Pretty much all my ETFs up today again

Started looking at Options trading, but only Simulated / Paper Trading so far (via Interactive Brokers)

I, will enter at $85 too , again depends on overall market sentiment amid this earning season

Already started, spark up like GPRO

That was meant to be a joke at inappropriate timeframe, turned out to be disrespectful when I read the post again. You are right we should pray for the victims' families and relatives. Heartbreaking especially when you saw the liveleaking pictures.

Regarding IB, 9 out of 10 from my trading buddies completely ignore it after several weeks/months using it. Would recommend optionsXpress (a.k.a. OX) for those who are interested in trading options. (Not that I get commision, just base on experience of using several trading platforms for options)

What's wrong with IB? How do OX commissions compare to IB for options? I do find IB interface not to be too user friendly - takes a while to get used to it.

I use TDAM for my general ETF investments - opened IB for the non-commission free ETFs as they had cheaper rates.

I may never end up actually doing any trading in options - I mostly buy and hold for the long term, but could be interesting down the road

Can't comment too much about IB since I am not using it. However, I have a few preferences when choosing the right platform for myself:
1) How fast does the wire transfer take? (both way)
2) How reliable is the data, eg: 1min/5min/15min timeframe compare to other trading platform? (I tend to have bad ticks happened every now and then when traded via TOS)
3) How helpful is the live support?
4) How fast can the trade be executed?

OX pass all three with flying colours undoubtedly, while the last preference still belongs to TOS. However there is a workaround for OX to execute faster trade, in which won't defer any order excessively from expected entry/exit price. (It's known as walk-limit entry under OX's trade execution)

This post has been edited by Brother J: Jul 19 2014, 12:07 AM

Start learning with TD but considered IB before but after trying out their platform, decided to stay with TD.

IB is good for low commission and they support third party API. Other than that I guess IB is behind in other features. Their chart is not live, their trading platform required some time to get used to it coz not vy user friendly. So if anyone prefer to use third party chart and software, IB is the choice.

So depends on personal preference when it come to broker and platform.

I think IB can be live, but you need to pay a subscription fee for live feeds I believe. If you subscribe and there's no trades you need to pay an inactivity fee for those feeds.

Thinkorswim is part of TDAM so I have access to that, not really in favour of opening another broker account. I like TDAM interface though. Transfers to both IB and TDAM are fast for me, from Maybank FCA both arrived same day (3 times to TDAM, once to IB)

Not tried withdrawals from either though - not planning to withdraw for quite some time anyway.

This post has been edited by rjb123: Jul 19 2014, 01:50 AM

Adding more shorts on SPY, holding till next week

short? this bull is scary. good luck!

ya wor, the bull so strong u short. we missing any signals here?

Ya need to subscribe for their live data. Active traders will have no prob getting the waive. ya, i agree that TD interface is very user friendly

Holding my big bolas till next week

SPY needs to close below 198.10 for dooms effect between 4th week of July and 1st week of August

looking forward to your good news

wishing everyone a good weekend!

This post has been edited by morning06: Jul 19 2014, 04:01 AM

President Obama expected to deliver an update on Ukraine at 10:50am ET

Sitting pretty now already no?

Will depend what words coming out from Obama's speech which has been delayed for more than 22mins, at the mean time just enjoying the british parliment's debate on Russia sanctions and Israeli's issue.

cant find Obama's speech....but SPY turning back up....

CNBC used to post the link on top of the page whenever it's 10-15minutes prior to the speech. It will be taken down once the speech is over though. Obama did give a short speech and expressing his small bolas when dealing with Putin . Conversely the UK's PM is more aggressive when it comes to debating over the issue on MH and Israeli's crisis. Therefore market tanked amid the British parliment's debate before Obama's speech. SPY immediately bounced off the low when Obama mentioned about "Putin still have time to fix this". This hitam cost me a loss of $8.6k. ToT

However, it's always better than lossing $20k when the market opened lol.



This post has been edited by Brother J: Jul 21 2014, 11:52 PM

Kinda hate this range trading dynamics, any negative headlines can screw the bullishness, vice versa.

Things should get interesting when the European council meet up at Brussel tomorrow. It seems that Britain the acting knight will be the main speaker to gather more votes from its' european counterparts in impossing more sanctions on Russia.

hahaha range trading are favorites for option sellers....
well can't win them all....as long win more than loose :-D

thanks for the heads up ... time to watch RSX again...