I’m interested in understanding the connectivity provided by various FCMs when using the same API. Are there any differences in connectivity between different FCMs when employing the same API, or is the experience consistent across all FCMs?I am looking into different FCMs options through Optimus Futures.
Thanks,
Hax
Hello @Haxesa, and welcome to the Optimus community.
FCMs are crucial players in the trading of futures contracts. They handle the negotiation and settlement of these contracts, and their APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are essential for client software to communicate with the FCMs’ trading systems.
Many FCMs create their APIs to meet the unique requirements of their brokers and clients. However, these in-house APIs’ functionality, speed, and integration with external platforms can differ significantly between FCMs. On the other hand, third-party APIs like those offered by CQG, Rithmic, TT, and CTS are hosted on the vendor’s server and are linked directly to the exchange for faster execution. In such cases, the broker (either the FCM or the introducing broker) handles the trade processing and admin of the trade.
It is important to note that FCMs may also have different levels of knowledge and support for these APIs. A broker’s understanding and support for a particular technology can significantly impact your trading experience, from risk management to execution. Therefore, ensuring that your chosen broker can adequately support the technology you need, whether proprietary or third-party API, is crucial.
Moreover, access to different exchanges is another vital factor to consider. For example, some FCMs may offer broader exchange connectivity than others, and it is critical to evaluate their API features, connection reliability, reputation, financial stability, and additional services like customer and technical support.
In summary, while using the same API across different FCMs genre bally provides consistency, various factors can influence your experience, including the specific FCM’s services, performance, API features, exchange connectivity, and the level of broker support.
At Optimus Futures, we have made the deliberate decision to operate as an Independent Introducing Broker. This allows us to offer our customers tailored connectivity and platform options that cater to their unique requirements.
Please inform us if there are any aspects of your question that we did not address in our comprehensive response.
Thank you,
Matt Z
Optimus Futures