Also helpful: If using IB, put any month of HSI into TWS. Right click on "HSI", go to Contract Info and go to Details. This provides last day trading and expiration info.
If using Sierra set the volume tick chart to 50 and you will have a much clearer view of what is going on. Alternatively just a tick chart. Time based charts leave you flying blind during these moves.
I'm curious about something... I've got the Jan, Feb and Mar HSI contracts on my screen... Why is it that the inside bid / ask size on all three contracts are almost always the same ? Meaning.. for instance.. when the bid is lifted a bit the bid sizes on all three contracts will be the same on the new bid price? Same with the ask sizes on all three contracts... Is that arbs... or is the market essentially run by a central computer? Another question... IB lists the 'multiplier' as 50.. is that 50 USD or 50 HKD? Third, and final, question... to any Amibroker users... what is the 'symbol' for the HSI futures, using the IB plug-in... I tried a bunch of stuff.. i.e. HSIF5-HKFE-FUT.. but I can't get AB to accept the 'feed'... Thanks for any responses..
I'll answer the first two. 1. there is a future roll market. you can get it by using the combo window of buying the further out month. ie. buy feb/ sell jan. ) The exchange takes this roll market and creates prices for the further out months if they would be better than the posted markets. 2. it is in HKD. Since you are asking this question, I strongly advise you to read the market specifications on the exchange web site (we (IB) provide a link from our web site).
Thanks, def... In regards to #2... the link was down the other night... I'll try again now. Oh, and just to confirm.. any and all currency translations are done after the fact, right? In other words.. my account is debited or credited HKD which is then my responsibility to repatriate back to USD lest I desire to pay/collect HKD rates on cash balances.. ? Thanks again..
Looks like an OOPs buy signal set off some stops. I prefer to swingtrade this product without intraday stops to avoid these nasty spikes. But it does kind of give me an idea for some strategies of front running these key points and liquidate into them.
LaSalle, You are correct about the cash. You will collect a positive or negative balance as you trade and then use currency conversion to convert HKD back to your standard currency. Aren't the HKD numbers exciting
Kiwi, Thanks! Exciting..? Nah! In the event I attempt to trade this HSI beast... I'm already wondering if I should offset any currency risk the moment I get a fill. I've still got a full plate of research to do before I even consider dabbling in this market.. for all I know, the HKD could be pegged to the USD (tho I'm rather sure it isn't).