Direct Market Access

[AnotherTrader]

I would like to understand what limitations (if any) prevent NinjaTrader from being used for automated trading in a situation where market access is DIRECT rather than through a brokerage firm.

For autotrading, three functional components must be present:

1. Trading logic execution
2. Market data feeds
3. Trade execution

NinjaTrader handles “1”, the NT data connection partners usually handle “2”,…


… and “3” is handled by the NT brokerage partners.

• I am not aware of NT being used for Direct Market Access, i.e. for connecting directly to an exchange without routing through a brokerage firm or data connection partner (so "2" and "3" provided directly by the exchange). Are you aware of any instances where in fact it IS used this way?

• If not, why not? Is the reason as simple as being that no-one has yet attempted to write the required client/message server architecture to connect NT with an exchange’s price and order servers? Most exchanges provide FIX protocol connectivity as at least one of the connection options, so connecting NT with such exchanges should be technically unchallenging. Or is there another reason why it is not done?

Thanks.

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

AnotherTrader, we would unfortunately not have any support for custom connecting or exchanges or brokerages, nor would we have a generic fix interface which you cite as option. All connections options are implemented on our end directly in NT, the currently supported ones are listed always in our connection guide pages - http://www.ninjatrader.com/Support.php#Help-Guides

[AnotherTrader]

Thanks, Bertrand.

I understand it's indeed not supported.

But can you see any reason why someone with the requisite knowledge and willingness to venture into unsupported NT territory would be unable to achieve this?

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

There would be unfortunately no further infos or hints I could provide here for you.

[AnotherTrader]

Understood. Thanks.

There would be unfortunately no further infos or hints I could provide here for you.