pipal

I haven't used it so I can't tell the speed and reliability. There are lots of bad comments on Pats. But it's a level II option other than IB's data.

Thanks MK. I like ticks and true volume in particular. Have you considered Pats as an alternative?

Hi, does it have Level II 5x5 price level? Once I live chatted with eSignal and they said they only offer level I, just the best bid and offer on each side for HSI.

Anyone trading or using data feed other than Interactive Brokers?

Nice to meet a HK HSI fellow trader here cheers

NT works with IB's TWS. Some FCMs like MF Global, RCG offer Pats to trade HSI, and NT is supposed to work with Pats.

Hi MK And their website look very institutional like, and don't bother to cater retail clients. I guess they want retail traders to deal with MF's introducing brokers instead of dealing with them directly. Just my 2 cents. Best regards, pipal

Thanks Kiwi, I have checked with IB for the unbundled. All are better except SGXNK on my list. But they don't offer unbundled for KOSPI which costs about $10 RT. And they warn me if I opt for unbundled, that would apply to all futures contracts. Anyway the fees look better before there is a better option.

Hi James, Thanks a lot for your details. If you are referring $7 RT for KOSPI this is still better as IB is around $10 RT. $3 can be a difference for daytraders like me. I am based in Hong Kong, and know about MF Global but I guess they are no cheaper than IB. I talked to them before for FX and had a feeling that they are not so retail client oriented. On the other hand, MF Global Taiwan is really more retail oriented as seen from its website, but it seems that they only allow local taiwanese to open account. I have checked with the Korean Giant firms you mentioned. What I can get from their website is only their company information bah bah bah, not so any information about brokage services, account opening etc. I can guess what sort of services and trouble I may have as a foreign client even if I can open an account with them. Meanwhile I may still trade with IB and I also check with some US FCMs that offer Asian Markets via MF Global, RCG etc. It seems that they are more ready to cater online trader from foreign countries. Best regards

Thanks James for your anyalsis and information. Do you use IB for trading KOSPI? If not, what would you recommend? I have an IB account, but the commission seems to be on the high side so I don't use it often. Of course if communication in English with local brokers cause lots of trouble, IB seems to be the best option I know. I have done a quick research on the Asian markets (KOSPI, STW, SPI200, SGXNK, HSI) for a few days, using IB's live feed. Now I will go further with KOSPI and STW and see how live trading is going.

Kiwi, I check with IB's commissions that seem to be on the high side. But there seems to be no many other choice in the market. If just looking at the "commissions vs tick value", SGX's N225U (com rt $5.7 vs tick val $24.3), and STW (5.7 vs 10) look better, while SPI200 (9.6 vs 24) and Kospi (9.8 vs 24.7) still look ok. I tend to scalp so commission rate and fees are important to me. Afterall, I must first understand and compare their market structures and volatilities and any other special natures. Re the figures above, please feel free to correct me.

Oops I missed that one. :doh: I remember you are trading STW & SPI. I just subscribe these feed from IB, and they are all free except OSE. So I may just the SGX at this stage. There are a few things I have to learn before I can start trading the indices. For the last couple of weeks, I learn about volume, t&s etc. these things are missing when I trade spot fx. Then I have to learn the markets live with a new platform. But anyway, you guys have already give some directions to start and helps a lot.

Hello SoulTrader, MK and Kiwi, I have recently been reading lots of information about trading the Asian Indices, and got to know much from you guys in different forums including this one. I have been trading fx and now want to make better use of the Asian sessions trading the Asian indices. But first of all, I will study the markets and pattterns live via IB for a while, though I got some ideas from you guys that Nikkei225, Kospi200 and SPI200 look good to me. Many thanks and see when I will start trading live.