

I was asked today: Why Do you offer the cheapest broker commissions on NinjaTrader.

Here is what I sad: “When you are the last guy to bring NinjaTrader…you have to make compromises”!

if you havent tried NinjaTrader yet; give it a try: BEST platform in my honest opinion.

DEMO NINJA TRADER NOW

Matt

NinjaTrader Brokers (cheapest commissions) is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

The competition on the Emini SP futures contract has become so fierce, that futures brokerages have decided to “utilize” a strategy where they are simply “killing” future (no pun intended) futures traders by proving margins that are against common sense. Now brokerages provide $500 day trading margins for the Emini S&P which is one of the sought after instruments by day 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 these brokers. You have great 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.
I think there should be regulatory rules when it comes to day trading margins. Just a thought, but that’s not my jurisdiction.

Trading with $500 Day Trading Margins for Emini S&P Futures is Idiotic! is a post from: Futures Trading Blog for Independent Self-Directed Traders and System Traders

First, I had a crazy theory in my own head. You know how they say, “Boys Love their Toys”. It’s a fact, male guys love “gizmos”, and anything that has a good visual design has a string appeal to them. Above all, it gives them some sort of comfort, or something to stare at, The question that popped in my head is, “Do some trading platform have more appeal than others” and if so, would it help them in their trading?

I am not here to suggest that a pretty platform would make someone a better trader, 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 instantly.
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.”
Ok, so maybe I am not that “crazy”.

NinjaTrader, in my honest opinion is one of the best 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 Dome 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!

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

You should carefully consider who you are using as a data feed quote vendor for NinjaTrader. This is a fair platform, which allows you to choose a data provider based on the asset class that you will choose to trade. so why data is important:
1) You need “clean” data with minimal amount of error for the right quotes and chart formations
2) Low latency execution will depend on the data provider
3) minimal malfunction of streaming data

We recommend to both beginner traders and more experienced traders to use Rithmic.
Some of their customers are very large trading houses and boutique hedge funds due to the low latency execution they provide.

Please inquire here about it: http://www.optimusfutures.com/ninja_trader_request2.html

NinjaTrader Data Feed Quotes Guide 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 superb job where the programmers and interface designers have understood with complete 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 world class platform from a functionality and stability stand point. I recommended that you try the platform via its simulator that is available for free (yes!) and play around with it until you feel comfortable to move on.

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

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