Creating and editing of instruments
A large amount of instruments are already mapped in AgenaTrader.
If a certain instrument does not exist in the Instrument Escort then you can add it manually.
To add a new instrument, select an instrument of the same type (stock, Future, etc.).
Usually it is sufficient to:
- enter the symbol, name of the instrument or its ISIN number.
- select the exchange:
- the correct exchange input is highly important in order to access the appropriate trading hours (Marketplace Escort and tab Trading hours) and organize charts.
- Adjust the def. ordersize in the Configuration Escort. Any value higher than 0 replaces the default setting for the order size.
- Adjust the mappings for a new instrument using mapped symbol (see examples in the forum below) (available in german only).
Additional fields are:
- Instrument type: allows you to define a new instrument as one of the following types:
- Currency: pertains to the currency in which the instrument is traded. It is necessary to perform currency conversions in AgenaTrader for the correct P&L display.
- Margin (security %): must be entered for leveraged products, and represents the general margin for the instrument. This value may vary depending on the broker. If this is the case, the margin must be entered in broker-specific list (in the Instrument Escort window within the Details tab).
- Tick size and point value are necessary for various calculations such as: stop price, P&L calculation etc.
- If the main sector or detail sector is entered, an instrument will be displayed inside the appropriate submenu of the selection tree in the InstrumentEscort.
Press the Add/Save button to register a new instrument in the system or edit the existing instrument.
Inconsistent information from a broker / data feed provider
Different brokers / data feed providers may use different symbol names and offer different margins for leveraged instruments.
You can enter their specific characteristics manually in the list within the details tab.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Provider | Broker's or datafeed provider name |
| Symbol | Mapping for each datafeed or broker symbol |
| Cont. | Contract for broker future symbol |
| Comm. | Commision |
| Margin | Broker's margin to purchase securities |
| Min Qty | Minimum order size |
| Max Qty | Maximum order size |
| Min Qty Step | Minimum order size step |
| Stop Distance | Distance for trading stops orders to be met when trading |
| Point Value | Mapped point value |
| Price Multiplier | Some broker platform uses multiplier to calculate the price of a symbol. |
In addition, you may set commission manually by adding this info in the InstrumentEscort in the Mapping Area using the "C" Button:
The mapped symbols entered within the details tab will be used internally by AgenaTrader. If the same symbol is used by other brokers / data feed providers, this mapping will not take place.
The name (symbol) AAPL (Apple Inc. stocks ) is used by the majority of brokers and does not need an additional label / identification in the list. Different labels / names exist primarily in the Futures and Forex markets.
Examples
Teletrader
In case symbol mapping for Teletrader is incorrect please follow these steps:.
- Please visit the Teletrader site ( http://www.teletrader.com) and search for the symbol by name.
- Then go to the details and you'll see the ID in the browser address bar.
- After just copy ID and paste it to symbol field in Instrument Escort opposite Teletrader datafeed.
- Click Save button
IB
Adjusting the tick size for CFDs according to the current price
Please note that Interactive Brokers uses different tick size parameters according to the particular price range. When trading some European CFDs, it may occur that users receive the following error messages:
1. "The price does not conform to the minimum price variation for the contract".
2. "Instrument Tick-Size is not zet calculated or delivered".
In order to continue the trade it is necessary to adjust the tick size for the instrument manually.
Please enter a ticker name in the search field on IB's website and check the price parameters for the selected instrument.
Then enter the tick size in the Instruments window according the the current price, and check the checkbox Fixed as shown in the figure below: