Simulated Trading

Only available for clients with a funded account

Now you can take advantage of Simulated / Paper Trading on TradeStation Global

  • Create and test trading strategies across FX, Equities and Futures markets, with Interactive Brokers’ Paper Trading Account.
  • Get access to a Paper Trading Account, plus the latest performance updates.
  • Go to Update Manager and install the latest update.

Important notes

  • The account selected on Interactive Brokers trader workstation (TWS) determines the account you are in – either live trading or simulated / paper trading.
  • Live trading account numbers begin with U.
  • Simulated / paper trading account numbers begin with DU.
  • You can only be logged into either Live Trading or Simulated / Paper Trading, at one time.
  • Connecting your TradeStation platform (TSG), after selecting your account on TWS, enables you for Live Trading or Simulated / Paper Trading – depending on the account selected and opened on TWS.

In Simulated / Paper Trading

On the TWS platform

  • You will see a red alert at the top of TWS stating you are in Paper Trading
  • The account number will begin with DU

On the TSG platform

  • You will see a green alert stating Trading in the bottom right
  • The account number will start with DU

In Live Trading

On the TWS platform

  • You will NOT see a red alert at the top of TWS stating you are in Paper Trading
  • The account number will begin with U

On the TSG platform

  • You will see a green alert stating Trading in the bottom right
  • The account number will start with U

Disclosure:

Be aware hypothetical results during simulated trading are generated with the benefit of hindsight and may have under-or-over compensated for the impact of numerous other variables, conditions and circumstances, including but not limited to lack of liquidity.

 

Instructions

To create a Simulated / Paper Trading Account

  1. Log into your TradeStation Global Interactive Brokers account https://www.interactivebrokers.co.uk/sso/Login?RL=1
  2. Click on Menu (top left)
    • Go to Settings>Account Settings
    • Under Configuration select the ‘gear’ beside Paper Trading Account
    • Fill out the application to get a Paper Trading Account
    • If you want to receive real time data in your simulated account – Select YES for real-time market data subscriptions with paper trading account
    • If you select YES and share real time data you can only use and log into one account at a time – either your Simulated / Paper Trading account or your Live Trading account
  3. To access your Simulated / Paper Trading account on TWS and TSG, start your TWS platform and during log-in select Paper Trading
  4. Then use the Paper Trading log-in you created during the above process and click on ‘Paper Log In’:
  5. You are now logged into the Paper Trading environment in TWS
  6. You will need to confirm you understand you are in the Paper Trading environment
  7. There will be a red alert at the top of TWS telling you that you are in Paper Trading
  8. Your account will start with DU – for a Simulated / Paper Trading account, instead of U – for a live trading account
    • You can now log into your TSG platform using your TSIB log-ins.
    • As you are connected to Simulated / Paper Trading account in TWS you will also be connected to this account in TSG. Note that the account number in TSG will also start with DU

Closing Simulated Trading and Opening Live Trading:

Once you have completed testing in the Simulated / Paper Trading environment and want to trade in the live markets with real money:

  • Close both TWS and TSG platforms
  • Then restart TWS and log in with your Live Trading username and password under Live Trading:

This account starts with U – your live trading account

  • Then log back into TSG using your username that begins with TSIB

You will see that you are connected to your U account on TSG – showing you are in your Live Trading account