Robert, you mean, of course, bid / ask "depth" or "size", rather than "volume." Yes, that is very good to see. With now 5 top-tier global banks providing liquidity to the IDEALPro platform, the next logical, most welcome step for IB would be to raise, once again, those per-trade size limits to more competitive levels.
Yep of course (we can only dream of real volume like that). The Max levels are not really bothering me. A 5mln trade needs a $100.000 Margin with 50:1 (not many are playing with that). And you can easily enter 2 or more trades of 5mln at the same moment. With more than 20mln at Bid/Ask it will execute immediately. (PS: ButtonTrader will have a special feature for this very soon . )
how come when globex opened up sunday night in EST ( time zone approx 6 pm ) the IDEALFXPRO spreads for USD / EUR were 4-5 pips wide ? I guess one could have entered their orders inside the spread at that time to become the NBBO and wait to be executed against
I just looked and it was wobbling between 2 and 3. Remember that the actual spread, that we all see, is a "displacement" between the MarketMakers, which are quoting on IDEALPRO. This model gives very narrow spreads to us when the MMs have a "different-view" of the actual spot-price. Say DBK quotes with a 3 pips spread and UBS with a 4 pips spread, then at times that DBK sees the market differently than UBS it can and will give us 1 pip spread (the Ask from UBS and the Bid from DBK). But at days (or seconds) when they spot the market at the same level we get the spread of the narrowest MM (or a Limit-Order of one of the IB-clients). So the more MMs are joining this model and the more "displacements" they have, the better spreads it will show.
I have a quick question about IB commission rates. I have been doing a bit of idealpro trading lately and made my first trade in the pound this afternoon. I was wondering how the commission rates work exactly. With USD denominated pair it is easy to figure out $2.50 per side mean I need a three pip move top make a profit. With pound denominated trade is my commission simply US$2.50 converted into pounds(2.50x0.8503=2.12575 pound and current rates). Or is there a standard rate of say 2 pounds per trade? Thanks for the clarification.
It wasn't set-up originally. If you would trade it then PM me with details. We could add it if you would trade it. zf_trader - Commission is charged in the trading currency. Check your statement and it will be clear.
Cad-Yen is a big carry trade and it moves right with oil. I do not know what else to tell you about it? I would trade it with you guys if the spreads are decent. Let everyone else sound off on it. I don't know what kind of details you would want?? All your market makers---already make a market on the Cad-Yen on their other platforms.