Recent content by yakatan

I can understand why selling deep OTM puts can be attractive especially if you don't mind owning the stock. You get paid to wait to buy the stock at a lower maybe even bargain price. Selling ITM puts, i get paid waiting for the price to do what? It is already past the strike price.

Sorry for asking what is a basic question but I can't seem to find the rational behind it on my internet searches. One of the first things you learn about option is the idea that, when buying an say a call option, if the underlying reaches it's option's strike price you exercise it, therefore...

I'm interested in trading the Rand because I have to deal with that currency due to business (exporting that requires repatriating GBP) I would like to know what moves the Rand. So far I have noticed two things - 1. the rand goes up when the FTSE goes up 2. the USD/Zar chart looks exactly...

Just spoke to Saxo Bank and the guy told me that they are the market maker for the forex and cfd for retail traders (small lots). I Asked if they gave the interbank rate, he said no, the price is the one you see on the screen ie their saxotrader 2 platform.

@TraderNumber, As always another great informative post. Basically the current regulation for trading if allowed in horse racing would mean that the bookies owned the horses and run the races according to their profit book - basically who comes first second etc. In fact we should explore this...

@TraderNumber, I think LCG licenses out whitelabels or their platform to spreadbetting bucketshops. I'm thinking of maybe opening small accounts with both dbfx and saxo and see what happens. Dukascopy I've heard good things about but they are not in theUK.

Thanks for that in-depth software explanation. My background was in C++ so your effort wasn't lost on me. When the internet and client application reached the threshold that allowed them to do what they are doing today they must have been rubbing the hands and licking their lips, internet +...

I'd like to say first that my response below is conjecture since I was not given a clear enough answer bu Alpari. I wanted a clear answer as to whether they are the market maker for those small accounts. The tone of their response is very similar to spreadbetting firms. That is disconcerting...

Below are emails responses from alpari. I was trying to find out if the two small accounts they offer are countered on their own books ie if they are the market maker for my trades. My emails are in black and theirs in blue. =============================================================== To...

Thanks, Yep they seem basic. Maybe a good thing as too much info clouds the mind. £8 each way isn't bad. Are their stock prices competitive?

When I went to an intro day at CMC ages ago, I clearly remember the presenter saying over and over again, use stops don't trade without stops. His presentation was slick and flowing, when I asked questions at the end, the ummimg and urhing started. Stops are essential when you are not trading...

@TraderNumber7 Are you saying that the platforms that are offered for free by brokerages have software in them that can manipulate the situation to the broker/spreadbetters advantage? Even with the best money management you cannot win against this. I have always suspected this anyway as I saw...

Excellent post really puts things into perspective

These all seem to be american. Are they DMA? Anyway clicking away I ended up at OEC who's website stays they are a subsidiary of OptionsXpress whom I'm not sure about. These sort of companies with subsidiaries left, right and centre in the same business make me suspicious.

What did TD do to you? I was thinking of just going to TD for now or Saxo Bank.