Recent content by jamesdean217

Thanks for you reply local - i found your information to be incredibly insightful. Just have a couple more questions. Where do we find information on open interest? Also, is there any resource which shows what the net longs/shorts? I'm just curious because it seems the spread is continuing to...

Comfortably broke -1.00 and seems to want to head towards -0.80. Any ideas why? Since the front month contract is expiring, would this add to its behaviour?

"we have come off almost 20%, so careful where you short because some additional backwardation in the curve would be understandable" Excuse my ignorance - but when you mention backwardation in the curve, are you referring to a tightening of the n/q spread or backwardation between the two...

Hi all, I am very new to calendar spread trading crude oil and this thread is great! I also shorted july and went long on august. (i'm assuming that's what the OP means when he says short the front). It's not looking too good. Anyone have any ideas on why this is happening?

Thanks for the replies. So an additional $2250 in maintenance margin is not required in liquid cash in your account to open a position with IB? LOL yeah, I was a bit confused by the example on the IB site referring to initial/maintenance margins. It suggests you need to maintain the...

Intraday. Although on some rare occasions I will also look at spreads against some of the Asia-Pac indices as well, so this would include holding lots "overnight" (or until asia opens).

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I definately plan to do my due-diligence before moving forward, but I'm hoping to see what the industry standard is. This way I can narrow my list of potential brokers and ask the appropriate questions to those that fit my criteria. Does anyone have...

Hi all, Just a quick beginners question RE: futures margins. How is initial and maintenance margins used against your account. Say for a ES contract with IB. (intraday = 2813 and maintenance = 2250). If I had US$5000 in an account, would that mean I would not be able to open a position...