TS to IB using TB...

brelar, thanks for the input .....just like 00paul says you can not trust SDesk . at times i run SD & TS on the same PC at the same time .  sometimes i get 1 or any # of froozen charts on SDesk while Tradestation keeps running . The folks at Tradestation ( Mario , Emil , & John ) have answered every Question correctly the first time . In my experience Ameritrade is a complete waste of effort compared to Tradestation . Am hoping this is helpfull to all .

interesting

friday I was long & short SRS at the same time on SDesk ... Ameritrade told me problems could accure running more then one program per symbol .The reason i tried is UYG & URE did`nt backtest as well as SKF & SRS . Also when just running a short program it will show activation but will NOT fill . Tradestation seems better .

FWIW.... SDesk waste of time go to Tradestation

someone asked about TIP`s..I keep my margin account in yhe ETF -TIP,. You can also buy them online from the gov. . Here`s something from Warren Brussee`s blog..

The S&P 500 has dropped 53% since its high in October, 2007 and has dropped almost 20% this year.  The Price/Dividend (P/D) ratio of the S&P 500, as of February 26, is 32.4.  Those of you who have been watching this number have probably noticed that it has not dropped as fast as stock prices.  This is because companies have been reducing their dividends.  For example, early in February, Dow Chemical reduced its dividend for the first time in 97 years, and on Friday, GE lowered its dividend by 68%, its first dividend cut since the Great Depression.  

Here is the formula I tested in my book as a possible way to use the P/D ratio as a way of timing the market.  Buy stocks whenever the S&P 500 P/D ratio is at or below 17.2.  This applies to both new money and money previously invested in TIPS.  When the P/D ratio goes above 17.2, stop buying stocks and buy TIPS, but hold onto the stocks you have purchased.  If the P/D goes above 28, sell all stocks and buy TIPS.  For those wanting more detail on this, I am afraid that you will have to splurge and buy my book.  It is impossible for me to cover all the data and rationale for this formula in a blog update.

Here is where I get my P/D ratios. http://www.indexarb.com/dividendYieldSortedsp.html . Go to the bottom of the table and read the value opposite “Average Dividend Yield (%) of All S&P 500 Stocks.” Take the inverse of this number X 100 to get the price/dividend.

it was still an excellent update

$SPX.X 5 minute with 7 & 21 EMA`s plus 50 MA from Steve`s excellent post last nite . thanks Ed

2 FREE weeks .....

Tradestation is faster and far more sophiticated then TDAmeritrade`s SDesk . TS has "simulated" platform to learn and experiment on . TDA will help you get programed as will others on the blog . I`m still learning TS .

Panaspor , sorry for your paper loss . I`ve been at BPT almost 7mths. It took me 2 tuff mths. to realize it`s not that simple to change your trading style . After some troubled trades I realized that I had to go back to PAPER TRADING until I was very profitable on paper with my new style .I`m a bonehead so it took me about 3 mths only cash trading the most obvious trades that jumped out me before I went full time trading . Because of my patient I have hit my goals for 5 weeks! Today was a confusing day because I WAS OVERCONFIDENT and doing some things in live trading that I did`nt   " simulate " first . I find improving is a reward in itself , so without misstakes I would`nt improve . Wellcome to the blog and best of luck to you . Ed

thought if we got to 825 it was an ideal time to go short . I am either ready to go to sleep or just waking up when I listen to the update . Must have something wrong .....I still want to short here .

what trigger or triggers are we watching for ? thanks

go short with faz, srs, at 825....what would the triggers be ? thanks

then S&P 825 would not be a trigger unless selling came in ?

are you saying do not go short here ?

dang 802

thanks

Agree , wait . Big push for the bulls from the goverment

still can`t get a feel for the market . any hints ?