capitalspreads said:
kevin
i am sorry but i am not sure what you are describing...can you give us a call and i will try to answer your query...
simon
Simon
When making use of real time streaming data for your order decisions it is important to know when things are not working properly. At some point all companies making use of the internet experience the odd problem as it can be out of there control. i.e. exchange or the internet provider among others.
Obviously in most cases when something goes wrong you become aware quickly because the price quotes stop updating and where the site provides real time charts, then they also stop plotting correctly. In these circumstances it is evident there is a problem and you can take the necessary action.
However in the case where maybe just one section of the site is affected such as one instrument where for one reason or another the pricing is not correct. Again if it just freezes then you become aware very quickly. The problem I was trying to describe is where a problem occurs so that the instruments continue to stream price changes or plot the chart but are doing so with prices that are not correct. I have experienced a situation (not with Capitalspreads) where the price quotes were updating so everything appeared ok but they had fallen behind the real position due to an earlier break in the exchange feed. I only found out when I attempted to place an order and got a completely different quote, and this was during the session not out of hours. Had the situation of been reversed and I was attempting to close a position then I could have found myself losing much more than I would have wanted to.
Unless you have another source of data to back up the SB quotes then if a problem occurs where the site continues to plot wrong or delayed prices for an instrument/s then at present there does not appear to be any back up on your trading platform to notify customers of such a problem. On some sites I have used both Spreadbetting companies and conventional internet brokers have a facility to transmit a message to clients who are using the online trading platform, normally at the top of the screen with a short message and highlight's this message with a different colour flashing background. Also some display a constant reading of the connection time and processor load, if these start to continually produce static readings below normal levels you become aware of problems. I was just wondering if this might be something you could consider adding to your own trading platform as a way of safeguarding clients who would have chosen to close a deal if they were aware of site problems or that they did not miss a chance to close due to wrong or delayed price data.
I an not suggesting this is a regular occurrence or that it happens with Capitalspreads, just that it could at some point in the future and it would be nice to be ready for it when it happens. It would only affect people who tend to trade short term such as intraday, but it does leave you with a bit more confidence. Just a suggestion, nothing more.
Kevin
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