Optos Share Discussion Threads

[harvester] 14/7/2014 08:08

Hopefully the situation with phoenix will improve , once they sort the bugs out and get the option price feed .
However, even a brilliant new platform will not entice me to stay if the commission price jump is too severe .

[profitaker] 13/7/2014 10:52

Thanks HarvI'll reserve judgement until I can sign in, but not looking good from what I've read. Searched many times but no email, unless it was dumped as spam.

[harvester] 13/7/2014 09:03

I am missing the old type FXCM account summary which gave you stock value, collateral and options value. The last one was particularly useful since it told you the current cost of closing all your open option positions. Under phoenix I have not found the equivalent since they mix up equity positions and options while under the old system they were kept separate. Also missing the listing of delta values .
Prof: agree. Why fix it when it is not broken .
I think their main reason is financial . It helps them to conceal the simultaneous jump in commissions they want to get.
I wonder how many clients will accept that . I suspect that they will lose quite a few clients . I will probably be one of the deserters .
Re signing in: you should have had an e-mail , Prof .

[zastas] 12/7/2014 14:52

Indeed Prof, it looks like that. Perhaps for nothing but margin traders, especially FX ones, it may be good. Looks suspiciously similar like the SAXO one to me, I regret to say.

Logged in on my newer computer. Even with 8 RAM , it is very slow. Just changing my setting to blue takes many seconds.

I have so far been unable to recreate anything like a watch list page. Has any of you worked it out? There are apparently delayed data feeds allegedly available. Perhaps on a trading day it will become clearer.

As far as options concerned, it seems there is nothing like spread prices available. I am already missing the Track ticker strip. Looks like I will have to move, but I will wait a few weeks to see whether I can learn to appreciate it.

Just remembered, that my idealing is also doing options ( at least were 2 years ago), in fact 2 or 3 years ago they were tempting me with special offers. Perhaps I'll just have to switch it to them, at least I like their order entry system.

[zastas] 12/7/2014 11:15

It may be possible to continue with Track; I was paying anyhow extra for more pages etc. As long as I don't have to double pay, I could cope with seeing the accounts on Phoenix, and using Track for the feeds. Something positive to feel about for now, and to look into later.

[zastas] 12/7/2014 11:04

P, you must have been sent new login and temporary valid password, but perhaps it has expired by now.

My usually used old computer - XP- could not cope with Phoenix, just as it struggles with the Saxo platform. I'll try later today again on this one. Too depressed about the MyTrack loss; I even looked at my only remaining page yesterday, but no more option feeds visible. Perhaps I am just getting too old, and need to retire to Spain on a simple annuity!

From what I could see though, is that Euro shares dealing is going to be too expensive on Phoenix, TDW is excellent value there.

[hectorp] 12/7/2014 11:03

wHO ARE pHOENIX OWNED OR RUN BY? Anyone got their address / post a link please.
H.

[profitaker] 12/7/2014 10:52

Just back from holiday and can't log into Phoenix using previous credentials ! Anything I can do before Monday ?

[harvester] 11/7/2014 22:19

ALP: Noted .
The costs quoted on their "rate card" are outrageously high . I am not likely to sign up for that . May have to move my entire options account to another option broker if they don't offer me substantially better terms .
It's been quite an upheaval this month with the life equity prices service stopping and now the phoenix debacle .
A better name for their new system would be "Icarus" after the high-flyer who crashed to the ground .

[alphorn] 11/7/2014 19:48

Harv - I need to get back to you on the costs.

[harvester] 11/7/2014 17:30

zastas: what do you make of phoenix now ?
They have not actually got the price feed for option prices and option trade orders working yet; so can't place an on-line options trade . The option prices they display have identical bid and ask prices .
My open position statement has gross errors, notably for ftse positions and RSA .
I could not get a rolling statement from their system either .
They are running around frantically to fix the bugs in the system.
Still no response from FXCM re their charges for my option trading .
They should have kept the old system running to accommodate a gradual changeover.
The abrupt switch to a new and partially defective system will cost them a lot of business and customers . Shame since I was a satisfied client before the changeover .

[zastas] 10/7/2014 20:04

Been on holiday for 10 days, and too tired today to get to grips with logging into phoenix. Tomorrow will have to be the day.

Your reports don't inspire much confidence; shame really, but perhaps option business is not really good enough anymore for UK providers. Stavros, I'll look at IB once again; it's ages ago that I considered it an 'option'.

[harvester] 09/7/2014 10:11

Youna: Thanks; it provides some sort of price service but not as easy to use as the former equity prices service where you could select "ALL" dates and quickly move through the calendar. What are you mostly using then ??

ALP: thanks ALP . I am still trying to find out how it would affect my trading costs . Bound to involve a price rise . I was on very favourable terms before with no minimum commission price .
Have you found out yet your new trading costs? There seems to be a risk of being charged a monthly platform fee of £25 for phoenix if you are not trading sufficiently in a month .
What price service are you using now ?

[younasm] 08/7/2014 21:38

Try this for delayed prices --- this is link from Liffe website. Seems okay, but I havent used it much.hxxps://globalderivatives.nyx.com/en/stock-options/nyse-liffe/contract-listReplace hxxp with http

[alphorn] 08/7/2014 12:15

harv - you need to drag between name and symbol - reveals strike and date etc.

[harvester] 07/7/2014 21:45

Anybody found a suitable substitute for the discontinued liffe equity prices service yet ?
ADVFN list option prices . I looked up option premiums for shell B dec 2800calls and shellB dec 2200 puts which are listed by advfn as 9.5 and 93 and appear to be grossly incorrect . Not confidence inspiring .

[harvester] 07/7/2014 18:31

ALP: I had problems re-setting my password for phoenix but after much time waste that was resolved.
So far very disapointed with what phoenix offers for option traders.
It lists open option positions without stating the month or strike of ther option or giving a delayed current option value. No deltas either. Much inferior to the old system summary page . They tried to introduce an all singing, all dancing platform for worldwide trading but so far it's not singing or dancing for me .
I wonder if the experience will improve as one gets used more to the new platform . Have my doubts. May have to abandon FXCM .

[alphorn] 07/7/2014 15:29

Phoenix seems impossible to log on this afternoon. Too busy???

[stavros28] 30/6/2014 09:09

Alphorn

Flew into Zurich but never had enough time to visit, back over in August so will do the tour. Went to Basel for the Art Fair very nice , on UBS VIP tickets , free Champers and food all day, very hospitable these Swiss.

Zastas

I trade off the IB Platform , round turn on Options £ 3.40 delayed prices or real time. Contact me if I can help.

Stavros

[alphorn] 28/6/2014 13:25

Thx - please keep us informed.

[zastas] 28/6/2014 12:57

As I feared a few weeks ago, FXCM/Old-ODL is indeed terminating its use of the Track/MyBroker platform.

I respect FXCM's commercial and technical decision for no doubt good reasons, but I am sorry to see it go after at least a decade of using it myself, as for my investing it has worked very well. For option trading/investing it seems perfect.

A new one called Phoenix - so far I have never heard of it - will take over on/after July 4th ( Born on the...). We will have to see whether it is also good for the option side; I hope they will still be able to display it all as Track can.

I have SAXO too, but find it rather unpleasant to use; but for very active/'professional' traders incl especially FX ones it may be very good. I hope Phoenix will get a different judgement from me at first glance.

[alphorn] 27/6/2014 10:07

Rolled some Barclays puts; the bank is probably not alone in the dark pool issue. Should recover a bit.

[tonsil] 25/6/2014 15:56

renew:
I use Investec wealth management arm - for that i get advisory deals and can dictate trades in areas they dont routinely cover ie Ebay Amzn AApl CCJ. It is not cheap but my broker is good at his craft. He also manages pension scheme assets to rpoduce income for them.

[renew] 25/6/2014 07:59

Thanks Alphorn