NinjaTrader Futures, Forex and Equities Trading Platform

Ninja Trader 6.5 NinjaTrader is a broker independent trading platform. This means that you can use one piece of software with several different brokers. NinjaTrader is available as a free download (after providing your email address). The free download version can be used for simulation and testing. Before you download this software you should ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements shown below:

NinjaTrader 6.5 Minimum System Requirements

  • Operating System: Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista  or Windows XP.
  • Monitor Resolution: Minimum of 1024 x 768.
  • CPU: Minimum Pentium 4 or higher.
  • RAM: 1GB RAM or higher if you are running Windows XP and 2GB or higher if you are running Windows Vista.
  • Additional Software Requirements: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0.

NinjaTrader has a vast number of brokerage and market data providers for you to connect to these include:

  • Barchart.com
  • eSignal
  • FuturesBetting
  • GAIN Capital/FOREX.com
  • Interactive Brokers
  • IQ Feed from DTN
  • MB Trading
  • OpenTick Patsystems
  • PFGBEST.com
  • TD AMERITRADE
  • Track Data
  • TradeStation
  • Trading Technologies
  • Yahoo
  • Zen-Fire
  • Text file based historical data import

It is due to these large amount of providers of data and brokerage services that I have decided to use NinjaTrader as my main trading platform. I will test it solidly for a month and then purchase a Live trading licence if it meets all my needs, which at this stage it appears to do.

I found the download and install process to be seamless, you will need to enter your free licence key on first use. One thing you will have to do is allow NinjaTrader to send and receive data over your network and you may get a dialog box like the one below whilst using Vista.

Windows Firewall

After loading  NinjaTrader you will be greeted with a screen similar to the one below. This is NinjaTrader’s control center, as the name suggest you will launch most of NinjaTraders functionality from here.

NinjaTrader Control Center

The first thing I did after installing was to add my demo MB Trading account details. This is a very simple process to setup and with in no time I was receiving currency data. Another great feature of NinjaTrader is that you can enable the MB Navigator window this allows for easy transition for users that are used to Navigator. At the moment I am still getting to grips with NinjaTrader so far I am very impressed. I will post some more info and tutorials as I come to grips with all the functionality. You can download the free version of NinjaTrader here. Below is my current workspace setup as I learn more about NinjaTrader I am sure this will change.

NinjaTraderDesktop

UPDATE: I have noticed slow load times and sometimes NinjaTrader stops responding all together whilst Outlook 2007 is open. I am not sure if this is a widespread issue or not however I will be looking into it. I am sure this is probably just a issue related to my configuration but would be interested to hear if others have problems.

Popularity: 32% [?]

Tagged with:
 

Book Review: The Complete Turtle Trader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results

Amazon.com: The Complete TurtleTrader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results: Books: Michael W. Covel

ISBN: 0061241709
ISBN-13: 9780061241703

The turtle trading experiment came about after a dispute between Richard Dennis and Bill Eckhardt on the issue of weather great traders were born or made. Dennis had the view that an individual could be taught to be great trader while Eckhardt thought great traders required genetics and aptitude. In order to settle the matter ads were taken out in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Barron’s. The ads were for the position of trading apprentices and after an initial training period the trainee would be given an account to trade. Out of a thousand applicants 13 were selected, these trainees were known as the Original Turtles.

In the Complete Turtle Trader Michael Covel investigates the story of the turtles. The book takes a pragmatic and extremely well researched look at not just the turtle experiment in isolation but explores the events that took place directly before and after the turtle experiment.

The Complete Turtle Trader Contents (more…)

Popularity: 33% [?]

Tagged with:
 

Must read FREE trading magazines

Today I am going to share with you two magazines that offer a wealth of articles and are delivered to you via email free every month. I have been a subscriber to these magazines since late 2005 and they have proved to be interesting reading.

The first of the magazines is Currency Trader. The Currency Trader magazine is delivered monthly after you subscribe (By providing your email address). The areas currency trader covers include:

CurrencyTrader

  • Analysis and news
  • Trading strategies
  • Systems and more

Articles in November 2007 currency trader include:

  • Japan: Politics, carry trades and the yen
  • Japanese Inflation and the yen
  • Trading FX pattern breakouts
  • Triennial BIS Forex survey

One of the extremely helpful features of the Currency Trader magazine is the global economic calendar and the trading events and conference section usually located at the rear of the magazine. (more…)

Popularity: 25% [?]

Tagged with: