How Market Data is Allocated
In order to receive real-time market data, customers must be a subscriber to market data. All clients initially receive 100 concurrent lines of real-time market data (which can be displayed in TWS or via the API) and always have a minimum of 100 lines of data. After the first month of trading, the quantity of market data is allocated using the greater value of:
- USD monthly commissions divided by 8
- USD equity multiplied by 100 divided by $1,000,000 (rounded down to the nearest integer)
- 100
Example 1:
In month two, your account shows the following values: USD Monthly Commissions: $16, USD Equity: $950,000
Using the calculations above, you would still receive the minimum 100 lines of data, since:
- Commissions: $16/8 = 2
- Equity: $950,000 / 10000 = 95
As 100 is the greatest of these values, you are left with 100 market data lines.
Example 2:
In month three, your account shows the following values: USD Monthly Commissions: $500, USD Equity: $1,245,000
Using the calculations above, you would receive 124 lines of data, since:
- Commissions: $500/8 = 62.5
- Equity: $1,245,000 / \10000 = 124.5, rounded down to 124.
As 124 is the greatest of these values, you would have 124 market data lines.