Spread Recorder

Ok I'm pretty sure someone may have started something like this before but I might have missed it. So I was hoping to rake this up again.

Anyway, I wrote a simple indicator to help me keep track of fluctuating spreads. I was hoping to use these data to decide which brokers are more suitable for auto trading or any trading for that matter...

I've noticed IBFX can have spreads on GBPJPY up to 45 pips during "high volatility" periods. and that's just insane.

you guys can probably help out with this research too.

BEFORE using this indicator, create a folder called "Spread_Recording" inside your

C:\Program Files\Metatrader\experts\files

This "Spread_Recording" folder will be holding all the log files written by this little indicator.

basically what this indicator does is it will look at the current spread, write it into a file, then record that spread down. upon the next tick, if the spread changes, write the new spread into the log file. If the spread is the same, then don't write it. This will save some disk space.

the log file name convention is set as

[Symbol]-Spread_Recorder-[Day]-[Month]-[Year].log

e.g. for the spread recording log file for the EURNZD for the day of 4th Sept 2009. The file name will be.

EURNZD-Spread_Recorder-4-9-2009.log

That means Each symbol will have it own set of files. and each day will initiate a new file. This helps in the data reading process.

an extract capture of the contents for each log file is as such.


another one on NZDJPY


you can see the exact time the spread widens or narrows and by how much. did you see how the spread jumps from 17 to 33 at the very next second in the EURNZD? this is ridiculous...

I've just started doing for IBFX. and will publish the results after a month.
If more will like to help out with other brokers, that'll be even better.

best regards,
Zen

Another gr8 help from a noble helper
Sure...i will update about Alpari !

Just my 2 cents (but =1$ i think )...
How about using this data to plot number of TICKS per Spread value
written in whole file (say monthly file or we can also check each weekly data)
May be a excel job or even a mq4 indi itself per file name!

USES:
------
1) We will know how many times these brokers get some clients with their pants off with those Huge spreads!
2) How frequently they do it?
3) Which Mt4 broker is good as far as this s**t is concerned?
We all know spreads do get widened at interbank level too..but how more s**tty these bucket shops make, for some , during those news time , etc! (or even some false times)


ANOTHER MOD :
---------------
To write one
To Plot Spread of one broker(like a histogram) based on this data
per small time frame (say 5 seconds, or even tick based )
and Then Overlaying the same data, same pair of other brokers with different colors.

USES:
------
1) ALL brokers can be caught with pants off, who go for false spikes...
as all broker charts will be overlayed...so False spike by one will be there like Standing like a Nasa shuttle to be launched with human being standing by!
2)Those who regularly do it can be provided some filled Account closure forms!


I hope you got my ideas!
Looking forward.
RESPECT for you Zen (heard a lot ...now watching)

This is a brilliant... I know the 'typical' spread my broker offers, but it would be nice to know what it ranges to during the times im sleeping. It will help with EA timings etc.


Thanks Zen, much appreciated

i see....It does that automatically too !

I've heard of Vista users with IO problems when the folder isn't present so this is just a precautionary measure. =)

OPERATION NAME:
Alpari UK's Pants

TF :
A week with major News will be Enough

METHOD:
Spread Recorder by Zen_leow

UPDATE:
Raiders on , on Following pairs
EU
GU
UJ
UC
UCad
EJ
GJ
AU
NU
Gold

AIM:
Alpari UK's Pants down


Yes! We Can !

its few days running this ...
A quick peek in logs revealed this on
EURUSD !
on 7thSept09

23:26:57 - Ask: 1.43422 | Bid: 1.43313 | Spread: 10.90 pips
Wth..so small spread !

Further these morons started with variable spreads advertising 1.6 as minimum instead of previous fixed 1.8
and from logs even a uber "statistic phobic" can make out, that majoriy of the times spread is clocking same 1.8 and many times more than 2.
They just got a way to make more money.
Thats why these bucket shops change to variable spreads sooner or later!

lets see whats more!

Here you go ,
Spread Recording
ALPARI UK , 1 Week, Sept 6th to 12th.
9 Major pairs - EU,GU,UC,UJ,NU,UCad,AU,EJ,GJ
& Gold (XAUUSD)

See in Reality n Forget the "open an account asap" promotions!
This broker is so Called the best of "NonECN- Market maker"
"Imagine" would b the next word!




P.S.Anybody have idea about mb's mt4 live? when will be out?

Alpari UK, is the worst broker I ever used.

Never again will I use these guys.

FILTERS
-From above file
- EURUSD
- 9th Sept , Wednesday, supposed to be most liquid day of week
- 7am to 23 pm Alpari time (Europe Open to NY close)


FACTS :
Total Records
- 4444 Records Variable Spreads from 7am to 23 pm
- 1883 Records Trigger 1.60 as Spread (Record attached) 42.5%
- 1205 Records Trigger 1.70 as Spread 27%
- 782 Records Trigger 2.30 as Spread (Record attached) 17.5%
- 254 Records Trigger 2.00 as Spread 5.7%
- 241 Records Trigger 1.80 as Spread 5.4%
- 79 Records Trigger 2.10 as Spread
- 58 Records Trigger 1.90 as Spread
- 6 Records Trigger 2.20 as Spread

OverAll, Approx
69.5% times Spread is <1.8
And 25.1% times Spread is >1.8
5.4% times Spread is =1.8


So
69.5% times 0.20pip Decrease &
30.5% times 0.50 pip Increase from Previous 1.8pip Spread .
ALSO
Even in that 69.5% below 1.8 spread, Only 48%times spread is 1.6
whereas in 25.1% above 1.8 Spread, major 66.4% times Spread is 2.3

Hope you got the idea by now
After making variable spreads recently, Alpari UK is minting more!


Though less important, as common traders dont trade around other part of times (esp this pair ..will check our UJ later) here are some nice Rockets !
after 23PM (after NY close 5pm EST)
9thSept09
23:24:55 - Ask: 1.45689 | Bid: 1.45617 | Spread: 7.20 pips
23:37:47 - Ask: 1.45693 | Bid: 1.45617 | Spread: 7.60 pips
23:44:45 - Ask: 1.45686 | Bid: 1.45613 | Spread: 7.30 pips
23:53:43 - Ask: 1.45797 | Bid: 1.45693 | Spread: 10.40 pips
23:53:44 - Ask: 1.45796 | Bid: 1.45693 | Spread: 10.30 pips
23:53:44 - Ask: 1.45791 | Bid: 1.45698 | Spread: 9.30 pips
Some other day recorded 12.80 pips too

Hope the help.
Lets see what other broker logs say!

P.S. One important thing in this data is still to measure "The number of minutes" a spread clocked across the whole range in period selected. Hope Zen can make some ind which can utulize this data to generate that!

nice work forexsaint.

as i thought, variable spreads are much more than a rip off than fixed spreads, and Alpari has realised this and fleecing its customers even more!

Basically they are also now free to 'stop hunt' and justify this as being caused by an increase in spread (especially at those times you have reported at night)

So to sum up, they offer a TINY improvement some times on their spread, but this is more than offset by their spread increases throughout the day and at night.

Some people were having problems with Extracting logs from above file attached.(i actually compressed it in rar format before zipping it)
any way posting new link
Txt files.. all into a Zipped file.
> DOWNLOAD <
Hope that helps!

Hi Zen Lowe

I was wondering if you could build a couple of EAs for me
They will need to work on FXCM

Please let me know


thanks

FXWest

Hi

Here are the spreads of EXNESS with which I am trading now. I did it through Spread Recorder.
Although they have dynamic spread, most of the time they have 1.5-1.7 pips on eur/usd.

Please, see the data below:

8:15:5 - Ask: 1.46747 | Bid: 1.46732 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:7 - Ask: 1.46749 | Bid: 1.46733 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:8 - Ask: 1.46751 | Bid: 1.46734 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:9 - Ask: 1.46752 | Bid: 1.46734 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:10 - Ask: 1.46749 | Bid: 1.46733 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:10 - Ask: 1.46748 | Bid: 1.46733 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:11 - Ask: 1.46749 | Bid: 1.46733 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:12 - Ask: 1.46747 | Bid: 1.46729 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:12 - Ask: 1.46745 | Bid: 1.46729 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:17 - Ask: 1.46743 | Bid: 1.46728 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:18 - Ask: 1.46739 | Bid: 1.46723 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:19 - Ask: 1.46737 | Bid: 1.46720 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:20 - Ask: 1.46738 | Bid: 1.46720 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:21 - Ask: 1.46739 | Bid: 1.46724 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:21 - Ask: 1.46738 | Bid: 1.46721 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:22 - Ask: 1.46739 | Bid: 1.46721 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:24 - Ask: 1.46740 | Bid: 1.46721 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:15:25 - Ask: 1.46739 | Bid: 1.46721 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:27 - Ask: 1.46742 | Bid: 1.46725 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:28 - Ask: 1.46739 | Bid: 1.46721 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:29 - Ask: 1.46740 | Bid: 1.46725 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:29 - Ask: 1.46742 | Bid: 1.46725 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:31 - Ask: 1.46742 | Bid: 1.46726 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:35 - Ask: 1.46748 | Bid: 1.46731 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:36 - Ask: 1.46747 | Bid: 1.46731 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:36 - Ask: 1.46744 | Bid: 1.46726 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:37 - Ask: 1.46743 | Bid: 1.46726 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:38 - Ask: 1.46745 | Bid: 1.46729 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:38 - Ask: 1.46742 | Bid: 1.46725 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:42 - Ask: 1.46745 | Bid: 1.46725 | Spread: 2.00 pips
8:15:42 - Ask: 1.46741 | Bid: 1.46724 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:43 - Ask: 1.46741 | Bid: 1.46723 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:43 - Ask: 1.46745 | Bid: 1.46728 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:45 - Ask: 1.46748 | Bid: 1.46732 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:45 - Ask: 1.46751 | Bid: 1.46734 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:48 - Ask: 1.46743 | Bid: 1.46728 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:49 - Ask: 1.46737 | Bid: 1.46719 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:52 - Ask: 1.46741 | Bid: 1.46724 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:15:53 - Ask: 1.46737 | Bid: 1.46719 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:15:57 - Ask: 1.46742 | Bid: 1.46727 | Spread: 1.50 pips
8:15:58 - Ask: 1.46743 | Bid: 1.46727 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:15:58 - Ask: 1.46745 | Bid: 1.46728 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:8 - Ask: 1.46746 | Bid: 1.46727 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:13 - Ask: 1.46748 | Bid: 1.46730 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:16 - Ask: 1.46751 | Bid: 1.46734 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:16 - Ask: 1.46751 | Bid: 1.46733 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:17 - Ask: 1.46754 | Bid: 1.46737 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:19 - Ask: 1.46751 | Bid: 1.46733 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:22 - Ask: 1.46754 | Bid: 1.46737 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:22 - Ask: 1.46760 | Bid: 1.46742 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:27 - Ask: 1.46760 | Bid: 1.46743 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:36 - Ask: 1.46762 | Bid: 1.46746 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:16:36 - Ask: 1.46763 | Bid: 1.46746 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:37 - Ask: 1.46771 | Bid: 1.46753 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:37 - Ask: 1.46776 | Bid: 1.46757 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:38 - Ask: 1.46788 | Bid: 1.46767 | Spread: 2.10 pips
8:16:40 - Ask: 1.46781 | Bid: 1.46763 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:41 - Ask: 1.46787 | Bid: 1.46768 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:42 - Ask: 1.46789 | Bid: 1.46768 | Spread: 2.10 pips
8:16:43 - Ask: 1.46791 | Bid: 1.46773 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:43 - Ask: 1.46789 | Bid: 1.46768 | Spread: 2.10 pips
8:16:47 - Ask: 1.46791 | Bid: 1.46773 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:48 - Ask: 1.46784 | Bid: 1.46767 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:16:48 - Ask: 1.46791 | Bid: 1.46772 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:51 - Ask: 1.46791 | Bid: 1.46773 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:52 - Ask: 1.46801 | Bid: 1.46782 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:53 - Ask: 1.46804 | Bid: 1.46786 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:53 - Ask: 1.46806 | Bid: 1.46790 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:16:54 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:55 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46793 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:16:57 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:16:59 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46793 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:1 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:2 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46793 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:3 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:6 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46793 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:7 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:8 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46793 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:8 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:10 - Ask: 1.46816 | Bid: 1.46800 | Spread: 1.60 pips
8:17:10 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46793 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:12 - Ask: 1.46818 | Bid: 1.46798 | Spread: 2.00 pips
8:17:13 - Ask: 1.46823 | Bid: 1.46802 | Spread: 2.10 pips
8:17:14 - Ask: 1.46819 | Bid: 1.46799 | Spread: 2.00 pips
8:17:15 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46804 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:17:16 - Ask: 1.46811 | Bid: 1.46792 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:17 - Ask: 1.46817 | Bid: 1.46797 | Spread: 2.00 pips
8:17:18 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46802 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:20 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46803 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:21 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46802 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:23 - Ask: 1.46823 | Bid: 1.46806 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:17:23 - Ask: 1.46830 | Bid: 1.46812 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:24 - Ask: 1.46826 | Bid: 1.46807 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:27 - Ask: 1.46829 | Bid: 1.46812 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:17:28 - Ask: 1.46831 | Bid: 1.46812 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:30 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46803 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:31 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46802 | Spread: 1.90 pips
8:17:33 - Ask: 1.46820 | Bid: 1.46802 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:35 - Ask: 1.46828 | Bid: 1.46808 | Spread: 2.00 pips
8:17:35 - Ask: 1.46829 | Bid: 1.46808 | Spread: 2.10 pips
8:17:36 - Ask: 1.46828 | Bid: 1.46808 | Spread: 2.00 pips
8:17:37 - Ask: 1.46821 | Bid: 1.46803 | Spread: 1.80 pips
8:17:39 - Ask: 1.46820 | Bid: 1.46803 | Spread: 1.70 pips
8:17:40 - Ask: 1.46807 | Bid: 1.46789 | Spread: 1.80 pips

Dear Traders,

Please accept our apologies for not replying sooner to all your comments and concerns. We have looked at the results generated by ‘Spread Recorder’ and also looked through our own. Along with this post we are providing a full record of our spreads sorted by currency pair and hour of the day.

You will find 11 excel files at the bottom of this reply showing exactly how many times a particular spread was quoted during each day of the week commencing on September 7th.

By analysing the data for the trading week (7.09.09 – 11.09.09) we have found the following:

93.81% of all quotes in EUR/USD had a ≤1.8 pip spread during the European trading session (8am – 5pm). If you include the US and Asian trading sessions 85.3% of all quotes were ≤1.8 pips. Our previous fixed spread was 1.8 pips.

99.5% of all quotes in EUR/GBP had a ≤3.0 pip spread during the European trading session (8am – 5pm). If you include the US and Asian trading sessions 95.45% of all quotes were ≤3.0 pips. Our previous fixed spread was 3 pips. In addition, our previous fixed spread on EUR/GBP was 5 pips during UK night-time hours. The new variable spread service provided 99.99% of all quotes at ≤5.0 pips during night time hours (midnight – 8am). This is the most glaring evidence that we are striving to improve spreads during all trading sessions, improve our level of service and establish a reputable name amongst the trading community.

89.31% of all quotes in GBP/USD had a ≤3.0 pip spread during the European trading session (8am – 5pm). If you include the US and Asian trading sessions 73.78% of all quotes were ≤3.0 pips. Our previous fixed spread was 3 pips.

99.64% of all quotes in USD/JPY had a ≤2.8 pip spread during the European trading session (8am – 5pm). If you include the US and Asian trading sessions 95.62% of all quotes were ≤2.8 pips. Our previous fixed spread was 2.8 pips.

99.67% of all quotes in USD/CHF had a ≤4.0 pip spread during the European trading session (8am – 5pm). If you include the US and Asian trading sessions 99.18% of all quotes were ≤4.0 pips. Our previous fixed spread was 4.0 pips.

As you can see, we have made a significant step in the right direction with regards to improving spreads for our clients. We wholeheartedly accept that there may be times when spreads widen beyond what you feel is acceptable but it is important to understand that inter-bank liquidity can become an issue in some currency pairs during night-time hours which leads to wider spreads. Our spreads can sometimes widen beyond the minimum we advertise – but this is quite rare and in-line with broad market conditions as inter-bank spreads widen across the board.

We reject any claims that we have introduced variable spreads simply to generate more profit or that variable spreads give us the opportunity to interfere with pending client orders. We are a fully regulated company in 3 different continents, providing trading services to over 130,000 clients worldwide; it is our core goal to be transparent and professional in all our activities, including execution. Variable spreads were introduced to improve trading conditions for our clients and to help us manage our own risk exposure against banking counterparties.

We are very pleased to see that the trading community is creating a variety of tools both for trading purposes but also to compare and contrast different brokers. We are very confident in the quality of our services, not only in terms of execution but also product innovation, technology, customer service and security of capital.

The range and type of services we offer will soon be expanding and we hope to use such opportunities to demonstrate to people that we are an honest, serious company which is determined to be successful but not at any cost. We have not achieved our level of success by being any other than professional and sympathetic with our clients’ needs.

If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact Alpari (UK) Client Services at [email protected]; we would be delighted to discuss this or any other issues in more detail.

Alpari (UK)

You just looked at your own modified records ! Nothing more!

We dont need these excel files which are of no use, esp when in the POST, you have posted here only 2 day results !

7th to 9th Sept is not a week !
Get Your math right first!

An analysis of Logs has been Done for the Commonly accepted Most liquid day of week WEDNESDAY in > POST 10<
If this day CANT prove what exactly you people have done with variable spreads..then there is no point analysing whole week. In those other days, of course u will be padding more to the real interbank spreads due to less liquidity.

So Provide us with whatever data (manipulated or whatever..let us see first)
for WEDNESDAY (9.09.2009) On all major 4 PAIRS esp EURUSD
and your calculations...then lets compare!


These results mean nothing ! .. what these results are from whole week? or wednesday?
We have posted STATS before in this thread. and not what you are posting.
Talking of "in-line with broad market conditions as inter-bank spreads widen across the board." why you were having FIXED spread till date then? "3 continents,130,000 clients " were not enough to earn much till date?

WE REJECT your Claims, till you provide us proof in this regard and then we will think of checking our details again !
YES, we , Traders dont need REGULATION, but we are part of UNBIASED, RESPECTED Community which have proved time and again... How many brokers like you play dirty games to grab money of traders.. block funds while withdrawing, stop hunt, virtual dealer plugin, putting winners on manual execution , (now dont ask tell us the problem..there are loads of threads here..where broker representatives just leave , saving their a$$e$, after posting some tacid and canned replies)

First better what you are providing than luring other newbies to eat thier money with new services you are talking of !


We dont want those automatic emails !
For Further Explanation, Reply HERE
We would be more than delighted to Discuss and Prove the TRUTH HERE !


Regards
FF's Mt4 Traders with "Conflict of Interest"

More data
Here is The Full log of consecutive next week
i.e Sept 13th to Sept 19th
- All PAIRS on Alpari Classic Account
- Including Gold and Silver
- Full Log
- Analyse Yourself , alone or combined with previous weeks data.

> DOWNLOAD <
Since attachment is bigger in Zip format that can be attached here,i have uploaded it.

Hope this helps!

I will repeat that their back office and client services are very efficient though. I just had another small administrative problem and it was sorted out within 10 minutes and reflected on my screen.

Re. the requotes, I am ambivalent. I could be paranoid and say that every time I enter a trade it hangs for a minute...then if the price goes with me I get a requote, whereas if it goes against me I don't. Then, if the price is not moving at all it still hangs as if it is waiting to see if it will change.

On the other hand it is quite possible, that for me at least, it is a latency issue. As I am 5000 miles away from the UK at the present time, I guess the timestamp on the price I am trying to deal on does not match that of their latest price on the server so it has to recheck the latest price and then send it back to me... if that makes any sense.

As for the spreads...no, still don't like them!

Zen,
Really sorry. It seems I am overhelmed with indies.

Regards

Hello
Just thought to share Spread record of some one day on MBTRADING Mt4;
Thanks to one live account holder.
Only 3 pairs - EU GU EG
1 day Approx.

File attached.
Mirror Link (Just in case) http://rapidshare.com/files/32519952...GU_EG_1day.zip

Looks Nice; May help.
Regards