If you haven’t received one already, you will receive an invitation from your Professor that includes a link to request an Interactive Brokers Paper Account. Once you click on the link, complete the short electronic form to set up your simulated trading account and your user name and password for accessing your account. Expect the simulated account approval process to take 1-2 business days to become available for trading.
Be sure to securely save your user name and password since they are required for login and trading of your account. Your id and password open a world of trading opportunities on multiple trading platforms, from TWS desktop solutions to trading on-the-go with the IB mobile apps. Interactive Brokers also offers API solutions for unparalleled access to IB’s automated trading tools for rapid trade development, testing, and eventual executions.
Download and install the TWS Latest software using the Login button on the Interactive Brokers web site. This adds a TWS shortcut on your desktop to launch the Trader Workstation> Enter the user id and password you created. Your watchlists and other setting choices will be automatically saved when you logout
For on-the-go access to your account via your smart phone or tablet. Download the IB TWS Mobile Software for your mobile device from Apple iOS or Google Android.
Create your own automated rule-based trading system to take advantage of IB’s high-speed order routing in implementing a programmed trading strategy with IB’s proprietary API solutions.
The pre-configured Mosaic workspace has color-linked windows for intuitive, out-of-the-box usability. All windows will update simultaneously when you select a ticker. So you can instantly:
Access is provided to additional tools through the New Window button.
The default Watchlist is pre-populated with several sample tickers. The background colors and tick dots give you at-a-glance information and directional movement.
Use the "+" icon to create your own Watchlist(s) with real-time market quotes. Enter a ticker symbol and you’ll be prompted to identify the asset class and exchange / routing destination in the Contract selection window. Where available, equity and options tickers use "SMART" for an aggregate price display and sets up your orders for IB's SmartRoutingSM.
Portfolio tab - displays your held positions, current prices and market values as well as total equity and margin balances. Daily P&L lets you gauge the account’s gains or losses in the current session – both for individual positions and the overall account.
Scanners allow you to quickly and easily scan markets in real time to seek out potential trade opportunities.
You can create, customize, edit and view real time Market Scanners with the "+" tab in the Monitors window. You specify the instrument and filtering criteria, and TWS will rank results. You can apply filters and choose how to display the results. Scans can also be set to Dual Sort showing both ascending and descending values in the scanner window.
Real-time charts are color-linked to your ticker selection to update as you change ticker symbol. Additional Chart windows can be opened from the New Window Button. Change the date range viewed, add studies and indicators.
Order Entry window provides a fast, convenient way to create and transmit orders. This color-linked window populates with the ticker symbol you have in focus.
Click the Buy or Sell button to initiate a trade. The order row populates with default values. Use the efficient pull-down menus to specify your order criteria, and SUBMIT when ready. Use the advanced+ button to create dependent orders such as Bracket, OCO or Hedge orders.
Quickly set up Algo orders with the advanced+ button by choosing IBAlgo in the Destination field. The available algos will display according to the instrument selected.
For submitting combination option orders open the Strategy Builder with button in lower right of the Option Chains window. Select the contracts for your spread by clicking the Ask price for a Buy leg and the Bid price for the Sell leg to build your spread. TWS calculates and displays an implied quote line where you can review and transmit directly from the order row in the Strategy Builder. Notes on Spread pricing
The Order Types matrix contains specific information, including definitions, examples and even step by step instructions for each order type.
Once transmitted, the multiple tabs in the Mosaic Activity Monitor allows you to view working orders, track and/or modify live orders and view a running list of completed trades.
Your buying power is determined on a real-time basis and can go up or down according to changes in the market value of your positions and any trades executed that day. IB’s system continually enforces financial limits on accounts and prevents trades if the account has insufficient available margin.
Use Account Window to view real-time account balances, current margin projections and the funds you have available for additional trades.
IB provides mobile platforms that allow you to trade on-the-go from your Smart Phone or Tablet.
Mobile TWS gives you the option to open in read-only format to quickly see market data and account balances without needing to log in. When you want to submit a trade you can use the Trade Login button at top of the window – or simply tap the buy or sell button to be prompted to login.
To create an order - Tap the Buy or Sell button to open the Order panel. Modify the order criteria by tapping the appropriate field. Tap the Attach Order then tap the Submit button when you are finished entering the order details. The Order Status panel appears on the left hand side of the screen. You can Modify or Cancel the order before it has filled.
Remember that access to your account is active for only a single trading platform at a time.