CMC's I Pad spread bet app appraisal, 'selling the sizzle and not the steak'?
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CMC's I Pad spread bet app appraisal, 'selling the sizzle and not the steak'?
What follows is a walk through of the CMC iPad app for spread betting customers. The appraisal was conducted over a two-week period on an iPad 2, 64GB with Wi-Fi.
The library list of securities is comprehensive and the navigation of the same is superb. The initial presentation of the platform and the listing of; companies, currencies, indices and commodities is an excellent gateway onto the actual trading platform. Overall the functionality, the aesthetics and purpose is absolutely five star. CMC has without doubt broken the ground for other spread betting firms to follow with this perfectly designed platform.
Is it design over function, is the sizzle sold more than the steak? No is the short answer, although there are improvements that could undoubtedly enhance the overall customer experience...
The search facility is excellent, the volatility and performance filters are a superb addition. The other filters; type, region, country are equally useful. A search for "apple" brings up Apple as the first result. A test of the platform and the apps intuition by searching for "cable" brought up GBP/USD and Time Warner Cable.
The platform has currently 1249 securities to trade, as you select each of the four library sections this list automatically defaults to the amount available to trade.
Selecting indices from the main library listing the range automatically narrows to twenty, the volatility and performance of the twenty indices automatically adjusts to show the current levels. A search on "DAX" brings up the Germany 30 index. Clicking on the listing brings you to the 'meat and bone' of the platform. We'll refer to the DAX as the chosen security for the remainder of this appraisal.
You have three main areas on the platform once past your chosen main view 'home page'; product library, the chart (of the DAX) and account details. Naturally you can select your preferences for your library, you can also use the settings feature to permanently select certain chart features such as candlesticks. The account section, your balance, margin, and rolling profit (or loss) is a permanent section throughout the site's navigation. If selected each section shows; orders, positions and history.
Underneath these three main windows/sections is the menu button, clicking this brings up various icons. Reading from the left we have; logout, library, watch lists, account, news, payment, about CMC and settings. Library takes you back to the the four main areas.
Clicking on the settings area allows you to select your trading parameters. You can select your order preferences for; limits, stops and take profit orders. You can alter security settings including 'swipe' allowing a faster access after a time out period. Configuring your home screen allows you to select/de-select your preferences either; library, account or watch list. Chart setting allows you to select candlesticks, ohlc etc..
Placing an order on the platform is straightforward, at the top of the chart you have your buy sell icon/'lozenge' containing the price and clearly indicating the spread, typically one pip on the DAX. If you've pre selected your trading parameters then it's a two tap process for order placement, closing the trade is equally straightforward. On the trading platform section we also have the news section (dow newswire) and an overview commentary of each security.
An incredibly useful feature on the chart section is the ability to enlarge the chart to the full size of the iPad screen with a double tap. Another double tap restores the default, or your chosen setting.
Trades
Trades placed when mobile, using a 3 network sim card, were executed as perfectly as when over a home or office wireless network. There was no specific evidence of slippage experienced throughout a test of seventy five trades, approximately five trades per day across indices, forex and commodities. In terms of fills as always it's virtually impossible to deduce if all trades were filled 'on the button' but there were no obvious anomalies on any currency pair, commodity or index traded. The iPad really is a lightening quick trading tool vis a vis other computers.
Potential improvements.
The users specific preferences for chart preferences needs to be retained as a matter of urgency. It's mildly frustrating and unnecessary to have to re-load basic functions such as; moving averages and basic indicators each time you click the app. You can access the setting menu to select candlestick, that's as far as the 'permanent' chart configuration currently allows.
Recording trader settings for the library of securities you choose to trade (on a regular basis) is simple. However, if you tap "back" from your chosen product library any settings you have changed on your chart is lost when you revert back to the security.
The time out issue on the app needs addressing, not only due to having to re-configure the platform and or chart beyond your initial setting preferences after each trade, the overall readiness to act is severely compromised, particularly if you want a quick view to make a decision regarding your current live trades. However, from tap on the app to being in the market is not time consuming on launch. The suggestion would be to use the log out feature, which has a padlock as an icon, to have a time setting, these could be standard perhaps measured in hours by default.
A separate icon for charts, not containing it in "library", would be advisable. Although it's a logical place (under library) being able to have the chart access independent of the security may be a better option. The ability to manage the trade through the iPad chart, altering the; stop, take profit limit etc. would be a terrific addition. Perhaps a chart option to take you directly to your library and live trades would be a useful addition.
The indicator library contained under the section of technicals is limited. There are currently eight indicators to choose; Bollinger, ema, sma, psar, dmi, Macd, RSI and stoch. Adjusting these to you preferences is lightening fast. The graphics for each are superb. The glaring omission is the option of; the daily pivot point, support and resistance ( up to three levels for S and R) to be automatically drawn each day. Although you can manually choose to draw the lines on the chart. Although the most commonly used indicators are available you can't select more than one or two. For example you can't have the RSI, Macd or dmi on the chart simultaneously, despite the fact that an argument could be put forward that this is duplication and translation of the same information many traders may prefer the simultaneous use of the listed indicators.
An alert function, for your preferred set-up and conditions to have been met in order to take a trade, (particularly on pivot, support and resistance lines), would also be a welcome addition. This alert could be sent to your smartphone phone containing a link to log you directly into your chart. Similarly if your order has been triggered an alert could be sent.
The drawing tools are superb, the Fibonacci retracement tool works perfectly. One tap at either extreme and it's set. Similarly drawing trend lines or channels is equally a breeze. The removal is simple.
Conclusion
Arguably this is the most user friendly, technically advanced trading application currently available for the iPad. if I phone apps are regarded as gimmicks this trading application is worlds apart. Having stepped up to the job and broken the ground for others, forex brokers and particularly the UK based spread betting firms now have to up their game to fight once more for your business.
