New to Futures

[Kapurnicus]

I have been studying trading for a while. Did some simulated Forex stuff and then have been paper trading futures with some good results. Does anyone know a good way to papertrade futures with no actual account using real quotes (they can be delayed, just not rubbish like Interactive Brokers demo). Something with an API preferably as I am using my own trading platform.

So,
Question 1) Best way to papertrade with real quotes in the futures market?

Question 2) Is GNI touch futures a good company to go with? (Interactive brokers will not let you open an account unless you have already gotten 100 trades and a years experience otherwise it was my first choice for futures) any other broker suggestions?

 

[One Eyed Shark]

1/ Although you have your own platform, Ninjatrader can arranger a free live demo feed, this may be your best option, it means getting your head round a bit new bit of software, but you end up with a live feed in demo FOC

2/ It is a long time since I had an account with IB, but from what I remeber on the sign up process they kept asking the same question until you put in the answer they wanted to hear

Lots of good brokers who wont want any experince AMP, Mirus, Velocity etc

 

[zsng99]

U can try paper trading with OptionsXpress. It gives you real-time quotes and charting tools. U just have to open an account with them n its free of charge

 

[Kapurnicus]

Am I reading too much into your response (One Eyed Shark) to say that IB doesn't do an extensive check on anything you say? =D I might have to sign up when I turn 21. (apparently you have to be 21 to have a margin account) I have a friend who uses them (I was using his paper trading account, but then when I tried the demo I realized I was getting garbage data) and he recommends them 100%.

The reason I wanted something with good a good programming interface is because my platform (which currently talkes to IBs Tradestation but I can easily adapt to any api since I wrote it) is truly custom and Im trying to get it to do automated trading (yes, I know, the american dream lol, a money printing machine). I've had good results in his papertrading account but would was trying to get out on my own. I don't really want to move to something like NInjaTrader where I would have to abandon everything else I've already made (besides the interface to the API which obviously moving to a new broker I was going to have to rewrite anyway). But I guess just for temporary purposes I can find a way to adapt. Is there any way to export ticks from ninja trader that you are aware of? How does OptionsXpress give you the data? is that something I can accept in my software?

Thank you guys (possibly girls), you have already given me a lot to look into. I appreciate the help.