Today I discovered that IB's JTWS software doesnt allow me to place odd lot orders on QQQ, SPY and DIA using the ISLD exchange. I understand that I cannot place opening odd lot orders on NYSE, but it SHOULD BE ALLOWED on ISLD ECN. The same restriction applies to NYSE stocks traded on ISLD ECN. Is this a new unannounced policy from IB ? Or maybe IB programmers forgot this detail when they programmed the restrictions ? ? Would like an explanation hsanson "There is no perfect trading system, but there are good ones that can make you rich"
Bottom of this page, its been there for a long while. With the restriction from some exchanges it looks like they want to keep it uniform for better or worse. http://www.interactivebrokers.com/html/retailAccount/products.html **BBH, HHH, QQQ, and SPY orders must be 100 shares or more. (No odd lot orders) Sorry, maybe def can put in a word or email management at ibmgmt@interactivebrokers.com
ML Holder's trade in round lots of 100 shares only: Contract Specifications Biotech HOLDRSSM HOLding Company Depository ReceiptS - BBH Description of Product The Biotech HOLDRSSM Trust will issue Depositary Receipts called Biotech HOLDRS SM representing an undivided beneficial ownership in the common stock of a group of specified companies that are involved in various segments of the Biotechnology Industry. The Bank of New York is the trustee. Biotech HOLDRS may be acquired, held or transferred in a round-lot amount of 100 Biotech HOLDRS or round-lot multiples. Biotech HOLDRS are separate from the underlying deposited common stocks that are represented by the Biotech HOLDRS. The Biotech HOLDRS Trust is not a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. For more info on Holders : http://www.amex.com/structuredeq/sp_holdrs.stm and http://www.holders.com If you want to trade odd lots of sector stocks, use iShares http://www.ishares.com http://www.amex.com/indexshares/index_shares_sector.stm
From this, it looks like the QQQ trades in a minimum size of 1 share. Trust Details Expense Ratio: 0.18% Short Selling Allowed: Yes, uptick exempt Ticker Symbol: QQQ Options Traded: Yes, American Style Trading Increment: $0.01 Trustee: Bank of New York Min Trade Size: 1 Share Sponsor: Nasdaq Investment Products Services Inc. Marginable: Yes Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc Found this on the nasdaq site http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/indexshares.asp?symbol=QQQ -v
QQQs are not ML holders, they're ETFs. QQQ trades in a minimum size of 1 share on its primary market - AMEX. ( http://www.amex.com/asp/indexshares.asp?symbol=QQQ ) QQQs are NOT listed on NYSE, they just trade there: NYSE began QQQ trading on the basis of UNLISTED trading privillesges.http://www.nyse.com/press/NT000470D2.html ECNs also do NOT have odd lot restriction for QQQs and other ETFs. There's no rational reason for IB to continue prohibiting odd lot trading on ECNs for ALL NYSE stocks. IB should allow odd lot trading on ECNs. This should be a simple software fix IMHO. Fohat
It has been over a year since I have traded any of the QQQ. As I remeber, Amex required that all NON-enc trades had to be full lots (100), but I am always open for enlightenment. As for the island book anything goes as usual.
I remember I successfully daytraded 50 shares of QQQ once on ISLD using IB a few months ago. But that's the only time I tried; I have never traded QQQ odd lots since then. In fact, I have scaled out of daytrading into swing trading. Stockoptionist
it was possible to trade with less than 100 shares with ISLAND SPY or QQQ or any ETF with IB. This changed recently. I guess for uniformity [on NYSE and AMEX you must not establish a position from IB with less than 100 shares. in case of partial fills -ie Island leaves you with 20 shares- you CAN close the position with market order to AMEX, NYSE or any other]. The restriction is only in establishing the position. the lot size of SPY or QQQ is indeed 1 share, so IB's new restriction is artificial. Even last month it was possible to play with SPY with less than 100 shares with Island on IB. neo
What happens if you get a partial (odd lot) execution on Island? Does the odd lot prohibition mean you cannot get the rest of your order filled or exit your partial position?