IB is a Mickey mouse platform and if you are trading with that size it is a bad idea. IB's feed lags and the execution is terrible. You need a platform designed for futures only. i would reccomend TT or TransAct for day trading e-mini's. those are both fast platforms. There are some special deals with transact where you can get the platform for free.
trasnact? you're sick 6 motnhs ago they were down 3 times a week for sometimes an hr. it was a disaster
joeyata1, Take it easy. It is just an usual promotional BS. All three letters of this guy are pretty much same.
It's true, I've been with them but it's not inexpensive if you do not have volume and you want to use X_Trader anyway. In that case Global Futures with their transactional model (w/ GHCO) is a good alternative with lower commission per side (no TT monthly, no mininum volume quotas) .
Man, How many round turns a month are you doing? 1200 cars is not insignificant on a monthly basis. You definitely should not be paying >3.90 all in. Maybe take a look at leasing a seat as Scalper21 suggested. http://www.velocityfutures.com/commisions.asp?products_id=1&exchanges_id=1&product_category_one=353 Ignore TT platform fees, but even with them and lease membership, you should save quite a bundle. TT rips you on multiple exchanges though. That policy must change. Flashfutures through Alaron and CQG trader for 3.90 rt is also workable
1200 was just eminis. in total we traded 17000 roundturns in may. i am going back and forth with the people who currently organise everything on the execution and accounting side. their argument is that with a normal discount broker you are quickly left in the rain when times get rough. are you filled or not, is the connection still valid, that kind of thing. i am a small fish, no idea what the real scalpers are paying who do real size ... well what ever real size might mean for a scalper, but u see my point. i am not so sure about IB, good critics here on the board, but i doubt it is a shop where the pros are heading ... at least i think so. this summer i want the order routing set up. so far there is has always been someone doing some part manually. was good for slippage, but it's getting too burdensome with too many trades. but if i do order routing i want to start with a shop i can stay with. do not like too many experiments on that side.
Global Futures is currently offering a special promotion for X-Trader for volume traders, the link below contains a matrix that will help reduce your cost in trading as you trade more contracts. http://www.globalfutures.com/webforms/matrix.asp It will be about 650$ for the first exchange, additional cost for more exchanges. Our day trading margins for E-minis are $500 a contract. We will also offer you the first 30 days free with X-Trader when you sign up. If you would like to try out free live simulation with the software, you can contact me directly at 877-367-3177 x 127 or email at jkhek@gfetc.com and I will be glad to provide you with a username and password.