FXCM Strategy Trader Delivers the Next Evolution in Automated Trading

Code, Backtest, Optimize, Trade

New York—September 13, 2010 FXCM Holdings LLC, a global leader in online forex and CFD trading,* recently launched Strategy Trader†—a free, all-in-one automated forex trading solution that allows clients to code strategies, perform advanced backtests, run detailed optimization analysis, and execute trades from a single platform.
Automated trading has recently grown tremendously popular, and for good reason. For one, it can remove the emotional component of decision making inherent to trading. It also frees traders from constantly having to monitor the markets for trade opportunities, while still allowing them to place trades 24 hours a day.

“We believe that our new platform is one of the most advanced retail products available on the market,” says Randy Rupan, Vice President of Systems Trading at FXCM. “Having historical data, advanced analytics, and integrated execution in one package with a price tag of free makes this a unique value proposition for the active trader.”

Integrating seamlessly with FXCM’s No Dealing Desk forex trade execution system, Strategy Trader eliminates the need for software bridges and external APIs, which can result in faster and more efficient trade execution than other automated forex trading platforms. Strategy Trader also updates prices tick-by-tick, providing substantially more price data than platforms that update second-by-second. This feature can dramatically increase the number of potential trading opportunities since there are often multiple ticks per second.
Additionally, Strategy Trader provides clients with 500,000 bars of historical data and the ability to backtest with both bid and ask prices. Over 40 unique performance reports are easily accessed, allowing clients to gain an in-depth understanding of their strategies’ potential in actual market conditions. Strategy Trader also gives traders access to exhaustive, genetic, and walk forward optimization tools, allowing traders to quickly find the most optimal strategy parameters and settings based on past performance.

Why trade with FXCM’s Strategy Trader platform?

•Strategy Trader is FREE to all FXCM account holders
•Uses the C# programming language
•Place trades on tick data
•Free proprietary Grid Strategy Trader EA (stEA)
•Over 100 pre-loaded indicators
•Exhaustive, genetic, and walk forward optimization tools
•No out trades, off quotes, or account syncing required
•Integrated third party data, including DTNIQ
•All orders sit directly on FXCM’s servers

Try FXCM’s Automated Forex Trading platform, Strategy Trader now.

About FXCM Holdings LLC
FXCM Holdings LLC (FXCM) is a leading global forex and CFD broker* that caters to both retail and institutional markets. Founded in 1999, FXCM is one of the largest brokers, regulated by several of the world’s most respected financial authorities.

At the heart of FXCM’s client offering is No Dealing Desk forex trading. Clients have market access to some of the world's largest forex liquidity providers which enables FXCM to offer clients spreads as low as 1 pip on major crosses. Clients also have the benefits of mobile trading, one-click order execution, and trading from real-time charts. Forex Capital Markets Ltd’s CFD product* offers no re-quote trading and allows traders to trade oil, gold, silver, and stock indices, along with forex on one platform. In addition to currency and CFD trading, FXCM offers educational courses on forex trading, and provides free news and research through DailyFX.com.

† Please be advised that this is a beta version. When you undertake transactions on an electronic trading system, you will be exposed to risks associated with the system including but not limited to failure of hardware or software, as such please be sure to review the execution risks.

*Please be advised that CFD accounts are not available to residents of the U.S. or its territories. Additionally, Forex Capital Markets Ltd offers spread betting exclusively to UK residents. Residents of other countries are NOT eligible.
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Trading foreign exchange and CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all.

It is actually pretty good from what I've played with. Need to sit down with it for a few hours and get a hang of it, but so far so good.

If it gets the type of community support Metatrader does I think it could be a whole lot better than metatrader, but without the support, I doubt a lot of people will use it, so far so good though.

Doesnt matter if it can only be used with FXCM. Who want to spend a couple months/years refining a strategy thats locked to a single broker? I'd go Ninja Trader before FXCM (Arrrghhh!!) if MT4 wasnt available. at least you have a few brokers to compare regarding execution and spreads. Also I like this point "• All orders sit directly on FXCM’s servers" - Hmmmm.... Where are the orders sitting currently?

You know, theres a Commercial section for this ad.

Is FXCM able to get a copy of a trader's strategy code?

Why would you want to give any broker your trading plan? Why would you want them to program your strategy? Knowing first hand that broker's have extensive tools to monitor your trading style and activity it almost seems that this should be a legal conflict of interest in most situations.

If you need a strategy programmed, don't get the broker to do it. Do it yourself of hire somebody independent.

If your trading against your brokers dealing desk then being cautious about using their programming services is understandable. A losing strategy could mean a greater profit for the broker.

FXCM uses No Dealing Desk forex execution whereby that conflict of interest is eliminated. Therefore we're more than happy to provide programming services since it means more uptime for the strategy and a greater chance of order submission which translates into higher trading volume. FXCM is compensated by a pip mark-up on the spread so the more trading volume the better.

Often when traders have an issue with their automated strategy, they are stuck between their programmers, who blame broker execution, and their brokers, who blame the programmers’ code. With the advent of FXCM Programming Services, traders can now use programmers that know execution. We ensure our work is able to execute to the strategy specified by the client. FXCM's programming services is one of multiple options out there, so by all means you can shop around and compare.

-Jason

Since FXCM has chimed in I would like to ask a question. From your site you have:

"If you do not trade a minimum of ten times per calendar month, a fee of $30 based on current rate may be debited from your account to cover server cost."

If the trader is not trading, what server costs do you have? Why do other brokers not penalize you for this? I have a strategy that only trades a few times per month and is profitable. Why be penalized for this? We have traders in our trading room who also do not trade that much, some of them use FXCM. With this penalty we would probably advise them to go elsewhere. There are many brokers with lower spreads who do not penalize their clients like this.

Hi fxapi,

The VPS is free as long as you maintain a $5,000 balance. If the balance requirement is not met, then a $30 monthly fee is charged. There's no additional trading requirement for the VPS. Here's the page where the requirement is listed http://www.fxcm.com/metatrader.jsp#VPS .

There are costs involved with offering VPS, and the VPS is still operational and incurring a cost even if the trader is signed up for it but not actively using it. If there aren't, then I'm definitely in the wrong business!

Of course this is simply something we offer as a value added service. It's not as though you're forced to sign up for a VPS. If you meet the minimum requirement, then you can sign up and receive the VPS at no cost.

-Jason

Good Luck trying to maintain a 5K balance with FXCM -

Q: How do you maintain a 5K FXCM Balance?
A: Start with a 100K Balance. (And DONT Trade)

Hi,

Could anyone explain me why the new platform from FXCM ( demon account)
allows trading while the markets are closed. I just placed an order on the screen which has been accepted on sunday @ 19:51 GMT+1.

Thanks

Hi kobayashi,

FXCM's demo accounts allow trading over the weekend (considering there is no maintenance) so you can learn how the platform functionality works. We understand that some new traders may only be able to login during the weekend to explore the platform and learn how to place orders. This is why order functionality will still work even though the rates are not moving. Trading is open from Sunday at 5:15pm ET (22:15 GMT) through Friday at 4:15pm ET (21:15 GMT). Please note you will not be able to open, close, or modify positions on a real account when trading is closed. You can only do this on the demo account.

-Jason

This WAS the best platformIever experienced in my demoforexlife! Now it is dead.What happened?