MC's House of Mirrors

[MC]

Look at the buy and sell on the chart...how did I get filled on a candle that didn't even touch my price for either side???
I'll tell ya how, TS data fcuked up and my chart had wrong data!


Here is a chart after reboot of the platform. So the buy order was touched but not the sell order? I called them to be sure I was flat and he said don't trade or go by charts...time and sales shows orders at my stop level.

So the premiere chart vendor says to not use their charts.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable at all, a platform that isn't free needs to be accurate IMO. Maybe I didn't have slippage all those times and perhaps they were chart issues?

I can tell you who NOT to use.
I'm looking heavily at OEC, anybody with experiences with them live have input?

Thanks

[MC]

http://www.trousermusket.com/video/flash.html

Ok...here's a video clip of what I've been dealing with on TS the whole time. Odd issues like that a few times a day as well as the below posted chart/data errors. The flick over was me moving to a RSI chart instead of ADX at about the moment the order was taken out. Then you see they then put it back in and lagged for a few seconds further before finally really filling. I counted 8 seconds which on a serverside order isn't right at all. It was stop market so I expect some slippage but not that bad and the benefit is it should be an instant fill.

Some may think the flicker is me hacking the vid or something, all I can say is I have nothing to gain by doing that and I have a track record of being overly honest. I've posted charts that were downright embarrassing so I think my credibility shouldn't be in question. Not that I care about E-rep that much but it's nice to be backed by your peers.

After looking around I think I'll be moving to IB and use their DOM's entry and then use Ninja Trader for the charting. I am open to suggestions as well.

[buysell84]

So the premiere chart vendor says to not use their charts.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable at all, a platform that isn't free needs to be accurate IMO. Maybe I didn't have slippage all those times and perhaps they were chart issues?

I can tell you who NOT to use.
I'm looking heavily at OEC, anybody with experiences with them live have input?


MC,

I am spending this Sunday morning browsing the trading websites searching for feedback and reviews on Tradestation because I want to commit to a long term platform. I was leaning toward TS because so many traders use and recommend it. I believe many of the members here a TL including the moderator are TS platform users. The learning curve on any platform is considerable so I want my next one to be the last one. Have you spoken any further to TS tech support? Was this a data issue or a platform version issue? You are using the TS most recent update correct (8.3 *). I am going to hold off on my decision until I know more about this.

Chas

[MC]

	Quote:	buysell84
	So the premiere chart vendor says to not use their charts. I don't think I'm being unreasonable at all, a platform that isn't free needs to be accurate IMO. Maybe I didn't have slippage all those times and perhaps they were chart issues? I can tell you who NOT to use. I'm looking heavily at OEC, anybody with experiences with them live have input? MC, I am spending this Sunday morning browsing the trading websites searching for feedback and reviews on Tradestation because I want to commit to a long term platform. I was leaning toward TS because so many traders use and recommend it. I believe many of the members here a TL including the moderator are TS platform users. The learning curve on any platform is considerable so I want my next one to be the last one. Have you spoken any further to TS tech support? Was this a data issue or a platform version issue? You are using the TS most recent update correct (8.3 *). I am going to hold off on my decision until I know more about this. Chas

I'm going to give their support one more try. I love the platform capabilities and that's the sole reason I'm even trying. I believe their commish is something else I need to address because it seems they are charging me more than the advertised price despite telling me I am getting the correct price.

I am running 8.3 with a very capable computer and bandwidth. See here's where I get angry, they hold orders serverside so even if I had sub standard stuff on my side the execution side shouldn't matter. I had someone suggest that their Matrix window was a resource hog and it was slowing down my order execution. I fail to see how that could be knowing TS servers are holding the order. And 8 seconds for a stop market order...cmon now that's just unreasonable.

Many use Infinity AT as a broker to compliment TS charting. I may look in that direction down the road as well.

By all means let me know what you come up with in your search as well.

Thanks

[buysell84]

MC,

I do not see how you can be having a problem with TS commissions??? This is what really throws another red flag up for me. How can their customer support be so out of step with their enormous marketshare?

Now, you are trading YM correct? Their TSW clearly states that if you are doing 300 or less contracts it is $2.13. They also publish what their commissions are if you trade higher volume.

I currently trade YM with IB and their bundled commission is also $2.13. This was one of the reasons that I had them in the + column in my punch list. I have no intention of closing my IB account but at least I figured that I would be getting the same commission when I do my 10 RT's each month so I can get the platform for free. I also checked with Infinity Futures last week (in fact went to their offices since I live in Chicago) and they will match the IB and TS commissions. The guys at Infinity are ex-prop traders so they have a different mindset then all the big boys. The other thing is their day margin is fantastic at $500 per contract. They push Sierra as the chart platform and so it is also one of the platforms on my list.

Chas

[MC]

	Quote:	buysell84
	MC, I do not see how you can be having a problem with TS commissions??? This is what really throws another red flag up for me. How can their customer support be so out of step with their enormous marketshare? Now, you are trading YM correct? Their TSW clearly states that if you are doing 300 or less contracts it is $2.13. They also publish what their commissions are if you trade higher volume. I currently trade YM with IB and their bundled commission is also $2.13. This was one of the reasons that I had them in the + column in my punch list. I have no intention of closing my IB account but at least I figured that I would be getting the same commission when I do my 10 RT's each month so I can get the platform for free. I also checked with Infinity Futures last week (in fact went to their offices since I live in Chicago) and they will match the IB and TS commissions. The guys at Infinity are ex-prop traders so they have a different mindset then all the big boys. The other thing is their day margin is fantastic at $500 per contract. They push Sierra as the chart platform and so it is also one of the platforms on my list. Chas

I know some of the unaccounted $ was prorated platform fees that they didn't tell me about up front. They aren't very good at communicating charges etc...

I just looked up my history. 43 trades with a total of $105.66 commish.
So $2.46 per turn, per contract. Not way off but still I don't like hidden fees and BS published prices.

Looking back at the execution list slippage seems to be not as bad as their charting indicated. I wonder what the issue with the charting speed has been. And my data error wasn't pleasant but it was the first time that happened. I was more upset at the persons reaction to me calling and telling me not to trade off charts. I'm going to have to call them and see what they can do for me again.

I'd love to see a basic statement with data fees and less jibberish so I can understand the charges.

[MC]

This was no TS data error, I came back from gettin my food and nearly crapped.
Insane $hit.

[Hlm]

"1 hour and 40 minutes of BLOOD!" ...haha, I love it.

It was an interesting move to trade/watch. The market seemed to forget about its second "wave". Shows another example as to why you should keep your assumptions and bias minimal and listen to what the market is saying.

[Sparrow]

	Quote:	mcichocki_
	For you US long term investors...do you have concern over the long term value of funds since they are based on USD which is tanking on inflation? I find myself wondering what would come of all our US savings and things that are valued in USD should the USD collapse. I'd like to think they can't just evaporate but on paper they are worth less and less each day. GULP! That's a monthly chart, It's being pinched off lower and lower so a pop is bound to happen at some point in the somewhat near future. I don't think it's going to be anything major, but maybe enough to lower oil and metals perhaps. Might be a good time to buy some gold, gold stocks or something of the sort. I'm wondering if I should cash out of USD vehicles and put my money in something more globally supported like gold? Input, thoughts?

One thing you could do is hedging yourself with a dollar index futures contract. Who knows though if the dollar will really collapse, in that case there's a problem not only for the US.

If that would really happen gold/precious metals/commodities would be a pretty good investment, dunno if paper gold would do it though.

Another thing I got from CNN actually is buying foreign stocks/bonds, if you choose the right stocks/bonds, you'll earn some more money even if the dollar doesn't tank or regains some strength.

Silver/gold was all the rage during the late 70's, early 80's but then came the commodities bear market and gold bottomed for a long long long time.

Not an easy one, maybe I'll come up with something once I have something to protect .
I don't believe in the worst case scenario, I'm thinking its hype.

[MC]

	Quote:	Hlm
	"1 hour and 40 minutes of BLOOD!" ...haha, I love it. It was an interesting move to trade/watch. The market seemed to forget about its second "wave". Shows another example as to why you should keep your assumptions and bias minimal and listen to what the market is saying.

Yeah no doubt, I almost grabbed a short as the momo started but it wasn't a signal and I opted to try and stay on course of the plan. Then as I saw it didn't bother to come up for air I was like whooops.

Then I got a divergence signal and despite saying 2 trades a day I took a 3rd and ended up breaking even on the day on the loss. I'm ok with a scratch though cause I'm getting more comfortable with letting the trade do it's thing and I'll keep working till I nail my discipline.

No bias other than in the moment for me either, I know daytrading is the hardest thing to do till you dial it in and then IMO it's probably the safest way to trade.

I'm going to try and get in the chat tomorrow, It was nuts at work lately so I've had to skip out.

Side note, in regards to my Tradestation "slippage" I looked and got a perfect fill at market today despite the Matrix window showing it bobbled the order so I'm thinking its the DOM style order window having issues. I might have blamed TS for something that is a visual issue but not a real problem fill wise.