What is automated trading and what are the benefits?

Automated trading can help you increase the efficiency of your trades – by enabling faster execution of your CFD trading strategies. Learn more about the benefits of our automated trading platforms and find out how they can add value to your strategy.

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What is automated trading?

Automated trading is a method of participating in financial markets by using a programme that executes pre-set rules for entering and exiting trades. As the trader, you’ll combine thorough technical analysis with setting parameters for your positions, such as orders to open, trailing stops and guaranteed stops. Your trades are then managed from start to finish, meaning you could spend less time monitoring your positions.

Auto trading enables you to carry out many trades in a small amount of time, with the added benefit of taking the emotion out of your trading decisions. That’s because all the rules of the trade are already built into the parameters you set. With some algorithms, you can even use your pre-determined strategies to follow trends and trade accordingly.

How does automated trading work?

First, you will choose a platform and set the parameters of your trading strategy. You’ll use your trading experience to create a set of rules and conditions, and then your custom algorithm will apply the criteria to place trades on your behalf. These factors are normally based on the timing of the trade, the price at which it should be opened and closed, and the quantity. For example, ‘buy 100 Apple shares when its 50-day moving average goes above the 200-day average’.

The automated trading strategy that’s been set will constantly monitor financial market prices, and trades will automatically be executed if predetermined parameters are met. The aim is to execute trades faster and more efficiently, and to take advantage of specific, technical market events.

What are the benefits of automated trading?

With automated trading, you can:

Fit your strategy around your schedule – execute trades automatically, day or night
Reduce the impact of emotional and gut reactions with planned strategies
Identify new opportunities and analyse trends with a wide range of indicators
Execute multiple real-time trades simultaneously and remove manual execution

What platforms can you use for automated trading?

The platform you’ll use for automated trading will depend on your trading preferences. At IG, we have several automated trading options available to our clients.

ProRealTime

Automate your trading with assisted creation tools, enabling you to build simple or advanced strategies without the need for coding. With ProRealTime, you get access to an advanced, yet easy-to-use, backtesting suite to test your system. The platform has over 100 indicators and has been optimised to suit new and experienced traders alike. Get it for free if you trade at least four times a month.

MetaTrader4

Customise your trading experience by building your own expert trading algorithms, creating indicators, and placing a range of orders. Plus, import Expert Advisors (EAs) to help you find opportunities according to your pre-defined parameters. EAs can either notify you of an opportunity or open a position automatically.

APIs

Build your own platform and create advanced trading solutions from scratch. This platform enables you to code your algorithms from the ground up. Orders are filled using market-leading IG technology, ensuring you get the best execution. You can view real-time and historical market prices, analyse market instruments and trader sentiment information, maintain watchlists and more.

FAQs

Is automated trading right for me?

Automated trading might be right for you if you’re looking for a technique that helps you to trade according to predefined parameters. This can be especially helpful when trying to avoid emotional trading. Automated trading is a good solution for someone who wants a low maintenance trading strategy that relies on advanced technology.

What automated trading systems could I use?

IG offers a variety of automated trading systems for you to use, including ProRealTime, MetaTrader4 and APIs.

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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.

IG is a trading name of IG Markets Limited and IG Markets South Africa Limited. IG Markets South Africa Limited offers domestic accounts and IG Markets Limited offers international accounts.

IG Markets South Africa Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (in South Africa) as an over-the-counter derivative provider and an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 41393). IG Markets Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (in the UK).

IG provides execution only services and enters into principal-to-principal transactions with its clients on IG’s prices. Such trades are not on exchange. Whilst IG Markets South Africa Limited is a regulated FSP and acts as an intermediary as understood in the FAIS Act in relation to the international accounts offered by IG Markets Limited, CFDs issued by IG are not regulated by the FAIS Act as they are undertaken on a principal-to-principal basis. CFDs issued by IG Markets South Africa Limited are regulated by the Financial Markets Act, and IG Markets South Africa Limited is a licenced over-the-counter derivative provider.

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What is automated trading and what are the benefits?