l am currently in china with the restrictive internet access, I can login to my ib account but no data shows! when I logon to my TOS paper account everything shows, though seconds longer to login, the CNBC TV plays as well! why do you think such a huge discrepancy exits? this is particularly unfavorable considering ib charge an inactivity fee and real time data fee as well, amounting to ~$30 / month what other differences for options traders are there between the 2 softwares?
They are 2 completely different platforms and they get their data feeds through totally different mechanisms. It sounds like IB's data feed IP port is being blocked. If that's true then you have several options: 1) Tell China to please unblock that port (LOL) 2) Find a a proxy/VPN provider that isn't blocked to bypass the filter. Word is many Chinese are bypassing the great firewall successfully. 3) Come back to the US
It might be cheaper in commissions but you lose big time on bid/ask speads. Go with TOS or other broker who is specialized in options trading.
that is not true, Its been mentioned before that if index options are traded like SPX, OEX, RUT, the commission is 1.25 a leg at TOS for IB clients IB >95% of times is usually ~1.5 a leg, often for stocks it is >1.25 a leg when combo / spread orders, or you could leg in to save pennies but that has an even greater risk as the other leg/s could move against you, costing you $$ to save pennies in commissions. this talk of commissions when such minor differences exist wavers away from the purpose of trading, to make money. the TOS software is in a different echelon when it comes to features and ease of use for you and computer for option traders
The thing is l can login to the feature poor webtrader, and get basic data. with TWS can login with zero data IB said they will chage my data server so it gets it from hk server rather than us server this weekend, hope that makes a difference.
Bull. A friend was trading on TOS the same option positions as mine. Our fill performance was the same with limit orders between the bid/ask.