[CANADA] Low Latency, Low Commissions, Direct Access via API

[qlai]

True, but you don’t really need to know exact latency, just to know that your data is “real-time enough” for your particular strategy.

 

[nooby_mcnoob]

Yes. Currently I get data through IB so I bundled data and broker together as one in my mind, but of course they can be split up.

If you are using reqMktData that's snapshot-like data, so I assume you're using reqTickByTickData

 

[trend2009]

Yes, that's decent. <250 ms would be better, though. Basically, the faster, the more opportunities I have. The mean daily time an opportunity persists ranges from 3 ms to 940 ms based on the data I have. I can't catch the 3 ms with IB but can easily catch the 940 ms.

The main issue is the commissions. Thanks for pointing out the $0.0075/share is for fixed fee. I owe you one!

Suggestions of brokers that are faster and/or cheaper than IB on directed orders are still welcome, but if tiered commissions at IB are low enough I can start running the strategy and see what percent of the opportunities I can catch.

sadly i have to tell you that if you use direct api order for market access, you will be charged for 0.0075/share and 1 minimum per order. Tiered pricing does not work for direct api access

 

[ValeryN]

Fellow systematic trader in Canada here, using IB.

Every year or so I do followup research on this and answer remains the same - no alternatives in Canada for what you're looking for.

Alpaca been doing beta trial but I'm not sure they support DIRECT routing. More of a 0 commissions with API thing, and as far as I know, they are not accepting new users into beta.

If you're big enough it might worth to incorporate in US and open Corporate brokerage account. It adds a lot of legal/cost/tax/fx complexity though.

Also, like others said - if you're worried about sub 250ms precision then IB data won't be good for you. They do up to 4 snapshots per second, not real time. IQFeed is the next alternative cost/quality wise. Nanex Core if you go hardcore and need real-time for whole market. IQFeed is 500 tickets.

Val

 

[Statistical Trader]

But IB data latency is good enough for you? What good is fast execution if your signals are off delayed data?

You're right. What I meant was I didn't mention needing a faster data feed because in my mind that's implied as necessary. I'm looking for a broker that can execute faster AND data to match (and in my mind, the data will probably come from the same broker, but you're right to point out that they can be split up.) I was NOT saying that I wanted a faster broker but would stay with IB's data feed!

 

[Statistical Trader]

sadly i have to tell you that if you use direct api order for market access, you will be charged for 0.0075/share and 1 minimum per order. Tiered pricing does not work for direct api access

I "liked" this but obviously I don't "like" it!

Thanks for the info. That is what I originally thought.

 

[Statistical Trader]

Fellow systematic trader in Canada here, using IB.

Every year or so I do followup research on this and answer remains the same - no alternatives in Canada for what you're looking for.

Alpaca been doing beta trial but I'm not sure they support DIRECT routing. More of a 0 commissions with API thing, and as far as I know, they are not accepting new users into beta.

If you're big enough it might worth to incorporate in US and open Corporate brokerage account. It adds a lot of legal/cost/tax/fx complexity though.

Also, like others said - if you're worried about sub 250ms precision then IB data won't be good for you. They do up to 4 snapshots per second, not real time. IQFeed is the next alternative cost/quality wise. Nanex Core if you go hardcore and need real-time for whole market. IQFeed is 500 tickets.

Val

Thank you for that information - very much appreciated.

For what it's worth, I'm new to this time frame. My other models span from 1 sec to 1 month in frequency.

I was also musing over the possibility of incorporating in the US. I'm not at that point yet, though.

On another topic, it seems we live close to each other! Enjoy that sunshine this afternoon while you can!

 

[daytrader_Canada]

Pretty much what the title says. I'm looking for a broker that accepts CANADIAN residents as clients that allows direct market access routing with low latency and low commissions.

By way of comparison, IB (my main broker) is not good enough for this specific strategy. Execution isn't always fast enough and direct access routing is too expensive at $0.0075 / share. (Note that commissions on directed trades are higher than "smart" routed trades.)

I looked at Lightspeed and thought they looked promising ($0.0045 / share on direct routing) until I was told they won't open accounts for Canadian residents.

Low commissions per trade (not per share) could also be acceptable, although I can't control how much volume I can do on any given trade because it depends what the market shows me.

Any suggestions? Must meet all three criteria simultaneously (latency, commissions, direct routing via API) or it won't work for this strategy.

Happy trading!

The current prop that i trade with does indeed give me good commission rates considering my large volume with all ECN routing and latency stuff. But it is a discretionary trading platform which works for old school like me but not sure it would be what you are looking for

 

[Statistical Trader]

Thanks for sharing. If by discretionary trading platform you mean you manually submit orders (no option for API to connect to algorithm) then you're right that it wouldn't meet my needs. I'm curious what kind of commissions you get on direct routed orders, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

 

[daytrader_Canada]

Thanks for sharing. If by discretionary trading platform you mean you manually submit orders (no option for API to connect to algorithm) then you're right that it wouldn't meet my needs. I'm curious what kind of commissions you get on direct routed orders, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

they gave me a tiered structure based on volume, since I do more than a million shares I pay abt 0.00325/share plus get the ECN rebates so makes it abt 0.0025/share on avg