If you want to papertrade and have an account with IB why not just go to Buttontrader.com and load their simulator. You can use it free for six months and it is one of the better ones out there. I often use it to test new things. Believe me it gives pretty realistic fills as it takes into account the size of bid/ask and no. of trades to fill your orders. I have no connection with them other than being a long time happy user.
We (IB) are looking for your suggestions as to how we can improve the paper trading system. The current system is providing executions at bid/ask up to present quote size for the marketable orders, and simulates partial fills for non-marketable orders that match or improve BBO. Please either post your suggestions in this thread, or PM me if you prefer. Thanks!
1. Get it working with FA accounts (so allocations can be tested properly) -- it's available for FA accounts but the papertrading account is not an FA account. 2. Work out the bugs with stops filling. Maybe it's already been fixed, but I've seen a bunch of posts on the IB message board about it. Other than that it's great!
kostia00 I beleive that IB tick data is a snapshot of actual trades, is that correct? If so wouldn't that result in too much limit order slippage being accounted for (limit order slippage meaning missing a trade because of a lack of volume, and ones place in the queue)? Also does the paper trade simulator use any methods to keep a track of a limit orders place in the queue?
IB data on the back end is not a snap shot. The delivery to the TWS however does not necessarily deliver every tick. This is designed so the IB prices on the screen have no lags or delays.
Thanks def I suspected that. What about the issue of an orders place in the queue, would that take up too much in terms of resources? Is an order filled the moment it becomes marketable at the moment?