Hidden spread???

[Mini_Rookie]

When a broker offers a fixed price for trades, is there also a hidden spread? I opened a paper account with ForexYard, and the spread was 4 ticks on the S&P 500. 1 point seemed a little high to me.

With a broker like IB, is there a spread on top of the flat rate?

 

[gc1]

With a broker like IB, is there a spread on top of the flat rate?

If you mean U.S. exchange traded contracts like ES, NQ etc. 0.25 wide most of the regular trading hours (day time U.S.) but can widen during significant news events.

 

[Mini_Rookie]

No Sir, this site doesn't offer trading for the ES. This was the big boys' S&P 500. Suppose I should find another demo. 4 ticks sort of get in the way.......like driving a lawn mower over a speed bump. Trying to scalp a point is pointless, and their MACD is terrible on any setting. Any recommendations for a demo? Maybe Ninja 7?

 

[Rhody Trader]

With a broker like IB, is there a spread on top of the flat rate?

In every market there's a spread. It's not as visible in exchange-traded markets where the most published prices are the last traded one, but there is always a bid/ask and if you're a price taker then it will factor against you.